Trash Can-Do: The reporters have long moved on, but the struggle against litter, dumping continues.

March 31, 2017 | by M. Diane McCormick

Johan Pacheco has worked enough trash cleanups to know the drill. When he sees something white amid the greenery, he reaches for it with his picker.

“This town, people say it’s old and dirty, but they just have to help,” Pacheco said during an Allison Hill neighborhood cleanup on a chilly Saturday morning. “If everyone helps, we can all do better.”

There is a battle going on in Harrisburg, a war of the cares vs. the don’t-cares. The don’t-cares dump giant mounds of trash anywhere they think they can get away with it. The cares mobilize to pick up the trash and, they hope, prevent dumping in the first place.

This is, of course, an issue that has its news cycles. Around 2013, it was top-of-mind, attracting reporters and cameras to trash-strewn alleys and vacant lots, especially after former Mayor Linda Thompson infamously pinned the problem on “some scumbag from Perry County.”

Eventually, the press lost interest, packed up and left. Since then, say the city’s trash-fighters, progress has been made, but the struggle never ends.

“I think it’s gotten a little bit better,” said Julie Walter, Tri County Community Action’s neighborhood revitalization coordinator. “We definitely see it’s still an issue. It’s improved slightly, but I think there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

Multiple Fronts

The trash problem boils down to two causes.

There is plain, old litter, tossed on streets by litterbugs, or spilling out from overflowing trash cans and uncovered recycling bins. And then there is dumping—the mounds of mattresses, diapers, TVs, tires and assorted junk that don’t make their way to the county waste facility.

Why all the dumping? It’s simple math. The city’s recovery plan imposed a $190-per-ton tipping fee on Harrisburg haulers using the Susquehanna Resource Management Complex, better known as the Harrisburg incinerator.

But in city neighborhoods where rentals dominate and turnover is high, some irresponsible junk-haulers don’t want to pay the tipping fee. Maybe they were called directly by homeowners; maybe landlords asked them to turn a blind eye. In any case, they find a quiet alley and empty their trucks.

“We clean a whole alley on a Monday, and it’ll look like we didn’t touch it by Thursday, because they’ll dump again,” said Harrisburg Public Works Director Aaron Johnson.

While the war is waged on multiple fronts, Tri County Community Action is a sort of clearinghouse. TCCA is coordinator for Keep Harrisburg Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and staffs Clean & Green Harrisburg, a broad-based coalition of organizations that have a stake in de-trashing the city.

Clean & Green is the driver behind the Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup, scheduled for this month. Last year, the Earth Day event attracted 332 volunteers, who picked up 22.4 tons of trash. TCCA coordinates with incinerator owner Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority to waive some tipping fees to dispose of the trash collected.

“We want to get 400 volunteers this year,” Walter said. “You have more area you’re able to clean up. More hands, more work.”

New this year, volunteers will get T-shirts.

“So they can all be identified as working the same event,” Walter said.

TCCA also pilot-tested “Stop the Drop,” a homegrown initiative dreamed up by Fathom Studio to turn the city’s hulking home trash receptacles into public trash cans. In a short stretch of 6th Street, where trash receptacles sit out front anyway because they can’t squeeze behind the houses, orange trash can lids with holes signal that public use is acceptable. TCCA plans to expand the program to other city neighborhoods in the summer.

“The cans are already the homeowner’s can that they’re paying for anyway,” Walter said. “It’s part of the normal cleanup.”

An Example

While TCCA rallies the troops, South Allison Hill resident Jeremy Domenico is a one-man army in the fight.

He has, he said, personally removed more than 450,000 pounds of trash and 400 televisions from city streets in two years. As vice president of the South Allison Hill Homeowners and Residents Association, he has led efforts to remove another 200,000 pounds of trash.

“I was tired of coming out of my house every day of my life and seeing trash, so I cleaned up my street,” he said.

When trash blew in from Derry Street, he started cleaning Derry Street, and the effort radiated from there.

Today, Domenico and association President Shirley Blanton organize weekly cleanups throughout the neighborhood, distributing safety vests and needle- and cut-proof gloves. Domenico collects evidence that points to the dumping culprits and testifies in court—131 times, all successful, he said. He recruits parolees who fulfill their community service requirements by trash-picking, and “none have gone back to prison.”

Pacheco, the resident who wants to make the city better, was a DUI parolee who continued to join cleanups after completing his community service hours, no matter the weather.

“I want to make an example for my two daughters,” he said.

Domenico, too, looks to the future, encouraging children to help with summer cleanups. He used to offer candy as payment but has learned that kids mostly like wearing the vests.

“I really believe that you have to stop the mindset of Harrisburg now, and the only way you’re going to do it is through education,” he said.

In Harrisburg’s Camp Curtin neighborhood, resident Brian Mummau agrees.

“My wife and I and people we talk to ask how we change this culture where kids feel it’s OK to drop trash,” said Mummau, who helps flight blight with Camp Curtin Community Neighborhood United.

The coalition is leading the neighborhood’s April cleanup, while Mummau is starting to organize monthly, small-scale pickups.

Big cleanups make a difference, but they tend to attract volunteers from outside the area, Mummau said. The help is welcomed, but “it doesn’t give people who live here that ownership.”

His monthly cleanups are meant to target the worst sites and promote community-building, “with the thought that, if we keep it cleaned up, they may not dump or throw down as much.”

As citizens clean up or call in dump sites, the Harrisburg Public Works Department collects the trash and hauls it away, covering the tipping fee from its budget.

“It’s more of them than us right now,” said department Director Johnson. “We’re kind of losing the battle, but we’re better than we used to be because more people are paying attention to it. People are getting tired of it.”

A city enforcement officer often finds evidence of the offenders, but fines of only $50 are hardly a deterrent, said Johnson. A proposal going before City Council could create “some teeth to fine people” up to $1,000, he said.

“We need to put the word out there that the city is no longer tolerating this,” he said.

Johnson’s office also worked with the city’s Law Bureau to update littering ordinances. Offenders can get a warning and, for repeated offenses, citations to appear before the district justice. In a perfect world, Johnson said, he would have two cherry pickers constantly working in Uptown and Allison Hill, but his crew is also responsible for paving streets, which takes time during the summer.

“When we get calls (about dumping), we definitely go out and get it,” he said.

It’s Home

Another major player in this battle is Capital Region Water, which must implement pollution prevention efforts under the federal Clean Water Act. Basically, that means keeping trash out of the water system.

Since October 2015, CRW has cleared more than 115 tons of debris from inlets, but such items as rags and flattened bottles still flow into sewers and worm their way past screens in the wastewater treatment plant. In 2016, such debris had to be removed 76 times to prevent damage to pumps. A $5 million, two-year screening upgrade is underway to strengthen the system’s defenses against debris, said Community Outreach Manager Andrew Bliss.

CRW supports the work of Clean & Green Harrisburg, financially and with resources. Riffing on Clean & Green’s “2-Minute Tuesday” program (get out there and sweep up for a couple of minutes), CRW launched monthly cleanups in November 2014. Held at sites suggested by residents, each effort starts with door-knocking the week before. On the appointed day, CRW brings the tools, volunteers collect litter, and CRW hauls the trash away.

“Some months, we get just a few people and five to 10 bags of trash,” said Bliss. “There’ve been some cleanups in 30 minutes where we fill up two dumpsters of trash. It’s pretty amazing how much you can accomplish in just 30 minutes.”

On that chilly Saturday morning in South Allison Hill, the intrepid crew of Domenico, Blanton, Pacheco and a few other volunteers cleared a slope above Derry Street of its cigarette butts, plastic straws, Swiss Tea bottles, broken glass and jumbo-sized Speedway Club Chill cups. Domenico hauls the trash to the incinerator himself and has been known to use his pickup truck to block illegal haulers from getting away while he calls the authorities.

“It’s home,” Domenico said, explaining his devotion. “It’s home. We’ve got to try to do the best we can.”
The 5th annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup is slated for April 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at sites throughout the city. For more information, how to participate and how to become a sponsor, visit www.cactricounty.org/great-harrisburg-litter-cleanup.

Author: M. Diane McCormick

Artless Cuts: Some arts groups fret, others take it in stride, as loss of federal funding looms

March 31, 2017 | by Gina Napoli

There’s an old adage that says that money makes the world go ‘round.

The arts are no exception, which is why some local groups are increasingly concerned that the Trump administration and Congress will ax an important source of their funds—the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society is one organization that would feel a significant impact if the NEA were eliminated.

“It will reduce the scope of what we are able to do,” said Executive Director Jess Hayden, who said that NEA grants account for about 10 percent of the group’s operating budget ($125,000 over 11 years).

The society also would lose its connection with NEA staff, which often offers ideas and expertise about folk traditions and artists, she said.

Over the past 20 years, NEA has awarded $17.8 million in grants to Harrisburg-area arts programs, averaging $890,000 per year. Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) received the bulk of that funding, $16.1 million, averaging $805,000 per year.

PCA gets about 10 percent of its annual budget from NEA and the remainder from state appropriations. PCA then re-grants across Pennsylvania to schools, smaller arts councils, churches, individual artists, senior centers and statewide programs.

PCA is deeply involved with central Pennsylvania’s cultural scene, helping to support the work of such organizations as Central PA Youth Ballet, Susquehanna Art Museum, Whitaker Center, Harrisburg Symphony, Open Stage, Rose Lehrman Art Center, Central PA Friends of Jazz, Gamut Theatre, Theatre Harrisburg, Art Association of Harrisburg, Perry County Council of the Arts and Jump Street.

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society also receives grants from PCA, which, together with grants from the Cultural Exchange Fund and private foundations, allows world-class musicians and other folk performers to visit central PA.

“This allows us to bring authentic artists we couldn’t otherwise afford to broader community bases via public events and make ticket prices affordable,” Hayden said.

Jump Street receives 11.5 percent of its funding from PCA, which means that cuts in federal funding could substantially impact the Harrisburg-based arts group.

“It would put a huge hole in our budget,” said Executive Director Melissa Snyder. “We will continue to educate and advocate. We’ll need to find sponsors and foundation grants to supplement.”

School arts programs also could be affected, as they often rely on PCA money. Less funding from the NEA could trickle down to fewer schools receiving grants.

“Special projects centered on education are large, one-time grants that move the needle forward with arts programming,” said Chad Barger, executive director of the Cultural Enrichment Fund. “This is where I see the biggest risk to the arts, should public funding be eliminated.”

And then there’s what Snyder called the “trickle-down educational effect.”

“Students learn geography by building kites,” she said. “Arts careers, like fashion designer or architect, are revealed as arts career paths.”

And it’s not just grants that arts groups are worried about. Proposed federal tax changes could further impact their bottom lines.

Harrisburg Symphony Association’s Executive Director Jeff Woodruff is concerned that tax reform may limit or cap the deductibility of charitable contributions.

“All 501(c)3 charities … receive substantial indirect support [from] that deduction,” he said. “Just how that plays out in Congress as they negotiate tax reform is of concern to the symphony and all charities, especially the larger ones soliciting big-time donors.”

Will Supplement

Some in the arts community expressed less worry, putting the possible loss of federal funding into the broader picture of what they must do every day to survive.

“Generally speaking, only a small fraction of most local nonprofit arts’ operating budgets stem from federal sources, about 9 percent,” said Bill Lehr, who has served on the board of numerous arts organizations.

National statistics show that arts groups receive about 60 percent of revenue from operations and ticket sales, with about 30 percent from contributions, according to Lehr.

“The government piece is important, but not a prime piece, not in terms of the larger, overall budget picture,” he said.

Barger, of the Cultural Enrichment Fund, added that arts organizations are accustomed to the uncertainty of public money.

“This churn happens with any change in administration,” he said “Every year, arts funding is on the table with school funding because arts are considered non-essential. Those who work with government agencies are used to uncertainty.”

Groups that lose federal money will “just supplement with other sources,” Barger said.

Alternative funding streams typically include ticket sales, corporate and private sponsors, nonprofit groups, partnerships, volunteer time and state and local governments. Recently, crowd-funding has gained in popularity.

Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed creating a special fund for arts grants financed by selling bonds, said Jenny Hershour, executive director of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania.

Potentially, that approach could increase the amount of state aid available for the arts. However, Hershour expressed concern that this plan removes the budget’s line item as an annual operating expense, placing it into a special fund for which fundraising will be required every year.

“When a line item is removed, it’s hard to get it added back,” she said. “If a new governor is elected, that represents another risk.”

In the meantime, Hershour and others are turning to political activism to get the ear of legislators. Last month, Americans for the Arts held an “Arts Advocacy Day” to show support for such things as arts education policy, the charitable tax deduction and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

“We [went] to Washington to share our concerns with congressional offices,” Hershour said.

She also encourages anyone concerned about arts funding to join her in Harrisburg. On April 25, her group, Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, will hold its own “Arts Advocacy Day” at the PA state Capitol.

To learn more about Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, including their plan for “PA Arts Advocacy Day,” visit www.citizensfortheartsinpa.org.

Author: Gina Napoli

Beauty Awakened: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet presents a classic tale of love, good and evil.

March 31, 2017 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Alyssa Schroeder

Alyssa Schroeder has danced plenty of leading roles during her four years with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet: The Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” Katrina in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and Swanhilda in “Coppélia.”

This year, though, the dancer has a new challenge. She’s playing Princess Aurora in the April production of “The Sleeping Beauty.”

“It’s really cool that we first see Aurora on her 16th birthday, innocent, brought up in a castle. But it’s almost hard to play her as a 16-year-old,” Schroeder said, despite also being 16 years old.

Though the fairy tale’s plot can vary, it essentially goes like this: An evil fairy curses a princess, who will prick her finger and die by sunset of her 16th birthday. Good fairies intervene and place the princess and her castle under a spell to sleep for 100 years, until a handsome prince awakens her with a kiss.

Director Alan Hineline considers “The Sleeping Beauty” to be “maybe the greatest” of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets, the others being “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker.”

“It’s a big hit with audiences and a great teaching tool,” said Hineline, the ballet’s former CEO and now director of artistic programs. “Yet, many people haven’t seen it.”

Dream to Dance

Established in 1955 by founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is a nationally recognized school of classical ballet.

“Our mission is to inspire, educate and enrich lives through training in and performance of classical ballet,” said CEO Nicholas Ade.

The Carlisle-based school is deeply connected to the Harrisburg arts community. As the resident dance company of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, CPYB performs in its Sunoco Performance Center.

CPYB’s annual gala, “Evening at the Barre,” is a celebration now in its third consecutive year at the Hilton Harrisburg, Ade said.

“[This raises] essential support that ensures the educational development of our young dancers through scholarships, world-class training and performances,” he said.

Many student dancers, such as Schroeder, dream to dance with professional ballets.

A high school junior at a cyber school, Schroeder sought out CPYB because of its reputation for excellent training.

“You can see amazing dancers who come out of [the school] and join prestigious companies,” she said.

Valuable Lesson

“The Sleeping Beauty” marks the final production of the regular season for CPYB, and, in fact, this is the third time the school has presented the full-length ballet since 2007, Hineline said.

There are 139 roles in “The Sleeping Beauty,” with some dancers taking on multiple roles. Performers can be as young as 6 years old, performing non-dancing roles, such as pages, he said.

“To me, it would be strange if there were only adults onstage,” he said. “Children learn a valuable lesson—how to be onstage—and provide context for the other characters.”

This performance of “The Sleeping Beauty” includes choreography adapted from the renowned Russian ballet master and choreographer, Marius Petipa.

The ballet demands athleticism while staying within the bounds of classical dance.

“In her first entrance, Aurora has so much energy,” Schroeder said. “Some of the dancing is very quick. After she wakes up, she is more poised, in complete control. You see this in the steps.”

What’s more, this is “pure classical ballet. Every step is precise, as is the way the prince and Aurora carry themselves,” she added. “You have to keep the carriage, but also express what she is [feeling] without going outside the boundaries of classical ballet.”

Hineline agreed.

“The role of Aurora requires both classism and athleticism,” he said. “In fact, all the characters are incredibly physical challenging.”

While many people believe the ballet’s focus is the romance, Hineline sees the ballet’s moral value.

“[It has a] very uplifting moral that good triumphs over evil,” he said.

The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet will perform “The Sleeping Beauty” on April 8 and 9 at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. For more information about CPYB, call 717-245-1190 or visit www.cpyb.org. For tickets, call 717-214-ARTS or visit www.whitakercenter.org.

Author: Barbara Trainin Blank

Potter-Thon: Harry Potter and the Marathon Day at Midtown Cinema

March 31, 2017 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

It started in 1997, when the book, “Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone,” hit the shelves in the U.K. (and in 1998 in the United States, as “The Sorcerer’s Stone”).

Author J.K. Rowling had really stumbled across a playground when she tapped into the magical world of Hogwarts. Her creation, Harry Potter, that young orphan boy from England, enraptured both children and adults. Children who had struggled with reading now had a new love for it, if only for Harry’s sake. Each and every page brought some new, exciting adventure into the lives of readers across the world.

And it didn’t stop with the books. In 2001, the world welcomed the first “Harry Potter” movie to the big screen, and those who hadn’t read the books now became engulfed in the “Harry Potter” phenomenon. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint became household names.

The story, which stretches out across seven books and eight movies, focuses, of course, on Harry Potter (Radcliffe). The Dark Lord, Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), murdered his parents when Harry was just a baby—the only reason he survived was because his mother’s love protected him.

It is not until Harry is 11 years old, living with his horrible aunt and uncle as far away from magic as they can muster, that he realizes that he is a wizard. Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and, suddenly, his entire world changes. He befriends Ron Weasley (Grint) and Hermione Granger (Watson), and the three spend each school year learning spells, encountering mythical creatures, and roaming the hallways after dark—while Voldemort’s return slowly becomes more and more of a reality.

It isn’t just the magic that keeps “Harry Potter” fans enthralled even 20 years later, but rather the themes of love, friendship and understanding. An entire generation was shaped by this franchise and learned empathy and tolerance from Harry and his friends.

The “Harry Potter” series is something that fans will remember for the rest of their lives. That’s why Midtown Cinema is putting on a 24-hour “Harry Potter” marathon. Fans who buy a pass to this shindig will get to see all eight movies in one day, with butter beer and free coffee available. There will be food trucks during meal breaks, and costumes are highly encouraged—oh, and there will be prizes!

Mark April 22 on your calendars. It will be just as exciting as your first day at Hogwarts!

Midtown Cinema: APRIL SPECIAL EVENTS

“1984”
Tuesday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.

Down in Front!
“Care Bears II: A New Generation” (1986)
Friday, April 14, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“The Never Ending Story” (1984)
Friday, April 21, 9:30 p.m.

“24 Hours of Potter”
A “Happy Potter” Marathon!
Saturday, April 22, all day

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“The Never Ending Story” (1984)
Sunday, April 23, 12 p.m.
Monday, April 24, 7 p.m.
Children ages 12 and under get in for free when accompanied by an adult

National Theatre Live
“Twelfth Night”
Tuesday, April 25, 7 p.m.

Tarantino Collection
“Reservoir Dogs” (1992)
Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)
Saturday, April 29, 2 p.m. with talkback after screening
Sunday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.

“Kill Bill Vol. 1” (2003)
Saturday, April 29, 7:30 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

Student Scribes: “God Doesn’t Listen to Women” — From Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska, 1925

March 31, 2017 | by Katelin Morrison

Who hears the woman crying rape into the night,
Thrashing her legs, tears streaming down her swollen face?

Who hears the woman imploring her husband to lower his clenched fist,
Arms outstretched, her face turned away?

Who hears the woman crying with her baby when there’s no one to care for it but her,
Her body draped over the edge of the bed, listless?

Who is listening to her?

Who sees the woman turning the key to lock the liquor cabinet,
Sneaking away and stashing it in her bedside table?

Who sees the woman lingering over the stove, fraught with exhaustion,
Setting the table and washing the dishes?

Who sees the woman laying flowers at her boyfriend’s grave,
On her knees before his stone, wondering why she couldn’t have come sooner?

Has anyone seen her?

Who defends the woman who wants to be educated,
Dreaming of nothing but clutching a stack of books under her arm, walking to school?

Who defends the woman who is forced to have her clitoris removed,
Being restrained at all four limbs, sweating in the African sun?

Who defends the bitches?
Who defends the sluts?
Who tries to rescue her?

What was she wearing that prompted him to rape her?
What did she do to provoke her husband to such rage?
What did she gain from that one night stand?
I’m sure she deserved it.

Why couldn’t she fill the void he replaced with alcohol?
Why couldn’t she work harder?
Why couldn’t she have coaxed him off the edge that night?
She just isn’t good enough.

And to the women who want to be educated,
Have you not yet learned your role in society?
And to the women who scream as their bodies are marred,
When will you realize that your sexuality is a curse?
When will you realize that your pleasure is an instrument of sin?

You’re bitches for yelling at your children, for complaining to your husband, for gossiping with your friends-
It doesn’t matter that you’re tired or trying your best.
You’re sluts for giving into sexual temptation-
You allowed him to seduce you.

You’re sluts for making that risqué comment-
How dare you express your desires.

You’re sluts for wearing that skirt-
The one that falls above the knee.

It doesn’t matter that he said he loved you and he promised to take care of you.
It doesn’t matter that you love that skirt.
Stop being so emotional.
Stop being so dramatic.

He’s a he,
And you’re she.
He can’t help it,
But you can, you
-Bitch
-Slut
-Whore
-Dyke
-Butch

And now that I have your attention,

Is it God’s fault?
Or is it ours?

Who is listening to women?

Katelin Morrison is a sophomore English major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Fool for the City: Common wisdom usually isn’t.

March 31, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

For the past few years, TheBurg has done an annual “April Fools” parody, poking fun at some of the more ridiculous aspects of life here in central PA.

We’ve taken shots at the mayor (repeatedly), the county commissioners, City Council and, just a few times, at our area’s website of record over there on the West Shore, among many other targets.

My apologies to fans of the “Fake News Digest,” but we’re taking a break this year from the mockery. Maybe it’s because “fake news” has jumped the shark (we were fake news before fake news was real). Or maybe it’s the toxic political climate. But I just don’t feel funny and refuse to put slices of bologna into my shoes (any old Steve Martin fans out there?).

The spirit of April Fools, however, isn’t completely lost. I thought this would be a good month to revisit some of the things that, in hindsight, seem a little foolish to me. Not that they weren’t serious concerns at one point. They were. However, I believe that time has shown them to be more “truthy” than true.

The Harrisburg Strong Plan is doomed to failure.

Yes, you can argue that the jury is still out on of the city’s financial recovery plan. However, Harrisburg hasn’t collapsed over the past four years. In fact, the budget is balanced, services are coming back and the city continues to redevelop. That said—the plan’s benefits were certainly oversold by its creators, requiring the city to make numerous adjustments along the way. And Mayor Eric Papenfuse has warned repeatedly that the rescue could still go south if the city isn’t allowed to retain its extra taxing authority. But, for all its faults, Harrisburg Strong has delivered on, maybe, 75 percent of its promise, which has turned out to be good enough to allow the city to get back on its feet after being essentially bankrupt.

Parking rates will kill downtown.

Is $3 for an hour of street parking ridiculous? Yes, it is. However, it has not led to the exodus of customers and businesses that many insisted was coming. Much of the credit goes to the excellent restaurants in downtown Harrisburg, which attract customers despite the cost of parking and the resulting press pile-on. And some credit goes to the administration, which, though powerless to mandate change, has worked around its weak position to find creative solutions to reduce the burden of high rates. In fact, my biggest parking bugaboo isn’t even the cost of street parking but of garage parking. High street rates were supposed to push motorists into cheaper, half-empty garages, but garage rates have increased so much that they’re now higher than street rates. This makes no sense. And that brings me to my greatest continuing concern—that operator SP+ seems out of touch with the reality on the ground in Harrisburg. Someone needs to tell those guys in Chicago to turn off the sum function on their spreadsheet app and try to understand that higher rates don’t automatically add up to more revenue.

Front Street redesign will lead to chaos.

Traffic backed up to Division Street. Gridlock on the side streets. Bicyclists getting tossed about like toothpicks. These were some of the common predictions after PennDOT reduced much of Front Street to two lanes and added a bike lane. None of that has come to pass. Except for a few minutes around the morning and evening rush, traffic usually flows freely and, with the addition of a shoulder, more safely. Traffic, in fact, flows so well that the greatest concern continues to be speeding drivers and their refusal to brake for pedestrians at crosswalks. But, all in all, the redesign of Front Street has been a huge step forward, making for a road that is far more attractive and better integrated with the city and its beautiful surroundings on the river.

The state is itching to take over the Harrisburg School District.

The Harrisburg School District continues to face considerable financial and academic challenges, as outlined recently in the district’s “Recovery Plan Update.” In fact, the district seems likely to miss its recovery goals again, especially on the flagging academic side. Back in 2013, the initial recovery plan carried the explicit threat of a state takeover of the district by the 2016-17 school year if goals weren’t met. Goals have not been met, yet no one seems concerned anymore that the state’s real goal was to turn Harrisburg into some kind of right-wing educational diorama.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse will be a stooge to his rich backers

Now that we’re back in campaign season, this talk has started again. Don’t believe it. Like him or not, Papenfuse has profound confidence in his own abilities, doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and, in my opinion, would sometimes be better off accepting outside counsel. Do you think that any donor thought it was a good idea for him to rumble with the Dauphin County Commissioners, the Regional Chamber or the Visitor’s Bureau? Of course not. Now that he’s been mayor for a term, Papenfuse is even less likely to be swayed by his contributors. So, if Papenfuse is re-elected, we should expect a mayor in all his positivity and pugnaciousness, his sureness and sourness—but maybe even more so.

—

Years ago, someone said to me, “The biggest problem I have with the press is that you guys write a story but then never follow up later.” I had to agree with him. News isn’t relevant only when there’s a problem or outrage. It’s also news, perhaps more important news, when a problem is solved or an issue clarified, even if that involves years of small, unsexy steps that don’t make for clickable headlines. But I guess that’s just the fool in me talking.
Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Red, Red Wine: The many ways, flavors of the classic sangiovese grape.

March 31, 2017 | by Steve Juliana

In the world of wine, there are but seven grapes that are designated “noble,” and only one comes from Italy.

Sangiovese is an aromatic and fruity red with unique acidity that often matches well with food and is also capable of long aging and amazing complexity. This well-known fruit develops into its finest variations in the region of Tuscany. Its name is derived from the Latin sangue di Giove, or “blood of Jove,” and has been written about since 1590.

Chianti is arguably the best-known sangiovese-based wine. With modern interpretations set down by Italian law, Chianti can be 100-percent sangiovese or even blended with French grapes. The prime grape-growing region is called Chianti Classico, and the best wines are those labeled “riserva.” In these bottles, we find the true idea of grace come to fruition.

Of all the Tuscan hill towns, Montalcino is one of the most famous. Here, Italy’s best red wine from sangiovese vineyards is bottled. And, of those, the Brunello clone produces the wine with the greatest stature. Never blended and aged for a minimum of four years, it has a reputation for power and longevity. Brunello—“the little brown one”—was isolated by the Santi family in the 1840s and has become unrivaled in reputation and price.

For those who wish to experience great wine without the great cost, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a reasonable alternative. Bottled either singly or blended, these wines are not aged as are other Tuscan quaffs and make for delightful drinking.

The region along Tuscany’s coast is known as the “wild west” as much for its isolation as for the independence of the winemakers and their philosophies. The central city is Scansano, where the clone known as Morellino—“the little black one”—takes root. As the “wild west” moniker implies, convention is mostly out the window with vintners blending and bottling as they see fit. The wines are unique and exciting with a dark richness that deserves a good look.

Between the beauty of Montalcino and the quaintness of Scansano lies the DOC of Montecucco, where the sangiovese may be best. The wines there have a richness and balance between deep fruit and nuance. The relative obscurity of this area makes the wine hard to find and also pricey. This all pales with your first sip. Of all the wine made in Tuscany, this is my favorite.

Tuscany is a region rich with types and styles of wine. It is well worth exploring, sampling the wonderful things done with the sangiovese grape.

Keep sipping, Steve

Author: Steve Juliana

In Play: This month, the City Islanders begin the 2017 season—and prepare for big changes ahead.

March 31, 2017 | by Kate Morgan

Burg in Focus: City Islanders from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Tiago Lopes is a man with a big personality and big plans for Harrisburg’s professional soccer team.

Lopes, 34, had his own career in professional soccer before leaving his native Portugal to work as a consultant with teams around the world. In 2014, he was invited to an exhibition game in Harrisburg. A few meetings later, he was moving his family to the United States to work as one of the youngest team presidents in the world.

“I was only 30 years old, and for me to be a president was quite remarkable,” Lopes said. “It was a huge responsibility, one I didn’t want to turn down.”

The City Islanders play in the United Soccer League (USL), a Division II professional league. The 30 teams from cities around the country are essentially soccer’s minor-leaguers. For many players, it’s the last stop before Major League Soccer or the U.S. National Team.

In his first year, Lopes, alongside head coach Bill Becher, led the City Islanders on what Lopes calls “a magical run,” storming through the playoffs and into the final. The next year brought another successful season, but, in 2016, Lopes stepped away.

Tiago Lopes

“Leaving was not an easy decision,” he said. “We were having a lot of success, with record fan attendance and a remarkable playoff run. But I felt at the time that the club was refreshed, and the groundwork was laid. I needed a little more time to myself and time with my family.”

Lopes stayed busy during his year away, enrolling at (and graduating from) Harvard Business School. As the 2017 season approached, it became clear he belonged back in the world of soccer.

“I realized I was missing the unique stress that comes with professional soccer,” he said. “That’s hard to explain, but you feel this unique pressure, and that’s something I love.”

He’s returning to a team coming off a difficult season. In 2016, the City Islanders lost star forward Aaron Wheeler to an injury halfway through the regular season schedule and failed to make the playoffs.

This season, Wheeler will be back on the field, along with six other powerhouse members of last year’s roster. They’ll be joined by Brandon Miller, the USL’s 2015 “Goalkeeper of the Year.” Head coach Becher foresees a successful season ahead for the more experienced team.

“We had struggles last year. It was a very young team,” he said. “This year, we’ve brought back a good core and added in guys with experience from around the league. I feel very good about what we’ve assembled.”

Becher is also glad to have Lopes—with his wealth of experience on and off the field—back in Harrisburg.

“He brings a lot of experience to the table,” Becher said. “He’s worked with clubs all over the world, been with some of the biggest clubs overseas, and I’m excited that now he’s back with us.”

Though soccer has long been the most popular sport in his native Europe, Lopes said he jumped at the chance to work in America’s burgeoning market.

“Soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the United States,” he said. “In many states, it is the No. 1 sport in terms of youth participation. That’s quite remarkable if you look back five, 10 years ago.”

For Lopes, that growth represents a lot of potential for Harrisburg’s home team, and he has ambitious plans to capitalize on it.

“You can look at the industry and see that there is an economic impact, a growth and a quality that is sustainable,” he said. “These kids who are playing the game right now will become, in 10 years, the consumers of soccer.”

It’s not just about the economics. In fact, for Lopes, the bottom line is more of an afterthought. He’s focused on more elemental principles: community, hometown pride and the love of the game.

“I always go back to my deepest roots; my love for the sport,” he said. “You have to love what you do. That’s truly important. I’ve played the game. I turned pro playing the game, and I have a deep relationship with the sport.”

Lopes wants the rest of the region to have the same relationship, which is why, he said, this will be the City Islanders’ final season before a bottom-up rebranding.

“It is our firm belief that we need to rebrand the entire club,” he said. “We need a new identity, new name, new everything. And this journey of rebranding is not to be determined by us. We want the community, the fans, everyone to participate and have a hand in what we’re going to create.”

To that end, Lopes said, the 2017 season will be full of community-outreach events and the establishment of new partnerships. Ultimately, the team plans to have 50,000 kids in the region playing on affiliated youth teams.

“We have to be more than a soccer club,” he said. “We have to be a community organization. We truly want fans to embrace a new story, something they haven’t heard or felt before, that will make them feel proud to be from this region.”

The other major priority, Lopes said, is constructing a soccer-specific stadium. Currently, the team shares FNB Field, City Island’s baseball stadium, with the Harrisburg Senators AA minor league team.

“By 2019, we would like to have that stadium built and be hosting soccer and non-soccer events, bringing thousands and thousands of families to Harrisburg,” Lopes said.

At the end of the day, Becher said, it’s all about inspiring pride and loyalty in the fans.

“We want to continue to get our dedicated fans in the seats and also attract new fans,” he said. “We’re confident that, when people come see us, they’re going to want to come back.”

The Harrisburg City Islanders open at home on April 15 at FNB Field in Harrisburg. For more information, including the 2017 schedule, visit www.cityislanders.com.

Author: Kate Morgan

Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 31, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Happenings

Museum & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-385-3315; Facebook: 3rd Street Studio

“Dimensional Abstraction,” works by Chris Lyter, through April 17, at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St.

“In Dreams,” a sculptural installation by Chad Whitaker, April 21-May 15; reception: April 21, 6-9 p.m.

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Sin City Tucker ’48 Replica,” through April 1.

“Magic Skyway 1964 Ford World’s Fair Thunderbird Convertible,” through April 15.

“Mopar Midsize Muscle,” a mini-exhibit of Mopar muscle cars, through April 22.

“Three Chevys and a Diner,” an exhibit featuring a neighborhood diner and three 1950s Chevys, through April 22.

“Amore della Strade: Italian Cars,” featuring Italian cars and motorcycles, through April 22.

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“(photo) synthesis: from wood to paper,” AHA Collaborative Exhibition with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, April 7-May 4; reception: April 8, 5-8 p.m.

Brain Vessel Gallery
4707 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-2306; bvcargo.com

“The Road Traveled,” license plate art by Jennifer Savo, through mid-April.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“Celebration of Student Art,” through April 8.

“Expression and Exploration: Linda Young and Teri Oja,” April 14-May 13.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Mary Ann Byrne-Walker

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

Works by Holly Angelique and Ann Benton Yeager, through April 29.

Works by Paul Gallo and Steve Wetzel, April 19-May 16; reception: April 21, 6-9 p.m. at Café 1500.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Fiber Arts Show, with decorative, functional and wearable fiber art, and hand-dyed fabric and yarn, April 6-May 20, reception: April 9, 1-3 p.m.

Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
dauphincountyhistory.org

“Uncle Sam Calls: Dauphin County in World War I,” an exhibit of historic posters and artifacts, April 9-Dec. 22; opening: April 9, 1 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“One Ground Beetle,” highlighting the collaboration between haiku poet Melody Davis and printmaker Harold Lohner, through May 6.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

“Place and Space,” recent paintings by Jesse Waite, April 4-April 30; reception: April 21, 5-7 p.m.

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective

“Man vs. Machine,” a group exhibition, through April 13.

“Nomad Space,” paintings of Paul Nagle, April 7-May 4; reception, April 7, 6-11 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Works by Susan Bailey, Christine Goldbeck, Caleb Smith and Paul Vasiliades, through April 16.

Works by Elaine Brady Smith, Tami Bitner, Kristen Fava and Julie Iaria, April 18-May 14.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“We Call Them Buffalo Soldiers,” examining the service of black soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces from the American Revolution to the integration of the services in 1948, through June.

“Reconstruction: The Unfinished War,” examining the unfinished issue of equality among the races in the reunited states, through Dec. 31.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Works of mixed media artist Wendy Weyant, through April 3.

“Nests,” photography by Sharon Beals, through April 7.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

West Shore School District Student Art Exhibit, April 3-28.

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Move Beyond,” featuring dramatic, abstract oil paintings by Chris Lyter, through April 9.

“Synchronicity,” a collection of prophetic, abstract acrylic paintings by Jeannine Prinz, April 14-May 6; reception: April 14, 6-8:30 p.m.

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Students Honor Show, April 6-May 1; receptions: April 20 and May 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“World War I Posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives,” April 2-Nov. 12; opening: April 2, 2 p.m.

2017 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards, through April 16.

“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 30.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Doshi” Open Studio, through April 23.

“Relics,” photographs by Stephen Althouse portraying humanity through tools and artifacts people leave behind, through May 7.

“Philip Pearlstein: Seventy-Five Years of Painting,” through May 21.

Sykes Gallery
Millersville University
Breidenstine Hall, 46 E. Frederick St.
artsmu.com

Juried Student Exhibition, April 3-26; reception: April 3, 5-7 p.m.

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Expressionist art by Paul Kicklighter, through April 5.

Allegorical Paintings by Thomas Scullin, April 7-30.

Utsav 2017, Indian Arts Gala, April 22, 5 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Art in the Wild, nature-inspired art, April 8-Oct. 31.

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville
717-871-4700; artsmu.com

“A Planet that Dreams,” art by Darlene Farris, through May 5.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Val McClymont’s art students, through April 16.

Works by Christina Heintzelman, April 21-May 14.

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

“Get on Board Art Fundraiser,” presented by Gallery@Second, through April 20.

Read, Make, Learn

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 5: Secrets of Sinagapore, 6-9 p.m.
April 13: Fresh Fish & Quick Sauces, 6-9 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

April 1: Safe Sitter Workshop, 10 a.m.
April 1: Cookbook Club—SkinnyTaste Cookbook, 1 p.m.
April 3, 17: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
April 4: Curl up with the Classics—“The Scarlet Letter,” 10 a.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Crazy 8s Math Club, 5:30 p.m.
April 4, 11, 25: Natalie D. Craumer Writers Workshop, 6:30 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20: Drop-in Story Time, 11 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Language at the Library, 10 a.m.
April 7: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 8: Trivia Saturday and BYOB, 2-3:30 p.m.
April 10, 17: Infant Massage w/ Pinnacle Health, 9:30 a.m.
April 10, 24: LEGO Club, 4:30 p.m.
April 11, 25: Teen Meetup Discussion Group, 7 p.m.
April 12: Great Stories, 10 a.m.
April 12: STEM Exploration Lab, 4 p.m.
April 13, 27: Drop-In Story Time, 6:30 p.m.
April 13, 27: Plot Twisters Tween Writers Group, 6:30 p.m.
April 18: Fredricksen Reads—“The Elegance of the Hedgehog,” 7 p.m.
April 20: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
April 25: Shining Light on Shade Gardening, 7 p.m.
April 28: Artist Alley, 6:30 p.m.

Healthy Living Kitchen
16 S. Rosanna St., Hummelstown
717-512-0077; healthylivingkitchenpa.com

April 6, 20: Healthy Living 101, 7-8:30 p.m.
April 27: Cooking Class—Healthy Fats Keep You Moving, 6-8 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

April 1: Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
April 15: A Novel Idea 102, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 15: Waxing on Nature—Recycled Books Workshop, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

April 2, 9, 16, 23: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
April 4: Men’s Group, 6 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
April 11: Seniors Group, 6 p.m.
April 13: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
April 18: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.
April 25: LGBT Parents, 6 p.m.

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 27-28: Opera Scenes Workshop

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 1: Work From Home—Entrepreneur Meet-Up, 10 a.m.
April 1: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
April 1: Book signing w/Tony Benjey, 2-4 p.m.
April 4, 18: Meet-up, 9 a.m.
April 4: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
April 7, 14, 28: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
April 11: Men’s Conversation, 7 p.m.
April 13, 20: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
April 16: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
April 16: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
April 19: Health Care Forum, 7 p.m.
April 19: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
April 23: Jonathan Smucker in Conversation w/Michael Long, 2-4 p.m.
April 25: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.
April 29: A Conversation w/Susan Perabo, 3 p.m.
April 30: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

April 7-9: Encaustic Workshop

The Movement Center
2134 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-238-0357; themovementcenter.net

April 9: Community Yoga—Free Beginner Class, 10 a.m.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

April 22: Lessons in History, 1-2 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

April 13: First Investigation of Stream Health, 7 p.m.
April 29: Spring Bird Walk

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

April 1: LEGO Madness, 10:30 a.m.
April 3, 12 17, 26: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 6: Crafternoon, 3-5 p.m.
April 6: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 8: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 10: Wee Build, 10:30 a.m.
April 10: Family Coloring Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 11: Book Review—“The Hershey Story,” 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 15: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 26: Pennwriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.

Penn State Extension in Cumberland County
310 Allen Rd., Carlisle
717-240-6500; extension.psu.edu

April 5, 12, 19, 26: Sustainable Gardening Series, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
April 13: Pollinator Friendly Gardening, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

April 7: StoryTime, “Tools” by Taro Miura, 10-11 a.m.
April 7: Learn at Lunchtime: Planetarium, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

April 1, 8, 15: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 12: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.
April 19: An Evening w/Robert Dale Williams, 6-8 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

April 1: Leave No Trace for Girl & Boy Scouts, 10:30a.m.-2:30 p.m.
April 2: Beginner’s Yoga and Walk
April 2: Sunday Afternoon Bird Walk, 1-3 p.m.
April 2: Art in the Wild—Meet the Artists, 1-3 p.m.
April 5: Bird Walk—Early Migration, 8-10 a.m.
April 6: Art in the Wild Lecture, “Recasting Nature,” 7-8 p.m.
April 8: Saturday Storytime, 10-11 a.m.
April 8: Clean Up Your Earth Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 9: Flower Walk—Dutchman’s Breeches & Trout Lilies, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 12: Stress Relief Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 14-15: Discovery Walk—The Search For Spring, 10-11:30 a.m.
April 20: Get in Shape Walk, 7-8 p.m.
April 22: Brownie Scout Workshop—Wonderful Water, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

April 7: The Spinners, Little Anthony & the Imperials
April 8: Michael W. Smith w/Jordan Feliz and Nathan Tasker
April 9: Home Free
April 23: Jake Owen

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

April 1: Solar Federation—RUSH Tribute Band
April 7: Colebrook Road
April 15: Crippled But Free and Sons of Pitches
April 20: Consider the Source
April 21: Spiritual Rez
April 22: The Clarks
April 30: Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

April 1, 5, 13, 21: Noel Gevers
April 4, 22: Daniel Sheahan
April 6, 9, 14, 23: Anthony Haubert
April 7, 18: Corinna Joy
April 8, 12, 28: Roy Lefevre
April 11, 25: Maria Battista
April 15, 29: Ted Ansel
April 19: Chris Purcell
April 20, 27: Jessica Perla
April 26: Deborah Anderson

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

April 22: Glee Invitational: Collage A Cappella Competition

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

April 2: Buster Williams Quartet

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

April 6: Randy & Mr. Lahey
April 12: The Felice Brother
April 13: Frankie Ballard
April 14: RJD2
April 20: Vundabar
April 21: Frank Lero & The Patience
April 23: Badfish—Tribute to Sublime
April 28: The Districts

Champions Sports Bar & Grill
300 2nd St., Highspire
717-939-0488; Facebook: Champions Sport Bar

April 2: Slam Allen Band & Nate Myers Trio

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

April 1: Digisaurus
April 2: Jack Pyers
April 7: Antonio Andrade
April 8: Jim Steele
April 9: Michael Arthur & Kristina Machusick
April 14: Sinclair Soul
April 15: Doug Morris
April 20: Kosi
April 21: Jane Taylor
April 22: Hard Travelin’
April 23: Kirk Wise
April 28: Kevin Kline
April 29: Janie Womack & Jody Esterlean
April 30: Brian Davis

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

April 11: Vellamo

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 1: Shakespace w/Babel Map & Nachtreim

April 7: Vetour Productions First Friday
April 8: NP Preseley & The Ghost of Jesse Garon
April 9: Soulful Sunday
April 14: Charlie Hunter Trio
April 15: Samantha Fish
April 22: Observe the 93rd, Sterotytans, Oaf, Palaceburn
April 27: Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones

April 28: A Night of Chamber Music
April 28: Kilmaine Saints
April 29: Andy Mowatt’s Steely Jam

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

April 8-9: Masterworks
April 22-23: Michael Cavanaugh

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheyentertainment.com

April 4: Brit Floyd
April 5: Jackson Brown
April 21: Hershey Symphony
April 25: Brian Wilson

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

April 1: DJ Styles, Mystery Machine
April 7: JJ Rupp Band
April 8: DJ Magic, Sapphire
April 14: D-BO
April 15: DJ Styles, The Big House Band
April 21: Smooth Like Clyde
April 22: DJ Ray Rossi, Amish Outlaws
April 28: Uptown Band
April 29: DJ Matrix, The Luv Gods

Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com

April 1: Adrian Blitzer
April 8: Lazy Joe Fink
April 15: Decipher Life
April 22: The Colt Wilbur Band
April 29: Observe the 93rd

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

April 23: Sunday Arts Hour w/Charlie Zahm, 3 p.m.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

April 7: Black Black Beast
April 14: K & R

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 2: Shippensburg University Concert Band
April 6: One Night Queen
April 23: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra
April 28: Foreigner

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 2: Wind Symphony Concert
April 22: Jazz Ensemble
April 23: Symphony Band
April 29: Symphony Orchestra

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

April 5: Kristóf Baráti

Messiah School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

April 1: Percussion Ensemble
April 7: Tim Warfield and His Organ Band
April 8: Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds
April 9: Concert Choir & Chamber Singers
April 10: Brass Choir and Brass Studio
April 11: Mendelssohn Piano Trio
April 12: Jazz Combo
April 13: Jazz Fusion
April 22: Symphony Orchestra
April 23: Choral Arts Society—Handel’s “Messiah”
April 24: Musica Nova
April 26: Men’s Ensemble, Women’s Ensemble, Chamber Singers
April 29: One College Ave Concert
April 29: Jazz Ensemble
April 30: UVOP Convert

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 7: Messiah College Percussion Ensemble
April 21: Kosi

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

April 1: Hank Imhof
April 8: Kevin Cole
April 15: Darcie Miner
April 22: Roy Lefever
April 29: Dave Kelly

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

April 8: Jay Smar
April 22: Ann Kerstetter

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

April 1: The Bo Deadlys, The Jellybricks
April 8: Benjamin Vo
April 17: River City Big Band
April 21: Aortic Valve
April 28: The Filthy Lowdown

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

April 7: Gabe Stillman & The Billtown Giants
April 21: Albert Cummings

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com

April 1: Betsy Barnicle

Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

April 1: York Symphony Orchestra
April 7: Jazz in the City
April 9: York Junior Symphony Orchestra
April 13: Richard Thompson
April 15: York Symphony Orchestra
April 19: Zoe LaBelle
April 21: Micky Dolenz
April 22: Ben Folds
April 27: Hosanna Ringers Bell Choir

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

April 1: Keola Beamer & Jefferson, Moanalani Beamer
April 6: Del Rey
April 20: Daisy Castro Quartet
April 22: Spring Coffeehouse

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

April 6: Del Rey
April 21: River City Big Band

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 5: Kristóf Baráti
April 27: Average White Band

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville
717-871-4700; artsmu.com

April 1: Single Reed Symposium
April 2: Percussion Ensemble
April 7-8: Percussive Arts Society
April 21: Orchestral Masterworks
April 26: Brother Sun w/Abbie Gardner
April 30: MU Concert Band and Wind Ensemble
April 30: World Percussion

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

April 29: Julianne and Derek Hough
April 30: “Peppa Pig Live!”

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

April 1-9: “Sister Act”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Through May 14: “My Fair Lady”

Gamut Theatre
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

April 7-9: “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ!” (PHP Young Acting Co.)
April 19-May 11: “Pinocchio” (Popcorn Hat Players)
April 23: Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

Through April 9: “Hope Has Come”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

April 1: Sid Davis
April 7-8: Spanky Brown
April 12-14: Magic Mike Live
April 15: Paul Lyons
April 21-22: Aaron Kleiber
April 28-29: Kevin Lee

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

April 1-2: HIT Marathon
April 28, 30: Level 1 Class Show
April 29: Intro to Musical Improv Class Show

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

April 9: Illegal Seafood Comedy

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

April 20-30: “Rabbit Hole”

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheyentertainment.com

April 6-7: Gabriel Iglesias
April 15: Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
April 26: Neil Degrasse Tyson
April 28-20: Riverdance

Lancaster Marionette Theatre
126 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-394-8398; Facebook: Lancaster Marionette Theatre

Through April 15: “Peter Cottontail”

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmonline.net

April 28-May 14: “The Shadow Box”

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

April 29: Jann Hanna’s “Into the Wild” Live

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

April 7: “In the Mood”
April 9: Lewis Black

Messiah School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Through April 9: “The Shaughraun”
April 28-29: GiViM Dance

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

April 21: Comedy Night
April 29: Spring Story Time w/Popcorn Hat Players

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

April 30: Meet William Penn

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

April 7-May 7: “Uncanny Valley”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

April 21-May 7: “Superior Donuts”

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

April 20-23: “1984”

Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

April 6: James Dobson, Steven Rogers, Kathy Griffin
April 9: “Cinderella” w/Russian National Ballet Theatre
April 20: Dean Napolitano, Corey Alexander
April 25: “RENT”
April 29: Step Afrika!

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Through April 2: “4000 Miles” at Whitaker Center

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

April 13: “Curveballs” at Zeroday Brewing Co.

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

April 1: NetCo Dance
April 7: Poetry On & Off the Page w/Meg Day
April 13: “One Noble Journey”
April 18-19: Sarah Bernhard

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 1: “Sweet Charity” w/CASA
Through April 2: “4000 Miles” w/Theatre Harrisburg
April 8-9: “Sleeping Beauty” w/Central PA Youth Ballet

York Little Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; ylt.org

April 28-May 7: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

April 13: “Curveballs” w/Untitled: A Storytelling Project

Tastes & Tunes: Eating well, doing good at Taste of Jazz.

March 31, 2017 | by Priscilla Morales

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, which means you may be looking for a special way to appreciate this quintessential American art form.

If so, be-bop up to the National Civil War Museum for the 3rd annual Taste of Jazz, where you can satisfy your need for great tunes and tastes—and do so for a wonderful cause.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Harrisburg organizes the yearly fundraiser to support its community outreach, specifically the St. Barnabas After-School Program and the Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope. The former focuses on youth-centered ministries, while the latter caters to underserved residents in Uptown Harrisburg and surrounding neighborhoods.

“It’s about commitment to community, relationships with each other and the strengths and gifts that make them better,” said Phyllis Hicks, a member of St. Paul’s and an event organizer. “[The goal] is to reach more people, grow, make more friends, become more diverse and have influences.”

She projects that about 300 guests will join in the festivities.

This year, Latin cuisine and jazz-infused tunes will set the mood. The event features food from countries like Mexico, Honduras, Cuba and Ecuador, as well as the music of Tito Puente, Jr., son of the late, great Tito Puente. Percussionist Puente, Jr. has his own sound, which incorporates an electronic twist. He’ll be joined by regionally known artists Shacara Rogers & Kayla Waters.

This fundraiser has come a long way in a very short time.

“Eight years ago, a group of women from St. Paul’s wanted to help support the community mission of the church, so a ticketed backyard buffet was organized,” said Hicks. “This gathering brought together family and friends from the church for prayer, international tastes and funding for youth missions.”

The outdoor barbecues have since expanded into something much greater. The first traditional jazz celebration took place three years ago at Crawdaddy’s in Harrisburg. This format suited the occasion well, as St. Paul’s promotes multicultural awareness and relationships within and outside of the church, which mirrors the diverse nature of jazz.

Aside from tastes and tunes, the event will feature a silent auction, which will include sports memorabilia, fine jewelry from Higashi Jewelry and contemporary jewelry from Imagination In Glass.

A special perk allows early arrivals to take self-guided tours at 1 p.m., an hour before the event begins. This offers a great way to check out the museum exhibits ahead of time, especially for newcomers.

“It is a spectacular event,” said Christyan Seay, a member of St. Paul’s and the musical coordinator. “When you walk into a community, opportunities can arise. In having a heart for these things, we are present in the community and able to expose people to music and encourage community. We may need to move into an even bigger venue.”

“Taste of Jazz” takes place April 30, 2 to 5 p.m., at the National Civil War Museum, 1 Lincoln Drive, Harrisburg. The cost is $65 per person. For more information, visit www.diocesecpa.org.

Author: Priscilla Morales

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