Hoops & Hopes: Coach Smallwood leads with basketball, follows with life.

July 29, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

For Harrisburg Coach Kirk Smallwood, basketball is the “carrot” that leads city youth to his mentorship.

Smallwood, a 1973 Harrisburg High School graduate, is considered a legend in the school district. He served 16 years as the district’s athletic director and has coached basketball there for as long as anyone remembers.

“I love this school district, and I’m willing to do anything to help the kids here,” Smallwood proudly noted. “I was in the second class to graduate from Harrisburg High School.”

To the hundreds of young people that Smallwood has mentored over the years, he is far more than a basketball coach.

“Coach Smallwood is like a father figure to me,” said Tony James, 16, an incoming 11^th-grader at Harrisburg’s SciTech High School and a third-year player on the Smallwood Summer League. “He always helps us out and always has our back.”

The Smallwood Summer League is a Harrisburg youth basketball team that Smallwood has run for seven weeks every summer since 1991, in addition to serving as the high school’s basketball coach during the regular school year. The league competes against 34 school districts from throughout the state, including Williamsport, Hazleton and Shamokin.

“Coach Smallwood is a great coach,” said Elijah Barrett, 18, an incoming Harrisburg High senior and a second-year Smallwood Summer League player. “He teaches us to become great men.”

Coach of the Year

Smallwood, of Susquehanna Township, began his coaching career in 1978 as an assistant coach at Harrisburg High. It was the same year he started working as a substitute teacher in the school district—just two days after receiving a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kutztown University. He was hired full-time later that year, continuing as a “general teacher” in the district until 1989, when he left for the Central Dauphin School District.

Smallwood taught alternative education at Central Dauphin East High School in Lower Paxton Township for four years while serving as CD East’s head basketball coach. In 1993, he returned home to Harrisburg High School as a teacher and coach. In 1999, he was appointed the high school’s athletic director, a position he maintained until retiring at the end of the 2014-15 school year.

“I just felt it was time to retire,” he explained. “I was dealing with some health issues that deserved a lot more attention than I was giving them. It helped me to better monitor my sleep and eating patterns.”

Smallwood didn’t entirely retire, however. He’s still Harrisburg’s head varsity basketball coach and runs the summer basketball league. He also heads a free Kirk Smallwood Skills Clinic at the Camp Curtin YMCA in June and July for boys in grades 8 to 11.

During his school coaching tenure, Smallwood has overseen 19 Mid Penn Championships, nine District Championships and two State Championships. He was also awarded the 1998 and 2002 AP Big School Coach of the Year.

The Carrot

Mentoring youth carries no trophies, but Smallwood finds this as rewarding as winning any championship.

“Today’s kids are different than when I went to school here,” he said. “They need more help and assistance to succeed. There’s less parental involvement. They need assistance from many other entities. Sometimes, kids get distracted. They’re not being attended to as much.”

Smallwood said he builds relationships with his players through honesty and caring. The biggest challenge, he noted, “is that they just need so much of you.”

“We may walk across the street together for a burger or I may visit their homes,” he said. “Basketball is the carrot. Every kid is different. You never know what baggage they’re carrying.”

Wes Bair, Harrisburg’s assistant basketball coach for 20 years, said it’s not only kids who respect and admire Smallwood. Adults feel the same way.

“Coach Smallwood is very knowledgeable, well respected and very fair,” he said. “He gives his staff a lot of freedom to operate within the system. He doesn’t micromanage and welcomes suggestions from others.”

Bair added that, over the years, he’s seen Smallwood “help hundreds of kids get into college or get jobs.”

So what does Smallwood hope that young people will take away from his basketball court?

“I hope they know that I work hard every day,” he said. “I’m consistent. I try to give my all every day.”

Author: Phyllis Zimmerman

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Absolute Success: With five locations, Absolute Pilates has become a local fitness powerhouse.

July 29, 2016 | by Cathy Jordan

Owner Allison Zang (left) instructs a student at Absolute Pilates.

When I met Allison Zang, owner of Absolute Pilates, she told me a quick joke: What came first, the reformer or Joe Pilates? It took me an entire class to get it.

Pilates started in a prison camp during World War I by a German physical trainer named Joseph Pilates. He rigged up hospital beds with bed springs so bedridden patients could exercise and build up strength using resistance training. He didn’t know what he was starting.

Forward to 2001 and Zang, an epidemiology researcher living in Pittsburgh, decided to teach the Pilates method on the side while her husband was getting his degree in physical therapy. She didn’t know she eventually would own five Pilates studios on the west and east shores of the Susquehanna.

Zang, who received an undergrad degree in organizational behavior and wellness, thought she wanted to work in corporate wellness. As it turned out, the field didn’t provide what she believed to be the “correct level” for helping people.

So, she taught Pilates classes at night in her basement. Later, in 2007, she received her master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh.

“It’s a fancy way of saying, the science of exercise,” she said.

Five and Counting

Zang is considered a third-generation Pilates instructor. The first generation was founder Joe Pilates. Second generation was Eve Gentry, a Pilates elder and disciple of Joe Pilates. Allison completed her training as a third-generation instructor in the Eve Gentry tradition. From Joe Pilates to Eve Gentry to Allison Zang to you.

When Zang and her husband moved to Mechanicsburg in 2008, she said there weren’t “really any studios in my area” and again offered Pilates classes inside her home. Her business quietly outgrew her home, and she opened her first studio, Absolute Pilates, conveniently close at the Shops at Walden.

When The Shops at Arcona was built, she was asked if she would like to open another location. In 2012, she opened her second Absolute Pilates studio, which focuses on barre and mat.

Zang wasn’t looking to expand further, but the opportunity came again in 2013 when one of her clients, who owned Burn30 Personal Fitness, asked if she would be interested in opening a space in the Lemoyne Burn30 location (where Zang’s husband runs his own physical therapy practice). Her fourth studio in Enola opened in another Burn30 in 2015.

Lauren and John Brown, who manage clubs at Colonial Ridge, took Zang’s classes in Enola. They asked her if she’d like to open a fifth studio in what used to be a club gym. It was being remodeled, and they thought her Pilates classes would be a great fit within Linglestown’s Blue Ridge Country Club. So, Absolute Pilates opened in Linglestown in April 2016.

Zang’s biggest challenge, she says, is getting the word out about what Pilates is.

“It’s completely different from yoga,” she said. “Although it has the mind/body connection with full body integration, it doesn’t have the Zen-like feel of yoga.”

With more than 15 years of experience in Pilates, Zang believes anyone can benefit from the method.

“My favorite client is one who thinks they can’t exercise, because they’re out of shape, injured, have had joint replacements,” she said. “I’ve been able to do something for everyone.”

To Request

Zang, who manages all five studios and employs 12 instructors, teaches classes at her Walden, Arcona and Linglestown locations. Absolute Pilates offers reformer, mat and barre Pilates. Classes run all day, as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m.

The reformer and barre classes are the most popular.

“Probably because they both offer resistance and allow you to work on the core muscles, abdomen and glutes,” she said.

Core strength, flexibility and muscle tone are the Pilates promises.

The reformer is a piece of exercise equipment that looks like a medieval torture device. It’s a bed-like plank, called a carriage, with shoulder blocks and a footbar, loaded with springs and pulleys. The machine is safe and offers versatility and full-range motion.

Mat classes are performed on the floor, using the body instead of a machine for resistance.

Barre Pilates uses a ballet barre for balance during isometrics. It combines ballet conditioning with cardio and Pilates.

“It’s a fitness trend in big cities,” said Zang.

What to expect?

“All our classes are taught according to request,” said Zang.

And in your bare feet. Dress comfortably, knowing your clothing needs to move and stretch with you. And be prepared to work muscles you didn’t know you had. You’ll work up a sweat—some more than others—and the session will be over before you realize it. Private classes are available, or join with a class of up to four on a reformer, eight on a mat and barre.

I took a class with Zang.

The gym was clean and simply structured. She’s slim and toned and carried on a conversation while changing springs. She told me how to use the equipment, how to move, where to place my head and toes. She guided me through the breathing, complimented my pedicure, and told me stories about crazy monkeys, icepick climbing and one very special princess.

I didn’t think I was doing much, but the next day, when I was sore—in a good way—I realized I’d had an absolute workout.

To learn more about Absolute Pilates, visit www.absolutepilates.com or call 717-585-2592.

Author: Cathy Jordan

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Community Corner: Notable August Events

July 29, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

August Community Corner

National Night Out
Aug. 2: Neighbors meet neighbors during National Night Out, celebrated after work throughout greater Harrisburg. To learn more, check with your neighborhood group or visit natw.org. Friends of Midtown (friendsofmidtown.org) will host its event at the Broad Street Market, 6 to 9 p.m. with food, music and family activities.

Young Leaders Conference
Aug. 2: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will hold its 4^th Annual International Young Leaders Conference at Harrisburg University, 326 Market St., 9 a.m. Students will learn about global polarization and conflict resolution through panel discussions, simulations and breakout activities and will have the opportunity to network with local businesses and universities. Visit wacharrisburg.org.

Clydesdales in Harrisburg
Aug. 3: The Budweiser clydesdales will be in Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting at City Island and parading down 2^nd and 3^rd streets. The horses will stop in front of the MLK Government Center. Visit budweiser.com/clydesdales.

Networking Mixer
Aug. 4: Join the West Shore Chamber of Commerce and other local business professionals at the August evening networking mixer, 4 to 6 p.m., at Autobahn Indoor Speedway, 1001 Bosler Ave., Lemoyne. The event is free and open to chamber members. Potential members may attend up to three free chamber events per year. Visit wschamber.org.

Cultural Fest
Aug. 5: Dauphin County commissioners and the Cultural Task Force will host the annual Cultural Fest in downtown Harrisburg at Market and 2^nd streets, 5 to 10 p.m. This free, open-air street festival celebrates cultural diversity with live music, ethnic foods, crafts, kids’ activities and more. Visit DauphinCounty.org for more details.

Outdoor Movies
Aug. 5 & 26: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema will host two outdoor movies: “Hook” on Aug. 5 and “Goonies” on Aug. 26 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Both films begin at dusk and, in case of rain, will be delayed to Saturday. Admission is free. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

HBG Flea
Aug. 6: The HBG Flea outdoor market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on N. 3^rd Street between Herr and Cumberland streets. Enjoy local art among vendors, food trucks, music and more. For more details, visit hbgflea.com.

India Day
Aug. 6: The India Day Community Fair will be held at HACC, 1 HACC Dr., Harrisburg, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. India Day features a variety of Indian food, live stage performances, Indian jewelry, vendors and kids’ activities. Visit aiacpa.org/Indiaday for more details.

Stress Relief Walk
Aug. 10: Walk off the stress of the work day with a hike at Wildwood Park, 7 to 7:30 p.m. The 3-mile walk on easy trails with short climbs will be at a moderately brisk pace. Meet at the Olewine Nature Center. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Check wildwoodlake.org for cancellation information in case of rain.

Bookstock Read In
Aug. 11: Celebrate reading on the grounds of Fredricksen Library, Camp Hill. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, a book to read and the whole family. Snacks and drinks will be available, but attendees may bring their own snacks or a picnic. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org/FRE.

Jazz Festival
Aug. 11-15: Central PA Friends of Jazz will host the 36^th Annual Central PA Jazz Festival, with concerts and events taking place throughout the region. Take in a Riverboat Cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna, a jazz workshop at the Art Association of Harrisburg and a jazz party at River City Blues Club. For a complete listing of events, visit rivercityhbg.com.

Volunteer Work Day
Aug. 13: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. In an effort to reduce plastic usage, bring along a water bottle. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Summer Soirees
Aug. 13 & 20: The Art Association of Harrisburg will host a soiree in Harrisburg on Aug. 13, 5 to 8 p.m., featuring painters April and John Holtzman, Steve Wetzel, Julie Riker and Jill Pecklun. On Aug. 20, AAH will host a soiree in Winfield, 4 to 7 p.m., showcasing the works of Robert Hughes, John David Wissler, Simonne Roy and Jane Albin. Visit artassocofhbg.com.

Bacon & Brew Ha Ha
Aug 14: Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, will host Bacon & Brew Ha Ha, a home brew and bacon contest fundraiser, 12 to 6 p.m. Admission: bacon and brews (21+), $25; bacon and non-alcoholic, $10. All proceeds benefit Elliott’s New Wheels, raising funds for a handicap-accessible van for a young boy with cerebral palsy. Visit facebook.com/events/964457883652281.

Rug Hooking Demo
Aug. 14: Loose Noodles, a local rug-hooking group, will present “Hooked on Rugs,” an exhibit of their own works and demonstration of the techniques used in rug hooking at John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg, 1 to 3 p.m. Demonstrations begin at 2:30 p.m. Visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

Central PA Plants
Aug. 16: Cumberland County Master Gardeners will host “Gardening with Nature: Outstanding Plants for Central PA Landscapes” at their Trial and Idea Garden, 1000 Claremont Rd., Carlisle, 7 p.m. Discover which annuals are the best and worst to grow in our area and get ideas on which shrubs and perennials to add. Workshop cost is $5. Visit extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener.

Nature Crafts
Aug. 18-19: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host a Nature Crafts Camp, Aug. 18, 1:30 to 4 p.m., and Aug. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., for kids ages 4 to 8. Explore trails for leaves, twigs, acorns, etc., to use as part of nature-inspired artwork. Cost is $13 per person. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Foreign Film Friday
Aug. 19: Join Fredricksen Library for “Secrets of War,” with two showings at 2 and 7 p.m. “Secrets of War” puts both the danger and humanity of wartime friendships on the shoulders of three children who must face extraordinary circumstances. Not recommended for viewers under 17. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

3rd in The Burg
Aug. 19: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and cultural event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.

Tiny Book Show
Aug. 19-20: Curated by the Creativity Caravan, a mobile exhibit of hundreds of miniature books is coming to 3rd in the Burg, Aug. 19, hosted by Jump Street. Then, on Aug. 20, the Tiny Book Show heads to Newport Public Library, 316 N. 4th St., where Perry County Council of the Arts will host the exhibit and a free bookmaking workshop, 1 to 6 p.m. Visit thecreativitycaravan.com.

Local Lunch
Aug. 20: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, which will be held at Alvaro Bread & Pastry Shoppe, 236 Peffer St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Email [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Fitness Open House
Aug. 20: Celebrate the one-year anniversary of Omni Fitness, 4349 Carlisle Pike, Camp Hill, with an open house starting at 7 a.m. Free classes including TRX & BODYPUMP, info sessions with a physical therapist and dietitian, plus mimosas, giveaways and more. Learn more and sign up at www.omnifitness.club, or call 717-480-3455.

Arts Festival Fundraiser
Aug. 20: Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., will host a Little Buffalo Festival Fundraiser, 2 p.m. to 12 a.m., with live music, local vendors, kids’ crafts and more. Entrances fees benefit the volunteer-run, free outdoor arts and music festival held annually at Little Buffalo State Park. Admission is $5-15, based on ability to pay. Visit littlebuffalofestival.com.

Business After Hours
Aug. 25: Mingle with business professionals at Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event at Penn National Insurance, 2 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Memorial Golf Outing
Aug. 26: The Harrisburg Parks Foundation will host the Jack Crago Memorial Golf Outing in partnership with the Harrisburg mayor’s office at Sportsman’s Golf Course, 3800 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, 12 p.m. Visit tfec.org/cragogolfouting.

Meditation Retreat
Aug. 27: The Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center, 251 Wiconisco St., will offer an Inner Peace Meditation Retreat, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn about and meditate on four of Buddha’s 21 meditations. Attend all four sessions or drop into any one as your schedule allows. Cost is $5 per session. Visit meditationpa.org.

Pasta Barbershop Concert
Aug. 27: Keystone Capital Chorus will host the 10th Annual “Pasta: Barbershop Style” at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 5 p.m. Chorus members will serve a baked lasagna dinner by Vino Restaurant, then perform a show featuring the barbershop chorus and several of its own quartets. The event includes door prizes and a silent auction. Visit kccsing.com.

Adoption & Foster Care Information
Aug. 30: The Bair Foundation will offer an information session the last Tuesday of every month at 441 Friendship Rd., Suite 101, Harrisburg, 5 to 6 p.m. This information night is designed for families who want to learn more about foster care and adoption. Visit bair.org for more information.

Call for Artists
Aug. 31: Perry County Council of the Arts seeks artists for its 2017 Annual Juried Exhibition to be held Nov. 11 to Jan. 20 at Landis House, 67 N. 4^th St., Newport. Artists of all media should submit entries by Aug. 31. The juried exhibition includes $2,000 in cash prizes. For complete contest rules, visit perrycountyarts.org.

Backpack to School: Tabernacle Baptist’s back-to-school fair offers supplies, support.

July 29, 2016 | by Rachael Dymski

Few things are more nostalgic than the memories of preparing to go back to school in the fall: clothes laid out neatly on beds, sharpened pencils, pristine folders and backpacks ready to be filled with new material. But when you can’t afford a new backpack or supplies, how do you prepare for the new school year?

For families in the Harrisburg area, Tabernacle Baptist Church is here to help.

On Aug. 6, the church will partner with D&H Distributing and Delta Sigma Theta sorority to host a “Back to School and Health Fair.” The event is designed to meet the needs of school-aged children and their parents.

“We started the event six years ago,” said church member and former outreach committee chair Sandra Goodram. “We wanted to engage the youth in the community, so we decided to have a giveaway that would be beneficial to them.”

That first summer, the church gave away 75 backpacks. This year, thanks to a donation from Harrisburg-based D&H Distributing, it will give away 300.

The event is designed to feel like a street fair.

“We grill hamburgers and hot dogs, and we’ll have music and a dunk tank,” said Keith Mitchell, a member of the community outreach committee. “There will be games for kids, and, for the adults, we’ll have a health fair.”

The health portion of the fair is coordinated by the church’s health ministry, which has invited providers to set up booths. PinnacleHealth, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Dauphin County’s Area Agency on Aging all will be represented at the event. Adults will have the opportunity to receive a blood pressure screening, as well as eye and ear testing. All services will be offered free of charge.

“We tend to think of this kind of stuff—backpacks, school supplies, blood pressure screenings—as extra,” said Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Brown, the church pastor. “But sometimes that is fundamental. What we provide to these kids and families is so important.”

Children going into grades K to 6 will receive a backpack and school supplies, such as colored pencils, erasers and pens. Students entering grades 7 to 12 will receive a calculator with their backpack.

This year, the Harrisburg chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority will play an important role in the event, too. The sorority has been involved with Reading is Fundamental for almost 25 years.

“We go into churches, or any place that will have us, and we donate books,” said Kristal Turner-Childs, chapter president. “We have a summer reading program, and we also bring applications for Delta GEMS, our mentorship program for young girls. The program is geared toward young ladies. We teach them leadership skills, how to conduct themselves, table etiquette and life skills.”

Brown said that giving out backpacks helps the church fulfill part of its mission.

“The three areas of our church’s mission are to worship, grow and serve,” he said. “This event gets members of our church outside the walls and into the community. It provides them an avenue to get involved in the community.”

The church already is known for providing meals to people in the community, but members wanted to do more.

“We have a feeding program that we’ve been doing for almost 40 years, and it operates weekly,” said Brown. “We feed 100 or more people each week—we’ve expanded our efforts. Feeding people is necessary, but what else can we do to help people?”

Participants hope this event is one small step in creating a more supportive and engaged community in Harrisburg.

“It’s important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that this is a collaboration,” said Turner-Childs. “We’ve become a transient society, but we still need each other. We can make a bigger impact if we do things together.”

“That’s the challenge of collaboration—setting our egos aside,” added Brown. “Lately, all we’ve read about in the news is tragedy, and how it is bringing people together. We hope, in this case, it will be love and not tragedy that brings our community together.”

The Back to School and Health Fair takes place Saturday, Aug. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot of Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1106 Capital St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-236-1774 or visit www.tabernaclebaptist.net.

Author: Rachael Dymski

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Class Act: In Harrisburg, it’s lights, action–learn.

July 29, 2016 | by Laura Dugan

Photo by Haley Harned.

Harrisburg has some great theater—lots of us already know that. But did you know it also has theater training?

Open Stage of Harrisburg Studio/School has been offering classes since 1985, making it one of the longest running theater schools in the area. Classes are available for both children and adults and often culminate in showcases where students can share what they’ve learned with family, friends and the public.

Starting as young as age 8, children and teens can choose from the year-long OSHKids Performance Company or 180Prep and summer offerings of OSHKids or the Music Theatre Workshop. Classes are also offered for adults with options available from September through March.

Veronica Biegen’s children have participated in the OSHKids Performance Company, Music Theatre Workshop and 180Prep.

“I can’t overstate how much they love it and how much growth we’ve seen in both of them because of it,” she said.

The benefits extend beyond acting skills, Biegen said.

“I get so many comments from teachers on how they present themselves with more maturity, how their in-class speaking projects and speeches are much more mature, and their approach to the materials, especially literature, is deeper and more thoughtful,” she said.

Biegen’s children will both be attending the Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School in the fall.

Kara Miller, who is currently enrolled at the prestigious Atlantic Acting School in New York City, planned on pursuing field hockey until an injury sidelined her plans. Open Stage Associate Artistic Director Stuart Landon then encouraged her to look into the theater’s classes.

“Because of Open Stage, I knew I wanted to have a career in theater,” said Miller. “It was the first time I felt confident in something I was sending out to the world.”

She credits her acceptance to the Atlantic Acting School to her time at Open Stage studying with Education Director Anne Alsedek.

Open Stage classes are not just for those looking to pursue acting as a full-time or even part-time career. The theater’s classes focus on a technique created by Sanford Meisner, one of the great acting teachers of the 20^th century, which encourages actors to be authentic, organic, truthful and reactive. These key elements, once learned, can be applied across many facets of life.

Michael Chapaloney had always considered exploring acting, but realized the benefits of Open Stage acting classes could have a far greater impact.

“I thought it would help professionally with developing greater public speaking skills, improving my presentation style,” said Chapaloney.

And he did not feel overwhelmed at the prospect of not having any prior acting experience.

“I felt very comfortable not having past theater experience,” he said. “You start with such basics that you really develop the foundation for moving forward.”

After the class ended, Chapaloney appeared in a staged reading of “The Normal Heart” at Open Stage.

“It was incredible,” he said. “It put two things together that I really enjoy—the experience of performing and using some of what I learned through the Studio School, but it also benefited the LGBT Center of Central PA. It was a good blend of two things I’m passionate about.”

The fall session for this year’s OSHKids Performance Company (ages 8 to 13) begins in September. 180Prep, an acting program for 14 to 18 year olds, will also begin in September. Acting classes for adults are offered in both the fall (September through November) and winter (January through February).

For more information on classes at Open Stage of Harrisburg, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

August Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s
Professional Downtown Theaters

AT GAMUT THEATRE
www.gamuttheatre.org

POPCORN HAT PLAYERS PRESENT
“Cinderella”
Aug. 3-20
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m.

STAGE DOOR SERIES PRESENTS
“As She Likes It”
Aug. 12-21
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

AT OPEN STAGE
OF HARRISBURG
www.openstagehbg.com

SEASON 31 SUBSCRIPTIONS
on sale August to October
$120 for 5 plays

OPEN STAGE STUDIO/SCHOOL
enrollment open for Fall classes
Youth ages 8 and up
Adult acting classes available

Author: Laura Dugan

Escape the Ordinary: At Outside the Box Escape Room, the fate of the world is at stake. And only you (yes, you!) can save it.

July 29, 2016 | by Ashleigh Pollart

Time was running out.

I started to become acutely aware of the rising stress levels of the people in the room—strangers and friends.

Without discussing it, the group had split up into pairs, each working on a separate challenge and deep in discussion. As we rummaged through helmets, depicted codes and pondered our surroundings for hidden clues—under furniture, in books, in pictures, on maps—it occurred to me that we may not beat the ever-nearing deadline.

If we could not decipher the final code that needed to be entered into the laptop, the missile would fire, and we would all meet an untimely, tragic end. These were the thoughts that bombarded my mind in the final few minutes of my time in Outside the Box Escape Room in downtown Harrisburg.

Outside the Box is one of a handful of “escape rooms” in central PA, which feature fun, adrenaline-pumping games where small groups of people, locked in a room, work together under intense time pressure to solve a perplexing riddle—often with the fate of mankind at stake. Once the puzzle is solved, the locked door bursts open, allowing humanity’s saviors to return to their far more mundane lives as accountants or state workers or whatever.

Sets Us Apart

Our group, four friends, had reserved our spots on a whim. While waiting in the lobby, we met our two team members, Raul and Elaine Otano. It was their first time, as well.

Before entering the room, Outside the Box’s manager, Sean Michael Kelly, gave us a rundown of the do’s and don’ts, as well as a briefing on our mission. We were part of a covert operations team that had been dropped behind enemy lines, he said. We had to infiltrate the enemy’s command center and disrupt an impending act of mass destruction.

I was a little more prepared for what was coming than the rest of the group, as I had sat down to interview Kelly a few days before.

Besides handling Outside the Box’s day-to-day operations, Kelly pays close attention to how groups interact with the games. He tweaks steps to ensure the mission is challenging but not impossible. He also sends clues into rooms to nudge players when they seem stuck or go down a wrong path.

“I’ve always been trying to integrate games and education,” he said.

Many of the steps integrate technologies that make the experience relatable to an action film. Outside the Box’s owner, Benjamin Andreozzi, explained that this sets his escape room apart from others in the area. Additionally, it is more than double in size of the competition, he said.

“When we originally opened, we thought we’d be about the same size as some of our other competitors,” he said. “But because there is so much competition, we knew we had to do something different. So, we decided to basically triple—at least double—the size of the location so we can cater to large, corporate groups.”

And they have, with corporate groups quickly constituting a large portion of their business. The space even offers a meeting room so clients can hold a meeting on site. Outside the Box also puts time and investment into new, compelling rooms to keep people coming back.

In addition to the “Special Ops” escape room, Outside the Box currently offers two other rooms: “Outbreak,” where you have to stop a deadly virus from spreading, and “Wanted,” a Wild West-themed game.

“One of the things we take pride in is that there’s some pretty interesting electronical components and custom software—things that aren’t entry-level rooms,” Andreozzi said. “These are advanced, and there’s a degree of technology in them that sets us apart.”

To make the experience even more exhilarating, Outside the Box offers a racing challenge. Two groups can experience the exact same room—on different floors—to compete to see how quickly each group can decipher the clues and escape.

Perfect Way

After escaping from the Special Ops room, I caught up with my once-strangers-now-teammates Raul and Elaine. They had come to Outside the Box to celebrate their 10^th wedding anniversary.

They identified the racing option as an experience they would come back for.

“We’re very competitive,” Raul said. “We’d love to get our families in here and compete.”

I asked Raul, who has a military background, and Elaine, who has law enforcement experience, if they felt that their action-packed credentials gave them a leg up in the escape.

“No!” Raul exclaimed.

“Absolutely not,” Elaine added and laughed.

The proximity to other social offerings in the city makes Outside the Box’s location on 2^nd Street an ideal one, Andreozzi said. When considering where to open the business, he recognized the benefit of enhancing the downtown area with a unique entertainment experience.

“It was a balance between bringing something to the city that the city didn’t have and a supplement to the 9-to-5 job,” Andreozzi explained while expressing his passion and love for Harrisburg and what it has to offer.

Indeed, after our time in the escape room, my group ventured up the street to chat about our experience over a beverage. We discussed the rush and agreed that the “Special Ops” experience felt more authentic than any of us had anticipated. It was the perfect way to unwind and debrief after saving the world.

Outside the Box Escape Room is located at 717 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. To make reservations and purchase tickets, visit www.OutsidetheBoxEscapeRoom.com or call 717-856-9076.

Author: Ashleigh Pollart

Camp Curtain: At this summer camp, plays are the play.

July 29, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

When you think of summer camp, what comes to mind?

Cabins, a lake, maybe a bully or two.

But, in recent years, specialty camps have sprung up with nary a canoe race in sight.

Take, for instance, the Camp Hill Youth Summer Stage. Since 2004, the Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts Center has offered this unique program, which takes kids through the paces of learning acting techniques, dancing and singing—all while pulling off a full-length production in only four weeks.

“We want to involve as many kids as we can, and we want them to enjoy the process,” said Philip Palese, Pollock Center director, Camp Hill Youth Summer Stage. With Palese’s background in both electronics and teaching, he is natural both onstage and backstage.

Over the years, the Youth Summer Stage has grown from a 15-camper play to one that now serves close to 200 campers for three shows and workshops. Summer camps are open to kids ages 7 to 17.

The summer program matters to the kids who return year after year.

“Summer camp is a wonderful experience for kids who might have an interest in theater,” Palese said. “It’s a welcoming environment. We make everyone feel included, expanding casting so that everybody has a part and feels a part of the show.”

Confident & Strong

With only four weeks to produce a “Junior Broadway” show, summer camp can be intense.

The Camp Hill Youth Summer Stage shares many of the features of a day camp: Crazy Hat Day, Pajama Day, Fashion Shows, Christmas in July and even swimming twice per week. But the stage always comes first, complete with casting, teaching, rehearsing and performing.

“We intend to make a professional show to the best of our abilities,” said Palese. “We treat the kids as professionals. They respond as professionals.”

Actor Josh Miccio was in the first show in 2004, playing the monkey in “Jungle Book.”

“Summer camp made me fall in love with theater,” he said.

During Miccio’s junior year when Palese took ill, Miccio switched to directing. Now, he’s studying theater arts in New York and working at the camp over the summer.

“[Miccio] is bringing New York training with him,” said Palese. “Every year, he brings back different elements he teaches the kids.”

Children’s natural penchant to pretend lends well to theater and acting. As they get older, they often lose that. In middle school, theater becomes uncool or their interest falls toward other things. Palese sees this as not a sad thing, but a natural progression of kids finding themselves.

For the few who hang on to theater, “watching them grow is amazing,” Palese said. “When they first come here, their knees buckle under them when they audition. Years later, they’re confident and strong because they learned to risk it all. They gained something through acting.”

Almost all kids are nervous when auditioning. The teachers work to put them at ease.

“We make it safe for them, and we don’t force them to audition,” Palese said. “Many kids change their minds when they watch other kids audition. They realize not everyone has to be a superstar performer. We focus on having fun.”

Hooked on Theater

Camp Hill Youth Summer Stage isn’t only for kids who can already act. Everyone gets on stage to try acting, dancing and singing.

“Over the years, I’ve watched these kids develop their skills, their confidence,” Palese said. “They become less hesitant each year.”

Miccio added that it’s gratifying to watch shy kids come out of their shells through theater.

“I like to think the camp has a lot to do with it,” he said.

Palese credits his team for knowing how to communicate with the kids. He feels confident in having picked “the most amazing theater people he could find” to work with and learn from. Many of the instructors are alumni who have participated in the program in the past and now want to pass the camp experience on to the next generation.

The instructors’ love of theater naturally extends to the kids loving it, too.

“The kids who have the most enthusiasm, no matter which role they’re cast in, are the ones who have more fun, grow and develop,” said Palese.

The teachers encourage the kids to treat every part as if it’s the lead.

“Casting is the most difficult part of putting on a show, with multiple kids who could play any one part,” said Palese. “I tell the kids, ‘If you’re disappointed, take five minutes and feel disappointed. Then get back onstage and play your part as best as you can.’”

According to Miccio, it’s not always the kids who have natural talent who thrive. There are motivated kids who work hard and love performing.

“It’s not our goal to hold strict, formal theater training,” said Miccio. “Our goal is to get kids hooked on theater and provide them an outlet to express their talents. Maybe they will find talents they didn’t know they had.”

The result of their hard work? A quality musical, enthusiastic actors singing and dancing, and an audience that becomes transported long enough to forget that the actors are still in school—and that they’re sitting in a theater in summertime. Oh, and a lot of fun for everyone involved.

To learn more about the programs and shows at Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts Center, visit www.gmppac.org.

Author: Gina Napoli

July News Digest

July 29, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Housing Money Disbursed

Harrisburg City Council last month selected seven nonprofit groups to receive federal housing funds, but not before overriding a mayoral veto.

Council President Wanda Williams called members back from their summer recess to vote to override Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s first-ever veto.

Papenfuse objected to several parts of the bill, but especially opposed a lack of public input on changes that council made to his original bill.

“There was no public comment on any of these specific changes, many of which drastically altered the funding amounts requested by the sub-recipients,” he said.

Originally, Papenfuse proposed that the city retain all $1.9 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funds for its own needs. However, council unanimously decided to carve out $295,000 and distribute it to a handful of service organizations, as it has in past years.

The following groups received funds:

Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, $80,000
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, $40,000
African American Chamber of Commerce, $30,000
East Shore YMCA, $30,000
MidPenn Legal Services, $30,000
Fair Housing Council, $25,000
Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministries, $25,000

MidPenn Legal Services was the only group that received all the money it requested, while others received considerably less. Council also awarded $35,000 to the Ferguson Group, which helps nonprofits with grant writing.

Papenfuse had earmarked $165,000 to restart a school resource officer program for the Harrisburg school district. Council, citing a lack of buy-in from the district, killed the proposal in favor of funding the nonprofits. Smaller amounts were taken from grant administration, housing rehabilitation and emergency demolition.

The city reserved the single-largest amount of money—$641,113—to repay a federal loan it backed for the once-bankrupt Capitol View Commerce Center, as well as for other federal community development loans dating back about 15 years.

The Papenfuse administration has sent a letter to Julian Castro, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, asking for relief from the remaining balance of the Capitol View Commerce Center loan, as the developer, David Dodd, defaulted on the loan and was later convicted on federal fraud charges. At press time, no response had been announced.

Pot Penalties Eased

Harrisburg last month joined several other cities in Pennsylvania in reducing penalties for marijuana possession.

A unanimous City Council lowered the penalty for possession of small amounts of cannabis from a misdemeanor to a summary offense. The penalty for possessing marijuana paraphernalia likewise was lowered.

Fines were set at $75 for possession and $150 for use.

After a third offense, the penalty reverts to a misdemeanor, but only if all three citations occur within a five-year period.

The vote came after several public meetings in which dozens of residents voiced their opinions for and against lowering the status of possession. Many residents supported the change for recreational or medical use of marijuana, while others argued that pot can lead to the use of harsher drugs.

Gun Suit Dismissed

A judge last month threw out a longstanding lawsuit over Harrisburg’s gun ordinances.

Dauphin County Judge Andrew Dowling dismissed a lawsuit by a group called U.S. Law Shield, which had sued Harrisburg over five of its gun control laws. Dowling ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the suit, as none lived in or had been cited by the city.

U.S. Law Shield filed the lawsuit after the state passed a law known as Act 192, which gave entities automatic standing to sue Pennsylvania municipalities over gun restrictions. The Commonwealth Court later declared that law unconstitutional.

Many municipalities had already repealed their gun control ordinances under threat of a lawsuit. However, Harrisburg and several other cities chose to fight the suits.

Sewer Line Cleaning

Capital Region Water has begun cleaning out major sewer lines in its service area, work that will continue through November.

Crews from CRW, Terra Contracting and CDM Smith will be accessing manholes along the lines, called interceptors, to perform the pipe-cleaning work, said Andrew Bliss, CRW’s community outreach manager. The project includes the Paxton Creek, Paxton Creek Relief, Hemlock Street, Spring Creek and Front Street interceptors.

Bliss said that disruptions to traffic flow are not expected, but that CRW would provide notification through social media if they do occur.

CRW interceptors are up to 60 inches in diameter and convey about 20 million gallons of sewage every day. Bliss said that initial analysis determined that some sections of the interceptors are 50-percent clogged by sediment, adding that the cleaning will remove about 2,300 tons of sediment.

According to CRW, there is no record of when the interceptors were last cleaned.

Bliss said that the $1.4 million project will allow for more storage in the interceptors, which will help reduce combined sewer overflows. Cleaning also will allow for a more detailed condition assessment of the interceptors, which will identify necessary repairs, he said.

Judge Sides with Bar

A Dauphin County judge last month ordered Harrisburg to issue a business license to the 3^rd Street Café, allowing the embattled bar to stay open.

In his opinion, Judge Andrew Dowling stated that state liquor laws trump the city’s own restrictions, limiting the extent to which the city can regulate a business that serves alcohol. Dowling also criticized the cases cited by the city to support its contention that the bar serves as a magnet for crime, saying that most of the alleged criminal activity took place entirely outside of the bar, with few involving bar patrons.

Harrisburg had declared the 3^rd Street Café a nuisance and refused to issue it a 2016 business license. Last year, it also revoked the Midtown bar’s 2015 business license, but a court injunction allowed it to remain open through the end of the year.

Parking Default Declared

Harrisburg last month declared the entities that run the city’s parking system to be in default of their complex, long-term leasing agreement.

The Harrisburg Parking Authority voted to send a default notice to the Pennsylvania Economic Development Finance Agency over nearly $1.5 million in payments the city claims it is owed.

Under the agreement, Harrisburg stands first in line for “waterfall” payments, which is money left over after operating expenses and debt payments.

However, in the agreement’s first two years, the system did not generate enough money from fees and tickets to pay the city’s full share. The sides are now in dispute over what happens when revenue falls short.

The parties have 90 days to resolve the issue. If not, the matter could be turned over to a judge to decide.

New Police Hires

Harrisburg last month swore in seven new police officers to replace officers who are retiring or have left the force.

The city has about 130 sworn officers, unchanged over the past few years. The budget allows for 141 officers.

Police Chief Thomas Carter said that his department has had problems maintaining manpower because some long-term officers are retiring, while others are departing for nearby jurisdictions that offer higher pay and a less stressful work environment.

Video Camera Database

Harrisburg police last month urged residents to register their video cameras as part of a new database aimed at battling crime.

Increasingly, businesses and even residents are setting up surveillance cameras outside their stores and homes. Police would like to know the location of these cameras as footage could help to investigate crimes that occur near them.

Separately, police unveiled a new crime-mapping website that allows residents to see where crimes have occurred and even offer crime tips to police. The website can be located at www.raidsonline.com.

Miller Sworn In

Long-time Harrisburg official Dan Miller took the oath of office last month as the city’s new treasurer.

A split City Council selected Miller in June over three other candidates: former city Councilman Brad Koplinski and attorneys Karen Balaban and Peter Marks. The position was open following the resignation of Tyrell Spradley, who served as treasurer for just 18 months.

Miller, a CPA who runs his own accounting practice, has previously served as city councilman and controller. Three years ago, he ran for mayor, but lost in a hard-fought race to Eric Papenfuse.

Housing Sales Up

Housing sales in the Harrisburg area continued their upward climb, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

GHAR reported that sales totaled 1,101 units in June versus 905 in the year-ago period for the area that includes all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median sales price rose to $175,000 from $173,500, while average days on the market dipped to 65 from 79 compared to June 2015, said GHAR.

So Noted

Hershey-Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau last month launched the Hershey Harrisburg Sports & Events Authority to attract more sports tourism and large-scale event business to the region. The announcement was made during the kickoff to the 3rd Annual Mecum Auction at the PA Farm Show Complex.

Harrisburg International Airport last month reached an agreement with Uber to allow the car-sharing service to operate at the airport. Uber expanded into the Harrisburg area early last year, but had been prevented from picking up or dropping off airline passengers.

Raising the Bar bakery opened last month in the stone building of the Broad Street Market, offering a wide selection of freshly baked breads, cookies, muffins and other treats. Owners Casey Callahan and Timishia Goodson are veterans of Caio! Bakery in downtown Harrisburg.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 22: M. Kenny to B. Garrison, $45,000

Calder St., 109: A. Carlson to P. & J. Lawson, $150,000

Calder St., 111: C. & L. Adamson to C. Bailey, $128,000

Calder St., 508: PA Deals LLC to J. Tucker, $110,000

Chestnut St., 2312: W. Morgan & A. Winans to P. & J. Vander Kraats, $136,000

Conoy St., 117: Mannjeim LLC to Marjulisadan Enterprises LLC, $130,500

Division St., 609: G. Barone & L. Ambrosino to M. Della Porta, $189,900

Duke St., 2431: A. & V. Bruckhart to F. Zeray, $45,000

Green St., 1718: M. Matlock & M. Kauffman to A. Bargh & S. Moore, $163,000

Green St., 1931: WCI Partners LP to N. Condon, $209,900

Green St., 2238: LSF9 Master Participation Trust to S. Maurer, $258,900

Green St., 2345: J. & J. DeMarco to J. Chirdon, $68,000

Harris St., 437: Arthur Kusic Real Estate Investments to V. Lacerra, $65,000

Harris Terr., 2453: Santander Bank NA to S. Maurer, $30,800

Hudson St., 825, 835, 840 & 851 S. 19^th St.: H&S Investment Co. & J. Diaz to Harrisburg Properties Associates LLC, $250,000

Kensington St., 2149: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to PA Double Deals LLC, $40,000

N. 2^nd St., 1704: C. Goodhart to R. & A. Allan, $140,000

N. 2^nd St., 2654: A. & C. Lang to U. Culpepper, $120,000

N. 2^nd St., 3004: 8219 Ventures LLC to S. Jusufovic, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 3015: D. & A. Standish to A. Zecha, $182,500

N. 3^rd St., 1519: Campus Bookseller LP & GreenWorks Development LLC to CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC, $180,000

N. 4^th St., 1432: D. Placide to D. Martin & N. Douglas, $60,000

N. 4^th St., 1621: GWD Capitol Heights LP to B. Parfitt, $100,000

N. 4^th St., 3213: Federal National Mortgage Association to A. Semancik, $40,000

N. 5^th St., 1624: Fifth Third Mortgage Co. to B. Davis, $50,500

N. 6^th St., 2013: Victor Ventures Inc. to Condor Ventures LLC, $75,000

N. 10^th St., 125 & 137: H. Gordon to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $212,500

N. 14^th St., 236: KAB Rentals LLC to Afterkey Property Solutions LLC, $32,900

N. 16^th St., 1310: R. Floyd to D. & K. Scott, $65,000

N. Front St., 2837, Unit 402: M. Lane Jr. to F. Clark, $110,000

N. Front St., 2901: R. Edwards to C. & E. Bryce, $280,800

Peffer St., 417: Peffer Street Associates LLC to S. Maurer, $30,000

Peffer St., 434: D. & M. Watts to S. Maurer, $38,000

Penn St., 917: L. Ware Jr. to B. Fritz, $86,000

Rolleston St., 1031: V. Harper to M. Sanz

Rudy Rd., 2133: C. Duffield & K. Bertin to J. & K. Kio, $123,900

Rumson Dr., 297: A. Segiin to G. Cayamcela & N. Perez, $70,000

Rumson Dr., 2979: Z. Farber to Sangrey Properties LLC, $32,000

Showers St., 585: J. & J. Duthie to A. & K. Morris, $120,000

S. 16^th St., 417: D. & K. Kaiser to M. Olshefski, $59,000

S. 20^th St., 838: Leasing Solutions LLC to Harrisburg Properties Associates LLC, $320,000

S. Front St., 809½: B. Gabler & R. Foreman to Q. Chau, A. Chaplin & A. Nguyen, $90,000

Vernon St., 1306: Hancock Investments LLC to Sweet Properties of Philadelphia LLC, $58,000

Harrisburg property sales for June 2016, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Recycled Good: The ReStore’s mission–to house, and to help.

July 29, 2016 | by Susan Ryder

What could be described as a textbook example of sustainability oddly takes place in a very industrial setting, across a large surface parking lot and in a building that once housed the Troeg’s brewery.

The store within sells used building materials at a deep discount, keeping those same building materials out of landfills. And all of the money earned builds affordable homes for those in need.

Harrisburg’s ReStore has been open for three years and, in that time, has generated more than $1 million for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, according to manager Lindsay Kirkwood.

Just as impressive, the Paxton Street store has kept about 2 million pounds of usable materials out of landfills.

The store attracts “treasure-hunters, do-it-yourself folks, contractors—all walks of life,” said Kirkwood.

One of those treasure hunters is Ted Harris, who showed off the two antique oil lamps he had just purchased. He said it was his third time in the store that week.

“It’s possibly a slight addiction,” he said. “You really do never know what’s going to show up.”

Folks carry measuring tape as they walk around examining interior and exterior doors, tables of home goods and sets of kitchen cabinets. A large display of windows, lined vertically side-by-side, looks as if each window has been freshly plucked from someone’s house—because it has.

Kirkwood said that many of the ReStore’s customers are frequent shoppers.

“What’s so great about the ReStore is that so many of our customers are regulars, and they want to tell us what they are working on, and we want to hear it,” she said.

Transformation

Hugh Dorsey, one of the regulars, looked intently at the inventory.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through pictures of his work, made possible by the ReStore. One project utilized an old fireplace mantle and a few pieces of molding to create a beautiful threshold. He boasted about it as “a $500 look for $28.” He has purchased doors, light fixtures, patio furniture and furnaces for the bed and breakfast he’s renovating and a restaurant, Tia Simones, he’s planning to open at 7^th and Maclay streets in Harrisburg.

The ReStore has relationships with local organizations, as well. It recently formalized partnerships with Open Stage and the Sundae Best Variety Show. The store offers discounts on materials, storage when available, and free pickup from shows. In return, Open Stage and Sundae Best provide ads in playbills and volunteer hours, which are essential to the ReStore. The store has only five staff and operates primarily on volunteer power.

Pecola Letterlough (aka Grammi) serves as one of those volunteers. Letterlough is a bundle of energy and all business, with a smile. When asked if I could talk to her, she said, “You can help.” As we arranged picture frames, Letterlough credited her granddaughter, who also volunteers, with telling her about the store.

“I always told my children to give for nothing,” she said. “You give for nothing, and you get a whole lot back.”

The ReStore also relies on donations from individuals and organizations.

“The list of what we take is a lot longer than the list of things we don’t take,” remarked Kirkwood.

More specifically, they accept appliances, building materials, furniture, home décor, cabinets and much more. The store also accepts paint. Kirkwood spouts its requirements like a memorized slogan: “Latex-based, half full, never frozen.” The store offers pick up for larger items.

To better serve the community, the ReStore recently underwent renovations, holding its grand reopening in June. Kirkwood said that the store needed to better display its wares, particularly furniture, and needed a more functional layout for customers to navigate and volunteers to work. Pennsy Supply, the ReStore’s neighbor, donated cement for a new ramp that was a part of the transformation.

The Mission

Most of the ReStore’s inventory goes for rock-bottom prices, with one exception—the massive replica of the Great Shield of the United States, a ceramic eagle holding olive branches, arrows and a shield that sits above Kirkwood’s office door.

This item sells for $75,000. Yes, $75,000—the price to build a Habitat house. Kirkwood would be happy to sell it to anyone who’s willing to pay the price. But, more importantly, the eagle offers an opportunity to talk with customers about why the ReStore exists—to fund Habitat’s mission to build housing for folks who need it.

The ReStore functions as much more than a home improvement retailer, and its name means more than reusing stuff. It restores the environment by keeping usable materials out of landfills; restores the community by providing affordable means of home improvement; and restores families by providing funds to create homes.

Who would think that so much could be accomplished by donating stuff that might be thrown away?

The Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area ReStore is located at 800 Paxton St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.harrisburgrestore.org or call 717-480-5083.

Check out TheBurg/GK Visual’s “Burg in Focus” video that accompanies this story.

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Burg in Focus – ReStore

July 29, 2016 | by Admin

This month, our “Burg in Focus” features the good works of the ReStore, the Habitat for Humanity home goods store with a strong social mission.

The GK Visual-produced video features store manager Lindsay Kirkwood and takes viewers through the store, which is located in the former Troeg’s brewery on Paxton Street in Harrisburg.

Through this story, we hope to add greater texture and meaning to our print article, allowing readers to experience the ReStore and what it does in a deeper way. Enjoy!

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