Tunes in a Bottle: Songs, like a warm night, from Indian Summer Jars.

May 31, 2018 | by Jess Hayden

Burg in Focus: Indian Summer Jars from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Well-crafted songs, lush harmonies and a sound that feels like you’re hanging outside on a warm evening with your closest friends.

That’s the vibe of the appropriately named Harrisburg-area band, Indian Summer Jars.

Founder Sarah Beth came up with the band’s unusual name years ago while hiking at Ski Roundtop.

“It was a beautiful October day, and the weather was starting to change, but it was still warm—what they call an Indian summer,” she said. “The ‘Jars’ part of the name is bottling that up and carrying it with you.”

The band seems to mark time with the recordings that they produce.

Sarah started the band when she was 19, and the first CD, “Similar,” was recorded in 2008.

“I was working with another woman named Sarah King,” she said. “I did all the writing, and she and I would do the arrangement.”

The duo stuck together for five or six years and produced the second full-length album, “Catalyst,” before disbanding. Sarah tried playing solo, but performing by herself didn’t satisfy her.

“I love to write, and I don’t mind doing solo here and there, but I get so much out of sharing it,” she said.

Indeed, the band has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Today, they perform as a quartet featuring Sarah Beth on lead vocals and guitar, Jenn Hara on harmony vocals, Jason Whetstone on accordion, pennywhistle and vocals and Kelly McClain on percussion.

Jenn and Jason joined the band for the third CD, “Heart Rock,” along with percussionist Dani Fiore. Their fourth and latest CD, “Circles,” features the current line-up. Jason recorded and produced the CD, and, though he has a lot of quality recording equipment, the recording spaces they used were makeshift.

“We recorded ‘Circles’ in a couple of different homes, and I’ve heard from so many people that this one sounds the best,” he said.

Producing the CD presented a challenge, too, as the group wanted to keep a natural sound.

“You need to know when enough is enough,” Jason said. “Looking back, there are one or two things that I would have liked to spend a little more time on, but I’m really happy with it.”

Even though the line-up has been fluid, one constant throughout the band’s two-decade tenure has been Sarah Beth’s superb story-songs.

“Her songs are so full of feeling and so true,” said Jason. “It’s like the heartbeat is there, and we are just following it.”

If you asked band members what’s most important to them, they would say ‘connection.”

“We all have a really great, powerful connection,” Jason said. “We’re best friends.”

The band also likes to connect to their audiences.

“When the audience is appreciating us, the energy is amazing,” he said. “We really care about these songs and want to share them with our audiences.”

You can catch Indian Summer Jars this month June 2, 2 p.m., at the Glen Rock Mill Inn, Glen Rock, and at 6 p.m. at John Wright Restaurant, Wrightsville; on June 7, 6 p.m., at Wyndrige Farm, Dallastown; and on June 30, 4 p.m., at Amethyst Retreat Center, Duncannon. For more information, visit www.isjband.com.

May News Digest

May 31, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Sanitation Changes Weighed

Harrisburg’s existing rules governing trash collection may soon get canned.

City Council is considering a new, more comprehensive sanitation ordinance that would usher in stronger enforcement tools and more efficient billing for its trash collection services and lay out clearer rules for city recycling programs, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced last month.

It would also waive annual trash fees for the owners of vacant lots and properties, eliminating an unpopular provision of the current ordinance, Papenfuse said.

The revised sanitation code aims to curb the city’s perennial problems of illegal dumping and excessive trash accumulation. It would grant the city stronger enforcement powers by creating two categories of offenses and a new fine structure.

Under the proposed ordinance, serious offenses—including illegal dumping, accumulation of trash exceeding 1,000 pounds, improper waste disposal and failure to register as a private trash hauler—would be considered category 1 violations punishable by a $1,000 fine or up to 90 days in jail.

Category 2 violations are more minor acts that are likely to recur without deterrence, Papenfuse said. These violations, which include failure to bag waste, obstruction of streets and sidewalks or interference with enforcement, would be met with fines starting at $100. Fines would increase up to $500 for each subsequent offense.

The ordinance would also permit the Public Works Department to designate enforcement officers to patrol public streets for violations. It also would authorize police officers to issue citations and enforce the ordinance.

Papenfuse said that the new legislation also would codify the city’s free and mandatory recycling services, including its new glass recycling program.

“This will bring us into the new century in regard to recycling,” Papenfuse said. “We’ve more than tripled recycling in the last few years but very little is laid out in existing code.”

One of the most significant changes would be an annual billing structure designed to save money for the city and its residents.

Harrisburg residents currently make monthly payments for trash services. Under the new ordinance, the city treasurer’s office would include trash fees in property tax bills. The separate charges would appear on the same invoice and would be subject to the same due date and discount period.

Residents may opt out of yearly billing in favor of monthly direct deposit payments. However, those who pay their trash fees within 60 days of billing would receive a 2-percent discount.

City Treasurer Dan Miller said that streamlined bills would save the city $100,000 in mailing and labor costs each year. He also hopes it will increase the city’s collection rate and improve early-year cash flow.

Miller said that the city has a 98-percent collection rate for its real estate tax, with 70 percent of that revenue coming in during the 60-day discount period.

“We assume trash will be the same, which would increase cash flow and generate more interest for us throughout the year,” he said.

Staff Cuts, Tax Hikes in School Budget

Kindergarten cuts might not be coming to Harrisburg after all.

Members of the Harrisburg School District administration unveiled a new budget proposal last month that would preserve the full-day kindergarten program in favor of cutting 31 district employees. The proposal calls for eliminating nine administrators, 11 teachers, and 11 AFSCME union members for a total of $2.132 million in savings, which would narrow the district’s deficit to $4 million.

The budget still calls for maximum tax hikes for the next three years.

District Business Manager Bilal Hasan said that over-hiring has contributed to the district’s annual deficits, which are projected to deplete the district’s fund balance by 2020. Thirty-seven teachers who have been hired since 2016 took positions that were not in the district budget, Hasan said.

Interim CFO Jim Snell explained that salaries alone don’t account for the district’s high expenses. Costs like healthcare benefits and pension payments only emerged in long-term budgeting projections, he said.

“When you start to look at the reality of recurring costs over multiple years, that’s when you appreciate the true consequence of those decisions,” Snell said. “Some of those consequences are starting to get in the way and cause financial challenges for us.”

Budget and finance chair Ellis Roy was incredulous when Hasan confirmed the extent of the over-hiring.

“You’re telling me we hired 37 people we had no money to pay for?” Roy said. “We’re self-destructing here.”

Hasan said that the district has not had a position control mechanism in place to monitor its total number of staff positions and vacancies. The administration has implemented a new policy so that no position can be added to the payroll unless it is approved and included in the budget, he said.

Hasan and Snell said that developing a position control program is a lengthy and tedious process that requires collaboration between the district’s human resources, IT and business departments. Employees must code each permanent position with a unique identification number, which can be difficult in a large organization with high turnover, Snell said.

“At any point in time, there are staff coming and going, so there was a never a snapshot that said ‘at this moment in time, these are all our positions,’” he said.

The district’s mistake, Snell explained, was anticipating expenditures in line with previous years without accounting for vacant positions that the district wanted to fill. When the administration ramped up its recruiting efforts and hired dozens of new teachers at the beginning of this school year, it unwittingly took on employees that were not included in the budget.

The implementation of a position control system was one of the initiatives outlined in the district’s state-mandated recovery plan, which it adopted in 2013. The task ultimately fell to Hasan, who began developing the program in August 2017 and oversaw its implementation earlier this year.

“This will provide structure and order, and that was not always the case when we were hiring,” Snell said.

School Board Votes to Retain Knight-Burney

Sybil Knight-Burney will remain the superintendent of the Harrisburg school district for at least three more years, the city’s school board decided last month.

After almost an hour of public comment during which district residents overwhelmingly called for Knight-Burney to be replaced, the board rejected a motion that would have hired a search firm to find a new superintendent and passed another measure to retain her for a term of three to five years.

Frustrated residents began jeering the board before its members could vote on the second motion.

“You don’t care!” one resident yelled. “This is insanity, clear as day. You don’t care.”

“This is ridiculous!” Gerald Welch yelled, before chanting “Shame!” as he and two-dozen other exasperated residents left the gymnasium.

Yanna Kent, a Harrisburg High School alumnae, said she did not want to see the district put in state receivership, which is one possibility facing it when its five-year recovery plan expires in June.

“We need to do a better job,” Kent said, addressing the board and the administration. “We put you here to work for us and, if you don’t want your job, leave.”

Other residents pointed to the fact that state test score and graduation rates have remained stagnant or declined under Knight-Burney’s leadership. Some called out the administration for not yet completing the initiatives outlined in the district’s five-year recovery plan.

Almost 70 percent of the initiatives have been fully completed as of February 2018, according to the most recent report available from the state’s chief recovery officer.

“If I only complete at 70 percent of what my job had asked me to do, would I be able to continue, especially when other people are willing to go 100 percent?” said Carmen Dones. “It’s time to say thank you, but I think it’s time that we say goodbye.”

Board President Judd Pittman, who voted against retaining Knight-Burney, pointed to other sobering facts from the past two years: $180,000 in district funds were embezzled by an employee, 70 teachers were hired at the wrong pay step, and the district revealed two years of over-hiring by its business office.

Those factors have contributed to an $8 million budget deficit this year, as well as a structural deficit that threatens to eat up the district’s general fund by 2021.

Pittman cited these incidents as evidence that the district has not implemented strong accountability systems during Knight-Burney’s tenure.

“In 11 years, if you have not had time to put systems in place it’s time to come to the table with [solutions], or it’s time for us to look at other opportunities to put systems in place,” Pittman said before the board voted on the superintendent’s contract.

Pittman has been advocating since December for the board to launch a superintendent search. The board passed a motion to do that in March and then tried to rescind that action in April.

Board director Tyrell Spradley raised the motion to rescind in April, after voting in March to consider new candidates for Knight-Burney’s post. Spradley voted to retain the superintendent, along with board directors Ellis Roy, Lionel Gonzalez, Melvin Wilson and vice president Danielle Robinson.

Board directors Brian Carter, Carrie Fowler and Percel Eiland joined Pittman in the minority.

Substation Cost Rises

The Harrisburg Police Bureau last month made a plea for an additional $165,000 to construct a substation on S. 15^th Street.

That sum represents a 13-percent increase over the project’s $817,000 budget.

City engineer Wayne Martin said that bids for the project came in above early estimates and insisted that the added cost was “not an unusual” margin for error in publicly bid projects.

Several council members lamented the fact that the project’s timeline has lagged as its costs increased.

“Three years ago, we planned a $300,000 precinct with a turnaround of three to six months,” Councilman Cornelius Johnson said. “Now, it’s more expensive, and it’s only a substation.”

Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Carter said that early plans to retrofit a facility at S. 15^th Street became impossible once it was found to be structurally unsound. That structure was razed in December to make way for a new modular building.

Police officials say they don’t have enough manpower to staff a full-time precinct, but they still think a substation would benefit officers and residents. Carter reported that increased police presence in South Allison Hill has helped drive down homicides there this year.

“The cost is what it is, but I know that, since we’ve been concentrating on that area, we have not had homicides,” Carter said.

Tough Road for CAT

Harrisburg’s public transit network has a bleak road ahead of it.

Capital Area Transit (CAT) will end the year with a $700,000 deficit, but new Executive Director Richard Farr can’t explain why.

“It’s like an archeological dig trying to figure out how we got this far in the red with no foreseeable way out,” Farr told Harrisburg City Council last month.

Farr said that CAT’s “worst case scenario” would be to reduce service to narrow the deficit. Administrator salaries have been cut to the furthest possible extent, he said, which leaves the company eyeing its other major expenditures—insurance and maintenance—as possible areas to shave costs.

CAT has the highest maintenance costs in the state, Farr said, outpacing major public transit authorities like Philadelphia’s SEPTA system. It also has the third-highest labor costs.

And yet, CAT buses leave customers stranded every day due to driver shortages, Farr said.

CAT executives hope to join an insurance network to help mitigate some of its maintenance costs. But the source of the high labor expenditures remains hazy, especially since the agency has slashed administrator salaries in recent years by leaving high-level positions vacant.

Like most public transit authorities, CAT derives little revenue from fares and other consumer sources. State and federal dollars constitute the bulk of its funding, which make its annual revenues relatively stable and predictable.

“This isn’t a revenue problem, it’s an expenditure problem,” Farr said. “Some of these costs are legacy… but we have a big hurdle we need to work through.”

Farr hopes to avoid service reductions and said he has already averted driver layoffs once since taking the helm of CAT earlier this year.

Even if service reductions are avoided this year, they may be inevitable, said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

“Eventually, they’ll have to cut service because they’ll have to use next year’s funding to pay this year’s line of credit,” Papenfuse explained.

HACC to Vacate Midtown Building

HACC plans to vacate one of its Midtown Harrisburg buildings after its lease expires in four years, the college said last month.

HACC, a community college with campuses in Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Lancaster, York and Lebanon, announced plans to leave Midtown 2, the former Evangelical Press Building, moving its trade and technology programs out of the building between mid-2019 and June 2022, with the expiration of its 15-year lease.

“No programs are being cut, and the transition will occur at times that have the least impact on classes,” said college President John J. “Ski” Sygielski. “Requirements to complete these programs will remain unchanged.”

HACC leases the building from GreenWorks Development, which fully renovated the landmark, century-old building at N. 3^rd and Reily streets starting in 2006. HACC moved into the 80,000-square-foot building a year later, signing a long-term lease.

Soon after, HACC also moved much of its administrative staff across the street to GreenWorks’ newly built Campus Square Building, but returned these employees to the main campus at Wildwood several years ago. It plans to continue to occupy a third building, called Midtown 1 at N. 4th and Reily streets, which houses its workforce development, continuing education and welding programs, according to the college.

The move from Midtown 2 will save the college about $1.9 million in annual rent, maintenance and expenses, according to HACC. A portion of the savings initially will be used to renovate spaces for the relocated programs, HACC said.

So Noted

Capital Region Water has received the Award in Excellence for Sustainability from the American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division. CRW received the award in the Sustainable Green Infrastructure Project category for its “Community Greening Plan: A Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan for Harrisburg.”

Chad Dion Lassiter was named the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission last month. Lassiter has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of race relations, conflict resolution, mediation, teaching, counseling, policy and prison reform.

George Scott captured the Democratic nomination last month for U.S. Congress, besting a field of four candidates. He will face Republican incumbent Scott Perry in the November general election.

Harry Young has been named the new executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Young will serve as the organization’s voice to build business, promote economic development and fulfill its mission to foster LGBT business equality and inclusion in central Pennsylvania.

Kathryn Aumiller announced her retirement last month as executive director of the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. This summer, Aumiller will retire after 25 years leading the organization, which is searching for a new director.

S&T Bank has announced Shannon Golden as vice president, business banker, serving the Harrisburg market. In this role, she is responsible for fostering and strengthening business relationships in the region.

Stosh Snyder last month was named the new executive director for Theatre Harrisburg, responsible for the organization’s overall operations. A Harrisburg area native and actor, Snyder replaced Allison Hays, who served in the post about one year.

William B. Hawk, Lower Paxton Township supervisor, has been elected to a one-year term as president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. The association represents the commonwealth’s 1,454 townships of the second class.

Zembo Shrine is back on the market after its proposed sale fell through. Arkansas-based Beaty Capital Group had the iconic, Moorish-style Shriners building in Uptown Harrisburg under contract, but backed out of the purchase after further examination of the mid-Atlantic area’s entertainment market, according to the company.

In Memoriam

Samuel Sloan Auchincloss died on April 27 after a brief illness. Born in New York, he was the long-time co-owner with his wife Susan of Auchincloss & Auchincloss, a Harrisburg-based marketing communications firm. Over the years, Sloan was active in many organizations, including Historic Harrisburg Association, Harrisburg Rotary, Harrisburg Lions Club, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Susquehanna Art Museum, the Rockhill Trolley Museum and the Harrisburg Chapter National Railway Historical Society, among others. Sloan also was a great friend, mentor and supporter of TheBurg. He is survived by his wife Susan, son Lloyd Brian Auchincloss, daughter Elizabeth Auchincloss Strickler, stepdaughter Leah Peak, their spouses and three grandchildren.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2436: S. Stroyan to PA Deals LLC, $30,000

Allison St., 1502: SWM Properties LLC to T. Mullally, $53,400

Barkley Lane, 2502: S. Vetock to J. Guerrero, $68,000

Berryhill St., 1101: Biks Auto Collision LLC to J. Garcia, $185,000

Bigelow Dr., 39: R. Johnson to J. Mayweather, $52,900

Briggs St., 211 & 213: Rockville Enterprises LLC to Grey Rex LLC, $230,000

Calder St., 105: A. Brett & K. Magagna to K. & G. Tennis, $150,000

Cameron St., 620: L. Aronson Family Trust & R. Aronson to Gini LLC & J. Pal, $225,000

Chestnut St., 2035: T. Coley to W. Seago, $62,500

Conoy St., 104: E. & K. Eckman to D. Wolf, $142,500

Croyden Rd., 2832: D. & B. Ratcliffe to J. Core, $51,000

Green St., 810: M. Hillman to S. & J. McGrath, $145,000

Green St., 1318: R. Bullock to G. & E. Gibeau, $93,500

Green St., 1802: BM Investment Group LLC to Asprodites Simpson Trust, $183,500

Green St., 2428: S. Tagle to T. & N. Blank, $137,500

Kensington St., 2223: PA Deals LLC to A. Womer, $64,900

Kensington St., 2326: E. McCloskey to I. Chatman, $69,900

Kensington St., 2431: Wells Fargo Bank to T. Dieu, $31,500

Lexington St., 2632: D. Grossman to A. Memic, $63,500

Luce St., 2306: T. & T. Parson to P. Almodovar, $69,900

Market St., 1025A: J. Lamb Sr. to J. Colron, $45,000

Market St., 2468: C. Jackson to S. Green & J. Burnett, $122,600

Mulberry St., 1845: V. Rivas to F. & R. Garcia, $70,000

North St., 1616: B. Davenport to C. Brooks, $39,000

N. 2^nd St., 1937: US Bank National Association to M. Horgan, $92,000

N. 2^nd St., 2053: 7 Eleven Inc. & Sunoco Retail LLC to Realty Income Trust 6, $3,221,477

N. 2^nd St., 2538: T. & L. Magaro to M. Parsley, $110,000

N. 2^nd St., 3033: A. Myers to D. Madsen, $100,000

N. 3^rd St., 1014: 1014 N. 3^rd St. LLC to O’Sullivan Realty, $660,000

N. 3^rd St., 1231: E. Gabler to N. Wahby, $107,450

N. 3^rd St., 1824: B. Strike to T. Miller & L. Wood, $79,900

N. 3^rd St., 2329: CPenn Properties Old Uptown LLC to M. Mtere & F. Laoukili, $50,000

N. 6^th St., 2407: Hobbeze Inc. to Elliots Enterprises LLC, $34,000

N. 6^th St., 2528: Premier Property Solutions LLC to H. Foka, $31,000

N. 6^th St., 2933: P. & E. Devenshire to C. Wise, $62,000

Paxton St., 1619: JC Hunt Management LLC to NAR Investments LLC, $110,000

Peffer St., 269: G. Neff & M. Baltozer to Heinly Homes LLC, $101,000

Penn St., 1925: WCI Partners LP to G. & K. Capoferri, $135,000

Race St., 566: I. & S. Milnes to B. Shisler, $119,000

Rudy Rd., 1919: M. O’Neill to A. Ross, $74,900

Rumson Dr., 298: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to J. & J. Avila, $41,000

S. 17^th St., 1040: Wells Fargo Bank NA to B. Nguyen, $40,000

S. 20^th St., 12: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Information Systems & Networks Corp. to D. & L. Romero, $30,010

S. 25^th St., 701: O. Huynh to G. Coppersmith, $69,900

State St., 1323: J. Ward to A. & S. Shelly, $71,000

State St., 1325: J. Ward to A. & S. Shelly, $71,000

Susquehanna St., 2112: E. Reichert to T. Hage, $45,000

Swatara St., 2158: Reverse Mortgage Solutions Inc. to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $30,500

Valley Rd., 2407: D. Loughery & J. Levine to E. Mena, $249,900

Verbeke St., 124: R. and M. Gordon to Kyzer Rentals LLC, $105,000

Power of Sisterhood: Open Stage premiers local playwright’s adaptation of “Little Women.”

May 31, 2018 | by Stephanie A. Trdenic

Photo by Haley Harned

“I could never love anyone as I love my sisters.” — Jo March, “Little Women”

Women’s voices. Women’s stories. Women’s words.

Open Stage of Harrisburg’s shows have focused on women this past year—from “Fun Home” to “Akeelah and the Bee” to “Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties.”

The season now comes to a close with “Little Women,” based on the book by Louisa May Alcott. While it remains faithful to Alcott’s beloved classic, the play is an original adaptation by local writer Laura Dugan.

The season of women’s voices was the brainchild of Stuart Landon, producing artistic director for Open Stage.

“Stuart approached me last year with this idea,” Dugan explained. “But he said he needed something to end the season.”

She suggested her favorite book, “Little Women,” of which there were already theatrical adaptations, including a musical. However, Landon asked Dugan to write a new one.

“Our season was dedicated to lifting up women’s voices,” Landon said. “What better way to include more women’s voices than to bring a local writer on board to create new work?”

Undertaking the writing of a play, however, was something Dugan had never done before. Landon had every confidence in her abilities, however.

“She knows this story like the back of her hand,” Landon added.

As well she should. Dugan, who describes herself as a “voracious reader,” estimates that she first read the novel at age 12 or so and has read it probably once a year since then.

“I usually read it at Christmas,” she explained. “And if I ever need a good cry, I pull it out.”

Jo is the March sister Dugan most closely identifies with.

“I’m not a tomboy,” she said. “But the writing and being creative and loving to read is like Jo. I can also identify with Beth a bit, from the perspective of being the ‘peacemaker.’ My sister calls me ‘Pollyanna.’”

Knowing your favorite book almost by heart is one thing—but writing your first play based on that book?

Like a lot of writers, Dugan began with an outline of what scenes to include. That, however, turned out to be the first tough spot. Obviously, not everything that Dugan and millions of other readers loved about the story could remain. An early draft didn’t seem too long to Dugan, but a later revision found her cutting about 7,000 words.

The question of what to cut and what to keep came down to one rule.

“Ultimately, this is Jo’s story,” Dugan stated. “So any scene that did not advance Jo’s story had to be cut.”

Most actors and directors work from published scripts, which means the playwright is not present at all during the process. So, was Dugan’s presence a blessing or a bit nerve-wracking?

Jeff Luttermoser, who plays Laurie, definitely found it to be an advantage.

“Laura is clearly invested in our production,” he said. “She’s open to questions, changes and ideas from the production team, and that collaborative environment has been exciting. We’re working on characters that are iconic…and Laura really helps guide us so that we do them justice.”

Developing the characters was one of several benefits of the read-throughs. Changes not just to the script, but to some extent, the way the characters were portrayed, ended up being directly related to seeing what each actor brought to the table.

Also, some issues with language were identified at this time.

“Hearing it [versus reading it] has greater impact,” Dugan explained. “For example, ‘ain’t’ was used a lot in that era, which just sounds too informal now. And the type of the phrasing Alcott used just didn’t work for modern ears.”

The five March women—mother Marmee and the four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—often defy our expectations of 19th-century women. With the Civil War having taken Mr. March away for a great deal of the story, the strength and self-reliance of the women shine through. That self-reliance was one of the elements that Landon liked, especially with the character of Marmee.

“He liked that she was shown as a strong woman running a household on her own,” Dugan explained.

For her part, Dugan especially loves the relationship between Marmee and the headstrong Jo.

“I tried to keep in Marmee’s ‘touchstones,’” she said. “She teaches Jo about being true to yourself, and she encourages her to improve herself, but always in a kind and gentle way.”

Neither Landon nor Dugan saw any need to modernize the play.

“It was important for me to stay true to Alcott, but also make it approachable for an audience of today,” Dugan said. “It wasn’t my intention to specifically create a feminist piece, but the elements are definitely there, as they are in the book. But it is largely about relationships, most of which happen to be between women, and it is largely women providing the support for each other.”

And the March women are neither saintly nor old-fashioned in their struggles. Competitiveness between siblings, lashing out when misunderstood, and rebelling against societal expectations are still familiar problems in today’s world. Even Marmee, who often comes across as “The Angel in the House,” as the Victorians described the “ideal” subservient wife, tells her daughter, “I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I’ve learned not to show it. And I still hope not to feel it.”

Ultimately, Dugan said, she feels the overarching themes of the play are the power of words and the power of sisters.

“Jo has always found solace in words,” she said. “I think this story shows the ability of words to heal and comfort.”

And the March girls always manage to find comfort in the words and company of their sisters, much like many women of today turn to other women—not only sisters, but friends, mentors, colleagues and neighbors—in time of need.

Jo March once said of a piece of writing, “I don’t understand it. What can there be in a simple story like that to make people praise it so?”

As if in answer to her query, Landon stated that the new adaptation of “Little Women” “is so human, so American, so beloved. We know audiences are going to fall in love with the story all over again.”
UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

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

The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“Aesop’s Fables”
June 6 to 16
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.

25th Annual Free Shakespeare in the Park
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
June 7 to 17
Wednesday to Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Reservoir Park, Harrisburg

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

GALA180
June 2
Open Stage celebrates 33 years of thought-provoking theater at this glamorous event. gala180.com

“Little Women”
June 8 to 30
Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic is brought to life in a glorious adaptation by local writer Laura Dugan and filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love.

“Seussical The Musical”
Kids Summer Camp
June 11 to 30
Kids explore the magical world of Dr. Seuss through dance, song, acting and design! Open to ages 8 to 13. Registration at openstagehbg.com.

Under Pressure: What happens to a body that feels strain, anxiety?

May 31, 2018 | by Dr. Jason Stuck

Illustration by Stephen Haas

“I’m so stressed out,” is a common theme today.

Ask why and most people will point to another tragedy in the headlines, a work deadline, financial concerns or ongoing family obligations. Life and its daily grind, as well as catastrophic events, leave us emotionally and physically drained.

Stress affects everyone at some point. But the kind of stress and the duration can have a significant impact on your overall health. So, how does stress affect your body?

Stress in general triggers a number of bodily responses. These can have a direct and indirect impact on your overall health and also your cardiovascular health.

Acute stress is the kind that happens suddenly and all at once. A job loss, death in the family or personal Illness can wreak havoc on your emotional and physical wellbeing. The physical effects include changes in sleep patterns, upset stomach, headaches and muscle tension, as well as anxiety and depression, depending on the person. Research has linked depression and heart disease, and each can lead to the other.

Chronic stress occurs over a longer period of time. It negatively affects your cardiovascular system by increasing your heart rate and constricting blood flow. Anyone who has experienced pressure at work, coupled with the demands of carpooling the kids or caring for ailing parents, knows all about chronic stress. Often, we feel these situations are out of our control. Therefore, we endure them, thinking there is no solution.

If this goes on too long, it could lead to hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure. This can have a profound effect on all of your body, especially your cardiovascular system. Also, elevated levels of the stress hormones catecholamines can damage the heart. They increase the oxygen demand on the body and lead to electrical instability in the heart’s conduction system.

This most often happens in an acute stress setting. A reaction that threatens the patient’s heart health can lead to a heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and even stroke.

There is a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is more commonly referred to as “broken-heart syndrome” or stress-induced cardiomyopathy. It is the result of a rush of stress hormones causing the heart to become dilated and leads to reduced heart function. This often occurs after a traumatic event, such as the loss of a loved one. This could be a life-threatening event. Initially, it can feel and look very similar to a heart attack.

Moderation

The heart isn’t the only thing to suffer under acute or chronic stress. Our waistline also can take a toll. Some people may eat or drink to deal with emotions and find solace in their favorite treats. Increased cortisol levels from stress can cause your blood sugar to drop and lead you to crave sugary foods and overeat. And let’s face it, when we’re angry or sad, healthy food choices are often not the first thing that crosses our mind. Usually, in times of despair, foods high in sugar, fat and sodium appeal to the senses. Unfortunately, this can lead to obesity, which also contributes to other diseases, placing further strain on the body.

If you carry extra weight around the abdomen, you’re increasing the fat around your organs. This can lead to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses. This toxic fat is a gel-like substance located deep in the belly. Storing this kind can be dangerous for the liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart because it causes inflammation and interferes with the body’s normal functions.

Moderation is key. Allowing yourself “forbidden” treats once in a while or after a bad day is acceptable. However, weeks of reaching for the chips, ice cream, alcohol or fried foods can lead to weight gain. That can increase your chance of developing diabetes or other obesity-related health concerns. And this will only add to your stress levels.

A sugar-filled binge not only causes your blood sugar to drop, immediately changing your energy levels and mood. But when you are under stress, the digestive system also is impacted, leading to constipation, heartburn, acid reflux, nausea and sometimes diarrhea.

Gas, bloating, stomach pain and weight gain are common for people experiencing ongoing worry. Stomach ulcers are not believed to be a consequence of acute or chronic stress. However, stress can exacerbate the situation and trigger a disease already existing in a patient like inflammatory bowel, celiac or ulcerative colitis.

Dr. Jason Stuck is a cardiologist at UPMC Pinnacle. For more information on wellness issues, visit www.pinnaclehealth.org.

Stage Struck: Hersheypark ups its stage game just in time for the new concert season.

May 31, 2018 | by M. Diane McCormick

James Taylor, a look of amazement on his face as he marveled at the fans enduring a pouring rain for his sake.

Dave Matthews, sending the sounds of “Satellite” into the summer night’s sky.

Bruce Springsteen, up close and personal from down in the pit, bodysurfing the crowd just a few feet away from us.

Hersheypark Stadium can haul off its 22-year-old stage to make way for a new one, but they can’t haul off my memories. The old stage had its day in the sun—and wind and rain and hail. This summer, a new stage brings state-of-the-art capabilities, in hopes of attracting more of today’s technology-driven, top-tier acts.

“The tours have become more entertainment-focused,” said Heather Storm, Hershey Entertainment’s director of event programming and execution. “It’s not just the person that gets up and sings or plays a guitar. It’s actually focused on the entertainment, the different kind of theatrical aspects. Obviously, when you have a stage that’s almost 30 years old, some of that equipment doesn’t even hang well.”

So, the stage that was good enough for Rod Stewart on May 18, 1996 (the old stage’s first concert) was hauled away in early April, and construction began on the new stage. On a sunny day in May, crews working four hydraulic lifts raised the quarter-ton roof of the new Mountain HD+ Staging System. The same design, the flagship of Wilkes-Barre-based Mountain Productions, has been underfoot for acts at Lollapalooza and for the 2017 NFL draft.

The new stage is capable of holding up to 500,000 pounds of equipment, up from the 100,000-pound range. At 80-feet wide in performance area, with 40-foot wings, it’s wider, deeper and higher than the old stage. A four-foot overhang protects the artists—and their pricey equipment—from sudden downpours. Lights can hang straight down in what’s called a “dead hang,” instead of requiring angled bridles. Items that used to take two riggers to hang will now need only one.

With the new stage, the artists are comfortable because the lighting and projections are consistent. The crew—artists’ roadies plus members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 98—won’t be “getting creative” with riggings, Storm said.

And perhaps most important to Hershey Entertainment and its event partner, Live Nation, the stage will accommodate not just the hair bands and Disney-made sensations of the world but the Beyoncés and the Paul McCartneys.

But wait, you’re thinking: Beyoncé and Sir Paul have played at Hersheypark Stadium. You are correct, but they didn’t strut their stuff on that old stage. When you’re Queen B, your stage specs are specific and glitzy. Hershey, of course, wants the prestige acts, so the old stage would come down, and a rental upgrade would go up. After the concert, the process was reversed.

“It’s an undertaking,” Storm admitted. “The stages come in 15 to 17 trucks.”

Worse, the process would take several days or even a week, crossing off dates from the calendar that could have been booked by another act.

The new stage rang up at a “six-figure cost,” including installation, said Storm. Its versatility, capabilities and durability are “super important, because we knew the toll of loading and unloading,” she said.

A few acts will always require their own stages, “but we wanted to make sure we had a really, really good shot of letting anyone use this stage. We don’t want to jeopardize the dates or the wear and tear on the facility of loading the stage in and out.”

The old-stage roulette has even caused a bit of confusion. McCartney rocked the stadium on July 19, 2016. A few days later, the ever-popular Zac Brown Band trundled into town while the stage rented for Sir Paul still stood. Negotiating for the next year’s return, the Zac Brown people were surprised to learn that, no, Hershey hadn’t purchased a new stage. They just got the benefit of McCartney’s star power.

Zac Brown returned in 2017, though, and is re-returning on June 22 for his fourth straight year. Very few artists are fussy in their demands, Storm said. And those that might request such items as a competing company’s candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hands, are just trying to surround themselves with familiar comforts in a crazy life on the road—but the Zac Brown Band is an accommodating favorite.

“Zac Brown is amazing,” Storm said. “It’s an easy day. They’re easy people. No heavy-duty anything.”

The only challenge she anticipates is reeling in the artists for their 11 p.m. hard curfew because, after all, their sole purpose for being there is to play and do what they love.

Expected to perform first on the new stage is Journey and Def Leppard in a big-selling summer kickoff the Friday before Memorial Day. Storm said she’d be surprised if concertgoers “don’t notice a difference” from the old stage. For one thing, the controls will be lower and not as intrusive. And overall, “it’s so new and so fresh and so open. We’re working on it to make sure there’s an impact.”

The former stage went to Mountain Productions, perhaps for use at smaller events, so without even knowing it, you might catch our old friend hanging out with an indie band or up-and-coming country group.

Venues get a reputation among acts, from the summer’s first-class stages to the ones that make funny sounds when the wind blows. Hershey Entertainment officials hope that once favorable word starts getting out, the new stage will become a selling point to lure premier artists to Chocolate Town.

“That’s what we’re trying to do,” said Storm. “We’re trying to attract them here.”

Hersheypark Stadium is located at 100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey. For more information, visit www.hersheyentertainment.com/hersheypark-stadium.

Recipe for Success: See what’s cooking at Taste Test York.

May 31, 2018 | by Rachel Jenkins

To open a restaurant, you need the concept, location, connections, funds and courage to make it happen. Or do you?

Taste Test York is trying to make the path to starting a restaurant a little less rocky by providing mentorship and a safety net. This kitchen incubator helps reduce the risk by helping aspiring restaurateurs hone in on their brand, concept and issues in an educational way.

Taste Test encompasses two pop-up shop locations, including the audition space and the restaurant and bar, as well as an outdoor bar and eating area known as the cantina. While the audition and restaurant space can house completely separate concepts, they both have one thing in common. Each menu has a QR code and a call to action requesting that customers provide feedback via an online survey about the food, service, experience and what could be done better.

That’s because, unlike a traditional restaurant, Taste Test York is a space for restaurateurs to test concepts and ideas for a short period of time without the financial burden or risk of opening a restaurant on their own.

Rookie Mistakes

Allison Witherow is chief marketing officer of ONE Hospitality and co-owner of Taste Test York. Her brand development and marketing expertise make up one-quarter of Taste Test’s mentorship team.

The rest of the team includes co-owner Toni Calderone, owner of Tutoni’s Restaurant and president of Taste Test, Robert Faucette, the director of operations, and Jordan Pfaultz, the director of finance.

Together, these seasoned industry veterans provide aspiring restaurateurs with the knowledge, know-how and skills to get started.

Witherow explained the inception of their unique business venture.

“[Calderone] had such a difficult time getting her restaurant started,” she said. “She always says she heard the word ‘no’ from 17 different banks because restaurants have such a high failure rate that banks aren’t lending to them right now.”

After Calderone successfully received private funding and opened her first full-service operation, a whole new set of rookie mistakes ensued.

“So, we got to thinking one day, there must be a better way,” she said. “There must be a better way for somebody who doesn’t currently have a restaurant to enter the restaurant industry as an owner. Both by getting financing, but also just a way for them to make all of their mistakes before it’s too late.”

Instead of having aspiring restaurateurs put their livelihoods, houses or futures on the line, Witherow and Calderone put their local connections to the test.

Fast-forward almost two years, and Taste Test has proven itself to be a staple in downtown York’s food scene. Chefs and entrepreneurs alike come to pitch their ideas to the four mentors in hopes of landing a spot in the audition space. From there, they are given one month, with a minimum of 15 days of service, to flesh out their concept and captivate local audiences.

The best part? Besides the guidance of four local experts, participants are given an opportunity to run with their concept without having to front the money.

“We actually are willing to put food costs up front so you don’t have to,” Witherow said.

The Feedback

For local chefs and restaurateurs, this concept has been a game-changer.

Chef Brando Diaz and his partner, Anisa Diaczun own Paco’s, a taco shop concept that’s been in Taste Test three times over the past year and will be back this month.

A former cook at Tutoni’s, Diaz explained the importance of this concept to him.

“[Tutoni’s] was probably the highest level of cooking I could get at, but it wasn’t what I wanted to cook,” he said. “It wasn’t Mexican. It wasn’t the things I wanted to learn.”

From the inception of a basic taco shop offering hand-pressed tortillas with meat and cilantro, Paco’s has transformed into a locally sourced, signature taco-based concept featuring exotic and authentic Mexican flavors.

“Our first pop up was completely different than our current pop up,” Diaz said.

Through Taste Test, Paco’s has created a following of customers eagerly awaiting their next move.

This is especially important because the co-owners of Taste Test and aspiring restaurateurs agree that customer feedback is one of the most important learning tools.

“We like Taste Test so much because it’s about the feedback,” Diaczun said. “We like getting the ideas of other people. What the customers like, what the area around you is like, it’s all really helpful.”

And, according to Witherow, it’s not just Paco’s that’s gaining local attention.

Known affectionately as “taste testers,” locals enjoy playing critic for the day as they try out every new concept that comes through the door.

“We’ve actually been blown away by the number of people who want to support Taste Test just because of the process, and they want to be invested in what’s happening next in downtown York,” said Witherow.

Taste Test is currently located only in York, and it will likely stay there for the time being. However, expansion is possible.

“What we would like to do is be able to distill our concept even further into other cities our size,” Witherow said. “Because what we want to do is use this as a revitalization tool for towns that are able to revitalize themselves through food because food brings people and different cultures together.”

Taste Test York is located at 101-105 S. Duke St., York. For more information, visit www.tastetestyork.com. Also follow Paco’s on Instagram at PacosTacos717.

Science and Arts and eSports: At Whitaker Center, new leadership and new ideas.

May 31, 2018 | by Alexandra Jones

Ted Black

When Ted Black walked into Whitaker Center for the first time, he knew he’d stumbled upon an architectural gem.

Constructed with 1,405 tons of structural steel and 6,455 pieces of golden sandstone, the distinctive building in downtown Harrisburg houses a three-level, hands-on science museum, a 200-seat cinema and a 700-seat performing arts theater.

“It’s spectacular that a community of any size, let alone the size of Harrisburg, was able to pull off something of this magnitude,” Black said.

In March, Black became the president and CEO of the center and, as such, he has three major goals: replace timeworn exhibits that opened with the center in 1999, upgrade the space to support WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and provide a venue for “esports,” competitive video game tournaments.

That last item on the list may be his greatest initiative.

Having worked as the president of the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey franchise and as a vice president for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Black knows a thing or two about how to identify growing sports markets and trends.

He doesn’t play video games personally, but he’s noticed that the market for esports has been growing at an astounding rate. The industry generated $1.5 billion in revenue last year and is projected to bring in $2.3 billion by 2022, according to SuperData Research, a game industry research firm.

Black thinks the center’s unique layout make it the perfect venue to host live esports competitions at the Sunoco Theater and stream tournaments in the Medical Digital Cinema (formerly the IMAX theater). He has already secured a venue partnership with Harrisburg University’s new esports program. With a little luck and planning, the objective is to make Harrisburg the hub of Pennsylvania’s burgeoning esports community.

Chad Smeltz, esports program director at HU, thinks this just might work.

“It’s in the middle of the state, so it’s easy to get to,” he said.

Smeltz, along with head coach Geoff Wang, was hired in January to lead HU’s first esports athletes, who will arrive in the fall. In early May, the university awarded 16 full-ride scholarships for students to train and compete within two popular, team-based video games—League of Legends and Overwatch.

Partly due to Black’s suggestion, partly due to overwhelming student interest, HU became the first mid-Atlantic university and the 50th in the United States to recognize esports as a varsity sport last October, according to the university.

Marcus Raskob, an incoming freshman studying interactive media, will be one of the full-ride athletes on the Overwatch team.

“It’s a commitment because you’re playing 20 hours a week on top of whatever else you have going on,” Raskob said, noting that he is nervous but excited to have the opportunity to play games at the varsity level.

According to Smeltz, the university expects to host several statewide competitions a month at Whitaker Center and at least one national competition a year. The national competition, he thinks, will put Harrisburg on the map, since there aren’t a lot of big gaming competitions on the East Coast yet.

What’s more, hosting esports tournaments will draw in new audiences and spike the center’s attendance numbers, which, according to Black, average around 150,000 visitors per year right now, a third of whom are kids on field trips.

He hopes that Whitaker Center’s esports partnership with HU, alongside the possibility of hosting adult recreational leagues and educational events that explore the science and art behind video games—coding, graphics, animation, etc.—will attract attendees of all demographics, socioeconomic statuses and ages.

In a way, Black’s plans to immerse Whitaker Center in esports may be the venue’s first step in acknowledging the notable difference between the world today and the world of 20 years ago when it it was founded.

“Now, there’s more competition for customers’ attention,” Black said. “The key to gaining that attention is figuring out how to leverage the center’s assets.”

For more information about Whitaker Center, visit www.whitakercenter.org or call 717-214-2787.

Love Letter to Harrisburg: Gamut celebrates 25 years of “Free Shakespeare in the Park.”

May 31, 2018 | by Laura Dugan

An idea thrown out at a meeting to offer a free performance of Shakespeare, a budget of $500 and a stage at Reservoir Park—a simple recipe that has held for 25 years (with some budget changes thrown into the mix).

Gamut Theatre Group’s Melissa and Clark Nicholson introduced Harrisburg to their version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1994. This June, “Free Shakespeare in the Park” will feature “Midsummer” once again to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary.

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” resulted from the Harrisburg Parks Partnership. In 1994, the city was looking for ways to bring arts and culture to the park. The initial idea offered up by Clark, Gamut’s artistic director, was to do a scaled-down version of “Midsummer.” The show quickly went from the original idea with a cast of seven to a full production with a complete cast. Even with the support of the city government behind them, success was never guaranteed.

“People started coming up to us saying, ‘Shakespeare’s not going to go in Harrisburg,’” said Melissa, Gamut’s executive director. “Apparently, a group had tried to start a Shakespeare company in the ‘70s, and it failed miserably. We had no idea what was going to happen. That first night the cars just kept coming and coming. It was this huge crowd, and we thought ‘I guess Harrisburg does like Shakespeare.’”

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” has been offered continuously since that first performance in 1994, despite the challenges of weather, budgets and changing city administrations. A stage was added in front of the bandshell in 1998. In 2003, plumbing, sound and lighting upgrades were put into place. While other groups using the park fell away over the years, Gamut remained.

“‘Free Shakespeare in the Park’ is very important to our mission,” said Melissa. “Before we did Shakespeare indoors, we were doing the ‘Park’ show. It’s an important touchstone and part of the heart of the company.”

Melissa credits the success of “Shakespeare in the Park” to both the city administration and the community at large. Her husband, Clark, agrees.

“Over and over, we see the community come and be a part of this,” Clark said. “The community accepts the show is not just a passive thing shown to them. It is a part of who they are.”

This year’s production of “Midsummer” will pay homage to the city that has been so supportive of the series. Director Thomas Weaver is staging the play in modern times, adding in a local twist.

“I decided to set the play in Harrisburg,” Weaver said. “Throughout the play, there are references to the city itself. Our scenic design will look very familiar. In a lot of ways, it’s a love letter to the city. The city has supported this endeavor for 25 years, so it’s a way to honor that relationship and this great place where we live.”

Community involvement with the show has taken many forms. Over the years, the staff has seen families with adults who have been coming since they were children or children who are now growing up with “Shakespeare in the Park.” The interest of local children is often one of the highlights for all involved in putting on the show.

“We came out to rehearsal one day and saw the kids on the stage doing their own version of the show,” said Clark. “We see that over and over again.”

This year, residents of the city will be able to contribute to the show in a new way. The production will feature a backdrop of the Harrisburg skyline. There will be opportunities for the community to come in and help with painting, including during Artsfest. Additionally, pop-up auditions were held to encourage anyone interested to stop by and read scenes, reaching out to a broader group of actors, including some who have never done a “Park “show before.

“It brings so many people together from so many different backgrounds,” said Weaver. “That’s what’s special to me about the event every year. It goes beyond just doing a play. It’s such a special event, and the way that I always describe it to people is, if you love Shakespeare, it’s great. And even if Shakespeare is not your thing, the event has something to offer you.”

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” runs June 1 to 16 at Reservoir Park, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Coffee Connection: A Little Amps barista ventures to Central America to complete the coffee circle.

May 31, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

Recently, a longtime dream of mine came true.

I’ve always wanted to travel and explore the world, but I had never left the United States. In early March, that changed, as I got to visit Costa Rica for about a week, touring coffee farms in the hopes of sourcing some product to bring back to Harrisburg.

The trip was hosted through Cafe Imports, one of the largest coffee importers in the industry. It’s my hope that, by sharing my story, you’ll better understand the coffee industry, the people who make it their passion to cultivate delicious coffee for us to enjoy at home, and what we can do to help them.

First, an introduction. I’m a two-year resident of Harrisburg and a freelance music columnist for TheBurg, But I’m also a full-time barista and coffee educator at Little Amps Coffee Roasters in the city. You usually can find me at the downtown shop by the Capitol slinging drinks and chatting up regulars. Cafes have this wonderful ability to bring people together, bonded by a common interest—coffee.

Ever since I became a barista, I’ve wanted to know as much about coffee as possible. Going into my first barista job, I didn’t know much of anything about it, other than how to work a Keurig. Over time, my knowledge grew, expanding beyond the everyday shop talk and moving more into the full circle of coffee: growing, producing, roasting, brewing and serving. Whether we think about it or not, coffee goes through a lot before it’s given to a customer. Right now, I’m going to focus on two important steps of the coffee life cycle that I got to know more about while on my trip—growing and producing.

Beautiful Symphony

Growing coffee is a labor of love that requires intention and passion to do right. It is also a science, taking into consideration factors like elevation, climate, weather and soil quality. Farmers like to experiment with where and how to grow specific types of coffee plants, which ultimately yields surprising differences in taste. A lot of farms that we visited had their crops nestled high in the mountains, living among other plants and flowers native to the area. One farm that we visited in the West Valley, Cerro San Luis, had about 14 varieties of coffee growing along the cliff sides and in fields high above the valley.

Most Costa Rican coffees that we tasted on our trip were honey- or naturally processed. These processes involve leaving differing amounts of fruit on the outside of the seeds while they dry. In part, this is done because the coffees grown there taste great using these processes. But they’re also used because they’re much cheaper than washing stations, which immediately remove the fruit on the outside of the seed for processing. I personally love natural- and honey-processed coffees because they tend to be more fruity and sweet.

My favorite farm that we visited was Finca Genesis, run by Oscar and Olga Mendez.

Their farm specializes in natural- and honey-processed coffees, although they produce some washed, as well. Their crops and drying beds are located high in the mountains, among other indigenous plants and animals, crucial to maintaining excellent soil to grow coffee, according to Oscar.

By embracing the natural environment around them and the plants that already grow there to provide shelter and pest control for the coffee, the couple consistently produces award-winning products. My favorite quote from Oscar Mendez perfectly encapsulates his view on how coffee should be viewed by us, the preparers and consumers.

“I have a lot of respect for cuppers and roasters, as they know that what they are tasting is a beautiful symphony—a culmination of the world’s natural beauty and the hard work of many different hands,” he said.

Personal Touch

Unfortunately, green farmers and producers aren’t earning their fair share of the profits. As roasted coffee prices have gone up in countries like the United States over the years, green coffee’s price has not shown much growth.

Before I left on my trip, I read an article from Standart, a coffee magazine covering stories on many aspects of the industry. The article, “What We Hope to Learn,” by Chad Trewick, outlines a summary of problems facing the industry among green growers and producers and what we should do in the coffee market as a whole. It made clear that there is a disconnect between those buying the coffee to roast and sell and those producing the coffee to be sold.

“Roasting and retail companies note higher costs of living and value additions that are exponentially higher than those of coffee producers—but many in coffee-producing countries argue that their increasing costs receive little attention in the face of the prices the market will pay,” Trewick wrote. “What seems clear is that, in order to sustain a certain quality to the consumer, we need to increase the value to producers or they will continue to abandon coffee production.”

He stated that a solution must be reached, whether it involves redistributing profit margins throughout the value chain or increasing consumer prices, or some other solution. Without a compromise and without incentive to continue growing and producing, the coffee industry will suffer from a lack of people at origin, resulting in less green coffee and, ultimately, less coffee to drink, and higher prices for the consumer.

I offer another solution to this problem through something I experienced shortly after my trip ended. Two exceptional people on our trip, Jared Truby and Chris Baca, co-owners of Cat & Cloud Coffee in Santa Cruz, Calif., proved to me that it takes a personal touch to keep the coffee industry going. Cat & Cloud Coffee has a podcast that is fairly well known among the coffee community. After finishing up the trip with us, they went on to visit Honduras for a few days. Tune into their podcast to hear their full account, but I’ll try to summarize a part of their trip that connected with me.

While traveling, they met with Damien Chavez, a second-year producer at his farm in El Cedral in Santa Barbara, Honduras. They had received some of his coffee awhile back that they had roasted and served in their shops, and it ended up being both a staff and customer favorite. On this trip, they were looking to meet with Chavez in person to create a relationship between grower and buyer. They then learned that he was looking to increase production and provide better quality control through a purchase of a de-pulper, an expensive piece of equipment. Truby and Baca ended up buying the equipment for him, which will allow him to continue to produce the amazing coffee that their customers relish.

Through this trip, it become clear to me that we should do our part to get to know the people at origin, invest in their livelihood, and encourage growth, however small the gesture may be. It has been amazing to get to know the incredible coffee community in Costa Rica, and it has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what relationships could be between the growers, the green buyers and the consumers at home. If farmers and producers can provide amazing coffee with limited equipment and money, just think of what they can do with more.

You never know how huge the impact may be to their future and to the future of coffee.

Visit Kait at Little Amps Coffee Roasters, 2nd and State streets, Harrisburg. For more information on the coffees they offer, visit www.littleampscoffee.com.

Setting Goaaallllsssss!!! Soccer Shots has ambitious plans to build on its already successful model for youth sports.

May 31, 2018 | by Rachel Jenkins

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy boldly proclaimed the nation’s goal of landing a man on the moon. Seven years later, America made it happen.

In 2017, Soccer Shots used Kennedy’s speech for its own inspiration.

“Our ‘we choose to go to the moon’ moment was when we said that, in five years, we want to serve a million unique children in a calendar year,” said Chief Executive Officer Justin Bredeman. “And we want to do that in the year 2022.”

Soccer Shots is an athletic program for children ages 2 through 8, designed to introduce them to basic soccer skills and character development. Though its roots are deeply embedded in local turf, this company currently operates 192 franchises across 36 states and Canada.

Currently, Soccer Shots serves around 250,000 to 300,000 children a year. In order to reach 1 million by 2022, they’ll need to double their current numbers, and then double them again. But, for those at Soccer Shots, this is one goal they’re determined to score.

The initial idea of Soccer Shots, born by Messiah College graduates Jason Webb and Jeremy Sorzano, was to fill a void in athletic education for young children.

Webb, now the vice president of strategic partnerships, and Sorzano began their venture as a side hustle to make some money and engage young kids in a sport that they love.

“It’s everybody’s game, but it’s always been a great game for little kids to start with,” Webb said. “And kids as young as age 2 or 3 can do soccer. We were really the first organization to professionalize and package our program, and we put it together and scaled it.”

Webb and Sorzano pitched their program to local daycares and, to their surprise, found immediate success. The pair began to dive in deep, developing their simple idea into an organization that was, at the time, completely original.

“It was something that wasn’t being done,” Webb said. “We discovered that it could be done, and it worked. And parents loved it and wanted it and kids did too.”

Concurrently, they continued to play soccer professionally for North Carolina’s Charlotte Eagles. Eventually, Sorzano stayed to run the program in North Carolina and Webb moved back to central Pennsylvania to play for the Harrisburg Heat. It was at this time that Harrisburg became home to Soccer Shots headquarters—otherwise known as Webb’s kitchen counter.

Fast-forward to 2005, and Soccer Shots made its first headshot into the world of franchising. It was then that Bredeman, college teammate and friend to Webb and Sorzano, brought his franchising background to the business as Soccer Shots expanded its reach to Cleveland, Philadelphia, Lancaster and Miami.

Through its immense growth over the past two decades—growth that recently led the company to build a new, 16,000-square-foot headquarters just outside Harrisburg—Soccer Shots has evolved, systemized and improved the curriculum taught by coaches. But through it all, the founders have remained firm in their belief that sports should be a foundation for positive character development.

Amongst drills, passes and kicks, the Soccer Shots curriculum is built to encourage personal growth, emphasizing ideals like respect, sportsmanship and courage.

“You don’t have to be all grown up to learn what’s right and what’s wrong or what it means to demonstrate and live out good character,” Webb said.

And, in an effort to practice what they preach, Soccer Shots began to partner with the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2010 to give back to underserved communities and families that may not be able to afford such programs.

Bredeman acknowledges that Soccer Shots serves primarily middle- to upper-middle-class families. But, because the partners understand the importance that sports has on the physical and mental growth of a child, they’re committed to sponsoring events hosted by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, as well as supporting soccer pitches constructed through the program “Safe Places to Play.”

As the company works toward a lofty goal of serving 1 million children, Bredeman said they’re staying focused on Soccer Shots’ vision statement: “To provide a beloved growth experience for every child, a remarkable experience for every family.”

Taking those words to heart, Soccer Shots is looking to achieve its goal in both quantity and quality.

“We need to have as many children as we can to have a positive experience, but it can’t be at the expense of a depth of experience,” Bredeman said. “But I truly believe that, if you do sport right, there is no reason why every kid shouldn’t have a positive experience with sport.”

For more information about Soccer Shots, visit www.soccershots.org.

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