The Characters of Christmas: Open Stage presents 2 very different takes on the holiday.

November 30, 2016 | by Laura Dugan

How do you prefer your Christmas story?

Do you like the classic and heartwarming? Or do you go for modern and cynical?

Either way, Open Stage of Harrisburg has you covered this month, mounting both the classic (if very updated) version of “A Christmas Carol” and then hitting your funny bone hard with the return of Crumpet the Elf in “Santaland Diaries.”

So, you say you’ve seen old Scrooge umpteen times? Not this one. Running throughout the month, Open Stage’s version features song, dance, and, of course, those inimitable ghosts.

“I wanted to create something that felt new despite the story being nearly 175 years old,” said Stuart Landon, Open Stage’s associate artistic director, who directed and adapted this tale. “Adding in music, choreography, inventive costuming, special effects and surprising set pieces will transform a familiar story into something audiences have never seen before.”

For the 17^th time, Nick Hughes will “Bah, humbug” his way across the stage in the seminal role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

“I think Stuart has a very different vision of what he wants to do in the theater,” said Hughes. “I think the pace and the emphasis will change compared to what was done before. The last time we did a full production was in Whitaker Center. Bringing it back to Open Stage, to a smaller, more intimate setting, suits the story very well.”

All cast members, except Hughes as Scrooge, will play multiple parts. This adds an additional challenge—and charm—to the piece.

Patty Cole, making her Open Stage debut, plays three roles that differ greatly, transforming from Mrs. Cratchit to the housekeeper to the older Belle.

“It’s a fun challenge to play different characters,” she said. “I’m most excited to be playing the housekeeper. I’m not usually cast as ‘nasty.’”

As the Ghost of Christmas Present, Karen Ruch is also excited to play a role outside of her norm.

“The Ghost of Christmas Present is so full of kindness and vitality, which is something I don’t get to play on stage that often,” she said. “Besides, what better way to remain mindful of each moment than to play ‘Present?’”

Adding to the fun are the familial connections within the cast. Nick Hughes’ son, Patrick, plays nephew Fred. Twins Conner and Riley McKean play Belinda and Peter Cratchit, among other characters. Finally, Cole’s son, T.J., plays several ensemble roles.

“Folks should come see this show because it is a wonderful story being told through this new adaptation that will be as rich as Christmas pudding and fresh as a pine bough,” said Ruch.

The cast of “A Christmas Carol” also includes David Richwine, Erin Shellenberger, Ian Wallace, Linzy McKinney, Katherine Campbell, Dawn-Michelle Lewis and Ashley Follett.

Various members of Open Stage’s OSHKids class will make appearances, as well. Off the boards, the play features musical direction by David Glasgow, choreography by Kelly Strange and stage management by David Callahan and Kel Kyle.

For those who prefer a more adult way to celebrate the holiday—well, your old pal Crumpet is back, and he’s going on tour.

You can find Crumpet in David Sedaris’ “Santaland Diaries” this month at both the Federal Taphouse and at Open Stage. Please note: unlike “A Christmas Carol,” this show is definitely not for the kids. But, if you enjoy your humor grown-up, irreverent and a bit blue, “Santaland Diaries” is for you.

“A Christmas Carol” runs Dec. 2 to 23 at Open Stage of Harrisburg, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. “Santaland Diaries” runs Dec. 4 and 11 at Federal Taphouse, 234 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. It also runs Dec. 9, 20 and 22 at Open Stage of Harrisburg. Tickets are available by visiting www.openstagehbg.com.

Upcoming Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s
Professional Downtown Theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

“A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol”
Nov. 30 to Dec. 17
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets $8

TMI 3^rd in The Burg Show
Dec. 16
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are pay what you will; any size donation buys your admission.

Popcorn Hat Players’ New Year’s Eve Party For Children
Featuring a performance of “Cinderella”
Dec. 31
At the Sunoco Performance Theater at Whitaker Center
Early Bird Tickets Nov. 10 to 30, $10
After Nov. 30, $12

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

“A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 2 to 23
a new dazzling production
of the Charles Dickens classic
Tickets $15 to $35

“Santaland Diaries”
David Sedaris’ irreverent comedy
Crumpet the Elf is on tour!
Sundays, Dec. 4 & 11 at Federal Taphouse
Dec. 9, 20 & 22 at Open Stage
with Santa’s Little Helpers improv opening
Tickets $20 to $35

Dickens, Dessert & Dancing
A Victorian Holiday Party
Civic Club of Harrisburg
Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Author: Laura Dugan

Student Scribes: “Hello From the Other Side”

November 30, 2016 | by Suping Chen

“Dinner is ready!” I call out since the children are practicing their cellos upstairs.

“Coming!” I smile with a sigh, even though nobody is around. How can they hear so well when they are playing their cellos in their own rooms with their doors shut? But things always happen in this way, so it doesn’t surprise me too much.

“Hmmm…yummy!” Eva rushes down the stairs with a pleasant greeting. I wonder how she can put her cello away so quickly in a second.

“Did you cook the bitter melon for me?” Irving follows with a question.

“Yes. Did you just think about the dinner in your head when you were practicing your music?” I answer and put a dish on the table.

“No. Just now.” Irving helps arrange the silverware.

We have a very simple Christmas Eve dinner this year. The children asked for something that is not American-style: bitter melon with meat, shrimp and vegetables. This makes things easier for me since I am not really good at cooking American food.

“Mommy, say a ‘thank you’ before the meal,” Eva says after we all sit down.

“Silly girl. It is not Thanksgiving anymore!” Irving gives her a frown.

“How about a wish?” Eva changes her words right away. “Maybe Santa will make your wish come true! Mommy, what’s your wish?” She looks at me with a big smile.

“My wish? But I am not going to ask for anything from Santa. I know he can’t make my wish come true anyway…also, he is busy enough, I really don’t want to add any burden on him.” I smile with my true answer. Behind my smile and the answer, there is a wish which I really want but can’t ask for.

“I know why. Because Mommy is Santa!” Irving says with a loud laugh. “See, I am so smart! I knew it! Mommy, do you know why I sealed my Christmas wish list in the envelope?” He continues without waiting for my answer. “If it was opened before Christmas that means you looked it up already. If it wasn’t opened but comes with the wrong present that means Santa is not real, because he even doesn’t know what I asked for!” He winks across the table.

I smile at him. “Really?” I am thinking it without saying any words. Irving has not gotten any presents from his wish list for Christmas for many years. I always have given him presents which I thought were useful and meaningful, but I gave them under Santa’s name. The year before he got a Kindle; last year he got a certificate for 10 free cello lessons, which he thought had magic power to help him pass the audition to join the Harrisburg Youth Symphony. Every year, Santa sends him a letter to explain the reason why he got something different from his wish list. Now he is 12 years old, and he still believes in Santa, but only during the Christmas season, since he doesn’t want me to spend any money to buy him a Christmas gift.

Then Irving says, “Tell us about your wish, Mommy. The one you believe won’t come true!”

“I want someone back. To be with me.” I say it with a smile on my face and with my 100-percent true thoughts. Sometimes, the children don’t believe me when I tell them the truth with either a very serious or silly tone. They might think I was just joking. How can a parent tell her young children a really personal truth? How can I tell them he is the one who gave the three of us so many good times after their father left five years ago?

That relationship ended when I lost my mind and decided to move away for some stupid reasons at the end of last summer. “Why?” Irving and Eva asked me a few times with upset in their eyes and tones. “Because…” I never give them an answer. Because…because…I even don’t feel brave enough to think about it. All I have felt is sadness and regret.

“Mommy! Goodness! You know what, when you say it out loud, it might give the wish a chance to come true!” Eva almost shouts this in my face. I wonder if she really heard my words or not.

I am trying to be very polite and keep the smile as long as I can, but my heart hurts, my nose hurts, my eyes hurt. My eyes are watering, and the bitter melon is suddenly so bitter in my mouth. How can I turn down their good thoughts that show their love to me? Life is just like the bitter melon: I added some sugar to cook it, but I still can taste the bitterness through my mouth then straightforward to my heart.

Irving and Eva don’t say anything about my wish after Eva’s announcement. She is the one whose mind always jumps around. Ideas in her head are just like bouncing balls. It is very difficult to get a 10-year-old girl to think quietly and deeply. Her words just run out her mouth whenever she catches a thought. After she sends her words away, she considers her work is done. The result? She might never think about them again.

After dinner, Irving and Eva help me to clean up the dishes before they go to check the wish lists that they put under the Christmas tree and sealed in the envelopes. Eva already has on her traditional Christmas dress: black top, red skirt with some shiny flowers on it, and a red, long silk belt with a bow. When Eva is kneeling in front of the Christmas tree, the skirt becomes a beautiful round circle. Irving has his white shirt and black pants on which is his uniform for the Harrisburg Youth Symphony. I remember that he even asked for a tie this morning. Watching them so serious about that makes me want to laugh. I know their wish lists are still in the envelopes safe and unopened. I never touch them and have no idea what they want. Irving told me once secretly before he changed his mind the next day. He asked for another envelope to rewrite his wish list later and sealed it up all by himself.

This year, I bought a $200 investment for each child with a letter from Santa, wishing they will become rich if they invest their money wisely. I got the idea from a newspaper. The best part about the present is the children are not allowed to take the money out before they turn 18. For me, that sounds like a garden that grows money. All I need to do for this year’s Christmas is hang the letters up with the investment certificate on the Christmas tree later tonight and take their Christmas wish list envelopes away.

I have been saving their wish list envelopes the last few years. I never open them. I try to save those secrets as a gift until someday when they become parents. I did write down what they got, what I thought, and the reason why I bought something different. Sometimes, I feel bad for never buying the gifts for them from their wish lists. Then later I give myself some reasons: how little money I made and how I had to use the money for the things that were useful. That makes me feel I didn’t waste money. Whenever I hear them complain how their American friends’ parents bought what their children wanted and I did not, I have to remind them: “Sorry. I came from China and grew up poor. Also, I don’t make that much money. I am a single mother with two children. So, we have to live thriftily and use money wisely.” They normally don’t argue with me after I give them a reason. But they never think about how much I pay for their after-school extracurricular activities. They will know how hard I worked to support them and helped them prepare for their future. There are sometimes conflicts when they don’t get what they asked for, but I can tell they are getting a better understanding and getting closer to me after these years, especially when I am weak and they are always there to support me in their very positive ways. But I still feel very sorry I don’t have money to take them on a long trip or a vacation.

I can’t imagine what will happen when I give those wish list envelopes back to them years later. I am not sure what I did is right or wrong since the idea first came to my mind and stayed there for many years. I know I will continue to do it until the day Santa tells them they are too old to receive a gift from him or before they catch me giving them a Christmas gift under Santa’s name.

It’s 7 o’clock. Since I am taking some graduate courses this spring, I decide to do some studying while Irving and Eva are watching some funny videos on YouTube.

The book, “Exile’s Return,” is hard to understand. After I finish page 100, I get a headache. There are so many names jumping around in my head randomly. I try to find a way to tie them all up and keep them in my brain but it doesn’t work. Even the words in the book seem to be getting smaller and become fuzzy.

“Gosh!” I sigh, and then I close my eyes and lay back in my seat with a deep breath. It’s been such a long day.

“Take it easy,” a man’s voice says so gentle, so kind, and so soft. I realize it is Craig, even though I left him long ago.

I open my eyes immediately. Craig isn’t here, only Eva and Irving who are watching the video by the dinner table.

“Hello!” I say to myself with the tears running down my cheeks. “Thank you! I am so sorry for everything that I’ve done. I’m so sorry for breaking your heart. I’m so sorry for hurting you so badly and hurting myself at the same time.” My emotions take over, regret and sadness all at once.

But is Craig really here and telling me to “take it easy” when I’m tired and struggling with my studying? Does he really know what happened? Is he thinking about me now? Maybe he is always there to watch me and care about me even if I did something really wrong. My mind goes crazy, and my tears follow my thoughts down and down and down.

“Mommy! Are you okay?” I hear Eva’s voice, confused and worried. I put my hands down and see Eva and Irving kneeling down on the floor next to me.

“I am okay,” I lie. “I feel so sorry for hurting someone so badly. I am sorry,” I say while tears keep running down my cheeks.

“The one who is on your wish list?” Irving asks carefully without look at me.

“That is the reason why you listen to the song ‘Hello’ all the time? You must try to release your sorrow to that person.” Eva sounds very confident with her idea.

“Yes. It was my fault,” I sob. I don’t know why I tell them about this, but I just can’t help it. Who can I talk to? No one. Sometimes, I feel the children know about me and understand me more than I think.

“That person never answers your calls just like the song sings?” Irving speaks with a very low voice. He seems to know the answer already.

I nod my head without a word.

“That is the reason why you listen to the song ‘Hello’ all the time! Oh poor Mommy, you must have made the same mistakes as Adele. Adele was calling someone from the other side and from outside over a thousand times, but that person didn’t answer her calls either.” Eva finds her points.

“It’s not fair!” Eva stands up and walks to the dinner table. I am so puzzled when I see her come back with a piece of paper and a pen. I thought she was going to get me a napkin or a tissue.

“If I am not wrong, you started to listen to the song ‘Hello’ since it was released. Let’s count it from November 1^st. Today is December 24^th. There are 54 days already! You drive three hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; two hours on Tuesday and Thursday, at least one hour per day during the weekend. So there are 3+3+3+2+2+1+1=15 hours per week. So there are 7.5 weeks since November 1^st. 7.5 X 15 = 112.5 hours! 112.5 X 60 minutes per hour = 6750 minutes. The song is four minutes, and it plays whenever you turn on your car. You know what! You have listened to the song over 1,687.5 times! I knew Adele sang ‘sorry’ six times in the song. That means you apologized 10,125 times to that person already. Why hasn’t that person accepted your apology? It’s not fair! I will accept someone’s apology if they said ‘sorry’ 10 times to me.” I never knew Eva’s math was so good. She must have a great teacher who is not only teaching her how to calculate but also teaching her how to use it in real life. I stare at her and my brain is so empty; there is nothing there to help me think, feel or connect all those numbers in my mind.

“Yeah? You do?” Irving is saying that with an attitude. He disagrees with Eva at the 10 times “sorry.”

“Not for you. You need to say ‘sorry’ a thousand times then I will accept your apology.” Eva fights back with her older brother sharply.

“Okay, no more arguments. I am feeling a little better now but very tired. I may go to bed soon. If you want to continue watch the video and finish it that is fine. Please remember to turn off the lights when you go sleep.” I smile at them with my tears on my cheeks before I get up.

“Nope. I am tired too. I want to go to sleep and be good for Santa tonight,” Irving says while he stands up.

I can tell Eva wants to stay. “I am tired too.” Her tone is a little unwilling then she rushes upstairs. “The last person has to turn off the lights.” Her words left behind her.

“Sure. You do!” Irving confirms. Then he turns around to me: “Mommy, I’m sure you need to get some rest. Before I go to bed I want to share a quote with you: If ‘plan A’ doesn’t work out for you, don’t worry. You still have ‘plan B’ to ‘plan Z’. As long as you don’t give up, you will be there. We will be there with you. Always! Good night!” Irving is almost as tall as me. I can see his face right in front of me. He smiles and gives me a wink, and then he gives me a quick good night hug.

A wink! Like someone turned on the water then forgot to turn it off, my tears are running again. How can I tell Irving the wink he did is the same as that person gave me before. I wonder when Irving learned that. From that person? Or that person is using Irving to show me he is always with me? Or just some of my own nonsense thoughts play around in my mind at the end of a long day? Or maybe I am just too tired.

Too many questions without answers. I feel my headache is getting worse and worse. Before I close my eyes on the bed, I set a timer at 11:50, which will remind me that I need to get ready for the children’s Christmas gifts.

I wake up at 10 minutes till 12. My head is so heavy, and I have to use my hands to hold it while I sit up. Time to hang up the Christmas gifts for the children. But first I realize I have something to say to Craig.

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The Best Wishes.” I send out a message to Craig then lock my phone. No matter what, there is a space for him in my heart, and I always hope that he is well.

The Christmas tree is lit up and it makes the living room fill with holiday spirits. “So pretty.” The lights are bright in different colors and that makes some of the ornaments turn into colorful crystal balls in the tree. I lean over and try to look carefully.

“Mommy! Ah-ha…I knew it! You are Santa!” I hear Irving shouts behind.

“Oh…I thought there is a real Santa!” I can tell how disappointed Eva is from her voice.

“No. I am not. I just want to make a wish before Christmas. You are right, even if there is only 0.1-percent chance that my wish will come true then I should still try it.” I tell them the reason why I am here but skip the part about Santa.

“Really? Good job, Mommy!” Eva cheers up for me. She runs over and checks her wishing list envelope quickly. “Santa didn’t come yet.” She says peacefully. “Mommy, hurry up! Make a wish before Santa comes!” She still remembers my wish.

“Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t make such a wish.” I feel my strength weaken. “I was the one who made a big mistake and hurt someone so badly. I am so sorry. How can I make such a wish from Santa? It is not fair to that person and Santa. I don’t think there is any chance I could have that person back. Maybe I should just leave him alone and live in my own regrets and sadness.” Everything is so sparkling in the tree now, and I can’t see anything clearly.

“Mommy, please don’t say that. Don’t cry. Please…You are the greatest mother and one of the greatest persons in the world. I am sorry for your mistake. How can I help you? I don’t want to see you cry at the holiday. Please…” This is first time they have seen me cry at Christmas. My tears must really bother them, especially Eva. In China, people always believe daughters are their mothers’ bosom friend. I can see and feel that sometimes from Eva.

I shake my head and let the tears fall off my cheek freely. There is no way Santa could make my wish come true unless Craig wants to come back. There is nothing Santa can do. There is no Santa in the world. How can I tell the children the truth?

“Mommy, I have an idea! I have an idea! How about I change my wish to support you? Now my wish is wishing your wish comes true!” Eva sounds so excited and her eyes are so bright!

“No. Eva. In that case you won’t get anything from Santa this year…Also you might just waste your chance for my wish which is almost 0 percent to come true!” I refuse her idea with a hug.

“Yes Mommy! Your wish plus my wish will make the chances become double. Right, Irving?” Eva won’t give up. Now she is trying to make Irving to join the group.

“Mommy, count me in.” Irving gives me a hug and leans his head on my left shoulder. “I know that person is Craig, and you miss him so much. He is one of the greatest people I ever met. I miss him too. Remember what I said earlier? If ‘plan A’ doesn’t work out for you, don’t worry. There is still ‘plan B’ to ‘plan Z’. Don’t give up please. Did you get it? ‘You’ means Craig and you. ‘We’ means all of us.” I cannot believe my 12-year-old son has grown up more than I can imagine. Did I push him too much? Or is he just following the rules of nature to become a big boy? Maybe Craig has always been in Irving’s heart.

I don’t know how to express all my feelings, just tears. I am so happy to have two great children who really understand me, I am happy we are doing well, I am happy we are here as family, and I am sad at the same time. I made a mistake, and Craig wasn’t here. Craig is the missing part in my life, I feel so sorry for hurting him. Will I ever get a chance to have him back?

“Mommy, what time is it?” Eva asks me. I take my cellphone from my nightgown and give it to Eva. “Mommy, it is exactly 12 o’clock!” Eva just cannot hold her excitement. As soon as she put my phone on the tea table that is next to the Christmas tree, she yells “Merry Christmas!” then jumps up and down.

“Merry Christmas!” I murmur. “I am sorry. Both of you won’t get anything from Santa this year. See, I told you my wish might not come true and you wasted your chances.” I don’t know how to comfort them about not getting anything from Santa this year. I cannot tell them the gifts are in my book bag and I didn’t get a chance to hang them up yet; I cannot tell them Santa is the one who loves them so much and always shows them the love without asking for any return; I cannot tell…But before I can find the appropriate way to say something, we all hear a man, Xianqi Ren, sing “I’m a fish” loudly:

“I need you. I am a fish. The bubbles in the water are your little bad temper and mistakes. I cannot live without you. Please I want your true love. Even if it is the end of the world I won’t be afraid! Why can’t we be together? I need you!” It is coming from my phone! It plays a very lovely Chinese song, and it starts in the middle of the most of romantic part! How is that happening! My phone is locked. I have over 50 songs in my phone, and they never automatically play, especially from middle of nowhere!

“Mommy! Mommy! Santa is here! He makes your wish come true! See, you have to believe Santa’s magic power!” Eva hugs me so tightly; it seems she is afraid the good luck will run away from me. “Thank you Santa. You are the best!” She sounds like she is whispering to Santa who is next to her.

“Mommy, I am so happy for you. This is the best wish I ever made. You deserve it.” Irving gives me another hug.

“Thanks. Thank both of you.” I murmur with my joyful tears. Is heaven real? Who sends me the good omen? How can things just happen that match my wish perfectly? Does Craig know I miss him so much at the moment? Is he still awake and thinking about me at the same time? Is there any chance for us to start over again?

I hug both Irving and Eva in front of the Christmas tree. My eyes are still watering, and the Christmas tree looks like a 3D watercolor painting. The questions are just like the colorful lights in my eyes. Maybe the answers will show when the time is right.

“All good things happen at the right time,” Craig once told me. Now I finally understand all that has happened.

Suping Chen majored in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg. She is now teaching at Elizabethtown College and Trinity High School.

Student Scribes: “What I Learned from Studying the Capital Region Ex-Offenders Coalition”

November 30, 2016 | by Leslie Avila

Growing up in Harrisburg, I dreamt about going to college in Hawaii, sitting on the beach studying.

I was sure that’s what I wanted to do. Instead, I got accepted at Penn State Harrisburg and pursued a computer science major for a few years. This semester, I took a course outside my major. Called “The Sociology of Deviance,” it instantly caught my attention in an unexpected way because the course introduced me to the work of the Capital Region Ex-Offenders Support Coalition.The CRESC is a coalition group based in Harrisburg that aims “to coordinate services that assist ex-offenders with successful re-entry which promotes public safety.”

I have witnessed many of my friends in Harrisburg encounter difficulties reintegrating back into society after a conviction. Many people who get incarcerated and later released seem to get their name replaced with the label “criminal.” The people assigning this label associate it with no other qualities or traits, only those relating to the crime they previously committed. This labeling contributes to the recidivism rate.

The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, with an average of 67 percent of released offenders returning to prison within three years. Recidivism is more likely to occur among those who remain with the same lifestyle they had before incarceration. Many prisoners are released in the same, if not worse, financial position they were in before they got incarcerated. This limits the housing options for released offenders, which leads to their migration back to the same neighborhood as before with the concentrated lack of opportunities and abundance of illegal temptations that increased their criminality in the first place.

And what about a career? With limited skills to obtain a well-paid job, many newly released offenders have one of two options: go back to school or acquire a blue-collar job. Over half the time, the school option hits a dead end because financial aid and college acceptance can be denied based solely on whether or not the student has a felony on their record. That being said, many turn to the low standards of the factory or restaurant industry. Along any application process, they come across the dreaded question, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” Although it has been said time and time again that this question only serves the purpose of informing the employer, it results in discrimination. Coalition groups like the CRESC have come to realize that, instead of blaming the released prisoner for returning to a life of crime, society must come together to reduce the need to turn back to crime.

Staying to finish school at Penn State Harrisburg has allowed me to discover this coalition group and come to fall in love with its vision. I did not feel that way at first, because I didn’t think I was capable of making a change. I knew I needed to help people like this, but I never knew where or how to get started. But as I took my “Sociology of Deviance” course, I knew this was the reason I had stayed at Penn State Harrisburg. I’ve always wanted to “change” the world, and here I discovered the major that would allow me to first and foremost study the diverse people that make up the world I intend on changing. I soon remembered my true passion.

The Sociology and Criminology Department at Penn State Harrisburg has given me the support and mentors I need in order to gain confidence in my dream and myself. The type of support and influence one receives from their environment undeniably influences the outcome of dreams and goals, and I am glad I found an environment that, instead of doubting me, guided me. I knew how passionate and reputable my professor was, when I heard him say to me, “My legacy is not in the articles or papers I publish, but in the students that I can guide in the right direction to be able to go out and change the world.”

Leslie Avila is a double major in sociology and criminology at Penn State Harrisburg.

Lifeblood of HBG: Neighbors help neighbors, thanks to the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank.

November 30, 2016 | by Kate Morgan

An hour of time can save three lives.

That’s the message of the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, as each donation to the blood bank may benefit three separate patients—all of them local.

“The unit of blood we collect when you’re donating is called a whole blood unit,” explained spokesman Jay Wimer. “That’s put into a centrifuge and spun down into three components. The red cells will go to one patient, the plasma to another and the platelets to a third. That’s why we say, ‘One donation, three lives.’”

The blood bank’s model of donation and distribution keeps almost all donations in the area, with blood sent out only when there’s a real need.

“We’re part of a large consortium of small blood banks who are called on when something happens like the shooting in Orlando,” Wimer said. “We’re on alert and connected so we can share resources if there’s an emergency need, but most of what we collect in the region is staying in the region.”

The organization has supported the immediate needs of the community for more than six decades, created by a team of Harrisburg doctors in 1953.

“Ground had just been broken on a hospital in a cornfield in Hershey,” Wimer said. “With that, and the technology becoming a reality at the time for things like operations, transplants and transfusions, they knew they needed a local blood program.”

That need has grown more significant with the growth of the region’s population and medical centers. Today, the blood bank is responsible for supplying 15 hospitals, where more than 120,000 units of blood and blood products are transfused annually.

“The blood needs in this region are basically constant,” Wimer said. “We’re holding about seven blood drives a day, seven days a week, probably 363 days a year.”

It’s vital to have a continual, fresh supply of blood because of the short lifespan of the platelet, which is only good for about five days after donation.

“If we don’t have blood drives on a Monday, five days from then we may not have a single platelet,” he said. “We pretty much have to be going all the time.”

Despite the near-daily blood drives, Wimer said that shortages are a continuing problem, not just in the Harrisburg region but throughout the country. Shortages can be especially critical around the holiday season and during harsh winters.

“Only about 5 percent of the population donates, and there are a lot of people who need transfusions,” he said. “The current statistic is that one in every five people entering a hospital will need a transfusion. I can’t think of a time when we’ve said, ‘We have enough, let’s take a break.’”

Much of the need stems from the variety of medical conditions that make transfusions a necessity.

“The red cell is used in transplants and trauma,” Wimer said. “Plasma is used for burn victims and trauma patients who are in shock. Platelets are predominantly used for people dealing with cancer. The game of chemotherapy is it’s poison, and the goal is to kill the cancer before it kills the patient. In doing so, it knocks down our platelets.”

In addition to 12 donation centers across Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Adams, Lebanon and Lancaster counties, the blood bank runs mobile drives using five bloodmobiles, which visit area events, companies, libraries and schools. The schools, Wimer said, represent the highest concentration of donors.

“These 16- and 17-year-olds are coming out and doing this on a pretty regular basis, even though they’re sometimes nervous about it, and they always make it through,” Wimer said. “If you’re ever concerned about the future of humanity, all you have to do is come to a high school blood drive and you’ll be like, ‘I think we’re going to be OK.’”

To learn more about the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, visit www.cpbb.org.

Author: Kate Morgan

Student Scribes: “Legos, Novels and Chicken Parmesan”

November 30, 2016 | by Heidi Hornemann

It’s Monday morning and I hate my life.

I’ve finally hit the snooze button enough times that now my leisurely walk into the office will be a dead sprint and my hair may or may not get washed.

Breakfast will be the stale coffee I get while exchanging forced pleasantries with the morning person from marketing.

Collapsing into the chair in my cube with three walls, I grit my teeth as the stack of paper already on my desk flips me the bird. It’s 8:03 a.m., and I hate my life.

And I will spend the next eight hours hating my life.

Finally, I make it home after sitting in traffic inching my way along for 45 minutes. I’ll make dinner and have a glass of wine and maybe watch some TV. But then what—go to bed just so I can wake up at the butt crack of dawn to do it all over again?

How many of us feel this way? Spending our days wishing that they would be over just to go home and wait to do it all over again. We suffer through the mundane, day in and day out, for what? A house, a car, food, clothes and drinks at happy hour? But surely that’s not what we are living for; we are not all here on this earth to simply exist.

What is it that makes your eyes sparkle like the ocean you visit maybe once a year? What is it that makes you feel like you are you and that is enough? What is it that makes you feel alive? Got it? Ok good, do more of THAT.

I have such a problem with the way our society puts so much stress on what someone’s paycheck is. We don’t care so much that you can make the best chicken Parmesan on the face of the earth or that you love to play badminton or that you love trashy romance novels; we care about what kind of car you drive or where you buy your clothes. In case you haven’t noticed, “money can’t buy happiness” is pretty true. Then why do we continually try to reverse that rhetoric, thinking maybe, just maybe, another dollar an hour will do it? I think that the world would be a completely different place if each and every one of us simply said, “hell with it” and worked a little bit less. Maybe you’d start a rock band or become a poet; maybe you would even spend hours making Lego statues. Regardless, I would be willing to bet that most of us, given the opportunity, would turn from the computer screen for a life of meaning and adventure.

Maybe I’m a radical, overly optimistic thinker, but I truly believe that we are all so different that, if each of us pursued the passions we were born with, our world would not only survive, it would thrive. I am suggesting that ours is not simply an “I hate my job” problem; it’s an “I hate my life” problem. So, my message to you is: love your life. Love those around you deeply and openly, smile at strangers, take your time throughout the day to see the beauty in our world and, most importantly, find what makes you love being here, alive in this moment, and just freaking do THAT.

Heidi Hornemann is a sociology major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Administration Focuses on Capital Improvements with Proposed 2017 City Budget

November 23, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

Mayor Eric Papenfuse last night proposed a $65 million budget for 2017, a spending plan meant to address several critical capital improvements.

A Harrisburg police officer demonstrates a Taser at last night’s city council meeting.

The budget, a nearly $6 million spending increase from last year, includes $2.5 million for a new public works facility, $127,754 for police body cameras and Tasers and $90,000 for Reservoir Park’s band shell.

City council will hold public meetings on the budget on Dec. 7 and 8. Council is scheduled to vote on a 2017 spending plan at its Dec. 13 legislative session.

Papenfuse began his annual budget discussion with some good news. The administration estimates an end-of-year 2016 city cash balance of $12 million, as, the city underspent its budget this year and received an estimated $64 million in revenue, $4 million more than the initial budget.

Come 2017, Papenfuse projects $65 million in revenue, with increases coming from parking enforcement, local services taxes, increased business licensing fees and code inspecting fees.

The annual business license fee will increase from $40 to $50 as of Jan. 1 2017. Papenfuse called parking payments “essential revenues for city sustainability.”

Papenfuse projects personnel, health care and pension to be the main sources of increased spending in 2017, up nearly $3 million.

Maintaining and building capacity

As part of the budget, six management positions will be upgraded or reclassified, Papenfuse said. This includes a health and ADA compliance officer; the director of business and resource development; and a solid waste logistics and composting manager.

The general fund will support one new traffic engineer technician and three new codes officers. The codes officers will pay for themselves, Papenfuse said, with fee increases and by helping the city tackle a backlog of rental inspections.

Harrisburg parks would see increased maintenance and cleaning under the proposal. Papenfuse proposed six new parks maintenance laborers, one parks maintenance secretary and one park ranger.

Capital Investments

Last night, Papenfuse proposed reserving half of the $12 million in current savings as a nest egg and spending the other half on capital improvements.

Under the budget proposal, $2.5 million would be set aside for the purchase of a new public works facility site, one of the city’s highest priorities. A composting site would receive $120,000. About $2.3 million would fund new equipment and vehicles.

“Our needs exceed our resources,” said Papenfuse about capital projects, adding that the department heads identified the most pressing needs for capital investments.

Reservoir Park would receive $90,000 to resurface, paint and repair the band shell. Currently, consultants are creating a master plan to best utilize the park. The public identified the band shell as a need during the first public meeting.

The bureau of police would receive $215,000 for four patrol vehicles, $79,920 for body cameras and $47,834 for Tasers out of a total $497,834 allotted for police capital improvements in the proposed budget.

The proposed budget gives $130,000 to the Bureau of Fire to replace a straight truck and upgrade inspector vehicles.

Papenfuse proposed other infrastructure spending for projects such as traffic signal upgrades, accessibility improvements per ADA requirements and streetlights.

“These should have been improved on long ago,” Papenfuse said.

Future of Act 47

The budget is only sustainable with revenue from the taxing powers from Act 47, Papenfuse said.

He sees a few options to keep the revenue generated from Act 47 taxing powers.

The city could team with other small cities and push for state-level legislative change. With a tax-adverse Republican majority in state legislature, increasing municipal taxing powers may be a long shot, he said.

Alternatively, City Council could initiate a “home rule” process and create a new city charter, like Carlisle did last year. Home rule municipalities are not bound by municipal codes created by state laws. Rather, home rule municipalities decide municipal matters – property taxes, personal taxes – in a city charter.

A third option would be if the state legislature abolishes school property taxes, Papenfuse said. Then Harrisburg residents might see an increase in city real estate taxes.

“We have to come up with a solution to get us out of Act 47,” he said.

Investments in Policing

At the meeting, Papenfuse said officers need more non-lethal options, but do not have access to them. Therefore, he proposed new Tasers for every officer and the deployment of 303s on every shift.

A 303 is an impact device shoots lead paintballs. With an extended range of 55 feet, the 303s can mark individuals for apprehension in a protest.

Body cameras for every officer and two proposed new positions—a public safety information technology specialist and a crime analysis—will promote transparency, Papenfuse said.

“I think it will build confidence from the public with the police. With transparency comes trust,” Papenfuse said.

He said he realized that the police need a wider range of non-lethal options following his review of the case of Earl Shaleek Pinckney, who was shot to death in August by Harrisburg Police Officer Tony Elliott. Last night, Papenfuse added that, he agreed with District Attorney Ed Marsico that Elliott’s actions were justified.

Under the budget proposal, officers would receive more training, updated technology and repairs on their building.

In 2017, two new police officer positions will open, in addition to the 17 the police department is currently looking to fill. Papenfuse proposes incentives, like paying back training costs upon resigning, to encourage new hires to stay with the bureau.

Next meetings:

Public budget meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 at City Council chambers.

City Council is expected to amend and vote on a 2017 municipal budget on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.

See the full proposed budget.

Author: Danielle Roth

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

November 23, 2016 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! As has become tradition, you’re receiving the Weekend Roundup a day early to include tonight’s shenanigans.

I would L<3VE to go see The Dirty Sweet tonight; however, I’m a little intimidated by cooking my first bird tomorrow. If I can get things ready, I’m game, but we’ll see.

Usually, I’m traveling all over the place, but this year Andy and I decided to have Thanksgiving together(!) at home. I’m even contemplating my own “turkey trot” around the neighborhood (Or maybe we’ll just walk the dog?)

We’re sticking around on Black Friday, and on Saturday we’re going to the Penn State v. Michigan State game – Brrrrr.

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

Harrisburg School Board Moves Forward with Organic Composting Project

November 22, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

The Harrisburg School District met on Nov. 21.

One man’s trash is another student’s educational opportunity.

Or at least that’s the reasoning of the Harrisburg School Board, which approved a resolution to support the installation of an organic waste composting facility at last night’s meeting.

The resolution allows the school district to start working with the city to develop and operate a facility for educational and operational uses at its property at 1901 Wayne Ave.

“The authentic learning opportunities are boundless,” said board Director Judd Pittman.

The district currently uses the Susquehanna Township property, near Capital Region Water, for bus and leaf storage, said Solicitor Samuel Cooper. The district is mandated to use the land for an educational purpose, Cooper said.

“This is a golden opportunity for students to learn about composting and other environmental aspects,” he said.

The district is still in a preliminary planning phase for uses for the composting facility, which also will be accessible to city residents.

A waste analysis completed last year showed that food waste created most of the weight of the garbage the school district disposed, Pittman said. The school pays for trash disposal by weight, which means a composting facility for food waste will reduce the cost for the school.

The city approached the school board with this idea about a year ago. The next steps to further the project are approval from Susquehanna Township’s zoning board and possibly a period of public input, Cooper said.

“It is normal procedure that the public will have a chance for comment,” Cooper said.

More news from the Nov. 21 school board meeting:

Superintendent Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney led attendees in a moment of reflection for Shanice and Destiny Johnson, school children who died in a recent fire.
The district is working with law enforcement to adapt HACC’s active shooter procedure.
Chief Recovery Officer Audrey Utley said the district is creating “action plans” to address staff absenteeism and a task force to strategize how to minimize teacher absenteeism.
The board approved 21 budget transfer items; five requests for facility use; seven fundraiser requests; 10 fiscal items regarding contracts or agreements; and personnel appointments, promotions, resignations and tenures.
Harrisburg Education Association President Jody Barksdale gave five letter-sized envelopes filled with stories from staff and students to board President Danielle Robinson. “You don’t have the opportunity to come in and see what prevents us from teaching,” Barksdale said. The letters detailed persistent struggles teachers face on a day-to-day basis. Barksdale urged the board to offer mental health support students dealing with grief, poor coping skills and sexual abuse.
Karl Singleton, senior advisor to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, urged the board to employ staff and sign contracts with people of color and women. He noted that he saw few people of color and women working on recent construction at the district’s baseball field. He invited board members to a Dec. 14 session on reducing negative police and minority contact.

Author: Danielle Roth

Giddy-up: City Island’s Newest Tenant Welcomed with Ribbon-cutting Today

November 21, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

South Mountain Carriage Company has operated at City Island’s Carriage House since May.

If anyone is looking to get rid of a sleigh, tell Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

City Island’s newest tenant could use one.

After successful summer and fall seasons operating out of City Island’s Carriage House, the South Mountain Carriage Company and Papenfuse officially cut the ribbon today.

“We love being here and hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do,” said Cynthia Michaud, co-owner alongside husband David Binner of South Mountain Carriage Company

Since May, South Mountain Carriage Company offers horse-drawn carriage rides around City Island, Riverfront Park and other Harrisburg neighborhoods from noon to dusk most Saturdays and Sundays.

“You both have brought such energy to the island. You recognize the wonderful asset we have here and I think that your perspective and your experience is contagious,” Papenfuse said to the owners.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse put out a public call for a sleigh, as the carriage company enters winter.

Papenfuse celebrated the installation of a new modern roof, costing the city and private funders more than $28,000 to install. The neighborhood group Friends of City Island played a crucial role in the renovation, Papenfuse said.

The previous tenant, Fred Lamke’s Harrisburg Carriage Company, left City Island’s carriage house in tattered conditions. The city booted the company in January after five years of unpaid rent and eight years of operating without a permit. The company accrued more than $6,000 of debt to the city since 2010 when the company stopped paying a $100 monthly rent.

Before South Mountain Carriage Company moved in, cobwebs, dust and dirt covered the barn. “You couldn’t even tell there were lights,” Papenfuse said.

Michaud said they spent more than 60 hours with a ShopVac cleaning up the space. Now, the space, cleaned up and organized, can comfortably accommodate their two draft horses and a miniature pony named Banjo on the weekends.

Now that the roof has been fixed, Michaud looks to improve the rest of the barn, provided they can raise enough funds. Michaud said that the windows need repairs, the walls could use fresh paint and lights need replaced.

Michaud and Binner have been operating in central Pennsylvania since 2014. The husband and wife team has five adult children, but no grandchildren yet.

“So we spoil our horses,” Michaud said.

For more information about South Mountain Carriage Company, visit their Facebook page.

Author: Danielle Roth

Holiday Hoopla: Harrisburg’s Annual Parade Set for Tomorrow

November 18, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Put on your Santa hat and grab a hot cocoa–it’s almost time for Harrisburg’s annual holiday parade.

The 2016 parade, with a theme of “Making the Season Bright,” steps off tomorrow at noon from City Island with a long line of bands, floats, balloons, vintage cars and, of course, Santa. Participants will march up Market Street, turn on 2nd Street, make another turn on North Street, then follow Front Street back.

“This year’s parade will be very exciting,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We are anticipating a large crowd to join us along the parade route for this year’s holiday parade.”

Besides the marchers, food trucks will set up on Market Street between Front and 2nd streets.

Free parking will be available at the Market Square garage from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., which is sponsored by PSECU. In addition to free parking in the garage, parade attendees can utilize the Pango App and get up to 4 hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code.

The Market Street Bridge will close at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday. Parade participants will be able to enter City Island from the West Shore. N. Front Street will close at 10 a.m. from Forster to Market streets. 2nd Street from Chestnut to North streets will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Traffic will detour east on Forster Street to N. 7th Street, south on 7th Street to Walnut Street, west on Walnut Street to N. 3rd Street, south on 3rd Street to Chestnut Street back to Front Street.

After the parade, the festivities move to Strawberry Square for hot chocolate and the awards ceremony. Trophies will be awarded to the top dance, step and drill team units, and cash prizes will be given to the top high school marching bands.

“I would like to especially thank our title sponsor, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau and our gold sponsor, PSECU.” Papenfuse said. “Without their support, we would not be able to put together this wonderful event.”

Author: Lawrance Binda

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