Theater Meets Cinema: “The Flick”: Scenes of life, staged inside a movie theater.

February 28, 2018 | by Laura Dugan

Photo by Haley Harned

Imagine a play that takes place in a movie theater. Then imagine being able to experience that play while sitting in a movie theater.

This spring, you will be able to just that, as “The Flick,” part of Open Stage of Harrisburg’s 32nd season, will be performed at Midtown Cinema.

“The Flick” offers a peek into the lives of Sam, Avery and Rose as they deal with life’s daily struggles while working at a behind-the-times, rundown movie theater.

“If you really love a good character study, this is for you,” said Brennen Dickerson, who plays Sam. “There are three really wonderful, deep, complex characters that have very different points of view. It’s a slice of life that you haven’t seen before.”

Dickerson, as well as Maddie McCann, who portrays Rose, said that audiences will find the play to be very relatable. Though a small ensemble piece, attendees are likely to recognize themselves in one of the characters, they said.

“I see so much of myself in Rose,” said McCann. “When I tell people that I was cast in this role, they are not surprised at all. I think we are very alike in ways that are good and also in ways that are not good.”

Open Stage Producing Artistic Director Stuart Landon directs the show. Landon, who has worked in various capacities at Open Stage for 10 years, also has ties to the Midtown Cinema. He assisted in revitalizing the movie theater and has introduced many of the cinema’s special events, such as “Down in Front” and the annual “Red Carpet Evening” highlighting the Oscars.

“A good friend handed me the script while it was still in its original run,” Landon said. “I was blown away by the slow-brewing, slow-burning drama. I’m elated to bring together my two homes, Open Stage and Midtown Cinema, and two of my passions, theater and film. I think audiences are going to love this combination in ‘The Flick.’”

Written by Annie Baker, “The Flick” won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It’s not the typical kind of theater you see in central PA.

“Baker’s plays are really different than most of the things out there right now,” McCann said. “They are focused on people being people.”

Dickerson agreed, saying the show is unlike anything you are going to see in the area this year.

“If you want to see something different, this is definitely the play to see,” he said.

While many audiences may not be familiar with “The Flick,” McCann sees performing the piece at Midtown Cinema as a way to make the play more accessible.

“There is a different atmosphere when performing where the play is actually taking place,” she said. “It’s such an intimately written show. You feel like you’re peering into these people’s lives, and performing in an actual movie theater only adds to that.”

Landon is excited for the challenges of performing in such a unique place. This will be the first time any piece of theater has been hosted at Midtown Cinema.

“The play has such wonderful moments of heart and comedy and the joys and sorrows of everyday life,” Landon said. “All of that on top of having it performed at the cinema makes this a show audiences will not want to miss.”

“The Flick” runs March 25 to April 22 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. It is recommended that guests be at least 14 years old to attend. For information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

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

The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“Goldilocks and the Three Bears”
March 7 to 24
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online or at the door.

William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Educational Outreach Public Performances
March 16 to 18
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to performance.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office.

“Improvapalooza”
An evening of improvisational comedy, featuring the area’s most beloved improv theater troupes. Harrisburg Improv Theatre, The Oxymorons, Safe Word and Gamut’s own TMI can be seen in one location at one event. These “April fools” will be performing appropriately on April Fools Day weekend.
March 30
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. and will remain open throughout the event.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door.

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

“Akeelah and the Bee”
By Cheryl L. West
Based on the screenplay by Doug Atchison
Feb. 16 to March 11
A bright young girl from the South Side of Chicago trains to achieve a championship at the National Spelling Bee.

“The Diary of Anne Frank”
March 17 at 2 p.m.
Scottish Rite, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hacket
Based upon “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl”
Based on the actual diary of a young girl who comes of age while hiding from the Nazis in a tiny, overcrowded attic with her family for more than two years.

“The Flick”
A new play by Annie Baker
March 25 to April 22
At Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg
While sweeping up stale popcorn in a movie house, three employees hold passionate debates about human connection.

Capital 10-Miler
March 31
A run for the arts.
To register, go to www.capital10-miler.com.

Square Truths: Wealth, class and the art of the persona.

February 28, 2018 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

“The Square is a sanctuary of trust and caring. Within it we all share equal rights and obligations.”

So says the plaque in front of the new art exhibit at a prestigious art museum in Sweden. Christian (Claes Bang), curator of the museum, explains to everyone who will listen the importance of The Square and its call to social responsibility. And so begins the array of experiences in director Ruben Östlund’s newest film that cultivate the phenomenon of not just art, but presentation.

Often, personal art and the art of presenting go hand in hand. A chef presents his dish in the best way possible, for example, because he wants the participant to fully enjoy it. But that is outward art—what of inward art? What façade do we craft and hone to present to the world? What behaviors do we want people to see, what part of our lives do we want visible? How do we present ourselves?

Östlund explores these thoughts in “The Square.” At times awkwardly hilarious, and at other times extremely uncomfortable, “The Square” teaches us a little about humanity and elitism and how intrinsically connected (and not always in a positive way) we are to our art.

For those who caught “Force Majeure” a few years ago, or any of Östlund’s works, you know his enjoyment in taking jabs at the elite and the systemic issues wrapped up in the lives of those with privilege—and he twists the knife in as far as it will go.

This trademark is represented perfectly in “The Square.” The story follows Christian in a personal disaster. After writing a threatening letter to the inhabitants of an entire apartment building in an attempt to get back a stolen phone and wallet, Christian must deal with a young boy who demands he apologize to his parents for calling him a thief. But this event removes his focus from his job, where the PR team is cooking up an inappropriate video advertisement for The Square.

Disaster will, of course, ensue, and each character navigates the disparity between altruism and self-centeredness in increasingly uncomfortable capacities. This is a film that will have you bursting into laughter one minute and cringing the next. Bang does a masterful job of complicating the story arc of the would-be hero, and his supporting cast—Elizabeth Moss, Dominic West, Christopher Læsso and Terry Notary, to name a few—create a rich, thought-provoking world to sink your teeth into, with so many little scenes and secondary plot points leaving an impression.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see “The Square” on the big screen. It starts at Midtown Cinema on March 2.

March Events

Red Carpet Evening
Sunday, March 4
Red carpet at 7 p.m.

Down in Front!
“Avalanche” (1978)
Friday, March 9, 9:30 p.m.

Women’s History Month Series
“The Women” (1939)
Sunday, March 11, 2:30 p.m.

“Little Women” (1994)
Sunday, March 18, 2:30 p.m.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)
Sunday, March 25, 2:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“A League Of Their Own” (1992)
Friday, March 16, 9:30 p.m.

Music Mania: Warm up and get out.

February 28, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

As the winter winds die down, it’s time to break free from your hibernation and get the energy flowing again. Shake off that slumber with some rockin’ music brought to you by locals and touring bands alike. Check out some bluesy folk, artsy cover music, spicy rock and, of course, annual St. Patty’s day cheer. The cold’s not stopping you any longer, so go explore all the sounds that Harrisburg has to offer.

START MAKING SENSE – TALKING HEADS TRIBUTE, 3/1, 8PM, THE ABBEY BAR, $12-15
As I’m writing this article, I’m enjoying the sounds of one of my favorite albums on vinyl—“Speaking in Tongues” by the Talking Heads. My parents used to play it for me while I was growing up, and I was lucky enough to score a copy recently. So it’s only fitting that, this month, I make a tribute to a great tribute band covering one of my childhood favorites. Start Making Sense hails from Bethlehem, Pa., and they want to bring back the ‘80s with a bang. Don’t miss their hot performance as they take on some classic Talking Heads tunes. Front man Jon Braun, backed by a six-piece band, rocks the stage, masterfully creating their own versions of legendary David Byrne works. Look for crowd favorites like “Burning Down the House,” “Life During Wartime,” and, hopefully, my favorite, “Slippery People.” If you’re like me and wish that you had the opportunity to see the Heads in their glory days, you don’t want to miss this show.

MARTIN GROSSWENDT & SUSANNE SALEM-SCHATZ, 3/2, 7:30PM, FORT HUNTER CENTENNIAL BARN, $12-24
Harrisburg’s been getting real bluesy lately, and, frankly, I’m on board. Hectic city life can bring out a part in people that yearns for slower, heartfelt tunes from another time and place. Martin Grosswendt’s focus lies in prewar blues and roots styles, internationally recognized for his traditional renditions of southern acoustic music. His fiery fingerpicking and soothing voice combine with the honky-tonk liveliness and soulful blues of Susanne Salem-Schatz. A native of Boston and its roots music scene, Susanne brings her love of classic, American-born music to the stage and performs it with mastery, joy and poignancy. Together, you get a tour de force of skill and passion that is worth experiencing.

JOHN NOLAN, 3/4, 7PM, H*MAC STAGE ON HERR, $15-20
For a moment, transport yourself back to the early 2000s, to the emo and indie rock era. Taking Back Sunday was getting its start and making waves on the growing scene. During their career, the band has released seven albums, toured extensively, appeared on many shows, including “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and even scored music for films, such as “Spider Man 2.” Return to the present day, and we’ve got a treat for you. John Nolan, current guitarist for Taking Back Sunday, is bringing his solo works to H*MAC for a night of something nostalgic and something new. During his recording process, Nolan has shaped his sound into an exciting, fresh new genre brought together by his many music connections. Relive your punk days and try something new with an iconic guitarist at a favorite local spot. What’s not to love?

Mentionables:
Hot Jam Factory, March 9, H*MAC Stage on Herr;
Buckcherry, March 11, H*MAC Capitol Room;
Six Bar Break, March 16, Capital Gastropub;
Kilmaine Saints, March 16, The Abbey Bar;
Erica Everest Duo, March 17, Ad Lib Craft Bar & Kitchen;
The Tommy D Trio, March 24, River City Blues Club

3/1
START MAKING SENSE
THE ABBEY BAR
50 N. CAMERON ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 8PM

3/2
MARTIN GROSSWENDT & SUSANNE SALEM-SCHATZ
FORT HUNTER CENTENNIAL BARN
5300 N. FRONT ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 7:30PM

3/4
JOHN NOLAN
H*MAC STAGE ON HERR
1110 N. 3RD ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 7PM

3/17
ERICA EVEREST DUO
AD LIB CRAFT KITCHEN & BAR
1 N. 2ND ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 9PM

3/24
THE TOMMY D TRIO
RIVER CITY BLUES CLUB
819 S. CAMERON ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 9PM

Old World Notes: Decades pass by joyously for Harrisburg’s premier klezmer band.

February 28, 2018 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

It was an unplanned band, composed of musicians who just liked to play together.

It didn’t even have a name until one member made one up on the spot in response to a reporter’s question.

That group, the Old World Folk Band, has now been playing together for more than 35 years and remains true to a mutual love of klezmer music—or, as it was once known, Jewish music. More accurately, it is the music of Ashkenazi Jews, its name derived from the Hebrew “kli zemer,” or musical instrument.

The band has a uniquely Harrisburg origin story.

In 1982, founder Fred Richmond was attending a conference of the state Department of Welfare when he ran into fellow employee Dale Laninga. Each played an instrument and tossed around the idea of getting together with a few others.

Soon, they started meeting Tuesday evenings in Laninga’s house.

“We had a piano, but had to move all the furniture to the side,” he said.

The impromptu musical gatherings began to attract more and more klezmer fans.

“People kept coming,” Richmond said. “Then, Faye Glick of the Jewish community invited us to the East Side Festival. Suddenly, we had a name and existed as a band.”

The thus-titled Old World Folk Band began practicing in a more professional setting—the Jewish Community Center in Harrisburg. It now holds practices at Temple Ohev Sholom, where it leads Friday night services once a month.

Over the years, the band has performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the National Folk Alliance Northeast Regional Conference, the Smithsonian Institution and the State College Arts Festival, among many other places. The band even fronted for the internationally known Klezmatics at Whitaker Center.

Notably, the Old World Folk Band is listed in a book entitled “The Essential Klezmer Music Lovers Guide,” which includes an introduction by renowned folk musician Arlo Guthrie. It also has put out five recordings.

Trained in clarinet and classical music, original band member Jessica Hayden said she loves the “spirited” nature of the music, typified by one night in the recording studio.

“One time, while waiting to record, we stayed up all night and got punchy,” said Hayden, who also is executive director of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society. “It was magical.”

For non-Jewish members of the band, such as Hayden and Laninga, participating has offered more than a musical education.

“I got to know Jewish culture,” Hayden said.

Likewise, for Richmond, the band teaches audiences not only about a certain type of music, but about Judaism.

Band members were also introduced to a different form of Jewish culture when Anatoly Kranshuskiy, a third-generation klezmer player from the Ukraine, and his wife, Dina, a singer, joined the band.

“I took lessons from Anatoly, our lead clarinetist and a great classical player, who added vitality and passion,” said Hayden.

Over the many years, the band has been held together by more than just a love of klezmer music. Members have formed strong friendships, getting to know each other’s families and sharing one another’s milestones. Over the years, some 57 musicians have passed through the group.

“We’ve also treated everyone equally, which is not the way it is in some groups,” said Laninga. “Whatever we make, a tithe goes to the organization and the rest to the musicians—divided equitably, whether they’re professional, classically trained or playing just for fun.”

Slowly, the band has changed its traditional repertoire, adding Beatles songs, the Stones, Motown. A concert is likely to include music from the ‘60s to ‘80s as well as traditional/liturgical Jewish music.

Members also are less likely to take to the road as often as they once did.

“Maybe it’s twice a month,” said Laninga. “Some of us are long in the tooth compared to when we started.”

One thing that hasn’t changed—the group’s bond with its audience.

“We communicate with our listeners,” Richmond said. “When they’re elderly, sometimes they have tears in their eyes, remembering music from their youth. Younger listeners might dance in the aisles.”

Through all the changes in personnel and repertoire, the Old World Folk Band, said Laninga, has another notable achievement.

“We have made a mark on the community,” he said.

For more information on the Old World Folk Band, visit www.oldworldfolkband.org.

Senior Class Photos: Latino seniors create art, learn a new skill, at LHACC.

February 28, 2018 | by Gina Napoli

Eight students sat holding cameras.

They first learned the basics: the camera parts, how to focus, how to zoom. They were told how to adjust lighting and instructed how to take the perfect snapshot.

This may sound like your average photography class, but there’s a difference. The students were all senior citizens, many of whom struggle with English. This class at the Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC) offered them a unique way to get out of their houses for a few hours, to socialize and to learn something new.

“They learn about their own abilities,” said Executive Director Gloria Vazquez Merrick. “And they could take pride in the beautiful work they were creating.”

The idea for a photography class came to her during a weekend outing with her grandson at Wildwood Park. There, she met photographer Charlie Smith, who was teaching a youth class at the “Nature Day” program.

Smith, a program manager for camera company Canon, donates his time to teach through Canon’s youth program, “Photography for Kids.”

“Canon funds it 100 percent,” Smith said. “That includes loaning cameras, prints, and we have props from other programs.”

Vazquez Merrick pitched him the idea of expanding the program by holding classes for her seniors, which he agreed to do.

For six weeks, classes ran every Wednesday morning at LHACC, which is located on Derry Street on Allison Hill in Harrisburg.

On the day of the first class, two students sat at each six-foot table with backdrops, cameras and an array of props for their own photo shoots.

“It looked like Hollywood in here,” Vazquez Merrick said.

She wondered how the seniors would do with real cameras, given that many struggled with the basics of their own cell phone cameras. But they immersed themselves in the class, showing what they were capable of.

“For first-timers, they were pretty advanced for not having that type of skill or interest before,” Smith said. “Many don’t realize how hard photography is.”
Student Lydia Vasquez helped translate for the class.

“Our teacher was wonderful, so patient,” she said. “He explained to you step-by-step.”

It helped that, as a photographer, Smith is so visual, which allowed him to read his students’ faces to make sure they understood.

The students seemed excited to handle such expensive equipment, boosting pride in their abilities, Vazquez Merrick said.

“There was the feeling that someone thought enough of them to teach them how to use a camera,” she said. “So, they could take pictures that had meaning for them.”

The class was a welcome break for the seniors, who could take time from their everyday burdens, aches and pains. For an entire morning, they were able to think outside themselves, focusing on capturing pictures that brought out their personalities. They frequently called Vazquez Merrick over to show off their work.

“Their pictures were taking them back to their roots—meaningful images, like maracas and flowers,” she said. “It was beautiful to see them evolve over six weeks.”

Student Ramon Martes took many kinds of pictures. His favorite was a still life of a water droplet trickling over flower petals.

“I saw the motion of the water and when to take the picture at the right moment,” he said, leaning his photo forward to showcase it along with his certificate.

Vazquez Merrick said that, for some students, this was the first time they received any kind of diploma. They later built a slideshow for the seniors and held a graduation ceremony.

“I have my certificate and picture on my wall in my living room,” said Carmen Melendez. “People see them first thing when they walk in my house.”

She said that she has received many compliments on her art and her accomplishment.

“Now, I am saving money to buy my own camera,” she said.

Smith said he also was impressed with their images.

“Once they selected their photo at the end, they realized they got a great shot,” he said.

Smith also showed the students how to mat their photos, which were publicly shown at LHACC during last year’s Gallery Walk.

“Their photos were the focal point of our exhibit—such a conversation piece,” Vazquez Merrick said. “They were so proud their photos were picked.”

Contributing their art to the community empowered the seniors, enhancing their wellbeing and quality of life, Vazquez Merrick said.

“Seeing all those things come together for them was my favorite part of the class,” she said.

Smith said that he also enjoyed his experience with the seniors.

“I was impressed with how Gloria organized this,” he said. “The program brought together a social environment. They have such a strong and supportive community center.”

For more information on the Latino Hispanic American Community Center, visit lhacc.org.

In Service: Zonta offers support for local women in need.

February 28, 2018 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

The poet Maya Angelou once said, “As you grow older, you will find you have two hands: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

That quote summarizes well the guiding principles of Zonta International, which aims to empower women through service and advocacy.

Derived from the Sioux language, Zonta means “honest and trustworthy.” The group was founded in 1919 in Buffalo, N.Y., and today touts more than 30,000 members in 67 countries.

The Zonta Club of Hershey-Harrisburg was chartered in 1980 and meets monthly to strategize ways to achieve its goals, both at home and abroad.

Members participate in fundraising projects throughout the year, with 70 percent of the proceeds benefiting local organizations like the PA Coalition against Domestic Violence, New Hope Ministries, the YWCA and Harrisburg’s Shalom House. The other 30 percent goes to help women worldwide and provide funds to help with natural disasters.

Karen Shirey, a long-time member of the Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey, describes it as a group of professionals dedicated to giving back to the community.

“Our members include retirees, educators, business owners, government employees, former military, with ages that range from 30 to 80,” she said.

Modern society hasn’t been kind to service organizations, most of which have been steadily losing members for decades. Yet the Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey has managed to maintain its numbers, said Shirey. That doesn’t mean that she’s satisfied with the status quo. She’d be delighted to witness a growth spurt, especially among younger women.

“We want the energy,” she said, with a laugh.

Recently, the group hosted Aiyana Ehrman and Michelle Kime of Lancaster-based “Imagine Goods” to learn more about the business of helping female artisans create items in exchange for fair wages. During the meeting, the entrepreneurs shared a PowerPoint presentation on human trafficking. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 100,000 youth are forcefully engaged in prostitution or pornography and that one in three runaways are lured into prostitution after just 48 hours on the streets.

Zonta is also focused on violence prevention.

“Violence is a worldwide pandemic that crosses every social and economic class, every religion, race and ethnicity, with one out of every three women worldwide experiencing violence during their lifetime,” Zonta International President Sonja Honig Schough said. “We in Zonta cannot accept this.”

In December, the local Zonta chapter gathered on the steps of the state Capitol as part of their, “Say No to Violence Against Women” campaign, an effort to spread awareness about the issue and work with legislators to combat the problem.

Nancy Fodor, president of the Harrisburg-Hershey club, said that she became involved because she is committed to helping women who are marginalized, lack advantages or may be involved in abusive relationships.

Her goal is to provide members with monthly meetings that are enlightening, informative and interesting, while supporting causes to advance Zonta’s mission.

Denise Britton, executive director of Shalom House, described Zonta as a “blessing.”

“They raise money, contribute dollars to scholarships to young women going into business and help us with access to trainers and professional life coaches and occupational therapists who work with us for personal discipline,” she said.

Club members also help the shelter by donating their time through personal mentoring and by buying Christmas presents each year for the women and children housed at the shelter.

“They are able to break down preconceived ideas and barriers by sharing how they’ve overcome obstacles in their lives, which provides encouragement for our women,” said Britton.

Working for such worthy causes is heartwarming, but there’s also an important camaraderie among Zonta members, said Shirey.

“We’ve watched each other’s kids and grandkids grow up, and we’ve developed close bonds as a result of our commitment,” she said.

As for Fodor, she’s glad that she has been given the opportunity to serve as president and leader to such a dedicated group of women.

“What I like most about it is how hard everyone works to accomplish what we accomplish,” she said. “It takes time and commitment and everyone in the club participates. They really give it their all.”

For more information about the Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey, visit www.zonta-harrisburghershey.org or their Facebook page.

Think Global, Live Local: Students from around the world take up residence at International House.

February 28, 2018 | by Alexandra Jones

Burg in Focus: International House Harrisburg from GK Visual on Vimeo.

On a cold, mid-winter evening, a small group of strangers were warming up to each other at Harrisburg’s International House.

Sharing names, occupations and smiles, they sloughed off their winter layers and piled around a table. Plates of vindaloo, naan and basmati rice sat before them. It was time for the “Signature Series,” a free event, open to the public, featuring a speaker from a different country each month. On this particular Thursday, Darahas Sontyana took the stage to discuss his native country of India.

Sontyana, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1999. He showed the audience a PowerPoint and talked about India’s culture and traditions, but much of his talk was about his bi-cultural experience growing up.

“At home, I was Indian, but everywhere else, I was American,” he explained to the room.

Sontyana’s story is representative of the venue where his talk took place.

I-House, as it’s commonly called, is where cultures can’t help but intermingle. It’s where a Chinese student and a Danish student can live right next door to one another or an American student and a Korean student can become friends playing ping pong. It’s where college students from all over the world participate together in local sporting events, festivals and museum visits.

“I can experience cultures from all around the world without having to take a plane,” said Verley Valérius, a 24-year-old Haitian student who’s a junior at Penn State Harrisburg.

A project of Harristown Development Co., I-House is one in a family of 17 institutions across the globe that operate under the same name and mission. All are independent nonprofits that provide long- and short-term living accommodations for students in a fun and friendly intercultural environment.

Since its 2002 conception, the Harrisburg location has hosted students from 94 nations, going through two major expansions across three complexes downtown. Its accommodation numbers have multiplied by a factor of more than 10, climbing from 14 to 150 beds.

“And all you have to be to live at the I-House is a student,” said manager Kevin Markey.

Americans are welcome, too, he said. In fact, when he lived and worked at the house as a resident assistant, he made friends across the globe, two of whom were in his wedding party.

As manager, Markey now hosts the events that helped him meet these friends — dinners, movie nights, ice cream socials. He also helps residents check items off their traveling bucket lists, like visiting New York City and seeing Niagara Falls. His colleague, Agata Czopek, director of international programs, estimates that I-House has hosted around 9,000 students over its 15 years.

Each year, Czopek travels to more than a dozen countries, recruiting students to stay at the house for a seasonal work program with local employers. She also helps the students transition to American life. She herself came to America from Poland at age 24, speaking very little English and dealing with everything from homesickness and stress to communication issues.

The connections built during programs last a lifetime, Czopek said. So, next year, she wants to expand the impact of I-House beyond the immediate neighborhood. She hopes to start up a dinner club with American families.

Ultimately, Czopek is motivated, she said, by the experiences students have in Harrisburg, which can change their perceptions of Americans and Americans’ perceptions of them.

“It makes you realize there is so much more that we have in common than could divide us,” she said.

For more information about International House and its programs, visit www.I-Househbg.org or call 717-724-2846.

College ABCs: Preparing for higher education at Bethel AME.

February 28, 2018 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Life hasn’t always been easy for Stephen Ampersand.

Still, he was eager to share his experiences with teens and parents attending this year’s Bethel AME Church College Prep Workshop in Harrisburg.

Today, Ampersand is vice president of student affairs and enrollment management at HACC, but, as he told it, it was an uphill journey. Growing up, he spent a year living in a car with his family after his mother lost her job and, subsequently, their home. Following that, they lived in homeless shelters. The family moved around so much that Ampersand attended four different middle schools.

Life’s hardships only fueled his determination to work hard in school and overcome his life circumstances. He went on to earn degrees from Pierce College and Wilmington University before starting a career in education services management in 2004.

“If you study and work hard, you can go to college,” Ampersand said. “You can change not only your life, but your own family tree.”

One-Stop Shop
Since 2016, Bethel AME Church has hosted a college prep workshop geared toward students in grades 9 to 12 and their parents. This year’s event, held in January, attracted 75 attendees, said Myra Blackwell, chair of Bethel AME’s scholarship committee.

“This is not your typical college prep workshop,” Blackwell stressed. “Facilitators from HACC come in and give an overview of steps one must take to prepare for college. HACC also does a panel discussion.”

Half of the facilitators from HACC are part of the president’s cabinet, she said.

“It’s not that often you find people who are in senior-level positions participating in a college prep workshop,” Blackwell said.

HACC speakers kicked off the first half of the three-hour workshop, followed by representatives of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, who discussed financing options.

“This workshop really is a one-stop shop for both students and parents,” Blackwell stated.

The workshop is the brainstorm of Bethel AME’s four-member scholarship committee, chaired by Blackwell. Blackwell said she got the idea while watching a HACC facilitator speak to students at her cousin’s church in Allentown.

“I thought, if they can do it, we can do here,” Blackwell recalled. “I want young people to learn their options. I want them to know that they can go to college or they can learn a trade. I know all of this can be stressful for a young person, and we want to make a little bit easier for them.”

In fact, a small contingent from Allentown’s Union Baptist Church travelled to Harrisburg to attend this year’s workshop.

“We wanted them to get familiarized with the college process,” said Asia Rozier, a youth ministry assistant in Allentown.

Keep Pushing
Ryanna Hendricks, a ninth-grader at Central Dauphin East High School, came to the workshop with her sister Serena, a CD East 11th-grader.

“I came here to learn more about HACC, scholarships and financial aid,” she explained.

Ryanna said she’d like to earn a four-year college degree and become an endodontist, a dental disease specialist. Serena plans to become a college business major and eventually open up her own business, she said.

Reshon Ross, an 11th-grader at Dauphin County Technical School, attended the workshop with sister Ayanna and their mother, Monika Ross.

“I’m here just to get some experience, to see what I can get out of college and see what I can be,” said Reshon, who is in the small engine equipment technology program at DC Tech.

“I’ve gotten some good information here today,” Monika Ross noted.

The HACC portion of the workshop closed with alumni sharing stories. Like Ampersand, none of the graduates who spoke appeared to have a straight, easy path to success, but they made it despite the odds.

Johnny Birch, Jr., is a 2011 HACC graduate who studied business, hospitality and tourism. Today, he is owner and operator of Carlisle Tae Kwon Do & Fitness Academy.

“I came from a single-parent home, barely had anything,” Birch recalled. “I was really mad and beat things up. I was a bully.”

Birch’s mother and guidance counselor sent him to martial arts classes as a way to channel his aggression in a more positive manner. The strategy worked, and he later became a martial arts state champion.

After that, Birch joined the military.

“For six years, I was a first-class athlete,” he said. “Then my body started to give out, and I didn’t know what to do.”

After a brief stint as a musician, Birch decided to open a business, but, he said, “didn’t know the right people.” Then he enrolled in HACC and, soon after, 50 people filled his martial arts studio.

Hagir Elsheikh graduated from HACC in 2011 with a degree in health careers. Today, she is founder and CEO of HSE Staffing Agency, LLC, a health care staffing firm.

“HACC changed my life,” Elsheikh told the workshop crowd. “We’re not here to set your destination, we’re just here to share our experiences. Regardless of what you go through, you can keep pushing. It is you who can decide what you want your future to be.”

Bethel AME Church is located at 1721 N. 5th St., Harrisburg. For more information about the church, visit their Facebook page: I Go to Bethel.

Student Scribes: “The Boyhood of Raleigh (1870)”

February 28, 2018 | by Leisa Kilby

The children, pale and gangly
At the blossom of their boyhood
Scamper down the sandy slope
Toward the rocky shore
Where their tiny boats pitch against the tides.

There, they see a man
Tossing a net into the green water,
Crabs scuttling around his ankles.

To the boys, his tanned and wrinkled face
Is the likeness of a tuna.
Even his eyes are hollow and watery.

They are afraid of him
But when he beckons, they come
Curiously.

The old sailor regards them with a coolness.
His raspy voice grinds
Like the ocean tides against craggy stones.
He smells of salt and sun-burned skin.

The old fisherman speaks slowly
As they sit on the warm sand
And the cold stones.
He has the brittle drawl of working men
That spend their days on the sea
In creaking, moaning fishing boats
Tossed by waves and wind.

He says to the boys,

“In the deepest, coldest swirlin’ black,
Beneath a ceiling of shivering blue,
Kelp twist in the churnin’ of the waves
Disturbed by a shift in the waters.

Nearby, pale fish—alien and beady-eyed—
Twist and flap their fins sluggishly.
Beads of bioluminescence—
Haunting cerulean and acid green—
Thread their spiny wings.

Suddenly

The fish go still, sensing something else
That’s in the ocean with them.

Twisting slippery, transparent bodies,
They scramble away into the dark
As the shadow drags by below.

It is longer than the ships that pass miles overhead.
But no narrower.

No one has ever seen the creature,
Except for an unlucky sailor or two.
It rises out of the depths too fast,
Waves pouring off its shiny, black scales.
Its face is like an eel, only
A thousand times larger.
With teeth like swords and eyes!
Eyes like flat, onyx saucers
The size of wagon wheels!”

The old fisherman points,
His leathery finger aimed at the sea.

“Remember, its favorite snack is people,”
He reminds the children quietly.
“So, mind yourselves when you go boating
Else the Leviathan might get the better of you.”

Leisa Kilby is an honors student majoring in communications at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: “Night Witches”

February 28, 2018 | by Kristian Beverly

They call me a night witch, but I am not one.

I haunt their dreams as I do the raven black sky, lighting it up in a glaze of red and yellow. I don’t conjure magic. I grab the throttle of my plane and float through the air, the tail my broom and gun my magic.

I let my navigator get us to our location. Adrenaline pounds through my body, trepidation that we could be shot down. Bullets could pierce through the canvas of our planes and into our oversized uniforms. We fly so low we don’t carry parachutes but no amount of armor can save us if we’re captured.

The other two planes go off to divert the attention of our enemies. We’re on our sixth mission of the night, our plane refilled with another set of bombs. My navigator tells me we’re close, so I pull our small plane down, diving even closer than we already were to the encampment while cutting our engine. We hiss through the air, deadly quiet so our enemies realize too late that their nightmares have arose. I guess we are night witches.

They aren’t ever ready for us. War sings a song across my heart, interweaving and grasping at it until it turned black. The zone. To win and return. Re-arm and repeat.

We’re so close that I can see a man light a match for his cigarette. They still shoot at us, or try to. Some say we’re given treatments so we have night vision. But it’s a ridiculous idea. Instead of magic, we’re a group of gutsy determined girls.

If they shoot down a night witch plane. they are awarded an Iron Medal.

If we don’t win, then death will come. It’ll take me as I crash into earth or as a glorified prize in the face of my enemies. I’ll be forgotten in history while they get to tell my story. History is a fable as Bonaparte said, and mine wouldn’t tell the tale of a girl in the sky. It’d tell of a monster that needed shut down, instead of a girl fighting for her country.

The other two planes meet us as we start our flight home.

Kristian Beverly is a senior English major at Penn State Harrisburg.

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