Sweet Spot: fudge-O-lutely? Absolutely!

June 30, 2016 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Burg in Focus: fudge-O-lutely from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Sometimes, those little voices inside our heads confuse us with conflicting advice. While one shouts, “Pursue your passions and take risks,” another, in more cautious tones, urges us to be more measured in our approach to career choices.

Jessica Kost can say she has followed both paths and that heading down the road less traveled is the one she prefers—even though it’s not always without a few bumps.

Sitting at her eye-catching, bright green “fudge-O-lutely” stand in the brick building at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market, Kost reflects on her decision to cross the bridge from a career in criminal justice to selling fudge full time.

“It was terrifying,” said the New Cumberland resident with a smile. “I’m not going to lie. I had good benefits and a steady income, but I just knew if I didn’t try this, I’d regret it.”

It’s not as if Kost didn’t possess the necessary experience to turn out a fantastic product. As a third-generation fudge maker, she learned all about the business early in life.

“My grandma Doris made it, and it was her mom’s recipe,” she said. “She made it in her home, and she had a little store in the back named ‘Karen’s Candy Kitchen’ after my aunt Karen.”

The lure of the candy was not lost on Kost’s father Jim, who, witnessing its popularity, decided to share the creamy, smile-eliciting confection with a larger audience. He started supplying local mom-and-pop stores then branched into larger businesses, before selling wholesale across the country.

Her family’s sweet success inspired her to make a go of it herself. So, when she eyed a Broad Street Market stand for sale back in October, she took the leap.

“All the pieces came together at the right time,” said Kost, who had to do very little to modify the former pizza stand to her needs. “The mixer was already here.”

Market Manager Beth Taylor said that fudge-O-lutely is a welcome addition to Broad Street’s craft food lineup and especially likes that Kost puts her own spin on a family tradition.

“She not only uses family recipes that go back generations, but is also innovative with her flavor combinations and seasonal flavors,” said Taylor.

Kost remarks that, while her grandmother sold four flavors and her father sells eight, she is now up to 40.

“I love playing around with different ingredients,” she said.

Kost sells her fudge in one-half and one-pound increments, as well as in little snack-size cups for $2 for those who want just a little bite of something sweet. She makes 50 to 70 pounds of fudge a week and rotates products so that eight to 10 flavors are available at any time.

“I try to keep it interesting by offering a variety,” she said.

Recently, she featured a lavender honey (which I highly recommend) and a unique IPA fudge in celebration of Harrisburg Beer Week, which John Kelly, owner of J.B. Kelly Seafood Connection, said he and his staff really enjoyed.

“She makes it fresh, and one of us usually walks down to her stand and brings it back to share,” he said, adding that the staff also recently enjoyed a maple/bacon flavor. “I purchased some chocolate cashew for my mother recently for Mother’s Day.”

Rachel Blevins of Middletown visits the stand often.

“I not only think her fudge is among the best I’ve tasted, but I also like her outside-the-box thinking when it comes to flavors,” said Blevins, ticking off a list of her favorites that include vanilla, the aforementioned IPA, chocolate peanut butter and chocolate cashew.

Danielle Pierre discovered fudge-O-lutely during a lunch break from work.

“The fudge truffles are to die for!” she said. “I also love the pecan praline, and the champagne truffles are amazing.”

Working closely with the community is important to Kost, who mentions a few of the local vendors she works with to craft her confections.

“I locally source as many of my ingredients as I can, purchasing milk and butter from local farms—chocolate from Wilbur Chocolate in Lititz, different, random ingredients from One Good Woman in Camp Hill and spices from Calicutts Spice Company in Lemoyne,” she said.

As for taking the leap into full-time fudge making, Kost said she’s glad she did.

“I’ve always been very independent, and fudge is my passion,” she said. “Working for myself is what I’ve always wanted to do. People ask ‘what do you do for fun?’ I tell them, ‘I make fudge.’ It’s seriously my favorite thing to do.”

fudge-O-lutely is located in the Broad Street Market’s brick building in Harrisburg. To learn more, visit www.fudgeolutely.com or their Facebook page.

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

A Time to Heal: Foot problems are common, but remedies are at hand.

June 30, 2016 | by Miranda L. Bednar

The average person will walk 115,000 miles in his or her lifetime—four trips around the Earth. From the time we’re toddlers learning to walk until we are older adults possibly using a cane, our feet are vital to our quality of life.

The foot and ankle are a fascinating and complex body region made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. They’re responsible for a myriad of jobs, including standing balance, absorbing the shock sent into the body from the ground when we walk and forming a rigid lever to propel us forward as we move.

To complete these tasks properly, the foot and ankle have the unique ability to be, at times, mobile and adaptable and then rigid and powerful. By the time we have moved through a single day, our feet have endured hundreds of tons of force.

Problems, Remedies

About 75 percent of Americans will have a foot problem at some point in their lives, which can decrease one’s quality of life and even lead to additional health issues arising from lack of motion and exercise.

These foot problems may include fractures, ligament sprains and muscle tears. Less obvious ones include plantar fasciitis, which causes heel pain, and tendonitis anywhere around the ankle.

Furthermore, irritation of the nerves and/or blood vessels at the foot and ankle can lead to tarsal tunnel syndrome, causing pain and tingling throughout the foot, and metatarsalgia, or Morton’s Neuroma, which causes pain or numbness at the balls of the foot and toes. While these injuries and inflammations create unhealthy feet, sometimes the foot alone causes the problem.

While the list of possible foot and ankle problems may be unnerving, there are actions you can take to remedy those foot problems and regain your quality of life.

After fractures, sprains or surgery, the foot and ankle often demonstrate strength and motion deficits that can make you limp. These can be addressed via joint mobilizations and soft tissue massage done by a physical therapist and with instruction in a self-stretching and strengthening program.

Muscle strains and tendonitis that cause swelling and pain often get better with icing, resting and gradual return to or modification of your activity.

Pain in the bottom of the feet, balls of the feet and toes may be caused by excessive or abnormal pressure on those areas. It can be addressed by being fit with footwear that is appropriate for your foot’s shape and size, using custom or over-the-counter orthotics, and by having potential joint or motion restrictions treated by a physical therapist.

Toe deformities, which may cause balance difficulties, can be supported—and progression of the deformity and disability can be halted—with various in-shoe padding and proper footwear.

Diabetes and vascular disease can cause neuropathy (numbness) in the feet. In these instances, it is important to be properly fitted with shoes for foot protection and to regularly check the skin of the feet for cuts or blisters. If you do see cuts or blisters you should make an appointment with your doctor to be checked for infection and to begin healing measures.

No matter how slight or severe the problem may be, don’t sacrifice your function, safety and health on painful feet. Seek medical advice now and avoid running the risk of further injury and dysfunction. Maintain your health by “putting your best foot forward.”

Miranda L. Bednar is doctor of physical therapy (DPT) at Cardin & Miller Physical Therapy and Pedorthics, 6100 Old Jonestown Rd. Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-695-6436 or visit www.cardinmillerpt.com.

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Berry Hot July: Take mid-summer’s bounty and bake it.

June 30, 2016 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

My mother Rose was a wonderful baker. And while I have made some good pies and cakes in my time, I have always thought that hers were better. You could mark the seasons in my mother’s kitchen: fragrant walnut orange cakes at Christmas; heart-shaped coconut cakes in February; lemon cheese pies in the spring; and luscious strawberry pies topped with whipped cream in June.

Then in July, there were blueberries. My father worked with someone who grew a prolific crop of blueberries in a large backyard garden in the country. Every summer, we purchased from him (at a very reasonable price) more berries than we could use and turned them into pies, preserves, muffins and pancakes. We froze the extras, laying them out one by one on cookie sheets, and stored them in little baggies for safekeeping, little treasures to be eaten on a cold winter day.

Aside from her cinnamon- and nutmeg-scented blueberry pies (and we couldn’t imagine a Fourth of July celebration without them), my mother’s favorite blueberry treat was her sour cream blueberry cake. It was a type of pound cake or coffee cake that could be served at breakfast or brunch or as an after dinner dessert with vanilla ice cream.

After my mother passed away and our family home was sold, I carefully gathered up some of her favorite cookbooks to keep. Her most beloved one of all was an original version of the “Betty Crocker Cookbook,” now falling apart with its pages dog-eared and torn. There are little notes scribbled everywhere (some to me signed “Love Mommy”), recipes written on small index cards and, as I had hoped, the recipe for her sour cream blueberry cake. She had taken the now-yellowed page from an Aug. 2, 1970 Parade Magazine. I am happy to share it with TheBurg readers.

SOUR CREAM BLUEBERRY CAKE

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cardamom (or substitute nutmeg or cinnamon)
2 cups blueberries
½ cup brown sugar

Recipe

Cream the butter and sugar in an upright mixer (like a KitchenAid or a hand-held mixer).
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift all the dry ingredients together. You can use a sifter or a fine mesh sieve.
Gradually add the dry, sifted ingredients to the egg mixture alternating with the sour cream (end with the dry ingredients.)
Stir in the vanilla and cardamom and gently fold in 1 cup of the blueberries.
Pour half the batter into a well-greased and floured 9x13x2 cake pan.
Cover the batter with the remaining cup blueberries.
Sprinkle with the brown sugar and top with the remaining batter.
Bake in a pre-heated, 325-degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean. (Watch carefully and check at 40 minutes.)
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then turn the cake onto a wire rack. Allow the cake to cool completely.
To serve, cut into 12 pieces and top with good vanilla ice cream.

My mother used to say, “Berry season is so short.” Indeed it is. The blueberries of July are worth turning into something special. Enjoy her special cake.

A Brutal Past: In colonial Pennsylvania, fear turned to violence in the Susquehanna Valley.

June 30, 2016 | by Jason Wilson

Life on the Pennsylvania frontier could be remarkably brutal, and the period of 1754 to 1766 was arguably the fiercest of all.

The raids and battles of the French and Indian War gave rise to an uneasy peace, followed quickly by Pontiac’s Rebellion, another frontier clash between Native Americans and British soldiers, which lasted from 1763 to 1766.

Meanwhile, the Quaker-controlled Provincial Assembly refused to provide money for local militias to protect recently arrived Scots-Irish settlers, who had migrated into the Susquehanna Valley and points west. This tense atmosphere fueled anxiety, fear and suspicion among the settlers, who increasingly took matters into their own hands.

On Dec. 14, 1763, a group of about 50 armed settlers from Paxtang/Pextang, near present-day Harrisburg, attacked a group of peaceful Conestoga Indians at present-day Millersville in Lancaster County.

The so-called Paxton Boys killed six Indians on the notion that they were supporting Pontiac’s uprising and were plotting to massacre white settlers throughout the lower Susquehanna Valley. The surviving Indians sought refuge in a Lancaster workhouse, where, on Dec. 27, groups of armed men broke in and killed, in cold blood, the peaceful men, women and children who were housed there.

In early 1764, several hundred men from Paxtang, still angry about the inattention to Indian raids on the frontier, marched on Philadelphia, intent on killing any Indians and the white settlers who supported them. As Philadelphians learned of the oncoming mob, the city’s most prominent resident, Benjamin Franklin, was selected to speak to the group and attempt to quell the rabble before the situation escalated to a full-scale riot.

Franklin was able to convince the leaders of the Paxton Boys to seek a diplomatic solution. The men sought redress of their grievances through petitioning the Assembly, and they quietly returned home. Though many of their names were known at the time, no one was ever tried, convicted or sentenced for the murders of the Indians at Conestoga or in Lancaster.

As one of the saddest episodes in Pennsylvania colonial history, the massacre of the Conestoga Indians heralded the end of overall Quaker rule in Pennsylvania. William Penn’s almost 100 years of peace with the Indians was over, and, in the end, the strict pacifism of the Quaker minority was forced to yield to the hinterland settlers, who sought protection from the Indians, but also ultimately helped extend the rule of law throughout the commonwealth.

Jason Wilson is an historian with the Capitol Preservation Committee.

Best in Class: When a dog misbehaves, both animal and owner might need some expert help.

June 30, 2016 | by Amy Powell

As a dog trainer, I often hear from owners that their dog is not behaving in an acceptable manner. The owner is now exasperated and is ready to throw in the towel instead of trying to figure out a better way to train the pet.

Part of the problem is that dog training looks so easy on television. Terrible behaviors are addressed and corrected in a short amount of time, and the dog seems to be completely exorcised of all past devilish doings.

This is not reality. Dog owners have varying levels of experience, and each dog is an individual. The last dog owned does not resemble the next dog added. Each dog and situation is unique and can possess its own challenges.

Schools of Thought

The average owner does not think that he needs a dog trainer.

Indeed, the majority of dog owners are perfectly capable of teaching their dog boundaries and simple commands like sit, down and stay. Most dogs do not have behavioral problems. Some do, however, and those behaviors can be addressed by a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist. In those cases, training should begin as soon as the dog is current on all vaccinations.

In general, there are two schools of thought on how to properly train a dog.

The first is commonly referred to as the “Old School” method or “Alpha dog technique,” which is established through various forms of physical manipulation. The other is the “New School,” also known as positive reinforcement or treat training.

Old School methods can be seen on shows like the “Dog Whisperer” and were commonly used in American Kennel Club obedience trials. They employ a form of “touch” to correct the dog when it does something wrong. New School methods were developed by animal behaviorists and dog trainers such as Ian Dunbar and are demonstrated by trainers like Victoria Stillwell and Karen Pryor, who use clicker training or shaping exercises with rewards of treats or play for the correct behavior

Before making a decision, owners should do some research to understand what they are paying the trainer to teach. They also should be comfortable with the fact that they are being taught because, ultimately, it’s the human who gets the training.

Training takes commitment from the owner. Training the dog to sit, down and stay in a classroom setting is great. However, the dog will need to get out and about and socialized to ensure that the training works in all environments and under all circumstances.

Socialization means that the dog is familiar with different people, animals, environments and conditions. When a dog is learning new tricks, the owner or handler should be aware that, if the dog is overstimulated, it is not going to absorb the lesson trying to be taught. Therefore, training should begin in a quiet space and, as each trick is learned, the dog should be taken out to keep increasing the difficulty. By teaching the dog tricks and working with it in different situations, the owner and dog are forming a working relationship and a bond.

Where to Go

Classes are offered in many different places, including pet stores like PetsMart, Petco and Pet Valu, through community and recreational centers like the West Shore Recreation Commission, and through privately owned businesses that can be found online or through veterinarian offices. Dog training classes in these settings offer an excellent opportunity to socialize your dog.

Good online sources include the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com), the American Kennel Club (www.akc.org) or Bark Busters (www.barkbusters.com). These sources offer information about both dog trainers and animal behaviorists, as well as group classes or personal, in-home training.

You might also consider specialty and alternative activities and classes such as agility, dock diving, freestyle Frisbee or Rally-O. These are fun, social and a great alternative to the traditional obedience dog training classes.

Ownership of a dog requires training for both the dog and the owner. It is a working relationship that should also be an enjoyable experience. There are tips and resources at a dog owner’s disposal to assist in training the dog, to help bridge any gaps in the relationship and to teach the dog to be a part of the household and under control.

Ideally, training should begin as soon as the dog is brought into the home and vaccinated. If the behavior is more than can be handled, it may be time to contact a professional.

Amy Powell is a dog trainer and Owner of Doggie U, LLC.

Grinding the Mill: Are PA’s efforts to combat puppy mills effective?

June 30, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

When we added our Labrador retriever puppy, Stella, to our family in 2002, we purchased from a licensed, first-time breeder Mennonite family. Their paperwork came from the American Kennel Club. A litter of eight pups romped with kids in a temperature-controlled garage full of clean bedding and toys.

We met Stella’s mother in the backyard. The breeders gave us a picture of Stella’s father, a Labrador from a neighbor’s farm. All were active and healthy. We took Stella home after eight weeks. We felt confident the breeders responsibly bred the litter.

We were only minimally educated on how to spot a responsible breeder. Mostly, we were just lucky.

Those who buy puppies from non-reputable breeders are often not lucky. Their puppies tend toward health and behavioral problems from inbreeding and poor conditions common in puppy mills.

Kept in cramped, unhealthy conditions with little interaction, the dogs aren’t pets. They are profit-driven commodities. Females are bred one litter after another with no recovery time, physically depleting them. When females can no longer breed, they are discarded.

Desired Effect?

Basil Merenda, chief deputy attorney general, director of Bureau of Consumer Protection, cited rural Lancaster County as having a particularly large puppy mill and unregulated backyard breeder presence. Merenda’s office regulates the “Pet Lemon Law,” adopted in 2008, which stipulates that sellers must provide health and registration records.

Unfortunately, that law has not proved very effective in helping buyers or in battling puppy mills, said certified dog trainer Amy Powell.

It gives buyers just 10 days to document that the animal has a contagious or infectious disease and 30 days for a congenital defect. (Some hereditary conditions take more than six months to manifest themselves.)

Buyers must initiate the complaint to the attorney general’s office. They may demand a refund of the purchase price, minus sales tax, plus any veterinary expenses. Sellers, who must be USDA-licensed, can be fined $1,000 for each violation.

Many buyers, though, don’t know about the law, find the process burdensome or don’t realize they have a troubled animal until it’s too late. Also, the law addresses the symptom of puppy mills—how to return a defective puppy—but it does not attack the root cause: irresponsible breeding.

Former Gov. Ed Rendell championed and signed another protection measure—the “Dog Law” in 2008—which implements stricter provisions for kennel conditions, prevents dog abuse and mandates humane euthanizing. It also covers licensing, sale, transportation and estimates for damages.

Under Rendell, Pennsylvania budgeted for dog wardens to enforce the law, with the Department of Agriculture responsible for conducting regular facility inspections. However, where there were once ample wardens to cover a region, there are now not enough, according to Powell.

“That funding went away with Gov. Corbett,” she said. “The enforcement for ‘Dog Law’ is not there anymore. Puppy mills fly under the radar in rural areas. Rescues are over-full. We would like to see puppy mills being held accountable.”

Changes to the “Dog Law,” made in February, still do not provide for socializing the animals, she said. The law also does not specifically address inbreeding or the numbers of dogs being bred.

Meanwhile, for registered boarding kennels and breeders who comply with the “Dog Law,” the increase in regulations has had a negative effect, decreasing the number of registered facilities and driving costs higher for the remaining.

“We were gung-ho activists and rescuers at first,” said Powell. “Then lobbying became costly, ineffective and heartbreaking. Our choice was to lobby for stricter laws or rescue more dogs. We can’t save them all.”

Enter special interest groups. Humane PA is a political action committee that supports candidates who further animal protection legislation. In addition to caring for animals hands-on, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society both lobby and politically advocate for animals nationally and at the state levels. The groups also educate.

“Buyers need to be educated about how to spot responsible breeders and also dog laws,” Powell said. ”Buying from backyard breeders is keeping puppy mills in business.”

Hard Decision

The state’s efforts, unfortunately, have had other unintended consequences. For instance, when buyers return a defective dog, it is destroyed or sent to an animal rescue, which are both unwelcome outcomes.

“We often get dogs from puppy mills,” confirmed Denise Durkay, who runs The Dogs’ Den, a rescue in Grantville.

Meanwhile, it remains tough to do battle against puppy mills, as many charged with offenses simply change their business name to a family member’s name, Durkay said.

“They post ‘No Trespassing’ signs,” she said. “They get away with [continuing to operate].”

Bobbie Ditzler, certified veterinary technician at Mechanicsburg-based Rossmoyne Animal Emergency Trauma Center, often sees the results of puppy mill dog breeding.

“We see a lot of parvo[virus],” Ditzler said. “The breeders tell buyers the puppies had fecal tests, but they didn’t.”

Highly contagious, parvovirus can infect an entire kennel. Treatment costs anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000, with only a 50-percent survival rate.

In the end, many owners decide to keep their puppy mill-bred dogs—healthy or not.

“We tell owners about the ‘Pet Lemon Law,’” said Ditzler. “Buy many are too attached to consider returning them. It’s a hard decision.”

A number of websites offer additional information on efforts to combat puppy mills, including www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/lemon_mn.html, www.unitedagainstpuppymills.org, www.thedogsden.rescuegroups.org and www.mlar.org.

Car Models: The beautiful, the sleek strut their stuff for Supercars on State Street.

June 30, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Not every exotic car show is a memorial tribute to a friend’s mother, but that’s exactly what motivated Evan Ross to start Supercars on State Street.

Ross, a 2011 Central Dauphin High School graduate now living in Florida, began the annual event in 2010 to benefit the American Cancer Society in honor of Patti Burkhardt, who lost her life to breast cancer at 42. She was the mother of Evan Ross’ close friend, Sarah Burkhardt.

“It’s a labor of love,” Ross said of the car show.

This year’s event, scheduled for July 30, features makes of cars—Maserati, DeLorean and Lotus, for example—not often seen on the streets of Harrisburg. The show quickly has become one of the largest exotic car shows in the northeast. Last year, 350 registrants hailed from 11 states, numbers that organizers expect to top.

“You typically don’t see a lot of Lamborghinis and Ferraris around Harrisburg,” said Ed Ross of Susquehanna Township, who organizes Supercars with son, Evan. “Other car shows in the area are for cars that are antiques, classics or muscle cars.”

Evan Ross never knew Patti Burkhardt because she died months before he and Sarah Burkhardt met as sixth-graders at Linglestown Junior High. What he did know, however, was that his young friend bore a painful grief from her mother’s early death that would never totally ebb.

Today, Sarah Burkhardt, a first-grade teacher in the East Pennsboro School District, carries memories of her mother that are warm and wistful.

“As soon as you walked into a room, my mom could make you smile,” she said. “She was the glue that held the family together. She was always good at bringing out the best in people.”

Passion for Cars

As teens, Sarah and Evan began taking part in fundraisers like car washes and the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk held each year on City Island to benefit the Patti’s Light Foundation, named in honor of Sarah’s mother.

Then Evan came up with the idea to hold a car show fundraiser that would benefit the American Cancer Society in Patti Burkhardt’s honor. Supercars on State Street was born.

“I just always had a passion for cars,” Evan explained. “It sparked my interest. I thought (the car show) would be fun and a surprise for Sarah with a check in her mother’s memory. I thought it could be something that she was involved with and not have to do a lot of work.”

Sarah said she didn’t know anything about what was happening until Evan told her to come to State Street one Saturday morning in the summer of 2010. That’s where she spotted 60 exotic cars lined up near the state Capitol complex for what was the first Supercars on State Street.

“She was shocked,” Evan recalled

“I was really surprised. I had no clue,” Sarah recounted. “Evan just told me to that I had to be at State Street. He didn’t say anything about a car show. He was just one of those people who was always there for me. It was just such an honor that he would do this.”

For the first year, Supercars on State Street raised $2,100 for the American Cancer Society. Last year, the show raised around $10,000, pulling in a total of more than $30,000 in its first five years. Ed Ross said he hopes this year’s show earns $20,000.

Ed Ross, who lives in Lower Paxton Township, said that he does most of the “local duties,” while Evan takes care of the show’s website from Florida.

“My son and I have always been interested in cars,” he noted. “We’ve been to a lot of car shows, so we had some idea of what it involved to organize one. However, a lot of cars shows are held at fairgrounds. They don’t have to deal with a lot of logistics that we do.”

Many Friends

The show runs on State Street from Front Street to 3rd Street, and on Front Street from Forster Street to the Walnut Street Bridge. For the first time this year, cars also will be shown on N. 3^rd Street from South Street to North Street, which includes 120 parking spaces situated near the steps leading to the Capitol.

One of Ed’s many duties is wrestling with several local agencies to clear parking for the event, which includes pre-show parking on City Island. This year, the job has been made a little easier, said Ed, because Standard Parking has become an event sponsor. Until now, the Rosses were forced to buy out parking meters in the area of the show.

Ed also makes the show’s trophies, which are comprised of a wood base topped with various used car parts. This year’s award categories will highlight five Ferrari classes, with the remainder being People’s Choice awards.

Over the years, the Rosses have made many friends through the show, including Adam Frank of Monroe Township. Frank said he helps out and has participated in the show for the past three years after first learning about it on social media.

“Today, I was passing out show flyers in the State Street area,” he said. “I like being at the show and seeing people from all over the country with their support. I heard that this is one of the biggest car shows on the whole East Coast. We love to do charity.”

Supercars on State Street takes place in downtown Harrisburg on July 30, noon to 5 p.m. Vehicle check-in runs 8 to 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.supercarsonstatestreet.com.

June News Digest

June 30, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Miller Named Treasurer

Long-time Harrisburg official Dan Miller is the city’s new treasurer, following a close vote last month by City Council.

Miller bested a field of four nominees to replace Tyrell Spradley, who left after 18 months in office and just months after being sworn in for a full term. Miller will serve until the next municipal election in 2017.

Council selected Miller by a 4 to 3 margin in a second round of voting, following interviews with all four nominees. Besides Miller, the finalists included former city Councilman Brad Koplinski and local attorneys Karen Balaban and Peter Marks.

Miller, an accountant by trade, told council that he wished to serve because he is well qualified for the job and hopes to improve the operations of the department. He plans to set up a separate website for the treasurer’s office and said he is not interested in running for higher office.

Miller has a long history of public service in Harrisburg, previously serving as a city councilman and city controller. Three years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in a contentious race against now-Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

School Budget Passed

The school portion of Harrisburg’s property tax will drop slightly this year under a $143 million budget passed last month by the district’s school board.

The board cut the tax rate from about 27.9156 mills to 27.8 mills, meaning that an owner with property valued at $100,000 would see a tax decrease of about $11 for the 2016-17 school year. Property tax bills are due to be mailed this month.

The school board was divided on whether to retain the current tax rate and keep about $150,000 in the budget or give homeowners a small tax break. In the end, the board decided to offer the largely symbolic tax cut.

Teacher Contract Approved

The Harrisburg school board and teachers agreed to a new contract last month, ending a four-year battle between the two sides.

The agreement gives teachers their first raise since a state-appointed chief recovery officer was named in 2012. In turn, teachers and others covered by the agreement, including school guidance counselors and nurses, will contribute more to their health care plans.

Before the agreement, teachers had threatened to strike if the school board and the Harrisburg Education Association could not reach a new accord.

Dispersal of Housing Funds Considered

Harrisburg would retain federal housing funds for its own use under an ordinance introduced last month by the city administration.

Under the proposal, the city would keep nearly $1.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, an annual grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. For years, the city has shared the money with a select group of nonprofit organizations.

Under the administration’s proposal, about one-third of the amount would go to debt service, as the city must pay back a federal loan it backed for the once-bankrupt Capitol View Commerce Center, as well as pay back other federal community development loans dating back about 15 years.

Remaining funds would go to public safety, housing rehabilitation, emergency demolition and several other city-identified priorities.

Several nonprofit groups have protested being shut out of the annual distribution. At press time, City Council had not agreed to the final disbursement of the monies.

Tax Abatement Finalized

Dauphin County last month gave the final OK to Harrisburg’s tax abatement plan, allowing the 10-year abatement to proceed.

The county commissioners approved the plan unanimously, which will offer a full, 100-percent abatement over 10 years for improvements to residential properties and at least a 50-percent abatement on improvements to commercial properties.

A divided City Council passed the administration’s abatement plan last year. The school board approved it in May, leaving only Dauphin County—as the final taxing authority for city properties—to offer its blessing. Harrisburg now must hire an administrator to oversee the program.

The abatement also offers some benefit for new construction, but, to get tax relief, developers must follow certain requirements, including paying a prevailing wage for construction workers and hiring a certain percentage of minority and local workers.

State Forgoes Appeal

The state attorney general’s office will not appeal a court ruling that dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.

In a brief statement, the office said it would honor a May ruling by presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess that the crimes alleged by the state occurred too long ago, exceeding the statute of limitations.

The state, though, will continue to pursue 144 criminal counts against Reed on theft-related charges.

“With his fascination for the Wild West, this man used other people’s money to decorate his house and office with antiques,” said Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. “But Pennsylvania is not the Wild West. We have the rule of law here.”

New Precinct Planned

Allison Hill soon may get a new police precinct, as the city plans to renovate a building near 15^th and Derry streets.

Money to rehab the one-story structure would come from part of a $250,000 federal community grant, according to Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.

Allison Hill residents have been clamoring for increased police presence for many years, and Carter said the new, 24-hour station should make police officers more visible, while reducing response times and increasing ties to the community.

Home Sales Jump

Home sales in the Harrisburg area continued their yearlong rise, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

Sales rose to 908 units in May compared to 792 units in the year-ago period, with the median price rising to $174,900 vs. $170,000, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 297 units against 269 in May 2015, while the median price dipped to $155,000 from $159,900. In Cumberland County, sales rose to 326 from 281, and the median price increased to $219,561 from 213,712. Average days on the market fell in both counties.

In Perry County, 30 homes sold compared to 37 in the year-ago period. However, the median price increased to $151,500 vs. $117,900 in May 2015.

In addition to all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, GHAR covers parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

So Noted

Harrisburg Beer Week handed over a check for $40,000 last month to Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. The check was double the amount raised last year during the weeklong celebration of craft beer. River Rescue plans to use the money for additional improvements to its facility.

Highmark Blue Shield presented Harrisburg with a $100,000 grant last month to fund summer enrichment and after-school programs for children in the city school district. The Highmark funding will support activities like basketball, golf, swimming, various educational field trips and a daily lunch. Harrisburg children ages 6 to 18 are eligible.

PinnacleHealth this month plans to open the new Lebanon Valley Advanced Care Center, an 80,000-square-foot building at 1251 E. Main St., Annville. When fully occupied, the facility will house numerous groups, including Annville Family Medicine, PinnacleHealth Endocrinology, Select Physical Therapy, PinnacleHealth Express and the PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute.

Rite Aid in downtown Harrisburg will move across Market Street into about 14,000 square feet in Strawberry Square, it was announced last month. The larger space will allow Rite Aid to offer more products, as well as a retail pharmacy, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square. The move should occur by the end of the year. In other Strawberry Square news, CASA plans to take another 2,400 square feet of space there, while the fashion brand AMMA JO last month doubled its presence by expanding into an adjoining storefront.

The Game Table Café has cut the ribbon on its location at 4900 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. The Game Table Café provides a relaxed setting to enjoy a cup of coffee and play board games with friends and family.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2515: K. Troung & L. Pham to L. Truong, $45,000

Bellevue Rd., 2114: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to D. & E. Kerr, $153,000

Boas St., 219: D. Commins to A. Moyer, $136,000

Brookwood St., 2434: R. Hillman to The IRA Club & T. McDougal, $42,000

Calder St., 115: A. & M. Anselmo to Penn Real Estate Solutions LLC, $49,700

Calder St., 519: S. & M. Martin to J. Fisher, $100,000

Croyden Rd., 2778: PA Deals LLC to D. Blumenthal, $78,000

Derry St., 2712: L. & J. Burnette to D. Diehl, $72,000

Edward St., 243: A. Clionsky to D. & J. Ruscito, $200,000

Edward St., 504: S. Krum to D. & J. Kruzhilin, $88,000

Ellersie St., 2344: G. Rudy to V. Ramsey, $59,000

Fulton St., 1405: PA Deals LLC to S. Orwan, $110,000

Fulton St., 1937: B. Rodriquez & American Heritage Property Management to T. Gates, $43,800

Green St., 1414: S. Jusufovic to V. Reydams, $140,000

Green St., 1423: J. & V. Bates to R. Walter, $81,900

Green St., 1915: GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to J. & K. Johnston, $195,000

Green St., 1945: J.A. Hartzler to WCI Partners LP, $212,000

Hale Ave., 415: T. Pham & T. Vu to J. & J. Fickett, $59,000

Hamilton St., 238: J. Manzella to J. & M. Moritz, $135,000

Herr St., 127: R. Lake to C. Wagoner, $156,500

Hudson St., 1246: Bank of New York Mellon to PA Deals LLC, $47,250

Logan St., 1728: Wilmington Savings Fund Society to S. Eagle, $102,000

Maclay St., 245: N. Do to M. Cvetko, $30,000

Midland Rd., 2408: J. Jaxheimer to M. Boone, $179,900

Mulberry St., 1951: C. Campbell to E. & B. O’Brien, $51,000

N. 2^nd St., 812: J. Swoyer to A. Meoli, $197,500

N. 2^nd St., 1700: Metro Bank to Hopewell Estates 2^nd Street LLC, $400,000

N. 2^nd St., 2414: A. & G. Hall to R. Gist, $62,000

N. 2^nd St., 2539: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Garber, $58,000

N. 2^nd St., 2802: D. Skerpon & C. Baldrige to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $166,900

N. 2^nd St., 3004: E. & T. Lukoski to 8219 Ventures LLC, $40,000

N. 3^rd St., 1621: Wells Fargo Bank NA to Henly Homes LLC, $54,180

N. 3^rd St., 2451: Triple J. Assoc. Ltd. To Hornby Zeller Properties LLC, $149,900

N. 5^th St., 3204: Information Systems Networks Corp. & Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to T. Radcliff, $98,100

N. 16^th St., 911: M. McManus to S. Sprinkle, $87,500

N. 18^th St., 1116: P. & S. Mitchell to K. Wright, $70,000

Parkside Lane, 2922: A. Anderson to J. & B. Williams, $200,000

Race St., 562: Brady Daughters Realty LLC to S. Garnes, $153,500

S. 2^nd St., 302: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to J. Pronio, $49,900

S. 17^th St., 319: E. & L. Castillo to 4P Ventures LLC, $120,000

S. 29^th St., 720: C. Karstetter to S. Maurer, $38,000

S. Front St., 709: R. Stevenson to D. Smith, $185,000

State St., 217: Medical Bureau of Harrisburg to D. Ragland, $110,000

State St., 231, Unit 303: LUX 1 LP to T. & D. Jensen, $121,000

State St., 1936, 1940 & 1942: L. & K. Price to M. & E. Duvall, $75,000

Susquehanna St., 1825: A. Tilley to M. Manley, $87,000

Susquehanna St., 2005: Kusic Financial Services LLC to M. Rioux & H. Perry, $68,000

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

Home Works: Area theaters bring original, local plays to the stage.

June 30, 2016 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Imagine Shakespeare without the Globe Theatre.

Even the most talented and prolific playwright needs a venue—the lack of one may be the most-frequent complaint of writers for the stage.

Central Pennsylvania theaters are increasingly answering the call by encouraging the creation and production of original works.

This year, Theatre Harrisburg launched a New Works Festival competition. It coincided with the hiring of a new artistic director/executive director, Brett Bernardini, who had directed new works and run a theater company that fostered them.

“Because of his background and the fact that this was not a common practice in the area, he was very interested in [new works] being part of a new face of the theater,” said Leslie Gulden, festival coordinator. “We’re hopeful this will be well received, but we haven’t made a commitment beyond this year’s festival.”

By mid-March’s deadline, Theatre Harrisburg had received 137 new works. Six finalists—four plays and two musicals—will be selected. Each playwright will win $500 and transportation to attend the festival in September.

“Each winning play will have a reading and be evaluated by the audience, with a chance of being produced in the following season,” Gulden added.

Unrealized Resource

One of the “veterans” of original productions regionally is Gretna Theatre, a professional summer theater based in Mt. Gretna. For about a decade, Gretna has presented five hour-long, original children’s musicals during its regular season as part of its “Theatre for Young People” series.

“The series started when writers started getting in touch and pitching ideas, “ said Larry Frenock, former artistic director.

Gretna offers the playwrights production photos and a DVD, so they then can pitch their work to other theaters.

“Once two theaters produce a play, the playwrights are more likely to get other live productions, because they have much more credibility,” Frenock explained.

Harrisburg’s Gamut Theatre Group isn’t about original works per se, though its Popcorn Hat Players retell classic fairy tales, and its Stage Door Series offers adaptations of classic works in streamlined productions.

In 2011, “Sonnet Inspirations” broadened the theater’s mission, with several playwrights taking Shakespeare’s poems and looking at them in a new way.

Karen Ruch directed the program, and, in August, she returns, taking on “As She Likes It,” original works by area playwrights involving some of the Bard’s female characters.

“We ask what we can learn about these characters by putting them in a different venue,” said Ruch.

Sean Adams, Gamut’s resident playwright, has authored short plays for Popcorn Hat. He also has written full-length works that incorporate large casts for the Young Acting Co., which presents one original production a year.

Other theaters are following suit.

In 2015, Oyster Mill Playhouse, a community-based venue in Camp Hill, established the “Not the Run of the Mill” festival, one-act works by local playwrights that were part of the theater’s “Spotlight Series.”

“At this time, Oyster Mill isn’t soliciting original plays for our mainstage productions,” said Keith Bowerman, public relations manager. “However, this is something we’ve discussed looking into when our financial house is a little more in order.”

Bowerman has reviewed scripts from “several extremely talented local playwrights” he’d love to see in production.

“I really believe our local playwrights are an extremely unrealized resource in the capital theater community,” he said.

The current plan is to mount a new play every other year, alternating with a series of radio plays, in the “Spotlight Series,” beginning next year.

Stuart Landon, associate artistic director of Open Stage of Harrisburg, said the professional theater is doing some initial work to create more opportunities “for actors and works” of color.

Go to PAPA

A driving force behind original works is the Playwrights’ Alliance of Pennsylvania. A nonprofit, PAPA hosts monthly meetings for area playwrights and promotes their work, said Marjorie Bicknell, secretary/treasurer.

Members’ short plays were presented at Theatre Harrisburg years ago and, more recently, at Hershey Area Playhouse. PAPA does an annual group production at the Cicada Festival in Mt. Gretna in August.

President Kevin Pry is in discussions with Open Stage about presenting one PAPA member’s full-length play, with Gamut about an evening of plays in the spring, and with Ephrata Area Playhouse about a reading.

“We are definitely interested in increasing interest in presenting new plays in the area,” said Bicknell. “Theaters have learned that they can make money with new plays, while also bringing in new actors.”

Hershey Area Playhouse, a regional community theater, has presented evenings of four or five short plays as part of its “Dark Night” non-mainstage events. It just solicited one-act plays, with special encouragement for central Pennsylvanians.

“We give writers the opportunity to direct their own shows and select casts,” said Mark Douglas Cuddy, artistic liaison of the theater and a board member. “We hope this will become an annual event.”

The evenings are less about “competition” and more about trying to see what local playwrights are “up to and giving them good exposure,” Cuddy added.

To learn more about the New Works Festival competition, visit www.harrisburg-new-works-theater-festival.com.

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Musical Notes: July Juxtapositions–Versatile musicians take the stage.

June 30, 2016 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

This month, we welcome a slate of live music here in Harrisburg that will bring together otherwise disparate elements: punk and R&B; Americana and world music; muscle and delicacy.

In many ways, these are my favorite types of artists. They aren’t constrained by genre but instead pick and choose from various elements to create something new and fresh yet still recognizable. So, don’t let the heat of summer keep you from getting out at night. Go and hear some excellent live music instead.

KINO KIMINO & AMY KLEIN w/WEIRD YEAR, 7/2, 7PM, MAKESPACE: Kino Kimino is the latest project from Kim Talon, a Brooklyn musician originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Kino Kimino is reminiscent of Sleater-Kinney, with Talon’s melodies threading the needle between sweet and angst-y. They are touring in support of their new album, “Bait is for Sissies.” They are joined by Amy Klein, who recently left the New Jersey punk band Titus Andronicus to focus on her own music. Local folk band Weird Year will provide additional local support. This show should offer an excellent play between hushed songwriting and angular, muscular indie-rock.

DAVID WAX MUSEUM, 7/8, 8PM, ABBEY BAR, $10/$15: David Wax Museum is, frankly, a pretty great love story. The band began as a collaboration and blossomed into a romance between its two principal members. In fact, they are now married with a kid. Their chemistry is reflected in their lovely, effortless and tight folk arrangements. They are on the road in support of their latest release, “Guesthouse,” which has them experimenting with new textures. Their approach to songwriting is akin to Paul Simon as their songs are, at first listen, instantly recognizable as folk. However, each arrangement also bears a depth rooted in world music and a keen sense of musical theory. And those who are worried about a folk-induced sleepiness should know that David Wax Museum isn’t afraid of a healthy dose of rhythm.

CHUCK MOSLEY w/YAM YAM & SAINT BRENDAN AND THE NAVIGATORS, 7/14, 8PM, FEDLIVE, $10/$15: Chuck Mosley began garnering attention as the lead singer of Faith No More. Although he left the band in 1988 and was replaced by Mike Patton, he has continued to make a name for himself as a singular voice in rock ‘n’ roll. In 1990, he also served briefly as the lead singer of Bad Brains. His music is aggressive but funky, taking that less-traveled path between punk and R&B. He will be traveling through Harrisburg as part of his “Reintroduce Yourself World Tour.” He will be supported by local favorites Yam Yam and Saint Brendan and the Navigators. Just know that, when it comes to Chuck Mosley, you should expect the unexpected.

Mentionables: Andrew Pauls, 7/1, Little Amps Downtown; DRIFTWOOD, 7/7, Abbey Bar; Graham Nash, 7/20, Whitaker Center; Matt Otis and the Sound, 7/21, H*MAC Stage on Herr; The Bo Deadlys, 7/29, H*MAC Stage on Herr; Bacon Brothers, 7/30, Whitaker Center

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