Wild, Wild Life: Forsaken animals find a home at the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

August 31, 2018 | by Don Helin

Photos by Chuck Rineer, Wildlife Photography.

On a warm summer morning, my wife and I went to spend time with Uncle Frodo and his nephews, Lucas and Lincoln.

Did I mention that they’re gray wolves?

No, we weren’t on the frontier, like some latter-day Kevin Costner. We were just outside the lovely town of Lititz, at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania.

The wolves looked pretty comfortable sleeping on the ground, but I was glad for the fence. We were told that warm, humid central PA summers are not ideal for the animals, which tend to become lethargic. They much prefer cooler weather, when they become more active.

According to Denny Binkley, a volunteer tour guide, the sanctuary was founded in the 1980s by the Darlington family, which wanted to offer a home for unwanted wolves. He said that the numbers vary, but, at the time of our visit, 47 wolves were there, a mix of full-blooded wolves and hybrid wolf-dogs.

“Lots of people want a wolf,” Binkley said. “After all, they say ‘it’s just a dog.’ But try keeping one in a condo. People can’t take care of their wolf once it grows to be more than just an adorable little pup. Fortunately, there are between 12 to 15 sanctuaries around the country that help out by taking in the wolves given up by their owners.”

Educate the Public

The Lititz sanctuary houses the “Speedwell wolves,” named for Speedwell Forge, an 18th-century iron forge in northern Lancaster County.

The forge closed in the mid-19th century. Later, the land housed a horse training area and a dairy farm. It’s been in the Darlington family since the 1940s, and portions now make up Speedwell Forge County Park and Speedwell Forge Lake.

The homestead, the historic Speedwell Forge Mansion, is today a bed and breakfast with three guest rooms with private baths in the main house. There are also two private cottages with eat-in kitchens and fireplaces.

“We bill it as 18th-century luxury with 21st-century comfort,” said owner Dawn Darlington.

Much of the rest of the original property is set aside for the wolves. Over the years, the sanctuary has grown into an extensive educational facility, offering guided tours to educate the public about gray wolf conservation.

“We also have an adoption program, so guests can support the wolves annually by purchasing a package which includes a personalized certificate, professional photo of the wolf, a letter from the wolf detailing its history, a welcome letter from the founder, and facts and information about wolves in general,” said Educational Coordinator Michelle Mancini.

The last wild wolf in Pennsylvania died around 1850. An average wolf lives four to eight years in the wild, but 11 to 18 years in captivity. In the wild, hunger can be a significant issue, but that’s definitely not a problem at the Wolf Sanctuary.

“One of the projects we are most proud of is the construction of our wolf kitchen—an indoor food storage and preparation building with three walk-in freezers containing the wolves’ meals,” Mancini said. “Food for the wolves is raw meat, uncooked and unprocessed. Many times, we get raw meat from food banks or we may even use road kill if it’s tested to make sure it’s disease-free. The meat is frozen, then sawed up into frozen chunks and fed to the wolves.”

The sanctuary is a nonprofit facility that gets no federal or state funding, so it relies on money generated by tours, events and programs. It offers guided tours several times per week to educate the public about gray wolf conservation. Once each month is the “Full Moon” event, typically held between 7:30 and 10 p.m. on the Saturday evening nearest to the full moon, featuring a bonfire, live entertainment and self-guided tours. This is the only event at the sanctuary in which attendees must be 16 or older.

“As we continue to grow, we plan to work towards our more long-term projects such as an on-site veterinary care facility,” said Mancini.
The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania is located at 465 Speedwell Forge Rd., Lititz. For more information, call 717-626-4617 or visit www.wolfsanctuarypa.org.

The Speedwell Forge Bed and Breakfast is also located at 465 Speedwell Forge Rd., Lititz. For more information, call 717-626-1760 or visit www.speedwellforge.com.

Happenings: Our September Calendar of Events

August 31, 2018 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

International Thunderbird Club Exhibit, through Oct. 14

“Mustangs: Six Generations of America’s Favorite Pony Car,” through Oct. 14

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Pastiche II,” a membership show, Sept. 9-Oct. 11; reception, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“From Italy to Harrisburg,” street drawings by Guglielmo Botter, through Oct. 19

Brain Vessel
4704 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-3020; brainvessel.com

“3 Generations,” featuring works Brain Vessel’s Jason Kreiger, along with artwork by his grandfather Jim Tritt, uncles Jon and Jeff Tritt, mother Debra Kreiger and cousins Christopher Zeiders and Annemarie Tritt, Sept. 7-Oct. 6; receptions, Sept. 7 and 8, 7-10 p.m.

Café 1500
1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg
www.cafe-1500.com

Works by Jaime Duncan, Sept. 21-Oct. 14; meet and greet, Sept. 21, 6-9 p.m. (curated by 3rd Street Studio)

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Figurative paintings with personal narratives by Philip Lindsey and unique ceramic pieces by Emily Hampson, through Sept. 22

“The Visible Echo,” photography by Guy Freeman, Sept. 28-Nov. 3

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Linda McCurdy

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-574-4653; galleryatsecond.com

Works by John Whitney and Jonathan Frazier, through Sept. 15

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

“Capture the Moment,” paintings by Jacqui Whitcomb, through Sept. 22; reception: Sept. 2, 3-5 p.m.

“Around the Wiconisco,” works by Thomas Wise, Sept. 30-Nov. 3; reception: Sept. 30, 3-5 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

The Hershey Story Museum Exhibit, featuring works by HAAA member artists, Sept. 6-9

Harrisburg Area Art Association Member Art Exhibition, through Dec. 31

Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

“Harrisburg’s Merchant Heritage,” a retrospective of the city’s retail legacy, including the iconic Mary Sachs, opens Sept. 6; reception, Sept. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Modern Magdalena,” a showing of hooked rugs and mats designed and/or created by the Magdalena Rug Hooking Group of Perry County, through Nov. 3

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Annual Juried Student Show, through Sept. 6

“Violent Grace: A Retrospective of the Work of Edward Knippers,” through Nov. 2; artist’s talk and reception, Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

New works by Jonathan Bean, Tara Chickey, Kelly Curran, Mary Kandray Gelenser, John McNulty, through Sept. 16

New works by Susan Bailey, Ann Benton Yeager, Yachiyo Beck, Meg Caruso, Andrew Guth, Julie Iaria, Caleb Smith, Sept. 18-Oct. 14

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“The Photo Ark” by Joel Sartore, National Geographic photographer and fellow, through September

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Town and country paintings by David McBride, through September

Handcrafted jewelry by Lori Campbell, through September

PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“True North,” new abstract acrylic paintings by Peg Belcastro, through Oct. 6

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Graphic design works by Gail Anderson, Sept. 4-Oct. 5

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Art of the State—Pennsylvania 2018,” the official, statewide juried competition for PA artists, through Sept. 9

“Pennsylvania at War,” highlighting World War I posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives and The Saga of the US Pennsylvania, through Dec. 30

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Romare Bearden: Vision & Activism,” through Sept. 23

“Recycled Play,” mixed media utilizing childhood artifacts by Sean Matthews, through Nov. 4

“Explore—Conceptual Art,” examining contemporary conceptual art through the works of eight regional artists, through Nov. 4

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Comics Unstripped,” highlighting a collection of vintage American comic art to examine development of comics as an art form and explore comics as visual communication, through Oct. 21

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“Miserable,” works by Yesid Gomez, through Sept. 28

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art in the Wild,” Wildwood Park’s annual outdoor art exhibit, through Oct. 31

Winters Heritage House Museum
47 E. High Street; Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

“Elizabethtown Goes to War—The Effects of WWII, In Their Own Words,” Sept. 7-28; reception: Sept. 7, 5 p.m.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Karen Commings, through Sept. 17

Artwork by Yigal Elyadin, Sept. 21-Oct.15

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

“Bootleg,” artwork by Charlie Feathers, Sept. 21-Oct. 18

Read, Make, Learn

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Sept. 6: Paint Night—Lake Reflections, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: Surface Series Workshop, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Sept. 6: Everything Apples, 6-9 p.m.
Sept. 13: Cracked Up Chicken, 6-9 p.m.
Sept. 24: Sensational Shellfish, 6-9 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26: Learn to Play Bridge, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 9: John Haigh—Air Force One Chief Steward Talk, 1-2 p.m.
Sept. 10: The Power of Decluttering, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: File Management on Your Computer, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: Device Club, 1-2:30 p.m.
Sept. 21, 18: Chorus in the Forest, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Sept. 24: Who Are You?, 6-6:45 p.m.
Sept. 25: Friends of East Shore Area Library Meeting, 9:30-11 a.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Sept. 4: Curl Up with the Classics—“Mansfield Park,” 10 a.m.
Sept. 5, 7: Library for Lunch—“Pooh’s Hundred Acre Woods,” 12 p.m.
Sept. 7: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Trivia After Hours—Music of the 60s and 70s, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: Music Together, 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 10: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2 p.m.
Sept. 10: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: Central PA Blood Bank Drive, 4-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14, 28: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: Story Time and Music Therapy w/Sovia Therapy, 3 p.m.
Sept. 16: Family Movie Matinee, 2 p.m.
Sept. 17-Oct. 26: Fall Story Times
Sept. 17: Girls in STEM—Food Science Laboratory, 5 p.m.
Sept. 17: Fredricksen Writes, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: Penn State Master Gardeners’ Gardening with Nature, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20: Blood Pressure Screenings w/ Geisinger Holy Spirit, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sept. 20: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: Fredricksen Reads—“When the English Fall,” 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: Discovering Mindfulness for Children, 4 p.m.
Sept. 30: Adult Crafternoon—Wood Sign Workshop, 1:30 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Sept. 17, 18, 19, 20: Elke Isenberg Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sept. 22, 23: Portrait Painting Tips and Tricks w/Dana Bellis, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Sept. 11-Oct. 30: Improv Level 2, 7-10 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Sept. 20-Nov. 8: Painting acrylics w/Marie Gamon, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Chess Club, 1 p.m.
Sept. 5: In The Middle—Games, 3 p.m.
Sept. 5: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
Sept. 6, 20: Hershey Quilter’s Guild, 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 7, 21: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Sept. 8: Second Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30: Memoirs Writing Class, 2 p.m.
Sept. 10, 17, 24: Storytime for 3s & 4s, 10 a.m.
Sept. 10, 17, 24: Storytime for 4s & 5s, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 11: Hershey Writer’s Critique Group, 6 p.m
Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26: 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
Sept. 12, 19, 26: Sensory 1, 2, Whee!, 11 a.m.
Sept. 12: In the Middle—Art, 3 p.m.
Sept. 12: Crochet Guild, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 12, 19, 26: India Art Appreciation Class, 6 p.m.
Sept. 13: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers Club, 9:45 a.m.
Sept. 13, 27: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
Sept. 15: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Sept. 16: Friends Kids Take a Walk on the Wild Side—Plants, 2 p.m.
Sept. 19: In The Middle—Writing, 3 p.m.
Sept. 19, 26: Back to Basics Writing Class, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: Ready, Set, Goal, 3 p.m.
Sept. 21: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Sept. 23: “Chasing Phil” Friends program, 2 p.m.
Sept. 24: Central PA Bank Blood Drive, 3 p.m.
Sept. 25: Financial Education Series, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 26: In the Middle—Creativity, 3 p.m.
Sept. 29: Halloween Costume Swap, 9:30 a.m.
Sept. 29: Fused Glass Class, 1 p.m.

Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-4646; historicharrisburg.com

Sept. 22: Walking Tour—“Retail Landmarks of Downtown Harrisburg,” 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sept. 24: Covered Bridges of Dauphin County, 6 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Sept. 4: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sept. 10: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 10, 24: English Conversation Club, 6:30-8 p.m.
Sept. 12: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 28: Thursday Morning Book Club, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 28: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 25: Tea & Stitches Extended, 12-5 p.m.
Sept. 26: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 26: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29^th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Sept. 6: Basic Internet I, 1-2:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: Basic Internet II, 1-2:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: Game Day, 12-4 p.m.
Sept. 19, 26: Genius Hour, 4:15-5 p.m.
Sept. 20: Friends of Kline Library Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.
Sept. 20, 27: LEGO Robotics, 4:15-5 p.m.
Sept. 25: A Tribute to Mark Twain, 7-8 p.m.
Sept. 26: Knit 1, Crochet Too!, 6-8 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Sept. 25-Oct. 30: Watercolor Classes for Adults, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Sept. 29: Rug Hooking Workshop, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Passageways—Trans & Non-Binary Group, 2 p.m.
Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Sept. 8: Paint and Sip Party, 5-8 p.m.
Sept. 13: Aging with Pride Lunchtime, 12-2 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Sept. 5: Dungeons and Dragons, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Sept. 19, 26: Afternoon Hangout, 3-4 p.m.
Sept. 24: Video Game Club, 4-5 p.m.
Sept. 24: Cookbook Book Club—Latino Kitchen, 6-7 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26: Mid-day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Sept. 21: Bad Art Night, 6-7 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St, Middletown
717-944-6412 middletownpubliclib.org

Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Daytime Family Yoga, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 6: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: LEGO Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: Science Fiction Book Club (meets online)
Sept. 10, 17, 24: STEM Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10, 24: Evening Family Yoga, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 17: Mystery Book Club, 6-7 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Sept. 5: An Evening w/Elaine Weiss, 7-9 p.m.
Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
Sept. 7, 14, 28: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Sept. 16: Midtown Writers Group, 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 19: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7-9 p.m.
Sept. 20: Author Talk w/Gina Napoli, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 21: Third in the Burg w/ Kosi Akosua Gyebi
Sept. 29: An Evening w/Michael Ausiello, 6-8 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Sept. 5: Secret Studio Tours, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 8-9 p.m.
Sept. 7-9: 3-Day Cold Wax Workshop
Sept. 15: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.
Sept. 18, 25: Weekly Abstract Painting Class, 6-8:45 p.m.
Sept. 19, 26: Weekly Abstract Class, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sept. 21-23: 3-Day Abstract Painting Workshop

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Sept. 8: “Richmond Women” w/Dr. Ashley Whitehead Luskey, 1-2 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Sept. 22: Hunter Trapper Safety, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Sept. 6: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sept. 8: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sept. 10, 17, 24: Preschool Pals Storytime Series, 10:15 a.m.
Sept. 10, 17, 24: Toddlertime, 11 a.m.
Sept. 10, 17, 24: 123 Library! Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11, 18, 25: Book Babies Storytime, 11:15 a.m.
Sept. 11, 18, 25: Preschool Pals Storytime Series, 1 p.m.
Sept. 11: Book Review—The History of Mt. Gretna, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Sept. 11, 18, 25: Tuesday Night Book Discussion Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: Play-Doh Palooza!, 10:15-11:45 a.m.
Sept. 15: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sept. 15: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
Sept. 17: Monday Great Books Discussion, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sept. 20: Pumpkin Pillows, 6:30-8 p.m.
Sept. 26: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Sept. 7, 14: Learn at Lunchtime, 12:15 p.m.
Sept. 13: Nature Lab, 11:30 a.m.

Unity of Harrisburg
927 Wertzville Rd., Enola
717-732-9773; unityofharrisburg.org

Sept. 22: StoweGood Mini Retreat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Sept. 2: Sunday Evening Bird Walk, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12: Stress Relief Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: Brownie Scout Program—Bugs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sept. 20: Get in Shape Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: Wild Edibles w/Debra Naha, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

Sept. 4: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 6: Teen Night, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 10: Basic Car Maintenance, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 12: 2^nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
Sept. 18: Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20, 27: Afternoon Hangout, 3-4 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Sept. 16: Gary Allan
Sept. 29: Fall Doo Wop Calvacade
Sept. 30: Tony Bennett

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Sept. 1: Close to Consideration, Blind Accuracy, Phlphr
Sept. 7: Kitchen Dwellers
Sept. 13: The Hacksensaw Boys
Sept. 14: Electric Love Machine, Sun & Rain
Sept. 28: Midnight Spaghetti & The Chocolate G-Strings
Sept. 30: Judy Fowlis

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Sept. 18: Five for Fighting

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

Sept. 1, 12, 26, 29: Roy Lefevre
Sept. 4: Beth Trez
Sept. 5, 19: Christine Purcell
Sept. 6, 27: Corinna Joy
Sept. 7, 11, 13, 14, 18, 25, 28: Noel Gevers
Sept. 8, 22: Ted Ansel
Sept. 20, 23: Anthony Haubert
Sept. 21: Corinna Joy & Noel Gevers

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Sept. 9: New Song, Citizen Way, Unspoken

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Sept. 1: Glenn Hughes, Buried Above Ground
Sept. 7: Dead Boys, Ghostface Killah
Sept. 8: Set It Off
Sept. 12: Real Estate, Piebald
Sept. 14: Sponge
Sept: 15: Nonpoint
Sept. 18: Matthew Thiessen & The Earthquakes
Sept. 21: Supersonic—Tribute to Oasis
Sept. 28: Scooter Brown Band

Club XL
801 S. 10^th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

Sept. 1: Smooth Like Clyde, DJ Ray Rossi
Sept. 7: DJ Caraby
Sept. 8: Nengo Flow, Rumba Caliente, DJ Pap, DJ Male Mixx
Sept. 14: Back to the 80s DJ Ray RossiD, J Geoffro Metron Reunion
Sept. 15: Hybrid Ice & Sapphire
Sept. 21: Big Something, Gobbo and Big Boy Brass Band
Sept. 22: Whipped Cream
Sept. 28: The Golden Pony EDM Dance
Sept. 29: Emily’s Toybox

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Sept. 1: R & D Band
Sept. 7: Antonio Andrade
Sept. 8: Janie Womack & Jody Esterlean
Sept. 14: Steve Gellman
Sept. 15: Doug Morris
Sept. 21: Kevin Kline
Sept. 22: Michael Arthur
Sept. 28: Joe Cooney
Sept. 29: Dominick Cicco

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Sept. 20: Hit The Roof
Sept. 28: Laura Lizcano

Gretna Music
gretnamusic.org

Sept. 1: Canadian Brass
Sept. 2: Fred Hersch and Aaron Diehl
Sept. 8: Verona Quartet

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Sept. 18: Celtic Thunder
Sept. 22: Hershey Symphony
Sept. 28: Diana Ross

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

Sept. 1: Jumper
Sept. 2: Colt Wilbur Band
Sept. 7: Funktion
Sept. 8: The Luv Gods
Sept. 14: Sapphire
Sept. 15: HoneyPump, Draw the Line
Sept. 21: Emily’s Toybox
Sept. 22: The Famous
Sept. 28: Uptown Band
Sept. 29: Smooth Like Clyde

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Sept. 6: Rickie Lee Jones
Sept. 7: Next to Nothing—The Music of Breaking Benjamin
Sept. 7: Twist—The Music of Korn
Sept. 7: MonkeyFoo—Music of Foo Fighters
Sept. 13: Skatalites, The Main Street Sweep
Sept. 14: Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, King Parrot
Sept. 14: Chris Jamison, Jesse Denaro
Sept. 15: Coco Montoya, Ben Brandt Trio
Sept. 18: Red Fang, Big Business, Dead Now
Sept. 21: Box of Rain—Tribute to Grateful Dead
Sept. 27: Angel Olsen & Julianna Barwick
Sept. 30: Valley Queen

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

Sept. 8: Concert at Church of the Good Shepherd

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

Sept. 14: Some Kind of Nightmare, Merger
Sept. 21: The Retinas, Alex Stanilla, The Super High Tech Jet Fighters
Sept. 29: Giants, Cold Clod, Nowns

The Lodge at Liberty Forge
3804 Lisburn Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-691-5335; lodgeatlibertyforge.com

Sept. 6: Leblanc & Kissinger
Sept. 9: Chicken Clark’s Road Apple Rodeo
Sept. 13: Jack’s Back
Sept. 20: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band
Sept. 27: Shea & Len

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Sept. 14: Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye
Sept. 28: John Denver Celebration Concert

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
113 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
717-258-1234; marketcrosspub.com

Sept. 5: Jane Ramsey
Sept. 8: Maxwell Project
Sept. 15: Amy Simpson Band
Sept. 22: Everyday People
Sept. 29: Kleinklaus Duo
Sept. 30: Amy Simpson, Forrest Brown

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Sept. 15: Threefold Cord Women’s Choir
Sept. 28: Messiah College Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Winds

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective

Sept. 7: OAF, The April Skies

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

Sept. 1: Lucille
Sept. 8: Tony Catalano
Sept. 15: Nate Myers
Sept. 22: Keith Goldstein
Sept. 29: Mark Baxter

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Sept. 22: Shotgunn

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

Sept. 8: Middleton Brothers Band
Sept. 15: Grumpy Old Men
Sept. 29: Lovers of Music Band

Rusty Rail Brewing Co.
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

Sept. 14: Pop Chubby
Sept. 21: Driftwood

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com

Sept. 6: Randel Hamlen
Sept. 7: CC Spirit String
Sept. 8: Joe Cooney
Sept. 14: Rhoads & Putt Trio
Sept. 15: Rayzen Kane
Sept. 18: Amber Nadine
Sept. 20: Sofeya and The Puffins
Sept. 21: Cotolo
Sept. 22: Craig Bonner & Steve Geib
Sept. 29: Just Dave

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Sept. 1: Jaerv
Sept. 2: Open Mic
Sept. 17: Fort Hunter Day
Sept. 21: Nordic Fiddlers Bloc
Sept. 24: Ten Strings and a Goat Skin

Unity of Harrisburg
927 Wertzville Rd., Enola
717-732-9773; unityofharrisburg.org

Sept. 21: StoweGood

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Sept. 14: Club 42—Gabrielle Stravelli
Sept. 15: Allegro’s Music in the Round, Allegro’s Lounge 42
Sept. 16: Allegro’s Core Concert
Sept. 20: The Hot Sardines
Sept. 23: Dan Zanes Night Train 57
Sept. 28: Xun Pan & Dana Weiderhold

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Sept. 15: Ana Popovic
Sept. 17: Neko Case

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Sept. 7: Josh Dominick
Sept. 21: Jason Ager

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Sept. 22: An Evening w/Jon Dorenbos

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Sept. 14-16: “West Side Story”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Through Sept. 15: “Swing!”
Sept. 20-Nov. 10: “Sister Act”
Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Sept. 12-22: “Aladdin” (Popcorn Hat Players)

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

Sept. 14-16: “Tarzan”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Sept. 1: Ken Evans
Sept. 7, 8: Mike Gardner and Shawn Banks
Sept. 14, 15: Ryan Van Genderen & Blayr Nias
Sept. 20: Earl David Reed and Friends Comedy Fundraiser
Sept. 21, 22: John Moses and Owen Bowness
Sept. 28, 29: Tom Daddario and Homer Shadowheart

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Sept. 1: Rabid Dabblers/Bandito, Love Triangle/Wild Goose Chaise, Images
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Free Improv Mixer
Sept. 2: Level 1 Class Show
Sept. 7: This Mortal Coil/Mary Todd Lincoln, Hawkward, Spacework
Sept. 8: Aesthetic Dying Duck/Barely Adulting, Hardly Working, Monotone
Sept. 14: The Fourest/Midnight Library, Tony Stanza, Tanks, Buddy/The Harvey Taylor Gang
Sept. 15: Rabid Dabblers/Elderprov, Closed Casket/Name That Tune, Critical HIT/Pillow Talk
Sept. 21: Ferd Majelly/JohNathan, Tiny Town, Happy Beautiful Goodnight Show
Sept. 22: Barely Adulting/Solo Sleepover, Introduce A Self, Band Job/Without A Tres
Sept. 28: Fours Company 2—In Addition Too/Midnight Library, This Show Will Self Destruct/Ferret Prom, HIT Bits
Sept. 30: Poetry Slam

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Sept. 14: Disney Junior Dance Party on Tour
Sept. 19: John Cusack

Lancaster Marionette Theatre
126 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-394-8389; lancastermarionette.org

Through Nov. 17: “The Death & Life of Sherlock”
Through Nov. 10: “Treasure Island”

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

Sept. 22: Poetry Night

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Sept. 7-23: “Prisoner Off Second Avenue”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Sept. 29-Oct. 21: “Carrie the Musical”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

Sept. 21-Oct. 7: “The Haunting of Hill House”

Rose Lehrman Arts Center
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Sept. 27: Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Sept. 7-16: “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Sept. 7: “We the People”—Yesid Gomez
Sept. 27: “Break the Chain” On Screen/In Person

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Sept. 12: Story Slam

Bloody Well Right: At Open Stage, the horror of high school gets musical with “Carrie.”

August 31, 2018 | by Laura Dugan

Photo by Haley Harned.

The theme of Season 33 at Open Stage of Harrisburg is “Coming of Age,” and kicking it off is a show with that theme at its heart: “Carrie: The Musical.”

Based on the novel by Stephen King, “Carrie” features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award-winner Michael Gore, and lyrics by Academy Award-winner Dean Pitchford.

With a season focusing on giving voice to the youth that yearn to be heard, Carrie White’s story is the perfect start. A misfit in high school, she is relentlessly bullied by popular kids, while, at home, she’s at the mercy of her cruel, overprotective mother. Carrie’s story unfolds through a pop/rock score as she discovers her special power—and everyone who has ever slighted her, and even those who love her most, had better watch out.

“I think audiences will be surprised by the music in ‘Carrie,’” said Vanessa Marie Hofer, who portrays Sue Snell. “I know I was. The music combined with the action-driven plot is what makes this particular piece a must-see.”

Audiences will experience plenty of theater magic as the fantastical elements of “Carrie” are brought to life at Open Stage.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of bringing horror to the stage,” said Director Stuart Landon. “How do you make something scary on stage? How do you create tension when you don’t have crazy camera angles and extreme close-ups?”

However, the story of “Carrie” is much more than jump scares and gore. It’s a story of growing up, of realizing that what we think we know about someone isn’t necessarily true, and of recognizing the impact of one small act of kindness.

“I think this show is all about really seeing people—what is our responsibility to our fellow humans?” said Landon. “In the musical, Sue Snell asks, ‘What does it cost to be kind?’ and I think we can all benefit by asking that question.”

Kayla Brooks, who portrays Carrie, agrees and thinks that audience members shouldn’t be put off by the genre.

“This story is one of my favorites in the horror genre, but, whether or not you like horror, I think you should come see the show,” she said. “There are so many morals that come from daily life at school, which is one of the best parts of the story.”

Hofer’s character, Sue, provides most of the morality that softens a hard-edged show.

“I love that my character brings some love and soul and good intentions,” she said. “She provides some balance and hope in an ever-escalating negative situation.”

Landon, a fan of both scary movies and musicals, is excited about directing this unique piece of theater.

“This musical adaptation of Stephen King’s first published novel is fun and frightening,” said Landon. “The music is great and our cast is outstanding. King’s cautionary tale translates well in this adaptation, which was reworked in 2012.”

Whether book, movie or musical, “Carrie” is a tale about what happens when we underestimate the power we hold within.

“This is going to be a bloody good time,” said Landon.

The cast of “Carrie” also features Maggie Haynes, Ian Wallace, Brad Barkdoll, Alexis Dow Campbell, Rachel Landon, Chris Gibson, Benny Benamati, Amanda Adams, Shakeil Kanishl, Elena Rossetto and Erin Shellenberger.

“Carrie” runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 20 at Open Stage of Harrisburg, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. Tickets are available at www.openstagehbg.com. It is recommended that guests be at least 14 years of age to attend “Carrie.”

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“Aladdin”
Sept. 12-22
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online at gamuttheatre.org or at the door.

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

Teen Studio Acting Class
“Rent”
Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. starting Sept. 23
Acting classes for kids ages 14 to 19 that culminate in a fully produced production of “Rent.” Enrollment is open now at alsedektheatreschool.com.

OSHKids Performance Company
“A Wrinkle in Time”
Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., starting Sept. 23
Acting classes for kids ages 8 to 13 that culminate in a fully produced production of “A Wrinkle in Time.” Enrollment is open at alsedektheatreschool.com.

“Carrie the Musical”
Sept. 29 to Oct. 20
Based on Stephen King’s infamous novel of revenge, this pop musical opens Season 33 at Open Stage.

August News Digest

August 31, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Exit Plan Released

The commonwealth last month released Harrisburg’s newest Act 47 exit plan, which calls for maintaining the city’s current Local Services Tax (LST) and Earned Income Tax (EIT) rates through 2020, as the city concurrently seeks special taxing provisions from the state legislature.

Harrisburg’s Act 47 coordinator had to craft an exit plan based on current state law, which would require Harrisburg to relinquish some of its taxing authority when it leaves Act 47 in three years. The city currently collects $11.8 million in annual revenue from heightened LST and EIT rates permitted under Act 47.

The report encourages Harrisburg officials to continue lobbying for the right to levy those current tax rates indefinitely.

To that end, it offers a four-year budget strategy that would give Harrisburg time to continue its lobbying effort. It would allow the city to maintain its status quo tax rates and expenditures through 2020.

If the city does not secure a legislative victory by 2021, DCED would revise the budget projections in the exit plan and would ask the city to change its revenue structure and cut spending.

If state laws have not changed by 2021, the coordinator recommends that Harrisburg lower its EIT to 1.5 percent, reduce its spending, and begin using its fund balance to reduce any budget deficits.

In 2022, the city would have to reduce its EIT to 1 percent and its LST to $52 per year.

The plan also outlines initiatives that the city can undertake to curb spending and increase revenues while it implements the four-year budget strategy.

They include asking more tax-exempt organizations to make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), performing a cost analysis of its union and non-union represented personnel expenditures, and limiting enhancements in its future collective bargaining agreements.

DCED also recommends that the city study its split-rate property tax structure and consider moving to a single-rate system. The report says that the split-rate system benefits homesteads at the expense of landowners.

“As revitalization and property improvements continue within the City, the City’s split rate millage is not fully capitalizing on the growth—the county and school district are,” the report reads.

Councilman Ben Allatt said that the revised exit plan was a marked improvement over the first draft, which suggested huge property tax hikes in excess of 100 percent.

“We’re headed in a much better direction than the initial exit plan,” he said. “I think the strategy is to not force the city to make all these crazy decisions in a 30-day period without the state acting. Because the fact is that if we want to resolve our long-term financial situation, then we need to compel the state to act.”

DCED must now hold a public hearing on the revised exit plan.

Teachers Asked to Return Pay

The Harrisburg School District made a big accounting error when it offered dozens of teachers inflated salaries in 2016, and administrators are now asking them to pay some of it back.

Two years after it violated a collective bargaining agreement by hiring 65 teachers at the wrong salary level, the school district is asking them to take a pay cut and give back the wages they were overpaid.

The recouped wages would total almost $500,000, with individual teachers accountable for amounts ranging from $600 to $12,000, according to Harrisburg Education Association leaders.

HEA says the offer violates the contracts of the teachers being asked to take a pay cut and insults 79 longtime teachers who are currently being underpaid. They fear it will lead more teachers to resign from the district.

“It’s ridiculous,” said union President Jody Barksdale. “We’re in a position where we will lose dedicated people because of the lack of promise. When you say you’ll pay someone a certain amount of money, they budget their life around that amount of money.”

HEA filed a grievance against the district in 2016, asking administrators to either reduce the new teacher salaries or promote HEA teachers who had been frozen on the salary schedule. They put forth a $320,000 proposal to bring 79 underpaid employees up to their rightful pay grade, Barksdale said.

Now, the district is fulfilling one of their requests. They’ll cut the new salaries to match HEA pay levels, but they want the teachers they overpaid to give back their wages.

The proposal would bring in half-a-million dollars for the district, even though administrators set aside $1.9 million for the grievance settlement in the 2018-19 budget that was approved by the board in June.

Barksdale said that HEA wants underpaid teachers to be brought up to step instead. She also said the whole fiasco could have been avoided if the district’s Human Resources Department had worked with them in 2016.

“Our counsel tried to explain the language in the bargaining agreement to new personnel in the HR office,” Barksdale said. “It’s like they didn’t believe us or trust us.”

A visibly frustrated Barksdale said that the district’s administration is driving away talented teachers and hurting children.

“The only way this district will move forward is if the district sits down and has honest, transparent conversations with us,” Barksdale said.

Bridge Work Ahead

Harrisburg drivers should brace themselves for some short-term pain, as PennDOT is replacing a small, but well-traveled bridge over Paxton Creek.

Preliminary work began last month to remove and replace the rust-marred Herr Street Bridge that passes over the creek between N. Cameron and N. 9th streets near the Subway Café. That portion of Herr Street averages more than 12,300 vehicles a day, according to the state Department of Transportation.

In August, work began with single-lane restrictions, as crews drove in micro-pilings to prepare for the actual replacement of the 98-year-old single-span, steel-girder bridge.

Then, on Sept. 7, weather permitting, Herr Street, between Cameron and N. 7th streets, will close entirely for as many as 10 days so that crews can remove the existing bridge, replace it with a precast concrete superstructure and rebuild the roadway.

A detour will route motorists around the work zone using Cameron, Maclay and N. 7th streets, said PennDOT.

Atglen, Pa.-based J.D. Eckman is performing the design and construction work under a $3.2 million contract, which includes building the precast superstructure in a nearby lot along Herr Street.

PennDOT said that it expects the entire project, which also includes utility, pavement and signage work, to be finished by mid-October.

State Grant for Office Building

A new downtown Harrisburg office building is a bit closer to reality, as the 2nd Street project last month received a $1 million state grant.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced that Second Street Associates, a partnership headed up by Harristown Development, will receive the funds through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), which aids projects deemed economically, culturally or historically important.

The money will go towards constructing a new, six-story office building at 21 S. 2nd Street, with retail on the ground floor, along with the rehabilitation of the historic, six-story structure next door at 17 S. 2nd St., which houses the SkarlatosZonarich law firm. The two buildings then would be joined inside to form a single, interconnected structure.

“I am proud to support the construction of this new office and retail tower in downtown Harrisburg,” Wolf said in a statement. “This investment supports the efforts of the region to create more jobs, bolster shopping and retail opportunities, and will strengthen the city’s tax base and local economy.”

Last year, Harristown bought and then razed the dilapidated, three-story, 19th-century structure that once housed the Coronet Restaurant. The building had been largely empty since a fire destroyed the restaurant several decades ago.

Harristown had requested $3 million for the building project. Most RACP applicants are denied funding and, when granted, awards typically are significantly lower than amounts requested.

So far, in the 2018 round of funding, the only other RACP award in Dauphin County has gone to the city of Harrisburg, a $2 million grant to begin the Paxton Creek reclamation project. In 2017, the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC) received $1 million to complete its build out, the Salvation Army Harrisburg received $500,000 for its new building on Rudy Road and Hershey Towne Square received $750,000 towards a three-story parking garage.

So Noted

Harrisburg University last month introduced the 15 full-scholarship members of its new varsity e-sports team and unveiled their uniform, logo and team name, The Storm. The season begins this month with competition in the team-based, multiplayer game, Overwatch, and continues next semester with the games League of Legends and Hearthstone.

Higher Information Group last month announced that it had acquired Pennsylvania Telephone Products Co. The Harrisburg-based business-to-business company said that PTP would be folded into its IT division.

Lola Lawson was appointed last month to the Harrisburg school board, filling a seat vacated by Tyrell Spradley, who resigned after just four months. The board voted 5-3 to appoint Lawson, a school board veteran, during a contentious, crowded meeting at which many residents supported other candidates for the seat.

Changing Hands

Brookwood St., 2200: K. Reinoso to F. DeJesus, $62,500

Camp St., 633: Amtwo Investors LLC to J. Addison, $44,900

Chestnut St., 316: G. & M. Peck to D. Pedroza, $117,000

Derry St., 2436: M. & I. Collins to B. Wolfe, $75,000

Derry St., 2615: S. Mejia to S. Salleb & M. Aiz, $42,500

Green St., 801: Bricker Boys Partnership to Capitol River LLC, $264,900

Forster St., 217 & 222 Briggs St.: G. Rothman c/o RSR Realtors to M. Three Properties, $525,000

Green St., 1729: A. Toberman to P. Lee & S. Willard, $145,000

Green St., 1830: J. Becknauld to Berlin Group LLC, $76,000

Green St., 2345: J. Chirdon to J. Marsh, $83,700

Green St., 3236: D. Conner to C. Devaney, $71,500

Harris St., 212: R. Evanchak to G. Rhone, $138,000

Harris St., 235: M. Barrette to T. Kline, $80,900

Harris St., 429: S. Rao to McClellan Development Group LLC, $76,000

Herr St., 315: J. Montgomery to P. Shaughnessy, $124,500

Holly St., 1837: Skye Holdings LLC to E. Torres, $30,000

Hudson St., 1256: M. Shatto to Marsico Realty LLC, $105,000

Kelker St., 236: D. Zurick to E. Strobel & M. Bragers, $185,500

Kensington St., 2213: P. Flores to S. & A. Popoola, $63,500

Kensington St., 2266: D. Selvey to A. Tilghman, $66,240

Kittatinny St., 1215: A. & R. Apa to S&P Property Holdings LLC, $285,000

Maclay St., 318: Skye Holdings LLC to A. Nebbou & C. Myers, $30,000

Market St., 1920: G. Norman to F. Grooms, $99,000

Nagle St., 123: K. Snyder & C. Kaufman to L. & C. Jerome, $152,500

N. 2^nd St., 1829: M. Nolt to E. & G. Stailey, $134,900

N. 2^nd St., 1935: R. & A. Apa to G. & J. Geiges, $70,000

N. 2^nd St., 2904: F. & B. Pinto to J. Hamley & M. Nolt, $315,000

N. 2^nd St., 3007: A. Harris to E. Kotz & S. Wissler, $168,000

N. 3^rd St., 1700, L57: J. Cody to PA Deals LLC, $63,500

N. 3^rd St., 2201 & 2205: A. & R. Apa to S&P Property Holdings LLC, $275,000

N. 3^rd St., 2333: R. Oberton Sr. to 2333 N. 3^rd Street LLC, $115,000

N. 4^th St., 2225: P. Yoder & E. Murphy-Yoder to 2225 4^th LLC, $45,000

N. 5^th St., 2403: Skye Holdings LLC to A. Nebbou & C. Myers, $34,900

N. 5^th St., 2409: 2409 N. 5^th St. LLC to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $31,480

N. 5^th St., 2605: 42 5^th St. LLC to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $37,690

N. 14^th St., 1216: L. Dodd to S. Mejia, $30,000

N. 15^th St., 1625: C. Cade to Ma Ambashakti LLC, $30,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 406: Z. Fogel to J. Davis, $98,900

N. Front St., 2837, Unit 201: R. & L. Barry to H. Witte, $128,750

Penn St., 1622: S. Simon to E. & J. Mallory, $102,000

Penn St., 2232: N. & J. Weaver to T. Cook, $53,000

Pennwood Rd., 3207: C. Gaither to M. Katzman, $125,000

Pine St., 224: Pennsylvania Retailers to PSREU LLC, $110,000

Race St., 604: S. Cairns to A. Heinzel, $165,000

Reel St., 2605: J. Clark to A. Winter, $42,599

Reily St., 255: E. Harman to R. Wodele, $142,500

S. 13^th St., 333: Eastern Mennonite Mission to Herman International Ministries, $132,000

S. 14^th St., 1400: M. Vargas to City of Harrisburg, $59,000

S. 14^th St., 1405: M. Allsup to City of Harrisburg, $39,000

S. 17^th St., 1111: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to V. Ceballos, $40,000

S. 19^th St., 1117: C. Runne to F. Payero, $93,000

S. 20^th St., 25: P. Morton to C. Arnold, $55,000

S. 20^th St., 631: F. & R. Rivera to E. & D. Cortes, $92,000

S. 20^th St., 1226: W. & M. Branche to W. & J. Venable, $143,900

S. 22^nd St., 713: A. Sahovic to EGG Gourmet Solutions LLC, $820,000

S. 25^th St., 725: K. Brown to G. & L. Davis, $130,000

S. 25^th St., 729: 729 25^th Street LLC to Y. Suero & N. Richard, $183,000

S. Cameron St., 1327: E. & R. Kehr to J. Swigart, $44,500

S. Front St., 811: Bank of New York Mellon Trustee & NationStar Mortgage LLC to R. Shokes Jr., $52,000

State St., 1502: R. & A. Sharp to S. Kochis, $73,820

Glorious Feeling: Area native Stosh Snyder begins his first season at the helm of Theatre Harrisburg.

August 31, 2018 | by Karen Hendricks

“Why does September seem sunny as spring?” asks one version of the classic Hollywood song, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Stosh Snyder, whose favorite musical of all time is “Singin’ in the Rain,” likely has the answer. The new executive director of Theatre Harrisburg says the future is bright indeed for the community theatre’s 2018-19 season—launching this month—as well as his own professional career.

Snyder, 43, says Harrisburg is one of the most vibrant—and oldest—theater communities in the country. A native son, he’s been performing since the age of 7. He even took classes at Theatre Harrisburg as a child. Twenty-five years ago, he played the role of Cosmo Brown at Central Dauphin High School’s “Singin’ in the Rain” production.

After earning his musical education degree at Shenandoah University, he stayed in Virginia as a music teacher for a few years. When he returned to Harrisburg, his career took a new, business-oriented direction as he worked in sales, then in the insurance industry. He stayed involved in the local theater scene, also appearing in independent films and commercials. Then, as he said, “My dream job opened up.”

After about a year in the position, then-Executive Director Allison Hays resigned in April. Snyder was one of about 15 applicants who threw his hat into the ring.

“I was very impressed with Stosh,” said Jay Krevsky, the theater’s long-time board member who served on the search committee. “The committee’s choice was unanimous.”

Sndyer said that he brings a unique perspective—including business acumen—to the position, which he began in mid-May.

“I’ve been involved in Theatre Harrisburg for almost two decades,” he said. “I’ve lived the life of the volunteer, of the actor, of the patron. So, I think I have a good understanding [of the organization]. We’re not a professional theater, but we want to operate like one.”

Fully Entertained

When I spoke with Snyder, he was in full motion preparing for his first season as executive director.

The 2018-19 season launches this month with “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” and continues with “Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical” in November. Other highlights throughout the season include “Oh Joy, Oh Rapture,” “Doubt,” “Avenue Q” and “Sylvia.”

“When I say there’s something for everybody in our season, it couldn’t be truer,” said Snyder.

“Newsies,” he said, is a fun, family-friendly show, while “Avenue Q” is “basically ‘Sesame Street’ for adults.” “Baskerville,” he said, will show off the “incredible talent of some of our actors.”

“We have shows that will make you laugh, shows that will make you cry, but you’re going to leave feeling fully entertained,” he said.

Snyder credits his predecessor for choosing a great lineup.

“Alison did a wonderful job here and picked a great season,” he said. “Financially, the theater is doing great, and she has a lot to do with that.”

Snyder is also quick to thank Theatre Harrisburg’s army of volunteers.

He estimates as many as 200 volunteers do everything from stitching costumes to pounding nails on the set. Including his job, the theater has five paid positions; volunteers fill all other gaps. He welcomes anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to contact Theatre Harrisburg and “find your niche.”

In terms of goals, Snyder said that he has three.

“Goal number one, even though it’s a cliché, is to put the community back in theater,” he said. “I want to offer an educational platform for our volunteers to find success in producing a production. I also want to help put more people in the seats and entertain our community. And I want to offer programs for kids. Our mission and theater was built on education.”

Snyder said that a children’s holiday show will be added to the lineup in December. And he would like to launch a kids’ summer theater program.

“Theaters sometimes go dark in the summer,” he said. “But my feeling is, a theater should never go dark unless it’s a blackout and a scene change.”

The Buzz

Snyder is complimentary towards fellow theater and arts organizations throughout the greater Harrisburg area. He said that he views other theater groups as a community and not as competition, because the end result is “extraordinary talent,” thanks to actors honing their craft.

What is it about theater that gets in your blood, whether you’re a performer or a theater aficionado? Snyder said that the answer is an emotional one.

“First, I get a joy out of watching people laugh and be entertained,” he said. “People who come to watch a show—we’re helping them escape their everyday lives and reality for a 120 minutes.”

Then there’s the ability to pull emotion out of people.

“That’s where the buzz comes from,” he said. “There’s nothing like live theater. There are no two shows exactly alike. When you see the audience’s appreciation, you can see it in their eyes.”

Theatre Harrisburg is located at 513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg. They also perform many shows at Whitaker Center. For more information on the theater or its upcoming season, call 717-232-5501 or see theatreharrisburg.com.

Musical Notes: It’s Still Beating–In Harrisburg, the heart of rock ‘n roll plays through.

August 31, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

It’s getting close to my favorite time of year.

In this column, I definitely mention seasons a lot, but there’s something extra special about those cooler evenings spent on porches with friends or out on the town in the Burg. The Kipona festival hits its 102nd anniversary early this month, the Celtic Craic Music Fest returns towards the end of the month, and, as always, there are plenty of fun shows to go around the rest of the time. We have some big names coming through the city, so keep an eye out and be sure to give them a big Harrisburg welcome!

RICKIE LEE JONES, 9/6, 8PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $50
Even though Harrisburg is a small city, it’s attracted the attention of big-time artists looking to book a show while on tour. Two-time Grammy winning artist Rickie Lee Jones is coming to town, and you know it’s going to be a good time. Starting her pop career in 1978, Jones wowed her fans with “Saturday Night Live” performances, Rolling Stones covers and 15 albums to boot. Jones has undoubtedly got spunk, but she’s also got the heart to match it. Her confessional style of playing and her honest, soulful lyrics have inspired many artists. If you haven’t heard her before, check out some of her older material like the critically acclaimed “Pirates” or look up her newest album, “The Other Side of Desire,” tales from life in her current home of New Orleans. The song “Chuck E’s in Love” is a classic and, hopefully, Harrisburg will get to hear her play it live in the Capitol Room.

HYBRID ICE, 9/15, 8PM, CLUB XL
Everyone seems to love the ‘80s, especially the decade’s unique sound. Harrisburg’s hottest new venue, Club XL, is hosting Hybrid Ice, the self-proclaimed “most famous unknown band in the world.” This prog rock band, hailing from Danville, Pa., has been active from 1969 on, taking a hiatus from 1998 to 2002 and switching some band members along the way. Their claim to fame came back in 1982 when they released their radio hit song “Magdalene.” It gained much attention back then but hasn’t lost any of its quality along the way. Boston even covered the song on its 1994 album, “Walk On.” Prep your big hair, neon colors and spandex because this is going to be a rockin’ night to remember.

NEKO CASE, 9/17, 7:30PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $49
Perhaps better known by some for her stints in her former bands, Neko Case is giving Harrisburg a taste of her transformative solo career for an evening at Whitaker Center. With roots in the Vancouver music scene back in the ‘90s, Case started her music career playing drums with her bands and, eventually, went on to form Neko Case and Her Boyfriends and, later, The New Pornographers. With her solo career, Case went back to her punk and country roots. Her newest album, “Hell-On,” was released earlier this year, and its title track is mesmerizing. This genre-defying, country-leaning powerhouse is sure to bring the house down.

Mentionables:

Kitchen Dwellers, Sept. 7, The Abbey Bar

Torture Ascendancy, Sept. 8, J.B. Lovedraft’s

Peter White, Sept. 9, Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival

The Hackensaw Boys, Sept. 13, The Abbey Bar

Chris Jamison, Sept. 14, H*MAC Stage on Herr

Grumpy Old Men, Sept. 15, River City Blues Club

PennDOT hoping for a “project champion” to propel multi-million dollar Paxton Creek restoration.

August 30, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

An initial rendering of the proposed Paxton Creek Park, which PennDOT calls for constructing on a parcel owned by CREDC. Amenities include community garden plots, picnic pavilions, walking trails, a sculpture garden and a grass play court. (Click to enlarge.)

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time, according to PennDOT Deputy Secretary Jennie Granger, who used the metaphor to describe a $90 million restoration of Harrisburg’s Paxton Creek.

Granger spoke this morning at Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC 2018 transportation briefing, a ticketed breakfast meeting at the Hilton Harrisburg Hotel. She outlined objectives of the long-anticipated restoration project, which aims to widen the Paxton Creek and lower its floodplain elevation, making hundreds of blighted, industrial acres more attractive for development.

“This could have a monumental, positive impact for the city and the commonwealth,” Granger said. “From Herr Street south, there’s a lot of potential for redevelopment.”

However, PennDOT first needs a “project champion” to emerge from the gaggle of state agencies, city and county offices, and private sector stakeholders invested in the restoration, Granger said. She emphasized the need for private dollars to fund the full project.

Paxton Creek, which runs for 6.2 miles from Wildwood Park to the Susquehanna River watershed, was a key part of the City Beautiful movement in the early 1900s. It was channelized as a canal in 1914, after rapid urban development in the 19th and early 20th century degraded the creek’s ecology and structural integrity, leaving it vulnerable to flash floods.

The threat of flooding has since deterred development near Paxton Creek, particularly along the Cameron Street industrial corridor.

PennDOT’s chief goal in the restoration project is to lower the elevation of the creek’s 100-year floodplain from 317 feet to 314 feet.

“Three feet doesn’t seem substantial, but it will have major impacts,” Granger said.

In all, 147 property parcels are partially affected by the flood plain, and an additional 73 are totally affected, Granger said. A PennDOT study found that the elevation reduction could increase property values by 15 percent absent any other improvements, she said.

One of those sites is the former Harco Steel Corporation, a 23 acre parcel on Cameron Street, which CREDC purchased for $500,000 in March. The Paxton Creek Master Plan calls for renovating the site as Paxton Creek Park, with amenities such as community garden plots, a grass play court, picnic areas and walking trails.

Like many parcels on the Cameron Street corridor, the former industrial site will need extensive remediation before it can be repurposed.

PennDOT’s Paxton Creek Master Plan, published earlier this year, put a $60 to $90 million price tag on the project. That figure includes all engineering and design work and repairs for structurally deficient bridges.

A second, more comprehensive study, which analyzes the creek’s impact between Herr Street, South Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River, has been delayed due to summer flooding.

PennDOT hopes to complete the due diligence study by January 2019, at which point it can lay out next steps in the years-long project.

Earlier this summer, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority received a $2 million state RACP grant to fund preliminary work on the Paxton Creek Project. Mayor Eric Papenfuse said this morning that the city is still deciding whether to use it on bridge repairs, channel reinforcement or property acquisitions.

“We have a lot of options for how to spend that money,” Papenfuse said. “It’s a small amount, but it’s a start, and where we deploy it is key to the overall strategy.”

Granger also provided a brief update on the Harrisburg Transportation Center renovation, one component of the Paxton Creek Master Plan. The train and bus hub’s observation room will get a new roof and full renovation in early 2019, she reported.

However, long-term plans to renovate the station’s concourse, lobby and bathrooms are on hold while PennDOT negotiates building ownership and leasing with Amtrak.

Detours ahead as projects affect Harrisburg roads, traffic

August 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg drivers will have to dodge some key street closures, as infrastructure projects are shutting down portions of two well-traveled routes.

Capital Region Water today shut down Market Street between Cameron and N. 13^th Street to repair two sewer mains. That portion of road will remain closed through November, said Andrew Bliss, CRW’s community outreach manager.

Bliss said that traffic will be detoured to Paxton Street (see map), though sidewalks will remain open. The work is needed to replace and reline portions of two sewer pipes, Bliss said.

Up Cameron Street, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has revised its scheduled to replace the Herr Street Bridge that runs over Paxton Creek. The bridge replacement now will take place starting Sept. 14, continuing for about 10 days, which will close Herr Street between Cameron Street and N. 7^th Street.

Previously, the road closure was slated for Sept. 7 to 17.

A detour will direct traffic around the work zone using Cameron Street, Maclay Street and 7th Street. A signed detour for pedestrians will use Cameron Street, Market Street, 5th Street and 7th Street.

Work on this project has already begun, with some lane closures. However, the actual bridge replacement and complete road closure now won’t occur until Sept. 14, according to PennDOT.

Meanwhile, PennDOT also announced today that work has begun to clear areas along the southbound and northbound lanes of I-83 near Valley Road, Locust Lane, Megoulas Boulevard and Londonderry Road in preparation for mainline interstate and structure widening in Lower Paxton Township.

This work marks the start of the $104.7 million interstate reconstruction contract that was awarded on June 26 to Atglen-Pa.-based J.D. Eckman and includes widening and rebuilding a 2.77-mile section of I-83 east of Harrisburg from just south of Exit 48 for Union Deposit Road, through Exit 50 for U.S. 22 (Colonial Park/Progress), to Exit 51 for Interstate 81. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2021.

Work this fall will focus on preparations to widen the highway along the outside of the current alignment for the additional northbound and southbound lanes on I-83, construct retaining walls, and begin work to widen the mainline structures, followed by the reconstruction of the existing lanes in the middle. The initial two-thirds of the work will be conducted off alignment with minimal impact to mainline traffic.

Two lanes of traffic in each direction of I-83 will be maintained during daylight hours throughout the project, but traffic may be reduced to single lanes during nighttime hours, according to PennDOT.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

August 30, 2018 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

Pretty much everyone I know is heading into the wilderness this Labor Day weekend, but I’ll be right here. Market, Kipona, maybe Flinchypalooza all on the “if it’s not oppressively hot” list. What about ya’ll?

What are you doing this weekend?

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Winter Is Coming: Downtown Daily Bread makes plans to reopen overnight shelter for men.

August 29, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

Downtown Daily Bread on South Street in Harrisburg.

For a second straight winter, Downtown Daily Bread plans to open a men’s shelter at its facility on South Street in Harrisburg, and it’s now raising funds to make that happen.

Like last year, the downtown shelter, located at the Pine Street Presbyterian Church’s Boyd Memorial Center, would run Dec. 1 to March 31, with a capacity of 40 beds.

“Last year went very well,” said Anne Guenin, director of Downtown Daily Bread. “I don’t think anyone was unsheltered who wanted to be sheltered.”

Like last year, the shelter will open at 8 p.m. and close at 6 a.m. each day.

During most of the year, Downtown Daily Bread operates as a drop-in center, offering daytime shelter and meals to 70 to 90 people a day. Last year, it received city permission to extend its hours for a nighttime men’s shelter during the winter.

The need proved to be great, Guenin said. For most of last winter, the shelter was near capacity, averaging 25 men per night in December, 36 in January, 39 in February and 37 in March.

Guenin said that the men caused few problems, and she didn’t hear any concerns from the surrounding downtown community.

The biggest obstacles, she said, are staffing and funding. To that end, Downtown Daily Bread is trying to raise $100,000, which would cover expenses for the next two winters. Money also is being raised to fund a staff position dedicated to helping those staying in winter shelters get into long-term housing.

In addition to the shelter at Downtown Daily Bread, 23 beds for men will be available this winter at the Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven, run by Christian Churches United. Bethesda Mission in Midtown also opens up emergency beds for men when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or in case of inclement winter weather.

Guenin said that, last year, the number of men staying overnight at Bethesda Mission due to hazardous weather conditions plummeted, which she attributed to the opening of the Downtown Daily Bread shelter. That, she said, allowed Bethesda Mission to more effectively serve its existing clients—those committed to long-term recovery.

“We have a nice system of coordination,” she said. “If people went to Bethesda, they would be sent to us.”

To donate to Downtown Daily Bread, visit www.downtowndailybread.org or mail a check payable to Downtown Daily Bread, 310 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

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