March News Digest

March 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Free Evening Parking

Free parking could come to downtown Harrisburg as early as this month, as City Council passed a resolution that would offset street parking costs after 5 p.m.

Council agreed unanimously last month to join Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) in ponying up money to offset parking revenues that operator Park Harrisburg would lose between 5 and 7 p.m.

“I think it’s a boost for the city,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I think it will lead to more people visiting downtown.”

Harrisburg’s contribution will amount to $110,000 over the next year and will come from money that the parking system already owes the city, said Papenfuse. The county has also pledged $110,000, and HDID will pay $50,000.

The county and HDID had hoped for a three-year deal, though council approved just a one-year test period.

By entering into the “memorandum of understanding,” the three entities—the city, county and HDID—must finalize the exchange with the parking system operator. Papenfuse has said he expects no pushback, as the system operator, SP+/Park Harrisburg, and its asset manager, Trimont, just want to ensure that contributions offset lost revenue, which, last year, amounted to $270,000 between 5 and 7 p.m.

Papenfuse said the parking subsidy could kick in as soon as April, but may take longer.

Since 2014, the city has tried several tactics to mitigate the cost of street parking. First, the Papenfuse administration convinced the system’s operators to lower the “happy hour” rate from $3 to $2 an hour between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. It later turned many of downtown’s loading zones into 15-minute free parking areas.

Nonetheless, downtown bar and restaurant owners continued to complain about a loss of business, which they largely blame on high parking rates.

If implemented, the plan would come with some conditions. First, it would apply only to street, not garage, parking. Secondly, it would take effect only within the HDID boundaries, which run downtown from State to Chestnut streets.

Loan Fund Launches

Whether you’re a shop owner looking to expand your storefront or an aspiring entrepreneur with a business dream, you may benefit from a new loan fund that launched last month in Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg is partnering with the Community First Fund and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to launch the Harrisburg Business Opportunity Fund (HBOF) with $1 million in seed money, according to Sheila Dow Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg, which was founded with proceeds from the sale of Harrisburg’s incinerator, will contribute $350,000 to the fund. The Pennsylvania Housing and Financing Authority has pledged $650,000 through its nonprofit subsidiary, the Commonwealth Cornerstone Group.

Loans will be available to small, for-profit business owners or aspiring business owners in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. According to Dow Ford, the goal of the fund is to encourage economic development, job creation and a diverse workforce in the city of Harrisburg.

“We’re providing for a segment of the population that has, for various reasons, been overlooked by traditional lending institutions,” she said.

Any for-profit business or startup in Harrisburg can apply for a loan, Dow Ford said, though real estate trusts or businesses that buy and sell property will not be eligible.

The new fund bears some resemblance to Harrisburg’s old revolving loan fund, which was launched in 1984 and languished in the 2000s as many borrowers became delinquent.

Dow Ford acknowledged that some HBOF loans might be considered risky by traditional lending standards, since they will be issued to people and ventures that might be denied by traditional lenders. However, she hopes that the partnership with Community First Fund will prevent the same mismanagement and delinquency that plagued the city’s revolving loan fund.

Superintendent Search Begins

The Harrisburg School District is putting up a help wanted sign, but there won’t necessarily be a personnel change in its highest office.

In a 5-4 vote, the Harrisburg School Board decided last month to accept applications for the position of superintendent. The vote means that if current Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney wishes to stay in her post, she must apply for her job and beat out other candidates.

The vote came after more than an hour of spirited public comment at last month’s school board meeting, as near-equal numbers of district residents encouraged the board to vote for or against a resolution to initiate the hiring process.

Residents who supported renewing Knight-Burney’s contract emphasized the importance of consistent leadership during the district’s recovery process. Those who called for an open hiring process said that the district deserved to consider candidates who might make more dramatic gains in student achievement.

Knight-Burney became Harrisburg’s superintendent in 2011. Since 2013, she’s been responsible for implementing the actions in a state-crafted recovery plan, which outlined almost 100 initiatives to improve the district’s academics and operations.

Her current contract, which was renewed in 2014, expires on June 30. Asked if she would reapply for her job, Knight-Burney declined to comment.

Act 47 Status Considered

“The clock is ticking” on the next step in Harrisburg’s path to financial recovery.

That’s the message that a state official had for Harrisburg’s administration and City Council last month, as both bodies were briefed on the timeline for the city’s remaining six months in the state’s Act 47 program for distressed municipalities.

Marita Kelley, Harrisburg’s Act 47 coordinator, appeared at a council work session to explain the city’s duties before Act 47 status expires on Sept. 23.

Here’s what lies ahead, according to Kelley. The mayor and the city clerk will receive a financial condition report, prepared by Kelley and the Pennsylvania Economy League. A public meeting on its contents should take place this month.

After the meeting, she and the Pennsylvania Economy League will have 90 days to prepare a final exit plan for the city. In that plan, they’ll make a formal recommendation for what the city should do in September: extend its Act 47 status, exit the program or enter the oversight of a state-appointed receiver.

The exit plan should arrive before city officials in mid-July. After another round of commenting and a public meeting, Kelley will finalize the exit plan in time for the Sept. 23 expiration deadline.

Kelley thinks it’s highly unlikely that Harrisburg will enter receivership in September. She was hesitant to recommend an action to the city last month, but said during a budget meeting in December that Harrisburg will likely spend another three years in the program, at least.

Reports Released for Train Station, Paxton Creek

A restaurant and café in Harrisburg’s train station, a pedestrian bridge over the train tracks, a flood-controlled Paxton Creek.

Those are a few of the ambitious goals laid out in two reports released last month by the state Department of Transportation, which is taking the lead on rehabilitating the blighted Market Street corridor just east of the Harrisburg Transportation Center, roughly from the train station to Cameron Street.

“These studies serve as a road map to help the city continue to develop as an attractive place to work and play,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.

PennDOT’s first priority is rehabilitation of the train/bus station itself, set out in a report titled, “Harrisburg Transportation Center Transit Oriented Development Master Plan.”

That project includes removal of the large office space in the main lobby, the addition of an “open-concept café” in the lobby, new seating in the station concourse, the addition of a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a new entry plaza from the lower-level Market Street entrance and the addition of office space on the upper floors.

According to Richards, work is expected to begin relatively soon, as the department has completed 90 percent of the design for the $15 million renovation and is now working with Amtrak on a construction schedule.

The next priority is a massive flood control project designed to restrain, improve and restore Paxton Creek, as delineated in the “Paxton Creek Master Plan.”

The plan outlines steps to modify the channel size and make other improvements that would take 133 acres out of the 100-year flood plan and partially remove another 275 acres, making the area far more attractive for redevelopment. The plan also envisions enhancing the creek area with recreational paths and restoring it to a more natural environment.

PennDOT anticipates four to five years of preliminary work before construction on the project could begin. The estimated cost of the creek improvements is $60 to $90 million, with potential grants coming from the state’s Multimodal Fund, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The transportation master plan envisions other projects, which include:

Streetscaping and façade enhancement, including new sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, signage and utility and lighting poles.
A pedestrian bridge that would extend the station concourse over the railroad tracks, through the former Harrisburg central post office and into the redevelopment area.
Relocation of the intercity bus terminal from Market Street to the redevelopment area and expansion of the facility.
Development of the area near an east entrance to the station.
A new plaza on Market Street.

“These projects will provide exciting opportunities for development in the city of Harrisburg, and for enhancing the quality of life for our residents,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with PennDOT on projects that will benefit not only Harrisburg residents but the entire region.”

New Districts Upheld

Pennsylvania’s redrawn congressional districts withstood two court challenges last month, clearing the way for some areas, including the Harrisburg area, to be unified under new district lines.

First, a three-judge federal panel threw out a Republican-led challenge to the new district map. The same day, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a Republican request for an emergency stay that would block use of the new map in this year’s elections.

As a result, the state Supreme Court’s redrawn district map will stand. This includes a new 10th congressional district that encompasses all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties, including Harrisburg, York and Carlisle.

The primary election is slated for May 15.

Gaming Grants Given

The Dauphin County commissioners shelled out some $6 million to dozens of projects last month in the annual disbursal of gaming grant money.

The commissioners spread the money around to municipalities throughout the county, with the largest sums, by state law, going to those nearest to the Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Grantville.

In and around Harrisburg, grants to governments included:

* City of Harrisburg: $229,724 for police equipment, the engineering bureau and for Fire Bureau dive team equipment

* Susquehanna Township: $159,900 for sanitary sewer system extension, for Progress Fire Co. vehicle replacement and for Wedgewood Hills Swim Club heat pump installation

* Lower Paxton Township: $82,825 for Devon Manor pool improvements, Koon’s pool improvements and Ranger and George Park soccer upgrades

* Hummelstown: $58,471 for municipal building debt service

* Highspire: $57,200 for roadway rehabilitation

* Steelton: $43,000 for Fire Department apparatus and Skate Park debt reduction

* Swatara Township: $13,000 for Police Department K-9 and training

Grants to Dauphin County entities included:

* MDJ Court Administration: $200,000 for construction of MDJ buildings

* Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $137,000 for solar farm project debt reduction

* Dauphin County Parks & Recreation: $101,000 for Detweiler Park master plan and Fort Hunter Station planning project

* Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority: $100,000 for a project on the former State Hospital grounds

* Dauphin County Land Bank Authority: $100,000 for renovation of vacant homes

Grants to organizations included:

* Camp Curtin YMCA: $100,000 for conversion of an indoor pool into a recreational area

* Central Dauphin School District: $75,600 for a school safety improvement project

* Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg: $75,000 for an emergency generator project

* Penn FC (Harrisburg City Islanders): $72,562 for a field conversion project

* Humane Society of Harrisburg Area: $70,000 for an expansion of veterinary services

* Salvation Army: $50,000 for a new headquarters and services facility

* Harrisburg Rugby Food Club: $50,000 for Perseverance Field improvements

* Homeland Center: $40,000 for an emergency generator project

* The Nativity School: $40,000 for furniture purchase and building renovations

* Open Stage of Harrisburg: $32,000 for facility and equipment upgrades

* Capital Region Literacy Corp.: $30,000 for books in schools and clinic program

* Habitat for Humanity: $28,000 for weatherization project

* Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $25,000 for ADA-compliant restrooms

* Midtown Action Council: $13,652 for historic marker renovation and expansion

* Beacon Clinic: $5,000 for HVAC installation and renovations

More Downtown Apartments

More apartments appear headed for downtown Harrisburg, though it may be awhile before you’ll be able to move into one.

Harrisburg City Council last month introduced a resolution that would allow Harristown Enterprises to convert a circa-1952 office building to a 25-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor.

The building, at 124 Pine St., currently houses Keystone Human Services, which would seek new space following a sale, said Harristown CEO Brad Jones.

Keystone currently has the six-story, 30,000-square-foot building on the market for $1.5 million.

Over the past few years, Harristown has converted several downtown office buildings to higher-end apartments, most recently at the corner of N. 2nd and Cranberry streets. That 12-unit building, Jones said, has been renamed “The Bogg on Cranberry.”

The Pine Street project, he said, would consist of 18 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units that would range from about 700 to 850 square feet in size. Jones said that 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.

If Harristown gets City Council approval, the company hopes to close on a building purchase in May. Jones, however, expects that Keystone will then lease the building back until it can find a new home, meaning that renovation work probably won’t begin until early 2019.

So Noted

Blake Lynch was named Harrisburg’s new community policing coordinator last month. In this position, Lynch, formerly director of development at the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg, will serve as a liaison between the city’s Police Bureau and the community.

Club XL is set to open this month near S. Cameron and Hanna streets in an industrial area of Harrisburg. Owner Phil Dobson said the 18,500-square-foot nightclub and concert venue will feature a large stage, a sophisticated light and sound system and an exterior patio, among other amenities.

Gamut Theatre Group this month plans to begin the second phase of the build-out of its building in downtown Harrisburg. The Gamut Theatre Education Center will include the Alexander Grass Second Stage, two renovated classrooms and other areas for students to learn various aspects of theater operations. The $700,000 project should be completed by August, according to Gamut.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is making plans to open in the newly constructed Hershey Towne Square on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey. The company expects the 9,000-square-foot space to be ready late this year or early next year.

Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority announced last month that Robert “Bob” Zorbaugh will replace Jim Warner as CEO when Warner retires at year-end. Zorbaugh, the current chief operating officer, has served with LCSWMA, which owns Harrisburg’s waste-to-energy incinerator, since 1990.

PSECU last month announced the planned retirement of President Greg Smith, effective February 2019. Smith has served with the credit union for nearly 30 years.

Right on Reily is slated to open late this month in restaurant space across the street from Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg. Owner Dylan Simon said he plans to open at 7 a.m. and will feature freshly made breakfast items, sandwiches, soups and salads from the eatery at 263 Reily St.

Theatre Harrisburg last month announced the departure of its executive director, Allison Graham Hays, who served in the post for about one year. A search for a new director has begun. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2421: J. Howard to L. Brown, $69,900

Berryhill St., 2216: PA Deals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $64,900

Boas St., 111: P. & M. Keelen to J. Swope, $67,000

Boas St., 409: A. Antoun to P. Cannon & M. Hertrich, $84,000

Boas St., 1910: Dobson Family Limited to M. Cardona & S. Guzman, $36,000

Duke St., 2433: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Evergreen St., 17: E. Ordonez to P. Paniagua, $40,000

Fulton St., 1625: Z. & H. Khan to J. Seibert, $125,750

Fulton St., 1722: Wilmington Savings Fund & Society FSB to PA Deals LLC, $77,500

Green St., 2322: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $36,000

Hale Ave., 383: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,000

Hale Ave., 403: O. Peck to C. & A. Bullock, $71,000

Harris St., 204: G. Olives to A. Hermany & T. Minnick, $149,900

Holly St., 1916: W. Aikens Jr. to R. & B. Cook, $43,000

Hummel St., 243: Tri County HDC Ltd. to B. Dixon, $69,900

Kensington St., 2267: M. Eismann to Blackfoot Viking LLC, $40,000

Kensington St., 2328: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Market St., 1028: J. & A. Karagiannis to R. Luu, J. Son & KS Property Management LLC, $250,000

Market St., 1800: G. Walker to Horizon Trust FBO, Timothy Carter IRA, $105,000

Mayflower St., 1366: G. Vargas to D. Tellado, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 221: CJ2 Group LLC to Second and Cranberry LLC, $350,000

N. 2^nd St., 2338: H. Witte & A. Atkinson to V. Paredes, $95,000

N. 3^rd St., 3218: T. & B. Seely to S. Dudek, $139,900

N. 4^th St., 1911: K. & D. Fletcher to M. DeMeo, $73,900

N. 5^th St., 1948: L. Blanton to B. & K. Feidt, $73,500

N. 5^th St., 2554: J. Johnson to D. Mallek & W. Sarris, $60,000

N. 5^th St., 3201: Branch Banking and Trust Co. to F. Nestico, $80,000

N. 15^th St., 2: R. Sharma & N. Saini to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $100,000

N. 15^th St., 1425: Top Notch Properties LLC to B. Wevodau Sr., $30,000

S. 24^th St., 563: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $65,000

Parkway Blvd., 2509: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $118,500

Peffer St., 321: K. Whitehead to V. Robinson, $74,000

Penn St., 1504: R. Davis to D. & M. Witwer, $70,000

Penn St., 1612: A. La Luz to N. Giustra, $140,000

Race St., 552: G. & K. Nguyen to A. & H. Appleberry, $144,000

Revere St., 1722: R. Brunstetter to Top Unit Properties LLC, $80,000

Rolleston St., 1153: A. Phillips to C. Suriel, $43,000

Rudy Rd., 2492: HT Properties LLC to W. Marca, $59,000

Rumson Dr., 2899: S. Markowitz to M. Gleason, $58,000

S. 14^th St., 1404: S. McMurray to City of Harrisburg, $47,000

S. 14^th St., 1409: V. Brice to City of Harrisburg, $48,000

S. 14^th St., 1411: DRW Properties LLC to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 14^th St., 1412: M. Hudson to City of Harrisburg, $53,000

S. 14^th St., 1420: S. Crittenden to City of Harrisburg, $52,500

S. 14^th St., 1436: J. Newhouse to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1441: W. & B. Hornung to City of Harrisburg, $39,000

S. 14^th St., 1442: Blue Real Estate LLC to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. River St., 315: Red Realty LLC & D. Shearer to J. & S. Bachman, $109,000

State St., 1713: D. Schneider to J. Virbitsky, $85,000

Susquehanna St., 1622: R. & G. Harris to H. Maierle & C. Kostelecky, $134,500

Susquehanna St., 1704 & 1706: J. Shoop to N. Lotze & A. Anderson, $122,000

Sycamore St., 1421: G. Neff to C. Pizarro, $35,000

Waldo St., 2627: PA Deals LLC to S. Henry, $54,000

Wyeth St., 1413: M. & J. Boyer to J. Hegarty, $105,000

Harrisburg property sales for February 2018, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Pinot Now: This legendary red wine is more available, in greater variety, than ever before.

March 30, 2018 | by Steve Juliana

Of all the seven “noble” grapes, pinot noir is, I believe, the one that produces the most evocative, beautiful and, some would say, sexy wine.

This finicky, thin-skinned grape is unique in its ability to make a balanced quaff that is more acidic than tannic. Garnet in color, the wine has great drinkability when it is young and amazing complexity when aged. The flavors on the palate are cherries and berries, while the nose is violets and barnyard. It has become a universal grape with plantings in most temperate zones around the world.

Boosted in reputation by the film “Sideways,” pinot noir is almost never blended, as other grapes overpower its subtle flavors and nuances. But there is an important exception. To produce Champagne, it is commonly combined with Chardonnay and pinot meunier, making the world’s best and most expensive sparkling wine.

Pinot noir is French for “black pine” as the tight clusters of fruit with small berries are said to resemble pinecones. The dark grape reaches its pinnacle of expression in the northern region of Burgundy, where it has been grown at least since medieval times.

Fine Burgundies are much sought after and have the reputation for being the world’s most expensive wines. Because it’s an “Old World” wine, the bottles will have the name of the village and the name of the grower. There are no dominant wineries, so choose carefully, but definitely try some.

In the United States, the West Coast is pinot noir country. Oregon has huge areas dedicated to this grape, mostly in the Willamette and Umpqua valleys. The wines there benefit from the cool climate, so they are closer to true Burgundies than any other region where pinot is grown. As with any good wine, each producer bottles a variation on a theme, so the differences are worth exploring.

California makes wonderful pinot noir in its cooler growing areas, most notably in the Russian River Valley, Carneros region and, my favorite, the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. These wines are very fruit-forward, and some have the characteristic “cherry cola” flavor. They’re great, easy-drinking quaffs.

New Zealand has become a haven for the hard-to-grow grape and serves as a foil to the amount of Sauvignon Blanc that comes from the island nation. Much of the wine is young. Great, older wines are also available but can be expensive.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the amount of good pinot coming from Germany. The southern part of the country has embraced the French grape with results that seem at odds within the riesling country. The wines are light in color with good fruit and nice texture considering their pale, ruby color. It’s a wonderful quaff from a region where white wines dominate.

Keep sipping,
Steve

Heartbreak, in 3 Acts: “Foxtrot” takes viewers on an emotional journey.

March 30, 2018 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

No one wants to see a soldier at the door, waiting to break bad news.

This is exactly the scenario at the beginning of “Foxtrot,” the Israeli war drama nominated for this year’s Foreign Language Academy Award, when Michael (Lior Ashkenazi) and Daphna Feldman (Sarah Adler) answer their door.

The opening scenes of this unsettling story unfold with stark sobriety—void of music, cold and somewhat detached, but still dripping with raw emotion—exactly how you might feel stumbling through the news of your son’s death. The Israeli army already has funeral plans set for Jonathan, and the shock that the family (including daughter Alma, played by Shira Haas) goes through is brutal and raw, so realistic but somehow also feeling like a dream.

And, yet, the film’s vivid portrayal of grief is not the only trick up writer/director Samuel Maoz’s sleeve. “Foxtrot” shares three stories, the previously mentioned falling in the middle chronologically, and there are plenty of surprises along the way.

The second act portrays the days leading up to the bad news, though from Jonathan’s perspective. At a bleak, monotonous checkpoint in the middle of nowhere, Jonathan (Yonaton Shiray) bides his time with three other soldiers, sleeping in a shipping container that is slowly sinking into the ground. And the third act picks up with the Feldmans several months after the event.

The movie’s slow pace is a tribute to the enrapturing “realistic fairy tale” quality that it possesses. It contains several devastating twists and turns, each depicting something more than just the scene it resides in. A story like this is rife with political commentary, and, because of that, has even been denounced by Israel’s Minister of Culture Miri Regev.

With emotions brimming under a stolid exterior, Ashkenazi will break your heart with his performance, and the supporting cast keeps the standard high. These are characters who have clearly used the discomfort of the situation to bare their souls to the audience. By the end of the film, they don’t feel fictional.

“Foxtrot” may not have won the Oscar this year. Nonetheless, it is a film you will not want to miss.

“Foxtrot” opens April 20 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

APRIL SPECIAL EVENTS
AT MIDTOWN CINEMA

“WesFest”: Wes Anderson Collection

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)
Friday, April 6, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10, 9 p.m.

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009)
Saturday, April 7, 12 p.m.
Sunday, April 8, 12 p.m.

“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
Saturday, April 7, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.

“Bottle Rocket” (1996)
Monday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.

Down in Front! Presents a Double Feature
“Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer” (1985)
Friday, April 13, 7 p.m.

“Masters of the Universe” (1987)
Friday, April 13, 8:45 p.m.

National Theatre Live
“Julius Caesar”
Monday, April 9, 7 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Reefer Madness” (1936)
Friday, April 20, 9:30 p.m.

Central PA Open Screen
Thursday, April 5, 9 p.m.

“Star Trek: TOS” Movie Marathon
Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.

Scene in the Abstract: Colors pop at Whitaker Center.

March 30, 2018 | by Priscilla Morales

At Whitaker Center, there’s an art space called the Curved Wall Gallery.

This may come as a surprise to even regular visitors, as it’s beyond the entryway to the theaters and science center, so the exhibit area may not catch the eye right away.

However, the Curved Wall almost always has art worth your attention along its 700 linear feet of space, which spans two floors. And most is by local artists, including, through late this month, painter Sue Marrazzo.

Marrazzo’s display, “Exploring the Boundaries,” primarily focuses on experimental, floating canvases, pushing boundaries and delving into new mediums and colors.

“The art is very linear, and the colors really pop,” said Exhibits and Cinema Systems Manager Joe Easton, describing the exhibit’s Andy Warhol-esque features. “It’s textural mixed media.”

Marrazzo creates using an array of techniques, including acrylics, collage, sculpture and encaustic painting. Through her work and teaching, she expresses how the connection of art and music adds to people’s lives, tying it all together. A world without art is dull, she believes, and she hopes to help remedy that through her work.

“Whitaker Center is a grand venue that highlights each piece,” Marrazzo said. “I feel I contribute to aesthetics, have an art appreciation and share what I love.”

Through the Curved Wall Gallery, Whitaker Center offers a platform for rising artists to show their work, thus gaining them important exposure. Artists usually live within a 90-mile radius of Harrisburg, keeping the art relevant to the area.

“[Marrazzo’s display is] the largest body of work from a single artist,” said Easton. “The art represents the body—in a broad spectrum. Each piece speaks for itself.”

Easton discovered Marrazzo through an affiliation between Whitaker Center and the Art Association of Harrisburg, where Marrazzo has taught and shown her work. She currently teaches at the Art Center School & Galleries in Mechanicsburg, where she also hosts art parties, and is represented by local galleries Gallery@Second in Harrisburg and Art & Soul Gallery in Lemoyne. Another solo exhibit of her work is slated for Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill this fall.

“The Art Association has been very supportive,” said Marrazzo before quoting French artist, Edgar Degas. “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

For Marrazzo, art is a way of life. Sharing this love is not just a passion but a calling. Besides her teaching work at the Art Center School & Galleries, Marrazzo holds classes and workshops at the York Art Association and speaks to middle-schoolers on the significance of art in history.

“I’m an advocate for art history,” she said. “It’s important to know what others have done before.”

“Exploring the Boundaries” is on display until April 20 at the Curved Wall Gallery at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.whitakercenter.org.

For more information about Sue Marrazzo, visit www.suemarrazzo.blogspot.com, her Facebook page and Instagram (both Sue Marrazzo Art).

Through the Laughter: Jokes are part of serious service for the women of Altrusa.

March 30, 2018 | by Gina Napoli

Illustration by Aron Rook.

As Isabel Masland tells it, she faced two very different choices.

“It was either tell jokes or be in a nursing home,” said the nonagenarian, who has suffered three heart attacks and near blindness. “So, I’m telling jokes.”

And that’s how she founded the Jokesters, a troupe of amateur stand-up comics who tour the local circuit of nursing homes, senior centers and class reunions.

“Before we changed our name to ‘The Jokesters,’ we were ‘The Badass Grandmothers.’ Then there were objections,” Masland said, waving them away with her hand. “But my four grandkids still call me that.”

The Jokesters is just one of the many service projects under Altrusa, an international community service organization with a local chapter in south-central Pennsylvania. Since 1955, the women of Altrusa have actively served the community through leadership, education and literacy programs, as well as lent support to established charities and nursing homes.

The local Altrusa club is one of 330 worldwide with more than 8,136 active members. In addition to literacy projects, special events and scholarships, Altrusans share in leadership, driven by a common desire to help and to serve others.

“[The Jokesters is] my way of contributing,” Masland said. “People really appreciate it.”

Masland recruited three other Jokester friends from her Altrusa club: Mary Lou Adams, Ann Tyndall and Brenda Gabel.

Adams, a former director of services for the Area Agency on Aging, has a natural connection with local nursing homes, which has proven useful when networking with different performance venues.

In 2014, she introduced Tyndall to Altrusa, where Tyndall currently serves as club president, leading with good humor and a dash of southern sass. In so doing, she has kept a promise to herself that she wouldn’t be a couch potato in retirement after moving to the area from North Carolina.

“This mission touched my heart,” she said. “There’s no more satisfying activity than to hear laughter. Life is more productive when you’re helping others.”

And there’s another, more personal reason.

“I’ve always been half ham—maybe a dozen hams,” she said with a flip of her hair. “I enjoy being the center of the spotlight. Call it a character flaw, but I say a sense of humor keeps you going when other things can’t.”

The one person who keeps this club going—literally—is Brenda Gabel.

Gabel serves as the Jokesters’ chauffeur, GPS and emcee. Having joined Altrusa in 1987, she promised to help Masland when she started the Jokesters. With Masland’s blindness and Tyndall’s lack of familiarity with the area, Gabel’s transportation serves the troupe well.

“I like meeting all the different people we become involved with,” Gabel said. “People enjoy it.”

She makes it clear that she is not a performing Jokester.

“I don’t tell jokes,” she deadpans. “I just drive.”

Every comedy troupe needs a straight man, right?

In all seriousness, Gabel uses her skills and her sincerity to serve the Jokesters as a ground wire among the other live wires on the team, driving the ladies to their venues safely and on time. Then she introduces the Jokesters when it’s show time.

The Jokesters’ brochure invites everyone to join in the fun by telling their favorite jokes.

“I’d like this to be a good program and to keep it going,” said Masland. “We’re happy to share our jokes with anyone else willing to tell them for their own comedy show, as long as they adjust the jokes for mixed company.”

Tydall then put in a plug.

“By the way, we’re always looking for new members,” she said, raising her brows and lowering her head. “Hint, hint.”

For more information on Altrusa, visit www.altrusa.org.

Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 30, 2018 | by Missy Smith

Happenings

Museum & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-385-3315; Facebook: 3^rd Street Studio

“Coastal Expressions,” art by Joan Maguire, through April 15, at Café 1500.

“World Beyond,” works by Alex Garos, through April 15.

Works by Dreon Olivetti and Lesley Blandy, April 20-May 13, at Café 1500.

“Emotional Connections,” a collaborative effort on cold wax by Nissa Greene and Amy Powell, April 20-May 12; reception: April 20, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Getting the Job Done—Vehicles that Earned Their Keep,” through April 23.

National Corvette Restorers Society Exhibit, through April 23.

Pioneers in African American Auto History, through April 29.

“DeLorean Prototype & Production,” through April 30.

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

“Dimensions—Photo-Realism to Abstraction.” April 6-May 10; reception: April 6, 5-8 p.m.

Brain Vessel
4704 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

The art of Denyse Klett, April 13-May 11; receptions: April 13 & 14, 7-10 p.m.

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

Celebration of Student Work, featuring the art of Carlisle Area School District K-12 students, through April 14.

“Flow,” gestural and emotional figure studies by Kim Banister and organic and graceful metal sculptures by Wendy Edsall-Kerwin.

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

Artist of the Month: Clare Klaum

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

Works by Renee Anderson and Lincoln Harris, through April 28.

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

Fiber Art Show, with decorative, functional and wearable fiber art, and hand-dyed fabric and hand-spun yarn by local fiber artists, through May 12; reception: April 9, 1-3 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association
hersheyareaartassociation.com

“Local Inspiration” membership art show, celebrating local communities, through May 19.

Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 S Front St., Harrisburg
dauphincountyhistory.org

“Made in Dauphin County,” a year-long, three-part exhibit on some of the major agricultural, industrial and artisanal products of the past, paired with fun activities and programs, through April 2019.

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

“In Stitches,” traditional and modern quilted wall hangings, through April 28.

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

“The World Without Us,” collaborative work of photographer Joe del Tufo and artist/performer Noelle Picara, through April 17.

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

New works by Linda McCloskey, Tina Berrier, Elaine Brady Smith, Kelly Curran, Christine Goldbeck and Kelly Curran, through April 15.

New works by Jonathan Bean, Tami Bitner, Tara Chickey, Joan Maguire, John McNutty and Paul Vasiliades, April 17-May 13

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

“Honored Veterans: Fraternal Organizations Borne of the Civil War,” through June 2.

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

The Faye Arleen and Lawrence Joseph Kopp Collection of Butterflies and Moths, through April 7.

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

Creative collage works by Shelby Pizzarro, through April.

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

“I Brought You Flowers,” an exhibition to welcome spring and treat mom to locally created Mother’s Day gifts, featuring artists of a variety of media, through May 12.

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

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

Student Honors Show, April 2-May 10; reception: April 5, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

“Every Thing of Interest Show: T.M. Fowler’s Pennsylvania Bird’s-Eye View, 1885-1905,” showcasing Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler’s lithographic prints with bird’s-eye views of American towns and cities, through May 6.

2018 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards, showcasing students in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lebanon, Perry and York counties, through May 6.

2017 National History Day in Pennsylvania, showing winning student entries from the 2017 National History Day, through May 13.

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

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

“Home,” found photographs of portraits and snapshots from 1920-1970 by Nicole Dube, through April 29.

“Embraced by Honey Bees,” works by Ladislav Hanka, through April 29.

“Portraits and Their Stories,” through May 20.

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

Art & Visual Culture Senior Thesis Exhibition; April 25-May 13.

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

Mixed media and paintings by Sue Marrazzo, through April 20.

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

“Art in the Wild,” Wildwood Park’s annual outdoor environmental art exhibit, April 7-Oct. 31.

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

Works by Justin Ward, through April 16.

Works by Marti Hwang, April 20-May 14.

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

“A Visit From Flint” art gallery by Pauly M. Everett, through April 19.

Read, Make, Learn

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

April 2, 9, 23, 30: Beginning Watercolors, 4:30-7 p.m.
April 3-May 1: Dynamic Watercolors
April 11: Papermaking
April 12: Open Paint Studio, 6:30 p.m.
April 17-May 29: Advanced Photography
April 23-May 28: Wheel 101, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 24-May 29: Wheel 102; 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 30-June 4: Fundamentals of Photography

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

April 8: Local Author Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 11: Microsoft Office Basics, 6:30 p.m.
April 13: Exploring The Library Catalog—Encore, 11 a.m.
April 14: Bee Friendly Pollinators, 11 a.m.
April 19: Device Club, 1 p.m.
April 24: Library Friends Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

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

April 2: Meet Someone New—Kid’s Biography Club, 5 p.m.
April 3: Curl Up with the Classics—The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 10 a.m.
April 4, 6: Library for Lunch—Celebrate PA One Book, Every Young Child (ages 3-6), 12 p.m.
April 5: Between Covers Graphic Novel Book Club, 6:30 p.m.
April 5: Screenagers Documentary and Discussion, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 6: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 8: Mindfulness Matters Workshop, 1:30 p.m.
April 9: Philosophers’ Roundtable
April 9: Twisted Stitches, 6:30 p.m.
April 12: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 14: Trivia After Hours—Marvel Universe, 7 p.m.
April 16, 23: Infant Massage w/UPMC Pinnacle, 9:30 a.m.
April 17: Fredricksen Reads—“A Man Called Ove,” 7 p.m.
April 23: LEGO Club (grades 3-6), 4:30 p.m.
April 27: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
April 29: Adult Crafternoon—Wood Sign Workshop, 1:30 p.m.

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

April 24-May 29: Character Development, 7-10 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

April 10: Monthly meeting w/watercolor artist Karen Frattali, 7 p.m.

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

April 3: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
April 3: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 4: Intro to Apple MacBook, 6-8 p.m.
April 5: Learn to Knit, 7-8 p.m.
April 6: Tax Advice, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
April 6: Coloring for Adults, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
April 9: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
April 9: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 10: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 11: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
April 11: What is Steampunk?, 7-8 p.m.
April 12: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 16: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
April 17: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 19: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11a.m.
April 23: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 24: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10-5 p.m.
April 25: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
April 25: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.
April 26: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

April 10: Book Purse Making, 6 p.m.
April 14: Edible Books Contest, 12-2 p.m.
April 25: Knit 1, Crochet Too! 6 p.m.

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

April 7: Drop-in Art at Youth Art Day, Greenwood High School, 11a.m-3 p.m.
April 10, 24: Bucket Brigade, 7-8 p.m.
April 14: A Novel Idea, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 21: Blackout Poetry, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 22: Pottery—Fairy House, 2-5 p.m.

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
April 12: Aging with Pride Lunchtime, 12-2 p.m.

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

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Video Game Club, 4 p.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: After School Hangout, 4 p.m.
April 9: Book Bingo, 6:30 p.m.
April 16: Cookbook Book Club, 6 p.m.
April 20: Repairing Your Credit, 3 p.m.

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

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.
April 12: Creativity—Exercise Your Mind, 6-7:30 p.m.

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

April 3, 17, 24: Coffee, Cake and True Islam, 5-7 p.m.
April 5, 19, 26: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
April 6, 13, 27: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
April 10: An Evening with Sands Hall, 7-9 p.m.
April 12: Uneasy Peace—A Conversation w/Patrick Sharkey, 7-9 p.m.
April 14, 28: Story Time at the Scholar, 11 a.m.
April 15: Midtown Writers Group, 1-3 p.m.
April 15: LGBT Book Club, 4:30 p.m.
April 18: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
April 22: Democratic Socialists of America Reading Group, 2 p.m.

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

April 14: April Cold Wax, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 21: Fluid Art Class, 11:30-2 p.m.

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

April 14: Basic Compass Skills, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 14: Beginning to Geocache, 1-4 p.m.
April 28: Spring Bird Walk, 7:30-12 p.m.

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

April 2, 6, 11, 25: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 5: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 7: LEGO Madness, 10:30 a.m.
April 9: Artsy April Family Art, 10:15-11:15 a.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 10: Artsy April Family Art, 1-2 p.m.
April 10: Book Review, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 11: Creative Collage Crafting for Adults, 6:30 p.m.
April 14: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 19: STEM Club, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
April 20: Baby Open Play, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 21: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 21: Terrific Trees! Earth Day Celebration, 2-3 p.m.
April 24: Movie Presentation, “Masada,” 6:30 p.m.
April 21: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
April 25: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.

Rolls-Royce Foundation Museum
189 Hempt Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-795-9400; rollsroycefoundation.org

April 28: Seminar: “General Maintenance and Safety Inspection for Rolls-Royce & Bentley Cars”

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

April 6: Storytime, 10 a.m.
April 7-29: We Are Stars
April 13, 20, 27: Learn at Lunchtime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
–

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

April 7, 14, 21: Yoga in the Galleries, 10-11 a.m.
April 25: Life Drawing, 6-9 p.m.

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

April 3-June 19: PA Master Naturalist Training
April 5: Art in the Wild Nature Lecture w/Roby Staab, 7-8 p.m.
April 7: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, 9 a.m.- 11 a.m.
April 8: Flower Walk—Dutchman’s Breeches and Trout Liles, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 11: Stress Relief Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 14: Clean Up Your Earth Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 19: Get in Shape Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 21: Bear Scout Workshop—Fur, Feathers and Ferns, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 28: Detweiler Park Hike, 10-11 a.m.

Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St. Carlisle, PA.
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com

April 8-29: Kids Yoga 4-Week Series, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
April Meditation Basics, 2-3:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

April 6, 7: Celtic Woman
April 8: The Everly Brothers Experience w/The Bird Dogs
April 10: Straight No Chaser: The Speakeasy Tour

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

April 4: Walter Salas-Humara w/CASE 150
April 6: Ghost Town Cinema
April 7: The Clarks
April 11: Frenchy and the Punk
April 12: Kaki King
April 14: Big Mean Sound Machine
April 20: Dr. Slothclaw and Goose
April 21: Spotus
April 23: Badfish, A Tribute to Sublime
April 27: Derek Woods Band

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

April 6: Jazz in the City
April 7: York Symphony Orchestra
April 17: Paul Anka
April 19: John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall, The Wild Hymns
April 21: The Joey Alexander Trio
April 21: Seldom Scene

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

April 21: Glee—College A Cappella Competition
April 28: The Outlaws

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

April 22: Bruce Barth Triod

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

April 6: The Lawrence Arms, Social Club Misfits
April 7: Erin Harpe And The Delta Swingers
April 7: The Thing With Two Heads
April 12: PnB Rock
April 13: Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie
April 14: War on Women
April 18: The Lacs
April 19: Julien Baker
April 20: Maggie Rose
April 21: Anthrophobia, Kingsnake, 91s
April 23: Perpetual Groove
April 26: Surfer Blood
April 27: The Dangerous Summer
April 28: The Cadillac Three

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

April 6: Antonio Andrade
April 7: Hard Travelin’
April 8: Dave and Josh Lebo
April 13: Paul Zavinsky
April 14: Rob Robinson
April 15: Sinclair Soul
April 20: Kevin Kline
April 21: Jeanine & Friends
April 22: Shelba Purtle
April 27: Joe Cooney
April 28: Michael Arthur & Kristina Machusick

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

April 6: Seasons

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

April 8: Susquehanna Folk Music Jam
April 14: Susquehanna Folk Music Coffeehouse
April 28: Martin Carthy & John Doyle

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

April 16: Andy & Judy Daigle

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

April 8: Special Music Performance at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg

Harrisburg Mall
3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg
717-564-0980; shopharrisburgmall.com

April 7: Spirit of Seven

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 6: Glassbeard
April 7: Mountain Road, The Hawkeyes
April 8: Robert Hunter
April 13: Minshara & Madison Ryan
April 13: Sweet Maple Singers
April 13: Stranger Things
April 14: G-Nome Project, Native Maze, Bad Leather, Surprise Guest
April 14: The Howlin’ Brothers
April 19: Joe Curcillo The Mind Shark
April 20: Mary Bridget Davies & Mia Dyson
April 27: Bubba Sparxxx, Dirtball, Ridicule

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

April 14-15: April Masterworks
April 18: Stuart & Friends

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

April 19: Brit Floyd
April 27: Hershey Symphony

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

April 6: Light Up the Moon
April 7: DJ Ray Rossi, The Luv Gods
April 13: Smooth Like Clyde
April 14: DJ Dave Styles, Mystery Machine
April 20: Uptown Band
April 21: DJ Dave Styles, Mystery Machine
April 27: The Amish Outlaws, DJ Ray Rossi
April 28: DJ Dave Styles, Emily’s Toybox

Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com

April 4, 11, 18, 25: Open Mic
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Walter DeWall
April 5, 12, 19, 26: DJ Eric B
April 6, 13, 20, 27: DJ Joe Hertz
April 7: Lazy Joe Fink
April 14: Suicide Puppets
April 21: The Colt Wilbur Band
April 28: Nothing Men

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

April 15: Gary & Bernadette Boerckel

Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

April 12: Lebanon Valley College Chamber Orchestra and Ensembles

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

April 4: Evil Sword, Sleeping Pill, Small Pollen
April 6: James Storch
April 27: Ray Buckner

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg littleampscoffee.com
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com

April 3: Emily Jane Powers, Port Ellis, Alex Stanilla
April 11: Bea Troxel, Indian Summer Jars, Dogpeople 2
April 16: Drekka, Gold Dime
April 21: Deletions, Quattracenta, Porklord
April 28: Jim Shorts, Concerte Beach

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

April 8: Shippensburg University Band
April 12: Beatles Vs. Stones
April 14: The Doo Wop Project
April 22: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 13: Wind Symphony
April 21: Jazz Ensemble
April 22: Symphony Band
April 28: Symphony Orchestra

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

April 28: Calidore String Quartet

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

April 6: Messiah Percussion Ensemble
April 10: Jazz Combo and Fusion Latino Concert
April 13: Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
April 16: Messiah College Chamber Ensemble
April 17: Men’s Ensemble, Women’s Ensemble and Chamber Singers Concert
April 20, 21: Joey Tartel w/ Messiah College Jazz Band
April 22: Messiah College Concert Choir
April 24: Messiah College Symphonic Winds and Messiah College Brass Choir
April 29: United Voices of Praise

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

April 20: Rivers

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

April 7: Jackson Howard
April 21: Lucas Gienow
April 28: Corinna Joy

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

April 15: Gary & Bernadette Boerckel

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

April 6: Middleton Brothers Band
April 7: Rob & Andy Middleton
April 16: River City Big Band
April 23: Central PA Friends of Jazz

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

April 6: Alexis P. Suter

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

April 6: Cotolo
April 7: Craig Bonner & Steve Geib
April 14: Amber Nadine
April 21: Joe Cooney
April 27: Rhoads & Putt Trio
April 28: Just Dave

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

April 8: April Jam Session
April 14: Spring Coffee House
April 19: The East Pointers
April 28: Martin Carthy & John Doyle

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

April 12: Van Cliburn
April 13: Camille Thurman & the Darrell Green Trio
April 14: King Street Big Band w/ Nenad Bach

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

April 5: Nashville Unplugged
April 6: Jon McLaughlin

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

April 13: Josh Dominick
April 20: Jelli
April 28: Edgewood

The Stage Door

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

April 4, 5: Maks, Val & Peta
April 13: Steve Martin and Martin Short

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

April 13-15: “Once On This Island” w/William Penn Performing Arts Institute

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

April 13-22: “The Diary of Anne Frank”

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

April 12: Joe DeRosa

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

Through April 28: “Show Boat”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

April 13-15: “The Adventures of Robin Hood” w/The Young Acting Company
April 20: TMI Improv Show

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

April: “The Fantasticks”

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

April 5, 12, 19, 26: Open Mic
April 6: Diva’s Down Under Spring Time Drag Spectacular
April 6, 7: Chris Barns & Mary Asher
April 8: Oxymorons Improv Comedy
April 13, 14: Ray Devito and Corey Hunter
April 20, 21: Cliff Cash
April 27, 28: The Tennessee Tramp & Amy Dingler

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

April 20, 22: Level 1 Class Show
April 27: Mary Todd Lincoln—The Real Babe-raham Lincoln/TBA

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 3: “Cantastorias From The Possibilitarian Arsenal” w/Bread and Puppet Theatre
April 29: Bad Girls

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

April 12-22: “Boeing Boeing”

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

April 3-8: “The King and I”
April 13: Wild Kratts Live!
April 21-22: Paw Patrol Live!

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

April 19: “Stomp”
April 27: Brian Regan

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 15: “My Father’s Dragon”

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

April 12-22: “Is He Dead?”

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

Through April 22: “The Flick” (at Midtown Cinema)
April 27-May 6: “Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties”

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

April 20-May 6: “Curtains”

The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; allenberry.com

April 6-14: “Steel Magnolias”

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

April 19-22: “Lord of the Flies”

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

April 26-May 6: “Hairspray” (at Whitaker Center)

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

April 12: “Broke” at Zeroday Brewing Co.

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

April 7: Downtown Dances
April 8: Celebrate Ballet & World Dance

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

April 4: Harrisburg Story Slam (at Harrisburg Hilton), 7:30 p.m.
April 14-15: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” w/Central PA Youth Ballet
April 26-May 6: “Hairspray”

Hometown Tourist: Approach Harrisburg with fresh eyes, a sense of adventure.

March 30, 2018 | by Sydney L. Kyler

It seems like every other weekend brings a new road closure to Harrisburg. Predictable weekend maneuvers down 2nd Street can no longer be taken for granted.

And, more often than not, you’re forced to find an alternate route because the city is making way for community events at an unprecedented frequency and scale.

For decades, Artsfest and Kipona have served as the bookends of summer for the greater Harrisburg area. For two holiday weekends, these cornerstones of community celebration draw the focus to our region and showcase the city’s architectural and natural beauty.

More recently, winter events have taken center stage. Christmas at Italian Lake hosted by the Bethesda Mission brought a Christmas market and carriage rides to Uptown. The city’s Ice and Fire Festival transformed a downtown block of 2nd Street into an ice skating rink.

Runners and walkers regularly lace up and take to the pavement through the YMCA race series and a packed schedule of walks and runs, raising funds for a diverse set of worthwhile causes.

Not to mention the HBG Flea, SoMa block parties, home tours, local theater events, music festivals, 3^rd in the Burg, Gallery Walk and a host of others too numerous to list.

Harrisburg is not without its challenges, but we can confidently strike boredom from the list. If you allow it, the city will easily fill your calendar.

If you have shied away from attending these events in the city, perhaps it’s for practical reasons. Parking may not be ideal—you might have to walk a block or two farther than you’d like. The weather isn’t 75 degrees and sunny. You don’t know who else will be there.

Now, think about the last time a vacation or weekend trip took you to another city with time to explore. If there were similar opportunities to engage with an unfamiliar community, did you allow the same apprehension to stop you? Or did you approach the new place with a tourist’s sense of curiosity and spontaneity?

When you have the opportunity, look at Harrisburg through the eyes of a tourist. Allow curiosity to lead you into the city. And welcome the detours that divert automobiles in favor of foot traffic.

If you’re open to it, you’ll feel the same energy and excitement at Harrisburg’s events as you would in your travels anywhere else. You can engage your senses, taking in visual beauty, fresh flavors and local chatter. We allow ourselves to romanticize these notions when strolling in a favorite vacation spot, but to escape into our own community may not always come as naturally. And we might not be as willing to forgive minor inconveniences in order to have these experiences in our hometown.

Temporarily viewing our community from the perspective of a visitor allows us to shrug off our typical assumptions about Harrisburg and leaves us open to the steady stream of opportunities to gather within it. Simply attending a community event is a contribution in itself, requiring an investment of time and attention. Organizers vie for your attendance because the success of these events depends on it.

When you’re finished reading, flip to the events calendar in the back of this issue, and you’re guaranteed to find an occasion that will pique your interest. Sharpen the focus of your tourist lens, get energized by the potential of the experience and attend. Feel the sublime energy of enjoying together, reconnect with a facet of the arts that you’ve always loved, be inspired by stampedes of runners and walkers, or contribute to a cause that moves you.

Becoming involved in the planning and execution of these events adds another dimension of meaning to them. Assuming a volunteer role quickly lends an appreciation for the logistics, forethought and coordination required to produce the sense of community that attendees seek. The few hours spent at a registration table, a water stand or an information booth generate a connection to people who care about the community and who give their time to serve it. These are the unexpected places where lifelong friendships are formed and nurtured.

If you already engage with the organizations that present events for the community, you probably can’t imagine the city without the richness they bring to your life. The relationships you’ve built through your work, the growth you’ve witnessed in those who have recently discovered service, and the life these events bring to our community drive you to continue.

There are some for whom service and leadership appear to come naturally—maybe they’re born extroverts, or it has been ingrained in them from the time they were in grade school. For those who feel like they’re on the outside looking in, it may seem like there isn’t a need to participate. “They already have enough people.” “I have nothing novel to contribute.”

Ask any of the organizers of these events if they need volunteers, and the overwhelming majority will tell you they can always use more help.

A rich tapestry of diverse and meaningful experiences in service awaits you in Harrisburg. The first step is simply to choose an event and attend.

From there, who knows? What you begin as a tourist, you just might finish as a tour guide.

Sydney L. Kyler is chief operating officer for Enders, a community publisher for TheBurg.

Musical Notes: In spring, heartfelt performances peak in the Burg.

March 30, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

It’s springtime in Harrisburg, which means that our hearts warm and our passions reignite. This applies equally in our musical lives. This month, I’ve selected bands that, while differing in genres, share a depth and a passion that show in their music. Be sure to check them out, returning some of the love they offer so abundantly.

JON MCLAUGHLIN, 4/6, 7:30PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $25-35
Pop music is a genre I don’t recommend all that often, but this show promises to be a treat. Jon McLaughlin is an Indiana native who is currently based out of Nashville, the home of some of the nation’s best songwriters. He released his first album, “Indiana,” in 2007, has performed with acts such as Billy Joel and Adele, collaborated and co-written with Sara Bareilles and Demi Lovato, and even performed at the Academy Awards in 2008. His piano playing and singing have evolved over the years, in a career he continues passionately today. This is an artist with a lot of soul to share with his audiences in an intimate setting. If you want to listen to something before the performance, check out his single “Summer is Over” featuring Sara Bareilles on vocals and piano. You can’t deny that it’s catchy.

COLEBROOK ROAD, 4/7, 7:30PM, HARRISBURG SCOTTISH RITE, $15
I first saw Colebrook Road years ago at a bar just outside of Harrisburg with my bluegrass-loving dorm floormates, back before I had moved to Harrisburg. I was initially hesitant to go since I had decided beforehand that I didn’t enjoy bluegrass music. Much to my surprise and pleasure, these guys had an infectious sound that had me dancing by the evening’s end. Even if you think that bluegrass isn’t your thing, Colebrook Road will delight you with their upbeat traditional style and lively performances. Over the years, this band has won “best-of” awards at numerous bluegrass festivals and contests all around the mid-Atlantic region. Or just take it from me—you won’t be disappointed if you attend this show.

SEMPRE DOLCE: A NIGHT OF CHAMBER MUSIC, 4/28, 7:30PM, H*MAC STAGE ON HERR, $10
Back in the day, I used to play flute. I enjoyed playing with an ensemble and creating meaningful and beautiful music with them. So, I’m looking forward to a night of chamber music at H*MAC with Sempre Dolce. This five-piece out of Harrisburg is still relatively new, but, in a short time, they’ve performed widely, creating a buzz. Those who have seen Sempre Dolce speak of their sweet music and passionate, poignant performances. I recently discovered their cover of the opening music for the television show “Game of Thrones,” and, as a fan of the show, I loved the soulful strings and their unique interpretation of the theme. Before the concert, check out their music on Bandcamp, and you may discover the classical sounds you’ve been missing in your life.

Mentionables:
Nashville Unplugged, April 5, Whitaker Center
Mountain Road, April 7, H*MAC Stage on Herr
Frenchy and the Punk, April 11, The Abbey Bar
Sweet Maple Singers, April 13, H*MAC Stage on Herr
And The Kids, April 19, H*MAC Stage on Herr
Dr. Slothclaw & Goose, April 20, The Abbey Bar
Bubba Sparxxx, April 27, H*MAC Capitol Room

Student Scribes: “Breakthrough”

March 30, 2018 | by Elizabeth Bell

Torn sneakers with frayed laces grip onto unstable rocks.

Stepping on crumbling stone pushed aside by thin gaunt blades of grass.

The summit of a mountain like an empty theater, yet you still wait for applause.

The peak of vast nothingness, a success or another disappoint dripping with rage?

Still standing hunched, listening closely, as the wind whispers of different dimensions

Mosquitos give blood instead of taking it.

You are no longer a warm beverage, you’re a patient to this delicate gray nurse.

Oh, see the panting wolf! Fleshy pink jowls, snout in a snarl!

Simply a sheep in wolf skin, deadly and dangerous, risible, truly a walking sweater.

Guns lead not into the temptation of massacre,

Each dull and heavy bullet is transformed into a penetrating cure for cancer.

The ritual of showering, changed into a transforming tantalizing revelation;

Warm purified tears of god splashing against deceased skin, may they live again.

The desire for such fanfare is a commentary on you however,

Life is dismal and dreary when you have no passion.

The all-consuming radioactive explosion that propels you forward, or,

Is it the momentary pause of molecules, the breath of nature caressing your face?

Create a stew of fervor, bubbling up with a splat. It’s time to-

Release your soul, a white spirit, a mist hardily discernable, or,

A mashup of memories so thick and lively, surging with a sting of energy.

Conquer the mountain inside,

let erosion smooth your jagged edges. The mountain underfoot is a dream.

Drool dribbles out of your cracked mouth.

Light flickers across your toad like skin, images of adventures, reflect off your oily face.

Rise up from your faded blue couch, step away from the crusty stains, and be present in society.

Take your unscrupulous life by the neck and strangle out every inhibition

When it is blue, veins panicking, mind thundering, black starry eyes bulging,

Plant your embryo of metamorphosis.

Elizabeth Bell is a first-year environmental science major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Let Him Roll It: Come for the show, stay for the ice cream.

March 30, 2018 | by Carissa Bannister Kauwell

Wearing a long, black coat and a fedora, Dante DiCamillo comes across much older than his 23 years.

In October, he opened Rolled Cold Creamery in downtown Lancaster—a young entrepreneur, for sure. But then he adds that this isn’t even his first foray into business. He also owns a landscaping business and a property management company. Not bad for a recent graduate from college.

“I’m not afraid to do anything,” he said. “You just have to be willing to get out there, and if you need to stay up all night and skip sleeping, that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s being willing to make sacrifices like that. That’s what will make my new business a success.”

So, what exactly is rolled ice cream? The style originated in Southeast Asia as street food and began popping up in large U.S. cities a few years ago. I first learned about it from friends in California in 2016 and tried it for the first time in Philadelphia last summer.

The process goes like this. A liquid base is poured from a cup onto a freezing cold, stainless steel surface called the pan. As a thin layer spreads, a choice of flavors and toppings are added, then mixed and chopped together. Once everything is cold, a metal spatula rolls up the ice cream and places it into a bowl. The final step is adding more toppings like a sundae.

DiCamillo opened Rolled Cold Creamery last October. However, unlike his ice cream, not everything rolled along smoothly at first. With only one machine, the wait for ice cream took almost an hour on a couple of Saturdays.

“So I was like, ‘Yup, that’s got to change,’” he said. “Right away, we had to close for renovations, like two weeks in, so we could expand.”

After purchasing a second machine, the shop now has four pans, and the wait time is down to a few minutes.

DiCamillo has partnered with several local businesses to expand his offerings. He uses pies, cookies and brownies from Bird-in-Hand Bakery, apple cider from Kauffman’s and coffee from New Holland Coffee Co. He has a never-ending list of ideas, and one is adding healthy sandwiches and wraps to the menu.

“I chose Lancaster because I love the area,” he said. “I molded my menu and products we give to coincide with what Lancaster offers. I’m a little more traditional, and I like the small business camaraderie that’s around here. It’s very neat to see.”

He even had a hand in the design of his shop.

“I like doing that type of design work like choosing the colors in here and the woodworking,” he said. “I built those counters and everything. I enjoy it. It’s fun stuff.”

Besides his existing businesses, DiCamillo recently added another one. He opened a clothing company called Live Restless. But wait, there’s more. With a degree in pastoral studies, he also spends some of his time working with the church.

“I still teach youth group on Sundays, and I preach in church a couple of times when I need to fill in,” he said.

When you visit Rolled Cold Creamery, expect to get your money’s worth. You’re not just getting dessert, but a show, too. It’s delightful to watch the treat being made, and it’s almost a bonus when you get to eat it.

“I want to give customers a great product and one that I can be proud of,” DiCamillo said. “I’m proud of the freshness of it, the taste of it, how it’s presented. I like being able to give people a product that is worth coming here—not just for the product itself, but also the experience.”

Rolled Cold Creamery is located at 24 E. Orange St., Lancaster. For more information, visit www.rolledcoldcreamery.com.

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