Greenbelt Getaway: Trips for Kids offers a break from the streets

July 31, 2017 | by Carissa Bannister Kauwell

Summer break can be tough on city kids.

They’ve lost the structure of the school year and, with parents and caregivers usually working, they easily can be led astray.

An organization called Trips for Kids offers a unique outlet: nature bike rides for Harrisburg youth, ages 10 to 18. It operates in conjunction with such groups as St Barnabas Center, Boys and Girls Club and Left Out Organization Program.

After retiring, Harrisburg resident Scott Shepler wanted to share his passion of biking and nature with the community. So, he began to search for ideas.

“Ross Willard (of Recycle Bicycle) was instrumental in the start-up,” he said. “He suggested I approach the Boys and Girls Club and provided an initial set of bikes.”

He also told Shepler about an international nonprofit called “Trips for Kids,” which uses bike trips so kids can get out of their neighborhoods, have fun, build confidence and learn about health, fitness and the environment. Shepler formed the Harrisburg chapter in 2011.

Shepler takes his eager participants on the Capital Area Greenbelt for their bike adventures. This 20-mile trail winds its way through and around Harrisburg, allowing for different views along the journey, including the Susquehanna River, wooded areas, parks, neighborhoods and urban businesses.

“The trail,” as the locals call it, is a wildlife oasis for those living in an urban setting, but it offers so much more. It passes near historic buildings, through rustic and manicured gardens and even by remnants of Harrisburg’s industrial past. Which part of the Greenbelt does Shepler most like to share?

“I favor the natural areas of the Paxtang and Cameron parkways,” he said. “During Harrisburg’s City Beautiful movement, (landscape architect) Warren Manning planned to connect the parks with carriage trails, but the plan depended on land donations, and these two parkways were the only parts donated and built.”

Shepler said his group almost always stops at the MLK Memorial on the Cameron Parkway.

“If we have time, I point out some of the historic sites, like the Rutherford Farm Spring House, the State Hospital Morgue and (City Beautiful activist) Mira Dock’s house,” he said. “She was an amazing person.”

One of the organizations that Shepler works with is L.O.O.P. Boyz & Girlz.

L.O.O.P. is a nonprofit with a goal to empower youth and keep them off the streets. L.O.O.P. took its first Trips for Kids ride in 2014, had two last year and has another one scheduled for this month.

“The kids absolutely love the Greenbelt ride,” said Cathy McMillian, assistant secretary for L.O.O.P. “They look forward to it every year. Kids always learn something new while stopping at different areas on the Greenbelt.”

There is no cost to L.O.O.P., and Trips for Kids provides riders with helmets and safety training before they leave.

“Scott loves what he does,” McMillian said of Shepler. “He has a passion for this. He is always up for a ride with the kids!”

“Nature is often overlooked as a healing balm for the emotional hardships in a child’s life,” wrote Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” That seems to sum up well Shepler’s philosophy through Trips for Kids.

“I really enjoy sharing things with the kids, but most rewarding is seeing the kids enjoy themselves, overcome challenges and accomplish their goals,” he said.

For more information about Trips for Kids and L.O.O.P., visit www.tfkofharrisburg.org and www.loopbng.com.

Author: Carissa Bannister Kauwell

City to Country: Harrisburg kids escape the swelter

July 31, 2017 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

When outdoor enthusiasts Chase and Hillary Lyle moved to Swatara Township last year after finishing college, one of the first things the newlyweds did was search online for hiking and youth volunteer opportunities in the area.

What they found was Harrisburg Inspiring Connections Outdoors, a volunteer organization dedicated to giving urban youth opportunities to experience the great outdoors. It was a perfect match for the Lyles, who began volunteering for the group last autumn.

“I’ve always liked being outdoors and working with kids,” said Chase, a Jefferson County native. “I tutored while I was growing up. My brother is 10 years younger than me, so I worked with his team.”

Hillary, a native of rural Clearfield County, also loves the outdoors. She camped with her family while growing up and began hiking in college, she said.

Today, the Lyles lead groups of sixth- and seventh-graders from the Harrisburg School District’s Marshall Math Science Academy on outdoor excursions that most of the young people have never before experienced. Hot city confines are left far behind as the youngsters eagerly experience hiking, camping, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and orienteering—a sport that hones navigational skills. They’ve even planted trees and made holiday wreaths from fresh boughs.

“I don’t know who gets more out of it, us or them,” Chase reflected. “I love things like just seeing them see the ocean for the first time and to see crabs. (Our trips) are the best day of the month for them sometimes.”

Harrisburg ICO, formerly known as Harrisburg Inner City Outings, was formed in 1996 by a group of five Sierra Club Pennsylvania members “who wanted to share their love of nature and the outdoors with youth,” Hillary explained. The all-volunteer group serves around 150 participants each year with day and weekend trips to Hawk Mountain, the Appalachian Trail, Susquehanna River, Middle Creek and various state parks.

“The kids learn practical skills,” Hillary said. “They eat and cook healthy meals. They also learn about leadership and meeting new people.”

Of course, the kids have fun, too. They’re given a balance of unstructured time on every outing for uncomplicated pursuits, such as skipping rocks on water, searching for frogs and turtles, or even just rock hopping.

Marshall students are selected for the program on the basis of their grades and conduct. Marshall teachers serve as trained agency representatives for the program.

Former youth participant Micaela Zawadski said a favorite of her many HICO trips was visiting the Juniata River in rural Pennsylvania.

“I’ve always been in love with the water,” said Zawadski, who emigrated from Paraguay with her family in 2003. “I just really enjoyed seeing nature. I was from South America, so I was used to being outside. Plus, all the group leaders were so caring to us.”

Zawadski enjoyed her HICO experiences so much as a seventh- and eighth-grader at Marshall Academy, she formed a similar group as a ninth-grader at Harrisburg High School’s SciTech campus. Unfortunately, the group disbanded four years later when Zawadski graduated.

“It left with me,” she noted.

Today, however, Zawadski, now 23, is back with HICO as a youth leader after graduating in May from Geneva College with a degree in environmental engineering.

“I think it’s a really neat experience, and I want to give back what was given to me,” she said. “I think it makes a really big impact on kids.”

Hillary Lyle said she likes “just seeing the real impact we have on these kids. We provide them with a cultural exchange. They go to new places and meet people they’d never met before. They develop leadership skills and communication skills.”

Chase Lyle said he likes to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they accomplish something.

“They were so proud when they made the wreaths and planted trees,” he said. “It’s nice to see them so proud of something they’ve done and see it make a positive impact on them.”

The HICO program organizes and leads outdoor trips at no cost to youth participants. Donations, grant writing and local fundraising pay for activities.

“HICO has always done amazing things for Harrisburg very quietly,” said Hillary Lyle, now HICO’s fundraising chair. “We have a few new volunteers this year, and we want to get the word out about our organization.”

For information about donating or volunteering for Harrisburg Inspiring Connections Outdoors, visit www.harrisburgico.org.

Author: Phyllis Zimmerman

Owning Up: McFarland admits owning collapsed wall.

July 28, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Howard Henry stands in front of the collapsed wall that destroyed his business.

The owners of the McFarland Apartments have admitted ownership of a retaining wall that collapsed last year, sending a mountain of debris onto a tire repair shop.

In a court filing today, McFarland LP said its own title search and survey indicated that it owned the century-plus-old concrete wall, which had helped to stabilize the ground near an apartment building and parking lot that it also owned.

In May 2016, following heavy rains, the wall collapsed, spilling tons of dirt, debris and a parked car onto the business below, Howard Tire & Auto on S. Cameron Street. Owner Howard Henry tried to stay open, but was forced to shut down and lay off his dozen employees a few months later.

“The collapsed wall is indeed owned by the petitioner,” Judge Lawrence F. Clark Jr. stated in the court order.

The conclusion came after a survey by Conshohocken-based Biscon Geospatial and a historical review by Harrisburg historian Jeb Stuart, according to court documents.

This was the first time McFarland LP has publicly admitted ownership of the wall. In fact, the apartment building owners previously had denied owning the wall and had been fighting a subsequent condemnation order for its apartment building issued by the city.

This acceptance of ownership appeared to finally allow a resolution of the case to begin.

The order states that the parties have agreed that, as a first step, the site must be secured. So, Howard will erect a security fence around his property, at McFarland’s expense, to prevent trespassers.

Moreover, McFarland and the city have 10 days to agree to a “stipulation of facts” and a proposed solution so the city can enforce its condemnation order.

Separately, Henry in May filed a civil lawsuit against McFarland LP and its parent firm, Sharon Hill-based Primavera Properties, in addition to two PennDOT contractors that worked on the Mulberry Street Bridge rehabilitation project, seeking damages related to the wall collapse.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Fixing History: Harrisburg begins to replace, refresh historical signs.

July 27, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg recently replaced some of its damaged historical signs, including this one in Riverfront Park.

On a visit to Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park, you may have wondered about the history of your surroundings—the story behind such prominent structures as the Walnut Street Bridge and the J. Donald Cameron Mansion.

The information is there for you. It’s just been hard to read on the soiled, bleached, tagged and damaged historical markers scattered throughout the park and the city.

The city administration now has begun to freshen up Harrisburg’s history by replacing many of the Plexiglas-covered signs that offer information on everything from Governors’ Row to the Hope Fire Station.

“Many were in terrible shape,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “Over the years, they had been covered in graffiti and damaged from sun bleach.”

The signs themselves aren’t actually very old. Part of the “Harrisburg History Project,” they were installed between 2002 and 2004 at 113 locations throughout the city. However, by 2015, they already were in such poor shape that Historic Harrisburg Association placed them on its list of preservation priorities.

“We were delighted when we started seeing the new signs appearing,” HHA Executive Director David Morrison said today. “They’re a wonderful asset to the city.”

In June, the city replaced about 30 signs, part of a duplicate set it received along with the project 15 years ago. Over the years, the duplicates apparently had been moved from one storage facility to another, and, through administration turnover, had been forgotten about, Papenfuse said.

“Security rediscovered them, and we put them out,” he said.

Unfortunately, the rest of the duplicate set is missing. Papenfuse believes these signs were used for other purposes—for instance, mounted as part of other historical displays during the Reed administration.

This worn and vandalized sign, which tells the story of Verbeke Street, awaits replacement.

“We don’t have a complete set,” he said.

Not all of the signs need to be replaced, as some are still in good shape, Papenfuse said. He added that he hopes to find funds to replace the others. In addition to the signs, some of the metallic, podium-style stands have suffered damage and need to be replaced. In fact, over the years, some units have been removed entirely after getting hit by cars or otherwise destroyed.

But, to Morrison, 30 new signs is a good start.

“This is wonderful,” he said. “We’d love to see it completely restored.”

Author: Lawrance Binda

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

July 27, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

Cheers to the weekend!

It’s been a busy Poured week for the GK Visual crew. We spent Tuesday at Yuengling (Go! What a great tour), are heading to Lancaster Brewing Co. today, and visit Elk Creek Ale Works in Millheim tomorrow.

I’m hoping to catch JAWS at Midtown Cinema on Friday, but the forecast looks as though it may be pushed to Saturday.

I’ll start Saturday with my usual Next Step Performance workout, then hit the Broad Street Market.

»» Shop Camp Hill businesses on Saturday during the Summer Soiree!
»» Details here

By night, you gotta check out Gamut Theatre’s one-night-only performance of The Golden Boiz.

What are you doing this weekend?

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A Park’s Future: Reservoir Park Master Plan Unveiled.

July 26, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

A map of proposed improvements for Reservoir Park under the new master plan.

On an average day, sprawling Reservoir Park is a rather quiet place.

A guy walks his dog, a car cuts through to Market Street, a handful of people visit the National Civil War Museum.

It’s a place that’s lightly used, which is great if you’re a squirrel or groundhog, but probably not what you want in the middle of a busy city.

Harrisburg now has taken a major step towards reviving public interest in the 87-acre park, unveiling a master plan that will help steer its future.

At a meeting last week, landscape architect Peter Simone, president of Norristown-based Simone Collins, offered a detailed presentation of a multi-year, $7.7 million plan to make improvements ranging from new lighting and restrooms to playgrounds and handball courts.

“The park has had less use in recent years,” Simone told a group of about 50 residents. “So, we want to increase use of the park.”

The master plan is the culmination of an 11-month process that included public meetings, surveys, focus groups and an 11-member steering committee. The $100,000 study, funded equally by the city and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was led by Harrisburg-based landscape architects H. Edward Black & Associates.

Simone offered some park history, saying that it sprang from the City Beautiful movement of a century ago.

“It’s the same park that your forebears enjoyed 100 years ago,” he said.

Over the years, many features have been added to the park, including an arts village, a greenhouse, fountains and sports facilities, many now in disrepair. The city just completed rehabilitation of the band shell, one of the park’s most prominent structures.

Simone broke the master plan into seven phases. The first, the most expensive at $2 million, would cover pricey items like park security and lighting. It also would include less expensive features, like meadow planting and a dog park.

Subsequent phases would include new restrooms, a water spray park, handball courts, new pavilions, changes to roads, more parking, a food truck pull-off area, new playgrounds, a grandstand and band shell seating.

“This is a plan that will take a decade or more to implement,” Simone said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that he’d like the city to begin the first phase soon, following a presentation to City Council this fall.

“We believe we can fund a portion of it from city funds,” he said. “We’re looking to grant a portion, too.”

The plan recommends seeking grants from numerous sources, including the state departments of Environmental Protection, Community and Economic Development and Conservation and Natural Resources.

At last week’s meeting, the park’s neighbors seemed generally supportive of the plan, but a few spoke out on the subjects of security and roads.

The plan addresses security through more cameras and by installing long-lasting LED lighting, and Papenfuse said that the city is about to add second park ranger.

“If we’re going to put an investment of millions of dollars into this park, we’ll also put the investment into the personnel to make sure the park is safer,” he said.

The crowd seemed split on proposed changes to roads and traffic flow, with some insisting that all existing roads should remain open and others advocating restricting automobile use. The plan recommends making some roads one-way to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists and possibly closing off a portion of Park Drive to traffic.

“I like driving through Riverfront Park,” said one resident who wanted to ensure she still could cut through the park between State and Market streets. “It’s a lot quicker and much more beautiful.”

The crowd seemed to agree that Reservoir Park was a diamond in the rough, a remarkable city asset that needed investment, a little love and a lot more use.

“The first time I went up to the park and looked out, it was like, ‘Wow, this is a million-dollar view,” Simone said. “It’s an important facility, and one that’s not really replicated in communities all across the country. This is a very special place.”

Find more details about the Reservoir Park Master Plan at www.harrisburgpa.gov/reservoirplan.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Petite Plants: New Hershey Gardens exhibit teaches sustainable gardening on a small scale.

July 25, 2017 | by Allison Moody

The Hoop House, a new sustainable gardening exhibit at Hershey Gardens.

Fruits and veggies have taken root where butterflies once took wing, as Hershey Gardens recently debuted its new sustainable teaching garden.

This space, formerly the Butterfly House, is now the Hoop House, containing multiple varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs, planted in ways promote sustainable gardening.

“What we were lacking in here were vegetable gardens,” Hershey Gardens Associate Director Dan Babbitt said.

The exhibit opened the week of Memorial Day following six months of preparation.

But don’t worry about the butterflies—they’re doing just fine. Last year, they were captured and moved to the new Butterfly Atrium, leaving space within Hershey Gardens for something new.

In Hoop House, crops will be rotated with the seasons, so each trip should look different. Current varieties include mid-summer crops like cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers and more, all grown to maximize resources.

“You don’t need a lot of space to grow your own veggies,” Hershey Gardens Horticulture Specialist Alyssa Hagarman said.

Throughout the exhibit, small signs teach visitors about sustainable gardening techniques. Some of the recommendations include choosing smaller varieties of each plant, growing vertically on poles or trellises and planting natural pest repellents like marigolds or peppermint.

Hoop House itself was designed to promote sustainability. Plants are watered with rainwater collected in a barrel, lowering electricity and water costs. Food produced from the small garden feeds Hershey Garden’s bugs and butterflies, as well as some hungry staffers. In the future, extra food may be donated to a local food bank.

Although this inaugural season has been mostly trial and error, the Hoop House has been well received by visitors, said Hagarman.

“Interest [ranges] from toddlers to the elderly,” she said. “Everyone is really excited about it.”

In the future, staffers at Hershey Gardens hope to use Hoop House to explore new programming opportunities, including cooking, canning and children’s activities. There will be an observational beehive installed by August, where visitors can watch bees work without the danger of getting stung.

Hershey Gardens is located at 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey. Regular admission to the Hershey Gardens is $12.50 per person, and includes entrance to the Hoop House. For more information, visit www.hersheygardens.org.

Author: Allison Moody

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

July 20, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

Congrats to all the Harrisburg Mile runners last night!

I think today calls for a pool day (once I get some work done, of course).

Tomorrow, we’re heading down to Collusion Tap Works for both a Poured in PA shoot and a Know Your Brewer interview for the site. It’ll be my first visit, but I tasted some of their beers at last weekend’s Chef’s Table at The Garlic Poet, and they were great.

If energy allows, I’d love to 3rd in the Burg and maybe even see Badfish (finally), but … we’ll see.

On Saturday, we’re scheduled to visit Little Italy in Baltimore for a mini overnight getaway, but it looks like the state legislature has decided to ruin that for us. I have some backup plans.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Military Melodies: PA National Guard Band to play at Italian Lake.

July 18, 2017 | by Allison Moody

Harrisburg’s Italian Lake, the site of a concert on Saturday.

This weekend, patriotic tunes will temporarily displace the usual sounds of songbirds and water fowl at Italian Lake.

Starting at 6 p.m., the 28^th Infantry Division Concert Band will perform a variety of music, including John Phillips Sousa marches, in honor of the Pennsylvania 28^th Division of the National Guard and veterans around the nation.

The musicians are all active duty members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and will travel from all corners of the state for the performance.

The Special Projects Committee of the Greater Harrisburg Area is sponsoring the event. This committee is simply “a group of men and women who want to help get things done,” according to committee member Mike Trephan.

It was over lunch at the West Shore Plaza Family Restaurant that the idea for the tribute concert came about. Committee members felt as though National Guard service often goes unrecognized and uncelebrated, and they wanted to host something to show their appreciation.

“There’s been a toll on these people serving multiple tours,” said committee member and former WGAL anchor Jim Sinkovitz.

The committee and its members have been involved in numerous projects in the past, including the Pride of the Susquehanna, City Island, and more recently, getting Reservoir Park’s fountains up and running. The goal is to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents in the greater Harrisburg area, and this concert fits into their mission.

“We don’t have any agenda other than to keep what our forefather’s left us going,” said Trephan.

The 28th Infantry Division Concert Band will perform Saturday, July 22, beginning at 6 p.m. at Italian Lake, N. 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg. The concert is free.

Author: Allison Moody

Novel Attraction: Salman Rushdie to visit Harrisburg as part of book tour.

July 13, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Midtown Scholar Bookstore will host world-famous author Salman Rushdie in September.

One of the world’s most famous authors soon will be making a stop in Harrisburg, as Salman Rushdie plans to visit to promote his new novel.

On Sept. 29, Rushdie will stop by Midtown Scholar Bookstore for a reading and question-and-answer session, part of a 12-city tour to promote his novel, “The Golden House,” said Alex Brubaker, Midtown Scholar’s books and programs manager.

“We’re pretty thrilled,” Brubaker said. “We have been emphasizing trying to get the most respected and innovative authors to come here.”

The visit came about after Brubaker reached out to Rushdie’s publicist to see if Midtown Scholar could get on the tour itinerary.

“Harrisburg may not be the biggest market, but we have a really strong literary community, and I sold it on that,” Brubaker said.

Rushdie is the author of 12 previous novels, perhaps best known for his 1981 novel, “Midnight’s Children,” and his controversial 1988 work, “The Satanic Verses.” Queen Elizabeth II knighted Rushdie, who is of British-Indian descent, in 2007.

Rushdie’s publisher, Penguin Random House, describes his new novel “as “an epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinvention.”

To attend “An Evening with Salman Rushdie,” you must pre-order a signed copy of “The Golden House,” priced at $32. Otherwise, tickets are free, but available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the event beginning at 7 p.m. at Midtown Scholar.

“I am thrilled that such an extraordinarily accomplished author and public intellectual has chosen to include Harrisburg and the Midtown Scholar on his latest book tour,” said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who owns the bookstore with his wife, Catherine Lawrence.

Harrisburg is, by far, the smallest city on the tour, with St. Louis the next smallest, said Brubaker.

“[The visit] was rather surprising to us, too,” he said. “But it’s definitely exciting.”

Midtown Scholar Bookstore is located at 1302 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Click here for more information and to obtain tickets for the event.

Author: Lawrance Binda

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Cheers to the weekend!

»» Shop Camp Hill businesses on Saturday during the Summer Soiree! »» Details here

What are you doing this weekend?

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»» Shop Camp Hill businesses on Saturday during the Summer Soiree!
»» Details here