Waiting Game: Contributions withheld from nonprofits, schools in state budget impasse

October 2, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

The Pennsylvania state budget impasse is preventing millions of dollars in corporate contributions from getting to nonprofit groups and schools.

Kathy Anderson-Martin wants the state to pass a budget.

Since the summer, Anderson-Martin, director of philanthropy at the Salvation Army of Harrisburg, has watched weeks turn into months as the state legislature delays approving a budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which officially began on July 1.

Lawmakers have already adopted a spending plan but can’t agree on a revenue package. Until they reach consensus, millions of dollars in tax-deductible corporate donations are on hold, too.

That’s because the budget impasse has stalled approvals for the Education Improvement Tax Credit program, which qualifies businesses for tax credits if they donate to scholarship organizations, educational improvement organizations or pre-K scholarship funds.

Local schools and nonprofits, including the Salvation Army, say that the delayed approvals have paralyzed their planning for future programs and scholarships.

“We can’t receive almost $200,000 in gifts because that program is on hold,” said Anderson-Martin.

According to Anderson-Martin, the Salvation Army of Harrisburg uses EITC dollars to fund its summer youth enrichment program. Last year, the program served 400 children, 130 of whom were in their care all day, every day, for nine weeks while their parents worked, she said.

David Smith, communications director at the state Department of Community and Economic Development, said that the EITC allocations will be approved as part of the state’s final budget agreement.

If partisan gridlock delays that agreement any longer, Anderson-Martin says the Salvation Army might have to scale down its summer plans.

“We can’t wait until January to decide what we’re going to do in June,” she said. “We have to start planning how many kids we’ll serve this summer, and, if that money isn’t there, we have to serve fewer children.”

EITC dollars also fund scholarships to private and religious schools across the commonwealth. The Joshua Group, a nonprofit in Allison Hill, relies on EITC funding to provide low-income Harrisburg students with scholarships to local private schools.

Joshua Group director Kirk Hallett criticized lawmakers for using the EITC program as a “political toy,” and said that the delay could limit Joshua Group’s ability to serve more students.

“The immediate impact is fear,” Hallett said. “This is very frustrating to us, that all this politics ends up affecting our kids.”

Mary Anne Bedhar, principal at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, said that “everything is on hold” in the school’s scholarship office until the EITC funds are approved.

If the budget impasse continues through the end of the calendar year, it’s possible that businesses will withdraw their applications for tax credits, thereby reducing the total amount of EITC distributions. Bedhar and Hallett said that’s what happened in 2015, the last time the state endured a long-term budget impasse.

Bedhar reported that Bishop McDevitt lost $200,000 in donations that year, the result of fewer businesses applying for tax credits. She said that the school hasn’t fully recovered from the loss.

The Joshua Group lost about $100,000 in scholarships as a result of the 2015 budget impasse, according to Hallett. He and his staff were able to maintain their operations by approaching private donors, but they weren’t able to take on any new students during that period, he said.

Smith said that businesses withdraw EITC applications every year and declined to draw a connection between application withdrawals and the last budget impasse.

Even so, the program has been perennially popular among businesses. Smith said that the DCED expects to maximize the program allocation this year, just as it did last year when the program budget was $125 million.

The EITC program was signed into law in 2001 by former Gov. Tom Ridge. Companies can apply to give a maximum of $750,000 to an eligible educational organization and receive a tax credit equaling 75 percent of their contribution or 90 percent if they pledge contributions for two years.

Democrats and Republicans have supported expansions to EITC since its inception, according to reporting from PennLive. This May, the House voted 166-26 to pass a $100-million-dollar expansion to the EITC program and a similar program called the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit.

Critics of EITC say that it promotes school choice, and fear it could lay the groundwork for a school voucher program by directing more students out of public schools.

Hallett, however, doesn’t see the scholarships funded by EITC dollars as a public-versus-private school matter. His organization views education as an anti-poverty program, and he says that jeopardizing its funding will only harm vulnerable students.

“The bottom line is it affected the poor once again,” Hallett said, referring to loss of EITC funding in 2015. “This is me talking on Allison Hill, but, sometimes, I just don’t know what the guys on Capitol Hill don’t get.”

State lawmakers will return to Harrisburg today for a week of negotiations and closed door meetings, according to the AP.

Reader Rapture: Top-shelf authors, literary events swing by the 2017 Harrisburg Book Festival.

September 30, 2017 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Last month, world-famous author Salman Rushdie stopped in Harrisburg for what may have been our area’s biggest literary event in—well, who knows how long?

You can thank Midtown Scholar Bookstore for putting central PA on the literary map, as it makes a pitch to become a regular stop on the national book tour circuit.

In that same spirit, the bookstore now is reviving an event that had been, uh, shelved, for a few years. This month, the Harrisburg Book Festival returns, bringing with it nationally acclaimed authors, poets, book reviewers, local artists and more.

“The festival this year finally deserves to be called a festival,” said Midtown Scholar’s co-owner Catherine Lawrence. “It’s extending over four days, which is longer than it’s been in the past, and the caliber of authors is extraordinary.”

The festival opens with poets Safia Sinclair, author of “Cannibal,” and Joshua Bennett, who will read from his work, “Sobbing School,” highlighted by a musical appearance from local band Shawan and the Wonton.

The next day, National Book Award winner Ibram Kendi will give the festival’s keynote address. His book, “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” discusses the journey of racist thought from 15th-century Europe to the present day.

“I’m definitely most excited to see Dr. Ibram X. Kendi deliver the keynote address,” said Midtown Scholar’s manager Alex Brubaker. “Considering our current political and racial climate, there are not many other authors I’d like to see deliver the keynote than Dr. Kendi.”

On Saturday, four acclaimed book reviewers will take the stage, including Beth Ann Patrick, creator of “Friday Reads,” and other reviewers from National Public Radio, the Washington Post and LitHub. They’ll answer questions about the most popular books of 2017, if book reviewers still matter in today’s society and how printed books continue to thrive in the digital age.

“I think literature, and by extension, books are worth celebrating,” said Brubaker. “The physical book and its necessary role within a living, evolving culture isn’t going away, and we want to throw a party in the best possible place—a brick-and-mortar bookstore.”

Good Conversation
Midtown Scholar’s book festival debuted in June 2010 with a handful of authors and local artists. At the time, headliner Jackson Taylor, author of “The Blue Orchard,” sat down and conversed with the audience and with bookstore co-owner Eric Papenfuse, now mayor of Harrisburg.

“[Conversation] has always been my favorite part of a festival,” said Lawrence. “It allows not only the audience to be engaged as questioners, but even the people on stage. They’re not coming to us with the answers about their books. They’re coming to us to be part of a broader conversation about that makes this book work.”

The good conversation will continue with author and Philadelphia native Liz Moore of “The Unseen World” and New York Times bestselling novelist Jennifer Haigh of “Heat and Light.” The authors will share stories about their novels and talk about the good, the bad and the ugly that went into creating them.

“There’s an intimacy at book readings that is different than if you were to have a lecture in a school auditorium where there is someone at the podium and everyone else in the seats,” Lawrence said. “We have a space that values the questions readers bring to authors.”

On the Map
At the festival, Midtown Scholar will offer a place for acclaimed authors to meet their readers and fans. But it also will advance the ambitions of the bookstore, which wants to become a go-to spot for literary lovers and traveling authors.

“Now, we’re really a part of authors’ national book tours, and we weren’t before,” Lawrence said. “We are on the map. We’re now a part of the places authors must go to have interested audiences in our really unique space.”

This growth stems from the store’s connection with the wide array of reading interests in the area.

“Central Pennsylvania has a thriving community of readers that doesn’t often get the opportunity to engage with authors like the ones that we are bringing in,” Brubaker said. “With this festival, I think we’re making our mark as a bona fide literary destination.”

Each festival since 2010—this will be the fifth—has grown in terms of artists and attendance, and Midtown Scholar expects more than 2,000 attendees this time around, which is about as many as the bookstore can host over a long weekend.

“What matters is that people come and find interesting conversations to have,” Lawrence said. “We’re in a small town and yet there are many aspects of the artistic and literary culture that really are out-performing what one would expect from a small town in central Pennsylvania.”

The 2017 Harrisburg Book Festival takes place Oct. 12 to 15 at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3^rdSt., Harrisburg. For a complete list of events, visit midtownscholar.com.

Festival Features
The Harrisburg Book Festival is packed with four days of readings, signings, talks and events. Here are a few highlights to bookmark.

Oct. 12: Opening Night Reception
Oct. 13: Keynote by Ibram X. Kendi
Oct. 14: Children’s Book Festival
Oct. 14: “The Role of the Critic in the Digital Age”
Oct. 14: “The Art of the Novel”
Oct. 15: “An Afternoon with Elizabeth Wein”
Oct. 15: A Conversation with Ruth Franklin, Biographer of Shirley Jackson

Author, Author
Unfortunately, you may not be able to spend four straight days at the Harrisburg Book Festival. But here are five authors you won’t want to miss.

Ibram X. Kendi, historian, author of “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racism in America”
Jennifer Haigh, novelist, author of “Heat & Light”
Ruth Franklin, biographer, author of “Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life”
Safiya Sinclair, poet, author of “Cannibal”
Liz Moore, novelist, author of “The Unseen World”

Silent Night? More police, traffic changes to come downtown this weekend

September 29, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Mayor Eric Papenfuse speaks from City Hall on Friday.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse wants you to enjoy Harrisburg’s bars, restaurants and nightlife on the weekends. He just asks that you leave quietly at 2 a.m.

Papenfuse was joined by public safety officials and business owners on Friday to announce tightened security measures for Harrisburg’s downtown entertainment district. The press conference came almost a week after mayhem erupted on N. 2^nd Street after closing time for bars and clubs, causing the police to use pepper spray on a crowd and leaving two people wounded by gunfire.

Starting this weekend, the city will hire additional off-duty officers on Saturday nights, bringing the night detail from six officers to 10. The officers will close 2^nd street to all vehicles other than Ubers and taxis starting at 2 a.m., install portable lighting on side streets, and curtail outdoor food vendors, including food trucks, after 2 a.m.

“Please, come visit Harrisburg this weekend and all weekends, but at 2 a.m. we are shutting things down and ask you to go home safely,” Papenfuse said.

According to Papenfuse, the city will adhere to this plan for a month and a half and then assess its progress and develop new strategies if necessary.

Papenfuse admitted that the city has had a problem with what he calls the “let out,” or the time between 2 and 3 a.m., when businesses close and partiers linger in the streets for an “after party.” The plan that Papenfuse announced on Friday arose out of conversations one day prior with business owners and members of the police bureau.

Police Chief Tom Carter said on Friday that he will be out on patrol with night detail officers this weekend. In addition to the measures that the mayor announced, Carter said that police will employ other strategies for shutting down the streets that he “can’t talk about yet.” He declined to comment further on what those strategies would be.

Three businesses – Arooga’s Sports Bar, Sawyer’s and the Capital Gastropub – will share the cost of the weekend off-duty officers. The officers are paid a $45 per hour wage, which, Papenfuse said, is commensurate with overtime pay from the city. Six officers will work on Friday from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., and 10 will work the same shift on Saturday.

Ron Kamionka, who owns Sawyer’s, Susquehanna Ale House, Knock Speakeasy and Anna Rose Bake Shop, among other establishments, estimates that he’s spent half-a-million dollars in the past six years hiring off-duty officers on the weekends. He thinks it’s only fair for bars and restaurants to absorb the cost of nighttime law enforcement.

“We make money because we bring additional people downtown,” Kamionka said. “It’s incumbent on us to cover additional security costs because we benefit from it.”

The alternative – having the city pay for the security costs – would be unfair to Harrisburg taxpayers, he said.

“There’s no reason someone paying taxes in Uptown or Midtown who isn’t out on Saturday should kick in more for us,” Kamionka said.

Kamionka called last weekend’s events a “wake up call” for the city and its business owners, but said he feels optimistic about the plans they’ll put in place starting tonight.

Community Corner: Notable October Events

September 29, 2017 | by Missy Smith

October Community Corner

Concert & Cooking
Oct. 1: Bethel AME Church, 1721 N. 5th St., Harrisburg, will host the 2nd annual “Men of Gospel Concert & Brothers That Cook” at 4 p.m. Men from Harrisburg area churches will sing in a gospel concert and treat the audience to a meal. Tickets are $15. Call 717-234-6505.

Archaeology at Fort Hunter
Oct. 2-6: The State Museum’s Section of Archaeology will finish its annual excavation at Fort Hunter, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg. The public is welcome to visit and archaeologists will be on site, weekdays, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Fall Story Times
Oct. 2-22: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, in the Pollock Children’s Library for young children’s programs that promote literacy and provide a fun library experience. Age groups range from babies to kindergarteners. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

The King Years
Oct. 3: The 2017 American Democracy Lecture “King’s Dream for Justice: Then and Now” features Taylor Branch at Messiah College, 1 College Ave., Mechanicsburg, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Branch is an author and historian best known for his narrative history of the civil rights era, “America in the King Years.” Visit messiah.edu/tickets.

WWI Talk
Oct. 3 & 10: Join John Maietta at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, as he honors the centennial of American troops mobilizing to join the Allied cause in World War I. This program covers the causes of the war, its course on the battlefields of Europe and its impact on ordinary people. Each program begins at 7 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Fall Meet Week
Oct. 4-7: High-performance cars are in focus during the Eastern Regional Fall Meet, Hershey’s annual antique car show and festival. View period automobiles, see racecar demonstrations and visit a daily flea market. On Oct. 4, attend the annual “Night at the Museum” dinner and reception, 6 to 9 p.m. Visit aacamuseum.org for more details.

Business and Industry Night
Oct. 5: West Shore Chamber of Commerce hosts its 67th annual Business and Industry Night, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill, showcasing members’ products and services. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, prizes, giveaways and networking. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 after 12 p.m. on Oct. 3. Visit wschamber.org.

Mediterranean Diet
Oct. 5-26: “Mediterranean Cuisine Comes to PA” will be held on Thursdays, 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, with tastings of olive oils, greens, cheeses and PA products, and cooking and health presentations on implementing a Mediterranean lifestyle with fresh, local foods. Visit extension.psu.edu.

HBG Flea
Oct. 7: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com for details.

Day of Service
Oct. 9: Join Friends of Midtown for its Columbus Day of Service with two projects: building and decorating its Halloween Haunted House and doing a litter cleanup and flower barrel preparation. Volunteers meet at 8:30 a.m. at Historic Harrisburg Association, 1419 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Streetcar Talk
Oct. 10: Chris McNally will present an illustrated talk on “Baltimore Streetcar Museum, History and Achievements” to the 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].

National Fossil Day
Oct. 11: Join The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, to celebrate National Fossil Day in the Paleontology Gallery, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s theme is “Who’s that Lurking in the Paleozoic?” To learn more, visit statemuseumpa.org.

Art and Brew Crawl
Oct. 11: Explore artwork on three floors of The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 6 to 9 p.m., and meet Millworks artists pouring beer and demonstrating their crafts. Sample Millworks Brewery beers, meet the executive chef and leave with spice samples and artist-made items. Tickets are $30. Visit millworksharrisburg.com.

Night of the Great Pumpkin
Oct. 13: Celebrate Halloween at the State Museum of Pennsylvania with educational activities, crafts, games and more, 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $4 per child (with treat bag) and $3 per adult. Receive a discount on tickets before 4 p.m. on Oct. 11. Museum members are free, but should pre-register. Feel free to dress in costume. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Zombie Bash
Oct. 13: River City Blues Club & Dart Room, 819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg, hosts “Outbreak: The Blacklight Zombie Bash” costume glow party with live music by Clark’s Secret Identity and Nefarious Godz, live painting, face painting and projections. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Visit rivercityhbg.com for details.

Theater Photos
Oct. 14: Hershey Theatre offers Public Photo Day in its Grand Lobby, Mosaic Lobby, Swan Lobby, orchestra and loge seating areas, staircases and stage. Cost is $50 per person. Participants need their own photographer. Contact Debbie DiNunzio at 717-508-5958 or [email protected] to reserve a time slot. Visit hersheytheatre.com.

5 Miler
Oct. 14: Harrisburg Young Professionals’ 4th Annual HYP 5 Miler for 5 Charities will kick off at 7:30 a.m. on City Island, 1 Championship Way, Harrisburg, featuring an exciting course through the city of Harrisburg and ending back on City Island. In addition to the 5 Miler, there is a 5K walk option and the kids fun run. For details, visit hyp.org.

Volunteer Work Day
Oct. 14: 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 will be available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Pumpkin Painting
Oct. 14: Join Friends of Midtown for a free pumpkin painting event for kids at the Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pumpkins and paint supplies will be provided. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Family Fun Day
Oct. 14: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, hosts a Fall Family Fun Day, 12 to 4 p.m. This annual event increases awareness of the natural world with a live animal presentation, visits to the pumpkin patch, fall crafts and pumpkin bowling. Details are at nedsmithcenter.org.

CPR Training
Oct. 14: The Peyton Walker Foundation will host free CPR/AED training for anyone over age 16 at Post Acute Medical, 1828 Good Hope Rd., Enola. To register, contact [email protected] or call 717-580-7697.

Music Fest
Oct. 14: Harrisburg University hosts Music Fest 2017 between 3rd and 4th on Market Street, Harrisburg, 4 to 11 p.m., with a lineup of local and national bands, a glow party and a variety of Harrisburg food trucks and breweries. Guests must be 21 and older to purchase alcohol. Visit the Facebook page, HU Music Fest, to learn more.

UPNEXT Fest
Oct. 14-21: UPNEXT Fest is eight days of celebrating Central PA tech companies and the organizations and meetups that support them. Attend morning coffees, conferences, meetups, happy hours and more. Visit upnextfest.com for a full lineup of events.

TEDx Harrisburg
Oct. 15: The second annual TEDx Harrisburg will be held at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Take in a day of dialogue centered on the theme “Evolve,” featuring a diverse lineup of 12 speakers presenting a wide range of topics. Visit tedxharrisburg.com for details.

Heart Walk
Oct. 15: Take steps to be healthy by supporting the 2017 Capital Region Heart Walk, sponsored by VibraLife and Vibra HealthCare, on City Island, Harrisburg, 2 to 5 p.m. Registration begins at 2 p.m. with the walk stepping off at 3 p.m. For more information, visit heart.org/capitalregionwalk.

Fall Social
Oct. 17: Mingle with neighbors, meet the Friends of Midtown board and learn about opportunities to get involved in your community at FOM’s Fall Social at Historic Harrisburg Association, 1230 N. 3rd St., 6 to 8 p.m. Wine and snacks will be served. Free and open to the public. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

CEO Roundtable
Oct. 20: Harrisburg Young Professionals hosts its CEO Roundtable Series, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar, Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St. Sue Pera, owner of Cornerstone Coffeehouse, will speak about her professional journey and provide insight to young professionals. For details, visit hyp.org.

3rd in The Burg
Oct. 20: 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.

Child Seat Check
Oct. 20-21: Have your child’s car seat installed properly or adjusted on Oct. 20 at AAA in Camp Hill and Oct. 21 at AAA in Lebanon, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The child does not have to be present. This event is free for everyone, not just AAA members. For more information visit AAA.com/Events.

Local Lunch
Oct. 21: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, held this month at Dalicia Bakery, 1419 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org for more details.

Buddhist Workshop
Oct. 21: Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center, 251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg, will host “Creating a Beautiful World: A Buddhist Practice of Making Offerings,” 1 to 4 p.m. This $25 course will be taught by resident teacher Julie Francisco. Visit meditationpa.org.

Halloween Concert
Oct. 21: Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., hosts “Halloween is DEAD!” a tribute concert featuring DEAD as My Chemical Romance, Enema as Blink 182, Madison Ryan & Kids Get Scared as No Doubt, and more. Doors open at 6 p.m.; show runs from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event includes a costume contest. Get more details at harrisburgarts.com.

Murder Mystery
Oct. 21-22: Join Sundae Best Variety Show for Veiled Threats, an interactive murder mystery. Journey through downtown Harrisburg with a vaudevillian cast of characters to assist Det. Clark Finnegan in interrogating suspects and searching for hidden clues, 7-10 p.m. $15 tickets available at sundaebestvarietyshow.com.

Trunk or Treat
Oct. 22: The AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, will host an afternoon of Halloween fun with a “Trunk or Treat” hunt that includes an inflatable haunted house, a treat bag and holiday craft, 12 to 3 p.m. Admission is $7 and free for children 3 and under. For more event details, visit aacamuseum.org.

Haunted House
Oct. 26: Friends of Midtown will host a haunted house at 1419 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m., on Harrisburg trick-or-treat night. Free and open to the public. Visit friendsofmidtown.org for more details.

Spooktacular
Oct. 27: DJs His and Hers Music are hosting a “Halloween Spooktacular” at Zeroday Brewing Co., 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. The costume bash run 8 to 11 p.m. and includes music, specialty drinks, food and costume contests. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Grand Re-opening
Oct. 28: Join Absolute Pilates East for its grand reopening at 3940 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Catch free classes, lectures, vendors, truck shows, deals, prizes and more. There will be special deals and classes during the week leading up to the event. Visit absolutepilates.co for more information.

Nature at Night
Oct. 28: Take an after-hours walk in the Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, where exhibit hall critters come to life. Tour times are 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Then, make s’mores around a campfire and sip apple cider. Kids can dress as their favorite animal or in a costume. Bring a trick-or-treat bag. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

City More Beautiful: Images of the HBG Mural Fest

September 29, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda and Dani Fresh

It was an event like central PA had never seen before.

Over the course of 10 days last month, more than a dozen murals were created as part of the Harrisburg Mural Fest. Sprocket Mural Works asked local, national and even international artists to paint murals in Shipoke, downtown and Midtown Harrisburg, supplementing the projects with several mural-themed social and educational events. It all ended with a tremendous block party on State Street.

In this photo feature, photographer Dani Fresh shows us some of these stunning works of art, captured during and soon after their creation.

From Dani Fresh:
There are probably thousands of images of these newly painted, beautiful walls. And hot dog, they are wildly beautiful walls and wonderful perspectives. But the most striking thing about the Harrisburg Mural Fest was the profound willingness of artists to invite an entire city to be a part of the process of creating art. It is brave, vulnerable, and sweet—and it is one thing to say that murals are tools for civic engagement; it is another to witness it on such a grand scale.

These images are a collection of gestures and moments that exist between working diligently, talking to and engaging with people passing by, teaching and guiding students and eager community volunteers, and eventually, the triumphant finish of a long project.

Nature’s Eye: Harrisburg’s first major Ansel Adams exhibit lands at SAM.

September 29, 2017 | by Gina Napoli

I’ve always been fascinated by the early works of world-famous artists, to see the genius in its formative stages.

For the next few months, such an opportunity arrives in Harrisburg with “Ansel Adams: Early Works,” a traveling collection of 41 vintage black-and-white photographs, which opens this month at the Susquehanna Art Museum.

“This is the first time we’re seeing the real thing in Harrisburg, not just in poster or print reproductions,” said Lauren Nye, director of exhibitions. “This collection will show the real development of his photography into the masterworks that are most associated with him as an artist. We wouldn’t ordinarily have that opportunity.”

To fully realize the impact of Adams’ distinctive contributions to art, science and politics, his work should be placed in its 1927 context, when he came on the art scene with his first portfolio with scenes of “the natural world, the state/national parks and rural America,” Nye said.

At that time, both the National Park Service and the Sierra Club were young, founded in 1916 and 1892, respectively. Adams partnered with these organizations and took up their causes, with his talents helping make both organizations more robust. His work allowed people to share his vision through his photographs.

The Sierra Club featured Adams’ photographs on their brochures, giving impact to their environmental lobbying messages.

“He photographed areas around the country that many in Washington, D.C., had never seen before,” Nye said. “Even today, many people have only experienced these places through his photos.”

The photos inspired lawmakers to pass legislation to preserve these areas for future generations.

“[Adams] was among the first to treat the landscape with a painter’s vision,” said SAM Executive Director Alice Anne Schwab. “His work stands out not only for its technical merit, which is astonishing, but also for its groundbreaking originality.”

During his lifetime, Adams went on to serve on the board for the Sierra Club and personally lobby for environmental causes. His main concerns were over-developing, over-building, intrusive billboards and shortsightedness. His iconic images accompanied his letters, becoming points of persuasion all their own.

Just as important as Adams’ contributions to environmental activism were his contributions to arts education. His photography was created, without manipulation, in the dark room. He also served as a technical consultant in photography and delivered workshops to fellow photographers. Nye said,

“He championed photography as an art form,” she said.

Another art form important to Adams’ life was music. In his early life, Adams studied to become a concert pianist. To honor that portion of Adams’ life, SAM will feature a piano recital on a 1920s-era Steinway by local developer and musician Ralph Vartan on Oct. 25. Schwab said that other mini-concerts will follow.

“I am really excited for the exhibit that will showcase his early works from a time when he was considering a career as a concert pianist,” SAM board member Phyllis Mooney said. “Having an exhibit of [his works] in Harrisburg is incredibly special.”

Sharing space in SAM’s main gallery will be “Quartet for America: Neil Anderson,” abstract paintings by retired Bucknell professor Neil Anderson. Anderson’s tutelage inspired many artists in the regional area—Schwab was once his student.

“It feels right to juxtapose these works at a time when our nation is so at odds,” she said. “Maybe art can be that driving, uniting force.”

Nye hopes that visitors leave with a deeper understanding of the nuances offered in Adams’ work that extend beyond simple black-and-white photography.

“We hope to encourage artists to inspire one another, sharing techniques, much in the same way that Ansel Adams shared his passion for photography,” she said.

“Ansel Adams: Early Works,” runs Oct. 7 to Jan. 21 at the Susquehanna Art Museum, 1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.susquehannaartmuseum.org. SAM members can enjoy a sneak preview the evening of Oct. 6.

“Ansel Adams: Early Works” is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions, LLC. All photographs are from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg.

Senior Space: Friendship, fellowship at Heinz-Menaker.

September 29, 2017 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

A group of focused-looking seniors gathers in a light-filled room in Midtown Harrisburg to practice tai-chi.

Outside the room, a spirited game of Pokeno (a poker/lotto hybrid) is in progress. Smiles break out on the faces of the card players, who jibe each other and pantomime scowls when someone cleans up.

I’m at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center to get an insider’s look at a place that, to be honest, I hardly noticed when I drove past numerous times before today.

The center, which was founded more than 40 years ago, hums with activity. It’s a Wednesday, the day the center offers a food pantry in partnership with the Central PA Food Bank. Heinz-Menaker also runs a Meals on Wheels program and a supplemental offering for the homebound, but the center’s core services are visible through its senior programming.

As Les Ford, Heinz-Menaker’s affable executive director, takes me around for a tour, he runs through the various activities they offer. Tuesdays and Thursdays are chair yoga, Wednesdays are tai chi—they’re the only center that offers it in the county, he said. Fridays are chair exercise, which is the most popular. In addition to the fitness classes, games are a popular draw, including bingo, dominoes and cards. Art classes are held on Mondays—the center even has two kilns for those looking to dabble in ceramics. A modest computer area sits off to the side of the main community room. The center’s library, composed of a floor-to-ceiling wall of books, runs along one side.

“I have one gentleman who just likes to come in here and read,” Ford tells me as we walk by the space.

The center feels comfortable, welcoming, and I can see why area seniors gravitate here, though, as any of the long-term members will tell you, there have been some rough patches.

“Are you the one who fell through the floor?” Ford calls to an older gentleman sitting nearby as he gives me a rundown of Heinz-Menaker’s history.

The man laughs and shakes his head, but I can’t tell if it’s from disbelief that he lived to tell the tale or simply because it wasn’t him. Either way, center folklore has it that it was this very incident that was the impetus for replacing the former senior center with the building now known as Heinz-Menaker.

U.S. Sen. John Heinz and City Council member and community activist Mim Menaker were instrumental to the creation of the current building some 25 years ago. But over time, the center lacked sufficient funds for routine maintenance and improvements. When Ford first came on board, six years ago, he focused on pinning together funding to address the many infrastructure issues stemming from years of deferred maintenance. It wasn’t easy.

“My members would ask me, ‘Well, what are you doing?” Ford said. “And I’d say, ‘I’m keeping the lights on and doors open.’”

Joanne Schreffler mirrors this. She coordinates the food pantry for the center, schedules trips and activities, among a host of other responsibilities. She tells me that, when Ford arrived, “trashcans sat at various points around the main community room because of the leaking roof. You can’t ask people to come in here and pay good money and then have trash cans sitting around to catch water.” She shakes her head, just thinking about it.

“That was a tough period,” she said. “And there’s just not a lot of places you can go to ask for $60,000 to get the roof fixed.”

Eventually, Ford gathered funds to stabilize the building through a combination of U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Dauphin County gaming grants. Today, the center relies on proceeds from renting out the space for events in order to supplement city, county and state funding. Heinz-Menaker runs on a shoestring staff of fewer than a half-dozen, mostly part-time, employees.

“These are the people who hold it all together,” Ford notes.

As I talk with Schreffler, who has worked at Heinz-Menaker for years, she says the experience of watching her own parents age was the inspiration for her involvement.

“Working with these members five days a week, they become family,” Schreffler says, smiling. “We worry about them when they’re not here, send them birthday cards, get well cards when they go in for surgery.”

The family-like feel is evident as I explore. Members mingle together after the Pokeno game has broken up. Peals of laughter rise above a happy din. I ask Frances McQuay, a petite, stylishly dressed member, what draws her here.

“I get my exercise in, and I like the people,” she says. “It’s the fellowship. I really like coming here. It gets me up in the morning. It gets me out of the house.”

She persuaded her husband to come along too.

“Once we started coming, we both can’t stay away,” she says.

While speaking with another member, Pat Mueller, our conversation strays into the ups and downs of aging.

“Attitude has a lot to do with it,” she tells me, with a twinkle in her eye.

Something that can be said about much of life. At Heinz-Menaker, age is but a number and attitude is everything. Good aphorisms to remember at any age.

Heinz-Menaker Senior Center is located at 1824 N. 4th St., Harrisburg

More information about Dauphin County’s senior centers can be found at dauphincounty.org.

Going Home: Harrisburg has a unique opportunity to chart its own course.

September 29, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

How many terms should a Harrisburg mayor serve?

Council President Wanda Williams believes that the city would be better off if the mayor could only serve two terms. She has a point.

As the old saying goes, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and a person who serves term after term after term in a powerful position like the mayor of Harrisburg is bound to accumulate tremendous power.

Of course, city residents don’t have to look back too far to find an example. Former Mayor Steve Reed, in office for 28 years, took Harrisburg’s “strong mayor” form of government to the literal extreme, consolidating power to such an extent that few checks and balances remained to stop his most reckless actions, which plunged the city into a profound financial crisis.

According to Williams, her legislation would prevent a recurrence, and the ordinance language, which cites Reed’s tenure, makes it clear that Harrisburg’s past continues to weigh heavily on its present.

Current Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who stands for election next month for a second term, partly agrees with Williams. He does not oppose term limits, he said, as long they also apply to council.

But, to the mayor, debating term limits is a bit like dousing a raging house fire with a garden hose. It might help a little, but, in the end, your house still burns down.

Therefore, says Papenfuse, the city should address term limits, but in the context of a Home Rule charter, a way to fix the many problems that have seeped into the governing system over the years.

Papenfuse’s primary aim is to retain the city’s extra taxing authority once, a few years hence, it is forced out of Act 47, a state program for financially distressed municipalities. But, along the way, other tweaks could be made.

And that’s exactly what concerns Williams.

If Harrisburg goes the Home Rule route, almost everything is on the table. The charter commission, for instance, could decide to strip power away from a future mayor or even a council president. Harrisburg might end up being run by a city manager—i.e., someone not “from here.” Then who knows what horrible things could happen?

However, as they say, all that is commentary. Most importantly, Home Rule would allow the city to retain increases in its earned income tax and local services tax (LST), which acts as a form of commuter tax. Does it really matter if Harrisburg has a council/mayor or council/manager form of government if it can’t afford to pick up its trash or police its streets? Are you ready to defend your strong mayor at the cost of skyrocketing property taxes or a return to state receivership?

Philosophically, what I most like about Home Rule is that it gives Harrisburg a chance to take charge of its own destiny. Freed from many of the structural requirements imposed by the legislature, the people can decide for themselves what works best for their city.

In my opinion, that’s a far better option that the current plan of hiring a lobbyist to beg the commonwealth for more money or to maintain the LST. First of all, the cash-strapped, GOP-controlled legislature is unlikely to comply with the Democratic city’s wishes. But, secondly, supplication only deepens residents’ dependence on a dysfunctional, fickle and politically motivated state government—the exact opposite of what needs to happen.

Home Rule also gives the city a chance to reboot. A system of government is a bit like a piece of complex software. Over time, small errors are introduced and imperfections accumulate. The governing system may even become outdated and obsolete. Over decades, as times change, it may need to be rethought and replaced.

So, yes, Home Rule offers Harrisburg an opportunity to remain fiscally sound, to maintain the remarkable progress it’s made in recent years to balance its books and provide services to its people. But it also gives the city an opportunity to sit back, think about what has worked and what hasn’t worked and make corrections.

Therefore, term limits could be on the table, as Williams wants, but so could the way Harrisburg elects council members or collects its taxes or drafts its budget or involves its citizens, among dozens of other things. If the city does decide to go the Home Rule route, it would have plenty of company, as voters in more than 70 municipalities statewide have approved Home Rule charters.

In this space, I don’t typically advocate as much as describe and critique. However, more than a year has been lost since the idea of Home Rule was first suggested. Time now is running short before Harrisburg is booted out of Act 47, losing the extra taxing authority that comes with the designation.

But, besides that, Home Rule is a once-in-lifetime chance to decide for ourselves what we want to be, how we want to govern ourselves. The strong-mayor form of government, creaky at nearly five decades old, hasn’t worked too well for us. So, now, we have a chance to decide what might.

Lawrance Binda is editor in chief of TheBurg.

Family Truths: “Fun Home” tells a story of life in small-town PA, in its complexity.

September 29, 2017 | by Laura Dugan

“We were standing in front of the Bechdel house and we were all profoundly moved,” said Stuart Landon, director of “Fun Home” at Open Stage of Harrisburg. “When we stood in that space, we felt the history. And it changed us.”

The cast of “Fun Home” took a trip to Beech Creek, Pa., the town where Alison Bechdel, author the graphic novel that inspired the musical, grew up. While there, the cast saw the Pennsylvania debut of the show, which was performed on the same stage where Alison’s mother once acted in local theater. They also visited the Bechdel home and the family funeral home.

“It’s really surreal to turn something you read on a page, and all of sudden you’re standing in it, and it’s a real thing,” said Vanessa Hofer, who plays Alison. “It enhances the responsibility. This is a real person’s story, and this was their home.”

David Glasgow, who plays Alison’s father, Bruce, said that, for him, visiting Bruce’s grave was the heart of the trip.

“It really set in my mind that this is the story of actual humans that we are telling,” said Glasgow. “It’s certainly fictionalized, but there are real human lives behind this in a way that increases the importance to me.”

Opening the 32nd season at Open Stage of Harrisburg, “Fun Home” is a show with an all-female writing team that tells the story of a woman from small-town Pennsylvania and that addresses the themes of mental health, sexuality and family dynamics.

“‘Fun Home’ is a Pennsylvania story,” said Landon. “It’s a story about family. And it’s a story about finding your truth and the many paths you can take while you’re looking. The show is densely packed with big questions and complex issues.”

A Tony Award-winning best musical, “Fun Home” took an unusual path to Broadway. The story began in the form of a graphic memoir, illustrated and written by Bechdel. The memoir was then adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori and debuted off-Broadway before moving to Broadway in 2015. “Fun Home” was the first Broadway musical for which an all-female team won the Tony Award for best original score.

The musical mirrors the memoir, featuring Alison during three phases of her life, at ages 10, 19 and 43. The story follows Alison as she grows up and realizes the truth of her own sexuality and tries to come to terms with her father’s, as well. Bruce, who was a high school teacher and ran the family funeral home, was a closeted gay man who struggled to maintain a façade in front of his family and community.

“There are so few shows that explore the dynamic of a father/daughter relationship,” said Hofer. “There are a lot of unexpected themes the show addresses.”

Glasgow agreed that the show offers some unique perspectives.

“We get to round out a female protagonist in a way we don’t often get to do with musical theater,” said Glasgow. “The key issues of the show—not only sexual orientation and gender issues, but suicide and mental health—are not things to shy away from. They are what the show is about.”

Hofer was surprised to see so much of herself in the story and how the themes can help to form connections in what can often be an isolating world.

“There are so many times we look at people as the ‘other,’” said Hofer. “When it comes down to it, we’re not so different. I think this story does a great job of reminding us of that.”

At times funny, dark, provocative and moving, “Fun Home” tells a story that is enhanced by the truth behind it.

“I hope audiences will see this story as a beacon of hope, telling us that our truth is powerful and our truth is achievable,” Landon said.

“Fun Home” also features Cynthia Wells, Caroline Chronister, Gretchen Sutton, Alex King, Jack Hoover, Colin York and Maddie McCann. The show is the first in Open Stage’s subscription series, which features an entire season of shows written by women.

“Fun Home” runs Oct. 6 to 29 at Open Stage of Harrisburg, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. Due to the themes of the show, the suggested minimum age for audience members is 8 years old. For information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

Upcoming Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s Professional
Downtown Theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Oct. 11 to 28
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets are $8

At Open Stage
Of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

“Fun Home”
A musical about family and finding yourself
Based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel
Oct. 6 to 29

Court Street Cabaret
“Jukebox Edition”
An evening of song from Broadway and beyond
Nov. 3 and 4

Roma on the Susquehanna: Great stories, food behind 2 of central PA’s finest Italian restaurants.

September 29, 2017 | by Don Helin

Recently, I decided to visit two of the most highly regarded Italian restaurants in central Pennsylvania. They were a long way from one another geographically, but not in quality. Both, in fact, are perennial winners of local restaurant awards.

First, I stopped into Mangia Qui, located in a historic townhouse near the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

About 17 years ago, Rosemarie “Qui Qui” Musarra and her business partners, Staci Basore and Elide Hower, took over the Paper Moon Restaurant space on North Street. Over time, they changed it from a brunch and lunch focus to a lunch and full-course dinner restaurant. They also opened two co-located restaurants, Suba and Rubicon.

“Every day in the restaurant business, challenges present themselves,” Musarra said. “Supervising a restaurant with three active kitchens running simultaneously can be a bit tricky.”

As you go into Mangia Qui, you’ll enter a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Modern, abstract paintings line the colorful walls and combine with soothing background music. There is a small outdoor patio out front, but, because of the warm summer day, my wife and I decided to eat indoors.

Colleen, a cheerful and knowledgeable server, greeted us and helped us to select our meals. My wife had the “Market Plate,” which included grilled and marinated eggplant and roasted red peppers with mozzarella on top, along with Swiss chard with raisins to add sweetness. I decided on the chicken cacciatore.

To restaurant operators, there are a million moving parts and personalities, and all must be dealt with simultaneously, Basore told me. We could tell they had it down to a science.

As we sat at the table enjoying our raspberry-pomegranate iced tea and listening to the music, I checked out the dinner menu. Choices included “Pasta Nero” (squid ink pasta with cold water lobster tail, shrimp, clams, scallops and mussels), “Spaghetti all’ Ubriaco” (“drunken” spaghetti), “Spezzatin di Vitello” (creamy Parmigiano risotto with julienned veal), and “Saltato alla Puttanesca” (marinated and grilled Mediterranean octopus). Many of their fresh vegetables are locally grown, some even in their own garden.

For dessert, I ordered the double-crusted peach pie with whipped cream, a fantastic choice.

“The restaurant business is one of total dedication,” Basore said. “Many people have a glamorous notion of what a restaurant owner is. I’ve got to say successful people in this business may give the impression of ease, but it takes a heck of a lot of work behind the scenes to make it go. You have to love it. And we all do.”

Country Setting
About an hour north of Harrisburg along Route 11/15 is the bustling college town of Selinsgrove. Founded in 1787 by Capt. Anthony Selin, who fought with George Washington during the American Revolution, you will find Isabella Ristorante, located between several quaint shops, all surrounded by the scenic countryside of central Pennsylvania.

“Our family has been in the restaurant business for years,” said owner Domenico Napoli. “My mother’s family came from Venice, so our heritage and family recipes are all brought from Italy. We hold to that tradition and expertise in preparing our authentic Italian dishes.”

They opened in 2011, selecting Selinsgrove because it’s a unique community nestled in the central part of the Susquehanna Valley, easily accessible to customers from surrounding communities.

Isabella Ristorante is located in an antique bank building that dates back to 1861, offering a bit of historical elegance. Three balconies overlook the space, and the 20-foot-high walls are filled with gold-framed portraits. Linen tablecloths and comfortable chairs complement the beige walls and provide a warm, spacious feeling for diners. The bar is located in the old bank teller’s cage in one corner of the restaurant under a sign that says, “Savings and Loan Department”—the bars are still on the windows.

I decided to try the lobster bisque, a great selection that complemented the homemade rolls and garlic butter. My linguine with clams in a garlic and oil sauce was tasty. For dessert, I bit into a creamy cannoli with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

Soft background music played as we ate, and, at 6 o’clock, a piano player arrived, a regular on Saturday nights. We found he could play almost any song and loved requests.

“For the most part, our challenges have been minimal,” Napoli said. “We are lucky to have excellent suppliers who can provide farm fresh products. We employ experienced staff and ensure the restaurant is pleasing with a comfortable atmosphere. I only wish we had more space for seating.”

Some of Napoli’s favorite dishes are “Fettuccine al Rocco” (homemade fettuccine pasta with mussels, clams, calamari and shrimp in a red sauce), veal piccata (fresh veal cut to order in a lemon and wine sauce with artichoke hearts and capers) and Chilean seabass (blackened seabass over a bed of fresh homemade pasta in a red sauce).

“I believe what sets Isabella apart is our attention to detail, quality of food, creativity of our chefs, and an atmosphere of big city dining in a country setting,” Napoli said. “This brings our customers back.”

Manqia Qui is located at 272 North St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-233-7358 or visit www.mangiaqui.com.

Isabella Ristorante is located at 23 S. Market St., Selinsgrove. For more information, call 570-374-0255 or visit their Facebook page.

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