September News Digest

September 30, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Courthouse Clears Hurdle

A proposed new federal courthouse for Harrisburg took a significant step forward last month, as a Congressional panel approved funding for the project.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta said the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee approved full funding for the $194.4 million courthouse at N. 6th and Reily streets. Congress has already appropriated about $55 million for land acquisition, feasibility studies and design.

“This has been a long time coming, with various baby steps along the way, but now the Harrisburg courthouse will finally become a reality,” Barletta said in a statement.

The full House and Senate still must pass a final bill appropriating the money, but Barletta spokesman Tim Murtaugh called House committee approval the greatest obstacle.

“This was the major hurdle,” he said.

After many years of searching, the federal government selected the Midtown site in 2010, acquiring the land and razing a few old buildings. However, the site has sat empty since, as the project has awaited funds for construction.

Barletta said that he had re-considered the scope of the project, perhaps in favor of an annex to the existing federal courthouse downtown. However, he finally agreed that a new facility was needed.

The 243,000-square-foot building will contain as many as eight courtrooms, including three for district judges, two for senior district judges, two for magistrate judges and one for bankruptcy judges. The plan also calls for about 43 parking spaces.

Assuming that Congress appropriates the money, several years will likely pass before construction begins. Earlier this year, the U.S. General Services Administration released a priority list for new courthouses and annexes around the country, putting eight other projects ahead of Harrisburg’s.

Sinkhole Money Secured

Harrisburg last month secured nearly $1.7 million in federal funds to help remediate a sinkhole-ravaged stretch along the 1400-block of S. 14^th Street.

In its award letter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency specified that

Harrisburg must provide $550,000 in matching funds, which may come from other grants the city hopes to receive for the project.

The city envisions acquiring and tearing down 52 homes along the block. It then would fill in the sinkhole-prone area with backfill and soil, before turning it into permanent green space.

This was the second time that the city attempted to secure FEMA funds. Last year, the agency turned down the city’s request, directing money for sinkhole remediation to Palmyra. Harrisburg then asked FEMA to reconsider its project, which resulted in the award.

Giant sinkholes began opening up on the block in March 2014, making many of the houses uninhabitable and the remainder virtually worthless.

Council Weighs Market Contract

The Broad Street Market took a step towards a long-awaited restructuring last month, as City Council held a hearing that could lead Harrisburg’s historic market to become a nonprofit entity.

Most council members seemed to favor the proposal, which would permit a new nonprofit called the Broad Street Market Alliance, to enter into a lease agreement with the city, which owns the 150-year-old market. The lease would run for five years with an option for a 10-year extension.

Under the agreement, the city would rent the two market buildings for $1 a year to the nonprofit, which then would be responsible for maintenance and repairs. Under this structure, the market would be eligible to apply for numerous grants reserved for nonprofits and also could raise money, said market Manager Beth Taylor, who estimates the buildings have $1.5 to $2 million in deferred maintenance and capital improvement costs.

Currently, the market operates within a complex structure, in which the city owns the market, but the for-profit Broad Street Market Corp. manages it under the supervision of the Historic Harrisburg Association. The city also charges $1 per year in rent, but is obligated to pay for maintenance and improvements.

Under the restructuring, the alliance would have a 13-member board, and its efforts would be supplemented by the creation of a new support and fundraising group called Friends of the Broad Street Market.

At press time, council had not scheduled a final vote on the lease agreement.

Midtown Project Receives Funds

A key renovation project in Midtown Harrisburg is expected to move rapidly to completion, as the state announced last month that it will release funding to help finish the block-long historic rehabilitation at N. 3rd and Boas streets.

In a press conference, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the developer, WCI Partners, will receive $3.5 million from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state initiative that focuses on culturally and historically significant projects.

“We’re going to make sure that this project works, that courageous, hard-working people succeed,” said Wolf, who praised WCI for taking a risk to restore the long-vacant properties along the 900-block of N. 3rd Street.

The $8 million project consists of four buildings—the historic Harrisburg Moose Lodge Temple and three smaller townhouses, as well as a large parking lot.

WCI acquired the properties last year for $900,000 from Atlanta-based Mosaica Education, which had operated the Ron Brown Charter School there for five years. After its charter was not renewed, the school shut down in 2005, and the buildings have sat empty and increasingly dilapidated.

The 92-year-old, 38,000-square-foot former Moose Lodge opened last month as a fully renovated, mixed-use building consisting of 33 one-bedroom apartments and commercial space. The 6,500-square-foot ground floor is occupied by st@rtup Harrisburg, a city-based co-working space.

WCI Principal Alex Hartzler said that much of the RACP money will go towards finishing the project, especially the renovation of the three townhouses.

The back portions of the townhouses were chopped off years ago to expand the Ron Brown School’s parking lot and provide a play area. However, the long-empty buildings were not properly sealed, resulting in extensive water and infrastructure damage, Hartzler said.

More than 100 years ago, the townhouses were constructed with commercial space on the ground floors and apartments upstairs. WCI will return them to this mixed-use format, and TheBurg plans to occupy the ground floor space of two of the townhouses, which should be ready for occupancy early next year.

The state had not released RACP money since 2014. Several other Harrisburg-area groups, include Gamut Theatre Group and the Harrisburg City Islanders, have applied for funds. Wolf said funding for other projects would be announced soon.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler is publisher of TheBurg.

Treasurer Criticizes Report

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller last month gave a generally unfavorable assessment of a report that criticized the operations of the city treasurer’s office.

Before City Council, Miller said that the report, drafted by consultant Alvarez & Marsal, was correct in some of its conclusions, but incorrect in others. For instance, the report stated that the department lacked written procedures and policies, which, Miller said, was not true.

The report became controversial earlier this year when city Controller Charles DeBrunner made it public over the objections of Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who said its release was premature and unwise.

The city contracted with Alvarez & Marsal after former Treasurer John Campbell resigned following his arrest on theft charges not related to his city position. The report found no wrongdoing by Campbell as treasurer, but pointedly criticized how the office was run.

This was Miller’s first significant appearance before council since he was named treasurer in June to fill the unexpired term of former Treasurer Tyrell Spradley, who resigned the post.

“I have complete confidence in the city Treasury Department and operations,” Miller told City Council.

Home Sales Jump

Harrisburg-area home sales increased significantly in August, rising by 21 percent from the year-ago period.

Homes sales totaled 947 units compared to 783 units in August 2015, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

The median price rose to $169,900 from $165,000 in the prior year, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, 311 homes sold compared to 265 last August. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 336 units versus 268. Sales in Perry County increased to 38 units versus 27 in August 2015.

GHAR’s area covers all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

So Noted

Capital Joe Coffee has opened at 418 Forster St., Harrisburg, across the street from the state Capitol complex. Capital Joe serves Square One Coffee of Lancaster and pastries from Brew Crumberland’s Best of New Cumberland.

Impact Harrisburg last month awarded the city $250,000 in emergency funding to upgrade its IT infrastructure after city workers experienced system failures that prevented access to email and other shared files. The award should allow the city to migrate certain mission-critical functions to a cloud-based solution, thereby improving performance and reducing the risk of crashes.

Whitaker Center has announced the planned retirement of its long-time CEO and president, Dr. Michael Hanes. Hanes will retire at the end of next year, prompting the board to initiate a search for his replacement.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2418 & 610 Fillmore St.: T. Le to D. Nguyen, $30,000

Benton St., 545: MBHH RE LLC to Triple Play Properties LLC, $30,000

Benton St., 601: M. Munro to S. Harrison, $102,000

Briggs St., 216: M. & P. Parsons to J. Vingsness & A. Posner, $205,000

Briggs St., 2024: S. Chapman to S. Maurer, $35,450

Brookwood St., 2213: PA Deals LLC to Mid Atlantic IRA & C. Hampton IRA, $50,000

Calder St., 268: K. Ciminello to B. Roller, $107,500

Chestnut St., 2048: S. Reyes to A. & R. Hart, $103,000

Chestnut St., 2215: J. & H. Kelly to J. & E. Colt, $179,900

Credit Union Place, 1: Pa. State Employees Finance Dept. to Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School, $5,000,000

Derry St., 1316: Sandra Feigley Inc. c/o Thelma Johnston to S. Khan, $34,000

Derry St., 2035: S. Nagle to J. Guzman & M. Rodriguez, $89,900

Derry St., 2354: T. Pham to H. Pham & N. Le, $45,000

Emerald Ct., 2451: H. Conrad to J. & S. Theodorou, $82,000

Fillmore St., 610: T. Johnson to D. Nguyen, $30,000

Forster St., 1621: M&T Bank to PA Deals LLC, $47,000

Fulton St., 1738: PA Deals LLC to D. Reinhart, $124,900

Green St., 1623: B. Christine to S. Vemula & M. Chada, $115,000

Kensington St., 1952: J. & J. Belfonti to Tout USA LLC, $65,000

Lenox St., 1918: J. Zellers to A. Rosario & S. Castillo, $54,300

Lenox St., 1922: T. & J. Santiago to T. & B. Nguyen, $32,500

Lenox St., 1930: V. Bria to A. Perez, $62,500

Linden St., 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 117½ 119, 119½ & 100, 112 N. 13^th St.: Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area to CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC, $131,000

N. 2^nd St., 1618: K. Robinson to D. Payne, $249,900

N. 2^nd St., 2531: S. Mirza & F. Jabari to H. & S. Johnson, $157,500

N. 2^nd St., 2539: D. Garber to E. & A. Stockstill, $165,000

N. 2^nd St., 2812: M. Macholtz to T. Brinkley, $280,000

N. 2^nd St., 3016: S. Trent to D. Marcheski & L. Boykin, $156,000

N. 3^rd St., 1122: S. & G. Giambalvo to G. & K. Tennis, $197,500

N. 3^rd St., 1935: T. Stutzman to Monte Design Studio LLC, $40,000

N. 3^rd St., 3104: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & ISN Corp. to M. Horgan & R. Kushner, $45,000

N. 4^th St., 1627: GWD Capitol Heights LP to J. Parfitt, $103,000

N. 5^th St., 2313: K. & D. Izer to BCR 2 Properties LLC, $30,000

N. 5^th St., 2437: Willowscott Investments to K. Hurst & N. Howze, $68,900

N. 6^th St., 1625: S. & C. Lane & New Heights South LLC to A. & A. Gee & PA Department of General Services, $42,000

N. 6^th St., 1633: HarrisPenn Trust to PA Department of General Services, $554,500

N. 6^th St., 2130: S&T Bank to N. Mitaka, $46,000

N. 13^th St., 146: L. Ware Jr. to W. Banks, $80,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 606: A. Moscato to J. Scarnati, $117,900

N. Front St., 1711: A. Haroundzadeh & D. Dohner to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $1,065,000

Penn St., 1602: P. Larsen to M. Dinicola, $159,900

Penn St., 1916: WCI Partners LP to D. O’Hagan, $161,000

River St., 122: A. Rhoads & D. & S. Shatto to J. & G. Souders, $57,500

Rudy Rd., 1952: S. Schmidt to W. Zhang, $50,000

Rudy Rd., 2256: W. Ryan to Z. Rothfus, $176,900

Seneca St., 641 & 645: D. & K. Howard to DAP 7 Curtin LP, $55,000

Showers St., 615: J. & D. Groff to E. Hobbs, $155,000

S. 13^th St., 1400: J. & E. Cavitt to I. Medina & J. Culcay, $76,500

S. 20^th St., 209: R. Doerfler & J. Moffitt to J. & B. Readinger, $48,300

S. 27^th St., 710: D. & C. Howe to D. Barrick & A. Toci, $199,000

S. 28^th St., 728: S. Oscilowski to M. Marcus, $84,000

State St., 1604: Mid Penn Bank to C. Valdivieso, $37,000

Swatara St., 1523: Tri County HDC Ltd. To J. Macias, $102,900

Swatara St., 2145: S. & E. Reeves to M. Thompson & J. Longe, $64,900

Whitehall St., 1939: R. Miller Sr. to R. Howard, $50,900

Author: Lawrance Binda

Scream Screen: What could be better than “Halloween” for Halloween?

September 30, 2016 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Halloween approaches, and, with it, the collective preparation for its celebration. As we stock up on candy for trick-or-treaters and piece together costumes for parties, we are reminded of the classic film that made Halloween even more exciting.

John Carpenter has given the world a lot of cult classics—he brought us “The Thing,” “The Fog,” and “They Live.” However, none is quite as beloved as “Halloween.” With dynamic characters and a simple, chilling premise that gets under your skin, the 1978 horror flick has left an impact on audiences for nearly 40 years.

It opens with a murder—that always seems to be the case with horror films. Except, with this one, there is a twist: The murderer is a child. Our antagonist is a demon from day one, it seems, and continues to be even after his escape from the asylum years later, the day before Halloween. His name is Michael Myers, and his psychologist, Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), is determined to track him down. Pairing up with the sheriff of Haddonfield, Myers’ hometown, he makes moves to find the murderer before night falls.

Enter our protagonist, Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis). Laurie is sturdy and responsible. Unlike her friends, Annie (Nancy Loomis) and Lynda (P.J. Soles), who plan to spend the night with their boyfriends, Laurie has plans to babysit on Halloween night. But her responsibility doesn’t exclude her from the action. As Michael Myers begins to pick off her friends, one by one, Laurie goes to investigate, unwittingly throwing herself into the path of a murderer.

Apart from the film’s thrills and suspenseful atmosphere, the characters are what make this movie shine. Laurie isn’t your typical horror protagonist. She isn’t an overly stereotyped nerd or ditzy blonde; she’s a responsible, unassuming individual. She isn’t just placed in the story as a plot device—she has personality. She’s recognizable, and her friends are equally bold in their flavor. While Lynda is admittedly the stereotypical cheerleader, Annie is the snarky best friend, daughter of the sheriff and, consequently, a bit rebellious in her attitude.

Even Michael Myers has more personality than just a creepy, heavy-breathing antagonist (see the scene in which he wears sunglasses over a bed sheet—it really emphasizes how killing is fun for him). He is one of the few horror villains of that time period who wasn’t supernatural in some form. He was just evil, though his recurring revival in the succeeding films plays with the idea that he’s unstoppable.

As far as franchises go, none of the other films quite reached the cult status of the first. But the world is always ready to see Michael Myers in action again. This year, there will be plenty of opportunity to see pieces of this franchise. “Halloween” and two of its sequels will play at Midtown Cinema in October.

Midtown Cinema
Special Events
October

The Late Shift with Zeroday
“Poltergeist” (1982)
Saturday, Oct. 1, 10:30 p.m.

Classic Film Series
“Dial M For Murder” (1954)
Sunday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m.

Down in Front!
“Troll 2” (1990)
Friday, Oct. 14, 9:30 p.m.

“Bloodlust!” (1961)
Friday, Oct. 28, 9:30 p.m.

Digital Theatre Series
“The Deep Blue Sea” (National Theatre Live)
Sunday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m.

“Frankenstein” (National Theatre Live)
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Beetlejuice” (1988)
Friday, Oct. 21, 9:30 p.m.

15th Anniversary Film Series
“Black Swan” (2010)
Saturday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m.

“Nosferatu” (1922)
Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.

The Halloween Series
“Halloween” (1978)
Thursday, Oct. 13, 9 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.

“Halloween II” (1981)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 31, 9:30 p.m.

“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 9 p.m.

“Halloween 4” (1988)
Thursday, Oct. 20, 9 p.m.

“Halloween 5” (1989)
Thursday Oct. 27, 9 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

Come Back to Merlot: Reacquaint yourself with a wine that a movie laid low.

September 30, 2016 | by Steve Juliana

Anyone who has seen the film “Sideways” will recall Miles and Jack at their dinner date when Miles vehemently objects to the very idea of drinking Merlot. How could anyone be so insulted by such a nice beverage?

Merlot, French for “little blackbird,” has been a fixture in the Bordeaux region since the late 1700s. It is grown primarily on the right bank of the River Dordogne, where it reaches its apex at Chateau Petrus. Here, the wine is almost always 100-percent Merlot and is the most expensive in the region. Good Merlot is also found in Chile, Australia and Italy, where it is blended with other grapes or bottled singly.

The controversy surrounding this noble grape started with the airing of “The French Paradox” on American television in 1991. The theory was that the fatty French diet and the country’s smoking habit were rendered benign due to the intake of large amounts of red wine. This quickly caught on here in the states, and people turned their attention to Merlot.

Round, plummy and easy-drinking, Merlot was much softer than the tannic Cabernets on the market and soon became the darling of newly minted wine drinkers. It wasn’t long afterwards that supply outstripped demand, and the wine started to suffer. Grapes from younger vines were harvested, and older vine crops were picked immature. Then it was found that that many of the vineyards in Chile contained not Merlot but Carménère, further reducing the availability of mature grapes.

The wines became thinner, more tannic and with a vegetal character that is the hallmark of “green” fruit. Demand for the quaff dropped, and wine drinkers moved on to other vinifera. Amazingly, it is the American northwest that put this favored drink back where it belongs.

The state of Washington burst onto the wine scene first with Riesling, then Chardonnay and Syrah, making good wines of unique character. But the Merlot grown here is considered some of the best of the West Coast. The combination of dry climate, abundant summer sunshine and cold winters that allow the fruit to go fully dormant makes the climate ideal for this Bordeaux varietal.

Look at a world map, and you’ll see that the cities of Seattle and Bordeaux are separated by a little more than three degrees of latitude. This imaginary line connects the quaint villages of France with the peaks and wild rivers of the 14 American Viticultural Areas of this northwest state.

The fact that these disparate places have one of the world’s great wines in common speaks to the ability of Merlot to adapt and produce anywhere in a temperate climate. This fact has not been lost on the state of California, where it is broadly understood that watery green quaffs are a thing of the past. Food-wise, merlot is equally adaptable, matching well with a variety of foods ranging from classic French cuisine to Southern barbecue to grilled meat.

So, try a Merlot, no matter what Miles says.

Keep sipping, Steve.

Author: Steve Juliana

Artistic Struggles: “Red” examines the meaning of art, creation, life.

September 30, 2016 | by Laura Dugan

Photo by Hailey Harned.

“There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend… One day the black will swallow the red.”
—Mark Rothko in “Red”

Large paintings with blocks of color, sometimes bright and inviting, sometimes dark and thought provoking. This is the work of the artist Mark Rothko. In the play “Red,” Jeff Wasileski, as Rothko, and Jeremy Burkett, as the painter’s assistant, Ken, bring to the stage these larger-than-life paintings. Opening at Open Stage of Harrisburg on Oct. 7, “Red” offers a unique look inside the world of art. It is also a story of how our expectations shape our lives.

“Red” is a play about Rothko and his assistant in the late ‘50s as they work on a commission for the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York. Based on the true story of the biggest commission in modern art’s history, the play takes the audience inside Rothko’s head as he straddles the line between artistry and integrity. Ken, recently hired, first overwhelmed and uncertain in the presence of the artist, eventually grows to challenge the master painter.

“Hopefully, this story will encourage people to realize that these things hanging on the wall aren’t just decoration,” Wasileski said. “They say something important and can touch you on the deepest level if you take the time to look a little more closely.”

Burkett said he enjoyed the challenges and rewards of a cast size of two.

“The intimacy of working with only one other actor in a dramatic performance really opens so many opportunities for interaction,” he said. “The end result is authentic, real and pulls the audience to the edge of their seat wanting to be closer.”

Wasileski concurred.

“You really get to explore the interaction between these two characters and see their relationship develop,” he said.

The play takes place during a time in Rothko’s life when he felt misunderstood, often refusing to explain the meaning behind his pieces. As the play progresses, he is faced with a vast difference between what he hopes to accomplish and how his work is actually perceived.

Rothko’s dilemma is one many of us face in family, work or personal expectations.

“It’s a difficult thing for anyone who invests a big part of themselves into a project to have to admit that it has not lived up to their hopes,” said Wasileski. “The question then is do you compromise your standards and accept the lesser result or do you walk away from it all, including all the work you’ve done.”

The show is about more than the struggles of an artist and his assistant. It’s about the struggle of life—the constant striving for perfection and overcoming the battles within ourselves to do what is, ultimately, best for us regardless of the consequences.

“Red,” the 2010 Tony Award winner for “Best Play,” runs at Open Stage of Harrisburg from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30. Tickets are available at www.openstagehbg.com. Season subscriptions are available. Note: Open Stage recommends that children be at least 12 years old to attend a performance of “Red.”

October Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s
Professional Downtown Theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

Popcorn Hat Players Present
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Oct. 12 to 29
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 Improv Comedy Show
Oct. 21
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are “Bring Your Own Price.” Any size donation buys your admission.

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

“Red”
a drama by John Logan
Oct. 7 to 30
Tickets $21 to $35

Open Call Auditions for
OSHKids Performance Company
Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.
Acting course runs September to May
for youth ages 8 and up, presenting
“Shel-abration: a Theatrical Celebration of Shel Silverstein”
openstagestudioschool.com

Season 31 Subscriptions
on sale now—$120 for 5 plays

Author: Laura Dugan

Happenings: Our October Calendar of Events

September 30, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Happenings

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Eating Ourselves,” fine art by Ted Walke, through Oct. 21; closing reception: Oct. 21, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Early Off-Roaders,” through Oct. 15.

“Mods vs. Rockers,” motorcycles and scooters, through Oct. 15.

“Steampunk U,” recycled gears and parts, repurposed with artistic and functional form, through Nov. 6.

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

“Man’s Best Friend,” fall membership show, through Oct. 13.

“Five Artist Invitational,” with Audrey A. Bordonaro, Klint Ericson, John Firestone, Jeanne McKinney and Ema Tunno, Oct. 21-Nov. 23; reception: Oct. 21, 5-8 p.m.

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

“Bones,” original ink and digital works by Jason Kreiger, Oct. 21-mid-Nov.; receptions: Oct. 21 & 22, 7-10 p.m.

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

Artist of the Month: Linda Buckwalter

Eckert Art Gallery
Millersville University
60 West College Ave., Lancaster
717-871-4633; artsmu.com

“Lancaster Sound Map,” through Oct. 6.

“Response as Catalyst,” a yearlong conversation through drawings by artists Leslie Gates and Dan Clark, Oct. 18-Dec. 6.

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

“Downton’s Last Stand: A Reprise of the Fort Hunter Fashions of the Downton Abbey Era,” through Dec. 23.

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

Works by Thom Kulp and Susan Benigni-Landis, through Nov. 12.

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

“Faith, Family and Community: Folk Art Links to the Early Pennsylvania Dutch in Perry County,” Perry Historians exhibition, through Nov. 5.

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

“ART/history: a retrospective exhibit on the career of jewelry designer Jude Sharp,” through Oct. 18; an oral interview screening and presentation with Sharp will be held on Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com
Artist TBD, through October; reception: Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Dirt Floor,” southern Gothic and paranormal artwork, through Oct. 31.

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

“Tell Mother I’ve Been Good: Vice & Virtue in the Civil War,” illustrating the moral challenges faced by thousands of men in the ranks, through Dec. 31.

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

Featured artwork from the 2016 Wildlife Art Auction, through Oct. 1.

The art of Tom Wise, Oct. 6-Dec. 26.

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

“Dyeing for Peru,” eco-dyed and ice-dyed clothing, accessories and home textiles by Marcia LaBant of Luminous Nature, through Oct. 8.

“Artisan Marketplace,” locally made fine art and handcrafted items for unique holiday gift giving, Oct. 14-Jan. 14; reception: Oct. 14, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“Ceramics Retrospective,” works by Victor Spinksi, through Oct. 6.

Paintings by Sean Conner, Oct. 10-Nov. 1; lecture & reception: Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m.

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

“We’re Here: Pioneering LGBT Rights in Pennsylvania,” through Oct. 30. A program will be held on Oct. 21, 12-1 p.m., with clips of oral history interviews and a Q & A session with the exhibit curator.

“Working Together for Wildlife: Three Decades of Pennsylvania’s Nature in Art,” through Dec. 31.

“Sixty Years with the Seven Lively Artists: 1956-2016,” celebrating the 60^th anniversary of central Pennsylvania’s plein air painting group, Oct. 21-Feb. 12; reception: Oct. 21, 5:30-8 p.m.

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

“Despues De La Frontera (After the Border),”a bilingual group exhibition honoring immigrants who fled their homes in Central America, through Dec. 4; bilingual tour and panel discussion: Oct. 15, 2 p.m.

“African American Art Since 1950: Perspectives from the David C. Driskell Center,” Oct. 7-Jan. 22; members’ preview: Oct. 6, 5-7 p.m.; free admission: Oct. 21, 6-9 p.m.

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Now Showing: An American Century at the Movies,” through Oct. 16.

“Nyumba a Sanaa,” works from the Maryknoll Collection, Oct. 28-Dec. 18; reception: Oct. 28, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Y Art: Discovering the Next Generation of Artists,” annual juried high school exhibition, through Oct. 28.

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

“Art in the Wild,” a nature-inspired outdoor art exhibition, with installations mostly including natural materials, through Oct. 31.

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

Works by Jenny England for CURE International.

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

“Mosaics,” by Amanda Rife, through Oct. 20.

“Handmade Music,” works by Mike Orr, Oct. 21-Nov. 17.

Read, Make, Learn

Absolute Pilates
3940 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-585-0354; absolutepilates.com

Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Babies at the Barre, 10 a.m.
Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31: Free Pilates 101 Class, 9 a.m.

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

Oct. 15-16: 3D Pumpkin Carving, 10 am.-5 p.m.

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

Oct. 5: Bounty of the Fall, 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 19: Tasty Tapas. 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 26: Sensational Sandwich and Beer Pairing, 6-9 p.m.

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

Oct. 1: Cookbook Club, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1: Storytime and Music Therapy, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 3, 17: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
Oct. 4: Curl Up With the Classics—“Lord of the Flies,” 3 p.m.
Oct. 4: Coloring for Grown-Ups, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20: Device Advice, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Homework Helpers, 4 p.m.
Oct. 7: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8, 15: Getting Started with Knitting, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 10: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10, 24: LEGO Club, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 13, 27: Drop-in Story Time, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14, 28: Foreign Film Friday, 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
Oct. 18: Fredricksen Reads—Planning Session, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18, 25: Gardening with Nature, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22, 29: Getting Started with Crochet, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 26: Adventure Crafts—Dinosaur Excavation, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 29: Books and Brew, 1-4 p.m.

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

Oct. 10-Nov. 28: Improv Level 3 w/Jennie Adams
Oct. 18-Dec. 6: Improv Level 1 w/Cody Unger
Oct. 13: Improv Mixer for Singles

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

Oct. 18: Harvest Soups & Stews, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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

Oct. 15: A Novel Idea 102, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 26: Zombie Makeup Workshop, 4-6 p.m.

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

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Weekly Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Oct. 11: Seniors Group, 6 p.m.
Oct. 13: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
Oct. 18: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.

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

Oct. 24: Ballroom Dance for Beginners, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: Ballroom Dance, Advanced, 6:30 p.m.

The MakeSpace
1916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgmakespace.com

Oct. 8: Poetics of Color Workshop, 2-5 p.m.

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

Oct. 1: Health and Wellness Meet-up, 10 a.m.
Oct. 1: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
Oct. 3: Mindful Nutrition & Health Meet-up, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 4, 18: Meet-up, 9 a.m.
Oct. 4: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
Oct. 5: Marketplace HOA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8: Story time with Lisa, 11 a.m.
Oct. 11: Friends of Midtown Beautification Committee, 6:15 p.m.
Oct. 11: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11: Men’s Conversation, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13, 20: Camp Curtin Toastmasters
Oct. 16: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Oct. 16: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
Oct. 19: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22: Book signings: Tory Gates, Lindsay Detwiler and Matty Dalrymple
Oct. 24: Feminism Book Club, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 30: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.

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

Oct. 14-16: Cold Wax 3-Day Workshop
Oct. 22: Macrame Market Bag

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

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

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

Oct. 7: Science Workshop—Rocks in our Daily Life, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: Learn at Lunchtime—Family Research, 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 12: National Fossil Day, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 14: Learn at Lunchtime—William Penn, 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 21: Science Workshop—Beaver, Bear and Fox, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

Oct. 13: “Mortified” at Zeroday Brewing Co.

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

Oct. 25: Innovative Lecture Series: Matt Grocoff

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

Oct. 1: Scout Workshop—Webelos “Into the Wild” Badge, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 2: Beginner’s Yoga & Walk, 10-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 2: Introduction to GPS & Geocaching, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 5: Migration Bird Walk, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Oct. 8: Storytime (ages 2-5), 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 8: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 9: Tree ID Walk, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 15: Early Morning Bird Walk 9-11 a.m.
Oct. 15: Big Moon Halloween Hike, 6:30-8 p.m.
Oct. 15: Scout Workshop—Brownies, “Wildlife in PA,” 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Educator Workshop—Wonders of Wetlands, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 20-21: Wildwood’s Magical Trail, 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 22: “Capital Area Greenbelt—Past, Present and Future,” 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 30: Kids Discover!, 1:30-3 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

Oct. 2: Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell
Oct. 10: Abba—The Concert
Oct. 15: Charles Esten & Clare Bowen

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

Oct. 1: Willie Jack & the Northern Light
Oct. 2: Scott Pemberton Trio
Oct. 6: The Fritz
Oct. 7: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Oct. 8: Rumpke Mountain Boys
Oct. 13: Hot Buttered Rum
Oct. 16: Ruthie Foster
Oct. 21: John Brown’s Body
Oct. 22: Hoots and Hellmouth
Oct. 23: The Bumper Jacksons
Oct. 25: The Grateful Ball w/The Travelin’ McCoury’s and Jeff Austin
Oct. 29: Consider the Source, Dr. Slothclaw

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

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

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

Oct. 22: “Beatlemania Now”

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

Oct. 9: Harry Allen Quartet w/Hilary Gardner

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

Oct. 1: Brass Monkeys
Oct. 4: Ace Frehley
Oct. 7: +Dope+
Oct. 8: Vanladylove
Oct. 12: Islander
Oct. 13: Like A Storm
Oct. 14: Suicide Silence White Chapel
Oct. 15: Les Brers
Oct. 16: Granger Smith, Earl Dibbles
Oct. 22: Jimkata
Oct. 25: Drug Church
Oct. 27: Red
Oct. 29: Medusas Disco, The Stone Wall Vessels

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

Oct. 1: Joe Cooney
Oct. 2: Ellyot H. Ray
Oct. 7: Antonio Andrade
Oct. 8: Grit
Oct. 9: Crimson
Oct. 13: Caelan Perez
Oct. 14: Kevin Kline
Oct. 15: Paul Zavinsky
Oct. 16: Shelba Purtle
Oct. 21: Jim Haas
Oct. 22: Doug Morris
Oct. 23: Alex Brubaker
Oct. 28: Seasons
Oct. 29: Dominick Cicco
Oct. 30: Jasper the Tourist

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

Oct. 20: Hiroya Tsukamoto

Gretna Music
Leffler Chapel and Performance Center, Elizabethtown College
717-361-1508; gretnamusic.org

Oct. 22: Robert McDonald

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

Oct. 29: “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun”

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

Oct. 1: HBG MakeSpace Music Fest
Oct. 1: Ben Arnold, Tony Ryder & True West, Camela Widad
Oct. 7: Vetour Productions First Friday
Oct. 8: The Circus Of Lust
Oct. 14: Callow Lore
Oct. 15: Shana Falana, Concrete Beach
Oct. 21: Hey Guy, The Give Take
Oct. 22: David Bowie Masquerade & Tribute Party
Oct. 30: An Afternoon of Chamber Music

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

Oct. 7: Fall Young Person’s Concert
Oct 8-9: Masterworks
Oct. 29-30: “Rock On!”

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

Oct. 5: Jason Isbell w/Josh Ritter
Oct. 8: Dream Theatre
Oct. 18: John Mellencamp
Oct. 28: Hershey Symphony

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

Oct. 1: DJ Ray Rossi, Funktion
Oct. 7: Sapphire
Oct. 8: DJ Dave Styles, The Luv Gods
Oct. 14: Uptown Band
Oct. 15: DJ Magic, Ollie’s Pool Party
Oct. 21: LCD Band
Oct. 22: DJ Matrix, Cazhmiere
Oct. 28: Josh Squared Band
Oct. 29: DJ Forest, Smooth Like Clyde

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

Oct. 13: Concert at Brethren in Christ Church

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

Oct. 9: Sunday Arts Hour—The Metta String Quartet

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

Oct. 14: Chroma
Oct. 24: Matthew Leonard

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com

Oct. 1: Halloween Mix-Tape
Oct. 12: Port Ellis/LØRE

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

Oct. 7: “Abba the Concert”
Oct. 22: Diamond Rio
Oct. 26: Survivor
Oct. 29: The Monkees

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

Oct. 19: Havana Cuba All-Stars
Oct. 28: Jazz Ensemble

The MakeSpace
1916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgmakespace.com

Oct. 1: HBG MakeSpace Music Festival (at HMAC)

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

Oct. 1: Rebel w/Matthias Maute

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

Oct. 15: Symphony Orchestra Concert
Oct. 15: Jazz Ensembles Concert
Oct. 28: Snarky Puppy Performing Arts Series

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

Oct. 14: Carly Clark
Oct. 21: Nico Padden

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

Oct. 1: Don Johnson Trio
Oct. 8: Top Down Band
Oct. 15: Shea & Len (Luv Gods)
Oct. 22: Sherri Mullen Duo
Oct. 29: Darcie Miner

MoMo’s BBQ & Grille
307 Market St., Harrisburg
717-230-1030; momosbbqandgrill.com

Oct. 7: Ben Brandt Band
Oct. 14: Martin EZ John

Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org

Oct. 15: Spaghetti Dinner at Colonial Park United Church of Christ

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

Oct. 1-2: Classic Crooners Cabaret
Oct. 6: Mark Santanna and the Snake Oil Salesman
Oct. 7: Spoken Expressions with Tiger Rose, Lee Mo, Shelly says w/Jarrell Franklin
Oct. 8: Morse Code
Oct. 13: Open Mic Jam w/Blue Elephant & Friends
Oct. 14: Genesis Lorraine and Her 8-Track Mind
Oct. 15: La Playa
Oct. 17: River City Big Band
Oct. 20: Open Mic Jam w/Shawan and the Wonton
Oct. 21: Ben Brandt Trio
Oct. 22: Lux
Oct. 24: Friends of Jazz Ja,
Oct. 26: Moutin Factory Quintet

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

Oct. 1: Dan Zukowski
Oct. 7: Brad Bomberger
Oct. 8: Itsy + Im
Oct. 14: Cotolo
Oct. 15: 1096 Crazy
Oct. 21: Paul Zavinsky
Oct. 22: Just Dave
Oct. 28: 6 Bar Break
Oct. 29: Rayzen Kane

Stock’s on 2nd
211 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com

Oct. 1: Us 2 Duo
Oct. 7: Natalie Ness
Oct. 8: Houston Baker
Oct. 14: Cruise Control Trio
Oct. 15: Music Thru Science Lite
Oct. 21: Bitsy and Im
Oct. 22: Visitors Duo
Oct. 28: Shea Quinn and Friends

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

Oct. 7: Dark Star Orchestra
Oct. 15: York Symphony Orchestra
Oct. 20: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Oct. 21: Arlo Guthrie
Oct. 26: Sarah McLachlan
Oct. 28: Aoife O’Donovan & Willie Watson

Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7358; mangiaqui.com

Live music Friday, Saturday nights

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

Oct. 2: First Family Sundays—Upcycled Sculpture

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

Oct. 7: Susan Werner
Oct. 16: Ruthie Foster
Oct. 23: The Bumper Jacksons

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

Oct. 8: Larry McKenna & George Rabbai
Oct. 14: Daedalus Quartet
Oct. 21: Michael Longoria

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

Oct. 25: U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors
Oct. 29: Blackmore’s Night

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Oct. 1: Choral Kaleidoscope
Oct. 2: October Winds Ensembles
Oct. 16: Autumnal Auras

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

Oct. 29: Edgewood

The Stage Door

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

Through Oct. 8: Crooners
Oct. 14: Jay Leno

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

Through Nov. 12: “Anything Goes”

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

Oct. 12-19: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (Popcorn Hat Players)
Oct. 21: TMI Improv

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

Oct. 7 & 15: Crank
Oct. 7 & 9: Class 2 Show

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

Oct. 8: “The Circus of Lust”
Oct. 28-29: “The Rocky Horror Show”

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

Oct. 6-16: “Frankenstein”
Oct. 22: “Things That Go Bump in the Night”

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

Oct. 21: Bill Maher
Oct. 23: Brian Regan

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

Oct. 7: State Street Video Premiere

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

Oct. 1-9: “tick, tick…BOOM!”

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

Oct. 12: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”

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

Oct. 15: Capitol Steps

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

Oct. 6-9: “Eurydice”

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

Oct. 21: Comedy Night

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

Oct. 7-30: “Red”

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

Through Oct. 9: “An Act of the Imagination”

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

Oct. 6: “PUSH Physical Theatre”

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

Oct. 6: Jody Kerns & Will Jacobs
Oct. 17: David Sedaris
Oct. 20: Julie Scoggins & Dave Wingfield

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

Through Oct. 9: “Far From Heaven” (at Whitaker Center)

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

Oct. 1: “Impossible Izzpossible”
Oct. 5: “Wiesenthal”

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

Through Oct. 9: “Far From Heaven” (Theatre Harrisburg)
Oct. 22-23: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (Central PA Youth Ballet)

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

Oct. 1-2: “School of Rock”
Oct. 21-30: “Post-Mortem”

Student Scribes: “The Crime Scene of Nicole Simpson”

September 30, 2016 | by Zarah Light

It is 1:06 a.m.

I gather my keys before I open the car door and step out with a grunt. “I’m getting too old for this,” I mutter as my leather shoes touch the sidewalk, and I am engulfed with the warm LA air. As I walk along the long stretch of pavement lined with tall, thick shrubbery, thoughts of my wife Samantha cloud my tired brain. She is most likely fast asleep, undisturbed by my absence. She too has grown used to the late night calls that whisk me away just as swiftly as they arrive. It wasn’t always like this. When we were first married, the shrill chirp of the telephone would cause her eyelids to flutter open revealing her emerald eyes, masked with worry. She would regularly sit up all night waiting for me to return even if I was gone for hours. “I can’t sleep without you next to me,” she had told me once when I asked why she continually forced herself to stay awake while awaiting my return. But as the years passed, my absence failed to disrupt her slumber. Even the phone’s high-pitched ringing had become merely white noise to her.

My mind is still lingering on Samantha when one of my colleagues greets me on the sidewalk. Kyle is dressed, as usual, remarkably well for being woken up 1 a.m. His slacks are pressed, his tie is straight, and his hair is perfectly styled. He’s young and eager. “Double homicide. Victims are male and female. A neighbor found the bodies while she was walking her dog,” Kyle states in a rush. I look down at my crumpled pants, wrinkled shirt, and crooked tie. I give a weak attempt to make myself look more presentable as I try to make sense of Kyle’s dizzying words. “The female victim was found on the walkway at the bottom of the steps that leads up to the residence. The male victim was found in the bushes about five feet away from the female,” Kyle continues. I crane my neck searching for a glimpse of the crime scene, but the dense bushes block my view. We reach a condominium that is awash with police and detectives. No doubt a murder took place here. As I walk closer to the gated entrance of the condo, I listen to my shoes hitting the concrete as if they are counting down the seconds to my arrival. Five, four, three, two, one; get ready folks for the main attraction. When I turn to face the condo, I am greeted by a long carpet of crimson.

As I’m turning the corner onto the tiled walkway of the lavish condo, I immediately am hit with the sight in front of me. Down this long stretch of pathway is a river of blood. The precisely cut stones are so caked in blood that I can’t even make out the color of the tiles. I stand motionless as I follow the blood to its point of origin. My tired eyes land on a woman almost delicately lying at the bottom of the condo’s front steps. Before I can even comprehend what had happened to this woman, my vision blurs with a visual memory of a specific painting. A painting that I had learned about so many years ago in a community college art history course. I see this painting so clearly in my head it’s startling. The painting has the face of Mae West, but she is also made to look like a surreal room. I see it as clearly as the day I viewed it on the projector as a student.

In my mind, I see a tomato red wall. Affixed to that wall are two framed pictures of eyes. Together, they make a pair. Below those pictures is a cabinet shaped like a nose. Atop that cabinet sits a golden clock that elegantly tells the time in this fictitious apartment. Traveling down below the cabinet is a red sofa that resembles a puckered pair of lips positioned ever so delicately on the wood floor. Curved stairs act like a chin, and the voluptuous white curtains that are delicately draped from the entryway to the apartment is the hair that frames the surreal face.

It’s almost astounding how I can recall this painting. Never after that class have I given it the slightest thought and, only a minute ago, its existence eluded me. I only took that art history course to appease my advisor and yet the voice of my art history professor drones in my head. “The iconic painting titled Mae West’s Face was painted by Salvador Dali in the years 1934 to 1935.” That voice that rattled off those words in my head sounded as if each syllable was coated with dust.

I shake my head desperately trying to clear it. For God’s sake, I’m at a crime scene. A dead woman lays 10 feet away from me, and I’m reminiscing on 1930s art. I mentally push the image of the painting to the very back of my skull and continue down the walkway. The blood is sticky under foot; it makes the rubber of my soles peel up, leaving behind the sound of kisses. Those red cushion lips dance across my vision. I blink.

When I approach this unnamed woman, I can’t shake this uneasy feeling that the scene in front of me looks wrong. This woman is beautiful, and her slender body is positioned perfectly in front of the house in plain view of anyone who cared to pass by. The memory of the painting strokes the lobes of my brain. She wears a short and strapless black dress that perfectly showcases her blood smeared legs. Her golden blonde hair covers her face and, even though several strands are matted with dried blood, it is still shiny and glossy as if she just washed it. Her legs delicately lay one on top of the other, and her arms are tucked close to her chest. She could be sleeping.

Kyle joins me and briefs me again. “The female victim has several knife wounds to the throat, no doubt cause of the death. Whoever did this practically decapitated her.” I want to interject. An act this violent will call for a much more chaotic crime scene. Nothing like this perfectly crafted painting. I can start to feel tiny beads of sweat forming on my forehead. “The male victim suffered multiple stab wounds as well,” Kyle continues as he jots information into his pretentious, leather-bound notebook. I look to my right and see a young man who was carelessly tossed aside. His back pushed up to the white metal fence under a bed of dirt, crumpled leaves and worms.

I turn back to the butchered women but, instead of seeing her, I just see Mae West’s glaring framed eyes. I feel my heart start to pound in my chest like a frightened bird trying desperately to flee its cage. I blink several times trying in vain to unsee the painting. The painting has become my reality. I want to yell at those framed eyes, let the spit fly from my mouth and bark, “What about this insignificant painting is so damn important?” My hands are shaking now as I raise them to cover my eyes. Have I gone insane? Have years of scavenging over mad men’s leftovers finally poisoned my brain? I can hear Samantha’s worried tone in my head, “When you looked at that poor murdered women, you saw artwork?” I can feel her fear. I can feel the distance she will put between us.

I can no longer bear it. Blindly, I turn around and stumble down the sticky, scarlet carpet. I need to get away from this hell, as far away as I can get. With each lunging step, my vision clears. I can see the street now along with the worried faces of the men and women I know by name. I push past, getting farther away. I fumble in my pocket for the familiar shapes of my car keys. When I reach my car, I am overcome with relief. I open the car door and hurriedly get behind the wheel. In another moment, I am flying down the street not caring that I am pressing the gas pedal to the floor.

* * *

I open the door to our bedroom. Samantha is sleeping, her body half-covered with the thin, white sheet. I gravitate to her; she is the glowing light that I’m drawn to. I reach out my hands to her sleeping figure. She will calm me, I tell myself. She’ll make this all go away. My hand hovers over her. I can almost feel a magnetic push; something small within me is telling me not to touch her. The blaring noises inside my head dull as I look at her. Those familiar eyes flutter open, those emerald-green irises that I have stared at for so many years. There is something different in those eyes, something I’m not used to seeing. She’s looking at me with fear; she is frightened by me. Out of all that has happened tonight, this is what is starting to terrify me.

She lets out a hushed whisper, “What happened to you?” In the chaos that is my fractured brain, I find the only response that I can muster.

“I don’t know.”

Zarah Light is a junior majoring in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: “Hesitance”

September 30, 2016 | by Sami Kak

The young waitress, a blonde, was back.

Have you made your choice?

She seemed impatient and indifferent to the both of us.

– Just coffee, I said. – Black. Without cream.

– I need something stronger, Jenny said. – Do you have wine?

The waitress nodded, chewed her gum, and stared at her fingernails. – Red.

– A Chardonnay, Jenny said. – The house wine will be fine.

The waitress walked away without saying a word. Jenny studied the wall behind me, her hazel eyes fixed solemnly on the wallpaper in pastel shades. We were the only guests in the area.

– What? she said, finally meeting my gaze, provocative and distraught.

– Nothing.

– Well, it’s hard.

I said that I knew how hard it was.

– No, you do not know. She is not your mother.

Jenny stared at the wall again.

The waitress brought us our drinks. She put the wine in front of me, coffee – with cream – before Jenny and left a note on the edge of the table. The wine was a rosé, not a Chardonnay, so then I would remind the waitress, but Jenny stopped me. – No matter, she said.

By sharing drinks, I made a nod to the waitress. – I hope Miss Kindness does not depend on tips to survive.

– Huh?

– Nothing, I say.

Jenny sipped her wine. – I’m not sure I can do it, she said, a pink color mounting to her throat.

– Well, go back there and tell her. I made a nod toward the hospital across the street.

– I cannot, she said, sipping again.

– Listen, if you cannot, you cannot. Your mother will understand. You’re not the first not to be able to.

– I do not see how anyone can do it.

– I could do it. I could do it because it needed to be done. When something needs to be done, it is best to go and do it.

– I am not like you.

– So do not do it.

– I would be remiss if I did.

– So do not do it for the love of God. Go there and tell her. The train will leave in an hour.

– First, I will finish my wine. She took a sip. – Maybe if I drank enough wine I could do it.

– Do it and then drink. It will give you a good reason to drink.

– I already have a good reason to drink. Can you order me another?

– Memory and judgment are the first things alcohol dims.

– The memory is already well, she said.

– As you wish. I called the waitress.

– Wait, Jenny said. – You are right. I need to have a clear mind for that. She pushed the glass. It was still almost full. – What time is it?

– Seven o’clock. I made a sign toward a large white clock framed on a wall nearby.

She grimaced. – Will you go tell her for me?

– Tell her what?

– You know, she said.

– No I do not know.

She reached out to grab my coffee. – May I?

I pushed the cup and saucer to her. The cream as well. I had not touched it.

Stirring the cream, she said – This is the best thing to do, do you not think?

– What I think does not matter here.

She took a sip of coffee, now a caramel brown. – I cannot do it. It is my mother.

I reached out to grab her glass of wine. – One more reason for you to do, I said. – For that you want to.

– Is it what it was like with your mother?

– No.

– You see.

– It does not prove anything.

She shrugged. – You are right. What time is it?

I finished her wine while watching the clock. – Twenty minutes past seven.

– Do not be silly at a time like this.

She grimaced again and then sighed. – Very well. You are right. I will do it.

She started to get up. I thought I saw a tear. – Are you sure?

– I’m sure. As sure as I’ll ever be.

She stood up, smoothing the folds of her navy blue skirt.

I stood up too. I left enough money on the table to cover the bill and give the waitress a good tip.

Sami Kak, a junior, is a Schreyer Honors student who is studying chemical engineering.

Harrisburg Council Weighs Broad Street Market Contract

September 23, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

The Broad Street Market took a step towards a long-awaited restructuring last week, as City Council held a hearing that could lead Harrisburg’s historic market to become a nonprofit entity.

Most council members seemed to favor the proposal, which would permit a new nonprofit, called the Broad Street Market Alliance, to enter into a lease agreement with the city, which owns the 150-year-old market. The lease would run for five years with an option for a 10-year extension.

Council has yet to schedule a final vote on the lease agreement.

Author: Lawrance Binda

New Federal Courthouse for Harrisburg Clears Major Hurdle

September 14, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

The site of the proposed federal courthouse at N. 6th and Reily streets in Harrisburg.

A proposed new federal courthouse for Harrisburg has taken a significant step forward, as U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta said he has secured the remaining funds for construction.

In a statement, Barletta said the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, on which he sits, approved full funding for the $194.4 million courthouse at N. 6th and Reily streets. Congress has already appropriated about $55 million for land acquisition, feasibility studies and design.

“Today marks the culmination of a lot of hard work by this committee, the judiciary, and the people of Harrisburg,” Barletta said in a statement. “This has been a long time coming, with various baby steps along the way, but now the Harrisburg courthouse will finally become a reality.”

The full House and Senate still must pass a final bill appropriating the money, but Barletta spokesman Tim Murtaugh called House committee approval the greatest obstacle.

“This was the major hurdle,” he said.

After many years of searching for a location, the federal government selected the Midtown site in 2010, acquiring the land and razing a few old buildings. However, the site has sat empty since, as the project has awaited funds for construction.

Barletta said that he had re-considered the scope of the project, perhaps in favor of an annex to the existing federal courthouse downtown. However, upon the advice of Judge D. Brooks Smith of Altoona, who sits on the 3^rd Circuit Court of Appeals and serves as the chairman of the federal judiciary’s Committee on Space and Facilities, he finally agreed that a new facility was needed.

“A new courthouse represents an economic boost for the city of Harrisburg,” Barletta said. “There will be jobs created directly related to the construction of the building, as well as economic development that will continue to grow around the activity centered at the courthouse. This will benefit a lot of people.”

Author: Lawrance Binda

Gov. Wolf Announces State Grant for Moose Lodge Redevelopment Project

September 7, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Gov. Tom Wolf (right) today announced a state redevelopment grant for a major project on a key block of Midtown Harrisburg, joined by state Sen. Rob Teplitz, Adam Porter of st@rtup Harrisburg, Alex Hartzler of WCI Partners and Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

A key renovation project in Midtown Harrisburg is expected to move rapidly to completion, as the state announced today that it will release funding to help finish the block-long historic rehabilitation at N. 3^rd and Boas streets.

The $8 million project consists of four buildings—the historic Harrisburg Moose Lodge Temple and three smaller townhouses, as well as a large parking lot.

WCI acquired the properties last year for $900,000 from Atlanta-based Mosaica Education, which had operated the Ron Brown Charter School there for five years. After its charter was not renewed in 2005, the school shut down, and the buildings have sat empty since then, boarded up and increasingly dilapidated.

WCI expects the 92-year-old, 38,000-square-foot Moose Lodge to open later this fall as a fully renovated, mixed-use building consisting of 33 one-bedroom apartments and commercial space. The 6,500-square-foot ground floor will be occupied solely by st@rtup Harrisburg, the city’s first co-working space, which is relocating from the 1500-block of N. 3^rd Street.

WCI Principal Alex Hartzler said that much of the RACP money will go towards finishing the project, especially the renovation and expansion of the three townhouses.

The back portions of the townhouses were chopped off years ago to expand the Ron Brown School’s parking lot and provide a children’s play area. However, the buildings were not properly sealed, Hartzler said. In addition, they’ve sat empty for a dozen years, resulting in extensive water and infrastructure damage, he said.

“This has been a vacant spot in Midtown Harrisburg for over a decade,” Hartzler said. “With our team, we’re bringing it back to life.”

Hartzler said that the project appeals especially to the “creative class,” creative professionals like graphic designers, illustrators and content providers who might want to work in st@rtup’s space downstairs and live in the apartments upstairs.

“If you’re a part of the rapidly expanding freelance workforce, if you’re a budding entrepreneur thinking, ‘I have an idea, now what?’ we’re here to help,” said Adam Porter, st@tup Harrisburg co-founder, who stressed the area’s walkability and proximity to the Capitol complex as key assets.

The state had not released RACP money since 2014, even though it’s intended as an annual awards program. Several other Harrisburg-area groups, include Gamut Theatre Group and the Harrisburg City Islanders, have applied for RACP funds. Wolf said that funding for other projects will be announced soon.

The Harrisburg Moose Temple lodge was built in 1924, designed in the Beaux Arts style by renowned Harrisburg architect Clayton J. Lappley.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler is publisher of TheBurg.

Author: Lawrance Binda

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