One Small Change: Even minor adjustments can lead to better health.

March 1, 2019 | by Ivan Black

As a trainer, I spend most of my time thinking about movement and developing creative fitness classes that will keep people’s interest so they keep coming back, which is, of course, one of the keys to getting results. But, the truth is, there are many things you can do to be healthier that don’t require stepping foot in a gym.

#1. Drink more water. It would be easy to write an entire article on the many benefits of drinking more water. If you put on a few pounds over the holidays, drinking more water could help you lose weight. Often times, when our bodies signal hunger, we are simply dehydrated. Drinking more water, particularly before meals, can help reduce your food intake, and, therefore, help you lose weight.

#2. Get enough sleep. Sleep is highly underrated. But, once again, you could write an entire article on the benefits of getting enough sleep. Sleep has a huge impact on our health. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Spend a week going to bed earlier (or sleeping later if that’s an option) and see how you feel.

#3. Eat breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. It helps boost your metabolism and helps you avoid weight gain. If you don’t have a lot of time in the morning and don’t always have exotic fresh fruit lying around, get some frozen fruit and make yourself a quick smoothie before you head off to work. You will find yourself with more energy and be better prepared to face the day.

#4. Get Up And Move. Start your day with 30 squats, 10 push-ups or a 30-second plank. It won’t take more than a minute or two. That first decision of your day can help lead you to more good decisions. When you have the choice between stairs or an elevator, take the stairs. If you work at a desk or sit through a lot of meetings during the day, make a point to get up and walk around at least once every hour.

#5. Start a Journal. Track your physical activity so you know how well you are doing and can hold yourself accountable. Set goals for yourself and use your journal to make sure you are meeting them.

Think about it. You make thousands of decisions everyday. You decide when you go to bed, when and what you eat, when and what you drink, whether you will get on the elevator or take the stairs, and whether you park right next to the store or 100 yards from the front door. Each of these decisions may seem inconsequential, but together, they can have a significant impact on your health.

So, do yourself a favor and take the road (or staircase) that is often less traveled. It will make all the difference.

Ivan Black is the owner and trainer at Next Step Performance, 1100 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-382-6398 or visit www.nsp.fitness.

So Many Ways to Help: Community leader Tina Nixon now takes up Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

March 1, 2019 | by Gina Napoli

Tina Nixon

It was Harrisburg, 1972.

The floodwaters of Tropical Storm Agnes rose through the city. Five-year-old Tina Nixon asked her mother why she was making an enormous pot of soup for the people sheltering at the former Edison Junior High School on Allison Hill.

“My mom said, ‘If people are in need, and you can do something to help them, whatever little you have, then that’s what you should do,” Nixon recalled.

Mom’s example stayed with her, inspiring her to focus her career on helping people in need.

Though born and raised in Harrisburg, Nixon hasn’t always lived in the city.

She attended college in East Stroudsburg and sometimes accepted work opportunities that took her away. But she always boomeranged back. She currently works as vice president, mission effectiveness, diversity and inclusion, at UPMC Pinnacle and serves on numerous community boards.

Most recently and visibly, she was appointed to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) for Harrisburg, a state entity tasked with overseeing Harrisburg’s finances. In this role, Nixon brings expertise like identifying grant money, building budgets and cutting excess spending.

“I just hope that whatever I contribute and whatever I can do will be seen as helping and continuing to build financially stable and transparent policies for the city,” Nixon said. “It’s not about me. It’s about making life good for all who live in the city.”

Nixon’s résumé represents almost three decades of assignments with the end goal of helping people through advocacy, fundraising, communications, organizing, human services and leadership.

“Whatever job I took, I always wanted to learn more, to figure out how to help solve the problem and help people,” she said.

Her skills have come both from her education and her practical experience. In her current role at UPMC, she interacts and connects with people on a variety of levels.

“I treat everyone as an individual, and I respect the path they took to get there,” she said. “Early in life, that was fascinating to me. I wanted to learn and understand more about where people were coming from.”

Within a long CV of both paid and volunteer work, Nixon cited two opportunities that contributed significantly to her growth.

The first was an early-career summer internship with the Pennsylvania state legislature, which offered an “educational opportunity, seeing how people on different sides of the aisle can come together and compromise on a number of different issues.”

The second was her lengthy tenure with the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, which included more than a decade as CEO.

“My tenure at YWCA allowed me to live my purpose and passion of helping women and children in need,” she said.

Nixon credits her grandmother as a mentor who foot-stomped the importance of a college education and community leadership.

“She was a wonderful role model in leadership, business, compassion and gave me great overall advice when entering into the workforce,” she said.

The Best City

Those who have worked with Nixon have seen those same leadership qualities in her.

Messiah College President Kim Phipps has known Nixon for nine years, having met when they worked together on strategic planning and community engagement on the YWCA board.

“As a leader, she often has to make difficult decisions and be courageous in moments of crisis,” Phipps said. “Her quick wit and laugh often diffuse many tension-filled moments.”

Rev. Dr. Brenda Alton, the former director of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Enrichment, met Nixon in 2000 when she served as a pastor. They re-engaged when Alton joined Nixon’s staff at UPMC.

Alton described Nixon as an “advocate and life-long diversity champion” and a “giving person who adores her family and fights for those she leads.” And, like Phipps, Alton also talked about Nixon’s great laugh and her ability to be her authentic self.

When Nixon isn’t working or volunteering, she spends time with friends and family, which includes her husband, James, and their 21-year-old twins.

“His resilience keeps me going,” she said of James, who has had recent health challenges. “He is teaching me something about perseverance on another level. He amazes me.”

Nixon also enjoys window shopping for antiques and reading cookbooks, which relax her. She now looks forward to joining four colleagues on the ICA, helping to guide the next phase of Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

“I’m hoping we can continue to move forward to make Harrisburg the best city it can be,” she said.

To learn more about UPMC Pinnacle, visit www.UPMCPinnacle.com.

Pieces of the Puzzle: A century ago, Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward was wiped off the map. A group of activists wants to remind us what was lost.

March 1, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

Burg in Focus: Harrisburg’s 8th Ward from GK Visual on Vimeo.

The stories lurk in half-forgotten memories. The images hide in boxes stashed in attics.

Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward, a dense, crowded neighborhood squeezed between the Pennsylvania Capitol and the railroad tracks, is long gone. But through a diverse group of activists, genealogists, scholars, actors and techies, the voices and faces of a vibrant community are emerging to illuminate a crossroads of history.

Throughout 2019, they are mounting a multi-faceted history project with a reflection and re-examination of the Old 8th at its core.

Lose Track

“The Bloody 8th” inhabits our imaginations as home to speakeasies, brothels and tenements along narrow streets “into which little of God’s free air or sunlight can enter,” in the words of newspaper chronicler Howard J. Wert in 1912.

But the 8th was also home to a melting pot of residents—a gateway to the city for African Americans, Russians, Greeks and others. They ran tanneries and laundries, attended churches and synagogues, raised families, and harbored refugees along the Underground Railroad.

Still, by Wert’s time, City Beautiful proponents couldn’t abide the huddled masses teeming outside the back door of Pennsylvania’s new Beaux Arts Capitol. They envisioned a park. So, by the 1920s, most of the 8th Ward was gone, and its residents scattered.

Today, when arts activist Lenwood Sloan looks at the Capitol’s East Wing and Soldier’s Grove, he hears echoes of the past. The problem, he said, is finding tangible reminders. Other than the K. Leroy Irvis Building, named after the first African American speaker of the Pennsylvania House, no monuments recognize the contributions of African Americans to the city or nation.

That absence seems especially poignant now that it’s 2019, the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which granted voting rights to men regardless of race, and the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women the vote. Local historian Calobe Jackson, Jr., learned that news of the 15th Amendment’s passage sent 8th Ward residents into the streets to celebrate.

“We lose track when we lose physical monuments or places of engagement,” Sloan said. “We lose track of ourselves and especially each other, and we lose track of how hard communities work to achieve the right to vote and then to sustain that right and protect that right.”

Through the project, a jigsaw puzzle of activities will recreate the sights and feels of a bustling community:

A monument to four key players in 8th Ward history and voting rights.
A search for descendants of 100 prominent residents—ministers, state workers, musicians, attorneys, baseball players, Underground Railroad conductors, and one involved with “aeroplane school”—in hope of mining their family stories and archives.
A Chautauqua series at the McCormick Riverfront Library and Live and Learn “informances” from the Past Players, held at Gamut Theatre. TFEC is funding both.
A theatrical presentation to be developed by Gamut Theatre Group. The 8th “was a rough place, but it was a lot of tough people coming together and learning what their strengths were,” said Artistic Director Clark Nicholson.
Posters, a website and window clings—yes, window clings—developed by Digital Harrisburg to recreate for Capitol workers and visitors the sights and stories of the 8th Ward.

One of the discovered descendants is well-known musician Jimmy Wood, whose great-grandfather, Jacob Compton, spirited Abraham Lincoln out of Harrisburg to evade assassination.

Wood didn’t know Compton, but he knew his great-uncle, Armon S. Compton, a pharmacist trained in Philadelphia who was never employed at white pharmacies but plied his trade in the 8th Ward. Wood never heard stories of Jacob’s heroism, but he remembers the spark of pride in Armon’s bearing.

“My assumption is that, besides his intellect, his pride would be based on what he knew about his image,” said Wood. “I’m hoping I can find somewhere a picture of Jacob. That would be absolutely awesome.”

Wood won’t cry over spilled milk, but the disappearance of the 8th Ward—where musicians played in clubs, a great-uncle ran a hotel and his midwife grandmother delivered babies—offers a warning.

“Bring some caution and some good sense when you decide on these kind of development projects,” he said. “It can’t always be about someone’s dollar and making a profit. People have to live somewhere. They should have some decent place.”

An aerial depiction of the Old 8th Ward.

Wild Side

Some churches and synagogues of today have their origins in the 8th Ward. They were, like residents, pushed aside “to erase this area of ‘blight,’” said Andrew Dyrli Hermeling, project manager of Digital Harrisburg, the Messiah College-Harrisburg University joint venture to digitize archival images.

Two factors drive our ongoing fascination with the 8th, said Messiah College History Department Co-chair David Pettegrew.

“It has the reputation for being the wild side of the city in the late 19th century,” he said. “The other has to do with this disturbing factor of displacement that occurs for the greater good. So, it naturally raises questions about what is the common good. It was in the name of beauty, but there’s a feeling that the state just yanked away properties. That injustice surprises people.”

Harrisburg genealogist Sharonn Williams is the great-granddaughter of Ephraim Slaughter—prominent 8th Ward leader and Civil War veteran. Williams joined the 8th Ward project because too much of the history she has researched reflects today’s political turbulence.

“You’re trying to take away my right to vote, when my right has been paid for in the blood, the sweat, and on the backs of my ancestors for hundreds of years,” she said.

Today’s “civil war over civil rights” and the devaluation of civics in education “break down understandings of the responsibilities of citizenship and the privileges of the franchise,” agreed Sloan.

“We are among the last generation where we can talk to people who were in those struggles, and also we’re in the last generation that cares enough to keep those family artifacts in the closet or under the bed,” Sloan said. “We’re saying if you’re not interested in this, don’t throw it away. Give it to the historical society. Give it to the state archives. It’s pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that help us build memory and continuity.”

For more information about Digital Harrisburg, including online history resources, visit www.digitalharrisburg.com.

Community Corner: Notable March Events

March 1, 2019 | by Missy Smith

March Community Corner

Community Bazaar
March 2: Paxton Presbyterian Church, 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg, is hosting a community clothing and jewelry bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women’s, men’s and children’s all-season clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry will be available for purchase at low prices. Proceeds benefit local charities and mission work. www.paxtonchurch.org

HBG Flea
March 2: Explore the HBG Flea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares. www.hbgflea.com

Maple Sugar Festival
March 3: Head to Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for the annual Maple Sugar Festival, 12 to 4 p.m. Kids and adults can have hands-on fun with tree tapping, eating real maple syrup on ice cream, and shopping for PA maple products. www.forthunter.org

Blood Pressure Screenings
March 4: Stop by the food court pavilion at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for free blood pressure screenings offered by UPMC Pinnacle. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Decisions 2019
March 4, 18: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host “Great Decisions,” a program on world affairs organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, through May 13. Cost is $10 per session. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Résumé Workshop
March 6: Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, hosts the second part of its “Résumé Writing Series” at 1 p.m. Attendees can bring their newly created résumé to this session for review by library staff and to receive feedback on improvements needed. This program is designed for adults. www.dcls.org

KIDZ Wednesday
March 6, 20: Toddlers and young children who are not in school, and their families, are invited to have fun learning with educational hands-on activities at free KIDZ Wednesdays, Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Nature Lab
March 7: Learn about rocks at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, at 11:30 a.m. Discover different types of Pennsylvania rocks and the surprising places we find them in our daily lives. This presentation is designed for general audiences, ages 7 and up, and is included with admission to the museum. www.statemuseumpa.org

Open House
March 7: Drop in at the Circle School of Harrisburg, 727 Wilhelm Rd., between 6 and 8 p.m. for an Open House to learn about the school. Bring the whole family to see and hear about self-directed democratic education. There will be a student Q&A panel at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. www.CircleSchool.org

Volunteer Work Day
March 9: Enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves provided. To reduce plastic usage, bring a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Kids Club Event
March 9: Head to the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., for Kids Club on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a free, fun-filled event. Each month may feature shows, crafts, interactive activities and more. All kids and families are welcome to attend. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Trivia After Hours
March 9: Join Fredricksen Library, 100. N. 19th St., Camp Hill, at trivia night—”Must See TV”—7 to 9 p.m. Popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes are provided. Ages 21 and older, BYOB. Cost is $5 per team. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Soup Cook-Off
March 10: The AKT Foundation will host the 10th Annual Soup Cook-Off for children with cystic fibrosis. Held 12 to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, the soup cook-off gathers about 40 local chefs, professional and amateur, to showcase homemade soups, with attendees voting for their favorites. www.TheSoupCookOff.com

Charter Day
March 10: Celebrate the commonwealth’s 338th birthday on the 19th Annual Charter Day with free admission to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12 to 5 p.m. View the original 1681 charter that granted the land of Pennsylvania to William Penn. www.statemuseumpa.org

Book Club
March 10: Join the Harrisburg Young Professionals book club to discuss James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” 2 to 5 p.m., Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. www.hyp.org

Native Culture
March 10: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts PennDOT archaeologist Joe Baker in a talk on “Native American Culture: Lower Susquehanna Valley” in Foundation Hall, 3 to 4 p.m. Baker will discuss Susquehanna Valley Native American history up to the 1763 Conestoga Massacre. Light snacks served. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Homeschool Day
March 13: Join the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, for Homeschool Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hands-on objects and crafts and presentations from curators, archivists and educators. Cost is $10 per person; members are free. www.statemuseumofpa.org

3rd in The Burg
March 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Art Auction
March 15: Join Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity for the 14th Annual Art Auction at the Hershey Country Club, 1000 E. Derry Rd., 6 p.m. Reception includes two free drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, Troegs beer tasting, Dead Lightning Distillery spirits tasting, silent auction and a dessert buffet. www.harrisburghabitat.org

Bike Summit
March 16: Bicycle South Central PA’s Regional Bike Summit will be held at Dickinson College, 28 N. College St., Carlisle, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The focus is on successful programs designed to serve the disadvantaged and those that attract young riders. www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org

Job Fair
March 17: Spend the day at the annual One Stop Shop Job and Resources Fair at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit a variety of vendor tables to get connected with employment opportunities, resources and programs. Free admission. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

New Member Social
March 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at 6 p.m. at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. RSVP to attend. www.hyp.org

Food Safety
March 19 and 26: Penn State Extension will hold a two-day ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course at the Penn State Extension, Perry County office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield, to help food establishments meet an upcoming requirement that people working in food service be certified food protection managers. www.extension.psu.edu

Curiosity Kids
March 21: Kids ages 3 to 6 and their families are invited to “Feed the Birds” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m., during its monthly Curiosity Kids program. Learn about birds and make your own bird feeder to hang in your yard. www.statemuseumpa.org

Women of Excellence
March 21: YWCA Greater Harrisburg will host the 30th annual “Tribute to Women of Excellence” awards dinner at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr., Hershey, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tribute will honor 29 outstanding women who dedicate time and talent to making a difference in central Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per seat. www.ywcahbg.org

Networking
March 21: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host Rubina Azizdin, director of STEP UP Network at Harrisburg University, at its March professional development workshop on networking, at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, 326 Market St., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. www.hyp.org

Chili Cook-Off
March 22: Cracked Pot Coffee Shop hosts a chili cook-off fundraiser at Daybreak Church, 321 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Kids programs will be held, and there will be an update on the shop’s mission and ministry needs for youth aging out of foster care. www.thecrackedpotcoffeeshop.com

Seed Swap
March 23: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts its third annual Heirloom Seed Swap, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Vegetable, herb and flower seeds, collected from the museum’s 2018 garden, will be on hand for this community-sharing event. Bring seeds to swap or make a donation to select seeds. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

St. Patrick’s Parade
March 23: Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District will host this year’s parade, which steps off at 2 p.m. and features pipe and drum bands, marching bands, Irish dance groups and more. The “Lucky Charm” 5K/10K precedes the parade and begins at noon. www.harrisburgstpatricksday.com

Bal Masque
March 23: The Art Association of Harrisburg will host a “Saints and Sinners” Bal Basque, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Hershey Country Club, 1000 East Derry Road, with proceeds supporting Art Association exhibits, education and programming. Sponsors can attend a special reception with Graham and Esmeralda Hetrick. www.artassocofhbg.com

Books on Tap
March 28: Dauphin County Library System hosts “Books on Tap” book club at J.B. Lovedrafts, 225 N. 2nd Street, 5 to 6 p.m. Dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting. The club will discuss Lisa Jewell’s “Then She Was Gone.” www.dcls.org

National Defense
March 28: David Ochmanek, former U.S. Defense Department official and now a researcher with the RAND Corp., will discuss current national defense strategy at the Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg’s monthly meeting. The free event will be held at the West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. A dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Spring Fling
March 30: Stroll through over 20 shops in downtown Camp Hill offering refreshments, specials and activities, to renew and refresh everything from home to health, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit Downtown Camp Hill on Facebook for more information.

Employment Fair
March 30: Dauphin County hosts its employment, internship and resource fair at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 60 employers, colleges, training programs, government agencies and organizations will be on hand to talk to job, internship and volunteer opportunity seekers. www.dauphincounty.org

Ducks and Geese
March 31: Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host its annual “Ducks and Geese of the Susquehanna River,” 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about waterfowl and seasonal migration patterns with Scott Bills, retired land management group supervisor at the PA Game Commission. www.nedsmithcenter.org

Five Finger Family: Stealing gets complicated in “Shoplifters.”

March 1, 2019 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda popped onto my radar in 2013 when “Like Father, Like Son” premiered.

The film was beautiful and heart wrenching and really brought its audiences to struggle with societal norms in a way that was unique and refreshing. Now, six years later, after a few other films have been added to Kore-eda’s repertoire, “Shoplifters” graces the screen in an equally riveting, simultaneously upsetting way.

No one in the Shibata family is actually related. They are a piecemeal family, coming from different walks of life, drawn together by love and a need to get by. Osamu (Lily Franky) and Lin (Sakura Andô) claim the roles of mother and father, while Aki (May Matsuoka) and Shota (Joy Kairi) assume the roles of children and Hatsue (Kirin Kiki) as grandmother. The Shibata family works together to survive, cobbling their rent together with various jobs that the adults can manage, while covering the other essentials by shoplifting—a secret family trade that is passed on to the children, allowing even them to have a hand in the survival of the family.

The Shibata family is brought even closer together when they introduce another child into the mix. Yuri (Miya Sasaki) is the neighbors’ severely neglected little girl. Her parents constantly leave her on her own for hours on end and treat her horribly when they are home. When Osamu and Lin bring Yuri home one night for dinner, she never goes back. “It’s not kidnapping,” Lin insists, noting that there’s no ransom.

“Shoplifters” is a beautifully executed struggle with life and ideals, denouncing the idea of black-and-white morality and making the conflict as shaded and complicated as possible. As we get to know the Shibata family, it becomes harder and harder to see them from a societal perspective. Instead, we see from their worldview, feeling the love that they have for one another and the reasoning behind why they do what they do. “Shoplifters” is a story about need and want and the alluring nature of the family unit, but it is also a story grappling with the question of what is right.

Each actor in this ensemble will win your heart over with their personal journeys, though specifically Franky and Andô make the film. And from the film’s cast to its slowly unfolding, captivating story, it is no wonder that “Shoplifters” was nominated for an Oscar.

Kore-da has made another masterpiece, and it can only be hoped that he continues to helm films that make us think.

“Shoplifters” plays this month at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

Beauty in Song: Diverse selection of choral music featured on new CD.

March 1, 2019 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Linda L. Tedford

Linda L. Tedford came to central Pennsylvania to start a church. She also founded a choir.

The Susquehanna Chorale was born in 1981 with 11 singers. It now has 35 and is the ensemble-in-residence at Messiah College in Grantham.

Tedford, who holds a master’s of music degree in choral conducting from Temple University, has been the chorale’s conductor and artistic director throughout.

The Susquehanna Chorale promotes the choral arts through performances, educational programs and commissions of new music.

It also records some of the music it loves, recently releasing its eighth CD, “Roots & Wings”—a studio recording featuring a repertoire from the chorale’s 2018 spring concert series of the same name.

The title of both concert and CD stems from a statement Tedford likes to quote, although she doesn’t know its origin: “Two of the greatest gifts we can give to our children are roots and wings.”

“‘Roots & Wings’ celebrates how the breadth of human experience and our relationships— rooted in faith, family and friendship—inspire us to achieve our dreams,” she said.

It is certainly diverse, including “Cantique de Jean Racine,” by the romantic French composer Gabriel Fauré and a modern arrangement of “Come, Sweet Death,” by Baroque composer J.S. Bach.

Aaron Copland, a 20th-century American composer, is represented by “Long Time Ago” and “I Bought Me a Cat,” as are spirituals.

“‘Yonder Come Day’ is one of my favorites, with its tambourines,” Tedford said.

There’s a lullaby, as well as Eriks Esenvalds’ “Only in Sleep,” based on a poem by American lyric poet Sara Teasdale about childhood friends who return to her in dreams.

The content of the CD reflects the chorale’s commitment to blending “music everyone knows and music we’d like to introduce to people,” Tedford added.

While the music is important, Tedford said that she first looks at the text when commissioning a work or selecting one for a CD.

Programming—whether for a concert or CD—is an “art unto itself,” Tedford said. “Others say they do it quickly. For me, it takes a long time.”

“I enjoy the texts and how words are set to music,” said Judith Shepler, a member of the Susquehanna Chorale since its inception. “Linda has a way of finding pieces of music with very memorable texts.”

Three of the chorale’s CDs have been considered for Grammy nominations.

Still Growing

The Susquehanna Chorale is known for its artistic interpretation of works of many styles and historical periods, as reflected on its CDs. It has also commissioned several new works for its concert series.

The CDs reflect the chorale’s commitment to presenting standard pieces “everyone should know,” along with introducing new works to the public, Tedford said.

The emphasis in all of the chorale’s endeavors is quality.

“Most of our singers have had professional training or were [music] teachers,” Tedford said. “They could be soloists.”

Shepler applauded both the chorale and Tedford.

“Linda continues to challenge me,” she said. “I’m still growing as a singer and a choir member.”

Drawing from Tedford’s mentoring and guidance, Shepler also directs the chorale’s Children’s Choir and the Children’s Prep Choir.

“It’s a great joy in my life to secure the next generation of choral singers,” she said.

The chorale also enjoys collaborations. Next on its calendar are two performances, on April 13 and 14, of French composer Francis Poulenc’s choral masterpiece, “Gloria,” with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. The Messiah College Concert Choir and Messiah College Choral Arts Society also will be singing in the concert at the Forum in Harrisburg.

The next Susquehanna Chorale spring concert—“Singing the Dance of Life”—takes place at Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey on May 10 and the High Center of Messiah College on May 11.

In the end, Tedford said, the chorale’s music is about beauty and hope for the future, two topics that offer constant inspiration for writers of new choral works.

“People keep writing gorgeous music for the choral field,” Tedford said.

For more information about the Susquehanna Chorale, and to purchase a copy of “Roots & Wings,” call 717-533-7859 or visit www.susquehannachorale.org.

Creating Community: YPOC focuses on connecting, retaining Harrisburg’s young professionals of color.

March 1, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Photo by Dani Fresh

For years, Dr. Kimeka Campbell saw a large portion of young people, particularly of color, leaving Harrisburg. Their reasons were always similar: “There is nothing to do here,” or worse, “There is nothing for me here.”

With the help of people in their network, Campbell and Basir Vincent decided to prove them wrong.

Together, they created Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg, or YPOC. For seven years, YPOC has worked to create a community and network of black and brown professionals in the area. The organization gives businesses and professionals of color a chance to connect and grow through socials, discussions, leadership development and more.

“We had several people tell us, ‘I found a track with you guys,’ ‘You guys are welcoming,’ or ‘I was going to leave Harrisburg, but I stayed because I found a community here,’’ Campbell said. “These kind of things are really what our goals are—to create a community for the black and brown collective.”

According to Campbell, it’s no secret that a majority of Harrisburg residents are people of color. The U.S. Census Bureau states that more than 51 percent of Harrisburg residents are black and about 20 percent are Hispanic or Latino. However, a contrast in color comes in the workplace. Campbell noted that people come into Harrisburg from predominately white areas for their jobs, then return home once their work day is over. YPOC wanted to highlight the black and brown people working here and give those people a place to connect.

“I’m not saying that there isn’t a community, there is,” Campbell said. “But, there are lots of gaps, lots of fragments. We’re really trying to be the organization that fills in some of those disconnects. We want to connect people. We want to connect businesses.”

Coming together is the first step in filling those fragments. YPOC hosts weekly happy hour socials, “Topic Tuesdays,” where they discuss current events, a new book club and “Board Games and Brunch,” among other socials.

After connecting the young professionals, the organization provides them with techniques to help them in the workforce.

A monthly leadership series, led by Vincent, a professional life coach and YPOC’s president, covers goal setting, conflict resolution, habit forming and other tactics to help young professionals. Though members receive a discount, their leadership series, like most of their events, is open to the public for only $10.

“We know that folks don’t have some of the same opportunities to go through these types of leadership trainings,” Campbell said. “[Other leadership trainings] are up to $1,500 to learn some of these same things that you can learn here in our leadership workshops.”

On the Pulse

Julia Mallory joined YPOC about two years ago. She befriended Campbell after finding out they were both members of Zeta Phi Beta soriority, and she naturally gravitated toward the organization.

Mallory has been promoting her poetry, children’s books and graphic T-shirt line under her brand, Black Mermaids, since 2016. The Harrisburg native is already connected with the area, but, since joining YPOC in 2017, has met many new and positive faces.

“If you are looking for a very live and vivacious organization that is doing good work in the city and the surrounding areas with a focus on young professionals of color, then you would want to be connected to the work that YPOC is doing,” she said.

YPOC is all about creating a community of young black and brown professionals, but they give back to the community, as well. Around the same time YPOC began, the group started its “Adopt a Classroom” campaign.

Throughout the year, YPOC provides the Harrisburg school district with weekly volunteer services for students. In the first two years of the campaign, YPOC raised $12,000 and adopted 12 classrooms. As their organization grows, Campbell expects that their outreach will, too. This year, the group hopes to raise enough money to adopt 10 classrooms within the school district.

“[YPOC] has grown month after month after month,” Campbell said. “We see the growth, and we’re happy about it. We just want to make sure more people know about it, and people can come out to support us.”

In the years to come, Campbell hopes that YPOC increases its memberships and events and expands to help out other young professionals of color in neighboring regions, such as York and Lancaster.

“What we really want to do is keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening with the black and brown professional collective in the area,” she said.

Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg is located at 315 S. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.ypoc-hbg.org.

Musical Notes: March Mix

March 1, 2019 | by Kait Gibboney

It’s nearly springtime in Harrisburg and, as always, there’s plenty to do in and around our fair city.

Since it’s March, Irish pride takes over at a few venues for some St. Patty’s festivities. The annual Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off on March 23, brought to you by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District. Up the road, Appalachian Brewing Co. hosts its ABC Irish Fest, filled with 17 days of Irish music performers, food and, of course, beer. Amidst the holiday fun, don’t forget to check out some other one-of-a-kind performances happening around the city. Here’s some of the best that the Burg has to offer this month.

GRAHAM NASH, 3/13, 7:30PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $49.50-69.50
Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Graham Nash makes a splash at Whitaker Center this month. He’s best known for his work with supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) before heading on to a highly successful solo career. A seasoned musician, Nash was also in the UK pop group, the Hollies, inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame twice, and has won a Grammy award. His messages of peace and love come through in his soft sound and honest lyrics, capturing the spirit of several generations. Last December, Nash’s bandmate, David Crosby, also played at Whitaker Center for a very special evening. If you missed your chance to check out a CSN-styled performance, Graham Nash will have what you’re looking for.

TIG NOTARO, 3/16, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $30
Sometimes, I like to throw in a performance that isn’t strictly music, but still qualifies as a performance that can’t be missed. If you like comedy but don’t want to go too far for a live performance, Tig Notaro is arriving right on your doorstep. Traditionally a stand-up comedian, Notaro has experience as a writer, radio contributor and actor. Her popular debut album, “Live,” earned a nomination for a Grammy Award for “Best Comedy Album,” and her special, “Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted,” earned a nomination for an Emmy award for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.” Check out the show and her deadpan style of humor if you’ve been looking for some good laughs.

COLEBROOK ROAD, 3/30, 8PM, FEDERAL TAPHOUSE, FREE
It’s not a true music column without showing some local love, so here’s a show that’s bound to be quite the party. Colebrook Road is celebrating the release of their newest album with a show at the Federal Taphouse in downtown Harrisburg. The album, “On Time,” showcases the band’s newer sounds in their classic yet contemporary bluegrass stylings. The album drops officially on May 3, but trust me when I say that these guys are best experienced on a live stage. Buy a CD, support local music, and get swept away by their sweet, southern stylings.

Mentionables:

Shine Delphi, March 2, River City Blues Club;

Black Coffee, March 2, H*MAC Stage on Herr;

Illusions of Grandeur, March 8, H*MAC Stage on Herr;

The Marcus King Band, March 9, Club XL;

Willie Jack and the Northern Light, March 15, The Abbey Bar;

Goose & Catullus, March 22, The Abbey Bar;

Shawan & the Wonton, March 28, Boneshire Brew Works

Pints & Pours: Lydian Stone specializes in small batches, big flavors.

March 1, 2019 | by Cass Daubenspeck

Yes, we know, a beer culture exists in central Pennsylvania, and its malty, hoppy, yeasty and sour varieties are about as separate and distinct from one another as a crowler from a growler or a brewer from his brew.

That’s why, for draft fans, it’s worth talking about when a new beer operation pops up, as it has in York Haven, about 20 minutes down the river from Harrisburg.

“New” is used loosely here, as the Lydian Stone Brewing Co. has been operating since June 2016, but has kept a somewhat low profile by adopting a “slow grow” model. Its owners decided to have limited hours in the tasting room and “keep their day jobs” to work hard at learning how to run a small business and make a consistently good product.

“It’s not about being a mass producer and pumping out a lot of beer,” owner and head brewer Keith Stevenson said. “It’s about making a really good, high-quality beer.”

Two and a half years later, there’s no denying that Lydian Stone beer has big fans, and the tasting room caters to an unpretentious crowd that otherwise doesn’t have a brewery to serve it.

“We fell into the location here,” Stevenson explained. “We were focusing on the Harrisburg area, and things didn’t work out for this or that reason. We went looking for some industrial properties, and we came down here and pulled into the parking lot and started talking to the owner’s wife who was here. This place used to be an auto sales lot, and it just worked.”

It had the right amount of space for a small tasting room in the front, and an industrial area in the back for tanks and equipment, as well as room for events.

Still, there’s a coziness you can’t find in most brewery settings.

“We wanted people to feel like they were in a brewery, not a bar,” said Stevenson. “So we kept the tasting room small.”

The Spark

Unlike many people who become brewers, opening a brewery wasn’t Stevenson’s dream.

“I’m an IT guy,” he said. “I’ve always worked in IT, never ever thought about brewing beer.”

But back in the ‘90s, craft beer—specifically Pete’s Wicked Ale—caught his attention. Next thing he knew, he was being invited to brew with his co-workers.

“A couple of guys in my office came over one day and said, ‘Hey, you got any plans tonight? We’re trying to get 12 of us together and go down to this brewery in Bedford and brew beer.’”

He brewed his first Irish red ale this way and fell in love with the process. This led to home brewing.

A few years later in Harrisburg, Stevenson again found himself in a conversation with co-workers about beer.

“A couple of us at Highmark decided to throw a homebrew party,” he recounted joyfully.

His beer earned the highest praise.

“Hey, you should think about really doing this,” someone said to him.

What began as a hobby became more of an investment as Stevenson began to read books, take classes and experiment with different recipes. The goal of nano-brewing seemed reachable.

“I wanted to try and make it work while keeping my job,” he said.

And that’s just what he did.

In the Water

So, what makes one brewery or beer better or different from another?

“Well, every brewery has its signature,” Stevenson said.

However, much of the taste, he said, comes from the water.

“So, one of the things we have here is our own well,” he said. “We’re using water right from the ground, and the mineral content here is great for making beer.”

Stevenson also uses grain and hops from a company he trusts. He chose them because they deliver a consistent and high-quality product.

As for the tap menu, he takes inspiration from his customers.

“The ideas for our beers will come from whatever people are talking about while they’re sitting here,” he said. “We keep a suggestion book for what people might want.”

Last year, for instance, Stevenson brewed a special, French-style saison ale specifically for the tap at Rubicon, a downtown Harrisburg restaurant.

“I’ve brewed a lot of different styles because I enjoy the experimentation process,” Stevenson said. “And I think that’s what’s special about us, is that we have such a variety. It’s hard not to find a beer you like.”

Lydian Stone Brewing Co. is located at 685 York Haven Rd., York Haven. For more information, call 717-384-6055 or visit www.lydianstonebrewing.com.

Let Them Eat Little Cakes: In Mechanicsburg, Ann’s Cupcakery fills a sweet spot.

March 1, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

Nicole Baer’s home-based cupcake business was so popular that her kitchen wall oven was on nearly all day, every day, and she still couldn’t bake enough cupcakes to fill orders.

That all changed when she opened Ann’s Cupcakery on Mechanicsburg’s Main Street last fall.

“Now, I can make 10 dozen cupcakes at a time in our giant convection oven,” said Baer, who gave the business her middle name, Ann.

Behind the shop’s glass display case, chocolate peanut butter cupcakes are neatly lined up aside chocolate salted caramel, chocolate raspberry, strawberries and cream, and lemon blueberry cupcakes—all topped with swirls of icing—and all made completely from scratch.

Just eight years ago, things were very different. Baer was a single parent trying to put herself through college at Shippensburg University. That’s when she launched a side hustle—creating and selling homemade, decorated cupcakes on the weekends.

“It started when my son turned 3, and I created ‘Toy Story’-themed cupcakes,” Baer said.

People admired the self-taught baker’s creativity, and the orders started pouring in.

“I just wanted a second form of income [in addition to a waitressing job], so that I could graduate debt-free, and I always loved baking,” Baer said. “It was just for fun, on the side.”

The sweet treats not only financed her degree—in finance—but eclipsed her original career plans. Now 33 years old, Baer applies her financial background to being a small business owner.

She took her home-based business to Main Street in late November and celebrated with a grand opening in January. Customers lined the sidewalks prior to the opening and throughout the day.

Thinking the 70 dozen cupcakes she had prepared wouldn’t be enough, Baer continued baking behind the scenes with the help of family and ended up selling 80 dozen of the miniature frosted cakes. That’s 960 cupcakes in one day.

“I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now without the support of my family—my parents and husband,” Baer said.

Her mother cried at the open house, while her father proudly welcomed customers at the door and helped organize the waiting lines. Husband Nate, a graphic designer, created her logo and social media presence.

“The great thing about small businesses like this one is that it’s family, and, when you walk in there, you get treated like family and you build relationships,” said Jeff Palm, executive director of the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce.

Ann’s Cupcakery is a positive addition to downtown, he said, especially since it occupies the historic, circa-1876 Mechanicsburg Bank Building.

“Your future is always based on your past,” Palm said. “This is what the town was. There was a bank on every corner, so the architecture and reuse of older buildings provide anything but a cookie-cutter location.”

Kelly McNeal of Mechanicsburg recently visited Ann’s Cupcakery to pick up dozens of cupcakes ordered for her father’s retirement party. She admitted that she doesn’t normally like cupcakes, but she found Baer’s creations “out of this world—so flavorful and not overly sweet.”

Ann’s Cupcakery is “much needed—a great option other than the grocery store,” McNeal said.

In addition to sales via foot traffic, Ann’s Cupcakery holds tastings for brides-to-be, fills wedding orders for both cupcakes and small, traditional wedding cakes for cutting ceremonies, and holds cupcake-decorating classes that are open to the public.

“The first three classes all completely sold out, and I’m constantly dreaming up new themes,” Baer said.

Those themes include cupcakes decorated like unicorns, flowers, fairy gardens and fast food—cheeseburgers and tacos made from colorful piped icing. There’s even a succulent decorating class, where participants learn how to create swirls of frosting that look like the popular jade green and pink plants—all edible, of course. Class offerings are listed on the shop’s Facebook page.

“The next big flavors for the shop include maple bacon, and I’m working on incorporating coffee into a cupcake—either a mocha or fun caramel latte flavor,” Baer said.

For that, she’s partnering with the coffee shop Capital Joe, located across the street.

I asked how she stays slim while operating a cupcake shop.

“Years ago, I ate them all the time,” she said. “Even now, there are days when I come in and eat a few cupcakes for breakfast. But, thankfully, my husband is a personal fitness trainer.”

That’s called having your cake and eating it, too.

Ann’s Cupcakery is located at 43 West Main St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-756-0842 or visit the Facebook page.

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