Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 4, 2018 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

SoMa is tonight! We bumped up the time to account for daylight/cooler temps, so please join us from 6-9 p.m. for the last SoMa Block Party of the year!

There are some really fun fall events happening this weekend, and I’m hoping I can find myself at at least one of them. Ever Grain Brewing Co. has its anniversary/Oktoberfest combo party, and I’m really excited about the Saturday Bavarian food part of it. Think I can take the baby and still manage to eat? idk.

Troegs also is having a full weekend party, starting Friday, continuing Saturday with the Hop Dash 5K and after party, and then really like who would want to watch the awful Steelers, so I think visiting their market and brunch on Sunday is a pretty good idea.

If none of these, perhaps the Apple Festival? I wanted to do New Cumberland’s last weekend but my poor kiddo was sick.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Legislative staffer appointed as newest member of Harrisburg City Council

October 3, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg City Council. Top row, left to right: Shamaine Daniels, Westburn Majors, Ben Allatt, and Dave Madsen. Bottom row: Ausha Green, Wanda Williams, and newcomer Danielle Bowers.

Danielle Bowers, a lifelong Harrisburg resident and state government staffer, is the newest member of Harrisburg City Council.

Bowers beat out 14 other candidates, including one past council president, to take the seat formerly held by council member Cornelius Johnson. She was appointed at a special council session tonight and will take her seat on Oct. 9.

Bowers currently works as an executive director for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tourism and Recreational Development Committee. She previously held researcher roles with the Democratic Policy Office and Legislative Black Caucus, and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University.

Her appointment to council creates a vacancy on the Zoning Hearing Board, where she has served for the past three years.

President Wanda Williams said that the board is one of the most prestigious volunteer bodies in the city and that Bowers distinguished herself as a dedicated, meticulous member during her service.

“She’s very precise and does her homework,” Williams said. “She did a yeoman’s job on the zoning board.”

Seventeen candidates applied for the vacant council seat in September — an unusually high number, according to council members. One was eliminated during vetting by the city’s human resources department and another did not appear at tonight’s selection meeting.

The remaining 15 candidates appeared before council tonight to share their qualifications and ask for a chance to serve on the city’s legislative branch. But only four were invited to participate in the interview phase, where sitting council members asked candidates about their skills and goals for public service.

During her interview, Bowers touted her legislative experience and her knowledge of the city’s finances. She said she would like to pass legislation to bolster public safety and hopes to see the city’s Police Bureau return to its full complement of officers.

Bowers entered the interview phase with three nominations from council members – an early show of consensus that Mayor Eric Papenfuse said was unprecedented in council appointments. Council members made their nominations anonymously.

Candidates Josiah Yonker, an IT professional, Gloria Martin-Roberts, a former council president and mayoral candidate, and Airis Smallwood, a healthcare administrator and musician, also received nominations and sat for interviews.

During the voting round, council members Ben Allatt, Shamaine Daniels, Westburn Majors, and Ausha Greene cast votes for Bowers. Dave Madsen and council President Wanda Williams voted for Martin-Roberts.

Papenfuse said that council member appointments usually entail multiple rounds of voting or a tie-breaking vote from the mayor.

“This is the fastest it’s ever happened,” Papenfuse said.

The mayor also praised Bowers’ record on the Zoning Hearing Board and applauded her appointment to city council.

Harrisburg mulls new debt, spending policies as Act 47 deadline looms.

October 2, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

As state lawmakers consider a bill that would terminate Harrisburg’s financial distress status, city officials are advancing a pair of policies that would establish best practices for long-term money management.

Together, the two proposals would create Harrisburg’s first written guidelines for borrowing money and spending its cash savings.

Both policies come at the recommendation of the city’s Act 47 coordinator, the state official charged with guiding Harrisburg through financial recovery, and are adapted from legislation by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), a national society that sets best practices for municipal finance.

Act 47 Coordinator Marita Kelley said that most major cities in the United States have similar policies on the books.

“These are policies you can apply to any government,” Kelley said. “When you’re unsure on these two practices, this gives you a guideline so that you are adhering to what other major cities in the U.S. follow.”

One policy under consideration is a debt management policy, which establishes guidelines for borrowing money and repaying debt. At a work session tonight, Councilman Ben Allatt said the rules could spare the debt-ridden city future financial harm.

“We’ve had a history of bad borrowing that’s led us to the debt we have in the city today,” Allatt said. “If we were following guidance provided by this debt management policy, [some deals] never would have or could have gone through.”

As an example, Allatt pointed to the 1999 Verizon Tower deal, in which former mayor Steve Reed tried to bridge a $7 million deficit by guaranteeing debt associated with the Verizon Tower in Strawberry Square. When Verizon backed out of its lease in the building, Harrisburg was on the hook for more than $40 million in debt obligations.

Harrisburg was able to avoid total calamity when the state Department of General Services signed a $65 million lease to occupy the 12-story building. Harrisburg still had to cover more than $15 million in debt payments.

Under the new policy, Harrisburg officials would have to seek approval from attorneys in the state Department of Community and Economic Development for every borrowing agreement over $100,000.

The guidelines also task the city’s business manager with overall responsibility for debt issuance. The business manager would have to coordinate with the finance director and law bureau to ensure that all debt held by the city is in compliance with the GFOA guidelines. The draft document considered by City Council tonight includes a 14-point checklist of considerations for debt deals.

The debt management policy must be revised every three years according to guidelines from the GFOA.

The second policy council considered tonight would create rules for use of the city’s fund balance — the cash savings it accrues by underspending its annual budget.

For many years, Harrisburg operated at a deficit and did not have a fund balance to bridge budget gaps. But the elevated tax rates that the city passed under Act 47, combined with years of consecutive underspending by Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s administration, have allowed the city to build a fund with a current balance of $20.4 million.

However, Harrisburg does not have any formal policies governing how that money can be spent.

The proposal submitted to council would recommend that Harrisburg maintain a fund balance equal to 5 percent of its yearly general fund. That means that in 2018, a year that Harrisburg had a $72 million general fund budget, it could not draw its fund balance below $3.6 million.

That would also permit city officials to make “permanent draws” – withdrawals that they do not intend to repay – only for use on capital improvement projects or debt service.

Both policies have the support of council members and the city’s administration.

“These weren’t done hastily,” Papenfuse said. “After working for several years with multiple coordinators, what we’ve reached now is a really good compromise that incorporates everyone’s views.”

Note: This story was edited to correct the figure representing 5 percent of Harrisburg’s 2018 general fund. That figure is $3.6 million, not $14 million.

Cathedral Education Center gets HARB approval; fundraising campaign planned

October 2, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

The planned Cathedral Education Center would unite the Liberty Street school building (foreground) and the Shanahan Center (background).

Harrisburg’s Catholic parochial school has been given the go-ahead for a new education center, but it now needs to raise the funds for renovation and construction.

Last night, the project received unanimous approval from the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB), allowing the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick to launch a capital campaign for the new Cathedral Education Center.

The $5.7 million project would renovate the circa-1950 Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School on Liberty Street and the 109-year-old Shanahan Center on North Street. A three-story, 3,250-square-foot addition between the buildings would be constructed, creating a single, unified structure totaling 26,475 square feet. Currently, the two buildings are separated by a small walkway.

HARB members did request a few design changes, most notably that the addition linking the buildings should include more windows and that the windows should be more vertically oriented.

“I’m really excited about this proposal personally,” said HARB Chair AJ Knee. “I like the concept of this [new] building being a wedge between the two [existing] buildings.”

The new education center would allow the parish to consolidate into one facility the current Cathedral Campus, which serves pre-K and grades 5-8 and is located behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Holy Family Campus, which serves grades K-4 and is located on Allison Hill. It also would give the parish more space for programming and improve wheelchair accessibility.

According to the parish, another benefit includes a new hall with a caterer’s kitchen that would seat as many as 190 people. It also would free up funds for parish programs that now go to building maintenance.

A rendering of the project, which shows the modern addition connecting the two existing buildings. Image courtesy of TKS Architects.

Dale Forney of Harrisburg-based JEM Group, the general contractor, told HARB members that he hopes to begin the project once school lets out next May and complete it in January or February 2020. However, the actual timing depends on the parish being able to raise the needed funds.

Kathy Speaker MacNett, who lives directly across the street from the Shanahan Center, characterized the project as another step forward in the continued redevelopment of the Capitol neighborhood.

“I am very excited about the project,” she said, citing several other projects nearby. “For the first time in my recollection, we actually have construction going in in our neighborhood–and not only construction but infilling.”

TheBurg Podcast: Plunder and Pawpaw Edition.

September 28, 2018 | by TheBurg Staff

It’s the end of October, which can only mean one thing: it’s Pawpaw season in Central Pennsylvania!

Oh, and there’s a new issue of TheBurg Magazine, which hits newsstands today. And the deadline is nearing for Harrisburg to pass an Act 47 exit plan. There’s no shortage of news to keep up with this week, but TheBurg’s editor in chief Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison recap it all in the newest episode of TheBurg podcast.

We start by discussing the recent house committee hearing on Harrisburg’s tax bill, which would let the city exit Act 47 once and for all. Is it doomed to die on the House floor? We also place bets on the upcoming appointment of a new member of Harrisburg City Council. Stay tuned until the end for a spirited discussion of Pawpaws, America’s forgotten fruit!

Listen to the episode here, or subscribe to TheBurg Podcast in the Apple or Android podcast apps:

Learn more about the topics in this week’s episode at TheBurgNews.com:

State & The City: Harrisburg mayor makes case to retain tax rates, exit Act 47.
House bill would prohibit commuter tax, extend current taxing authority for Harrisburg
Leaving Act 47: The private sector has revitalized Harrisburg in the past. It can do so again.
Former mayoral candidate among 17 seeking seat on Harrisburg City Council
HBG FAQ: Welcome to Harrisburg. Now read this.

TheBurg Podcast is released semi-monthly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of Startup Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Coolley, who wrote our theme music.

Bonding Over Beans: Thanks to a reader, we have a new recipe to enjoy.

September 28, 2018 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

One of the best things about writing this column for TheBurg is getting to meet so many nice people who love cooking and good food.

Recently, a reader approached me and asked if I had ever cooked or eaten “Marcella beans.” I told him I had not. I had never heard of “Marcella beans,” although I assumed they likely had some relationship to the queen of Italian cooking, Marcella Hazan.

His friend found me one early Saturday morning, shopping basket in hand, at the farmers market, and handed me a pound of beautiful, creamy, white cannellini beans, the famous Marcella beans! I promised to try them.

Well, a little research was first in order. What exactly are Marcella beans and how did they come to be? This is what I learned.

Steve Sando is a food lover and cookbook author from Napa Valley in California, who began growing heirloom beans and offering them through an online company called Rancho Gordo. One day, he received an order for several pounds of beans, as well as a copy of one of his cookbooks. He eventually learned that the person placing the order was none other than Marcella Hazan, author of the famous cookbook, “Classic Italian Cooking.” Hazan and Sando became online “friends,” sharing their thoughts about food, Italian music and, of course, beans!

Marcella loved warm beans with good olive oil and told Sando her favorite was Sorana beans, a white cannellini variety grown near the Italian town of Sorana. She said they were hard to find even in Tuscany but impossible to find in the United States.

Sando spent many months searching for Sorana seeds and eventually was able to purchase a small amount. The first harvest was small, but produced enough beans to send a small bag to Marcella. He was saddened to learn that, before the little bag of beans could reach her, she had passed away. But her husband, Victor, was happy to receive the gift and kindly gave Sando permission to name the beans after Marcella.

So that is the story of how the Marcella bean came to be. I was eager to try cooking them. These beans require a little more care than the more commonly available dried beans. They do best with slow, gentle heat and can’t be stirred too much. I followed the recipe below, which my readers later sent to me. I also had to inform my long-suffering spouse that he was getting beans for dinner.

Simple Beans on Toast
(From the New York Times cooking website)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for finishing
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium celery stalk, finely chopped
1 pound dried heirloom beans, picked over and rinsed
2 teaspoons kosher salt

And if serving on toast:

8 large slices crusty Italian bread
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic, onion, carrot and celery and cook until the vegetables are soft and fragrant but not browned. Stir frequently.
Add the beans and enough water to cover by 2 inches.
Increase the heat to high, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes.
Reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer, partly cover, and cook about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add more water if necessary to keep the beans fully submerged. (I followed this cooking time exactly.)
Gently stir in kosher salt and continue to cook until the beans are creamy in texture but not bursting, about 10 to 45 minutes more. (I cooked the longer time.)
Drain the beans and save the cooking liquid if you wish to use as a base for soup.

If you are serving the beans on toast:

Toast the bread slices and butter each piece.
Spoon about ½ cup beans onto each bread slice and crush slightly with a fork.
Divide the remaining beans among the toast (about ¼ cup per toast).
Drizzle each with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.

I tossed the cooked beans with lots of olive oil and served in bowls. I topped the creamy beans with chunks of jarred Italian tuna and several tablespoons of capers and served crusty Italian rolls and a salad alongside. They were wonderful. I plan to try the toast variation as a hearty appetizer for a Sunday dinner. The leftovers were great for lunch.

I want to thank my gentlemen readers for introducing me to Marcella beans. This has been a cooking adventure!

Wines in the Balance: South African quaffs emerge on the scene.

September 28, 2018 | by Steve Juliana

Of the top-10 wine producing countries today, South Africa may be among the least familiar.

This land, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans collide, has a history of viniculture going back to 1659, when grapes were planted to help ward off scurvy during the voyages along the SpiceRoute. At one time, Muscat from the Constantia vineyards was famous throughout Europe. Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte asked for a glass on his deathbed.

Today, if you ask someone to name a favorite South African wine, a blank stare will most likely greet you.

South Africa did not have the great influx of grape-growing immigrants the way that Chile and Argentina did. Most land was used to produce food for the population and to support the ostrich feather industry, with a small percentage allocated for vineyards. And, instead of bottling wine, distilling brandy was the first priority. Transporting wine to world markets presented another problem, as did the phylloxera aphid, which arrived in the late 1880s and devastated the grapes, requiring all vines to be grafted

As recently as 1990, only about 30 percent of fermented wine was bottled, with 70 percent made into brandy. However, by 2003, the trend had completely reversed.

Today, South African wines have gained an international reputation for quality, with new regions developing to complement the newest techniques in enology. French grapes take center stage with Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet Franc for red wines and Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc for whites.

In South Africa, Chenin blanc, locally known as “steen,” has been one of the greatest success stories. Grown throughout the different regions and made in a variety of styles, it should be on every wine drinkers list.

South Africa has its own indigenous grape known as “pinotage,” a cross produced from pinot noir, the great black fruit of Burgundy, and cinsault, a red blending grape from the Rhone valley. Some drinkers express an aversion to pinotage, especially in the nose, but others enjoy it, enough to keep demand high.

Take a walk through a Fine Wine and Good Spirits store, and the number and variety of South African offerings deserve recognition and tasting. Syrah is bottled alone, blended with pinotage or, in the classic style of the Rhone Valley, with Mourvèdre and grenache.

Cabernet sauvignon is available as a solo offering, as a rosè or in Bordeaux blends. Chardonnay and pinot noir are blended to make sparklers that rival those of France.

The amazing thing is that all these wines are distinct from any others I have tried. This land on the tip of Africa has a terroir that produces quaffs that are too easily overlooked in our modern markets. The wines possess a certain tautness and balance that I find intriguing in a world of overly fruity blends.

Keep sipping,
Steve

Veteran superintendent appointed as Chief Recovery Officer for Harrisburg schools.

September 28, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

A retired Philadelphia-area superintendent will serve as the new state oversight officer for the Harrisburg School District.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has appointed Dr. Janet Samuels as the district’s new chief recovery officer, spokesperson Eric Levis confirmed on Friday. She will oversee the implementation of a new, long-term recovery plan aimed at raising the district’s academic performance and financial health.

PDE put the school district under a financial recovery designation in 2012. State law requires every district in recovery to have a state-appointed recovery officer.

Samuels replaces Audrey Utley, who retired in June after serving as Harrisburg’s CRO for three years.

Her salary is capped at $144,000 annually and will be paid by PDE.

This June, Samuels retired as the superintendent of Norristown Area School District, where she oversaw a $150 million annual budget and nine schools enrolling 7,400 students. She previously served as a regional superintendent for the Philadelphia Area School District. Her career in public education spans 35 years, according to Levis, and includes experience as a principal and classroom teacher.

Samuels has been a member of the National Staff Development Council, where she served as National Conference Co-Chair, Levis said. She holds degrees from Millersville University, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.

October Crossword, Sudoku Puzzle Answer Keys

September 28, 2018 | by Admin

Community Corner: Notable October Events

September 28, 2018 | by Missy Smith

October Community Corner

Archaeology at Fort Hunter
Oct. 1-5: The State Museum of Pennsylvania Section of Archaeology will conduct its annual excavation at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg. The public is welcome to visit. Archaeologists will be on site weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Fall Story Times
Oct. 1-26: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, in the Pollock Children’s Library for young children’s programs that promote literacy and provide a fun library experience. Age groups range from babies to kindergarten students. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Food Preservation
Oct. 4: Penn State Extension in Cumberland County hosts “Home Food Preservation: Tomatoes & Salsa,” 1 to 3 p.m., at Cumberland County Service Center, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. This workshop will explain the scientific reasoning behind today’s recommended methods for making and processing tomatoes and salsa. Registration is $15. Visit extension.psu.edu.

Open House
Oct. 4: The Circle School of Harrisburg will hold an open house so students and parents can learn about self-directed, democratic education. The event runs 6 to 8 p.m. at the school, located at 727 Wilhelm Rd., Susquehanna Township. To register, visit circleschool.org or call 717-564-6700.

Business & Industry Night
Oct. 4: West Shore Chamber of Commerce hosts its 68th annual Business and Industry Night, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill, showcasing members’ products and services. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, prizes, giveaways and networking. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 after noon on Oct. 2. Visit wschamber.org.

Brewology
Oct. 5: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg, for “Brewology Happy Hour, the Social Science Experiment,” 5 to 7:30 p.m. Explore the science behind beer and enjoy light appetizers and beer samples from local breweries. Tickets are $12. Visit hyp.org.

Coin Show
Oct. 6: The Harrisburg Coin Club will host the 56th Annual Coin Show at Robert H. Hoke American Legion Post 272, 505 N. Mountain Rd., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Collectors can get a look at rare money, medals, tokens and more. Admission and parking are free. Visit harrisburgcoinclub.com.

HBG Flea
Oct. 6: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more details and a lineup of artists and makers, visit hbgflea.com.

Symphony Party
Oct. 6: Join the Harrisburg Symphony Society for “Paint the Town: Opening Night,” in the atrium at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg, to celebrate HSO’s 89th season opening, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, wine and live music. Email [email protected] or call 717-763-4616.

FAB 2018
Oct. 6: LGBT Center of Central PA is “Bringing Back the Glitz” to Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster, at FAB 2018, 6 to 10 p.m. Celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, honor those who have made an impact, connect with old and new friends and support the LGBT Center. Visit centralpalgbtcenter.org.

Teen Read Week
Oct. 7-13: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for a celebration of teens and teen literature with this year’s “Teen Read Week—It’s Written in the Stars.” Visit the library for a teen book giveaway contest, daily trivia contests and sneak peaks at what’s coming. No Registration necessary. For teens ages 12-18. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Ned Smith Celebration
Oct. 9: Head to Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, 6 to 8 p.m., on what would be the artist’s 99th birthday, to celebrate his life and legacy. Hear stories from people who knew him and watch the recent WITF-produced documentary. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Fall Meet Week
Oct. 10-13: High-performance cars are in focus during the Eastern Regional Fall Meet, Hershey’s annual antique car show and festival. View period automobiles, see racecar demonstrations and visit the flea market. On Oct. 10, attend the annual “Night at the Museum” dinner and reception, 5 to 9 p.m. Details are at aacamuseum.org.

Chamber Luncheon
Oct. 11: West Shore Chamber of Commerce, 4211 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, will host a Member Benefits Luncheon, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Chamber members and non-members are invited for a complimentary lunch to learn more about the chamber and network with members. Visit wschamber.org.

Book Festival
Oct. 11-14:Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, hosts the sixth annual 2018 Harrisburg Book Festival. With more than 12 visiting authors, the festival will showcase a diverse, award-winning lineup with panel discussions, keynote presentations, book signings, blind-date-with-a-book, story times, arts and crafts and more. Visit hbgbookfest.com.

Foreign Film
Oct. 12, 26: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “A Fantastic Woman,” a film from Chile, on Oct. 12, and “Jasper Jones,” a film from Australia, on Oct. 26. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. For descriptions, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Volunteer Work Day
Oct. 13: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring a water bottle. Refreshments available. Learn more at wildwoodlake.org.

Family Fun Day
Oct. 13: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, hosts a Fall Family Fun Day, 12 to 4 p.m. Kids can enjoy crafts and activities that teach how animals prepare for winter. Take a ZooAmerica wagon ride and attend a dedication of the Nature’s Discovery play area. Details are at nedsmithcenter.org.

UPNEXT Fest
Oct. 13-20: UPNEXT Fest is eight days of celebrating Central PA tech companies and the organizations and meetups that support them. Attend morning coffees, conferences, meetups, happy hours and more. Visit upnextfest.com for a lineup of events.

TEDx Harrisburg
Oct. 14: The third annual TEDx Harrisburg will be held at the House of Music, Arts & Culture (HMAC), 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 1 to 4 p.m. Take in a day of dialogue centered on the theme “Innovators,” featuring a diverse lineup of speakers presenting a wide range of topics. Visit tedxharrisburg.com.

New Member Social
Oct. 16: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. Please RSVP to attend. A cash bar and full menu will be available. Visit hyp.org.

National Fossil Day
Oct. 17: Enjoy National Fossil Day with “Giants of the Late Cretaceous” in the Paleontology Gallery at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, with general admission, 12:15 p.m. National Fossil Day is hosted by the National Park Service and the American Geosciences Institute. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Business After Hours
Oct. 18: Mingle with business professionals at Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event at PSECU, 1500 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Check out the details at harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Happy Campers
Oct. 18: Appalachian Audubon Society will host summer camp scholarship winners in a presentation to share their favorite experiences and what they learned, at Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Rd., Camp Hill. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. Visit appalachianaudubon.org.

3rd in The Burg
Oct. 19: 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. Find out what’s happening at thirdintheburg.org.

Anniversary Party
Oct. 20: St. Barnabas Center for Ministry celebrates 25 years of serving Harrisburg-area children in its summer camp at its anniversary party, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Goodwin Life Center, 2430 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Enjoy a program of song, dance and poetic storytelling presented by children and community leaders, followed by refreshments. Visit stbarnabascenterforministry.org.

Kids Yoga
Oct. 20: Join Yoga at Simply Well, 28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle, for a night out with a creative and engaging approach to kids’ yoga, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate fall with relaxing yoga and activities, breathing exercises, cooperative games, art activity, snacks, guided relaxation and more. Cost is $20 per child; $15 for each additional child. Pre-registration is required. Visit yogaatsimplywell.com.

Trunk or Treat
Oct. 20-21: The AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, will host “Trunk or Treat,” 12 to 3 p.m. Kids can decorate their own goodie bags and hunt for Hershey treats at various spots in the museum. Watch Halloween-themed videos in the indoor drive-in theater and see a hearse vehicle display. Admission is $9.50. Visit aacamuseum.org.

Halloween Party
Oct. 21: Adults and children are invited to “Night of the Great Pumpkin” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12:30 to 3 p.m. Try your hand at holiday games, make a craft, grab a snack, and participate in the Cupcake Walk and Costume Parade. Tickets are $5 and parking is free for the day. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Fall Storytime
Oct. 24: Kids ages 2 to 5 are invited to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a fun story session with a Dauphin County Library System librarian and Wildwood Environmental Educator, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes, play and a take-home craft will introduce children to the joy of books and language. Register at wildwoodlake.org.

Curiosity Kids
Oct. 25: Young visitors, ages 3 to 6, and families can enjoy “Curiosity Kids—Dinosaurs!” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. The event will feature hands-on experiments in science and art. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

U.S-Mexico Relations
Oct. 25: The Foreign Policy Association hosts a free talk at the West Shore Country Club, 100 Brentwater Rd., Camp Hill, with Alicia Kerber, head of the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, about current relations between Mexico and the United States, 7:30 p.m. A dinner precedes the talk. Learn more at fpa-harrisburg.org.

Nature at Night
Oct. 27: Take an after-hours walk in the Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. Tour times are 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Then make s’mores around a campfire and sip apple cider. Kids can dress as their favorite animal or in a costume. Bring a trick-or-treat bag. Cost is $5. Details are at wildwoodlake.org.

Rocky Horror
Oct. 27: Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, will show “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets include a prop bag. Head to Zeroday Brewing Co., 250 Reily St., for a pregame party starting at 6 p.m. Compete in a costume contest and enjoy a special beer infusion and cocktails. Visit midtowncinema.com and zerodaybrewing.com.

Halloween Fundraiser
Oct. 27: Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus presents its annual Halloween POP fundraising cabaret dance party at Lounge 704, 704 N. 3rd St, Harrisburg, 8 to 11 p.m., featuring local drag personalities. Wear a costume to enter to win a cash prize. Admission is $10. Visit harrisburggaymenschorus.org.

Howl-O’Ween
Oct. 28: Celebrate pets at “Howl-O’Ween: Pets at Fort Hunter,” 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 12 to 4 p.m. The event includes small dog races, pet and owner costume parade, photo ops, kids’ activities, product vendors, a Humane Society appearance, and hot dogs and beverages for sale. Get more details at forthunter.org.

Spooky STEM
Oct. 29, 30: Children ages 6 to 10 are invited to the Kunkel Creation Station at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, to celebrate the seasons by participating in Halloween and fall-themed STEM activities, 5 to 6 p.m. Registration begins on Oct. 8. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

What are you doing this weekend?

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