Musical Notes: Keeping It Weird–a peculiar month ahead

September 30, 2016 | by Kait Gibboney

October is a month for embracing the abnormal, so it’s only fitting that the musical acts this month are a bit unconventional.

Sometimes, I find it hard to narrow music down to one type or sound, and these artists are no exception. Although each fits in a different genre, they all delight in stretching their creativity. Their musical fusions and radical genre-benders are bound to grab your interest and complement your curious side this fall.

JULIANNA BARWICK, 10/6, 8PM, DER MAENNERCHOR, $8/$10
Ambient music is taking off these days, and Julianna Barwick is at the forefront of this growing genre. Hailing from Louisiana but currently calling Brooklyn home, she creates flowing, hypnotic waves of sound with voice, piano and percussion through a loop station. Barwick has had an oddly diverse musical background. She’s toured with artist Sigur Rós, as well as with children’s choirs. She’s also recorded with the Flaming Lips, performed with Yoko Ono and contributed to classical recordings for Sony Masterworks. Her unique, ethereal performance is sure to leave you entranced and bewitched. Touring with Barwick is well-known Philadelphian harpist Mary Lattimore, known for writing harp parts for artists such as Meg Bair, Thurston Moore and Kurt Vile.

GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD, 10/7, 8PM, ABBEY BAR, $12/$15
If you’re into some alternative reggae, this band has what you need. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is best defined as reggae jam band meets psychedelic Americana. These Rochester, N.Y., natives started making music in 2001 during a time when the reggae scene was taking off. The three current songwriters, guitarist-singer Dylan Savage, bassist-singer James Searl, and multi-instrumentalist Dan Keller, blend their distinctive styles of reggae into a melting pot of mellow tunes. Their new album, “Make it Better,” was released last month and features a blend of familiar reggae with dreamy instrumentals and some funky hooks. Whether you like classic reggae, experimental reggae or somewhere in between, check these guys out for some chill vibes.

MORSE CODA, 10/8, 8PM, RIVER CITY BLUES CLUB, $12
This Philadelphia art rock band throws it way back to some classic sounds with updated twists. The trio of vocalist/instrumentalist Michael James Stipe, bassist/vocalist Liam Tinney and drummer Brian Doherty pay unconventional tribute to influences like Jim Morrison, David Bowie and Alice Cooper through their dark, wailing vocals and lively, energetic instrumentals. Stipe’s solo work will be highlighted in this performance, as well, following the release of his first self-titled “Morse Coda” LP. Don’t miss the performances of opening acts Angela Stipe, with her blues-influenced acoustic works, and experimental artist Adam Stehr, who features bluesy rock ballads.

Mentionables: Makespace Music Festival, Oct. 1, HMAC; Port Ellis/LØRE, Oct. 12, Little Amps Uptown; Travelin’ McCoury’s and Jeff Austin Band, Oct. 25, Abbey Bar; Moutin Factory Quintet, Oct. 26, River City Blues Club; Blackmore’s Night, Oct. 29, Whitaker Center

Author: Kait Gibboney

Hoist the Flag: From an old building in Middletown rises Tattered Flag Brewery.

September 30, 2016 | by Cathy Jordan

Photo by Waxman Photography.

Hope is a tattered flag, according to a verse by Carl Sandburg, a poem that celebrates the American spirit.

According to Pat Devlin, a U.S. Navy veteran, co-owner and CEO of Tattered Flag Brewery and Still Works, a flag—though tattered—still represents what it once stood for, but with character. And it’s that character that Devlin wants to capture within the brewery, which opened in July.

The business idea brewed inside the heads of owners Pat Devlin, Matt Fritz, Tony DeLellis and Ben Ramsay for many years. The guys have known each since high school and share a common interest in craft beer. Their goal is to provide something you can’t find elsewhere.

“The beers and the menu will always be unique,” Devlin said.

Sitting across from Devlin in the brewery’s tasting room, I asked why they decided to locate on South Union Street in the heart of Middletown.

“I traveled a lot and visited hundreds of breweries,” he said. “After my wife and I moved back home, we actually looked at six different locations. When I walked into this building, I just knew this was the place. It was unique.”

That unique find was the 105 year-old Elks building, which means the brewery is stocked with nostalgic charm. The Elks moved out years ago, and, since then, the building has housed a variety of businesses, including a sporting goods store, a florist shop, an upscale men’s clothing store and a shoe store. Its basement now hosts an open fermentation space, a brew house, canning line and grain mill. The first floor is a tasting room, while the third floor houses three private party rooms—including the “The Penn State Room” and a three-season room—along with an open kitchen, a stage, seating for more than 240 people and a standing bar.

The building’s renovation couldn’t come at a better time for Middletown, which is in the midst of its own mini-renaissance. Besides Tattered Flag, revitalization efforts include the long-anticipated Amtrak station rehab, the rebuilding of the town square, the restoration of the town clock and recently completed streetscape improvements.

“Preserving the space has been very important to the town’s people,” said Devlin.

What once were ceiling tiles have been repurposed as part of the bar backsplash and walls. The original Elks’ bar has been preserved and positioned upstairs as a freestanding bar. Interior walls show off the original brickwork, which has been exposed. And Matt Fritz built the seating tables out of the original wood.

Then There’s the Beer

Tattered Flag’s tasting room offers 12 beers on tap, including older-style light Belgians, IPAs, a cream ale and German style beers.

As a first-timer, I opted for a flight. Of the several beers I sampled, my favorite was the chocolate bock, a delicious Dunkelbock made with organic cocoa nibs, Madagascar vanilla beans and smooth, chocolate malts.

Assistant brewer David Morrow said they also brew seasonal beers, such as an Oktoberfest and a pumpkin beer. He added that he likes to experiment, noting their award-winning Manghost, a triple IPA with mangoes and ghost peppers. Morrow and head brewer Tony Schneider were both home brewers who pursued their passion and perfected their craft through lab and chemistry classes, apprenticeships and experience.

I found their “brew-your-own-beer” experience to be especially unique.

“Our one-barrel system (a miniature replica of their full 10-barrel system—basically the same hardware and software just in smaller batches) provides the public the opportunity to brew on a commercial system that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to,” explained DeLellis. “This will be appealing to home brewers and larger groups.”

Not in the mood for beer? Tattered Flag has you covered with wines and cider from the Vineyard at Hershey and several craft sodas. The distillery portion of the operation is expected to open soon, once all the licensing is complete, eventually offering an array of spirits like vodka, gin, rye whiskey and even absinthe and the Italian after-dinner drink, amaro.

Since opening, Tattered Flag has been ramping up its food production. When I visited, the tasting room offered a limited menu that included nachos, local smoked sausage and several sandwiches and salads. However, when the full brewpub opens, expected this month, chef Larry Nauman will dish out a seasonal American fare menu with fresh ingredients, such as burgers, salmon, steaks, fries, desserts and a kid’s menu.

Devlin’s goal is to make the brewery accessible to everyone, no matter their preference or age, and to make it easy to relax. The large windows tempt passersby to peer in. Once inside, you can either choose to sit in the tasting room or move upstairs to have dinner with family or friends. Take a tour. Purchase some tattered Flag swag. Brew your own beer. Book a party room, listen to a band perform onstage, or sit and enjoy the fresh air blowing in from the open three-season room. No matter what you decide, I’m sure they’ll ask you to “Come raise a flag with us!”

Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works is located at 1 S. Union Street, Middletown. For more information, visit www.tatteredflagbsw.com, email [email protected] or call 717-616-8799.

Author: Cathy Jordan

Roadside Distractions: Take a day trip to the offbeat, the unusual.

September 30, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

Illustration by Aron Rook.

Face it—for many of us, life has become routine, predictable, the same-old, same-old.

Which is why, every once in awhile, we all need a good dose of silly and strange to set us right again.

Fortunately, here in central PA, the antidote to life’s monotony is but a short drive away. Several attractions, all about an hour from downtown Harrisburg, will break you from the humdrum, giving you a new appreciation for the offbeat.

Roadside America

“Roadside America” is a guide for uniquely odd tourist attractions all over the United States and Canada. Pennsylvania has the auspicious honor of having the original Roadside America, conveniently located just off I-78.

Billed as “The World’s Greatest Indoor Miniature Village,” Roadside America represents small-town America forever stuck in the days of yore. Reading-area carpenter Laurence T. Gieringer began creating and displaying these tiny towns, most connected by railroads, in the mid-1930s, and, by the time he died, his life’s work filled a warehouse-sized building in Shartlesville.

Each scene is Norman Rockwell-ian—no tattoo parlors, pawnshops or bail bondsmen, but plenty of trains, bridges and small-town charm. They contain a level of detail that leads visitors to point and say, “Look at that!”

The scenes harken back to an America when art deco signage advertised products like Ford cars, Ivory soap and Coca-Cola. There’s even a night skyline, lit with 6,000 miniature light bulbs and 21,500 feet of electrical wiring.

The 6,000-square-foot display contains more than 300 miniature structures, 10,000 trees, 4,000 people and 2,250 feet of railroad track. The waterways are real, with many of them flowing, connecting each other.

You can even interact with some portions of the displays. There are four trolleys and eight trains, three of which you can operate. Some of the scenes are animated, going into motion when you push a button. A circus parade will march by or construction or sawmill workers will faithfully carry out their duties.

When Gieringer died in 1963, the displays froze in time, with nothing added. For the last 50-plus years, the same slideshow has run, the slides’ colors faded and drained. The voices on the speakers are scratchy. The waterways are just a little musty. But the vintage feel and kitsch are vibrant and alive at Roadside America.

Roadside America is located at 109 Roadside Dr., Shartlesville. For more information, visit www.roadsideamericainc.com.

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium

What exactly is an elephant museum and what is it doing in Adams County?

Well, it’s just as odd as it sounds. About 12,000 elephants are on display, miniaturized so that they fit into the small space they occupy in Orrtanna. You can also buy more than 700 varieties of candy, along with numerous homemade fudge flavors.

On a visit, you may not run into Mr. Ed himself (founder Ed Gotwalt), but pictures of him adorn the walls in the restrooms, along with stars of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. If celebrities appeared on an episode of “The Love Boat,” chances are they posed with Mr. Ed for his lavatory collection. The caricatures and news clippings of Mr. Ed hanging alongside the soap dispenser made me wish I could meet him.

The candy shop is larger than the elephant museum, which is a compact display of assorted elephants. Many figurines are inspired by the circus, the Republican Party or Disney creations. Whatever their origins, there’s a plethora of pachyderms. And candy. And quirk.

A family affair with seasonal events around candy holidays, this mega gift shop plans to grow through the next generation of Mr. Ed-lings (i.e., his granddaughter and her husband and their family).

Before you pack your car with $50 worth of candy (OK, maybe that’s just me), be sure to meander out into the yard. You’ll find an elephant graveyard full of broken elephant statues, the “Stairway to Nowhere,” flip-flops strung from trees and an elegant invention by John Crapper. Yes, John Crapper.

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium is located at 6019 Chambersburg Rd., Orrtanna. For more information, visit www.mistereds.com.

Civil War Tails Diorama Museum

Are you a Civil War buff? Do you like cats? Then Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum in Gettysburg is your kind of place, as it features dioramas of more than 8,000 kitties (and counting) fighting the Civil War.

Twin sisters Rebecca and Ruth Brown have handcrafted each display, combining their appreciation for the Civil War with their affection for felines. They started this labor of love 21 years ago when they were just 11 years old.

“Ours are unique in that we want to tell the stories of individuals,” said Ruth. “All of our larger dioramas have information panels with stories of individuals or units, as well as the general overview of what you’re looking at.”

Each scene is built to scale, representing with historical accuracy various battles (other than the fact that the soldiers are cats.) The dioramas are housed in the former National Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homestead, which once housed 70 girls.

Featured battles they have constructed—so far—are the Battle between the Ironclads, Fort Sumter, Little Round Top and the Angle at Gettysburg during Pickett’s Charge.

The models’ level of detail and care gives paws (ha!) to how much the sisters want visitors to learn as much as they know about the Civil War. The ladies even take you inside their workshop via a picture tour to show their miniature construction sites.

Their careful production mimics the topographical maps and historical tomes the twins have pored over. Traditional model site materials include acrylic paint, glue and reindeer moss. Madcap materials include used tea leaves, a black pepper shaker to apply ground cover and rocks made of clay.

Why clay, you may ask? That’s to get the rocks perfectly to scale (insert kitty litter joke here).

Each diorama tells a story of American military history in the context of the time period that shaped the Civil War. And the sisters’ descriptive writing is like catnip to a Civil War enthusiast. Reading the stories, I hardly realized I was learning, too.

And just what do the cats add to this, um, mewseum? Who cares? They’re cats. And they’re fighting the Civil War.

Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum is located at 785 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. For more information, visit www.civilwartails.com.

Author: Gina Napoli

Pumpkin Plan: Love a good pumpkin? You’re in the right place.

September 30, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Illustration by Stephen Michael Haas.

At last, it’s here—pumpkin season.

You’ve waited all year long to grab hold of one or many of the popular orange orbs that greet trick-or-treaters, decorate homes and taste especially good in spiced lattes.

You’re not alone. Statistics show that Pennsylvania loves its pumpkins. In 2014, it ranked as the third-highest U.S. state in pumpkin production, rolling out a weighty total of 105 million pounds, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.

Depending on the variety, you might put pumpkin in pies, breads or beer or just set it out on the stoop as a good, old-fashioned jack-o’-lantern. Its seeds and flowers also are consumed.

And did I mention spiced lattes?

Jon Strite, of Strites Orchard Farm Market and Bakery in Lower Swatara Township, said his farm sells 20 varieties of pumpkins. The large-face pumpkins used for jack-o’-lanterns are “harder” than the sweeter, fleshier varieties that are used for cooking, he said.

Strite, who runs the fourth-generation family business with his brother and cousin, said they plant eight acres of pumpkins each year, yielding around 28,000 gourds. The biggest growing challenges are “mold, deer and groundhogs,” but this year’s hot, dry summer provided favorable growing conditions, he noted. Too much moisture creates mold.

Greg Forry, of Risser-Marvel Farm Market and Corn Maze in Annville, said he favors funny-looking gourds called neck pumpkins, as well as butternut squash, for cooking. And, like Strite, he cites volatile weather as the biggest challenge.

“You need moisture for growing pumpkins, but not too much moisture,” he said. “Pumpkins can deteriorate fast if it’s too wet. Downy mildew is a big one.”

Forry, who’s in the business with wife Tina, said they plant seven acres of pumpkins annually, with the last harvest in early November.

Amy Paulus, of Paulus Farm Market in Upper Allen Township, echoed similar concerns about weather and moisture affecting pumpkin growth.

“We have no control over the weather,” she said. “We’re at its mercy.”

Paulus, who helps run the market and Paulus Orchards in Dillsburg, said they plant around 30 acres of pumpkins each year.

Despite the challenges, area pumpkin farmers agree that being in the business can be just plain fun, too. Risser-Marvel offers a pick-your-own patch, a Robin Hood-themed corn maze, campfires and hayrides. “Farmer Greg” Forry also leads school tours.

“The kids just love it,” Tina Forry said. “It’s good to see families having a good time. It’s good to see them having fun with no electronics involved.”

Amy Paulus, a former English instructor at Boiling Springs Middle School, now uses her teaching skills at the produce business that her husband “built from the ground up” after graduating from high school 25 years ago, she said. Paulus Farm Market offers a seasonal “Fall Funfort,” corn maze, hayrides, a u-pick pumpkin patch, farm animals and a unique “Harvest Hiccup” hydraulic cannon that’s perfect for “pumpkin chunkin.” It also offers school tours and birthday parties

“I love teaching,” Paulus said. “I love our school tours and anyone else who is interested. We love having families come out and visit. This is a family-run business, and we really embrace the community.”

Strites offers a corn maze and a u-pick pumpkin patch each fall for family fun.

“Saturday is always our busiest day,” Jon Strite said. “Sometimes, we get 100 cars in the parking lot for u-pick. It gets to be a family tradition for people.”

Strites also runs an in-house bakery that sells a variety of pies, breads, cookies and donuts made with fresh fruit, as well as its own apple cider, baking mixes, jams and jellies.

Although fall harvest is his favorite time of year, Strite added that it can seem “bittersweet.”

“Harvesting always reminds me that it’s the end of the fall season,” he said with a sigh.

For more information, including activities and hours, visit Paulus Farm Market at www.paulusfarmmarket.com, Risser-Marvel Farm Market at www.rissermarvel.com and Strites Orchard at www.stritesorchard.com.

Picking Time

If you like harvesting your own pumpkins, this is the season for you. Our area teems with pick-your-own places, including the following 20 farms.

Adams County
K & J Farm Market, 4 Irishtown Rd., Hanover;
Mt. Joy Berry Farm, 351 Speelman-Klinger Rd., Gettysburg;
Swartz’s Pumpkin Patch, 232 N. High St., Biglerville

Cumberland County
Oak Grove Farms, 846 Fisher Rd., Mechanicsburg;
Paulus Farm Market, 1216 S. York St., Mechanicsburg

Dauphin County
Strites Orchard Farm Market and Bakery 1000 Strites Rd., Harrisburg (Lower Swatara Township)

Lancaster County
Brecknock Orchard, 390 Orchard Rd., Mohnton; Brooklawn Farm Market, 2325 Lititz Pike, Lancaster;
Cherry Hill Orchards, 400 Long Lane, Lancaster;
Masonic Village Farm Market, 310 Eden View Rd., Elizabethtown

Lebanon County
Good Karma Produce, 104 Dohner St., Rexmont;
Gray’s Apple Ridge, 144 Greble Rd., Jonestown;
Risser-Marvel Farm Market, 2425 Horseshoe Pike, Annville

York County
Barefoot Farms, 6621 Bluebird Lane, Dover;
Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market, 8892 Susquehanna Trail S., Loganville;
Family Tree Farm, 4688 Dairy Rd., Red Lion;
Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market, 110 Ducktown Rd., York; Maple Lawn Farms, Inc., 2885 New Park Rd., New Park;
Paulus Orchards, 522 E. Mount Airy Rd., Dillsburg; Raab Fruit Farm, 209 Fruitlyn Dr., Dallastown

Author: Phyllis Zimmerman

Harrisburg City Limits: For one night, Austin musician Ruthie Foster migrates to our northern capital.

September 30, 2016 | by Jess Hayden

“I love my work. I think that’s my fuel for all that fire onstage.”

So says Ruthie Foster, a captivating performer who uses her strong, soulful voice to inspire, lift and move audiences.

Foster combines elements of blues, folk, soul and gospel to create a distinctive style that has won her legions of fans both in the United States and abroad. During concerts, she exudes energy and passion while moving effortlessly from one powerful song to another.

This month, Foster comes to Harrisburg courtesy of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society. Unlike many shows at ABC’s Abbey Bar, this is a sit-down concert in a listening-room environment.

Although Foster often performs with a band, this show will be solo. She says that she is looking forward to the change in pace.

“I get more freedom with the direction of the show and can work with the energy in the room differently,” she said. “In some ways, playing solo is more relaxing than with the band and, in other ways, it’s more challenging.”

Foster is one of the most decorated blues artists performing today.

Besides her 2010, 2012 and 2014 Grammy nominations, she has been recognized by organizations such as the Austin Music Awards (2007, 2008 and 2013 Best Female Vocalist), Blues Music Awards (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013), and the Living Blues Awards (2010 Critics’ Poll Winner and 2011 nominee for Blues Female Artist of the Year).

Foster said that she’s equally excited about all the awards that she receives.

“They’re all pretty awesome,” she said. “I don’t think I could pick a favorite. Being recognized is a great honor.”

A native of Gause, Texas, Foster is part of a large, gospel-singing family, and it’s obvious that many of her original songs are influenced by the full-throated and joyous music of her youth.

“Music was all around me growing up,” she said. “I sang with my relatives in church and started playing the organ before I could even reach the pedals. On the radio in Texas, I got to listen to everything from Conjunto to blues.”

All that listening led her to embrace a variety of styles.

“I think that there’s a little bit of everything in my work,” she said. “I love the old soul, blues and gospel singers like Etta James, Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson and Howlin’ Wolf. Along with my originals, when I perform, I also do some Mississippi John Hurt and even a traditional Georgia Sea Islands song called ‘Travelin Shoes.’”

Sometimes, she’ll throw in a cover song like Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Her treatment of the song is so innovative that you might not even recognize this 1960s standard.

“I like to cover songs that are timeless and still relevant,” she said. “I look for songs that I can do a little something new with it and something that moves my spirit.”

Foster wrote about half the songs on her newest album, “Promise of a Brand New Day.” On the CD is a beautiful a capella song, “Brand New Day,” which she wrote for her grandmother.

“I wanted to dedicate this to her and her spirit,” she said. “In church, she used to tell us all the time to ‘follow the promise of a brand new day.’”

The CD was produced in Los Angeles by rapper and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, whom Foster called “an inspiring artist” who was “very accommodating” in the studio.

“She made it very easy for me to just come in and sing,” Foster said. “Her playing was impeccable. I’m so proud of this record.”

Now living in Austin, Texas, Foster said that she doesn’t get as much time as she’d like to enjoy one of the country’s music meccas.

“I’m out of town so much, I really only get to play there a couple times a year at most,” she said. “But it’s a great place to live, and there is a whole lot of music going on there at any time.”

Ruthie Foster plays Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Abbey Bar of the Appalachian Brewery Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. Tickets are $24 and $10 for students. For more information and tickets, visit www.sfmsfolk.org or call 800-838-3006. This concert is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lois Lehrman Grass Foundation.

Author: Jess Hayden

Spooky Time: Get your ghost on in Gettysburg.

September 30, 2016 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Illustration by Ryan Spahr.

Cable television is rife with ghost shows from “Ghost Adventures” to “Haunted Collector,” “Ghost Asylum” and others.

It’s as though you can’t click through the channels these days without hearing an otherworldly tale. The supernatural investigation phenomenon that has taken off over the past decade has likely fueled the interest in the paranormal, and this translates into a booming business for ghost tour operators.

Halloween month is especially busy for Gettysburg ghost guides. You can easily spot them donned in period clothing leading groups of curious folk around town to share their stories of strange and unusual occurrences.

This time of year is especially comfortable for walking around in the crisp fall air and enjoying the anticipation of what may lurk around the next corner. The small town of Gettysburg is big on options for getting your scare on.

Reign of Terror

I’m not sure why so many spooky tales involve children, but they do (I’ll personally never get over those creepy twin girls in “The Shining”).

“Ghostly Images” then is the perfect place to get the heebie-jeebies, taking place in a Civil War orphanage for Pete’s sake, which means that you might feel a little queasy before the program even begins.

The guide relates the story, which starts innocently enough.

An unknown Union soldier is discovered dead on the Gettysburg battlefield, clutching a ferrotype of his three little children. The picture runs in newspapers around the country as part of a nationwide effort to locate his family. After a period of about four months, the widow of Amos Humiston identifies the children in the picture as her own, and the mystery is solved.

Soon enough, prominent citizens are so moved by the story that they create the National Homestead for Orphans of the United States. It is decided that the Humiston’s widow will become the first headmistress, with his children the first residents. Fair enough, but the story doesn’t end there. According to “Ghostly Images” manager Joe Svehla, trouble began when the widow remarried and moved to Massachusetts, leaving the orphanage at the mercy of a cruel headmistress named Rosa Charmichael.

During the 90-minute tour, visitors learn the story of Charmichael’s reign of terror and are led to the basement where children were chained. Guests can inspect the table of toys that, according to guide Liz Lang, are often disturbed.

“Every few months we gather them up and put them back on the table,” she said.

Svehla makes sure to put this tragedy into historical perspective.

“We’ve tried to keep the story alive due to the good things that happened in the early years,” he said. “During that time, the children received a quality education—one that was superior to what could be attained in Adams County. We dedicated a plaque this year and painted a mural to let people know what the building was so many years ago. It was such a great place for a number of years, but ended on a bad note.”

“Ghostly Images” also offers a tour of the Jennie Wade House, which appears today much like it did 150 years ago. Wade is remembered as the only civilian to be killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, and the historic house provides guests with a perspective of what life was like when war wreaked havoc.

Visitors may be surprised to learn that Jennie Wade didn’t actually reside at the house, but was visiting her sister who had given birth during the battle. Through a cruel twist of fate, Wade was killed while making bread in the kitchen. Guests will view the holes from the bullet that pierced two doors before striking Wade. A guide leads guests to each of the three floors of the small house, including the basement where Jennie’s body was laid out while the war continued on around them.

On the Hunt

Johlene Riley clearly enjoys her job as the premier tour guide for Gettysburg Ghost Tours. Why else would her nickname be “Spooky?”

Riley leads thousands of visitors every year on an exploration of fields, homes and taverns in Gettysburg, educating as much as scaring.

“We pride ourselves on delivering a good combination of history and ghosts,” she said.

Riley and her guides conduct candlelight walking tours through town and on her special “ghost hunts.” She even offers instructions for those interested in conducting their own paranormal investigations.

Riley, who has had an interest in the paranormal since she was a child, has also penned several books on the subject.

“I feel as if it’s my calling,” she said.

Another ghost tour business features the Farnsworth House. Built in 1810, the inn is said to be haunted, and guests can learn of its rich history through theatric presentations like the “Victorian Mourning Theatre” held in the dark recesses of the candlelit basement. Intrepid tourists come from all over to learn more about the space that served as a temporary morgue during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Ghost tours aren’t just for those who have an interest in the paranormal. They are also a great way to learn the lay of the land by exploring out-of-the-way places within the safety of a group. Guides share historical information that is often intriguing and, if you’re not careful, you just might just learn something.

And when it comes to ghost tours—the more the merrier, so be sure to grab a few friends and enjoy the thrill of things that go bump in the night.

Ghostly Images is located at 777 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. To arrange a tour, call 717-334-1156 or visit www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours is located at 47 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg and can be reached at 717-338-1818. Visit www.gettysburgghosttours.com to learn more.

The Farnsworth House Inn is located at 401 Baltimore St., Gettysburg. Tours can be arranged by calling 717-334-8838. Visit www.farnsworthhouseinn.com for more information.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Season of Symphony: HSO sets course for classical works, pops.

September 30, 2016 | by Lori M. Myers

Youth Symphony

The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, now in its 87^th season, has been anointed with all the adjectives—incredible, majestic, wonderful, professional.

Well, you get the picture.

In fact, there’s nothing that quite equals listening to this high-quality live orchestra led by Maestro Stuart Malina at the Forum in downtown Harrisburg. Here, the splendid notes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Gershwin crescendo and decrescendo in a multi-dimensional way that technology can’t begin to match. And, whether you’re a classical music aficionado or a young person who is attending for the first time, you’ll walk away with your own exemplary adjectives.

HSO’s Masterworks series opens the season on Oct. 8 to 9 with the music of Hindemith, Beethoven and Bartok. Pianist Sara Davis Buechner, making her HSO debut, will be performing Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

“I’m particularly proud that the Harrisburg Symphony is bringing Sara Davis Buechner to Harrisburg,” said Patrick Wallen, HSO’s director of sales and marketing. “In my opinion, her story is inspiring.”

Buechner, a Baltimore native and a graduate of Juilliard in New York, was well on the way to a promising career as a concert pianist. Buechner had performed nationally and internationally, won competitions, played at the White House. But then Buechner made the decision to live authentically. Back then, Buechner’s first name was David. Now, it’s Sara. When she came out as transgender in 1998, friends deserted her, and no one in the music arena would hire her.

“She made the difficult decision to leave the United States and move to Canada,” Wallen said. “She found a generally more accepting environment in Canada.”

Little by little, Buechner began seeing changing social attitudes for transgendered people. Little by little, she started receiving more invitations to perform in the United States. She has now accepted a teaching position at Temple University and relocated to Philadelphia.

“Her story is a comeback story, and the Harrisburg Symphony may be playing a pivotal role,” Wallen added.

Other performances in the Masterworks series include the works of Faure and Berlioz on Nov. 12 to 13; Ravel, Rota and Mozart on Jan. 7 to 8; Little, Sibelius and Brahms on Feb. 11 to 12; Debussy, Strauss and Stravinsky on March 18 to 19; Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian and Shostakovich on April 8 to 9; and, rounding out the year, Gershwin and Rachmaninoff on May 6 to 7.

The ever-popular “Pops” series will feature the rock hits of Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Queen and others from the ‘70s and ‘80s on Oct. 29 to 30; “The Music of James Bond and More” (“Live & Let Die,” “Diamonds are Forever”) as sung by Rachel York on Jan. 28 to 29; Ann Hampton Callaway singing the Barbra Streisand songbook on March 4 to 5; and Michael Cavanaugh singing the music of Elton John on April 22 to 23.

Along with a busy season of performances, HSO includes two youth orchestras offering concerts on Nov. 14, Dec. 17, Feb. 13 and a Mother’s Day Concert on May 14. Talented young musicians from the central Pennsylvania region get to play in an orchestral setting in what is considered one of the oldest youth orchestras in the country. There is also a Junior Youth String Orchestra comprised of string musicians in grades 6 to 9.

HSO also knows that it has to look towards nurturing and growing its future audiences. Along with the youth orchestras, it has devised a subscription program called “Musical Chairs,” whose goal is to grow and expand musical appreciation among its younger base. The program makes a Masterworks subscription of seven concerts affordable for families with students in kindergarten through 12^th grade. For a low cost, participants can attend the full Masterworks series when accompanied by parents or teachers.

Accessible and compelling. In the case of the HSO, the splendid adjectives never end.

For tickets and more information about the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-17 season, visit www.harrisburgsymphony.org or call 717-545-5527.

Author: Lori M. Myers

Making It Count: For nearly a century, the League of Women Voters has promoted, protected the right to vote.

September 30, 2016 | by Don Helin

Cindy Dunn, Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), speaking at a recent event held by the League of Women Voters.

There’s an old saying that the fastest way to lose a friend is to argue either religion or politics.

I don’t know about religion, but, for almost a century, the League of Women Voters has operated deep within the world of politics and elections, promoting voter information, ballot access and voter rights. Those efforts come to a head every four years, along with the presidential election cycle.

The national league formed in Chicago in February 1920, six months before ratification of the 19^thAmendment, which gave women the right to vote. It was intended to help women understand the U.S. form of government, as well as to support their efforts to register and vote. The founders planned to have the organization accomplish its work within five years, then disband.

Over the years, however, the league evolved from an organization concerned only with women voters and their needs to one concerned with all citizens’ right to vote. In Pennsylvania, there are 32 local leagues, which include both men and women.

“Our local league came into being in 1948 and represents citizens in 23 boroughs or townships in central Pennsylvania,” said Grace Newsome, president of the League of Women Voters of the Harrisburg Area.

Taking a Position

The league not only helps register voters, but studies and reaches consensus on issues of concern to members. I asked Susan Carty, president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, about the process for developing positions.

“Let me give you an example,” she said. “At the 2015 state convention, a member from one of the local leagues brought up the need for a criminal justice study. The membership voted unanimously to support this request for a study. We formed a 15-member committee to review the issue and all of its elements. Committee members were vetted for their background and experience to ensure an impartial review.”

Committee members conducted extensive research, interviewed stakeholders and solicited a variety of opinions. They then produced a study guide and consensus questions, which were provided to all local leagues, giving them the option to review and respond. The final draft contained subsections including bail and bonding, effective counsel, alternatives to incarceration, appropriate sentencing, prison conditions, reentry of former prisoners and economic issues.

At the recent meeting of the League of Women Voters of the United States, issues that had been developed at the local level—and concurred with at the state level—were discussed for consideration.

“Twenty-nine members of our league in Pennsylvania traveled to Washington, D.C., to support our proposed program for criminal justice, among others,” Carty said. “We were pleased to have the results of our efforts approved.”

Once a position is developed and approved, advocacy begins, Newsome said.

“Teams of members are trained who will focus and specialize on a particular issue, such as campaign finance, healthcare or water resource management,” she said.

These members engage, communicate, visit, write letters to the editor and meet with elected representatives when significant legislation develops that would have a direct impact on those issues. The league also engages with like-minded, statewide organizations to form a coalition to expand the voices heard on an issue.

That Voice

Locally, the league plays an active role in the community, said Shirley McCormick, secretary of the Harrisburg league.

“We have provided voter registration tables to assist people in registering to vote at the Harrisburg Area Community College, the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg, the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, the Simpson Library in Mechanicsburg and the Homeless Connect Project,” she said.

This past September, they collaborated with nine other organizations to present an event entitled “Our Stories, Our Voices.” This event, which was open to the public, featured women of various backgrounds sharing personal experiences as to why they vote and why they believe it is so important.

The local league also produces a yearly “Facts for Voters” brochure, which contains frequently asked questions, names and contact information for federal and state legislators, contact information for school districts and municipalities, and pertinent dates regarding elections, which is distributed to public buildings throughout the area.

During the past year, the Harrisburg league also held four public meetings with guest speakers such as the secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a professor from Widener Law School. And, this month, the league, in conjunction with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Society, will hold a forum for the candidates running for the state’s 15th senatorial district at Widener.

Does all this sound interesting? Then perhaps you should consider getting involved. McCormick said the league always welcomes new members.

“Many people believe they don’t have a voice in the development of laws and national policy,” she said. “Our organization can give them that voice.”

To learn more about the League of Women Voters, visit www.lwv.org, call 717-545-7497 or email [email protected].

Author: Don Helin

Hello, It’s Shirley: For four decades, people have called and Shirley Remis has listened.

September 30, 2016 | by Linda B. Hunter

A president resigned. Cars lined up for a gallon of gas. New York City was going broke, and a Swedish pop group called ABBA had its first worldwide hit.

Oh, and a young woman named Shirley Remis heard about an organization called CONTACT Helpline.

All of these things happened in 1974, but only one remains current today. Remarkably, Remis, now 86 years old, is still answering phones at CONTACT Helpline, a nonprofit agency providing around-the-clock listening, information and referral by telephone in south-central PA.

Recently, she was honored for more than four decades of service.

“Every part of the organization is important to Shirley,” said Kelly Gollick, CONTACT’s executive director. “When she sees an issue, she wants to be part of the solution.”

Active Listening

Shirley Remis’ life began humbly, the eldest of nine children raised on a farm in Bloomsburg. She left to attend school in Indiana, but returned home to Pennsylvania when her mother became ill. While caring for her family, she also worked at a nearby hospital.

“I was 10 years old, and there were also siblings 12, 14 and 17 at home,” said Mary Dean, the youngest sister.

Both parents died in the same year.

“Shirley was our mentor, the one to guide and set the example for us,” said Dean.

Remis took them to Philadelphia restaurants to “teach us manners, how to order from a menu and that strawberry shortcake was not a whole meal,” said Dean, with a chuckle.

With Remis watching over their shoulders, the children learned to cook.

“We set her oven on fire while cooking a turkey,” Dean said. “Shirley was very calm, told us to turn off the gas and throw in some salt.”

Remis later earned a master’s degree in public health and began a 23-year career with the PA Department of Health in Harrisburg, running a home health program across the state.

In 1974, she heard about CONTACT Helpline from a friend.

“It was a much-needed service in the community,” Remis said. “While I was familiar with counseling as a nurse, I was a little nervous about how it would work over the telephone.”

She got started after completing CONTACT’s “excellent” training program, which allowed her to “really listen to callers,” and active listening became the most satisfying aspect of her volunteer work, she said.

Get a Hug

Due to her daytime job, Remis often covered the least desirable helpline shift—the overnight. One night, she answered a call she’ll never forget. A woman phoned, depressed and overwhelmed with family troubles.

“She said she had a loaded gun in her bedroom and was trying her best to stay out of that bedroom,” Remis said.

As Remis listened, the caller unburdened herself of fear and suicidal thoughts.

“By the end of the call, I knew that the woman would not take her life,” Remis said.

As the years went by, she deepened her involvement with CONTACT Helpline. In addition to answering calls, she served on the executive board and helped with fundraising and administrative tasks.

“Shirley’s familiarity with our longtime, regular callers makes her an invaluable resource to me and other volunteers,” said Gollick. “She continues to find new ways to make an impact.”

CONTACT was not the sole beneficiary of Remis’ volunteer efforts. After retiring from her job in 1991, she volunteered as an American Red Cross disaster services nurse. For 15 years, she worked on a team in locations such as California, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Remis twice spent three weeks with the Red Cross in New York City after 9-11.

“The bushes looked like they were covered with snow” from the crumbled cement and ashes of the World Trade Center, she recalled.

On a home visit, her team encountered an immigrant family. Only one young man could communicate in English because his older, English-speaking brother was missing after the attack.

“Volunteers were instructed to be careful about displaying affection to victims, but, when I observed his family’s grief, I asked the young man, ‘Does anyone want a hug?’” Remis said. “And people came from every room in that house to get a hug!”

There for Us

Technology has changed greatly in the years since Remis began serving with CONTACT Helpline. That poses a challenge as the organization seeks a new, younger generation of volunteers.

“With where [the Helpline is] headed, like adding texting and chatting [to its services], we need the young people’s knowledge of [modern] communication,” said Remis.

And those younger siblings that Remis nurtured many years ago?

“They’re still my kids, but they are all grown up!” she said.

“Shirley’s devotion to us didn’t stop when we grew up,” said sister Mary. “She is always there for us.”

So, the question now is: Will Remis ever stop?

“Oh, no,” she said. “I keep setting new goals for myself. My goal now is to become a healthy 100-year-old.”

She celebrated her 86^th birthday on a family cruise with a zip line adventure and crossed another item off her bucket list—snow tubing—in February, going down the slopes seven times.

Over 42 years, so much has come and gone, but Shirley Remis continues on as strong as ever.

To learn more about CONTACT Helpline, including how to become a volunteer, please visit www.contacthelpline.org.

Author: Linda B. Hunter

In Good Taste: Elegant Progressions marks 25 years of style, dining, giving.

September 30, 2016 | by Ann Myers

“You can leave your wallet at home.”

So says David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association, when he talks about the annual fundraiser called Elegant Progressions.

“You pay your entrance fee. There is no silent auction, no raffle and no bar bill,” he said. “You can relax and enjoy the evening with your friends.”

Elegant Progressions is, at its name suggests, an upscale progressive dinner that offers both delicious food by some of the area’s top caterers and restaurants and a chance to glimpse several of central Pennsylvania’s most elegant, historic and architecturally significant properties. Transportation between houses is even provided.

A partnership between HHA and the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania, Elegant Progressions celebrates 25 years this year.

“Funds raised during this event stay right here in our community,” said Joan Line, the foundation’s executive director. “Once the bills are paid, we spilt the proceeds equally.”

Started in 1992 by kidney transplant recipient Peggy Jayne Pierce, Elegant Progressions is the result of a friendship between Pierce and Morrison. Pierce spent her days guiding the spouses of physician recruits on tours of Harrisburg. Learning that she would receive a new kidney, she asked Morrison to lead her tours. Elegant Progressions became a way to celebrate this longstanding friendship and to showcase the many elegant, historic homes in our region.

Alyce Spector started the foundation in 1979 after learning that two close friends were diagnosed with kidney disease.

“I could have worked, but decided to do service instead,” she said. “I wanted to help people in need of new kidneys. Through Elegant Progressions, we work together to restore and sustain lives in our community and the life of our community.”

Last year, the foundation helped more than 3,000 people affected by kidney disease in a 28-county region in central Pennsylvania. Proceeds from Elegant Progressions fund Camp Kydnie, a special, weeklong overnight camp for children ages 6 through 18 with kidney disease. Money raised also provides services and support to those afflicted with kidney disease and helps educates the public about the importance of kidney and organ donations.

Established in 1973, Historic Harrisburg Association serves as the capital region’s advocacy organization for historic preservation and urban revitalization. HHA’s primary goals are to promote the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of historic neighborhoods and landmarks.

“Largely because of the work of HHA and its civic partners, Harrisburg now stands as a primary example of how preservation can contribute to the reversal of decline in American cities,” said Morrison.

During Elegant Progressions, Unique Limousine will chauffer guests to the houses serving, first of all, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres; secondly, the main course; and, lastly, of course, dessert. The original brownstone of Common Pleas Court Judge James S. Bowman, now owned by Stephen and Susan Symons, will be one of the houses. Chilton, a spectacular Georgian home designed by William Lawrence Bottomley in 1929, now owned by Robert and Susan Mumma, is also on the tour. A third home has yet to be confirmed.

Line hopes that this year’s event will attract not only long-time supporters, but younger patrons, as well. In fact, a special ticket price, subsidized by the Hall Foundation Scholarship, is offered for those under age 40.

“We want to engage the next generation of patrons and volunteers,” she said. “It would be great to celebrate a 50^th anniversary, and, with the help of one of our early supporters, the Hall Foundation, we have an initiative to inspire younger participants.”

Moreover, Line said, Elegant Progressions offers a stylish way to kick off the most festive time of the year.

“This progressive, black-tie dinner will provide a sparkling launch to the holiday season,” she said.

Elegant Progressions takes place the weekend of Dec. 2 to 3. For sponsorship opportunities or to register online, visit www.elegantprogressions.org. For more information, contact the Historic Harrisburg Association at 717-233-4646 (www.historicharrisburg.com) or the Kidney Foundation of Central PA at 717-652-8123 (www.kfcp.org).

Author: Ann Myers

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like