Flood of Memory: The Agnes flood was 45 years ago. Will Harrisburg ever recover?

July 31, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

On a recent Saturday, I wandered into Midtown Scholar Bookstore just as local historian Erik Fasick was queuing up his slideshow chronicling the most devastating event to hit Harrisburg—the flood from Tropical Storm Agnes.

The 1972 disaster put the nail in the coffin for a city already staggering from deindustrialization and suburbanization. After that, it was basically game over so that, 45 years later, Harrisburg continues its slow return as a place people want to be, as opposed to escape as fast as possible after another tedious day at the office.

Fasick’s presentation showed Harrisburg at a point of collapse, and you could almost hear its heart break as the floodwaters rushed down from Wildwood and rose up from the Susquehanna River.

Fascinating as the talk was, I already knew most of the story. But what had escaped me was how Agnes permanently changed the city’s geography, how the flood wiped entire neighborhoods off the map.

Before Agnes, there was a small neighborhood (with a school) at Paxton and Cameron streets, now a vast surface parking lot. Before Agnes, there was “the real Shipoke,” as Fasick called it, a gritty, insular neighborhood of narrow streets where Pennsy Supply now stores its heavy equipment. Before Agnes, rowhouses lined portions of N. 2nd and Penn streets near Maclay, now, respectively, asphalt lots and grassy fields.

These places were drowned, condemned and bulldozed. Some caught fire.

They weren’t the city’s first losses. The “old 8th” ward, a dense, working-class neighborhood of winding alleys and small, clapboard houses, got taken out when the Capitol Complex expanded to the east. A few decades later, another Capitol expansion—and the related widening of Forster Street—removed most of the rest of the primarily African-American neighborhood. Meanwhile, Agnes was just the final blow to Shipoke, which already had been cut to ribbons by the expansion of I-83, so that, today, only the rump of this once-sprawling neighborhood remains.

Uptown, the breakdown was slower but just as complete. Over decades, the loss of people, the decline of industry and the neglect by property owners turned vibrant streets of houses, businesses, hotels and nightclubs into block after block of nothing.

And what happened to such grand downtown buildings as the Penn-Harris Hotel, the Senate Theater and Keystone Hall? All fell to the wrecking ball.

So, Mother Nature wasn’t only to blame for Harrisburg’s downfall. That’s shared by the changing economy and politicians and by just regular people.

As I write this column, it’s a gorgeous, sunny summer day, so unlike the relentless rains of 45 years earlier. Bells ring from one of the many churches that line State Street. Streams of people walk past, returning to work, going to lunch, stopping for coffee. Tourists take pictures of the vista bookended by the state Capitol, the dome set off by deep blue skies and puffy white clouds.

With the city so busy and beautiful, I can’t help but be optimistic.

Harrisburg will never get back what it lost. The “real Shipoke” and the old 8th ward and Senate Theater are gone forever. They live on only in images—and in the memories of a dwindling number of people.

But we can fill in the blanks. The renewal of Harrisburg has begun, but there’s so much more to do, with empty lots and fields abundant in almost every neighborhood. With so much of this once-dense city still underbuilt and under–populated, Agnes can continue to claim victory.

As I watch people walk up from the riverfront, I think about the first settlers here, who came ashore not far from where I sit. They and their followers built Harrisburg from the ground up. It’s now up to us to take on their good work, marginalized by men and washed away by the waters.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Legacy of the Land: Detweiler Park welcomes locals into the family

July 31, 2017 | by Allison Moody

On a beautiful summer morning, I strolled the trails of newly established Detweiler Park with two people instrumental in creating it.

We talked about the nuts and bolts of the process, pausing along the way to admire the gorgeous landscape of pine trees, deciduous forest and fields surrounding us.

“This is the same kind of walk I took with David that eventful day three years ago,” Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Director Carl Dickson told me.

Dickson and M. David Detweiler IV met through work in the Parks and Recreation Department, but their friendship grew deeper as the years passed. It was on a tour of David’s childhood home that he asked the question: “Would Dauphin County be interested in turning this land into a park?”

David died in September 2014, but this initial conversation led to the creation Dauphin County’s newest and largest park.

Detweiler Park includes 411 acres of sprawling Pennsylvania wilderness with seven miles of trails spread throughout. Situated between Peter’s Mountain and Clark’s Creek, within view of the Appalachian Trail, the property’s preservation is vital for wildlife and keeping local waterways clean.

“This is a critical piece of land that needed to be preserved,” Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste said.

Pieces of the land can be traced back through four generations of the Stackpole and Detweiler families. Mary Frances “Frankie” Stackpole and Meade D. Detweiler III married and built a house on the property, which still stands. Every summer, children and grandchildren would come to visit, making this land the heart and soul of the family.

“No matter what happens to me or my mom, that place will be there for generations and generations of other families to enjoy,” said David’s son, John Detweiler.

Meade and his wife Frankie, as well as their son David, were cremated, and their ashes were spread throughout the estate. Before he died, Meade made his intentions clear that the land should be preserved and passed on to members of the community.

“We were not really owners, so much as stewards of the property,” said Meade’s daughter, Esme Detweiler Freedman.

In December 2016, the time came for the land to change hands. Appraised at $2.4 million, the property was acquired by Dauphin County through a combination of donation by the

Detweiler family and grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Dauphin County.

The property already had many trails in place, though it needed some love and care. Dickson’s Parks and Recreation team worked to prepare for the opening, cleaning up trails and building a bridge from recycled materials.

“Our staff loves this park, and they really take it to heart,” said Haste. “They’ve gone above and beyond to make this what it is.”

Historically, parks add to property values in the area, as well as quality of life, giving locals another opportunity to get into nature for their health and wellbeing. Though many county parks consist of little more than baseball fields and a playground, Detweiler Park offers something different.

“Where else can you live in a capital city and, within 10 minutes, have 411 acres of pristine nature?” Haste said. “You can’t really put a price on that.”

While the park property is preserved forever, its full potential has yet to be realized. There are farm dumps to dispose of and trails to be blazed, but much of the input on improvements will come from the community.

Over the coming years, there will be community meetings where people can share their recommendations for the future of Detweiler Park with members of the family, Dauphin County and DCNR. If you are eager to share your opinion, you can submit your ideas at detweilerpark.org or send a letter to the Dauphin County commissioners.

Detweiler Park is located at 1451 Peter’s Mountain Rd. in Dauphin. For more information, visit www.detweilerpark.org.

Author: Allison Moody

Plate Date: Feta, a knife cut and a star turn for Tanner Waxman

July 31, 2017 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Photo by Waxman Photography.

Tanner Waxman relaxes on the couch of his dad’s photography studio in Hershey, a lock of his signature blue hair escaping from the side of his baseball cap as he shares a few details about his unique opportunity to appear on a popular Food Network cooking show.

It turns out that landing a slot on “Chopped, Junior” wasn’t Tanner’s first shot at fame.

“I did some Skype interviews for ‘Food Network Star Kids’ and learned not to pair radishes and peanut butter,” said Tanner, an impish smile spreading across his broad face.

His mother Tijen offered a little more information.

“He was the youngest one to compete at the time, and we got really far in the process,” she said.

As for the odd food pairing, Tijen suggests that they might have been looking for something more like a slaw, rather than a mixture. The timing was less than ideal anyway. The family was in the process of moving their business and dealing with the aftermath of a flood.

“The initial competition would have required us to be in Los Angeles for three weeks,” Tijen said.

The experience, although short-lived, was nonetheless valuable in giving the student an edge when the next opportunity presented itself.

Tanner and his dad Ali volleyed back and forth how the idea for “Chopped, Junior” came about and exactly how many Skype interviews were involved. But both seemed to agree that the first shot at fame was good practice for the second. Tanner tried again and, this time, beat out 3,000 other hopefuls for a slot. Afterwards, the real work began.

Ali, who specializes in food photography, reached out to friends willing to share their knowledge and help young Tanner prepare for his debut. Café Fresco Chef Travis Mumma rose to the challenge.

“He was very hands on,” said Ali.

Tanner chimed in, adding, “He said, ‘cut that celery, cut those carrots.’”

Chef David Mills, who works as a culinary instructor at HACC, also spent time with Tanner.

“We met about once a week for two months to prepare for the competition,” said Mills. “He showed a lot of promise, and whatever I asked him to work on, he came back knowing exactly how to do it.”

Deep Cut

By October, 11-year-old Tanner had absorbed what he needed to know to compete on the show. He packed his bags and headed out to New York’s Chelsea Market for filming, joined by his biggest cheerleaders—mom, dad and 18-year-old sister Didi.

There, the budding young chef joined three of his peers to compete for the grand prize of $10,000 in an episode titled, “Three-Ring Kitchen,” based on a circus theme.

The show began with a bang as the children ran excitedly around the kitchen to gather ingredients for an appetizer using corn dogs, avocados, corn on a stick and circus cookies, while judges Ryan Guzman, Geoffrey Zakarian and Sunny Anderson chatted in the background. Buttoned-up Zakarian, whom Tanner found a bit intimidating, took a ribbing for claiming to never have consumed a corn dog.

“Geoffrey likes his corndog with a little dollop of caviar,” joked host Ted Allen.

With his fun sense of humor and confident stage presence, Tanner stood out early on with colorful commentary.

“If I were in a circus, I’d definitely be a strong man because of these guns,” he said with a grin, while pointing at his biceps. “I’m the definition of a circus because hey, I’m cool, and who wouldn’t want this in the main show,” he quipped, gesturing towards his blue Mohawk.

The lighthearted background banter among the judges suddenly turned serious when they realized that Tanner had cut himself while slicing an onion to make guacamole. Tanner shared his feelings about the setback with the audience.

“I’m freaking out,” he said. “This is a huge disadvantage right now. I don’t have much time left.”

Producers consulted with Tijen on the situation.

“They told me it was a really deep cut, and he could opt for stiches at the hospital, and they could call an extra, or they could glue it on the set.”

Tijen was torn, but in the end, decided to trust the medics enough to allow them to glue the finger. The crew then broke for a 90-minute lunch, and Tanner resumed cooking, finishing his dish in a mere 20 minutes.

Tanner’s corn dog taco with guacamole and a sweet and spicy sauce won over the judges, who especially liked that he used feta in the preparation.

“That feta saved my butt,” Tanner said.

For round two, the three remaining chefs were given hamburger sliders, heirloom tomatoes, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate called “Tiger Tails” and purple-hued “jester” potatoes.

“I have no idea why they call them ‘jester’ potatoes, they’re not really that funny,” said Tanner, shrugging his shoulders.

The ingredients proved to be a challenge for Tanner, thwarting his effort to make it to the third round. Zakarian said he was hoping that he would do “something more with the burger” and also objected to the tiger tail “icing” Tanner used in the preparation of his dish. Nonetheless, his superb plating skills piqued the judges’ curiosity, which provided Tanner with the opportunity to give a shout-out to his dad and explain how he learns various techniques by tagging along on his father’s photo shoots.

No Hurry

According to Tanner, one of the most challenging parts of the experience was keeping the information under wraps for months before the episode aired. Once the cat was out of the bag, however, the excitement was palpable. More than 100 students and members of the community turned out to support Chef Tanner at a viewing party held at the Hershey Middle School.

“It was a lot of fun,” said proud mom Tijen, who takes pleasure in fostering her children’s hopes, dreams and creativity. “I teach them to stay present, don’t overthink things, to love and trust themselves, and they will be OK, no matter what.”

These days, Tanner and his father are joining forces in an entrepreneurial endeavor.

“We came up with an idea called PB&J Plus,” said Ali. “Basically, it’s using his creativity and my photography to market a product which will combine ingredients like pretzels and potato chips with peanut butter.”

For Tanner, who has since turned 12, there’s really no hurry to decide what he wants to pursue as an adult, although he’s currently toying with the idea of becoming a lawyer due to a desire to help people. When questioned about his next cooking endeavor, he grins, looks over at his parents and hints that his cooking chops might come in handy someday.

“I’ll cook for someone, when I get a girlfriend,” he said.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Head East, Young Drinker: For the best Moscatos, look to the Old World

July 31, 2017 | by Steve Juliana

In recent years, Moscato has emerged from relative obscurity to widespread acclaim. With huge gains in annual consumption, it’s now a wine to be taken seriously.

The problem is that most of what is labeled Moscato is not serious at all. Walk down the aisle at your favorite wine shop and the variety is amazing: red, white, pink and many fruit flavors. The good stuff, however, is found in the Old World, not a blend from the United States or Australia.

Moscato is the Italian name for the Muscat grape, which has been around since antiquity and written about since the 13th century. It usually is low in alcohol, less than 6 percent, fruity and floral, and is used as an apertif before a meal or with dessert. There are many clones, and each one picks up nuances from the region where it is grown.

Moscato d‘ Asti (Muscat Canelli) hearkens from the Piedmont region of western Italy, where rich, spicy Barbera is also made. This is a wonderful, easy-drinking white with flavors of citrus and aromas of white flowers. It makes for a good dessert white with fruity pastries, buttery shortbreads or biscotti dipped into a glass.

Down south in Sicily, the wine is known as Zibibbo (Muscat d’ Alexandria). Legend has it that the Greeks brought the grape from Egypt. In this warm island climate, the fruity white is zingy, and flavors of spice cover the tongue. But this is not the only version of the ancient quaff. Bottles labeled “secco” (dry) are a different style of food-friendly drink. This wine takes on an herbal, earthy flavor and a bouquet that is a reminder of how the Sicilian scrubland meets the sea. A dinner of rich seafood in garlic and fennel would be a perfect match.

The most northern region of Italy is Alto Adige, also known as the Sudtirol. Hard against the Austrian border, German is heard hrere almost as frequently as Italian. This Alpine paradise has its own wines and its own unique style of Muscat.

The high valleys yield a wine that is not only sweet and floral but a good match for the local cuisine. Moscato Giallo (Golden Muscat) is the grape responsible for a different take on a quaff often reputed to be light and fruity. In this most Germanic Italian region, the common name is Pfefferer (pepper). Indeed, one can smell the spice in the aroma of the wine in the glass. Alcohol levels are higher here, pushing 12 percent—but remember that we are in the Alps and not on a beach. This drink will match up with the food of the region such as sausages and cheeses and other delights that reflect a more northern influence.

Moscato is a very popular wine. But search out the best ones, which I feel are overlooked.

Keep sipping. Steve.

Author: Steve Juliana

Tour de Quilt: Take a scenic drive along Perry County’s Quilt Barn Trail

July 31, 2017 | by Don Helin

Northwest of Harrisburg, in the countryside of Perry and Juniata counties, you’ll find a loop of 8-by-8-foot painted quilts that have been mounted on barns along scenic roadways.

They call it the Quilt Barn Trail.

It’s the brainchild of the Perry County Council of the Arts, used as a teaching tool and demonstration for its Arts in Education (AIE) residency program.

“In each residency, I begin by talking about quilts and quilt history,” said Denise Hoke, who coordinates the Quilt Barn Trail program. “Math is very important, especially geometry, in the design. We discuss local history to tie into the quilt through shape and color. This often leads to the students thinking outside the box.”

The students, all from area high schools, design their own patterns and decide what they want to create for their barn quilt, which, for outdoor exhibition purposes, is actually a quilt-like square painted on wood. As a fiber artist, Hoke still thinks of the paint medium as if she were constructing in fiber.

“I love watching and listening to the students’ ideas on each quilt block we create,” Hoke said.

The lines between local history, quilting history, art, geometry, industrial arts and community service are blurred as students design and create the painted quilts to be mounted on barns and other buildings visible from scenic highways.

For example, the red of the Spiral Quilt suggests the covered bridges of Juniata County. The green represents the grasshopper war at Port Royal, a battle between two native tribes that started with two young boys arguing over grasshoppers. The circular pattern is representative of the mills in the county.

Another quilt square, mounted on a barn in Loysville, is divided into four parts. Each tells a story of the area and its history—from the initial settlers entering Sheaffers Valley to the natural features abundant near West Perry High School.

As soon as PCCA implemented its first “Quilt Barn” residency in 2013, the program not only engaged students but had the benefit of selling the AIE program.

“With hundreds of motorists passing the quilts each day, we could not have designed a more effective marketing campaign for our arts-in-education residency programs,” said Erika Juran, executive director of PCCA.

We should not forget the most important part of the program—the impact on the students.

“What I liked about the whole process was that we all got to have our own say and opinions,” one student told me.

PCCA’s Quilt Barn Trail now boasts 21 quilts through the two counties. The trail has even become an attraction and economic boost, as motorists and bus tour groups contact PCCA for maps of the trail. During the tour, they stop for shopping, antiques and guilty pleasures like ice cream and wine.

A great place to start your own tour is at the PCCA Gallery, located in the heart of Newport. There, you can meet staff members who can show you the best way to follow the trail, and check out fine art and crafts from more than 150 member artists. Before setting off on your quilt hunt, consider walking across the street for some sustenance at Espresso Yourself Café.

Another of your stops in Newport could be Butcher’s Farm Market on Fourth Street, where you can stock up on veggies, flowers and tasty treats.

As you travel the trail, don’t miss a stop at Bucks Valley Winery and Vineyards and the Winery at . And for those hot, summer days, a stop in Millerstown at Halls Ice Cream is guaranteed refreshment.

The Sunday of Labor Day weekend is a great time to travel the Quilt Barn Trail, as PCCA will celebrate its Country Casual Party at the Winery at Hunters Valley from 4 to 8 p.m.

As you travel the trail, keep in mind that these works of art were not professionally made. Local high school students created all the quilts—from concept to execution.

“In all of the quilt barns we have made, no two are alike,” Hoke said. “The students completely design them. I am there to guide and help work out any problems or questions that arise.”

You can pick up your Quilt Barn Trail map at the PCCA Gallery or download a copy at www.perrycountyarts.org. PCCA is located at 1 S. Second St., Newport.

Author: Don Helin

Community Corner: Notable August Events

July 31, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

August Community Corner

Young Leaders Conference
Aug. 1: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will hold its 5^th Annual International Young Leaders Conference at Harrisburg University, 326 Market St., 9 a.m. Students will learn about global polarization and conflict resolution through panel discussions, simulations and breakout activities and will have the opportunity to network with local businesses and universities. Visit wacharrisburg.org.

Refresh Harrisburg
Aug. 1: Four teams from Harrisburg Young Professionals and Salvation Army summer camp will compete in locations throughout downtown Harrisburg to see who can sell the most refreshing beverage, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Part of the proceeds will go to charities chosen by the students. Visit hyp.org for more details.

National Night Out
Aug. 1: Celebrate community at one of many National Night Out events throughout Harrisburg. Friends of Midtown will celebrate with refreshments, music and fun activities at Broad Street Market, 6 to 9 p.m. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Blood Pressure Screenings
Aug. 3: Pinnacle Health will be offering free blood pressure screenings in the Food Court Pavilion at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Stop by when you are available. Free and open to the public. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for more information.

Business After Hours
Aug. 3: Mingle with business professionals at Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event at Penn National Insurance, 2 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Cultural Fest
Aug. 4: Dauphin County commissioners and the Cultural Task Force will host the annual Cultural Fest in downtown Harrisburg at Market and 2^nd streets, 5 to 10 p.m. This free, open-air street festival celebrates cultural diversity with live music, ethnic foods, crafts, kids’ activities and more. Visit DauphinCounty.org for more details.

Garden Preschool
Aug. 4, 11: Preschoolers ages 4 to 6 will spend time learning in the garden with Mom or Dad and Penn State Master Gardeners at the Cumberland County Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. The same program will be offered from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. each day. Registration fee of $5 per child covers program materials and take-home items. For details, visit extension.psu.edu/cumberland.

HBG Flea
Aug. 5: 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 more details.

Walking Tour
Aug. 5: Enjoy a glimpse into the architecture and style of Mt. Gretna’s iconic homes with a self-guided walking tour through the town, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are $20; day-of tickets are $25. Kids 12 and under are $5. Proceeds benefit Gretna Music. For tickets and more details, visit gretnamusic.org.

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
Aug. 5: OooWee Art & Gaming Café will host a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament next to their store on the upper level of the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 12 to 12:30 p.m. Join the fun with video games, anime, COSPLAY, comic and more. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for more details.

Book Sale
Aug. 5-10: The Friends of the Hershey Public Library will host its 35th Annual Book Sale during normal hours at the library, 701 Cocoa Ave. Members can shop a preview night on Friday, Aug. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Book sale offerings include DVDs, CDs, audio books, music, maps, magazines and books for all ages. Visit hersheylibrary.org.

Yoga Walk
Aug. 6: 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 will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the nature center. Appropriate for guests 12 years and older. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Marvelous Mondays
Aug. 7, 14: Visit Hershey Gardens to enjoy children’s activities and crafts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. On Aug. 7, create a caterpillar and enjoy a puppet show, and on Aug. 14, make a paper flower pot and take in some storytelling. Both days, check out the Touch-a-Bug Cart. For more details, visit hersheygardens.org.

Stress Relief Walk
Aug. 9: Walk off the stress of the workday at Wildwood Park with a 3-mile self-guided hike at your own pace, with easy trails and short climbs. Meet at the Nature Center at 6 p.m. Bring water and sturdy shoes. More information is available at wildwoodlake.org.

Nature Design Camp”
Aug. 10-11: Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host a nature design camp for ages 10-16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Inspired by sculptor, photographer and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy, campers will build artwork out of natural materials and photograph their final pieces. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Jazz Festival
Aug. 10-13: Central PA Friends of Jazz will host the 37th Annual Central PA Jazz Festival, featuring concerts, riverboat cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna, a jam session, a jazz party, JazzMobile, workshop and picnic. For a complete listing of events, visit friendsofjazz.org.

Sunset Hike
Aug. 11: Enjoy a beautiful Friday sunset hike, beginning at Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center in Carlisle at 6 p.m. This hike will last for two hours and cover about two miles of uneven terrain. Bring sturdy shoes and water and dress for the weather. For more details, visit events.dcnr.gov.

Foreign Film Friday
Aug. 11 & 25: Join Fredricksen Library on Aug. 11 for “Sweet Bean,” (not rated) a film from Japan about a lonely baker who hires a 76-year-old assistant with a recipe for sweet red bean paste. On Aug. 25, view “The African Doctor” (PG), a French film about a Congolese doctor who escapes a dictatorship, moving his family to a small French village. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Outdoor Movies
Aug. 11 & 25: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema presents two free outdoor movies in August: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on Aug. 11 and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on Aug. 25 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Both films begin at dusk and, in case of rain, will be delayed until Saturday. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Pain Relief Talk
Aug. 12: Learn natural solutions to relieve neck pain without drugs or surgery at Zang Physical Therapy, 836 Market St., Harrisburg, at 10 a.m. Learn what can be done to ease pain and resuming activity. For more information, visit zangpt.com.

Volunteer Work Day
Aug. 12: 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 along a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

India Day
Aug. 12: The India Day Community Fair will be held at HACC, 1 HACC Dr., Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. India Day features a variety of Indian food; live stage performances; Indian jewelry, apparel, artwork, ornaments, and more; and kids’ activities. Visit aiacpa.org/Indiaday for more details.

Italian Lake Concert
Aug. 13: Mark DeRose & the Dreadnought Brigade will stop by for the final HYP Italian Lake Concerts of the season. The music begins at 6 p.m. at the park at N. 3^rd and Division streets. For more information, visit hyp.org.

Live Puppet Shows
Aug. 13: Sadecky’s Puppets is back at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., with two free live shows: “Heidi” and “The New Kid,” with show times at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Each show lasts about 40 minutes and is recommended for young kids of all ages and families. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for more details.

Film Screening
Aug. 15, 22, 29: Take in a 7 p.m. screening of “Pandora’s Promise” at Nuclear Night at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, while enjoying Zeroday Brewing’s Atom’s Porter beer. Directed by Robert Stone, the 2013 documentary film centers on the debate of nuclear power as a clean energy source. Tickets are $10, with proceeds benefitting the Lower Dauphin STEM Program. Visit midtowncinema.com.

Get in Shape
Aug. 17: Enjoy a self-guided 3-mile walk at Wildwood Park from 6 to 7 p.m. to get in shape. Meet at the Nature Center at 6 p.m. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. For more information, visit wildwoodlake.org.

Memorial Golf Outing
Aug. 18: The Harrisburg Parks Foundation will host the Jack Crago Memorial Golf Outing in partnership with the Harrisburg mayor’s office at Sportsman’s Golf Course, 3800 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, 12 p.m. The event includes, lunch, range use, beverages, a team photo, swag bag, dinner and awards. Visit tfec.org/cragogolfouting.

Local Lunch
Aug. 18: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, which will be held at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, from 12 to 2 p.m. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

3rd in The Burg
Aug. 18: 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.

Symphony Fundraiser
Aug. 18: The Lords of 52^ndStreet, Billy Joel’s original backing band, will play at the Scottish Rite Theater, 2701 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $29 and $39 for this the fundraiser for the Hershey Symphony Orchestra. Visit hersheysymphony.org.

Goodbye 2205 Market Street
Aug. 19: Meeka Fine Jewelry will host a final event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Meeka Fine Jewelry, 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. Come celebrate the original storefront and new beginnings as they move up the street. Visit meekajewelry.com.

Cuban Soiree
Aug. 20: The Art Association of Harrisburg will host a Cuban Soiree from 4 to 7 p.m. at Los Tres Cubanos, 530 Race St., Harrisburg. Enjoy Cuban food, art by Alberto Hernadez and music by Sergio Figueroa. Reservations are $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Visit artassocofhbg.com for more details.

Bird Walk
Aug. 20: Come on this evening walk at Wildwood Park with volunteer Audrey Zajac to learn about the birds that can be found at Wildwood, 6 to 8 p.m. The walk will be along Wildwood Way and the Towpath. Meet at the Nature Center at 6 p.m.

Crab Fest
Aug. 26: The first Central Pennsylvania Crab, Beer and Wine Festival will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trinity High School, 3601 Simpson Ferry Rd., Camp Hill, with beer and wine from central PA craft breweries and wineries, steamed Harbor House crabs, Redd’s BBQ, live music by the Jewett Brothers Band and a local DJ. Visit pacrabfest.org.

Veterans Expo
Aug. 29: The free Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair connects active and retired military members of all ages and their families with the benefits and resources available to them through workshops, seminars and a job fair. Presented by OLP Events, the expo will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For details, visit veteransexpo.com

Call for Artists
Aug. 31: Perry County Council of the Arts seeks artists for its 2017 Annual Juried Exhibition to be held Nov. 10 to Jan. 19. 2018 at Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport. Artists of all media should submit entries by Aug. 31. The juried exhibition includes $2,000 in cash prizes. Complete contest rules can be found at perrycountyarts.org.

Books and Buzzcuts: “Books in Barbershops” aims to bring education back into shops.

July 31, 2017 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Photo by Yaasmeen Piper.

I learned a lot about life in the checkered walls of the barbershop: local politics, neighborhood gossip and what an “interception” was. Growing up, I watched my father and brother’s barber morph into therapist, teacher, even news anchor at times.

Reading material was always around, but, eventually, Candy Crush and Twitter seemed to replace magazines and newspapers. Harrisburg Councilman Cornelius Johnson believes it’s time to bring back the barbershop as a place both to get a haircut and learn a little something.

With the help of the American Literacy Corp. (ALC), children’s books for ages 2 to 12 are now shelved in 10 Harrisburg area barbershops. Begun in late May, the “Books In Barbershops” program means to return education to barbershops with a child-friendly environment that may help boost the literacy rate for young boys.

“The key concept I wanted to integrate was not just providing the bookshelves and the books, but to find appropriate barbershops where the barbers will support it—knowing to refer the kid to the books, and asking them reading comprehension questions,” Johnson said.

Johnson, who is a weekly customer at his barbershop, said some days he spends hours in the chair.

“I go once a week,” he said. “My barber’s never on time, so I’m spending about an hour and a half in there each time.”

He’s not alone. Some kids, maybe waiting for their father and brother, might spend a good two hours inside a barbershop.

“So [reading] keeps them engaged as far as keeping them out of ‘grown folks’ conversation,” he said. “While some of that conversation may be relevant to the kids, a lot of that conversation is for adult men. So, it’s good to have that space where they can grab a book and read.”

Originating in Harlem, the program was created by a nonprofit called Reading Holiday Project, which sought out barbershops because of their cultural influence on black men. According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation, only 18 percent of African–American fourth-graders are proficient in reading. For eighth-graders, that number drops to 16 percent.

“Young black boys are performing lower than anyone when it comes to literacy rates,” Johnson said. “I think it’s good to highlight and target them to get their performance rate up. Even though [black males] may be a target, that does not mean a female or anyone can’t come up and read a book. It’s for anyone to read, but [black males] continue to be our target audience because they are the ones who are sitting behind.”

Johnson blamed technology, socioeconomic stress and the absence of proper representation and diversity in children’s books for the decline in boys reading.

“You want to see yourself [when you are reading],” he said. “You want to build your imagination. It’s hard to build your imagination when you’re constantly looking at images that don’t look like you.”

Johnson and his team, which includes Brandon Flood, executive director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Rob Lesher, director of the Dauphin County Library System, and others from salons and nonprofit organizations, set out to collect books that properly represented their audience. Some classics were thrown into the mix, such as “Charlotte’s Web,” “Goosebumps” and Johnson’s childhood favorite, “The Cat in the Hat.”

And the reading doesn’t have to end when the haircut is done. Kids are allowed to take their books with them and build a home library.

“When you’re reading to the kids, they ask you a lot of questions,” said Anthony Cuthbertson, owner of GQ II Barbershop in Penbrook. “It goes deep with me. My roots are in the community.”

Cuthbertson grew up in Hall Manor so, he said, understands the importance of giving back.

“A lot of people don’t understand the role that you play when you’re reading to someone,” he said. “You’re opening up a whole new world for them. You see their eyes booming. They can’t wait until you get to the next page.”

Johnson hopes that, in the years to come, he will be able to spread the program throughout the city and reach more young men.

When asked what message he had for young black boys, the answer seemed already to be on the tip of his tongue.

“Just keep reading,” he said. “We don’t realize the power in reading until it’s too late. Society is not too accepting of people who have low literacy rates.”

The “fundamental base” to life, Johnson said, is reading.

“It’s how you develop further knowledge,” he said. “If you don’t have the ability to read in today’s society, you have no place to advance.”

Find a Book
“Books in Barbershops” can be found at the following barbershops in the Harrisburg area:

Gifted Hands
1008 N. 3rd St.
Harrisburg

GQ2
2801 Penbrook Ave.
Harrisburg

Super Star Status
1925 Derry St.
Harrisburg

The Greatest Barber Shop in the World
145 N. Front St.
Steelton

I Am That I Am
1312 Derry St.
Harrisburg

Hair Design Plus Inc.
3031 Walnut St.
Harrisburg

Heads Up
2286 N. 6th St.
Harrisburg

Faded
6110 Derry St.
Harrisburg

Ebony 1
29 N. Front St.
Steelton

Steelton Hair
227 S. 6th St.
Steelton

Author: Yaasmeen Piper

When I’m Mobile: Marco van brings exploration, imagination to the people

July 31, 2017 | by Jen Fertenbaugh

Once, there was a great explorer named Marco, who visited places far and wide.

Now, there is a van, also named Marco, that lets you explore the limits of your imagination and creativity.

Earlier this year, Marco set sail on its first voyage through Dauphin County, bringing with it state-of-the-art technology, customized experiences and free Wi-Fi.

“It’s literally a library on wheels, the first vehicle of its kind,” said Ann Bruner, community outreach and engagement administrator for all nine libraries in the Dauphin County Library System.

Named after the Venetian explorer, Marco Polo, the attraction promotes exploration, bringing the library’s resources directly to the people. Bruner noted that public transportation often can pose a problem for residents who wish to visit the library but can’t.

“It’s designed to give residents in both rural and urban areas better access to all of the services the library provides,” she said.

Here’s what Marco is not—a book mobile.

“Marco is an exploration station that promotes literacy of all kinds,” Bruner said. “It can teach people how to quickly access the best information.”

Marco’s cargo reflects the changing trend in learning.

Equipped with 10 laptops and a flat-screen TV mounted to its side, Marco has its own power source, offering wi-fi access to surrounding areas wherever it is stationed.

“Visitors can even bring their own devices and connect directly to the internet to explore all the services and use the tools the library offers,” Bruner said.

While Marco does carry some books, it’s also equipped with diverse resources that allow the outreach team to customize an experience for any age—from toddlers all the way to senior citizens, explained Bruner.

Since its March launch, Marco has been in high demand, traveling to such events as Artsfest in Harrisburg and school fairs, said Donna Husted, youth services specialist and, frequently, Marco pilot.

“We can help children use their summer productively—avoid the summer slide—so school isn’t so difficult for them in the fall,” she said.

Marco also delivers instruction, training and support to teenage and adult community members. This summer, Marco will visit summer camps and senior centers.

“We can offer interactive experiences that engage audiences in a variety of ways,” said Husted.

Chris Black, library supervisor at the McCormick Riverfront Library in downtown Harrisburg, said Marco helps expose people to DVDs, CDs and, of course, books.

“We want to help everyone become aware of all the great things the library has to offer,” Black said.

Connections, especially those with the underserved populations across Dauphin County, are another central objective of Marco, explained Bruner.

“We can meet the community where they are and help provide them access and education to all things, from voter registration services to how to access health information,” she said.

Bruner noted that the outreach department recently has been seeking staff members who possess second-language skills to help address the diversity within the communities. She said that non-English speakers often feel isolated and view the physical library as a daunting place.

“When the library extends a helping hand in someone’s own neighborhood, many people feel more comfortable to accept the help,” she said.

To build Marco’s outreach, the library system hopes to partner with organizations looking to better serve the community, including local food banks and ESL support organizations. Bruner envisions outreach programming that could include Marco hosting a computer class on City Island or visiting a nursing home to teach residents about digital literacy.

Marco’s busy schedule is clear evidence that there is demand for its services, and there’s even talk of adding a second van. Any expansion, however, relies on donor-funded support.

“Marco would not have been possible without the support of the donors and partner organizations,” Bruner said.

Of course, another way to support Marco is simply to get out and attend an event.

“There will be a lot going on this summer,” Bruner said.

To keep up, she hopes to offer an interactive map so people can track where Marco is around the county.

“Its extremely exciting,” she said. “The possibilities are endless.”

For more information on Marco or to schedule a visit to an event, visit www.DCLS.org and click on “Make A Visit/Request A Visit.”

Author: Jen Fertenbaugh

July News Digest

July 31, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Housing Funds Disbursed
Harrisburg City Council doled out some $1.9 million in federal housing funds last month, but not before making tweaks to the administration’s proposal.

Council provided $25,000 to the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center from the city’s portion of annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, a program of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The city administration had denied funding for the center, saying its application scored too low to merit a grant.

To make room for the Heinz-Menaker grant, $15,000 was taken from a proposed allocation for the city’s Police Bureau, which still will receive $90,000 to help pay for a new community policing van and a police cadet program.

Another $10,000 was taken from the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development, which still will receive about $43,000 to cover unreimbursed costs related to the sinkhole project on S. 14th Street.

Like last year, the greatest single amount of money, $562,248, went to repay federal loans the city backed during the Reed administration for several development projects, including the disastrous Capitol View Commerce Center project.

Other CDBG recipients included:

City Housing Rehabilitation Programs: $330,000
Tri-County HDC: $150,000
City Emergency Demolition: $120,000
Harrisburg Fire Bureau: $51,686
Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area: $30,000
Rebuilding Together: $15,000
Christian Aftercare Recovery Ministries: $25,000
A Miracle 4 Sure: $25,000
Latino Hispanic American Community Center: $25,000
Fair Housing Council: $25,000
Mid Penn Legal Services: $15,000
Neighborhood Dispute Settlement: $3,900

While the city undertook the annual process of distributing CDBG money, funding is not assured as the Trump administration has threatened to end the program.

Riot Gear Debated

Harrisburg City Council last month left for summer break without voting on a plan that would supply the city’s police with new protective gear.

Council members said they would take up the matter once more after they returned from hiatus in late August and, in the interim, urged police to engage with residents to discuss the issue.

The Police Bureau is seeking to transfer $65,000 from unspent personnel funds to purchase 30 “top to toe” protective suits. The bureau’s current gear is old and inadequate, police say.

Some city residents have urged council not to approve the transfer, saying that so-called “riot suits” would escalate tense situations. Police, though, say that protests, particularly at the state Capitol, have become more frequent and more violent, and that officers need the equipment for personal protection.

College Plans Move to City Hall

Eastern University announced last month that it would like to move its satellite campus into the basement of Harrisburg city hall.

“I want to be in the city,” said Wesley Bunting, an official with the St. Davids, Pa.-based Christian college, whose satellite campus currently is located in Lower Paxton Township.

Therefore, the university approached the city with a novel offer. It would spend about $615,000 to fully renovate the mostly empty, worn-out basement of the MLK Jr. City Government Center on N. 2nd Street.

The city would be able to use a portion of the space for a new, state-of-the-art emergency operations center. It also would get access to classroom space when not in use and to the lounge, which could be used as a break room. The city would receive the improvements but no monetary rent during the 10-year lease term.

If approved by council, the project could start immediately and would take less than a year to complete, Bunting said.

“This is a substantial investment in the building with resources that we otherwise would have to draw from somewhere else,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.

Papenfuse said the project also would bring more people downtown, would boost building security, especially after hours, would offer technology upgrades in the building and would help create a “critical mass” of colleges downtown, adding to the existing presence of Harrisburg University, Temple University and Messiah College.

HDID Seeks Renewal

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District last month asked City Council for a five-year reauthorization, a plan that would expand the district to State Street.

Executive Director Todd Vander Woude outlined a few recent activities by the group, including last year’s “Dino-Mite Summer” public art project, this year’s “Discover the Ducks Downtown,” the St. Patrick’s Day parade, several new murals, more bike racks, brightly painted planters and a new safety substation.

“Our focus is making downtown clean, safe and beautiful,” said Vander Woude, who received a generally positive reaction from council.

In 2015, council refused to grant a full, five-year term, offering only two years with instructions to become more visible and active. Back then, some council members said that HDID wasn’t doing enough to attract people downtown.

Getting firm council support is particularly important this year, as the HDID is seeking to expand its northern boundary from Pine Street to State Street, bringing 58 more properties into the district and upping the organization’s annual budget by $40,000 to $820,000. Each commercial property is assessed a 1.75 mil surcharge on its city property taxes to cover the cost of HDID services, which also include cleaning, safety and beautification measures.

Property owners within the proposed district have 45 days from last month’s council hearing to vote against the district. Forty percent of properties within the boundary must vote against it for reauthorization to be defeated.

City Payment Restored

Harrisburg will receive its full state funding after all, as the legislature passed a budget re-inserting a $5 million payment to the city.

The $32 billion state budget for 2017-18 includes full funding of the “Capitol fire protection” line item, a type of payment in lieu of taxes that the city counts on to help fund emergency services.

Gov. Tom Wolf included the payment in his proposed budget in February, but it was later stripped out by the state Senate.

Over the decades, this annual payment has ranged widely from nothing to the current $5 million, an amount decided upon while the city was under state receivership. However, the money is not guaranteed, meaning that Harrisburg isn’t certain it will receive the funds until the always-fraught state budget is passed.

The money lands in the city’s general fund, but Harrisburg officials say it offers compensation for services that the city provides to about 30,000 state workers. The state pays no property taxes on its massive holdings in the city, which include some 50 state-owned buildings on about 42 percent of the city’s land.

New Grocery Store

If you’ve been hungering for an urban-style grocery store in Harrisburg, your wait is almost over.

In a few months, Provisions will open in Strawberry Square, emphasizing natural, organic and locally produced goods, mostly sold in bulk.

Provisions will occupy 2,350 square feet of space next to Fresa Bistro with a storefront entrance on N. 3rd Street, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

“You’re going to be able to get fresh food that you can shop daily for,” said Jones, who described the market as a “locally grown Trader Joe’s.”

Jones expects the build-out of the space to begin immediately, with the store opening in mid-October.

Provisions is the brainchild of Shaun Donovan, the owner of the online grocery store Appalachian Organics, and Adam Porter, co-owner of the co-working space, StartUp Harrisburg.

Steelton Redevelopment

A new development called Renaissance Row soon will begin to rise in downtown Steelton, in part thanks to a tax incentive program.

Dauphin County and Steelton officials last month credited property tax abatement for enabling the project, which will feature 80,000 square feet of commercial space and 46 one-and two-bedroom apartments across the street from Steelton Borough Hall.

“Providing property tax relief for new construction and renovation can make the difference between making it viable to move forward on a project,’’ said county board Chairman Jeff Haste.

Philadelphia-based developer Chariot Companies will build Renaissance Row. A second development featuring 12 new townhouses on Adams Street should break ground later this year.

All of Steelton is part of a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program, which provides tax breaks on property improvements for 10 years.

Home Sales Climb

The Harrisburg area scored another solid month for home sales, as purchases increased 4.2 percent year over year.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors reported 1,147 sales in June compared to 1,101 sales in June 2016 for its coverage area, which covers all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median price also rose, increasing to $183,000 versus $175,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR said.

In Dauphin County, 389 homes sold, an increase of 23 units, with the median price rising to $163,500 from $160,000. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 398 units versus 388, with the median price jumping to $210,000 from $190,900.

Perry County had 51 home sales against 33, with the median price rising to $143,000 from $129,900 a year earlier.

So Noted

Fine Wine and Good Spirits will open an 11,500-square-foot retail store at the Capital City Mall this fall, according to mall owner PREIT. Next year, a Dave & Busters also will open, offering a casual dining and entertainment option.

Harrisburg University is relocating its Philadelphia campus, which will more than quadruple its space. The new site at 1500 Spring Garden St. in Center City will allow the university to offer full, four-year bachelor degrees at the campus without students needing to transfer to the main campus in Harrisburg.

Merit is the new name of the Harrisburg-based marketing and innovation firm, Sacunas. The company, founded by Nancy Sacunas, said it changed its name to better reflect its mission under now-owner Adam Vasquez.

Mom’s Tamales & Papusas is expected to open this month at 263 Reily St., across from Midtown Cinema. Owner Josue Osorto, a veteran of many Harrisburg restaurants, will run the eatery specializing in food from El Salvador.

PinnacleHealth has completed the acquisition of four hospitals in three surrounding counties. The Harrisburg-based company bought Carlisle Regional Medical Center, Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Lancaster Regional Medical Center and Memorial Hospital of York.

Rite Aid and Walgreens have dropped their plans to merge. Instead, Walgreens will buy 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.2 billion, leaving East Pennsboro Township-based Rite Aid with 2,350 stores after the deal is complete.

In Memoriam

Robert Marquette, long-time president and CEO of Members 1st Federal Credit Union, died last month, said the Mechanicsburg-based company. Marquette, 68, also was the face of the Members 1st, donning a superhero-type outfit and making homespun pitches during numerous advertisements.

Benjamin Olewine III, lifelong Harrisburg resident, businessman and philanthropist, has died at the age of 95. Olewine grew his family’s food business into one of the top food distributors in the country, selling it in 1988 to giant Sysco Corp., where he continued to work until a few years ago.

Changing Hands

Allison Ct., 7: B. Schaeffer to Flipside Home Renewal LLC, $32,000

Barkley Lane, 2503: F. Scott to L. Holloway, $62,500

Bellevue Rd., 2026: M&N Associates LLC to N. & S. Diehl, $70,000

Berryhill St., 1621: G. Campos to B. Brown, $30,000

Capitol St., 901: G. Ulrich to C. Lenz Jr., $117,900

Capitol St., 1003, 414 Forster St. and 919 & 923 N. 2nd St.: PLM Real Estate Investments & M. Stuski to AON LLC, $265,000

Chestnut St., 1822: G. Neff to A. Brown, $43,900

Derry St., 1408: M. Neidigh to J. & D. Judge, $30,000

Derry St., 2334: R. Miller & D. Shellenhamer to N. Hanna, $35,000

Derry St., 2400: J. Seibert to 2400 Derry Street LLC, $65,000

Edgewood Rd., 2315: R. Everngam Jr. & D. Bottini to I. & A. MacFarlane, $204,900

Fulton St., 1418: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to PA Deals LLC, $61,960

Fulton St., 1733: J. & R. Gregoire to M. Shelleman, $121,000

Grand St., 919: L. Bolan to A. Chen, $114,900

Green St., 1809: M. & R. Monticchio to D. Caley, $140,000

Harris St., 342: Keystone Properties Group LLC to D. Shelley, $89,000

Herr St., 211: M. Rudderow to G. Broome, $119,900

Herr St., 259: B. Eppley to J., J., & P. Millner, $150,000

Holly St., 1946: M. Naranjo to A. Mercado, $105,500

Hudson St., 1106: J. Raab to K. Fernandez, $60,000

Hudson St., 1215: A. Powers to PI Capital LLC, $33,500

Kelker St., 231: A. DeHoff to D. Rubenstein, $174,900

Lewis St., 303: E. Gadsen to E. Torres, $124,000

Market St., 810, 812 & 900; 24 & 26 N. 10thSt.; and 12, 21 & 23 N. 9th St.: Patriot News Co. to 812 Market Street LLC & Twenty Lake Holdings, $644,286

Market St., 1848: Kusic Financial Services to E. Lewis, $37,100

Muench St., 212: K. & K. Warner to C. Kim, $169,900

Mulberry St., 1162: Stoute Housing Inc. to Evidence Group LLC, $73,000

N. 2nd St., 1225: M. & L. Day to S. Shaffer, $125,000

N. 2nd St., 2011: M. Patterson to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $139,000

N. 2nd St., 2915: K. & K. Russell to L. Whitcomb & M. Quinn, $315,000

N. 2nd St., 3004: S. Jusufovic to L. Bolan, $219,000

N. 3rd St., 1722: M. Kravanis Jr. & N. Melton to A. Glickman, $112,000

N. 3rd St., 1728: Leonard J. Dobson Family Limited Partnership to Keystone Brothers Investments, $106,000

N. 3rd St., 1730: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Information Systems & Networks Corp. to S. Bernhard, $72,000

N. 3rd St., 1928: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to J. Hobbs, $70,000

N. 6th St., 3107: E. Willis to S. & K. Wright, $99,500

N. 6th St., 3136: M. Naranjo to L. Seay, $55,000

N. 12th St., 47: Hobbeze Inc. to E&K Homes LLC, $35,000

N. 16th St., 521: D. Taylor to Wells Fargo Bank NA, $38,262

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 413: H. Michels to J. Becker, $93,900

N. Front St., 2201, 2225 & 2229; and 2200, 2214, 2216 & 2218 N. 2nd St.: 2201 Partners LP to 2201 NFS LLC, $1,800,000

Penn St., 1805: L. Urban to T. & K. Hand, $93,000

Penn St., 1933: WCI Partners LP to D. Ranson, $139,900

Rudy Rd., 2145: M. & K. DeRosa to G. Broadnax, $178,000

Rudy Rd., 2409: N. Ishman to W. & A. Krahn, $149,900

Rumson Dr., 2843: N. & I. Nanov to C. Rojas, $35,000

S. 13th St., 340: JKC Properties LLC to Round Rock Investments LLC,, $101,000

S. 17th St., 927: M. Maniari & Z. Erroudi to A. Mejia, $89,900

S. 18th St., 1128: J. Buzby to T. Ro & J. Musa, $95,000

Verbeke St., 116: H. Reynolds to M. Zecharya & B. Macavoy, $30,000

Verbeke St., 215: J. & S. Bircher to J. & & E. High, $215,000

Verbeke St., 235: S. Will to A. & C. Maset, $146,000

Author: Lawrance Binda

Total Eclipse of the Heartland: Prepare now to view the Great American Eclipse

July 31, 2017 | by Robert Naeye

On Aug. 21, one of Mother Nature’s most glorious spectacles will grace the skies of the mainland United States: a total solar eclipse.

The moon will completely block the sun in a roughly 70-mile-wide corridor that runs east-southeast from Oregon’s Pacific coast, cutting right through Wyoming, Nebraska and Missouri, and all the way across the continent to South Carolina.

People inside this narrow path will be dazzled by the unforgettable spectacle of a pitch-black hole in the sky—where the sun is supposed to be—surrounded by the diaphanous whitish glow of the solar atmosphere (the corona). There’s no other sight like this in the world.

Having seen five total solar eclipses myself, I cannot stress enough that it’s absolutely worth your time and effort to do whatever you can to get inside the path of totality at the time of what’s being called the Great American Eclipse. To paraphrase Mark Twain, the difference between a total solar eclipse and a 99.99-percent partial solar eclipse is like the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning bug.

But if you remain in the Harrisburg area, you can still enjoy watching a partial solar eclipse unfold over the course of 2 hours and 42 minutes. But make sure you take the proper precautions to view the eclipse safely.

The time of when the eclipse begins and ends depends on your exact location. But if you’re in or near Harrisburg, the moon will begin to move across the sun’s disk at 1:17 p.m. The maximum blockage of the sun will occur at 2:41 p.m., when the moon will cover 77 percent of the sun’s disk. And the eclipse will end at 3:59 p.m.

Although 77 percent sounds like a lot of sun blockage, you probably won’t notice any darkening of the sky, though you might notice slightly cooling temperatures.

Looking directly at the sun for just a few seconds, even when the partial eclipse is at maximum, can cause permanent damage to your eyesight if you don’t use the proper protection. And whatever you do, do not look at the sun directly for even a brief moment through a telescope or binoculars unless a special filter is mounted on the front end of the instrument.

Fortunately, there are inexpensive methods for observing the partial eclipse safely.

You can order eclipse glasses online, and many public libraries are giving them away for free. These glasses block out almost all of the sun’s light, so you can stare safely at the sun for hours. But do not use eclipse glasses with a telescope or binoculars; they are for your naked eyes only.

Another way to view the partial eclipse is to project the image of the sun by punching a small hole in a sheet of paper and letting the eclipsed sun’s light pass through the hole onto another sheet of paper. Alternatively, if you stand near a tree, its leaves will act as natural pinhole cameras, projecting dozens or hundreds of images of the partially eclipsed sun on the ground or pavement.

If you plan to use a telescope or binoculars, make sure to securely install a special solar filter on the front end of the viewing instrument. The least expensive option is Baader AstroSolar Safety Film, which has the texture of aluminum foil. You can tape the film over the front of the telescope or over both lenses of binoculars.

If you travel into the path of totality, it’s perfectly safe to remove the filter and view the eclipse with your naked eyes or with binoculars once the sun is completely blocked at totality. In fact, if you use a filter during totality, you’ll see nothing at all. If you’re near the center of the narrow path, totality will last two to two-and-two-thirds minutes, depending on your location.

Obviously, there won’t be anything to see if your sky is cloudy at eclipse time. In general, the western United States has the best weather prospects. But no matter where you go, I recommend checking the weather forecast the night before the eclipse and be prepared to drive to an alternate location with better prospects for clear skies at eclipse time. With tens of millions of eclipse chasers from all over the world expected to be in the path of totality, expect heavy traffic.

If you’re interested in photographing the eclipse, my advice is to use the time between now and the eclipse to practice photographing the sun at the local time of the eclipse. Numerous websites, such as MrEclipse.com and Eclipse-Chasers.com, offer practical tips. But if you’re in the path of totality, spend almost all of your time actually looking at the eclipse. Don’t waste this precious time fiddling with camera equipment.

The Aug. 21 eclipse will be the first to touch the U.S. mainland since 1979. And it’s the first coast-to-coast eclipse since 1918. The path of totality crosses 14 states (although just tiny portions of Montana and Iowa) and five state capitals. And amazingly, it’s the first solar eclipse in which totality can be seen exclusively from the United States since our Founding Fathers declared independence in 1776.

A typical location on Earth gets one total solar eclipse every 375 years on average. The last total eclipse to pass over Harrisburg was in 1478—before Columbus’s first voyage to America. The next won’t take place until 2144—when nobody reading this article will still be alive.

If you miss the Aug. 21 eclipse, you’ll have another shot on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse will cross the United States from Texas to Maine, and the narrow path of totality will pass over the very northwestern part of Pennsylvania, in and around Erie.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s planetarium will run shows about the eclipse from Aug. 9 to 20.

Raised in Hershey, Robert Naeye was editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope magazine from 2008 to 2014.

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