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.

Student Scribes: “You Are . . .”

March 30, 2018 | by Joy Boettinger

You’re a shadow—yes a memory

Of something that I once knew

A teasing glimmer of sun through clouds

That never breaks quite through

You’re an empty silence

Where once there was noise

Like unfolding sorrow—

Collapsing the used-to-be joys

You’re a promise spoken carelessly

A heart desperate for security held to

Only to be shattered because you said

Things you hadn’t realized aren’t true

You are the cold of winter before spring

That the tired soul just wants to leave

But no—you’re constant, biting, and nonchalant

So even those who still have hearts can’t grieve

You’re an ignorant stab with a dull knife

And an offhand apology to follow

Saying “it’s in your head—get over it”

Leaving your poison—in my mouth to swallow

You’re a feeling in myself I can’t express

Not angry—not really—just distraught

And unable to explain the torment

Of you constantly reminding me what I’m not

Joy Boettinger is a junior elementary education major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: “What It Is to Live”

March 30, 2018 | by Megan Jamnicky

I’m walking lightly across crisp stale leaves

that crinkle from my toes.

Goldfoil sparks across the screaming sky

Roaring and laughing in glee.

Last signs of shivelight burn through the trees

Gone now with the impending storm.

The white lace of my dress drags behind in

Muddy puddles frosting over.

My bare feet coated in ashy dust

Leave blacked prints to follow by.

Time is catching up. It was never on my side.

It left my skin creased and dry

Desperate and craving and barren.

I bend to stroke the soft petal

Of a lightly shaded pansy. Petals broken and

Torn apart. Time took it too.

Echoes chase me down, impatient calls

And worried shouts. They wonder where I’ve gone.

My skin was poked and prodded

cut and sewed too many times to count.

I’m done with all the pain and tears

I’m here now where I belong.

Coated in cool misty rain among

The nature I dreamed of.

I can’t go back.

Stuffy fake air suffocated my lungs

Now burning clear and free

with the sharp tang of incoming rain.

They say I need the machines to live

But without them I have never been more alive.

Megan Jamnicky is a first-year communications major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: “Shangri-La”

March 30, 2018 | by Rebecca Bestwick

Beyond is a bleak, grey skyline

I barely recognize my vignette

Yet here I am, walking that thin white line

As if I had not met him yet

I barely recognize my vignette

Black swans move like serpentines

As if I had not met him yet

Slow, calculated, but ready to strike at cloud nine

Black swans move like serpentine

He still whispers in my ear, I just cannot forget

Slow, calculated, but ready to strike me at cloud nine

“Pulvis et umbra sumus,” was his epithet

He still whispers in my ear, I just cannot forget

Their banshee bugle wails overcome; I am confined

“Pulvis et umbra sumus,” was his epithet

Like smashed cherries, their eyes were as bloody as port wine

Their banshee bugle wails overcome; I am confined

He wanted to mold to be a useful asset

Like smashed cherries, their eyes were as bloody as port wine

I gladly follow those threats

He wanted to mold me to be a useful asset

What called them on was my mental upset

I gladly follow those threats

There is nothing to regret

What called them on was my mental upset

It is foolish to once think I could outshine

There is nothing to regret

All I have ahead is a relentless battle line

It is foolish to once think I could outshine

I am merely a pathetic statuette

All I have ahead is a relentless battle line

Soon they all will forget

I am merely a pathetic statuette

Onyx swans call me to the brackish streamline

Soon they all will forget

It is there I snipped that innocent white line

Onyx swans call me to the brackish streamline

He influences my mindset

It is there I snipped that innocent white line

Time becomes frigid as I sink into that brine outlet

He influences my mindset

My body is limp in the alkaline

Time becomes frigid as I sink into that brine outlet

It is there I found no lifeline

My body is limp in the alkaline

The onyx swans fly in a v-line sextet

It is there I found no lifeline

He brought me to the finish with no reset

Beyond was a bleak, grey skyline

Yet there I was, walking that thin white line.

Rebecca Bestwick is a first-year marketing major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: “Rest Stop”

March 30, 2018 | by Julia Freidly

The car halts by the gas pump

Underneath glaring yellow lights.

I get out, car door echoing through the lot

Against the small building’s brick walls.

Inside, I join the few people

Sitting alone on the benches

Or enjoying the company of a mutually silent companion.

I buy a coffee and let the steam drift over my smiling lips.

No one is in a hurry.

No one disturbs the serenity we have found here.

There is a certain sense of human connection

As we come together for merely a blink of existence.

People come and go here.

This is no one’s destination,

Merely a place that they pass through

While a hint of something more still lingers.

I return to my car under the smoldering yellow lights

And look at the washed-out sky,

Unable to see any stars behind the haze.

Still, I know they are there, as they always are.

Julia Freidly is a junior computer science major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Growth Strategy: Onward and upward (mostly upward) for Harrisburg’s tree-planting efforts.

March 30, 2018 | by M. Diane McCormick

Trees have lives of their own, far outlasting ours, says Harrisburg Parks Maintenance Director Ronald Taylor.

“A tree goes from a seed to a sapling to a tree to dying,” he said. “Once it’s merged in the earth, it becomes carbon fuel, so it can become coal, so it can also become a diamond.”

Trees bring lots of good stuff to cities. They soak up carbon dioxide. They break up the urban hardscape. They provide shade that cools people and homes.

“Studies have shown that people buy more and tend to be happier in communities where there are more trees,” said Taylor. “The more green covering, the better.”

Happy trees, happy community. That’s why Harrisburg public officials and private citizens are pushing to revive the tree canopy citywide.

In 2018, the city expects to plant some 200 trees, with help from volunteers from United Way, Deloitte and neighborhood groups. Currently, Harrisburg’s 6,826 street trees—those that line streets in public rights-of-way—create a canopy that cover less than 30 percent of city streets, well short of the 47 percent goal set by the U.S. Forest Service.

Moreover, about 800 dead or sick trees in Harrisburg “need to come down,” said Taylor. Planting 200 in one year won’t close the gap, but with 300 slated for planting next year and more to come, the plan puts the city on target to full canopy in 10 years, he said.

Tree-Up

Harrisburg, like most old cities, has a legacy tree problem. Trees are aging, falling over, dying and, until relatively recently, little consideration was given to what makes a good replacement.

So, towering oaks, elms and other species that need a lot of room for their roots and canopies were stuffed into little tree boxes, surrounded by concrete and asphalt. That was bad for the tree, the street and the sidewalk.

“Right tree, right spot,” asserted Specialist Ellen Roane of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Urban Forestry Program

In other words, indiscriminate plantings often lead to complications later.

Indeed, some trees are better equipped to handle the stress of urban environments, and more specifically, each tree has its own microenvironment to deal with. Power lines are a big problem, limiting a tree’s maximum height. The once-popular Callery pear species, including the ubiquitous Bradford pear, has turned out to be prone to splitting, and it’s invasive. The city’s tree-up plan increases the diversity as well as the number of trees.

Another 50 pin oaks, given by an anonymous donor, will be planted along Front Street and Riverfront Park, where many existing trees “need some care,” said Taylor. Many others there must come down because “they have been, shall we say, sick for some time and are not in the best of health.”

This is a fight with no end. Victory comes through maintenance and vigilance, tree experts said. Everyone gets a feel-good rush from planting trees, but maintenance in the early years is crucial to assuring survival. Urban trees need a little nudging and pruning to assure they grow straight and have a single growth “leader,” instead of multiple leaders that grow simultaneously and make the tree prone to splitting.

“A large, mature shade tree’s potential lifespan is 80 to 100 years if it’s in a good location and properly cared for,” said Roane. “We’re trying to get (municipalities) to think about planting every year, and even more, pruning trees they’ve got and removing some. They don’t live forever.”

Clear Winner

Some municipalities have Shade Tree Commissions—state-sanctioned citizen panels that monitor and encourage tree affairs—but Harrisburg has a Tree Advisory Committee, a group of volunteers focused on urban forestry.

Members work on the ground, often taking courses offered by Tree Tenders, a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society program that teaches the basics of tree planting and care. They also work with the city on planning and tree selection, and they helped revise a tree ordinance now under city review to strengthen regulatory options. Committee Chair Pat Buckley hopes that a soon-to-be-hired city arborist will keep the city’s tree inventory, dating to 2013, updated so the committee can target areas of greatest need.

On the neighborhood level, Friends of Midtown has its own “Street Trees for Midtown” project, boosted by a $1,575 TreeVitalize grant from DCNR, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry Council. Currently, the group is raising matching funds so it can plant 15 trees this spring. Following Roane’s mantra, all are “right tree, right spot,” a range of maple, oak and locust types that offer durability and growth that provides shade quickly “but not catastrophically.”

“I would love to have 15 more people come at me for next spring and the spring after that,” said Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee Co-Chair Rachel Reese. “What I really want is for people to continue to express their interest.”

The Midtown planting is planned for April 28, depending on weather.

Some homeowners “politely decline” to have trees planted in front of their homes, said Roane, but most “like being able to look out at a tree.”

“If the homeowners can keep them watered, we’re going to work with a cadre of Tree Tenders to keep them pruned,” said Reese. “We can prune so they’re not always being whacked by parked cars, or there aren’t limbs blocking pedestrians. If the trees are being watered and mulched, we can prune every three or five years as they establish themselves.”

Also in the fight is Capital Region Water, which is developing its City Beautiful H2O storm water management plan. In community meetings for the plan, green infrastructure emerged as “a clear winner” among available options, said Community Outreach Manager Andrew Bliss.

“People were overwhelmingly interested, and it makes sense, where it’s cost effective, to invest in green projects rather than going underground,” he said.

Even greening with grass doesn’t prevent storm water from running wild, he said. Tree leaves hold and scatter rain as it falls and roots “infiltrate” it into the ground. Initial projects, sort of “early action” demonstrations, include greening at 13th and Market streets and streetscaping at 14th and Derry streets in conjunction with Tri County Community Action.

“This is stuff we’ve been talking about for the last two years,” said Bliss. “We felt we really needed to show what we’re talking about.”

CRW is also partnering with the city on green “bumpouts” for the 3rd Street overhaul, and it is funding street tree plantings at some residences, where the homeowners will be required to perform maintenance.

Harrisburg’s Taylor lauded the cooperation he’s witnessed among city officials, residents and community organizations to care for the city’s trees.

“All entities are working together to make sure our tree population is not only sustainable but continues to grow,” he said. “It’s a beautiful city in the summer. We want to maintain that and continue that growth.”

For information on upcoming Tree Tenders workshops, visit www.extension.psu.edu/tree-tenders.

To find out more about Friends of Midtown’s tree-planting efforts, visit www.friendsofmidtown.org.

To volunteer with the city’s tree efforts, email Ronald Taylor at [email protected].

To learn the species of tree outside your house, visit www.opentreemap.org/patreemap/map.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like