April News Digest

April 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Superintendent Decision Reversed

The Harrisburg School District may not be getting a new superintendent after all, thanks to an unexpected vote last month.

In March, the board voted 5-4 to approve a resolution opening the position of superintendent to new applicants. The move signaled to current superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney that her contract would not be automatically renewed when it ends on June 30.

But last month, Tyrell Spradley, the board member who cast the deciding vote on that contentious resolution, motioned to rescind it. His motion passed 5-4 with board members Carrie Fowler, Percel Eiland, Brian Carter and board President Judd Pittman in the minority.

Asked what the vote meant for Knight-Burney’s contract, district Solicitor Samuel Cooper pointed to the Pennsylvania school charter. That law states that the board must give the acting superintendent 90-days notice if it doesn’t intend to automatically renew her contract.

But if the board fails to take action, the terms of Knight-Burney’s contract extend for one year, Cooper said.

By nullifying the vote from the prior month, the board has essentially chosen to forego any action on the superintendent’s contract. It will automatically renew for a one-year provisional period, but Cooper said the board could act before then to renew it for up to five years.

After the meeting, Spradley said that he changed his mind about the search because the board received new information about personnel and budget matters.

Allowing Knight-Burney’s contract to renew for one additional year will preserve consistency in the district and lead to better decision-making by the board, he said.

“I don’t have an issue looking for candidates, but we need time to find the correct ones,” Spradley said. “The board may feel rushed.”

Pittman was disappointed, but not surprised, by the board’s action. He said his position on Knight-Burney’s tenure has not changed in the three years he’s served on the board.

“When you look at our academic data and the evidence we put forth for our success, it just isn’t there,” Pittman said. “If we’d done a search and Knight-Burney came out as the best candidate, I would have supported her… but our responsibility as a board is to hold everyone as accountable as possible.”

School Finances “Bleak”

The Harrisburg School District’s finances are “more bleak” than anticipated, said the president of the Harrisburg school board.

Board President Judd Pittman offered that assessment last month following a presentation by Chief Financial Officer James Snell, who told the board that the district is facing serious financial challenges.

Budget projections prepared by consultants at Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management (PFM) anticipate that rising expenditures and flat revenues will generate years of consecutive deficits and ultimately draw down the district’s $21.6 million fund balance.

PFM consultant Marissa Litman told the board that the fund balance could be depleted in as few as three years, even if the board levies the highest allowable tax hikes.

Expenditure projections anticipate no salary increase for HEA-represented employees, but they do expect that bargaining will move some teachers up a salary step based on a grievance settlement. Social security and pension payments will increase along with those salary expenditures, and the projections also call for $3 million for facility enhancements. The expenditure projections assume that the district will continue its debt service payments and will not borrow any more money.

Litman reminded the board that projections are based on assumptions that are subject to change. Nonetheless, she advised the board to correct its spending to avoid drawing down its fund balance.

“This has been projected for a number of years, and now we have to deal with it,” Litman said.

The district was able to add to its fund balance as recently as the 2014-15 fiscal year. But the district ran a $3.7 million deficit in 2015-16, followed by a deficit of roughly half a million in 2016-17. The current 2017-18 budget anticipates another $6 million deficit.

DBEs Debated

For months, Harrisburg City Council members have raised seemingly the same question to members of the city’s administration.

How many women and minorities are being hired for public works contracts?

Last month, they got their first firm answer from Harrisburg Business Director Marc Woolley, who appeared at a legislative session to review the city’s success in hiring disadvantaged business enterprises, or DBEs, for its public contracts.

DBE is a recognized business category that includes minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women business enterprises (WBEs). A business can seek MBE or WBE certification if 51 percent of its ownership is controlled by minorities or women, respectively.

Most large cities across the country have policies aimed at drawing DBEs into public projects. TheBurg reported in March that Harrisburg’s own policies became the subject of scrutiny late last year, when council members grilled city officials on the rate of DBE participation in a major repaving project.

Last month, Woolley confirmed that DBE contracts for the 3rd Street Multimodal project, which will enhance two miles road and sidewalks from Uptown to downtown Harrisburg, amounted for just 3.8 percent of the project’s $3.1 million construction budget.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement if we want to increase our participation percentages,” Woolley said.

Working with colleagues from the Department of Community and Economic Development and the city’s Affirmative Action Office, Woolley set out to determine how many DBEs have participated in city contracts in the past three years and how city departments can reach more through bidding and solicitation.

According to Woolley, the program currently under development will have three objectives: removing impediments to business certification, participating in business development, and elevating small businesses and suppliers by moving them up the supplier chain.

Woolley said that Harrisburg’s current process for certifying DBEs is cumbersome, which could discourage businesses to seek DBE certification and, in turn, skew the city’s participation rate.

Woolley and his team plan to simplify the certification standards and are in the process of verifying the DBE status of every vendor that the city has hired in the past three years. The verification process has already revealed some vendors who were not listed as DBEs and who have since been added to the city’s Certified Minority Business Directory, Woolley said.

While some cities try to enforce minimum participation levels for DBEs, Harrisburg’s own DBE program will focus on education and business development, Woolley said.

City officials also plan to bolster outreach efforts by advertising public bidding opportunities on social media and in public service announcements.

More Apartments Downtown

Another downtown apartment project received the official go-ahead last month, as Harrisburg City Council agreed to a residential conversion on Pine Street.

Council voted 5-1 to allow Harristown Enterprises to proceed with converting the circa-1952 office building at 124 Pine St. to a 25-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor.

The lone no vote came from council President Wanda Williams, who stated that she would refuse to vote affirmatively on future Harristown projects until she was satisfied that they contained what she considers to be affordable units.

With the affirmative vote, Harristown can move forward with purchasing the six-story, 30,000-square-foot building from current owner Keystone Human Services, which has it on the market for $1.5 million.

Once the sale is complete, Keystone is expected to lease the building until it can find a new home, meaning that the office-to-residential conversion probably won’t begin until early 2019, according to Harristown CEO Brad Jones.

The Pine Street project, Jones said, will consist of 18 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units that will range from about 700 to 850 square feet in size. He expects rents to be about $1,095 to $1,395 a month. The project includes 19 off-street parking spaces, which would be rented separately.

Over the past few years, Harristown has converted several other downtown office buildings to residential use, adding about 60 apartment units in all.

At last month’s meeting, City Council also approved a resolution that will allow broadcaster ABC27 to construct a 3,500-square-foot addition to its Uptown Harrisburg building. The project entails consolidating three parcels at 3235 Hoffman St. and at 560 and 600 Alricks St., demolishing several existing structures on the Alricks Street parcels and adding to the main building on Hoffman Street.

In other action, council passed an “aerial easement agreement” with Harristown, allowing the company to continue to string about 580 lights over S. 3rd Street between Market and Chestnut streets. Harristown hung the lights last year after receiving temporary authorization from the city. Since then, several evening block parties have been hosted on the street.

Council also approved a $2 million, 10-year loan from the state Department of Transportation Infrastructure Bank to fund the repair and improvement of streets, including accessibility upgrades, in south Harrisburg.

Lastly, council passed a resolution allowing New York-based Smart City Media to install about 25 digital kiosks in downtown and Midtown Harrisburg. The kiosks will display city-based information such as events, businesses, dining options, schedules and history, with Smart City footing the $100,000 cost per kiosk, said Councilman Cornelius Johnson. The displays will contain advertising, with the revenue split between the company and the city, he said.

Glass Recycling Re-Starts

Glass is trash no more.

That was the message of Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month, as he announced the return of glass recycling to Harrisburg.

“We are pleased to be able to provide a way for our residents to recycle glass jars and bottles,” Papenfuse said. “This is just another way we’re trying to implement environmentally friendly programs that will make us a green and progressive city.”

Three years ago, Harrisburg suspended glass recycling, citing its high cost and difficulty. At the same time, it began to accept paper products for recycling, which previously had not been allowed.

While glass recycling will re-start, it will not be picked up with other recyclables during weekly curbside collection. Instead, the city has identified areas in the following places where glass can be dropped off:

Shipoke
Hall Manor
Kline Plaza
Fire Station Two
Fire Station One
Fire Station Eight
Broad Street Market
Uptown Shopping Plaza
Harrisburg Department of Public Works
William Howard Day Homes

Each location will provide a clearly marked dumpster or bin for recycled glass products, Papenfuse said.

Specific glass products, including jars and bottles without lids or tops, will be accepted. Other glass products such a mirrors, windows and drinking glasses, will not be accepted.

Papenfuse said that glass recycling has re-started because the new program will keep glass out of the waste stream of other recycled products. A major challenge for glass recycling has been that broken glass is difficult and expensive to separate and handle when intermingled with other recycled waste.

The city has contracted with Mount Pleasant, Pa.-based CAP Glass, a glass recycler, to collect and recycle the glass.

Papenfuse said that, since he’s been mayor, recycling in the city has increased three-fold, and he stressed the importance of glass recycling to keep down the city’s cost of burning solid waste at the incinerator.

“Not only are we concerned about the environment,” he said. “We’re also concerned about taxpayer dollars.”

River Walk Repaving Funded

Harrisburg will soon start repairing its pockmarked riverfront walkway, working with a budget that’s 50 percent larger than initially anticipated.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced last month that the city has received an additional $500,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to repair concrete on the entire length of the city’s historic river walk—11,000 linear feet stretching from the Shipoke neighborhood to Maclay Street in Uptown.

The city learned a year ago that it had received $1 million from the federal Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant, which is designed to assist and promote non-motorized transportation.

City officials knew then that $1 million would not cover the whole project, Papenfuse said. They successfully lobbied PennDOT, which administers the federal TAP grant, for more money.

“It’s a massive project,” Papenfuse said. “With the price of concrete and total scope of the project, we needed more.”

Papenfuse said that work could begin as early as this year. He declined to say how long it would take to complete the repairs, but did say that the city might have to work quickly to comply with terms of the grant. Harrisburg expects to receive its funds almost immediately after City Council grants approval for the grant agreement.

“I think PennDOT is ready to go,” Papenfuse said. “This isn’t that complicated and won’t require a separate design phase. So, we’ll move into the contract and bidding phase next.”

The 100-year old river walk is pummeled by floods, snow and ice every year, which leads to erosion and cracks in the concrete. The walkway is currently marred by potholes and uneven surfaces, making it difficult to navigate for anyone riding bikes, pushing strollers, or travelling in wheelchairs.

The funds from this grant will not permit the city to repair the stairs leading from Riverfront Park to the riverside promenade, nor the steps that descend from the lower walkway into the river. Papenfuse said that those fixes, as well as other enhancements like landscaping, could be made by the city with in-house labor after the walkway repairs are complete.

“This is a major investment, and it will be up to the city to maintain it,” Papenfuse said.

HACC Tuition Rises

HACC students will have to pay a bit more for the next academic year, as the college plans to raise tuition and fees to close a budget gap.

The Harrisburg-based regional community college announced last month that its board of trustees passed a $142 million budget with an average 2.9-percent tuition hike.

“HACC faces enrollment challenges similar to other colleges and universities across the commonwealth and throughout the country,” HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski said.

Sygielski said that HACC faced a $1.7 million shortfall for the 2018-19 academic year. The higher tuition and fees will yield an extra $2.4 million, he said. HACC’s tuition will increase by $6 per credit hour for sponsoring, non-sponsoring and out-of-state tuition rates.

For an in-state resident who lives in one of the 22 sponsoring school districts, tuition will increase from $174.25 to $180.25 per credit hour (3.4 percent increase). For non-sponsored, in-state residents, tuition will go from $211 to $217 per credit hour (2.8 percent increase). Out-of-state residents will pay $262 per credit hour, up from $256 (2.3 percent increase).

There also will be a $25-per-credit-hour increase in tuition rates for “College in the High School” and dual enrollment programs, and a $1-per-credit-hour increase in technology fees for students.

So Noted

Barley Snyder last month announced that it has formed a “Senior Living Industry Group” to address legal issues facing the growing senior living industry. The law firm has offices throughout central PA, including in Harrisburg.

Devan Drabik began last month as the new director of marketing and communications for ExploreHBG, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg’s tourism branding program for Harrisburg. Drabik last served as director of business development for the city of Harrisburg

Gary Lenker was named last month to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf, Lenker is executive director of Tri-County Housing Development Corp.

S&T Bank last month announced two personnel moves. Melissa Doss was named mortgage banker to serve the Harrisburg and East Shore markets. In her new role, she will originate mortgage loans and foster relationships with new borrowers in that region. Katie Rittel was promoted to mortgage banker, responsible for originating mortgage loans and growing the bank’s existing loan portfolio in the Camp Hill and West Shore markets.

Shores Veterinary Emergency Care Center cut the ribbon last month on its facility at 835 Sir Thomas Court, Harrisburg. The 9,600-square-foot hospital features two surgical suites, eight treatment rooms and a dedicated trauma entrance, in addition to a 40-seat conference room.

TheBurg last month announced that it received 16 2018 Keystone Professional Awards from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. TheBurg received peer-judged press awards in a wide range of categories, including for reporting, writing, headlines, graphics, photography and design. For the third straight year, TheBurg also won the prestigious “Sweepstakes” award for best performance statewide in its category.

Traditions Mortgage last month held a grand opening for its new location at 3421 Market St., Camp Hill. A division of York Traditions Bank, the mortgage company lends in York, Dauphin and Cumberland counties.

Changing Hands

Boas St., 405: V. Zahorian to J. Varner & C. Fowler, $119,900

Briggs St., 223: P. & J. Moran to D. & L. Butcher, $175,000

Brookwood St., 1915: R. Carter & S. Hill to Edwin L. Heim Co., $50,000

Chestnut St., 2043: V. Oster to P. Geltmacher, $128,500

Cumberland St., 211: Summerhill Partners LP to B. Sholtis, $118,000

Derry St., 1333: Leonard Dobson Family Limited Partnership to S. Costa. $50,000

Emerald St., 247: US Bank National Assocation to M. Bekelja, $31,000

Green St., 1611: L. McLeaish to M. & S. Topping, $177,500

Green St., 1918: J. Leahan to D. Haubert, $145,000

Green St., 2009: J. Croft & M. Kmiecinski to L. Crandall & C. Wagner, $206,000

Green St., 2220: M. & L. Craig to Harrisburg Properties LLC, $34,000

Harris St., 216: D. & R. McLean to D. Zimmerman, $161,500

Harris St., 220: D. Grossman to D. Merkt, $184,000

Harris St., 234: D. Barclift to Big Leaf Properties LLC, $40,000

Hillside Rd., 105: W. & L. McBride to J. Runyan, $149,900

Kelker St., 204: W. Manley to A. Nebbou, $125,000

Kensington St., 2223: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to PA Deals LLC, $31,000

Logan St., 1730: E. Tisdell to B. & W. Bechtel, $145,000

Manada St., 1914: T. & R. Black to W. Fischer, $30,500

North St., 254 & 256: Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority to Alli Lin LLC, $34,300

N. 2^nd St., 1200, 1202, 1204 & 1206, Harrisburg Second Street Apartments LLC & Nish Realty Inc., to WCI Partners LP, $235,000

N. 2^nd St., 2053: Sunoco Retail LLC to 7 Eleven Inc., $1,248,000

N. 3^rd St., 2600: D. & V. Alvear to L. Freed, $160,000

N. 4^th St., 1422: Leonard J. Dobson Family Limited Partnership to B. Esworthy, $80,000

N. 4^th St., 2747: A. Sieger to S. Gamble & C. Kilb, $135,000

N. 4^th St., 3212: L. Bowers to C. Gibson & R. Landon, $100,000

N. 5^th St., 2606: M. Pitts to M. Napper, $67,900

Parkside Lane, 2906: R. & K. Riley to S. Webb, $350,000

Peffer St., 216: SL Realty to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $60,750

Penn St., 917: B. Fritz to B. Golper & J. Wu, $96,000

Penn St., 1908: WCI Partners LP to K. & D. Smyth, $165,000

Putnam St., 1625: S. & M. Mavric to J. Avila, $36,000

Radnor St., 618: Dziko Properties to D. Nelson, $45,000

Rudy Rd., 2311: N. Ishman to V. McCallum, $151,000

S. 14^th St., 1408: M. & B. Graybill to City of Harrisburg, $42,000

S. 14^th St., 1445: G. Neff to City of Harrisburg, $43,000

S. 14^th St., 1446: D. & T. Patterson to City of Harrisburg, $52,000

S. 14^th St., 1448: G. Neff to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 14^th St., 1450: G. Neff to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1452: G. Neff & City Limits Realty to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S 17^th St., 1034: NationStar HECM Acquisitions Trust 2017 to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $45,000

S. 19^th St., 533: PMSC Investments LLC to V. & D. Morales, $58,500

S. River St., 321: S. Cammack to J&S Home Solutions, $60,000

Susquehanna St., 1739: A. Otterson to A. Nebbou, $85,500

Susquehanna St., 1833: J. Secrest to C. Straub, $110,000

Susquehanna St., 2018: Unite LLC to P. Truong, $30,000

Verbeke St., 1723: J. & C. Weathers to Harrisburg Properties LLC, $49,900

Woodbine St., 214: Monte Design Studio LLC to E. Whittaker, $105,900

Woodlawn St., 2710 & 2712: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to Fruition Holdings LLC, $80,299

Mind the Belt: Saddle up for Bike Month and the Tour de Belt.

April 30, 2018 | by Alexandra Jones

Burg in Focus: Capital Area Greenbelt Association from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Are you ready, Greenbelt? It’s almost time for your closeup.

Each year, the Capital Area Greenbelt Association rolls out the welcome mat for the Tour de Belt, a leisurely ride along the 20-mile trail that weaves through Harrisburg’s biggest parks and landmarks.

Around 800 bikers are expected to join this year’s ride on June 3, according to Dick Norford, who co-chairs the planning committee alongside Diane Kripas. The two work to coordinate the event and the 100 or so volunteers who assist riders that day.

The Tour de Belt is meant to be a fun, family event.

“It’s not a race,” Norford said. “It’s a ride.”

With the price of admission, participants receive free snacks and drinks at the ride’s two rest stops and, afterwards, free lunch and a T-shirt. All funds raised go towards supplies for the upkeep of the trail done by volunteer crews.

Over the years, the weekend of activity has expanded beyond the tour itself. Several rides, including Bike the Burg and the Five Bridges Tour, are planned for Saturday, June 2, the day before the big ride around the Greenbelt.

So, how did all this biking get started?

At the turn of the 20th century, Harrisburg was a city with unpaved streets, factories polluting the air and a riverbank full of residents’ trash, coal ashes and sewage. In 1901, the City Beautiful Movement spurred the effort to improve Harrisburg’s living conditions.

Soon after, landscape architect Warren Manning, a protege of Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted, created what is now known as Riverfront Park along the Susquehanna River and Wildwood Park at Wetzel’s Swamp. He also proposed the expansion of Reservoir Park on Allison Hill and suggested that the park network should be connected to a path around the city—the Greenbelt.

By 1915, the riverfront had been cleaned up and, as the parks were being built and expanded, the Greenbelt began to grow. But due to the Great Depression, the rise of automobile and the migration of city residents to the suburbs after World War II, the last section of the loop—from Reservoir Park to Wildwood Park—was abandoned.

CAGA was formed in 1990, after a group of arborists re-discovered the trail. The organization secured a grant to complete the circuit, and the Greenbelt was finished in 1999. To celebrate its completion after nearly a 100-year hiatus, the first Tour de Belt was organized in 2000.

“It’s become a little bit more than a bike around the city,” Norford said.

It’s also become a grand finale of sorts—the culmination of a string of biking events each May organized by the bicycle advocacy group, Bike Harrisburg. According to Marilyn Chastek, president of the Harrisburg Bicycle Club, National Bike Month came to Harrisburg about five years ago.

During Bike Month, two of Harrisburg’s biggest events include the Ride of Silence, locally organized by the founder of Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg, Ross Willard, and the Searsucker & Lace Ride.

The Ride of Silence, which commemorates Pennsylvania cyclists who died in traffic accidents over the past year, will take place May 16. It encourages drivers to be more courteous and careful when sharing the road. Cyclists ride from Camp Hill to the Capitol steps, where Willard and his team set up a display of crumpled “ghost bikes” painted white—one to represent each cyclist fatality.

This year, Willard has invited Andrew Brown, a cyclist who almost died after a car made a left turn into him at a red light, to speak at the event.

“This event is probably my favorite because I know the impact it has,” Willard said.

For another type of event, the Seersucker & Lace Ride will take place on May 21. Historically, it’s been the second biggest ride of the monthlong series, after the Tour de Belt itself, usually attracting around 85 people. Riders dress up in old-timey finery to take a guided tour of Harrisburg’s murals and snap pictures with vintage furniture.

“It’s like a fashion show on wheels,” Chastek said.
The Tour de Belt takes place June 3, starting at 9 a.m. from the HACC Harrisburg campus, 1 HACC Dr., Harrisburg. More events, including several additional rides, take place on June 2. For more information, including registration and cost, visit www.caga.org/tour-de-belt.

May I Ride?
May is National Bike Month and, locally, Bike Harrisburg has a host of events planned, including:
• May 6: Garden Faire at Fort Hunter, all day. Ride your bike to Garden Faire and receive a voucher for a free tour of the elegantly restored Fort Hunter Mansion.
• May 9: Spoke ‘n Gear Bicycle Expo, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Field (across from the Capitol fountain).
• May 14: Rally to Support Cycling In PA, 10 a.m. Ride your bike into Harrisburg and meet at the Capitol steps on 3rd Street for the rally.
• May 16: Ghost Bikes at the Capitol, all day, and International Ride of Silence, begins at 6:30 p.m. at Camp Hill Borough Hall.
• May 18: HBC Friday Night Social Ride, 6:15 p.m. Meet at the HACC Midtown parking lot on Reily Street. Dinner afterwards at the Broad Street Market.
• May 19: “Highlights of HBG” Bike Tour, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Meet at the east end of the Walnut Street Bridge near Front Street.
• May 20: Seersucker & Lace Ride, 2 p.m. A fashion show on wheels. Meet at the Underground Bike Shop, 1519 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg.

For a complete list of Bike Harrisburg’s National Bike Month events, visit www.bikeharrisburg.org.

The Young and the Best List: Orchestra showcases the next generation.

April 30, 2018 | by Lori M. Myers

JT Mullins

JT Mullins was 5 years old when music piqued his interest, and he began playing piano.

Years of study and practice have paid off for this Hershey High School junior who recently won the West Shore Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition. He will perform with the symphony this month at its final Family and Masterworks concerts.

If devotees of classical compositions had concerns about their favorite genre getting old and dusty, they only have to look at Mullins and the other seven finalists chosen from more than a dozen applicants as hopeful signs that Mendelssohn and Mozart are in the expert hands of the next generation.

“These events provide an opportunity for students to perform for their peers in a highly selective, specialized setting,” said Jennifer Sacher Wiley, the orchestra’s music director and conductor. “The concert in May, featuring the winner, is the West Shore Symphony Orchestra’s way of recognizing young musicians in the region and our support of music education.”

Wiley admitted having “mixed feelings” about music competitions since she believes there is a place on the stage for many individual musical voices, but finds value in providing performance opportunities for young artists as they launch their careers.

“This particular competition was a nice way for me to build relationships with community members and music educators in the region,” she said.

Mullins is grateful for the opportunity. He is a member of his school’s concert band, is the principal trombone with the Harrisburg Youth Symphony, and recently auditioned into the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Concert Band for euphonium.

He will play Grieg’s Piano Concerto, a popular piece that listeners will easily recognize from the start. The prospect of winning the competition and his upcoming public performance has the young pianist “beyond excited,” he said.

“My family, most especially my mother, and my teacher, Eun Ae Baik-Kim of Dickinson College, had worked tirelessly with me to ensure that I was as prepared as possible, and I was extremely happy to see all of our hard work come to fruition,” Mullins said. “My mother is the best manager, photographer and chauffeur that I could ask for, especially because I pay her no salary.”

The competition’s judges noticed the results of Mullins’ hard work, said Wiley.

“In my experience, judges tend to pick pieces that would engage an audience, performed with confidence, technical command and with flair,” she said. “JT certainly had all of those qualities when he competed for our panel of judges in January.”

Mullins admitted that one audience member, his little brother, Jesse, was never as impressed as those judges. At home, whenever Mullins would begin to practice a slow, classical piece that he’d be working on that week, Jesse would almost instantly fall asleep on the couch.

“Those who know my brother know that getting him to fall asleep is, in fact, not much of an accomplishment,” Mullins said. “But I choose to take it as a compliment.”

Along with Mullins’ upcoming solo performance, the West Shore Symphony Orchestra’s May concerts will showcase composers whose music is inspired by nature. Audiences will hear recorded bird sounds in these performances that share the theme, “Sounds of Our World: Past, Present, Future.”

“Of particular note is a 2015 composition by Tan Dun, American composer of Chinese descent,” Wiley said. “Tan Dun recorded bird sounds on ancient Chinese instruments that are intended to be played on cell phones, as audience participation, and on the phones of orchestral players, as part of the piece.”

JT Mullins will perform at the West Shore Symphony’s concerts on May 5 and 6 at the Pollock Performing Arts Center, Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.westshoresymphony.org.

Along with Mullins, other young performers will take to the stage for those performances. These include two middle-school orchestras, Mechanicsburg’s Eagle View Middle School under the direction of West Shore Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster Margeaux Katz-Sgrignoli, and a middle school from Alexandria, Va., led by Veronica Jackson. On Friday, May 4, Jackson will lead a clinic for area orchestra directors and hosted by Sgrignoli at Eagle View Middle School.

A Quiet Desperation: Characters long for connection in “Ha’har.”

April 30, 2018 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Tzvia (Shani Klein) is a soft-spoken, pleasant woman who lives with her husband and four children next to a cemetery atop the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It is not a very fulfilled life that she lives.

It is a point of embarrassment that they, an Orthodox Jewish family, live so close to the cemetery, but Tzvia’s husband, Reuven (Avshalom Polak), who spends the majority of his time away at work, doesn’t seem too concerned.

He comes home late most nights to eat dinner and sleep—and sometimes not even that—leaving Tzvia with little adult contact except the connections she seeks on the mountain. Every day, she sends her children off to school and bides the time until they come home by meandering through the cemetery, occasionally stopping to talk to the gravedigger, Abed (Hitham Omari), a concerning prospect, since he is a man and not of the Jewish faith.

As Tzvia begins to realize how lonely she is, she ventures out into the cemetery at night, discovering a group of prostitutes and their male patrons amongst the tombstones. The unsavory company does not inhibit her visits, however, and, in fact, prompts her to begin making soup for them.

The film may be as quiet as Tzvia is, but its story speaks volumes. Each character has much to tell the world despite the few words they each say. Each moment is intentional, each event holding weight throughout the span of the film. Klein breaks our heart with her desperation for companionship, and the plot slowly becomes more and more upsetting as it unravels.

“Ha’har” plays as a part of the Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, May 10 to 17. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

MIDTOWN CINEMA
MAY SPECIAL EVENTS

Jewish Film Festival
May 10 to 17
Schedule available at www.hbgjff.com

Down in Front!
“Red Hook” (2009)
Friday, May 11, 9:30 p.m.

Mother’s Month Series
“Psycho” (1960)
Sunday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.

“Serial Mom” (1994)
Friday, May 18, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 19, 12 p.m. (#BringtheBaby)

“Mommie Dearest” (1981)
Tuesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.

Good Stories, Well Told: At the Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival, drop in on cinema from around the world.

April 30, 2018 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

“Bombshell”

Each year, the Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival seems to offer more and more diverse fare about the specifically Jewish and Israeli experience—but also, paradoxically, more representative of the human experience.

This year, the festival includes a documentary (“Bombshell”) about actress Hedy Lamarr. The film focuses not so much on her extraordinary beauty, uneven movie career and tumultuous personal life as on her accomplishments as an inventor.

According to filmmaker Alexandra Dean, acting was “secondary” for Lamarr, who, as a child, used to take things apart and put them back together.

“She’s an example of a woman not taken seriously despite her talent,” Dean said.

The concept that Lamarr was working on for the U.S. military during World War II—known as frequency hopping—eventually found its way into GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, Dean said.

In another drama, “My Dear Children,” Feiga Shamis, a woman caught in the inter-war pogroms against the Jews in Russia, writes to explain her decision to place two of her 12 children in an orphanage to ensure their safety. By the time her children receive Shamis’s letter, they no longer know Yiddish, so its contents are inaccessible to them.

Through a strange coincidence, the story came to the attention of filmmakers LeeAnn Dance and Cliff Hackel, who created “My Dear Children,” their first independent cinematic production.

Steve Mason, a long-time friend of Dance and a descendant of Shamis, suggested the story would make a great documentary.

“I had never heard about the horrific violence from 1917 to 1921 in Russia,” Dance said. “I had to do a lot of research. I’m not Jewish, but found myself impacted by events 100 years ago. Feiga had a very compelling personality.”

There are other surprises in this year’s festival, said Julie Sherman, chairperson and long-time coordinator of the annual event.

One is the black-and-white film, “1945,” in which two Orthodox Jews arrive in a Hungarian town that ran all of its Jews out during the Nazi era.

“It’s astonishing,” Sherman said. “The film, which is a drama, not a documentary, takes place over the course of three or four hours. We really see the guilt and the shame of the townspeople. We don’t know why these men are there, but we sense the corrosive power of anti-Semitism.”

If romantic comedy is more your style, “Keep the Change” offers a twist on the genre. Created by Rachel Israel, who was named “Best New Narrative Director” at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, this love story between two young people with special needs is based on the real-life experience of Brandon Polansky, one of the stars.

Another romantic comedy, “The Wedding Plan,” is a “light and lovely Israeli film,” said Sherman. It’s about the mission of a young Orthodox woman to find a groom in time for her originally planned (and aborted) wedding day. “And Then She Arrived,” a contemporary love story, also from Israel, concerns a young man with anything but marriage on his mind.

A few of the films in the festival, including “The Origin of Violence” and “Monsieur Mayonnaise,” touch on the race against time that first- and second-generation offspring of Holocaust survivors and World War II resistance fighters feel to hear the stories, before it’s too late, of their often-reticent parents and grandparents, Sherman said.

Also included in the festival are two movies she called “our day-after” films—that is, “the time after” World War II and the Holocaust. Aside from “1945,” mentioned above, the other is “Bye Bye Germany,” a comic drama, which takes place at a displaced persons camp in Frankfurt.

Another Israel-based film in the festival is “Ha’har (Mountain),” a “real cinephile’s picture that takes place on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives and deals with an Orthodox woman who lives with her family on the edge of its cemetery,” Sherman said. And another is “The Cakemaker,” a German/Israeli film of yearning, in which a gay, Berlin-based baker travels to Israel, in disguise, to meet the wife of his dead lover and becomes part of her life.

“Festival attendance has grown significantly over the last few years, thanks largely to the Midtown Cinema, which has helped expand our audience well beyond the local Jewish community,” Sherman said. “People respond, because, while the pictures we show are Jewish-themed or Israeli-made, they are also, simply, excellent films—good stories well told.”

The Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival opens at the Jewish Community Center, 3301 North Front St., with “Keep the Change” on Thursday, May 10. It continues through May 17 at the Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.hbgjff.com or www.midtowncinema.com.

Tickets for the JCC opening event are $15 and may be purchased in advance at the JCC front desk or by phone at 717-236-9555.

The filmmakers of “My Dear Children” and “Bombshell” will introduce their films, as will the two stars of “Keep the Change.”

Midstate Taste: Riverrun embraces its Harrisburg heritage, deliciously.

April 30, 2018 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

Is it wrong to dream about brownie a la mode? Asking for a friend.

After a recent visit to Riverrun Restaurant and Social Lounge, located on the first floor of the newly opened Hotel Indigo Harrisburg Hershey, I can’t seem to get this particular dessert out of my mind. But more on that in a minute.

When I arrived at Riverrun, Kerri Conway, the restaurant’s food and beverage manager, greeted me with a warm smile. Conway and executive chef Steve Miller are veterans of the region’s food and beverage scene. She listed off gigs that helped hone her expertise, including time spent at ever-delicious Cork & Fork. Miller most recently served as sous chef over at local favorite Café 1500.

Conway and Diana Bernardo, the hotel’s general manager, chatted with me about the restaurant and hotel’s commitment to serving as a gathering place and destination for travelers and locals alike. Highlighting the region’s food and beverage offerings is a key component of this.

“That’s one of the things Kerri and I were really passionate about when we came on board,” explained Bernardo. “Incorporating that into everything we do—not just the design elements, but from the food we serve to the places we recommend.”

Perfectly Pennsylvania
Hotel Indigo, the boutique line in IHG Global’s international collection of hotels, develops a “neighborhood story” and “design story” around which each hotel’s aesthetic and narrative are built. Local landmarks and history appear in both easily recognizable and subtle nods throughout the hotel.

The Walnut Street Bridge is memorialized in artwork in the social lounge, on guest room signage and in the lobby’s architectural details, which play off the bridge’s distinctive trusses. Much of the staff sports violet-colored boutonnieres as a nod to artist Violet Oakley, whose work is featured in the state Capitol, and a bas-relief installation that plays upon a topographic view of the Susquehanna River is mounted prominently on the wall behind the front desk.

Though some of the hotel’s local design details may be less evident to visitors to our area, just one bite or sip at Riverrun will be enough to demonstrate Indigo’s commitment to showcasing local food and beverages.

As we spoke, Conway shared a bit about the process of developing a menu that draws from the best the area has to offer. This included—among other fun activities—“field trips” to destinations like the Broad Street Market. Conway’s years in the hospitality industry gave her a leg up on the process.

“I knew where I wanted to start,” she said.

From here, she rattled off a list of local farms and craft food and beverage producers, including Caputo Brothers’ cheeses, Urban Churn ice cream, Elementary Coffee brews, Popped Culture popcorn, Kunzler’s meats, Kegel’s produce and Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op products.

Many of these names show up on Riverrun’s menu via perfectly Pennsylvania dishes like the fried Lebanon bologna sandwich. Consider it a delicious, gourmet take on a lunchtime go-to from many childhoods of yore, featuring fried Kunzler’s sweet Lebanon bologna, Herlocher’s mustard, gruyere cheese, Middleswarth chips and greens, nestled within a pretzel roll.

For those looking for a more robust and refined option, Riverrun offers a wide variety of entrees, such as a cilantro, lime, chimichurri steak and a truffle linguini. The latter’s champagne truffle sauce, fresh sage and garlic-marinated mushrooms give the dish a rich earthiness, and the crumbled goat cheese on top provides a delicate flavor contrast.

When dining out, I like to craft a balanced meal—if not nutritionally, definitely in flavor—so a sweet dessert seemed like the perfect follow-up to the aforementioned sandwich’s indulgent, salty tang. Which brings us full circle to those brownie dreams I mentioned earlier.

Riverrun’s “Local Collaboration” is a dessert significant enough to drive a sweet tooth to distraction. Picture a moist, rich, from scratch, Pennsylvania Bakery brownie (gluten free, to boot) paired with a generous scoop of Urban Churn’s bourbon cinnamon ice cream. Thick-cut, chocolate-covered bacon from Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative sits majestically atop, bedecked with Popped Culture’s Caramel Brown Sugah popcorn. And there’s Hershey’s chocolate syrup to go with it. Can you even stand it?

Levity
As we discussed other culinary high points of the menu, chef Miller noted that he plans to keep the current menu in place while they get up and running, but, as summertime comes, he plans to begin introducing daily specials to further incorporate local produce and meats.

The restaurant’s cocktail menu injects levity into the regional theme, with cleverly titled drinks that name-check local history and landmarks. The “It’s LANG-kis-ter not LAN-caster” (Thistle Finch gin, green Chartreuse, blueberries, mint, cucumber and Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative honey) and the “Strawberry Square” (Midstate Distillery white rum, muddled tarragon, strawberries, peppercorn syrup and club soda) are just two such delicious examples.

For those wondering if happy hour is celebrated here, have no fear—Riverrun presents a range of specials, Monday to Friday, including select $5 appetizers, $2 domestic beers, $1-off Tröegs drafts, $6 house wines from Spring Gate and $5 house spirits from a range of local favorites, such as Faber, Stateside Vodka, Midstate Distillery and Thistle Finch.

As our conversation concluded, I scanned the lobby with its cozy nooks and seating areas. My eyes fell upon a pair of upholstered chairs beneath the Walnut Street Bridge artwork. If I were a guest, I could imagine returning to Riverrun for a happy hour glass of Spring Gate’s blackberry sangria at the end of a long day exploring the area or soldiering through hours of meetings. I could curl up there with a book or, if I still had the energy, grab appetizers at Riverrun and then Uber into the city for some fun. At evening’s end, I would return to the hotel and polish off the night with—you guessed it—a brownie.

Riverrun Restaurant & Social Lounge is located at 765 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg. For more information, visit hotelindigo/harrisburgpa or hotelindigo.com or call 717-558-7676.

Spicy Spring: Check out these red hot shows

April 30, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

The Messthetics. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

I have to say, the music scene is getting hot in Harrisburg. Club XL recently opened, offering a large music venue for performances, as well as DJ and dance party nights. “A Taste of Jazz 2018” is coming up this month at Whitaker Center, featuring the celebrated ensemble, Pieces of a Dream. Internationally celebrated Afro beat artist Koko the Wonderman is hitting H*MAC’s Capitol Room, famous for his juju funky soul jazz rhythms and his work with artists such as Sting, Ziggy Marley and Chaka Khan. All that, and these aren’t even my featured shows this month! Check out some of the sick shows going on around town.

THE MESSTHETICS, 5/16, 7PM, LITTLE AMPS DOWNTOWN, $8
Prog, experimental, punk and psych rock fans, this show is made for you. Brendan Canty on drums, Joe Lally on bass and Anthony Pirog on guitar make up the Messthetics, a recently formed trio that will blow you away. Joining them for the night are some local favorites of mine, Concrete Beach and Deletions, so you know it’s going to be good. Canty and Lally were the rhythm section for Fugazi from 1987 until their hiatus in 2002. Pirog, the founder of the band, is part of the duo Janel & Anthony, and he is a well-known music figure in D.C.’s out-music scene. Formed in 2016, the Messthetics started recording their self-titled debut album in 2017, and it was released in March 2018 through Dischord Records with much praise from the independent music community. This improvisational punk power trio may only have nine songs, but, one listen to their album, and you’ll wish you had more. Catch them on Bandcamp before the show, especially “Quantum Path,” my personal favorite. I’m not missing this show for anything, so make your way downtown with me for a classic Harrisburg night out.

THE WAILERS BAND, 5/17, 8PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $30-35
I had to double- and even triple-check the event info to be sure I wasn’t dreaming on this show. It’s really them. The one-and-the-only the Wailers Band is making its way to H*MAC’s Capitol Room, and I’m so pumped. One of my favorite vibey records to listen to at work is “Survival” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, recorded back in 1979. Still kickin’ it to this day, the Wailers have continued on through famous bassist Aston “Familyman” Barrett with guitarists Junior Marvin and Donald Kinsey. Bob Marley & the Wailers’ career spanned from 1973 to 1980, creating and performing their famous reggae music for audiences worldwide. After Marley’s death in 1981, Familyman and Junior carried on the request to “keep the Wailers together” because, as Marley said, “By doing that, you keep me alive through the music.” This evening is perfect for some classic Bob Marley & the Wailers songs, spreading good vibes and sending out Marley’s iconic and enduring message: “One Love.”

THE PHRYG, 5/26, 8PM, RIVER CITY BLUES CLUB
River City is excellent at bringing the funk to Harrisburg, and they’ve gone and done it again this month. The Phryg comes to us from Brooklyn as musically gifted earthlings armed with the intergalactic influence of funk. The quartet has garnered attention from publications such as the Performer Magazine, The Jamwich, The Journal News and Pittsburgh Music Magazine for their groovy rock performances. You can tell these guys were influenced by artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Parliament, blending these genres into their own smooth sound. You can’t go wrong with some rockin’ tunes layered with polished vocals, slick guitar, lively rhythms and funky vibes all around.

Mentionables:

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, May 5, The Abbey Bar;
Dreadnought Brigade, May 12, Spring Gate Vineyard;
An Evening with The Machine Performing Pink Floyd, May 19, Club XL;
A Taste of Jazz 2018, May 20, Whitaker Center;
Kofo The Wonderman, May 26, H*MAC Capitol Room;
The Menzingers, May 27, H*MAC Stage on Herr

Redefining Wonderland: Imaginations run wild at Open Stage.

April 30, 2018 | by Laura Dugan

Photo by Haley Harned.

For most 8 to 13 year-olds, “foley” is a word that they likely cannot define.

But for Open Stage of Harrisburg’s OSHKids Performance Co., it’s a part of their daily vocabulary. The students in the company become animals, clocks, falling rabbits and just about anything their imaginations can muster.

The company now is preparing for its annual play, and this year’s production is “Alice in Wonderland,” running May 17 to 20. Like the theater’s mainstage productions, the play focuses on opening the minds of both the actors and the audience. Full-sized puppets, an on-stage foley station, and colorful moving props enable students to maneuver their way through Wonderland as both actor and technician.

“The foley art and the different styles that we’re going to be using, like the shadow puppetry, are what I enjoy most about the play,” said Fletcher Smith, who is in his first year as an OSHKid. “We also have an awesome director who is very energetic.”

Hanniel Sindelar, Open Stage’s resident costume shop manager/designer, is leading the class as they explore telling the classic children’s tale. With a background in devised theater, variety performance and cheap art, Sindelar strives to expand the imaginations of these creative students.

“The focus of our program is on ‘telling the story’ and how we can best empower our students to do that,” Sindelar said. “For me, that means emphasis on collaboration between the entire ensemble, being supportive of each other, and staying focused on the big picture.”

The OSHKids retelling of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story features a script by Rachel and Stuart Landon and is being collaboratively designed with Harrisburg’s Stephen Michael Haas.

“It’s magical to see what the students are capable of,” said Sindelar. “I hope they never forget what is possible when you align your energy with others to change a current in the world, on stage or off.”

The OSHKids Performance Co. meets in the fall to study acting technique, improvisational skills and working as a team. In the spring, the focus switches to the company’s annual play. Open to students aged 8 to 13, OSHKids provides benefits beyond learning theater technique.

Summer Morris, in her fifth year of the program, said she loves everything about OSHKids and has learned a lot from her years in the program. Her father agrees.

“The first time I saw her in a lead, singing confidently, it was amazing,” said Dan Morris, noting that he’s seen Summer grow through her participation with the company.

In addition to building confidence, OSHKids teaches the value of being in an ensemble.

“Everyone has a part in the performance even if you’re not the main character,” said Anna Williams, who is in her fourth year with the company.

Working as a team will be the focus of the OSHKids summer program, “Seussical KIDS.” Open to students ages 8 to 12, the program runs for three weeks in June and culminates in a public performance. The program will explore character building, teamwork, scene study and design.

For older students, ages 12 to 18, Musical Theatre Workshop (MTW) runs for three weeks in July and culminates in a showcase. MTW is an intensive, three-week program in acting, singing and movement, focusing on the repertoire of classic and contemporary musical theater. The workshop includes a field trip to New York City, a ticket to a Broadway show and an audition workshop with professional actors.

Smith, who participated in MTW last year, plans on doing the same this year. He also intends to enroll in 180Prep, Open Stage’s class for 14 to 18 year-olds, in the fall.

“The program is a lot of fun, and you’ll make a lot of new friends,” Smith said. “It’s an amazing program, and I hope kids in the area get to do it.”

Tickets for “Alice in Wonderland” are currently available for purchase. Auditions are required for both “Seussical KIDS” and MTW. More information on the summer programs and purchasing tickets is available at www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

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

The Popcorn Hat Players Present:
“The Little Mermaid”
May 2 to 19
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

“Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties”
April 27 to May 6
Five different women named Betty collide at the intersection of anger, sex, and the “thea-tah.”

“Alice in Wonderland”
May 16 to 20
Lewis Carroll’s classic story reimagined by the OSHkids Performance Company

Auditions for Seussical Kids Summer Camp
May 26, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration for kids 8 to 12 are open at www.openstagehbg.com/seussical. Call the box office at 717-232-6736 for more information.

The Bevel’s in the “Details”: New exhibit casts a lens on Newport’s architectural finery.

April 30, 2018 | by Don Helin

In the early 19th and 20th centuries, Newport was the economic and industrial hub of Perry County.

The Pennsylvania canal system and the Pennsylvania Railroad brought prosperity to the eastern part of the county, and industry flourished. A housing boom resulted, and Victorian craftsmen created beautiful details for the buildings of Newport, which was home to canal boat captains, business owners and bankers.

“Despite floods and periodic economic downturns, magnificent examples of Victorian architecture survived in downtown Newport,” said Roger Smith, former executive director of the Perry County Council of the Arts (PCCA).

Starting in early May, you can take an up-close look at these architectural flourishes, as PCCA opens the photo exhibit, “Downtown Details,” in Landis House.

Local history buff Jane Hoover thought up the project to highlight the decorative elements so abundant in Newport’s historic district, which is on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.

“Sadly, many people walk the streets here in Newport and never look up to see the beautiful work these craftsmen did,” Hoover said. “My concern was that the narrative developed by the National Park Service lacked history and visual appeal to help people realize the prize we have here. Additionally, the narrative lacked any photographs.”

So, Hoover spoke with Smith, and he organized a group to review the town’s historic buildings and deepen the existing narrative. The group included Hoover, Smith, photographer Irene VanBuskirk and Bryan Van Sweden, historic preservation specialist for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

“I had been taking photos of the buildings in Newport,” VanBuskirk said. “Since the town had already inspired my artwork, I wanted to be involved. My intent in this project has been to create artful, rather than documentary, images.”

One example is 51 S. Second St., once owned by Peter Schlomer, a 28-year-old immigrant from Germany, who arrived in Newport in 1889 and bought the lot from an A.B. Demaree. From his shop, Schlomer started out selling saddles and harnesses and later expanded into clothing. The house reflects its dual use as a residence and shop.

This building has an elaborate frieze board under the eaves, brackets that seem to support the frieze and eaves, drip caps that surround the tops of the windows to protect the glass from rain, and gingerbread trim that takes its theme from natural forms. Local planing mills provided the high-quality woodwork needed for the elaborate ornamentation.

The PCCA show, which runs through early July, highlights 20 of these homes. The exhibit then moves to the Veterans Memorial Building in New Bloomfield and wraps up at Newport High School, so students can see and study examples of Victorian architecture. The exhibit is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Moreover, Sunbury Press plans to publish a companion, travel-friendly paperback book highlighting the buildings. So, after seeing the photos, visitors can tour Newport and see the architecture for themselves.

“This exhibition continues the work of PCCA to highlight history through the arts,” said Erika Juran, the current PCCA executive director, who emphasized the connection between the exhibit and Newport’s bicentennial in 2020. “So, come and help us celebrate.”

“Downtown Details” runs May 4 to July 7 at Landis House, 67 N. Fourth Street, Newport. For more information, visit www.perrycountyarts.org or call 717-567-7023.

Sunbury Press may be reached at www.sunburypress.com or by calling 855-338-8359.

Plate Class: Slice, dice and learn from some of our area’s top chefs.

April 30, 2018 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

In my circle of friends, I’m the one who usually does the cooking.

That’s not a complaint, as chopping, tasting and experimenting all speak to my Zen, as long as I have sufficient time, that is. Another challenge is adding new dishes to the rotation. Time and time again, I seem to revert to the same old recipe rut.

This is when I start thinking about cooking classes to help me expand my repertoire. Fortunately, several of our area’s top chefs are ready to lend a hand, taking time out from their busy cooking lives to assist an amateur like me.

Cornerstone Cooking
Chuck LaPorta started out as a guest chef at the Cornerstone Coffeehouse and was so well received that he was asked to return often. By 2004, he was the chef-in-residence and has been conducting classes focused around a theme ever since.

For instance, “Relaxing in the Caribbean” might involve menu items like jerk chicken and island paella, and “Springtime in Paris” might be based on five different dishes that one might encounter in France.

For his day job, LaPorta oversees operations in the dietary department of Life Care Hospitals, so you can fairly say that working with food is his passion, an enthusiasm that shows in his classes.

“I’ve been cooking since I was 2 and even had an Easy-Bake Oven,” he said, with a laugh.
After each demonstration, LaPorta offers participants a sample of each of the various dishes that he creates.

“As we roll through the different dishes, everyone gets to eat very well and most people leave full,” he said.

The social aspect is a key part of the fun for LaPorta.

“I love the interaction, the laughing and joking around, watching people make new friendships and the fact that, for three hours, we all can step away from the craziness of the world and really enjoy the food,” he said.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse is located at 2133 Market St., Camp Hill. To learn about upcoming classes, visit www.thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com/cooking.

A Visit to India
Leena Shenoy, owner of one of Harrisburg’s longest-operating restaurants, has been paving a path towards a greater understanding of India one cooking class at a time. In March, she conducted her 50th class at her Shipoke restaurant.

With the help of a large screen TV, guests observed some of the various techniques she uses to make dishes like fruit chaat, beans poriyal and lemon pepper chicken.

In between stirring and sautéing, Shenoy took the opportunity to share information on where to buy the various products that she uses, explaining how some of them can be beneficial to one’s health.

“In southern India, we believe that coconut is good for cholesterol and can also be used as a beauty treatment,” she said. “It’s good for hair and tightens your skin.”

Shenoy then held up mustard seed, touting its respective health benefits.

“Mustard seed is good for your system when ground into a paste and mixed with honey; it’s a good detox,” she said. “Turmeric is also good as an antibiotic and, when mixed with yogurt and honey, can be used as a facial mask.”

The businesswoman, who lived in New Delhi until the age of 15, offers an explanation why the Indian diet is healthy.

“There are no preservatives in India,” she said. “Vegetables are purchased fresh every day.”

To prove her point, she said that her father is 88 and still plays tennis.

“There is no fatty food, no heavy cream in India,” she said.

After Shenoy added the finishing touches to each dish, she invited the class up to the front table to take turns sampling each of the items while she answered questions, pausing once in a while to make a joke.

One person commented on the pan Shenoy was using.

“Rachael Ray said you should cook with a cast-iron skillet,” the guest said.

Shenoy had a ready response.

“Yes, well I’m not Rachael Ray,” she said. “I am Leena Shenoy and I don’t cook with EVOO [extra virgin olive oil] either,” and the crowd erupted in laughter.

This is yet another cooking class where no one leaves hungry. After the demonstration was over and the sampling finished, the class stepped up to the buffet to partake in a variety of dishes served at the restaurant.

Passage to India is located at 525 S. Front St., Harrisburg. To learn more about upcoming classes, visit www.passagetoindiaharrisburgpa.com.

Pasta Feast
Chef Bill Collier is nothing if not ambitious, taking on a crowd of 12 amateur cooks on a recent Saturday for a three-hour, hands-on pasta-making session that included about half-a-dozen types of pasta and as many dishes.

Collier, who has been working at Bricco for more than eight years, made it look easy as he demonstrated the various techniques involved in making the perfect pasta.

Participants were divided into groups of three, and each took a turn at the machine to crank out long sheets of pasta, which, in the end, would be transformed into pappardelle, cavatini, fettucine, garganelli, tortellini and ravioli.

Reminiscent of “Iron Chef,” minus the urgency, the group was instructed to “raid” the pantry and use their collective imagination to create unique dishes that would pair well with the pasta that they were assigned.

Cooks chose ingredients like black garlic, fiddlehead ferns, braised lamb, roasted spring onions, morel mushrooms, fresh sage and fist-sized scallions, to name just a few. Each then spent time at their respective stations chopping, mincing and slicing before following Collier into the kitchen to watch him transform the ingredients into a variety of dishes. These included cavatini with peas and lamb ragu and ravioli stuffed with mascarpone, sweet potatoes and brown sugar, topped with amaretto cookie crumbs. Afterwards, everyone reconvened in the adjacent dining room to take part in a carb feast fit for a king.

The effort and skill it took to make the various types of pasta was not lost on Jo Davidson who worked on the lamb cavatini dish with her husband Brad.

“I have more of an appreciation for eating pasta now,” said the Elizabethtown resident.

Bricco is located at 31 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg. To learn more about upcoming classes, visit www.briccopa.com.

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