Capitol Capital: State restores annual payment to Harrisburg.

June 30, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The state legislature is expected to pass a 2017-18 budget today, which includes a $5 million payment to Harrisburg.

Harrisburg looks likely to receive its full state funding after all, as the legislature has re-inserted a $5 million payment to the city in its final budget agreement.

A vote is expected today on a $32 billion state budget for 2017-18 that 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.

“This is great news for Harrisburg,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “And I’d like to thank (Rep.) Patty Kim and (Sen.) John DiSanto for working hard on behalf of the city.”

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, in addition to many others who come to Harrisburg to do business with the state. The state pays no property taxes on its massive holdings in the city, which includes some 50 state-owned buildings on about 42 percent of the city’s land.

The payment was included in the proposed budget released in February by Gov. Tom Wolf. However, the Republican-controlled Senate later stripped it from its budget proposal, with some legislators criticizing the city for tripling the local services tax, which affects everyone who works in Harrisburg. At the time, Kim and DiSanto both said they’d fight to have the money restored.

Once passed by the legislature, Wolf is expected to sign the budget into law.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Foot Falls: What are the most dangerous spaces for pedestrians in Harrisburg?

June 30, 2017 | by Danielle Roth and Steve Cline

With just nine minutes remaining before his 5 p.m. shift, Chris* peddled his aluminum bike from his Midtown apartment toward the downtown restaurant where he worked as a server. No helmet, headphones playing underground rap music, he glided down the sidewalk along Front Street to pause at the sidewalk’s mouth as it opened to the six-lane behemoth of Forster Street.

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Chris said he watched the traffic light controlling Forster Street’s rush-hour traffic turn red, started pedaling, and collided with the front bumper of a silver sedan.

The next thing he remembers was lying on the pavement, thinking, “I got to get up.” With a dented bike, broken leg and blooded face, he could not move.

Chris, who has since recovered, represents one of many Harrisburg residents and visitors who navigate the city without a car, either by need or by preference. Over the years, TheBurg reporters have heard of many other accidents involving pedestrians—and nearly been victims a few times themselves. So, we paired with Steve Cline, owner of map-making project Urban 3D Modeling, to find out how the city interacts with its walking population.

Cline mapped the car crashes that involved pedestrians in Harrisburg by using PennDOT Open Data from 2012 to 2016.

The top four areas of accidents probably won’t surprise those who don’t use cars, and neighborhoods prone to foot traffic showed more incidents.

Cameron and Market streets topped the list with seven crashes involving pedestrians at a single intersection.

A whopping 58 crashes took place along Derry Street. The map shows a concentration along 13th and 17th streets, plus the intersection of Derry and Mulberry streets.

Forster Street, where Chris’ accident took place, clocked in at nine crashes along the downtown portion. Four crashes took place at the 3rd and Forster intersection.

The downtown corridor bordered by Front, Chestnut, 4th and Walnut streets saw 20 crashes with pedestrians. Many took place along Front Street, and three pedestrian crashes (of 25 crashes of all types) took place at Front and Market streets near the Market Street Bridge.

A cross-shaped region around N. 6th and Maclay streets showed 12 crashes with pedestrians out of a total 508 crashes.

“At some point in every journey, everybody’s a pedestrian, even if you park in a lot and you’ve got to cross a street to go to an office,” said Geoffrey Knight, the city’s director of planning. “Pedestrian infrastructure is important for everybody, not just people who rely on walking to get around most of the time.”

A Change
Knight’s office dreams up the “pie in the sky” ideas to design the city for pedestrians—larger sidewalk “bump outs” that trick drivers to slow down, trees placed for shade and safety and well-designed crosswalks.

“From a conceptual standpoint, we are always trying to make the city as accommodating to pedestrians and all road users as possible,” he said.

This perspective on city planning marks a change from past generations.

“A lot of last centuries’ engineering as far as streets … in many cities, was designed to get people in and out the city as fast as possible,” Knight said. “So, now communities are having to correct that.”

Roads such as Forster and Front were widened to accommodate more cars, which benefited commuters, but gave pedestrians dauntingly wide streets to cross.

A few projects are in the works to make the city more appealing for those who don’t drive cars.

A $3 million state grant-funded project is in the works with the goal of transforming the streetscape near the intersection of Mulberry and Derry streets. This Allison Hill intersection, known as Mount Pleasant or MulDer Square, saw nine total crashes, with five incidents involving pedestrians, according to the PennDOT data.

“The purpose of this project is green infrastructure and pedestrian activity because that is what is going to increase property value and safety,” said City Engineer Wayne Martin.

Project leaders also plan to develop a safe path to Cameron Street (following the “goat paths” that walkers already have worn into the dirt) and to transform Nectarine Alley—an alley so rife with potholes that cars cannot pass; I tried it and failed—into a green space.

Martin called this Y-shaped intersection a “sea of asphalt.” A small mini-mart sits at the crux of the Y. The expanse of asphalt makes it difficult for a pedestrian to pop between parked cars to see when a car will whir pass and in which direction.

“What if we made it plaza space, green space,” Martin said about underutilized space. “Give it back to the pedestrian, because it’s not really needed for roadways for traveling vehicles.”

Pinch Points
Though Derry Street, combined with stretches of S. 13th and S. 17th streets, saw the greatest number of pedestrian-related crashes, the intersection of Cameron and Market streets clocked in as the most dangerous intersection for pedestrians.

Cycling community advocate and founder of the bike repair nonprofit, Recycle Bicycle, Ross Willard called this area a “death wish” to cross.

“We have an island that starts from downtown to Midtown to Uptown,” he said. “[This means the city] has pinch points. All the pinch points are deadly because we have high speeds, lots of walkers and lots of traffic.”

Already this year, on a Monday evening in late January, a taxi driver hit a 25-year-old city resident attempting to cross the four-lane, industrial-zoned behemoth. The pedestrian was taken to Hershey Medical Center because of multiple injuries, according to the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.

Last month, a drunk driver killed a woman walking on State Street, another “pinch point,” on an early Saturday morning.

For many residents and workers, crossing these “death wishes” is a day-to-day necessity. Residents staying at a halfway house on Cameron Street can only bike or walk, Willard said. Knight pointed out that the PA CareerLink Center attracts walkers crossing Cameron Street.

To get to jobs downtown, this intersection presents the most convenient route. Over at Front and Forster, that’s what Chris was doing when he got hit. He was just following his normal daily routine.

Now, about a year after the crash, he’s mostly recovered. He continues to bike (on a new one he called “a beauty”). He said he wears his headphones about half as much.

Most importantly, he’s altered his route. He still needs to bike downtown and cross Forster at Front street. But now he opts for the more controlled crossing at Riverfront Park.

*Chris is a pseudonym for the real biker, who asked not to be named.

Author: Danielle Roth and Steve Cline

Small Town Escape: Take a day to take in Mifflinburg.

June 30, 2017 | by Don Helin

When people think of small Pennsylvania towns, they often aren’t aware of the jewels that may be found there.

Such is the case with Mifflinburg. Recently, my wife and I made a day out of it, starting with a morning hike in the Tall Timber Natural Area before enjoying a repast at the Rusty Rail Brewing Co. and finishing up with a visit to Penns Creek Pottery.

A Rhythm

Tall Timber Natural Area is located at the base of Jacks Mountain, about an hour north of Harrisburg. There, we hiked the Swift Run Trail along the creek. There are some ups and downs, but most of the easy-walking trail follows the creek through a forest of white pines and other hardwoods, then up the mountain. Listen for the musical calls of the thrushes and other birdsong along the way.

Once you finish your hike and the appetite begins to build, it’s an easy, 20-mile drive to Mifflinburg. Turn left off of Route 45 at 8^th Street and, in half a block, you’ll see the Rusty Rail Brewing Co. on the left, located in a historic, red-brick building. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to fuel back up. You can even relax with some pool or darts and even take in a dose of Pennsylvania’s industrial past.

The Rusty Rail occupies an enormous, century-plus-old building that, over the years, has made everything from automobile bodies to pool tables to kitchen cabinets.

A few years ago, brothers Paul and Eric John decided to convert the cavernous building into a brewpub and events space, which entailed a complete redesign and remodel, as well as an enormous investment. General Manager Rich Schrader said that they used many existing elements during the renovation and construction, repurposing materials and objects to reflect the industrial heritage of the building and the town.

Next, they recruited a team—chef, brewer, restaurant manager, events coordinator and brewery/sales manager—to lead the different areas of the operation.

“Like any startup, we had our share of turnover, but, overall, we have retained the largest portion of our original staff,” Schrader said. “We had to find a rhythm with the team. On our busiest days of opening the restaurant, 350 customers a day seemed like a lot. Two years later, we are serving over 800 people on our busiest days.”

The restaurant now smokes its own meats, bakes its own breads and creates its own bases, sauces and desserts. The specialties of the house include smoked brisket, cheesesteak spring rolls, Asian veal short ribs and venison meatballs.

Beer-wise, the brewery has six core brands, including an IPA, a pale ale, a blonde ale, a stout, a witbier and a lager, as well as various seasonals. In the near future, the Rusty Rail plans to start brewing sour and barrel-aged beers and to add canning to its packaging.

“The production and distribution side of the brewery has grown tremendously,” Schrader said. “We are present in most of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and we plan to continue to expand into surrounding states and beyond.”

The Rusty Rail’s events side—for weddings, live music and other happenings—also has grown substantially, which should be enhanced further once an outside pavilion and beer garden are complete.

“The future looks very bright,” Schrader said.

One of a Kind

After our meal, we ventured down to Penns Creek Pottery, located on Route 104, about 3½ miles south of Mifflinburg—right on your return trip to Harrisburg. Owners Bill and Sharon Lynch have been at this location since the late 1970s.

“We moved to Mifflinburg in 1978 and didn’t know a soul,” Bill said. “The ice jam of February 1979 flooded our home and workshop, and recovering from that natural disaster was quite a job. It took at least six months to put things back together, while trying to establish a market for my pottery and a brand for myself.”

Another challenge was restoring the 200-year-old, water-powered flourmill on the property and turning it into a production studio and retail gallery. The mill was in derelict shape after ceasing operation in 1951 and serving as a chicken coop for many years. They set a goal for themselves—making and selling pottery in the mill within a decade.

They met that goal and, over his career, Bill has earned many prestigious honors, including the Phil Patterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Design and Craftsmanship from the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

“I think pottery is so important today because we live in an increasingly impersonal world,” he said. “Most of what we use today in our everyday lives is made anonymously, often in factories halfway around the globe.”

People are hungry, Bill said, for things that are not mass-produced—that are one of a kind and made locally.

“Everything I make at Penns Creek Pottery is sold right here,” he said. “Visitors can see pots being made as they browse through the collection of finished pottery, and they can meet the potters and learn something about the process while they shop. People really like that.”

Once you leave Penns Creek Pottery, consider a stop at Shade Mountain Winery. It’s right on the way back to Harrisburg and a perfect way to end your day trip.

GOING THERE

Tall Timber Natural Area: Follow Route 322 West until you reach Thompsontown, then exit at Route 333. Drive north on Route 333 until the road intersects with Route 235, then enjoy a scenic drive over Shade Mountain until you reach the tiny town of Troxelville. Turn left at the sign for the Snyder-Middlesworth Picnic Area and follow the road, partially paved, partially gravel, until you reach the area.

Rusty Rail Brewing Company, 5 N. 8^th St., Mifflinburg. Visit www.rustyrailbrewing.com or call 570-966-7878.

Penns Creek Pottery, 30 Pottery Lane, Mifflinburg. Visit www.pennscreekpottery.com or call 570-837-3809.

Shade Mountain Winery, 16140 PA Route 104, Mifflinburg. Visit www.shademountainwinery.com or call 570-837-3644.

Author: Don Helin

Sit, Stay and More: Once your dog knows the basics, you can take training to the next level.

June 30, 2017 | by Amy Powell

Dog training isn’t just for dogs. It can bring many moments of discovery and learning for both pet and owner.

At first, instruction will be directed towards basics such as potty training and how to sit, stay and go for walks. Just having a well-mannered four-legged companion can be an enjoyable experience and bring a sense of accomplishment.

But, once the basics are mastered, the training doesn’t have to end. In fact, taking it to the next level is pretty simple. The key is to figure out your dog’s strengths and then pursue an outlet for those behaviors, which can be shaped into something constructive and amazing. These may include teaching your dog tricks, dock diving, agility, lure coursing, freestyle Frisbee or flyball. He or she can even be trained for search and rescue or to be a therapy pet that visits the infirmed or interacts with children.

Figuring out what your dog has to offer is the key. If your dog has a great nose and likes to hunt, then search and rescue or tracking might be a great outlet to shape its behavior into a useful and productive activity. Dogs that have an obsession with balls or playing catch may do well in activities such as freestyle Frisbee or flyball, a type of relay race for dogs. There are activities that include dancing with your dog and traveling with other dog-lovers (and their pets) to great vacation spots.

Your dog does not have to be selectively bred to perform such feats. Yes, certain dogs, such as service dogs, are bred for specific jobs and tasks. However, dogs are quick learners and, if given the right instruction and bond, will do almost anything to please their humans.

Age is of no matter. Most people think that training must be started at the puppy stage, but just like with humans, a certain level of maturity needs to be attained before development is fully possible. There are many YouTube sensations that were once pound puppies and are now stars of the internet. Dogs have personality and the potential to learn new tricks at any age. Just because your pup was not selectively bred to be a therapy dog does not mean it cannot be a grand champion in other arenas.

Facilities that offer basic obedience classes sometimes offer advanced classes that include introduction to agility, Rally-O, therapy dog programs and other specialized activities. The internet is a great resource to find classes or clubs that specialize in the activities offered in the local area.

Here in central Pennsylvania, we have clubs that offer activities for both the novice and the competitor. Internet resources include www.akc.org and www.apdt.com, which not only provide information on local facilities and clubs but also offer descriptions of the different activities that are available beyond the basics.

Canine Spa, located in Dillsburg, is a great place to visit if your dog is a water hound. You can see, for instance, if your pet would make a good dock diver, a sport in which a dog leaps off the end of a dock to retrieve a lure thrown into the water. The sport part is how far your dog can jump. There also are several facilities that offer agility classes in our area. In agility, a handler/owner guides the dog through an obstacle course that might include jumps, teeter-totters, tunnels and chutes. Several dog-training facilities offer classes for “Canine Good Citizen” certification, which is the first step in attaining therapy dog status.

Whatever your pet’s hidden talent, it’s great to be able to tap into his or her potential and take the human/dog bond to the next level, fully enjoying your dog’s unique personality and your relationship.

Amy Powell is a dog trainer and Owner of Doggie U, LLC.

Author:Amy Powell

Gone to the Dogs: An abandoned block of Harrisburg gets a new leash on life.

June 30, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Ginger and Matt Coleman are the happy parents of a 3-year-old boxer rescue named Apollo.

“He’s very, very active,” said Ginger, who lives on N. 3^rd Street in Midtown Harrisburg. “So, he really needs a dog park.”

I walked with Ginger recently to a very green, very empty plot of ground at the corner of N. 7^th and Granite streets, a dogleg-shaped parcel (natch!) that, if Friends of Midtown has its way, will be Harrisburg’s first dedicated, off-leash dog park.

“We’ve gone to the one on Union Deposit Road,” said Ginger, referring to Kohl Memorial Park in Lower Paxton Township. “But it would be nice to have one closer to home.”

After searching for several years, Friends of Midtown decided upon this three-quarter-acre patch of grass as the best option for pooches to get their run and sniff on. It even comes with some of Fido’s favorite playthings already in place: squirrels, groundhogs and rabbits, which, at least for now, run around unimpeded, blissfully ignorant of what may be in their future.

Ginger and I visited on a cool evening, a little before dusk, along with several other dog-lovers. The group reviewed the details—the timeframe (early 2018), how much money Friends of Midtown needs to raise ($18,000) and the design (separate areas for large and small dogs). Vartan Group, which owns the land, is letting them have it for the next two years.

A few people chose to walk the grounds, picturing, I’m certain, their own dogs jumping and frolicking and playing in the grass. As a student of this city, I saw things a little differently. I perceived emptiness and eerie quiet, and I began to wonder what had happened to this long-abandoned city block so that a dog park now constituted, to put this in economic terms, a higher and better use.

The story of the 1700-block of N. 7^th Street actually tells a story shared by other parts of once-industrial Harrisburg. By the mid-19th century, one large family, Dr. Luther Reily and his children, owned the entire area—what would become 96 city blocks. Over the decades, pieces were sold off and subdivided so that, by 1889, there were eight landowners on this block and, by 1901, 14, with the Reily heirs still claiming several parcels, according to city maps.

The 1932 Polk city directory showed the block to be fully developed with dozens of small, attached houses, many likely occupied by the working-class, railroading families that populated the area. By the 1958 directory, the block had become almost completely industrial, home to small warehouses, paint shops and junkyards, with some houses remaining, mostly up Kelker Street.

The ensuing years were not kind to this now-gritty block of scrap-metal salvagers and junk dealers. As the city de-industrialized, businesses closed, owners died and properties sold for taxes. Investors and speculators moved in, renting out increasingly dilapidated houses to poor families. In some cases, the city became an owner of last resort. The Vartan Group has been buying up land there for some 20 years, knocking down whatever structures remained, so that it now owns nearly the entire city block.

On that cool, cloudy early evening, as I stood scanning the grassy field, I felt a bit like the character of the time traveler from H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine,” a man who, from his machine, witnesses a block of London rise and fall and rise again, ever changing, over the course of many years.

I suspect that Vartan eventually will find a use for the land and develop it. It may be many years away, but the seeds of the neighborhood’s redevelopment—the pending state Archives and U.S. courthouse buildings—are being planted right now nearby on 6th Street. Some day, new construction will overrun this block, too, putting the fallow property back into productive use, returning it to the city’s built environment, a contributing part of its urban density.

Until then, at least for a few years, the block seems destined to have happy hounds and terriers, spaniels and shepherds, romp and yelp, scamper and play. This will be the first, small step back for a forsaken, forgotten piece of Harrisburg at 7th and Granite streets.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Friends of Midtown continues to collect money for the creation of a dog park at N. 7th and Granite streets. If you would like to contribute, please donate by visiting www.friendsofmidtown.org or mail a check, indicating “dog park” in the memo line, to Friends of Midtown, P.O. Box 5291, Harrisburg, Pa., 17110.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Black, Beautiful, Healthy: Black Girl Health strives to educate minority women about their bodies.

June 30, 2017 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Porcha Johnson

With their yoga pants, water bottles and natural hair tied tight, more than 300 women filed into the Hilton Harrisburg last month to see the Black Girl Health national online movement in action.

While holding meditation poses, announcing their fears into a smoky blue room and following the workout moves of an Olympic silver medalist, these women learned about personal health at BGH’s “Kickstart Your Health Women’s Wellness Expo.”

BGH, a Harrisburg-based digital publication, promotes health and wellness for women of color. Experts on beauty, fitness and medical health weigh in on their website and social media platforms.

“Black Girl Health is a woman who is in control of her life and her health,” said founder Porcha Johnson, who also is a reporter for WGAL News 8. “It’s a woman who feels good about where she is and where she’s going.”

Johnson created BGH as a platform to discuss the specific issues that affect African-American women.

“It’s very cultural,” Johnson said. “In our community, many of us have grown up on processed foods and ‘soul foods.’ We’re not educated on healthier food options. We need to increase our education and awareness.”

African-American women are prone to higher rates of health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, high blood pressure (hypertension) affects more than 45 percent of black women compared to 42 percent of black men, according to WebMD.

“Black women are living in disparities of disease,” said LaToya Burden, Black Girl Health’s project coordinator.

This became clear to Johnson when dealing with the health struggles that pushed her to create BGH.

Johnson’s mother suffered from three miscarriages before discovering she had fibroids, non-cancerous tumors. This condition prevented her from expanding their family.

“She probably had them years before, but they were out of control at that point [in her 30s],” Johnson said.

A few years later, when Johnson was in her early 20s, she found out she had the same condition. Seeing her mother struggle with fibroids encouraged Johnson to take preventative measures and early examinations, she said.

“But that’s just my own battle,” she said. “Everyone has their own.”

As she researched this condition, she discovered her experience is similar to many women of color.

“When I started to see other women my age getting hysterectomies, I thought, ‘There needs to be more awareness,’” Johnson said. “I wanted to create a platform for women, not just with fibroids, but for women who have heart disease, obesity or diabetes.”

Starting as a blog in May 2014, BGH now reaches more than 2,000 Facebook followers and hundreds more in-person with the annual “Kickstart Expo” event.

Sessions at this year’s event at the Hilton included local leaders and national champs.

Charisse Grayer and Sandra Johnson of “Zoombalicious,” a Harrisburg-based exercise group, excited the crowd with their hip-hop style workout moves. Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain taught a strength class. Food and nutrition experts educated guests on healthful diets. Candice Johnson, a certified reiki practitioner, flew in from San Diego to teach meditation techniques to reduce stress. Other sessions covered sexual health, spiritual well-being and self-defense

“My favorite session was the pound class,” said guest LaShon Mcintosh. “You exercise with two drumsticks, and together they weigh about a pound. It was so much fun. I’m going to try to find more classes like that around me.”

Along with treats from vendors and sponsors, Kickstart ran free health screenings from Hamilton Health Center and Alder Health Services.

“We want them to be aware of their physical health and what’s inside,” Burden said. “Just because you look good doesn’t mean those numbers are good.”

And, she said, they chose to have their event in Harrisburg for a specific reason.

“Not Philadelphia, not D.C.,” Burden said. “Right here in Harrisburg, so people can see that there’s a population, there’s a demand here that matters.”

The event attracted women of many races, including those who live outside of the Harrisburg region. Even men participated.

“You show me a person not of color that does not have connection, care or concerns for some woman of color somewhere,” Burden said. “[We’re] inclusive in the sense that we want people to care about our health as much as they care about everyone else’s.”

For the finale, the Hilton’s ballroom transformed into a talk show studio for “BGH Live.” Johnson channeled her reporter skills and chatted with Women’s Health Magazine’s “The Next Fitness Star” Selena Watkins; the oldest competitive female bodybuilder, Ernestine Shepherd; 2016’s Miss USA Deshauna Barber; and social media star and natural hair guru, Temitope Adesina.

“[The Kickstart Expo] turnout and our followers speak volumes,” Johnson said. “People want to live a healthier lifestyle.”

For more information about Black Girl Health, visit blackgirlhealth.com.

Author: Yaasmeen Piper

He Sells Seashells: From Paxtang, you can “hear” the ocean.

June 30, 2017 | by Kathryn Walson

People who enter Rob Burton’s small shop encounter items that are more likely to be spotted at the shore than in a converted two-car garage in Paxtang.

Shelves and tables are topped with lobster claws, hammerhead oyster shells, ghost crabs, horseshoe crabs, shark jaws with teeth, starfish, large conch shells and dozens of varieties of small seashells. Contributing to the beach theme are blue walls, portions of old telephone poles wrapped with rope to resemble piers, fishing rods hanging on a wall and a kayak suspended from the ceiling.

“When people come here, they look around in awe,” Burton said. “It’s overwhelming. It’s a lot to take in. They’re never going to forget it.”

The shop has been five years in the making for Burton, 47, and his three children, ages 13, 16 and 18. Currently hidden in an alley out of street view, the business will expand into the lower floor of the adjacent, 100-year old house, where it will have a storefront facing Derry Street. Following extensive renovations this summer, Burton expects the expanded shop to open to the public in September.

“My target market is interior decorators and beach-lovers,” he said, adding that, “everyone loves seashells.”

Burton buys some merchandise from wholesalers and collects the rest during trips to East Coast beaches, where he and his children gather shells and other marine life that has washed up on shore.

“How many parents walk past and say ‘Don´t touch that?’” he said. “And we stop and pick it up. We all have backpacks on, and we’re saying, ‘This is cool, and that’s cool.’ Mother nature has already done a lot of the work. We clean it up, dry it out and put a clear coat on it.”

His children have filled dozens of decorative glasses with shells and sand, which are for sale in his shop.

Because Burton owns the building, he doesn’t have to pay rent, which, he said, allows him to keep prices reasonable. Shells start at 10 cents apiece, and costlier items carry price tags in the $30 range.

Former marine life that stands out for its unique appearance includes a puffer fish and the egg casing from a whelk, a kind of sea snail. Some people love the prehistoric-looking, deep-water sea robin, which others could consider ugly, Burton said.

“It´s in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “There’s no rhyme or reason.”

One local man who was wowed by the shop requested Burton’s business card. Months later, he returned with his interior decorator and purchased items for his beach house in Delaware.

Burton can also take requests from customers. One woman from Wrightsville who discovered his shop on Craigslist wanted a specific item to add to her collection.

“She saw the lobster claw and tail, and she said she would love an entire lobster,” he said. “I asked her to allow a month for turnaround. She saw it and fell in love with it.”

Another customer said he couldn’t display fragile items on tables because of his pet dog. That gave Burton the idea to sell wall-mounted items.

Although the shop’s name isn’t official yet, Burton is leaning toward “Harrisburg Framing and Sea Gallery.”

Burton provides custom framing with help from his 16-year-old daughter, Makayla, who attends Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School. She paints the frames according to people’s preferences. For eco-conscious customers, he plans to offer an organic line of stains for framing, including coffee, walnuts and tea.

Burton also restores pool tables and antique furniture. An art deco Victor pool table from the 1920s or 1930s serves as a display table for sea creatures. He has restored pool tables that date as far back as the 1860s.

“During World War II, they started using plywood and particle board,” he said. “The old oak ones will outlast us.”

Burton is in the process of covering one pool table with sand and shells to give it a beachy look. He also plans to leave a section of his shop for Makayla to display her photography.

“I’ve preached to my kids to take the path less traveled,” he said. “Be yourself. Be unique, and you don’t know what you can become.”

The shop is located at the rear of 3428 Derry St., Harrisburg (Paxtang), and is currently open by appointment only. Burton can be reached on his cellphone, 717-574-3551.

Author: Kathryn Walson

Community Corner: Notable July Events

June 30, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

July Community Corner

HBG Flea
July 1: 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.

Beginner’s Yoga
July 2: Join yoga instructor Traci Wolfe for a guided 3.1-mile walk around Wildwood Lake with stops for simple yoga exercises. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. in the front of the nature center. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Independence Celebration
July 3: Enjoy an Independence Day celebration on the front lawn of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Dr., Hershey. The event will have food and beverages for purchase, a Hershey Symphony Orchestra performance and kids’ wellness activities. Rain date is July 4. Visit hmc.pennstatehealth.org.

Circus Camp
July 3-7: Circus of the Kids comes to the Jewish Community Center, 3301 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for a camp for kids (age 6 to 14), with instruction in circus arts standbys like fire-eating, juggling, pyramid building and mini-trampoline acrobatics. The week culminates with performances on July 7 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visit jewishfedhbg.org.

July 4 Celebration
July 4: Join Friends of the New Cumberland Public Library for its annual Independence Day Celebration, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy patriotic marches and show tunes by the New Cumberland Town Band at 10:30 a.m., purchase picnic foods and baked goods, and shop a book and vintage jewelry sale. Visit newcumberlandlibrary.org for more details.

Declaration of Independence
July 4: The Historical Society of Dauphin County will present the 7th annual public reading of the Declaration of Independence from the porch of the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion at 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with John Harris, Jr. re-enactor David Biser. Visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

Taste of Independence
July 4: Harrisburg toasts the nation’s birth with a “Taste of Independence” food truck festival with more than 30 food trucks, live music, kids’ activities and more in Riverfront Park, 3 to 9 p.m. The annual fireworks display follows at dark. Visit harrisburgpa.gov for more information.

Bike Rodeo
July 5: AAA Central Penn, the PA Capitol Police, the Harrisburg Senators, InGear Cycling & Fitness and other community partners are bringing the AAA Bike Rodeo back to central PA. The free event uses simulated situations and fun to teach children bicycle safety skills. For more, visit to AAA.com/BikeRodeo.

Blood Pressure Screenings
July 6: PinnacleHealth will offer blood pressure screenings in the Food Court Pavilion at the Harrisburg Mall, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for details.

Story Time
July 7: Gather in the State Museum’s PA Turnpike exhibit to enjoy the story, “Roadwork,” by Sally Sutton and sing about big construction trucks. StoryTime is a read-aloud series, followed by a related play activity, for children 3 to 5 years old, at the State Museum, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Artist Conversation
July 7: Explore the 50th annual Art of the State exhibition with PA First Lady Frances Wolf and award-winning Harrisburg artist Andrew Guth as they lead a casual tour of the exhibit at the State Museum, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Central PA Blood Drive
July 7: Donate blood to support the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St. The blood drive will be located outside of the Wells Fargo Bank entrance. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

Volunteer Work Day
July 8: 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.

Pump Primers
July 8: PA Pump Primers returns to Harrisburg starting at 10 a.m., when a parade of antique fire trucks will leave the state Farm Show building and travel to Riverfront Park, where they will be on view all day. Speak to owners, play games, grab food and listen to music. Learn more at papumpprimers.org.

Library Book Sale
July 8-13: Palmyra Public Library will hold its annual used book sale at Palmyra First United Methodist Church, 520 E Birch St. The book sale opens on July 8 with an early bird preview from 7:30 to 9 a.m. for a $5 fee per person. At 9 a.m., the sale will open to the public and will run until 1 p.m. July 13 is $5 per bag day. Visit lclibs.org/palmyra.

Junior Naturalist Camp
July 10-14: Campers ages 9 to 11 will learn a variety of naturalist and outdoor skills at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Campers will use those skills to explore habitats while hiking, using binoculars and canoeing. There is a $115 fee per camper; pre-registration is required. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Fill a Backpack
July 10-14: Strawberry Square and Harristown Enterprises will host The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region’s “Fill-A-Backpack” event, in the Strawberry Square Atrium, 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Visitors can purchase school supplies to fill backpacks or donate $40 for entire backpacks. Visit salvationarmyharrisburg.org.

4-H Days
July 12-19: The Cumberland County 4-H program invites youth ages 8 to 12 years old to experience fun-filled activities and hands-on learning each day from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Penn State Extension Office of Cumberland County, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. For more details, visit extension.psu.edu/cumberland.

Outdoor Movies
July 14 & 28: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema present two free outdoor movies in July: “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” on July 14 and “Jaws” on July 28 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.

Brewfest
July 15: Taste more than 30 craft brews while listening to music and sampling food from area restaurants. The Dauphin County Brewfest takes place on the front lawn of Fort Hunter Mansion, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 3 to 7 p.m. $35 advance, $50 door, $15 designated drivers. Visit forthunter.org.

Car Show
July 15: JPM Racing will host the “Rumble of the Night” car show from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Harrisburg Mall parking lot across from Macy’s Backstage entrance. The event will include food, music and a special muffler rap contest. Rumble of the Night benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for details.

Art Soirees
July 15 & 22: The Art Association of Harrisburg will hold two fundraising soirees this month in Harrisburg. The first, on July 15, will be hosted by Wendell and Brenda Hoover at their house on Italian Lake, and the second, on July 22, will be hosted by Alex and Kristine Hartzler at their house on Front Street. The cost to attend is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information, visit artassocofhbg.org.

Hamm Camp
July 17-21 & July 24-28: Hamm Camp, 2451 Market St., Harrisburg, offers a free, week-long camp for girls and boys that combines high-level, on-the-court skills instruction with a daily workshop focusing on essential life skills. The camp’s goal is to build higher expectations for achievement among inner city youth. Visit hammcamp.com.

Outdoor Week
July 17-21: Outdoor enthusiasts ages 12 to 14 will discover the natural world while learning skills like building a debris hut, fishing, identifying wild edibles and canoeing on the Susquehanna River, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fee is $115 per person and pre-registration is required. Visit wildwoodlake.org for more details.

“Wicked” Tunes
July 19: Join Fredricksen Library for a night of music from the popular Broadway show, “Wicked!” Fans of all ages will sing along to the CD, and lyric sheets will be provided, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/FRE.

Harrisburg Mile
July 19: Enjoy family fun at the Harrisburg Mile along Front Street in Harrisburg, 6 to 7:45 p.m. The starting line is at Front and Maclay streets by the Governor’s Mansion. Enjoy music provided by WINK 104, grab some refreshments and check out the activities along the Susquehanna River. Visit ymcarun.com.

3rd in The Burg
July 21: 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.

Exhibit Reception
July 21: The State Museum of Pennsylvania will host an evening of refreshments and a tour of the 50th anniversary Art of the State exhibition from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more details, visit statemuseumpa.org.

Putt it Into the Park
July 20: Head to City Island in Harrisburg to enjoy an 18-hole mini-golf course and a Harrisburg Senators game during the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s “Putt it Into the Park,” 4 p.m. Cost to attend is $25, ages 13 and older; $20, ages 4 to 12; and free for kids 3 and under. Visit wschamber.org for more information.

Blood Drive
July 22: Premier Eye Care Group will host a community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Shipoke office, 92 Tuscarora St., Harrisburg. Premier will raffle off a pair of sunglasses for the event. Visit premiereeyes.com.

Quidditch World Cup
July 26: The Quidditch World Cup comes to Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19^th St., Camp Hill, at 6:30 p.m. with U.S. vs. Britain, featuring alumni from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. Register a team or individual by calling the library. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org for full details.

Pride Festival
July 29: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities hosts the 25th annual Pride Festival of Central PA in Riverfront Park, Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy the annual “Voices United” concert with Central PA Womyn’s Chorus, Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus and Voices of the Spirit at Market Square Presbyterian Church on July 28 at 8 p.m. Visit centralpapridefestival.com.

Nature & Art Fest
July 29: The Ned Smith Center will celebrate its 24^th annual Nature and Art Festival at the center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will feature music, food, children’s activities and many nature-themed programs. Most activities are free. For more information, visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Block Party
July 29: Transcend Church will hold a summer block party, 3 to 6 p.m., at the church at 1801 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit transcendchurch.org.

Tea Party
July 30: The Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., will host a tea party in its garden from 12 to 2 p.m., with freshly baked scones, preserves, tea sandwiches, mini-pastries and individual pots of tea. Reservations are required at $25 per person. Visit artassocofhbg.com.

Optimum Benefit: Chanele House–Aspiring beauty mogul by day, truck driver by night.

June 30, 2017 | by Allison Moody

Chanele House

Chanele House lives many lives. She’s a self-described woman of faith, a wife, mother, entrepreneur—and full-time tractor-trailer driver.

Yes, that’s right.

Owner of a budding business, Shea Optimum, House spends her days creating 40 beauty products from her kitchen. At night, she sits in a semi and hauls hazardous materials from York to northern New Jersey. On Saturdays, she sets up her stand at the Broad Street Market’s brick building, donning technicolor eyeshadow and surrounded by a constant stream of customers.

“I have a tendency to step out of the box and try new things [because] I believe God has placed many talents in me,” House said.

House has used herbs and natural remedies in her home for years. After encouragement from her friends and family, she “stepped out on faith” with just $200 and started creating products from shea butter for men and women.

Since she started the business last October, House’s products have hit shelves in New York Beauty Supply in York, Hair Viva in Lancaster and the Broad Street Market.

House’s favorite product and bestseller is raw shea butter, packed into a hollow gourd and imported from Ghana. She also sells scented shea butters, oils, soaps and other naturally sourced products.

“A lot of people know about shea butter, but they don’t know about all of its benefits,” House said.

Shea butter is known to “repair, renew and protect all skin types,” among other things, according to the lid capping each of her containers. Customers rarely need to read the lengthy benefits, as House answers questions in great detail, giving personalized recommendations to every one of them.

At the Broad Street Market, House greets customers with a gleaming smile, which helps to attract passersby, including first-time customer Sheryl Watson. Watson said she’s worked for a body-care company in the past but prefers the lighter scent and natural source of Shea Optimum products. House’s outgoing personality was an added bonus, she said.

“She’s fun to be around,” Watson said. “She really makes you want to buy her products.”

House is discouraged by the way retail stores divisively separate beauty products by gender and ethnicity, so she markets Shea Optimum to everyone.

“I wanted to build a brand that everyone can benefit from,” she said.

House has two children, Nilah, 9, and Deon, 18. She and her husband, Derik, have just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.

“I’m juggling a full-time job and running a business, but with my faith and family, I know that I have everything I need for success,” she said.

House’s original idea of her life never included working as a full-time truck driver. Before switching to piloting a semi for A&S Kinard in 2009, House was a dental assistant for 11 years.

“I chose trucking to show people how gifted I am,” she said. “When I went from dentistry to trucking, it confirmed that I had many gifts and talents.”

She holds degrees in biblical studies and counseling and is a certified temperament and pastoral counselor. House said that, while she enjoyed her previous profession, she wants to spend her life pursuing all of the opportunities possible.

She chose the name Shea Optimum as a reminder of this. The name means getting the greatest use out of shea butter, as well as one’s talents and gifts, she said.

“I wanted my brand to speak life into a person when they come in contact with it,” she said. “I’m all about embracing what’s inside us.”

House’s skills and talents are geared to one goal—one day to fill an entire tractor-trailer with Shea Optimum products, with her logo plastered on the side. With the money she accrues from her business, she then would like to start a nonprofit organization.

“When you have a vision or a dream, you don’t stop until you’ve accomplished that dream,” she said.

Shea Optimum can be found on Saturdays in the Broad Street Market’s brick building.

Author: Allison Moody

The Magic of Miyazaki: Enjoy a full weekend of the Japanese movie master.

June 30, 2017 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Hayao Miyazaki has retired three times.

You may ask: How is that possible? How can you retire again?

Ah, well. That is the great trick that Miyazaki, renowned Japanese animator/director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has played on us time and time again. He retires—and then comes out of retirement.

It makes sense, really.

The work of Studio Ghibli has served as a bridge for many into the world of anime. In most anime films, each frame is more akin to a painting than an animation, and the stories are rich with meaning and symbolism. The amount of time and effort it takes to pull off each masterpiece, especially with the quality that Miyazaki brings to the production, make it understandable that he would want to take a break. But it seems that retirement is just not interesting enough for the man. There is always another creative endeavor, and that is something that he cannot pass up.

So, as long as Miyazaki keeps coming out of retirement to make more films, Midtown Cinema will keep playing his films en masse—or, at least, for a full weekend.

In July, audiences will get the chance to see four Miyazaki films on the big screen: “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.” Hayao Miyazaki has wooed generations of children and adults with these beautifully animated stories, ranging from whimsical to fantastical, with larger-than-life characters, odd scenarios and animist tendencies.

While “Nausicaä” tackles both war and environmental issues head on, “Ponyo” caters to smaller children, conveying a simple story full of magic. And “Spirited Away” is a fan favorite, dripping with symbolism and pushing the limits of imagination. But for this critic, “Howl’s Moving Castle” will always be one step ahead of the others. From the moment Sophie discovers that erratically assembled, chicken-footed castle traipsing about the land, the mysterious Howl has already won us over.

Miyazaki’s whole body of work is a celebration in itself, and we can only hope that it will continue to grow. “Miyazaki Movie Madness” is a retrospective that everyone can get behind.

“Miyazaki Movie Madness” plays July 21-23 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Visit www.midtowncinema.com.

MIDTOWN CINEMA
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

National Theatre Live
“Obsession”
Monday, July 10, 7 p.m.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Monday, July 24, 7 p.m.

Outdoor Films
Down in Front! presents
“I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957)
Friday, July 14

“Jaws” (1975)
Friday, July 28

3^rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Spirited Away” (2003)
Friday, July 21, 9:30 p.m.

Miyazaki Movie Madness
“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984)
Friday, July 21, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 8 p.m.

“Spirited Away” (2003)
Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m.

“Ponyo” (2008)
Saturday, July 22, 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 5 p.m.

“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2005)
Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 2 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

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