Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine
Happy Weekend!
Please excuse the abbreviated Weekend Roundup. See the reason why:
https://www.sarabozich.com/2017/11/hey-i-had-a-baby/
What are you doing this weekend?
Abortion opponents seek an injunction against a Harrisburg city ordinance, saying it limits their ability to offer anti-abortion literature and counseling to women at the 2nd St. Planned Parenthood.
Becky Biter says that the Holy Spirit “lit a fire in her soul” at a religious retreat in 2014, and she has advocated for the end of legal abortion ever since.
Now, Biter and another abortion opponent are taking legal action against Harrisburg for allegedly limiting their free speech rights. They seek an injunction against the city’s “buffer ordinance,” which, since 2012, has outlawed people from protesting, picketing or congregating within 20 feet of health clinic entrances.
Mayor Eric Papenfuse said he stands by the ordinance as a fair protection of both free speech and the right to medical care. The plaintiffs claim that it limits their ability to engage in a form of advocacy called “sidewalk counseling” outside of the 2nd Street Planned Parenthood. That facility is currently the only abortion provider in Harrisburg.
Both sides made their cases yesterday and today before the Hon. Sylvia Rambo, U.S. District Court judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania at the federal courthouse on Market Street. Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based advocacy group, represented Biter, of Fayetville, and co-plaintiff Colleen Riley, of Lebanon pro bono (at no cost.)
The original injunction also listed Lancaster resident Rosalie Gross as a plaintiff. She was dropped from the case after video footage showed her heckling Planned Parenthood patients, Papenfuse said.
The trial concluded this afternoon with testimony from both remaining plaintiffs. Biter recounted how she was driven to an abortion clinic at age 15 by an abusive boyfriend, who forced her to terminate her unplanned pregnancy.
She said her regret over the abortion led to years of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and she claimed that she now wants to spare other women from the same distress.
Claims about the psychological harms of abortion have proliferated since the Supreme Court heard Roe v. Wade in 1973. A peer-reviewed paper published in the American Psychological Journal in 2009, which included a comprehensive review of extant literature on the topic, found that the majority of women who terminate pregnancies do not experience mental health problems.
“Although we conclude that most adult women do not have mental health problems following an abortion of an unwanted pregnancy, we do not mean to imply that no women experience such problems. Some women do,” the researchers wrote.
But they said that those mental health problems could stem from ambivalence toward the abortion or fear of social stigmatization, as well as co-occurring conditions such as unhealthy relationships or economic insecurity.
Pro-life advocates nonetheless point to these perceived psychological harms to dissuade women from seeking abortions. Biter and Riley said that offering “sidewalk counseling” outside of abortion clinics helps them protect women from post-abortion distress.
Before the court, both women insisted that sidewalk counseling is different from protesting. A Liberty Counsel attorney objected when Frank Lavery, a lawyer representing the city, referred to them as “protesters.” Biter and Riley said that they never heckle patrons, raise their voices, or display posters with graphic images.
Instead, they claimed they politely approach women as they walk towards abortion clinics to offer them prayer and literature. Their methods are less effective, they said, when they cannot enter the 20-foot buffer zone near the Planned Parenthood entrance.
“Our goal is to show women they’re not alone,” Biter said on the stand. “The best way is to get close to a woman, hug her, lead her away from the abortion facility, and sit her down in a safe place to show her someone cares.”
During cross examination, Lavery pointed that even though the plaintiffs might be peaceful activists, voiding the buffer ordinance would also empower more confrontational protesters.
If Rambo rules in favor of the plaintiffs, she will issue a preliminary injunction against the city’s ordinance, which would void it during an inevitable appeals process. The defense could then file a motion to make the injunction permanent.
The injunction against Harrisburg was filed in March 2016. City Solicitor Neil Grover estimates that the city has spent more than $60,000 litigating the case since then, mostly on outside counsel.
But there’s even more at stake. If the plaintiffs prevail, Harrisburg will have to reimburse Liberty Counsel for their legal fees in accordance with a Civil Rights Act statute.
Both sides will rest until the court stenographer completes the 500-page transcript of the proceedings. Grover said that could take until January.
After attorneys receive the transcript, they will have 20 days to review it and submit final arguments to Rambo. The judge has no time constraint on her final ruling.
Gessen will discuss and sign copies of her newest book, “The Future is History,” at Midtown Scholar on Nov. 20. Images courtesy of Penguin Random House.
If you’ve spent the last day glued to coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, mark your calendar for Nov. 20.
Masha Gessen, a journalist, author, and leading voice on contemporary Russia, will speak at Midtown Scholar at 6:30 p.m. that Monday evening about her newest work of nonfiction, “The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia.” Gessen will also sign copies of the book, which is a National Book Award finalist.
Gessen was born in Russia and emigrated to America with her family as a young child. She rose to prominence with the 2012 publication of her book, “The Man Without a Face,” a biography of Vladimir Putin. Since then, she’s emerged as a vocal critic of Putin and a prescient commentator on the conditions that lead to state autocracy.
Since the election of President Donald Trump, Gessen has penned articles and made media appearances about his relationship to Russia. She disputes claims that Trump is an agent of the Kremlin, but argues that he ran as an autocrat in the style of Putin.
Alex Brubaker, manager of Midtown Scholar Bookstore, said the event couldn’t come at a better time.
“As one of the foremost critics of Putin and authoritarian regimes, Gessen provides a unique lens in which to view the current state of American politics,” Brubaker said. “Even before the Mueller probe intensified, even before her book made the shortlist for the National Book Award, I knew we wanted to get her in to Harrisburg to hear her insights on Russia and the language of autocrats.”
“The Future is History” follows four Russians who were born at the twilight of the Soviet Union and came of age as Russia liberalized – a process that began under Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s and ended with the ascent of Putin in 2000.
Gessen argues that Putin set the country on a backwards trajectory to its old Soviet order, creating a Mafia-like state and eviscerating civil liberties in the process.
The event is free and open to the public, but seating is not guaranteed. Members of the public can secure general admission seating by purchasing a copy of Gessen’s book through Midtown Scholar. Books are available in the store or can be pre-ordered online and picked up at Midtown Scholar the night of the event.
For more information, including a link to buy books, see midtownscholar.com/event-tickets/an-evening-with-masha-gessen.
A proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution will open up new possibilities for tax laws, but state lawmakers will have to pass legislation before municipalities can adjust tax rates.
Pennsylvania policy wonks Marc Stier and Bob Dick don’t agree on much these days, but there are at least two points where they can find common ground.
The first? Property taxes in Pennsylvania are painfully high.
Second, neither man knows quite what to think of a proposed amendment to the state constitution, which would give municipalities the power to abolish or greatly reduce school property taxes.
That amendment will go to public referendum in the Nov. 7 general election. Both Stier, director of the left-leaning Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, and Dick, an analyst at the conservative Commonwealth Foundation, say that their organizations haven’t taken official stances on the ballot measure.
That’s due in part to the uncertainty that will remain if the amendment passes.
If it does pass by majority vote on Nov. 7, it would create a constitutional path for lawmakers and local taxing authorities to reduce or eliminate school property taxes.
But since the amendment also doesn’t compel legislative action, it could have no practical consequences at all.
Nationally, Pennsylvania has one of the biggest disparities in per-pupil spending between its poor and wealthy districts, due in large part to its dependence on property taxes to fund schools, according to a report from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Many tax experts and public education advocates agree that the state needs a new school funding formula. Lawmakers seem to think so, too: the amendment passed through the state legislature in 2016 and 2017 with near unanimous bipartisan support.
But changing the constitution is only the first step in a long path to improve school funding in Pennsylvania, said David Davare, director of research at the Pennsylvania Economy League. Even under an amended constitution, lawmakers at the state, county and local levels would have to do the hard work of balancing their budgets.
“Voting for this is really an issue of how much faith you have that the governor, legislators, school boards and municipalities will continue to work on this and get it right,” Davare said.
WHAT IT COULD CHANGE
Essentially, the amendment would allow legislators to broaden the Homestead Act, which currently lets school districts exclude up to a portion of a homeowner’s property value from taxation.
The Homestead Exclusion grants tax relief based on the median property value of a jurisdiction. In Harrisburg, the median home value is close to $70,000. Under the Homestead Exclusion, taxing authorities in Harrisburg are authorized to take half that value—$35,000—and exclude it from everybody’s property tax assessment.
Pennsylvania’s constitution caps the Homestead exemption at the current 50 percent of median value. The amendment would eliminate that cap entirely.
Lawmakers could legally pass a new Homestead Exclusion allowing local municipalities to exclude up to 100 percent of each home’s value from taxation. The owner of a $100,000 home would have $0 of property in the eyes of the school board tax collector.
No district would be required to take advantage of an expanded Homestead Exclusion. But if a school district wanted to, they could eliminate school property taxes all together.
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS
By theoretically easing the tax burden on property owners, the amendment signals a shift in how the commonwealth conceptualizes school funding. But municipalities will lose revenue if they don’t tax property, and tax experts aren’t sure they could compensate for it with other revenue sources.
Dick and the Commonwealth Foundation say that schools need to cut spending to accommodate school property tax cuts. According to Stier, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center would propose offsetting the cuts with higher taxes on income and wealth, including taxes on capital gains and investment dividends.
Davare, the researcher at the non-partisan Pennsylvania Economy League, said that reducing property taxes won’t help schools without a corresponding raise in other tax rates. But a clause in Pennsylvania’s constitution could make that difficult.
The state’s Uniformity Clause requires taxing authorities to tax personal incomes at a uniform rate, regardless of a person’s income. Everyone in the state—whether they make $50,000 or $500,000 a year—gets taxed at the same rate of 3.07 percent.
Municipal governments and school boards in Pennsylvania also can’t tax business income, Davare said. Without a mechanism to raise taxes at the local level, school districts with low income tax bases – such as Harrisburg – would likely not be able to grant property tax relief.
“Suburban school districts would have the resources to enact [a property tax reduction,] but urban centers would have a hard time generating revenue,” Davare explained.
WHY ALL THE UNCERTAINTY?
If the amendment passes, it could lead to sweeping changes in school funding or no changes at all. That ambiguity is by design rather than by flaw, according to Stier.
“It’s not the purpose of constitutional amendments to make policy,” Stier said.
Instead, they dictate what laws legislators can and cannot pass.
Since amending the constitution is a long and difficult process, he said, the document ought to be broad to accommodate changing social mores.
Such is the case with the amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot. The new language in the constitution won’t change tax rates; rather, it will open up new possibilities for tax laws. State lawmakers would have to pass legislation to take advantage of those possibilities, and then local taxing authorities – school boards, city councils, and county commissioners — would have to authorize new tax rates on their constituents.
“It’s appropriate that this amendment does not do much itself, but instead provides an opportunity for people with different views to propose policy under it,” Stier said.
As a result, it could be a long time until residents see practical changes to their tax bills.
Since the passage of the amendment is still riddled with conditionals and what-ifs, Stier said that voters ought not view it as a referendum on school funding in Pennsylvania.
“A yes or no on this amendment isn’t an endorsement or a repudiation any one policy,” Stier said. “And it won’t determine the future of how we fund our schools. What determines that is future legislation.”
Happenings
Museums & Art Spaces
3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-385-3315; Facebook: 3rd Street Studio
“Nothing Pretty,” group exhibition of local art, through Dec. 2.
AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org
“National Corvette Restorers Society Exhibit,” through April 23.
“Getting the Job Done—Vehicles that Earned Their Keep,” Nov. 18-April 23.
“Cars and Christmas at the AACA Museum,” annual holiday exhibit, Nov. 18-Dec. 31.
Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com
“Metamorphosis,” featuring Candy Delaney, Joanne Landis, Thomas J. Norulak, Samantha Sanders, Barbara Passeri-Warfel, through Nov. 22.
Brain Vessel Gallery
4707 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-2306; bvcargo.com
“Inside the Box,” a juried exhibition, Nov. 17-18.
Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org
“8 Looks at Architecture” with Howard Batchelor, Robert Cavenagh, Jonathon Frazier, Patricia Walach Keough, Michael Lahr, Susan Nichols, Kimberly Stone and Leon Yost, through Nov. 11.
“Art for the Holidays,” artist and designer boutique, Nov. 21-Dec. 30; reception, Nov. 26, 12-4 p.m.
The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com
Artist of the Month: Jesus Gaytan
Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org
“Hanging by a Thread,” needlework exhibit showcasing handmade needlework, through Dec. 23.
Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com
Works by Joanne Finkle and Ted Walke, through Nov. 11.
Works by Linda Benton McCloskey, through Nov. 14, at Café 1500.
Works by Carrie Wissler-Thomas and Peg Belcastro, Nov. 16-Jan. 13; reception: Nov. 17, 6-9 p.m.
Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square
“Dog-Daze of Fall,” a whimsical display of paintings by Dawn Liddick, through Nov. 4.
Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
dauphincountyhistory.org
“Uncle Sam Calls: Dauphin County in World War I,” an exhibit of historic posters and artifacts, through Dec. 22.
Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org
“Enhanced Thrift Art,” a group exhibition of salvaged thrift store or attic artwork with creative makeovers by local artists, through Nov. 4.
“Third Annual PCCA Juried Exhibition,” featuring juried regional artwork in a variety of media, Nov. 10-Jan. 19; reception and awards: Nov. 10, 6-8:30 p.m.
Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective
“Origins,” a group exhibit featuring the artists of 717 Tattoo, Nov. 3-Jan. 1; reception: Nov. 3, 7-11 p.m.
The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com
New works by Linda Benton McCloskey, Elaine Brady Smith, Yachiyo Beck, Christine Goldbeck and P.D. Murray, through Nov. 12
Group show featuring the Millworks’ artists, Nov. 13-Jan. 14.
National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org
“Reconstruction: The Unfinished War,” examining the unfinished issue of equality among races in the reunited states, through Dec. 31.
Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org
Quilts by Sue Reno, a textile exhibit composed of brilliantly patterned quilts, through Jan.1.
New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org
Works by Donna Mitchell and Bob Shatto, through November.
PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org
“Artisan Marketplace of Perry County,” showcasing unique local art and handcrafted items for holiday gift giving that supports regional artists and crafters, through Jan. 6.
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 Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu
“Virtual Reality Reorganized,” drawings on wood by Denise Stewart Sanabria, through Nov. 17.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org
“Pennsylvania at War: World War I Posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives,” through Nov. 12.
“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 30.
Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org
“New Geometry,” abstract invitational featuring Matt Allyn Chapman, Nick Hollibaugh, Brittany Nelson, and Rosalyn Richards, through Nov. 5.
“In the Vault,” featuring small works on magnetic templates to hang on the museum’s bank vault walls, through Dec. 17.
“Ansel Adams: Early Works,” through Jan. 21.
Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com
Works by Brian Bastinelli, through Nov. 12.
Works by Eli McClymont, Nov. 17-Dec. 10.
Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com
“Vision Ink & Demonspeak,” by Morgan Shay, through Nov. 16.
“The Witch,” works of Steve Zerbe, Nov. 17-Dec. 14.
Read, Make, Learn
Absolute Pilates
3940 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-585-0354; absolutepilates.com
Nov. 10: Yoga Class and DoTerra Essential Oils Make and Take, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org
Nov. 1: Cut it Out! Ceramic Lanterns, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 1-Dec. 13: Creative Topics in Photographic Thinking, 6 Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 1, 15: Try it Glassblowing, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 3: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.
Nov. 8, 15: Introduction to Relief Printmaking, 6-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Open Paint Studio, 7 p.m.
Nov. 15: Finger Painting for All, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 26: Gourdaments, 6-9 p.m.
The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com
Nov. 9: Thanksgiving Boot Camp, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 15: Hearty Hors D’oeuvres, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 30: Sensational Salmon & Sides, 6-9 p.m.
East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org
Nov. 2: Grants—Intro. to Proposal Writing, 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 3: Basic Internet II, 11 a.m.
Nov. 5: Green Your Home, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5: Flooded Icing Cookie Class, 3 p.m.
Nov. 12: Crazy for Coloring, 2 p.m.
Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org
Nov. 2: Young Adult Book Club for Adults, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 3: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Mindfulness Matters, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: Curl Up with the Classics—“The Good Earth,” 10 a.m.
Nov. 10: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 13: The Page Turners Writers Group (ages 12-14), 7 p.m.
Nov. 13, 20, 27: Cozy Story Times, 9 a.m.
Nov. 20: Math Meets Music, 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: Fredricksen Reads, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24: Family Movie Night, 4 p.m.
Nov. 29: Story time at Country Meadows, 10 a.m.
Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com
Nov. 14-Dec. 12: Intro to Musical Improv, 7-10 p.m.
Nov. 29-Jan. 24: Improv Level 1, 7-10 p.m.
The Hershey Story
63 West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org
Nov. 18-26: Little Elves Workshop, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
717-233-3462; dauphincountyhistory.org
Nov. 12: “Who Was Thaddeus Stevens?” 2:30 p.m.
Johnson Memorial Library
799 East Center St., Millersburg
717-692-2658; dcls.org
Nov. 10: Bad Art Night, 6 p.m.
Nov. 11 That’s (P)interesting DIY Club, 11 a.m.
Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org
Nov. 1: Intro to Apple MacBook, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 2: Learn to Knit, 7-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 3: Coloring for Adults, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 7: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 8: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 9: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 13: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 15: Start the Conversation—End of Life Decisions, 7-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 20: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 28: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Nov. 29: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 29: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 30: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist -Center
251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg
717-232-2700; meditationpa.org
Nov. 11: Living Meaningfully: A Buddhist Perspective on Death and Dying, 1 p.m.
Nov. 18: Letting Go of Anxiety, 2-3:30 p.m.
Kline Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org
Nov. 15: Friends and Readers Book Club, 2 p.m.
Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org
Nov. 4: Free Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
Nov. 18: Nature and Batik Art 1-Day Workshop, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Nov. 7: Men’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
Nov. 14: Seniors Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 21: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 28: LGBT Parents, 6 p.m.
Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org
Nov. 3: Flooded Icing Cookie Class, 1 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Video Game Club, 4 p.m.
Nov. 7: Introduction to Tai Chi, 2 p.m.
McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com
Nov. 2: Author Event with Gary Fincke, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 3, 24: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Coffee, Cake and True Islam, 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 8: Author Event with Jared Yates Sexton, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 9: Author Event with Carmen Maria Machado, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 11: Author Event with Walter Stahr Stanton, 3-5 p.m.
Nov. 15: Author Event with Wendy Pearlman, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 16: Camp Curtin Toastmakers, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 19: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Nov. 19: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
Nov. 20: Author Event with Masha Gessen, 7-9 p.m.
The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com
Nov. 3: Fluid Art Painting Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 11: Beginner Modern Textural Weaving, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 11: The Art of Spoon Carving, 3-6 p.m.
Nov. 15-Dec. 13: 5 Week Abstract Class
Nov. 18: Oil and Cold Wax, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org
Nov. 2: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10: Fun Friday at the Library, 3-5 p.m.
Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14: Preschool Storytime, 10:15 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13: Toddler Storytime, 11 a.m.
Nov. 7, 14: Book Babies, 11:15 a.m.
Nov. 8: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: Learn to Crochet Plus, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 11: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: Pennwriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 16: STEM Club, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Nov. 18: Saturday Morning Art (ages 7-10), 10:30-12 p.m.
Nov. 18: Couponing For Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 21: Hands on Science—Robots
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org
Nov. 3: Storytime, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 9: Nature Lab—The Wild Turkey, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 30: Nature Lab—Ooey Gooey Oily Process (ages 3-5), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org
“Memory and Invention,” landscape and cityscape paintings by Robert Andriulli, Nov. 10-Feb. 11; 3rd in the Burg free admission: Nov. 17, 5-8 p.m.
“Tropical Wasteland,” abstracted landscapes by Vu Nguyen, Nov. 3- Feb. 25; 3rd in the Burg free admission: Nov. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com
Nov. 4: Creative Arm Balancing for Beginners, 12-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Tween Yoga 4 Week Series (ages 11-14), 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 11: Breath Work for Beginners, 12-1:30 p.m.
Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org
Nov. 4: Getting Started With Digital Photography, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 4: Full Moon Hike, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Beginner’s Yoga & Walk, 10-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 11: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 15: Bird Walk—Waterfowl, 8-10 a.m.
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org
Nov. 2: Teen Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: Wednesday Cinema, 6 p.m.
Nov. 14: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30 p.m.
Live Music
Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com
Nov. 2: RAQ
Nov. 3: The Hawkeyes
Nov. 10: The Dirty Sweet
Nov. 11: Hackensaw Boys
Nov. 16: The Ballroom Thieves
Nov. 18: One-Trick Grizzley and Buzzard Luck
Nov. 24: Crippled But Free
Nov. 30: Consider the Source
Appel Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org
Nov. 1-2: York Symphony Orchestra—Young Person’s Concert
Nov. 3: Jazz in the City
Nov. 4: Black Violin
Nov. 9: Citizen Cope
Nov. 17: Invincible—Tribute to Michael Jackson
Nov. 17: Kathy Mattea
Nov. 19: York Junior Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 25: York Symphony Orchestra
Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com
Nov. 19: The Keating Jazz Orchestra’s Two-Beat Dames
Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com
Nov. 1: Maria Battista
Nov. 2, 16, 18, 22, 24, 28: Noel Gevers
Nov. 3: Corinna Joy, Noel Gevers
Nov. 4, 17, 21: Roy Lefevre
Nov. 7, 11: Daniel Sheahan
Nov. 8: Deborah Anderson
Nov. 9, 14: Corinna Joy
Nov. 10, 25: Ted Ansel
Nov. 12: Anthony Haubert
Nov. 15, 30: Chris Purcell
Nov. 29: TBA
Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org
Nov. 11: West Street A.M.E.Z. Church Benefit Concert
Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org
Nov. 12: Jonathan Ragonese
Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org
Nov. 18: Fall Concert at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church
Nov. 19: Fall Concert at Colonial Park UCC
Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net
Nov. 7: Aw Shucks
Nov. 9: Cory Branan
Nov. 9: The Ok-Ok’s, Hodera
Nov. 13: Minus The Bear, Broken Field Runner, Starving Arts
Nov. 14: Hinder, Josh Todd & The Conflict
Nov. 18: Zay Hilfigerrr
Nov. 21: Balance and Composure, The Glorious Sons
Nov. 24: ZOSO—The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience
Nov. 25: Hollywood Undead
The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com
Nov. 3: GRIT
Nov. 4: Hard Travelin
Nov. 5: Paul Zavinsky
Nov. 10: Emily Lynn Wilkins
Nov. 11: Michael Arthur & Kristina Machusick
Nov. 12: Shelba Purtle
Nov. 17: Kevin Kline
Nov. 18: Doug Morris
Nov. 19: Joe Cooney
Nov. 24: Dominick Cicco
Nov. 25: Jeanine & Friends
Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org
Nov. 26: Special Program for Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com
Nov. 3: A Night of Chamber Music
Nov. 3: Mastrglass, Digital Davy Shaman
Nov. 4: SayWeCanFly, Minshara, Madison Ryan, Tweed, Sun & Rain, Gobbo
Nov. 10: Matt Otis and The Sound
Nov. 11: PennsylMania Music Fest 3
Nov. 12: This Will Destroy You, Sannhet, Bells
Nov. 18: The Districts, Abi Reimold, Friendship, Snow Villain
Nov. 22: Exmag, Yam Yam & Giddy Hop
Nov. 25: Cabinet
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org
Nov. 4-5: November Masterworks
Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheyentertainment.com
Nov. 24: Celtic Thunder
Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com
Nov. 3: Cazhmiere
Nov. 4: DJ Styles, LCD Band
Nov. 10: No Bad Juju
Nov. 11: DJ Ray Rossi, Smooth Like Clyde
Nov 17: Uptown Band
Nov. 18: DJ Dave Styles, The Famous
Nov. 22: Smokin Gunnz
Nov. 24: Sapphire
Nov. 25: DJ Magic
Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Open Mic, Walter DeWall
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: DJ Eric B
Nov. 3, 10 17, 24: DJ Joe Hertz
Nov. 4: Bare Creek Junction
Nov. 11: Decipher Life
Nov. 18: fith
Nov. 25: SoS
Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org
Nov. 19: Steve Rudolph
Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com
Nov. 4: Qwam, Baby Brains
Nov. 10: Taylor George Moreland Beard
Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com
Nov. 2: Utah, Sarah Myers, Congis Fizz
Nov. 6: BIRDS, Stuyedeyed Concrete Beach
Nov. 7: Babylawns, Bluff
Nov. 19: Flounder Warehouse, Laura Lizcano, GOBBO
Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com
Nov. 2: Brit Floyd
Nov. 11: Cheap Trick
Nov. 16: Chicago
Nov. 19: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra
Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org
Nov. 3: Jazz Ensemble
Nov. 10: The Lonesome Traveler
Nov. 17: Wind Symphony Concert
Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org
Nov. 11: Amernet String Quartet
Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu
Nov. 3: Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds
Nov. 4: Percussion Concert
Nov. 10: Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 13: Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 14: Jazz Combo
Nov. 15: Jazz Fusion
Nov. 16: Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 20: Brass Choir and Brass Studio
Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective
Nov. 30: The Bo Deadlys
Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com
Nov. 4: Good News Café, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10: John Gorka
Nov. 17: John Terlazzo and Voice in the Hall
The Mill in Hershey
810 Old West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com
Nov. 4: Corinna Joy
Nov. 11: Sherri Mullen Duo
Nov. 18: Ryan Moran
Nov. 25: Tony Catalano
River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com
Nov. 4: Don Johnson Project
Nov. 11: Steven Courtney Band
Nov. 18: Crystal Haze
Nov. 20: River City Big Band
Nov. 27: Central PA Friends of Jazz Jam
Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC
Nov. 18: “Aladdin”
Nov. 28: Cherish the Ladies—Celtic Christmas
Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com
Nov. 3: Slam Allen
Nov. 10: The Lowest Pair & The Brother Brothers
St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com
Nov. 3: Devix
Nov. 4: Jamie & Jody
Nov. 10: Mary Kate Lee & Son
Nov. 11: Joe Cooney
Nov. 17: Cotolo
Nov. 18: Just Dave
Nov. 24: Rhoads & Putt Trio
Nov. 25: Craig Bonner
Stock’s on 2nd
211 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com
Nov. 3: Cruise Control Trio
Nov. 4: Josh Krevsky
Nov. 10: DJ Ray Rossi
Nov. 11: Music Thru Science Lite
Nov. 17: Visitors Duo
Nov. 18: Shea Quinn and Friends
Nov. 24: TBA
Nov. 25: Noel Gevers and Friends
The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org
Nov. 4: The Kennedys
Nov. 4: November Open Mic
Nov. 5: November Jam Session
Nov. 11: Bill Staines
Nov. 17: Allegro’s Music in the Round—Old Wine in New Bottles
Nov. 19: Le Vent du Nord
The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts
Nov. 3: Julia Jordan Kamanda
Nov. 5: Yu and Shin—Two Piano Recital
Nov. 12: Nobuntu
Nov. 17: David Myles
Nov. 18: King Street Big Band w/ Amy Banks
Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org
Nov. 22: The Machine
Nov. 30: Get The Led Out
Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com
Nov. 17: Suzi Brown
Nov. 19: Josh Dominick
Nov. 25: Tsunami Experiment
The Stage Door
American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com
Nov. 1-Dec. 30: “The 2017 Christmas Show: Home for the Holidays”
Appel Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org
Nov. 10: Shawn Banks
Nov. 15: “A Night with Janis Joplin”
Nov. 16: Garrison Keillor
Nov. 28: B—The Underwater Bubble Show
The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org
Nov. 17-26: “Oliver!”
Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org
Nov. 3-5: “Into the Woods”
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com
Through Nov. 11: “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”
Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org
Nov. 4-26: “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Nov. 16: TMI Improv
Nov. 29-Dec. 16: “A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol”
Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Open Mic
Nov. 3, 4: Raymond the Amish Comic
Nov. 10, 11: Rick Reyes, Kate Brindle
Nov. 11: Oxymorons Improv Comedy Show
Nov. 15, 16: Marlon Wayans
Nov. 17, 18: Eric Dasilva, Anthony Zenhauser
Nov. 22: Earl David Reed
Nov. 24, 25: Paul Lyons, Jay Nog
Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com
Nov. 3, 17: Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Name That Tune/TBA
Nov. 4: House Team 3, Love Triangle, Last Resort, Bandito/Fours Company 2: In Addition Too
Nov. 10: Ferd Majelly/What’s the Matter with Henry?, HAI/Brainwave Aftershave, Tristitia
Nov. 11: Kidprov Class Show, Zesty!/Bandjob, Ferret Prom/Solo Sleepover, Spacework
Nov. 17: Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Images, Jam
Nov. 18: House Team 3/ JohNathan, Tony Stanza, Spank’d
Nov. 24: TBA/What’s the Matter With Henry?, Tiny Town, Hit Bits
Nov. 25: Zesty!/The Fourest, Introduce A Self, The Actor’s Craft/Pillow Talk
Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com
Nov. 30-Dec. 2: “A Christmas Carol”
Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com
Nov. 4: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias
Nov. 7: Alton Brown Live—“Eat Your Science”
Nov. 11: Disney Live! Mickey & Minnie’s Doorway to Magic
Nov. 17: Ron “Tater Salad” White
Nov. 28-Dec. 3: “Kinky Boots”
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com
Nov. 3-5: “Ghosts of Mechanicsburg”
Nov. 12-13: “The Bad Seed”
Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu
Nov. 12-19: “Summer and Smoke”
Nov. 16: “Blue Christmas”
Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org
Nov. 11: “Little Red Riding Hood” (Popcorn Hat Players)
Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com
Nov. 3-4: “Court Street Cabaret—Jukebox Edition”
Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com
Nov. 3-19: “Jeeves Intervenes”
The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; allenberry.com
Nov. 4-18: “How I Became a Pirate”
River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com
Nov. 26: “Risque Business”
Rose Lehrman Arts Center
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu
Nov. 18: “Aladdin”
Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com
Nov. 3-19: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Whitaker Center)
The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts
Nov. 14: “Aunt Lily’s Flower Book”
Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org
Nov. 3-19: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Theatre Harriburg)
Nov. 8: Harrisburg Story Slam
November Community Corner
Mid-Day Getaway
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Unwind over your lunch break at the McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. Bring your lunch to the library between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for coloring, card games, board games or low-stress activities. Visit dcls.org for details.
Dinner for a Cause
Nov. 2: Vision Resources of Central PA will host the sixth annual “Evening in the Shadows” at AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, for a multi-course dinner and blindness awareness event. Tickets are $80. For details and tickets, call 717-238- 2531 or email [email protected].
One FAB Night
Nov. 3: One FAB Night will be held at the State Museum 300 North St., Harrisburg, 4 to 10 p.m., to honor Mara Keisling, Dickinson College and Adanjesús Marín and to raise funds to support the work of the LGBT Center of Central PA. Enjoy a reception with entertainment, dancing, silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Visit fallachievementbenefit.org.
HBG Flea
Nov. 4: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Strawberry Square in Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com for more details.
Fall Benefit
Nov. 4: Junior League of Harrisburg’s second annual Fall Fundraising Benefit & Silent Auction for the Penn State vs. Michigan State away game will be held at the Vineyard at Hershey, 598 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25; designated driver rate is $18. Visit jl-hbg.com for more event details.
Fundraising Gala
Nov. 4: South Central PA Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host “Unmask the Stigma” Suicide Prevention Gala at Radisson Hotel Harrisburg from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $50 person or $90 per couple. Visit afsp.org/southcentralpa for event details.
Full Moon Hike
Nov. 4: Enjoy a guided adventure on the North Boardwalk at Wildwood Park, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Brave the moonlit path as your eyes adjust to the darkness, while enjoying special activities along the way. Find more details at wildwoodlake.org.
Book Sales
Nov. 4, 18: Friends of the New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, will hold pre-owned book sales on the first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Foundation House, across the shared parking lot from the library. Shop for books, vintage jewelry, men’s items, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, kids’ books, records and more. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org.
Mental Health
Nov. 5: Learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health-related crisis or problem in a free Adult Mental Health First Aid Training course at Giant Community Room, 3301 E. Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants must be 18 years or older. Visit afsp.org/southcentralpa for details.
Yoga Walk
Nov. 5: Join yoga instructor Traci Wolfe for a guided, 3.1-mile walk around Wildwood Lake at a pace that will warm the body, with stops along the way for simple yoga exercises. The walk begins at 11:30 a.m. in front of the nature center. Appropriate for ages 12 and older. Visit wildwoodlake.org.
Library Benefit
Nov. 5: Friends of the East Shore Library will host a fundraiser at the Oyster Mill Playhouse, 1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill, at 2 p.m. Oyster Mill Playhouse will present “Jeeves Intervenes” adapted by Margaret Raether from stories of P. G. Wodehouse. Free wine and light refreshments provided. Call 717-839-7517 for more information and limited general admission tickets.
Member Luncheon
Nov. 9: Join the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, 4211 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, and other local business professionals at a member luncheon, 12 to 1:30 p.m. The luncheon is open to all chamber members or non-members who would like to learn more. Visit wschamber.org.
Foreign Film Friday
Nov. 10: Join Fredricksen Library for “Gloria,” a film from Chile. Follow the story of a 58-year-old divorcee who develops a passionate relationship with an older man. Two showings are scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org for more details.
Craft Show
Nov. 10-11: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, will host the 27th annual Elizabethtown Heritage Craft Show, opening Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., with a “Sneak Peek Party” for a first chance at locally made creative pieces. Lunch and baked goods will be available for purchase. An admission fee of $2 or a food bank contribution is requested. Visit elizabethtownhistory.org.
Women’s Expo
Nov. 11: The sixth annual Cumberland County Women’s Expo will be held at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., Carlisle, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This expo will present more than 80 businesses, including beauty, health and wellness, finance, travel, entertainment and home décor. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.
Volunteer Work Day
Nov. 11: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring a water bottle. Refreshments available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.
Nutcracker Storytime
Nov. 11: Join New Cumberland Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet at 2 p.m. for a family-friendly story time with the Nutcracker. Children will explore movement and concepts that stimulate creativity, imagination, coordination and self-confidence. Best suited for children ages 3 and older. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org.
PA Music Fest
Nov. 11: Enjoy an eclectic line up of hip hop, live bands, instruments, R&B, poetry, emcees, live graffiti art, live hip hop cyphers, DJs, beat boxing, break dancing and more at PennsylMania Music Fest at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC), 1110 N. 3rd St. Doors open at 4 p.m.; show starts at 5 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $10; tickets at the door are $15. Visit harrisburgarts.com.
Book Review
Nov. 14: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, will host local author Don Helin, who will discuss two of his works, “Secret Assault” and “Angel’s Revenge,” for the book review program in Foundation Hall, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Reviews are held on the second Tuesday of the month from September to May. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org.
Railroad Talk
Nov. 14: Alex Mayes will give a digital presentation, “2016 in Review,” to Harrisburg Chapter National Railway Historical Society at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m., with dinner served as early as 5 p.m. Call 717-439-9744 or email [email protected].
Holiday Wreaths
Nov. 14-16: Shalom House will host its 8th annual “Wreaths for a Reason,” a community awareness and fundraising event at Strawberry Square, 11 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Local crafters and school students donate the wreaths for this event. Visit shalomhouse.net for details.
Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 16-17: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) will hold the Holiday Marketplace in Village Square of the State Museum, 300 North St., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The marketplace features PA-themed gifts from a variety of PHMC’s historic sites and museums from throughout the state. Visit statemuseumpa.org.
Book Week
Nov. 16-19: Join children’s book author Lauren Castillo in her studio at the Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, during Joan Y. Leopold Children’s Book Week for a meet-and-greet open house. Each family will receive a copy of her book, “Nana in the City,” and an opportunity to have it signed. For details, call 717-652-9380, ext. 144.
3rd in The Burg
Nov. 17: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.
Winter Fun
Nov. 17-Jan. 28: Whitaker Wonderland offers indoor winter fun for the whole family at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. Take a few laps around the sock skate rink, dive in the snowball pit, and take the Cranky Cars for a spin. Festive activities are included with Harsco Science Center admission. Visit whitakercenter.org for details.
Holiday Parade
Nov. 18: Harrisburg will host its 2017 Holiday Parade, featuring local celebrities, music, floats, food and more. The parade steps off at 12 p.m. from City Island and winds through downtown. More information can be found at harrisburgpa.gov.
Silent Auction
Nov. 18: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for its annual silent auction, 1 to 4 p.m. Items up for bid include books, artwork, children’s items, gift certificates, vacation packages and restaurant gift cards. For details, visit fredricksenlibrary.org.
Cars and Christmas
Nov. 18-Dec. 31: The AACA Museum will feature themed Christmas trees, unusual vehicles, vintage toys and cars, a Hess Truck display, model train exhibits, Sammy the 29-foot snow plow, a Grinch scavenger hunt and more. Bring a toy or non-perishable food item for the Central PA Food Bank and Toys for Tots. Visit aacamuseum.org.
NYC Bus Trip
Nov. 24: The Dauphin County Technical School Education Foundation will host a bus trip, “A Day On Your Own,” to New York City. Proceeds benefit a scholarship for career and technical students attending the Dauphin County Technical School. Visit dcts.org.
Small Business Saturday
Nov. 25: Celebrate local businesses on Small Business Saturday with a trip to the Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friends of Midtown will have its new “Shop Midtown” coupon books for sale, full of bargains from local businesses, and will host its “Local Lunch” from 12 to 2 p.m. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.
Odd Ones Bizarre
Nov. 25: The annual Odd Ones Holiday Bizarre will be held at the Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shop for funky and handcrafted items for the holiday season at this annual alternative arts and crafts event. Dozens of crafters and creators will sell their wares, in addition to the Millworks’ featured studio artists. Visit millworksharrisburg.com.
Festival of Trees
Nov. 25-Dec. 17: View Christmas trees decorated with handmade ornaments and trimmed by local garden clubs at the Fort Hunter Tavern House, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Trees are available for raffle and a selection of ornaments are for sale. Visit forthunter.org.
Toy Train Exhibit
Nov. 25-Dec. 23: Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society returns to Fort Hunter Centennial Barn, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, with a display of HO gauge trains that travel over a large layout representing communities in central PA, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Visit forthunter.org for more information.
Holiday Lights
Nov. 25-Jan. 1: Take a mile-long drive through a Christmas light display, with more than 300,000 lights all synchronized with holiday music broadcasted via FM radio, at Manheim Township Community Park, 209 Petersburg Rd., Lititz. Visit ChristmasSpiritLights.com.
Harp-Felt Christmas
Nov. 26: Harrisburg Harp Orchestra presents the annual “Harp-Felt Christmas” concert at Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts Center, 340 N 21st St., Camp Hill, 3 p.m. The 50-plus-member ensemble will perform original arrangements of traditional carols and modern holiday favorites. Tickets are $22 for adults, $16 for students and seniors. For tickets and details, visit harrisburgharporchestra.com.
Provisions owners Adam Porter and Shaun Donovan
Picture yourself lovingly grinding your own peanut butter on one of the major streets in downtown Harrisburg.
Not on the actual street, mind you, but in Provisions, the just-opened, 2,000-plus-square-foot grocery store on the 3rd Street side of Strawberry Square. Sound far-fetched, or even a little nutty? Think again.
Make your own nut butter is just one of the many offerings available at Provisions, the brainchild of Shaun Donovan and Adam Porter. The two met several years ago through the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, but the idea for a brick-and-mortar grocery store coalesced as Porter helped Donovan set up a website for his online business, Appalachian Organics, which specializes in natural and organic health and beauty products, as well as food, household staples and even an extensive gluten-free section.
Once the pair teamed up to create Provisions, they focused on developing a viable business plan. While they knew they wanted to open the store in downtown or Midtown Harrisburg, finding a location that offered sufficient space at an affordable price turned out to be one of the biggest challenges. Aligning funding proved to be another hurdle.
“It was a process,” Donovan admits, laughing softly.
Ultimately, it came down to being able to articulate to potential funders the “why” in their business plan.
“Being able to tell a community story and how it’s going to benefit the neighborhood—that was really important,” says Donovan.
The two utilized a range of resources to help ensure they were considering every detail, including the Small Business Development Center out of Kutztown and owners of similarly structured stores in Denver, Colo., and Austin, Texas.
Speaking of the business model, one of the most interesting characteristics of Provisions is that it doesn’t mirror your average grocery store. Though customers can expect to find all the usual culinary and household staples, 75 percent of the store’s footprint is dedicated to bulk food offerings. When people hear “bulk,” many think of value-focused warehouse stores like Sam’s Club or Costco.
“Think, the candy aisle, not Costco,” Porter clarifies, chuckling.
Rather than shelves, customers discover gravity bins and containers with scoops. If you like, you can even bring your own containers, though some are available in-store for purchase, should you have lost the inevitable two or three lids from your extensive Tupperware collection. Dairy, produce and meat comprise the other 25 percent through local and PA-based producers like Trickling Springs Creamery in Chambersburg and Four Seasons Produce out of Lancaster County.
The reason for this non-traditional model? Porter and Donovan aim to hit an eventual zero-waste mark.
“The amount of waste created from food packaging is appalling,” Porter notes.
From a financial standpoint, they explain, packaging drastically increases the cost of food. In fact, depending on what products a customer buys, Donovan estimates that they can save anywhere from 30 to 60 percent on their weekly grocery bill. When you remove added costs like packaging and transport, natural and organic products—which tend to skew slightly higher in price—become much more affordable. In addition to the environmental aspect, the two cite an overarching goal to bring affordable, healthy food to downtown Harrisburg.
The intended Provisions customer base is within a 10-minute radius (by foot).
“If you need two cups of flour, you can buy just two cups of flour,” Porter explains, another bonus of the bulk model. “If the in-laws show up, or friends come over, or even if you travel a lot for work and only need breakfast for tomorrow morning.”
For those who work downtown but are not city residents, Porter and Donovan believe they can help these people save a considerable amount of time. They point out that, by shopping over the lunch hour or right after work, customers can alleviate the additional half-hour-plus required to drive to and shop at a traditional, suburban grocery store on their way home from work.
An added bonus: Customers can draw upon Appalachian Organics’ existing online system and network of vendors to access more products and varying quantities. So, if you want to buy an entire box of paper towels rather than just one or two, you can purchase it in-store and have it shipped to your house, or order it online and pick it up on site.
Going forward, Porter and Donovan intend to offer a variety of in-store events, demos, “meet the farmer” days, product samplings and cooking tutorials. They’ll also partner with local chefs to produce recipe cards highlighting ingredients featured in the store so that customers can learn about healthy cooking practices and glean new ideas for seasonal ingredients or those that are a tad less common (e.g. amaranth flour).
The pair’s enthusiasm for Provisions is apparent, but both turn coy when pressed on what foods they’re most excited to offer. Finally, Porter relents.
“I’m excited to carry stuff that I don’t even know what it is yet,” he says.
He speaks of culinary school and time spent as a chef as the underpinnings to this passion.
“I love learning about various cultures,” he says. “There’s a whole world of food out there, and I’m excited to dive in and share it with people.”
Provisions is located at 15-17 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 717-236-5700 or visit provisionshbg.com.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore may be the largest used bookstore between New York and Chicago, but, when publishers schedule tours for major authors, stops in central Pennsylvania have been rare.
Store Manager Alex Brubaker is changing that. Since coming on board, he’s been emphasizing the promotion and sale of new works. And, along with that, he’s worked to attract increasingly big names to town, including, in September, one of the best known and highly regarded authors in the world—Salman Rushdie.
“I love new books, and I love author events,” Brubaker said. “They wanted new books, but they didn’t have the person to do it.”
Brubaker came to Harrisburg from Minneapolis, where he was an editorial assistant at the nonprofit book review “Rain Taxi,” covering newly published books from a variety of small presses—the kind that, even a year ago, Midtown Scholar did not carry.
He started as the coordinator of literary programs, and the promotion to manager has freed him up to fuse his passion with the strategic vision for the bookstore.
“The infrastructure was already there,” he said of Midtown Scholar. “They just let me get to it.”
A Destination
Recently, Zinzi Clemmons included Harrisburg on her itinerary while promoting her widely praised debut novel, “What We Lose.” During her intimate reading, she acknowledged the importance of bookstores like Midtown Scholar for first-time authors like herself.
It was equally important for Brubaker to share Clemmons’s work with a local audience.
“I want the bookstore to be that place in central Pennsylvania where a literary community thrives,” he said. “I want Midtown Scholar to be a destination. Creating a sustainable literary culture is the goal.”
Bridging the gap to audiences in Lancaster and York is a part of that, as, he notes, those cities are only about 40 minutes from Harrisburg.
“There are places in Philly where, if you want to go to a reading, you’ll have to drive for 45 minutes anyway,” he said. “We want to be a destination.”
To make that happen, Brubaker reached out to people like Donna Talarico, who runs an online literary nonfiction journal, Hippocampus Magazine, in Lancaster. She connected Brubaker with Eliot White, also in Lancaster, who runs the literary organization, The Triangle, with a mission to connect the “triangle” of York, Lancaster and Harrisburg by increasing awareness of and producing literary events.
The Triangle has sponsored several author events at Midtown Scholar this year.
“What Alex is trying to do perfectly fits within our mission at The Triangle,” said White. “Alex really does have his finger on the pulse of the local and national literary scene, and he’s working hard to bring those things right into our backyard.”
Grateful
Harrisburg’s strategic location along the East Coast also works to Midtown Scholar’s advantage.
For instance, the city was a logical stop when Riverhead Books was scheduling a tour for poet Patricia Lockwood, whose memoir, “Priestdaddy,” was published this past spring.
“Other colleagues of mine were familiar with Midtown Scholar,” said Riverhead’s Senior Publicity Manager Elizabeth Hohenadel, who had not been there prior to the Lockwood reading. “I have an affinity for the area and know a lot of people are big readers. It would be fantastic if the region became a literary destination.”
In bringing Lockwood to the bookstore, Brubaker also consulted with the Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, which has, like The Triangle, sponsored visiting authors.
“I’m extremely grateful for the work he’s doing,” said cartel booker Gillian Branstetter. “I think, a lot of times, people keep turning over their shoulder and thinking, ‘I can’t believe something like this is happening in Harrisburg.’ If it happens enough times, then maybe Harrisburg is just a place where that kind of thing can happen. I’m glad that Alex views it that way, as well.”
When Lockwood arrived in June, she held a crowded room rapt and inspired frequent eruptions of laughter. The event drew new people to the meetings of the Poetry Cartel and to Nathaniel Gadsden’s Wordshop, which both hold their events at Midtown Scholar.
“It just goes to show that a literary community can thrive here,” Brubaker said.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore is located at 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtownscholar.com.
Illustration by Rich Hauck
This column started with a sandwich.
Last month, I was in Strawberry Square, sitting at one of those high tops near the Little Amps coffee kiosk, when newly minted Harrisburg Councilman Dave Madsen walked by. We chatted for a few minutes, and then he asked me about the awesome sandwich I was about to bite into.
“It’s a ‘Chestnut Street’ from Ciao! Bakery,” I said.
Madsen knew of Ciao’s baked goods, but didn’t know they also were in the sandwich business.
“One of the best-kept secrets in Harrisburg,” I responded.
After encouraging Madsen to break his Subway sandwich habit, I thought about other places I regarded as well-kept Harrisburg secrets—some hidden in plain sight and some plain hidden. These may not surprise certain people (for instance, the outstanding sandwiches at Ciao! are probably not news to nearby office workers), but they don’t seem to have the broader recognition they deserve, especially among newcomers to our city.
Let’s start on Allison Hill, which, to the flatland dwellers along the river, can be one big mystery.
Allison Hill is rich with great places to visit—from authentic cuisine at Mexico Lindo and Tacos La Barca to the stunning beauty of Reservoir Park and Harrisburg Cemetery. However, I’d like to focus on two: Matangos Candies and the Asia Mall.
Matangos Candies emphatically breaks the old rule of success: location, location, location. To get there, you have to wind your way through a residential section of South Allison Hill that’s seen better days, at which point you think to yourself, “This can’t be right. I must be lost.”
But there it is, a simple brick-and-clapboard building on the corner of S. 15th and Catherine streets. Mantangos, run by the same family and located in the same place (their house) since 1947, is a genuine throwback. But the candy is homemade, delicious and, to my knowledge, unavailable anywhere outside of this odd location that you have to hunt down to find. Did your GPS break down? No, you’re just going to Matangos.
A few blocks down S. 13th Street, you run into a place that is easier to locate, but seems just as out of place.
The Asia Mall occupies a chunk of land at the corner of 13th and Sycamore streets, across from a housing project, and is home to a funky Asian market and a few restaurants. Kanlaya is my go-to Thai restaurant in the Harrisburg area, and I feel fortunate that it’s a quick, five-minute drive away. For even more character, check out Bangkok 56, located in a squat little building off of busy Paxton Street, which also dishes up traditional Thai fare.
Since I’m on everyone’s favorite subject—food—let’s explore a few more places back along the river.
The secret’s long out on Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe, as a weekend dinner reservation there can be as tough to get as a glimpse of the Harrisburg beaver. The trick is to go at lunchtime. Skip the sandwiches and bready pizza and head straight for the daily specials, which are similar to the coveted, rustic-style Italian dinner entrees and a good deal, to boot. You won’t need to eat for the rest of the day.
Speaking of deals—my hands-down favorite food deal in Harrisburg is half-priced tacos at Suba, the snug, hip restaurant atop Mangia Qui. How good are Suba tacos? Among the best this taco-lover has ever eaten. Other great secret-not-a-secret deals include ad hoc Monday happy hours at Note Bistro and Thursday pasta nights at Aleco’s.
The Broad Street Market is no one’s idea of hidden, but I want to highlight one vendor that I think gets overlooked amid the head-spinning array of deliciousness pouring out of the stone building. Ougi’s Cocina offers Latin staples like mofongo and empanadas and meat/bean/rice “meals” that weigh more than your average baby. Oh, that pulled pork! Oh, those plantains!
Speaking of the market—we’re all sad that it’s open just three days a week. But you can still get your fix on other days by dropping into an unexpected location, Midtown Cinema, which offers products from several market vendors (Elementary Coffee Co., Raising the Bar) seven days a week. Enjoy your treat in the comfortable lounge, and they won’t even make you buy a ticket.
Since you’re in the vicinity of the cinema, go around back to Zeroday Brewing Co. and ask to sample the chemistry experiment they call “the daily infusion.” Did you ever wonder what an IPA would taste like steeped with dried chipotle peppers, or what happens when you toss some Sour Patch Kids into a saison? You may not like the result—or you may love it—but it’s a fun mystery either way.
My final two secrets stray from gastronomy. I’m sometimes asked about the best free wi-fi in Harrisburg, and I immediately respond, “Capital Joe.” Often, the response is, “Where’s that?” It’s Harrisburg’s lesser-known independent coffee shop, just across Forster Street from the state Archives. Capital Joe has a large back room that may be the best publicly accessible workspace in the city: large desks, excellent wi-fi, proximity to caffeine and often no one else to bother you. So, you can be all alone with your thoughts, your MacBook and your world-changing screenplay.
Lastly, I want to bring you right along the city’s waterfront. There are so many interesting monuments, memorials, nooks and crannies in Riverfront Park that are worth exploring. But, for a greater adventure, journey just beyond the PennDOT building into Phoenix Park.
A little creepy, a little weird, Phoenix Park is the overgrown site of what was once the sprawling Phoenix Steel Corp. (and, before that, Central Iron & Steel Co.). There, you’ll find industrial ruins, lots of nature, people who may be homeless and a few bicyclists taking the long way around the Greenbelt. There’s also what remains of Harrisburg’s 9-11 memorial, a bench or two and fantastic views of the river. It’s a serene break from the busy city nearby, though some people may find it too quiet and remote for their comfort.
In all my years in Harrisburg, I’ve never heard anyone—officials, residents, park workers, no one—mention Phoenix Park, a public park hiding in plain sight along the Susquehanna, the final resting place of the city’s industrial past. That may make it the best-kept secret in Harrisburg.
Lawrance Binda is editor in chief of TheBurg.
Do you have a best-kept secret to share? Email it to our editor at [email protected].
When Jose Ramirez immigrated to Pennsylvania from a rural town in Mexico’s Michoacan province, the then-8-year-old wasn’t struck by the chilly January temperatures or urban streetscapes.
What he remembers most vividly was encountering people who looked different from him.
“Seeing other ethnicities was a culture shock,” recalled Ramirez, now 24, about his arrival in Harrisburg in 2001. “I thought, ‘Wow, there are so many groups of people.’”
Sixteen years later, the same diversity that defined Ramirez’s early memories of America faces unprecedented threats from President Donald Trump’s administration. Ramirez is one of the nearly 800,000 young, undocumented immigrants who received relief through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA was signed into law by then-President Barack Obama in August 2012, and Trump announced on Sept. 5 that he would terminate the program, leaving DACA enrollees, commonly called DREAMers, vulnerable to deportation.
Trump has since equivocated on his early promises and is using the DACA program as a bargaining chip while negotiating with Congress to build his border wall. Ramirez shows how DACA enabled young, undocumented immigrants to flourish and what they have to lose if the program is rescinded.
Total Gift
Multiculturalism was what shocked Ramirez when he arrived in America, but it’s what saved him when he started elementary school. Since he didn’t know any English, he struggled to meet other students and keep up with school work. He came to rely on the other foreign-born students he met in his ESL class.
“It was such a big help, knowing I wasn’t the only one going to school not knowing what people were saying,” Ramirez recalled.
By the time he graduated from Scott Elementary School, his grades were strong enough to earn him a spot at Marshall Math and Science Academy. He set his sights on college and a career in medicine.
Ramirez knew that he’d have to start saving early to finance college. He worked from the time he was a young teenager, traveling as far as Williamsport for jobs picking fruit and vegetables. He picked up landscaping gigs around Harrisburg when he could. But without a legal work permit, the only jobs available to him were temporary and low paying.
“For me, it was never about not wanting to work—it was that I couldn’t work,” he said about life when he was undocumented. He finished his first semester of college unsure if he could afford a degree.
But that changed with DACA. Ramirez was almost 19 when the program began, and he said he was “ecstatic” to learn about the benefits it carried. He could obtain a Social Security card and work permit, and he’d be protected from deportation for two years.
Most importantly, he’d be able to sit for board examinations and receive a medical license. His dream of becoming a nurse was suddenly possible.
“It was a total gift, honestly,” he said.
To receive DACA benefits, Ramirez had to pass a criminal background check and fingerprint test. Within a month of obtaining his work permit, he landed a job at UPS. He qualified for college tuition assistance through the company’s “Earn & Learn” program and took a second job at an Amazon.com warehouse to make ends meet. By working 40 hours a week during the semester, Ramirez was able to support himself through a nursing program without taking out student loans.
He was in his final semester of college on Sept. 5, when Trump announced that he would end the program and begin phasing out benefits in the next six months.
Smack in the Face
According to Carrie Carranza, an immigration legal counselor with Church World Services in Lancaster, DACA gives undocumented immigrants privileges that many native-born and naturalized Americans take for granted: the ability to drive, build credit and employment history and live without fear of deportation.
CWS serves 100 DACA clients in south-central Pennsylvania, Carranza said, and losing any of these privileges can render their futures uncertain.
For a DREAMer like Jose Ramirez, Trump’s announcement put years of hard work in jeopardy.
“It was a huge smack in the face,” said Ramirez, who is on schedule to finish his nursing degree this year. “It was upsetting because I put so much effort into studying and working, and it feels like it’s very uncertain.”
The worst fear facing DREAMers is that of deportation. Since most DACA recipients arrived in the United States between ages 3 and 6, according to the New York Times, deportation would mean returning to a country that they remember only distantly.
Ramirez only recalls bits and pieces of life in Mexico. He knows he still has uncles living in the small town his family left, but said he doesn’t know where he would go if he were deported.
“I have no plans of going back, but I wish I did because it’s very much a possibility,” said Ramirez, whose DACA benefits expire in March 2019.
His situation is typical of the clients that Carranza serves as a legal counselor. DACA recipients must renew their status with the federal government every two years, a process that includes submitting pay stubs, tuition bills and receipts as proof of residency and employment.
The last deadline for the two-year renewal passed on Oct. 5. If the Trump administration succeeds in fully repealing the program, work permits will be allowed to expire starting on March 5. Returning to their undocumented status leaves DREAMers vulnerable to deportation.
“It was infuriating to tell my clients, who want to be nurses, who parent U.S. citizens, who are in college, or are newlyweds planning their future, that they can really only see clearly for the next two years,” Carranza said. “After that, things get cloudy and uncertain.”
Like many DREAMers, Ramirez only knows the life he’s built in America. His revolves around work and school, as well as trips to the gym and soccer matches with his friends.
“This is my home; I have everything here,” he said Ramirez.
He currently lives with his mother and sisters. Another brother also lives in the United States, and all of Jose’s siblings receive DACA benefits.
Since he can’t plan far into the future, Ramirez is focused on more immediate goals—finishing his degree, sitting for medical board exams and launching a career of helping other people.
“What people don’t understand is I’m that I’m not here thinking, ‘Oh I want to take your job,’” he said. “I’m here to make myself a better person. I don’t want to be begging. I’d rather be the nurse helping you when you’re sick.”