Island Wine: Seek out these unique quaffs from off the coast of Italy.

May 31, 2016 | by Steve Juliana

In recent years, Italy has emerged as perhaps the world’s most dynamic wine-producing country.

In this Mediterranean land shaped like a boot, tradition meets innovation with ancient grape varieties and new vineyard techniques that produce amazing wines. This is evident on the two largest Italian islands: Sicily and Sardinia.

Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has been a major maritime crossroads for centuries. It also has the distinction as a “bread basket” for many different cultures. A blend of grain, fruit, unique livestock and seafood create an amazing diversity of foods.

The most popular indigenous grape is Nero d’Avola, or “the black from Avola.” This grape creates a rich, dark, spicy wine that is found all over Sicily. Nature deigns that this is the only region where this fruit thrives, as attempts to grow it elsewhere have not been productive. Nero goes well with the rich meats and cheeses of the Sicilian diet and with grilled foods. The wine is great bottled singly, but has the ability to make wonderful blends, most notably with French varieties planted on the island. It’s definitely a quaff to seek.

A popular native white grape is Insolia, which makes a rich, citrusy wine with herbal highlights and a nutty aroma. It matches well with the tuna and swordfish dishes found all over the island. It’s also an important component in the making of Marsala, both sweet and dry.

One of Sicily’s great dessert wines is Zibibbo, which is made from the Moscato di Alexandria, a grape brought from Egypt by the Greeks. A white wine described as eating a golden raisin, it is hard to find but well worth the search.

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and, compared to much of the rest of Italy, is not overrun by tourists. That’s great for us wine-lovers, since so much of the island is dedicated to agriculture.

The most popular red grape on the island is known as Cannonau. This is the local name for the Grenache grape, famous in the Rhone Valley of France, where it is blended with Syrah and bottled from Côtes du Rhône to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The best are bottled singly or blended with Carignano (also called Carignon), another grape with roots in southern France. It goes well with the local cuisine, which is based on lamb, cheese and a unique flatbread made locally. The ones I have tried deserve a place beside your grill and on your table.

Vermentino is the best white wine of the island and is arguably the finest white wine in all of Italy. It’s a fragrant quaff with great structure and the ability to age.

Notably, Sardinia is an international “blue zone,” where people have a longer-than-normal lifespan—and I like to think their wine consumption has something to do with that. Great wine, great food and a shot at a long life. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Keep sipping, Steve

Capital in Conflict: Civil War Days stresses Harrisburg’s role in the war.

May 31, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Camp Curtin

Harrisburg’s relationship to the Civil War is a complicated one.

The city was targeted, but never invaded. It played a vital role as a logistics and training center, but never saw battle itself. Today, Civil War buffs and tourists flock to Gettysburg, but usually bypass Harrisburg.

This month, the city’s story will be in focus during the first annual Civil War Days, a widespread historic celebration touching on many aspects of Harrisburg’s important place in the war, particularly in the Battle of Gettysburg.

“A National Civil War Museum was built (in Harrisburg) 15 years ago and a lot of people said, ‘Why?’” noted Joe Benish, a member of the event’s organizing committee, noting the need for public education.

The three-day extravaganza overflows with events, including a Civil War narrative cruise on the Susquehanna, a re-enactors’ encampment at the National Civil War Museum and historic site bus tours.

Civil War Days is the brainchild of Gary Crowell, event chairman and a Civil War history enthusiast since relocating to Harrisburg from California in 1969. Although he initially focused his interest on Gettysburg, he eventually realized that Harrisburg, too, played a significant role in the events that led to the battle on July 1 to 3, 1863.

“I found out that (Confederate Gen. Robert E.) Lee came into Harrisburg three days before Gettysburg,” Crowell said. “Then I thought, we should just dedicate a whole weekend about this for the whole community.”

To publicize the events, organizers have coined the slogan, “Before Gettysburg, Lee headed for Harrisburg. So why don’t you?”

Cooper Wingert, already a prolific author of 10 Civil War books at age 17, said it was an easy choice for him to join the gala’s organizing committee that’s comprised of a dozen local Civil War enthusiasts.

“Gary had the best plan ever,” the East Pennsboro High School senior explained.

Wingert, who begins studies this fall at Dickinson College, said Lee’s initial plan before Gettysburg was to burn and cripple Harrisburg, which was the capital of the second-most populous state in the North.

On June 28, 1863, Gen. Richard S. Ewell and 1,500 Confederates were based in Carlisle in anticipation of a Harrisburg attack. On the same day, Gen. Albert Jenkins and 1,200 members of the Virginia Calvary arrived in Mechanicsburg, ready for a fight.

On June 29, Confederates became engaged in battle with the Union militia at Oyster Point at 31^st and Market streets in Camp Hill. The next day, the Skirmish of Sporting Hill occurred at the Carlisle Pike and Sporting Hill Road in Mechanicsburg, the northernmost town to surrender to Gen. Jenkins’ troops.

The South’s next goal was to overtake Fort Washington, a Union fortification site on Lemoyne’s heights, and Fort Couch, situated about a half-mile west. The Confederates, though, were ordered to leave for Gettysburg due to encroaching Northern troops.

“(The Confederates) were only a couple of minutes away from attacking Fort Washington,” Wingert said, which could have marked a Battle of Harrisburg instead of Gettysburg’s famous fight.

Harrisburg also played a notable part in the Underground Railroad, a network that helped slaves escape from the South, Wingert noted. President Abraham Lincoln was no stranger to Harrisburg, either. In 1861, the president-elect was welcomed with a citywide celebration. In 1865, Lincoln’s funeral train stopped in Harrisburg, as well, and his body lay in state at the Capitol building.

Civil War Days kicks off on Friday, June 17, with “Breakfast with Mr. Lincoln” at the Hilton Harrisburg, followed by a historic Harrisburg bus tour, a bus tour of historic Civil War sites on the West Shore and a Civil War narrative cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna.

Friday also offers Civil War dance demonstrations, a Civil War social at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, a Civil War artist and author gathering, and the re-enactor encampment at the National Civil War Museum.

Several panel presentations take place on Saturday, including “Harrisburg’s Black Community,” “Camp Curtin,” “Lee’s Second Invasion of Pennsylvania” and “Abolitionist John Brown—PA and Harrisburg Connections.” A historic Harrisburg walking tour also is available on Saturday, and the re-enactor encampment continues at the museum.

On Sunday, June 19, a Civil War commemorative church service will feature Negro spirituals and other songs of the era, and the re-enactor encampment concludes. A Civil War tour of the historic Harrisburg Cemetery also is available that day.

David Morrison, acting executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association, hopes that the weekend will help people not only understand Civil War-era Harrisburg, but modern-day Harrisburg, as well.

“If people have a stronger understanding of Harrisburg’s history, it leads to a greater understanding of what makes this town tick,” he said.

Civil War Days takes place June 17 to 19 at locations throughout the Harrisburg area. Many events are open to the public at no cost, but some require advance registration and a small fee. More information is available on Facebook: Civil War Days in Harrisburg.

The Right Chord: “Guitar” shares the story, the beauty of the beloved stringed instrument.

May 31, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

Maybe you’re the next Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix.

Or maybe you don’t know an A-chord from an acorn.

No matter. All are invited to rush the stage at “Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World,” an exhibit devoted to one of the world’s most popular instruments. Opening this month, the Whitaker Center lineup features more than 60 rare and famous guitars, and more than 100 historical guitar artifacts.

“Find out how guitars are made, listen to the wide range of guitar musical styles and discover the science and technology of vibrating strings and amplifiers,”said Steve Bishop, Whitaker Center’s vice president of science and cinema programs. “Plus, play a 43-foot-long guitar!”

This guitar—the world’s largest functional guitar—spans the length of the floor, weighs 2,000 pounds and only plays in a low frequency. Using six hands, you and your friends can bang out the opening chord of the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night.”

Like the rest of Whitaker Center, the exhibit is hands-on. If you can’t play a guitar of any size, don’t fret. You can strum, jam, pick, pluck, shred or even play air guitar. And no one will be checking to see if you have enough giant ‘80s hair when you give the whammy bar a try.

Rock Out

The guitar has played an important role in the history of music.

It’s a portable instrument that, centuries ago, allowed strolling minstrels to accompany their storytelling as they travelled about. In more recent years, it’s proven to be highly versatile for changing musical tastes, perfect for everything from simple, three-chord folk songs to complex classical compositions. It’s an instrument both of the street and the conservatory.

The exhibit delves into all aspects of the guitar, complete with explanations on pitch, tone, electromagnetism and amplification. If you wish, you can view the guitars as works of art or as a history lesson or as a technical marvel—or all of the above. One of the displays even features a cross-section of a guitar, all of its inner workings on display to show how the selection of different materials and strings creates distinct styles of guitars and distinct sounds.

One part of the exhibit shows a guitar being made using a 3D printer. 3D technology “prints” a guitar from a stored schematic drawing. Think of an old dot-matrix printer. Each time the print head zoomed across the page, it laid a layer of ink down until the typeface was complete. In 3D printing, the print head lays down a micro-thin layer of material, usually metal or plastic, until the object is fully formed.

“Guitar” has something for your inner showman, too. To inspire the Metallica in you, one display features an instrument that throws flames every time you strike a chord. The level of flame matches the noise level. Much less fiery, but still fun, is the soundstage for the kids to rock out.

Follow the Tour

“Guitar” is the touring exhibit of The National Guitar Museum, a nomadic collection that, much like those who play the instrument, travels from city to city.

HP Newquist, a former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine, established the museum in 2009 after a friend saw guitars hanging on the walls of his house and commented that it looked like a museum. After some research, Newquist realized such a museum didn’t exist, so he decided to create one.

“Nothing told the history of the single most popular instrument in the world,” Newquist said. “In all its various incarnations, even to this day, past generations look to the guitar as a defining instrument.”

The museum takes its mission seriously. There is no permanent museum for its collection, at least not yet. Newquist hopes to find a home by 2020. Until then, the exhibit strings along from town to town, so fans must follow the tour.

“Whitaker Center represents a fusion of science and the arts,” said Bishop. “The ‘Guitar’ exhibit fits us perfectly for guests of all ages.”

“Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World” runs June 4 through Sept. 4 on the lower level of Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. Whitaker Center members can see the exhibit for free all summer as part of their member benefits. Entry to the exhibit is included with general admission for non-members.

Staying Put: In Harrisburg, seniors increasingly decide to “age in place.”

May 31, 2016 | by Bob Bunty

Joe and Carol Vezendy’s new bathroom.

In America, getting older has long meant moving.

Moving to Florida. Moving to a retirement community. Moving out of state to live with your kids.

But what if you don’t want to leave your home and community? What if you don’t want to abandon your social network, your city, your lifetime of friends?

Count Harrisburg-area residents among the growing number of Americans nationwide giving serious thought to those questions and taking steps to “age in place.”

What exactly does that mean? According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “aging in place” is defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level.”

For Joe and Carol Vezendy of Lower Paxton Township, it means all of that and more.

“Joe and I were looking for those things we thought you needed in a home when you get older and need to take care of someone, which is often part of aging in place,” said Carol, who, like Joe, was a caregiver for a spouse lost to illness. “We were both married and decided to stay in my house and make it our house.”

According to an American Association of Retired Persons/Harvard University study, the United States faces a critical shortage of affordable housing for its 50-plus population, which will grow to 133 million by 2030—a 70 percent jump since 2000.

The study notes that only 1 percent of all housing stock in the country has recommended universal design features, such as a step-free entry, multiple countertop heights, wide doorways, lever faucets and a curbless shower with a handheld, adjustable showerhead.

About 10,000 people will turn 65 each day for the next 15 years, says the study, and almost 90 percent of them will want to remain in their homes as they get older. So, the issue of where—and how—to spend one’s senior years will only grow in importance.

More Prepared
Jim Mirando Jr., for one, wants to help people adapt their living environments as they age.

Mirando is president of Lemoyne-based Excel Interior Concepts & Construction, which is finding a growing business from baby boomers who wish to stay where they are.

“The idea of aging in place is definitely a trend, stemming from the aging of baby boomers who are getting to the age where they are thinking more about their health and wanting to stay healthy,” said Mirando, who is certified as an Aging-In-Place Specialist by the National Association of Home Builders.

Founded in 1970 by his father, Jim Mirando Sr., Excel began as a home developer, but has, over time, developed an expertise as a remodeler.

“We like to help make homeowners feel more assured that whatever comes in their future, they will be more prepared,” said Mirando Jr. “For others, it’s more about loving where they live, wanting to stay there, and making it nicer for them to live there.”

The Vezendys contracted with Excel for their remodel. Work on the master bathroom began in mid-October 2014. It included removal of a bathtub and small shower, replacing it with a large, walk-in shower with a safety base bench seat, safety grab bar and handheld shower wand fixture.

“We didn’t want it to look like a handicapped bathroom, and it does not at all,” Carol said. “It’s a very pretty bathroom, with storage, a higher sink and higher toilet, which is the trend today. Had we not gone through our own experience, I don’t know if I would have thought about those things.”

Where You Belong
Aging in place doesn’t necessarily entail a home remodel. It also can mean downsizing, but staying within your community.

That’s what Bob Hostetter did when he moved into Riverview Manor, a condominium building at Front and Harris streets in Midtown Harrisburg. For 18 years, he lived in a charming house in the historic Shipoke neighborhood, but, as he got older, found that it was becoming too much for him.

“I love Shipoke,” Hostetter said. “It absolutely broke my heart to have to leave it.”

A combination of ongoing maintenance and the need to traverse steep steps leading to the second story of his Colonial-era townhome eventually took their toll. So, two years ago, he moved about two miles up Front Street, to a sixth-floor condo unit where—just like in his Shipoke house—he enjoys breathtaking views of the Susquehanna River every day.

“I am so privileged to have sweeping view of the river,” he said. “So many people see it as something they need to get across and don’t see it as magnificent, beautiful and living, which I do.”

Besides the view, Hostetter, who will be 79 in July, has an architecturally pleasing living space, complete with a refurbished bathroom and a new, walk-in shower, all contained on one level.

Most importantly, he has remained a part of his community, where he is very involved, including as an active member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg.

“A very real part of one’s decision of where to live is determining what degree do aesthetics—and other overarching factors like people and sense of community—play in deciding to stay here, versus moving to Florida,” he said. “I know so many people and am known by so many people. And that’s important to me and to other people who have invested a great deal in the community where they live—to enhance it and strengthen it.”

As part of his commitment to the community, Hostetter used to open his Shipoke house whenever the neighborhood was featured in Harrisburg Young Professionals’ annual home tour. He now has done the same thing at his new home, letting people tour his condo during Historic Harrisburg Association’s Candlelight House Tour last December.

Through this, he hopes to show the diversity of housing options in Harrisburg and how wonderful living in an urban setting can be.

“Hundreds of people came up to see it,” said Hostetter. “There are so many extenuating factors that go into making a very complete and comfortable decision about where to stay, but, to me, it’s where you feel you belong.”

To learn more about “aging in place,” visit AARP at www.aarp.org or Excel Interior Concepts & Construction at www.excelremodeling.com.

Safety Zone: Safe Families PLUS matches mentors with youth in foster care.

May 31, 2016 | by Olivia Cunningham

George Clements and Stephen Range

George Clements and Stephen Range may seem like an unlikely pair.

Clements is a 71-year-old ex-military retiree and Range is a 23-year-old student with dreams of being a basketball coach. Over the past few years, however, the two have become like father and son.

Clements and Range were brought together by the Safe Families PLUS program, an initiative of Bethany Christian Services. The program pairs young people between the ages of 16 and 21 who are aging out of foster care in Dauphin or Lancaster county with older adults who serve as mentors, providing support and helping them adjust to adulthood.

Range first met Clements through Angel Elicker, outreach coordinator of Safe Families PLUS. Elicker facilitates every aspect of the mentorship—from matching the youth and adults to monitoring the relationship from a distance.

Their relationship was tenuous at first. Range needed time to trust Clements, and Clements and his wife and two daughters had to patiently encourage him.

“He wasn’t very trusting,” Clements explained. “Not that he was dishonest, but just that he’d had such a bad go with life, it was hard for him to trust people.”

Gradually—very gradually—that changed.

“We got relatively close in a standoffish way, because, like I said, that trust thing kept coming up,” Clements said. “We got pretty comfortable, and then he would disappear, and I wouldn’t hear from him for two or three weeks, and then he’d pop back up and text me.”

Life Skills

Since the inception of Safe Families PLUS by Regional Director Mark Unger in 2010, more than 55 young people have been referred to the program.

Five mentor-mentee teams, Elicker said, have been successfully “discharged” and are now in the 18-month tracking period that Bethany implements.

“It definitely has its challenges,” she said. “It’s frustrating when the kids don’t want to even give it a try, or, when they’re starting to build that relationship, they end the relationship instead of really trying to invest some time and energy into it. You have to know, though, coming in, that it’s a tough population, given their life experiences.”

Elicker believes that Safe Families PLUS (the “PLUS” stands for “Providing Lasting Unconditional Support”) is effective because it fills a gap in services. As children age out of the foster care system, they often have a lack of adult support, and this is the only program she knows of that provides needed services.

“These youth have had a lot of losses,” she said. “They’ve gone through relationships that have been disrupted, and so, because of that, they don’t really have the necessary support system to help them learn life skills.”

The youth are more likely to be homeless, incarcerated, or, in the case of the girls, pregnant at a very young age, Elicker said.

“They just have a lot of harder challenges—that’s a tough age to begin with,” she said. “Then you add, you know, having experienced abuse and/or neglect, being moved around a lot, not having that support system. So needless to say, it’s very hard for them.”

Anyone over the age of 24 who can pass the necessary background check is eligible to be a mentor, regardless of their other interests or qualifications.

“We are looking for a wide range of different people, because it’s going to take different people to mentor different youth,” Elicker said.

There for You

For Range and Clements, most aspects of their relationship are everyday activities—getting dinner, watching a football game together.

When Range’s car broke down, he called Clements to pick him up. Currently, Range is pursuing a degree in physical education and working six days a week, so his communication with Clements mostly takes place via text message.

While Clements doesn’t like texting, he says that it works best for Range.

“I completely understand where he’s coming from,” he said.

Over the past two years, Range has become the son that Clements never had. His two daughters “look at him as a brother” and ask about him regularly.

“I’ve got three sets of parents,” Range said cheerfully. “I’m fine with that.”

Bethany Christian Services, headquartered in Michigan, provides a variety of other social services, including domestic and international adoption (it is the largest adoption agency in the United States) and pro-life pregnancy counseling.

As Safe Families PLUS continues to grow (an expansion to York County is planned), Elicker is focused on finding more mentors and on fundraising, including events last month with both the Harrisburg Senators and Lancaster Barnstormers.

“We’re also working on, Stephen is joining me, in creating a community impact team,” she said. “We’re really looking to bring in a wide range of people. First, they should have a passion for these youth and a commitment to serving them, but also a wide range of skillsets to help us grow this program.”

In spite of their hesitant start, Clements and Range are both glad that they committed to Safe Families PLUS and foresee a lifelong relationship.

“This is whenever you need a person, or need that family, they’re there for you,” Range said. “They’re there to listen or to contact or whatever.”

To learn more about Bethany Christian Services and Safe Families PLUS, visit www.bethany.org.

Seeds of Success: Master gardeners help turn all-thumbs to green thumbs.

May 31, 2016 | by Don Helin

Each year, you plant some flowers, maybe a tomato plant or two.

That makes you a gardener, right?

Sure, but probably one who still has a lot to learn. That’s where a master gardener steps in.

Master gardeners help to inform and educate average folks about gardening practices, said Annette MaCoy, Penn State Extension coordinator who oversees the Master Gardener program in Pennsylvania. The concept began in 1972 in Seattle and since has spread around the country.

“An extension agent was inundated each spring with requests from home gardeners,” she explained. “It was his idea to train volunteers and utilize their knowledge and skills to assist him in answering those questions.”

In Pennsylvania, 63 counties have Master Gardener programs, totaling more than 3,000 volunteers. Locally, the program began in 1988 in Cumberland County and in 2006 in Perry County, where there are currently 14 active master gardeners.

This month, you can see the fruits of their labors at the 2016 Country Garden & Art Tour, which includes a tour of gardens cultivated by Perry County master gardeners, paired with art from the Perry County Council of the Arts.

Perfect Place
A master gardener is not your garden-variety gardener.

“The program is only for those avid gardeners who are willing to make a long-term commitment to volunteer service,” said MaCoy. “Not all applicants are accepted.”

The process begins with a written application, a test of general gardening knowledge and a personal interview. Those accepted into the program must attend a minimum of 40 hours of training by expert horticulturists.

In the first year following training, aspiring master gardeners are required to complete at least 50 hours of volunteer service at approved activities and demonstration gardens. If all requirements are completed, the trainee becomes a certified Penn State Master Gardener. Each year thereafter, master gardeners must contribute a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service and obtain at least 10 hours of approved continuing education.

This month’s Country Garden & Art Tour will be the perfect place to see the work of the masters as they show off their personal gardens—and even to meet a few.

There will be six gardens on the tour, including native plant, perennial, vegetable, flower and fruit gardens. The Perry County Extension Demonstration Garden in New Bloomfield also will be open to spread knowledge about herbs, pollinator plants and native perennials. Master gardener docents will be available at each stop for tours and to answer questions about plant varieties and best practices.

To make the tour extra special, PCCA artists will set up at each location, demonstrating their art or craft—painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry making, fiber arts and fine woodworking.

Best Practices
Susan Smith is one of Perry County’s master gardeners and has become a leader in the local farming community.

“I became a member of the Master Gardener program in 2006, having been involved in farming and gardening without any formal training for decades,” she said. “Starting that first year, our small group set up free workshops on a variety of subjects, including soil evaluation, composting and starting and cultivating seeds.”

Smith appreciated the education that the Penn State Extension program provided during her training.

“What I really enjoy is the extensive sharing of information and best practices between master gardeners, as well as discussions around building successful programs,” she said.

Examples of these programs include “How to Extend the Growing Season with Low Tunnels,” “Learning about Invasive Plants” and “Native Bees and Pollinator Habitat.”

“We can also obtain update training by the Internet, so I don’t have to travel to hear programs,” she said.

Are you interested in becoming a master gardener? If so, the basic training will be held in our region beginning in August. Applications for the Cumberland and Perry County program are being accepted through June 16. For more information or to receive an application form and basic training information, contact MaCoy at [email protected] or call 717-240-6500.

GOING THERE

The Country Garden and Art Tour will be held on Sunday, June 12, from 1 to 6 p.m. The tour book is $10 in advance or $12 on the day of the tour.

Tickets may be purchased at a number of places including Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses, Butcher’s Farm Market in Newport, the Cooperative Extension Office in Carlisle, Dauphin or New Bloomfield, Espresso Yourself Café in Newport, the Perry County Council of the Arts Gallery in Newport and the Rosemary House and Gardens in Mechanicsburg.

For more information about the tour, visit www.extension.psu.edu/perry or www.perrycountyarts.org or call 717-582-5150.

Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His second, “Devil’s Den,” was published in 2012. His third, “Secret Assault,” was selected as the best suspense/thriller at the 2015 Indie Book Awards. His most recent thriller, “Angel’s Revenge,” was recently published. Contact Don at www.donhelin.com.

Uncertain Decision: Millions more, yet a new federal courthouse seems as distant as ever.

May 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

There’s an old joke that goes something like this.

A woman goes on vacation and asks her niece to take care of her beloved cat. Shortly afterwards, the cat escapes out the door, is hit by a car and dies. The distraught girl doesn’t know how to break this news without ruining her aunt’s long-awaited trip.

“Here’s what you do,” says a friend. “When she calls you, tell her the cat’s on the roof, and you can’t get it down. So, when you finally break the bad news to her, she’ll be prepared for it.”

She follows this advice, each day telling her aunt that she still can’t get the cat off the roof. By the fourth phone call, she says that the cat fell off the roof and died, and, indeed, the aunt does take it better than expected.

“Oh well,” the aunt says. “Please take the body to the vet and have him send me the bill.”

Before hanging up, she adds, “Oh, by the way, how’s grandma doing?”

The girl pauses a minute, then says, “Grandma’s on the roof, and we can’t get her down.”

This rather dark joke popped into my head recently after I called around trying to find out what—exactly—was happening with the proposed federal courthouse in Harrisburg.

I began making calls after the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recommended that the project receive an additional $29.5 million for more studies and preparation work.

In the press, Sen. Bob Casey Jr., Rep. Lou Barletta and Mayor Eric Papenfuse all praised the funding, and most media dutifully reported that the money was the next step forward in the long-delayed effort to build a new courthouse at N. 6^th and Reily streets.

But was it?

Something kept bothering me, and that something started with wording contained in GSA’s recently released 2016 courthouse plan that discussed the Harrisburg project. Under the headline, “Feasibility Study for Potential Future Project,” the agency states, “GSA will undertake a feasibility study to determine the best housing solution, appropriate future funding request amount and the project schedule.”

Potential future project? Feasibility study? Best housing solution?

Hadn’t all that been settled ages ago?

In 2010, after a search of many years and many locations, the federal government selected a vast grass-and-asphalt site at N. 6^th and Reily streets. It bought the land, cleared it of a few old buildings and designed a 265,000-square-foot courthouse priced at around $161 million.

So, what was left to study and decide?

I posed this question to the major players in this extended saga: GSA, the U.S. Courts and Harrisburg’s congressional delegation. I asked them, specifically—what is to be studied; what is to be decided; and is the government considering alternatives to what everyone around here considers to be a done deal?

No one gave me straight answers to my very clear questions. However, in their vague responses, they each included at least the possibility of other options than a new courthouse at 6^th and Reily.

Said the GSA: “Over the past decade, the U.S. Courts have changed their approach to space planning in order to reduce government real estate costs. As a result of this effort, GSA and the Courts will be working together to update their space requirements for Harrisburg, PA.”

Barletta went further, raising the specter that the plan may change considerably, including constructing an annex to the existing courthouse.

“The judiciary and GSA are still determining the best course of action, which could involve a new courthouse or an annex to the existing facility,” said a statement from his office.

Of the major players, only the spokesman for U.S. Courts, Charles Hall, would have an actual conversation with me as I tried to find out what exactly would be studied and if a change of direction were possible.

The upshot from our chat—a feasibility study doesn’t necessarily indicate a new course—but it could.

He, like the others, praised the $29.5 million funding (in addition to the already $26 million spent on the project) as an important step because it kept the Harrisburg project “alive.” But, beyond that, he couldn’t make any promises, saying that, sometimes, things change.

To emphasize that point, he cited the eight courthouse projects currently in line ahead of Harrisburg, all of which, in the current funding round, would receive enough money for construction. Three of those, he said, were scaled back over the years from new courthouses to courthouse annexes.

“It’s fair to say that, for all the courthouse projects right now, there is an imperative to make them as cost-efficient as possible,” he said. “As a result, things that might have been in the original plan, all of the specifics are being re-examined now to see how we can reduce the cost of these.”

To be clear—the U.S. Courts and the GSA would like a new courthouse at 6^th and Reily. However, they’re subject to the desires, whims and spending restrictions of some future Congress.

In the meantime, they’re focused not on Harrisburg, but on getting the current Congress to sign off on the eight courthouses and annexes that are fully funded, projects that will occupy them for years. After that, who really knows?

Hall did mention that, with nearly $56 million committed to the project, something likely would be built in Harrisburg at some point. But exactly when or where or in what form, he couldn’t say.

Hanging up the phone, I had an uneasy feeling. I felt discomfort as a taxpayer who hates to see his money flushed, as a resident who cares about this city, as someone who has stared longingly at a big, empty field for six years already. I felt that I was being subtly warned that bad news could be ahead and explicitly told that, if anything is built, it will be years away still.

And then I thought—the Harrisburg courthouse is on the roof, and we can’t get it down.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Happenings: Our June Calendar of Events

May 31, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Museums & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
Facebook: 3^rd Street Studio

“Zack Rudy Solo Exhibition,” featuring illustrations and printmaking, through June 20.

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

“Checker Car Club of America” free car corral, June 25.

“Early Off-Roaders,” through Oct. 15.

“Mods vs. Rockers,” motorcycles and scooters, through Oct. 29.

“Steampunk U,” showcasing recycled gears and parts, repurposed with artistic and functional form, June 10-Nov. 6.

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

“88th Annual International Juried Exhibition,” through June 23.

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

“Anatomy of the Engine,” featuring the paintings and drawings of Casey Halls, through June 11.

Char’s at Tracy Mansion
1829 N Front St., Harrisburg
717-213-4002; charsrestaurant.com

“Works in Steel” by Salvatore Pantano, a graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, through June.

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

Artist of the Month: Traci Sepkovic

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-233-2498; galleryatsecond.com

Works by Frederick D. Swarr and Michele Taber, through June 11.

Artwork by Ralph Hocker and Sue Marrazzo, June 16-Aug. 5; reception: June 17, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Landis Legacy: Mary M. Landis,” a celebration of the life, legacy and community contributions of Mary Landis, PCCA’s benefactor of Landis House, through Aug. 6.

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

“Illustrations and Paintings by Meghan Morrison,” through June; reception: June 17, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Now Trending: Witness Me,” a solo show by Reina Wooden, through June 17.

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

“KA-POW!” a group show of cartoons and comic art, through June 24.

“Malaise,” a solo exhibition highlighting the works of Maude Marrowbone, June 3-Aug. 1; reception: June 3, 6-11 p.m.

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

“The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls,” the story of a man born into slavery, who later rose to the U.S. Congress, through June.

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

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

“The Hidden Works of Jay N. ‘Ding’ Darling,” featuring personal works of the pioneering conservationist and cartoonist, through June 18.

“Patrick Gnan Pencil Drawings and Acrylic Paintings,” through June 25.

“Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition,” June 27-Aug. 27.

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

“Duets,” an exhibition of artwork featuring 10 pairs of collaborating artists, through June 4.

“Work in Progress,” highlighting the work of Savannah College of Art and Design student Emily Keniston, June 10-Aug. 6; reception: June 10, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“Working Together for Wildlife: Three Decades of Pennsylvania’s Nature in Art,” through Sept. 11.

“We’re Here: Pioneering LGBT Rights in Pennsylvania,” through Oct. 30.

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

“The City,” juried exhibition,” through Aug. 11.

“The Luminous River,” works by John Pfahl, June 10-Sept. 18; members’ preview: June 9, 5-7 p.m.

“Recasting Nature: Selected Sculptures by Beth Galston,” June 10-Sept. 18; members’ preview: June 9, 5-7 p.m.

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

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

WITF – Atrium Gallery
4801 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg
717-704-3000; witf.org

“Seeing These Walls Differently Together,” a group show of artists from Sprocket Mural Works, through mid-June.

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

Works by Taylor Kerns, through June 12
Artwork by Becky Jones and Diana Robinson, June 14 to July 10.

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

“Monstourage,” an exhibit by Rance Shepstone, May 20-June 16.
The Huckle Buckle Boys: “Retrospectivus Hiatus,” June 17-July 14.

Read, Make, Learn

Bucks Valley Winery & Vineyards
333 Meadow Grove Rd., Newport
717-204-7508; bucksvalleywinery.com

June 19: Glass Painting, 1-3:30 p.m.

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

June 8: “Vegetarian Grilling on the Deck,” 6-9 p.m.
June 17: “Father’s Day Grilling on the Deck,” 6:30-9:30 p.m.
June 22: “South of the Border,” 6-9 p.m.

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

June 3: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
June 4: Storytime and Music Therapy, 3:30 p.m.
June 6, 20: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
June 7: Curl Up With the Classics—“Silas Marner,” 1 p.m.
June 7: Coloring for Grown-Ups, 7 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Master Gardener Plant Clinics, 6 p.m.
June 10: Foreign Film Friday—“Gett,” 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
June 13, 20, 27: Drop In Summer Storytime, 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
June 13: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
June 14: Teen Artists’ Meet-up, 7 p.m.
June 14: Getting Started with Hatha Yoga, 7 p.m.
June 15, 16: Summer LEGO Fun Days, 10:30 a.m.
June 17: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
June 17, 18: Safe Sitter Workshop, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
June 21: Teen Tie Dye DIY, 6 p.m.
June 21: Fredricksen Reads, 7 p.m.
June 25: Cookbook Club—100 Days of Real Food, 1 p.m.

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

June 9-July 28: Improv Level 1
June 11-July 2: Summer Kidprov
June 29-July 20: Summer Kidprov

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

June 9: Cooking Grains & Beans the Right Way, 6-8 p.m.
June 23: Balanced Plate Class, 6-8 p.m.

Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center
251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg
717-232-2700; meditationpa.org

June 18: “Rx for a Happy Life,” 1-4 p.m.

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

June 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Weekly Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
June 9: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
June 21: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.

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

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
June 3, 10, 24: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
June 4: Health and Wellness Meet-up, 10 a.m.
June 4: Music Together, 11 a.m.
June 4, 18: Local Author Saturday, 2 p.m.
June 4: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
June 7: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
June 9, 16: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
June 11: Story time with Lisa, 11 a.m.
June 14, 28: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
June 14: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
June 15: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
June 17: Coffee Tasting with Café Staff, 12 p.m.
June 17: Tea Tasting w/Café Staff, 2 p.m.
June 19: Midtown Writer’s Group, 1 p.m.
June 19: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
June 26: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.
June 27: Feminism Book Club, 7 p.m.
June 28: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.

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

June 10, 25: “Letting Go!” Paint Night, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

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

June 12: Free Beginner Yoga Class, 10-11 a.m.

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

June 4: Free Drop-in Art Class for Kids, 1-4 p.m.
June 11: “A Novel Idea” writing workshop, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

June 5: “Beginner’s Yoga and Walk,” 10-11:30 a.m.
June 8: “Stress Relief Walk,” 6-7:30 p.m.
June 10: “Early Morning Bird Walk,” 7:30-9:30 a.m.
June 11: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
June 11-Oct. 15: “Fundamentals of Digital Photography,” 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 12: “Flower Walk: Peak of Blooming,” 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 14-16: “Nature Explorers Day Camp,” 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 18: “Saturday Morning Bird Walk,” 8-10 a.m.
June 22: “Educator Workshop: Susquehanna Watershed Tour,” 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

June 3: Who’s Bad: Michael Jackson Tribute Band
June 5: Jennifer Nettles
June 6: Jackson Brown
June 8: Lynyrd Skynyrd & Peter Frampton
June 10: Gary Allan
June 12: Johnny Mathis
June 13: Mary Chapin Carpenter
June 18: Summer Doo Wop Cavalcade
June 24: Happy Together Tour

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

June 10: Dirty Dozen Brass Band
June 17: Hackensaw Boys
June 21: The Toasters
June 24: The Stray Birds & Evie Ladin Band

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

June 1: Deborah Anderson
June 2, 18, 29: Jessica Perla
June 3, 24: Ted Ansel
June 4, 21: Corinna Joy
June 7: Daniel Sheehan
June 8, 10, 17: Noel Gevers
June 9, 12, 23, 26: Anthony Haubert
June 11, 22, 25: Roy Lefever
June 14: Christine Purcell
June 15: Marc Lubbers
June 28: Maria Battista
June 30: Chris Emkey

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

June 3: Surf’s Up!: A Tribute to the Beach Boys

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

June 17: Stefon Harris & Steve Wilson

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

June 2: Against Me!
June 4: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
June 10: Tragedy: A Metal Tribute to the BeeGees
June 11: She Pulled the Trigger, Ashes of our Sin, Tomorrow Awaits
June 18: Eve 6
June 22: Waxahatchee
June 28: Delta Rae

Char’s at Tracy Mansion
1829 N Front St., Harrisburg
717-213-4002; charsrestaurant.com

June 3: Lil’ Brother
June 10: Mark Huber Duo
June 17: Bernie Stevenson Duo
June 24: Dave Wilson Trio

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

June 3: Antonio Andrade
June 4: Seasons
June 5: Crimson
June 10: Something Else
June 11: Dan Zukowski
June 12: Joe Cooney
June 17: Jim Haas
June 18: Doug Morris
June 19: Kara Chante
June 24: Sivart Lee
June 25: Kevin Kline
June 26: Dominick Cicco

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

June 9: Trinidad & Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra

Grain + Verse Bottlehouse
148 Sheraton Dr., New Cumberland
717-317-3044; grainandverse.com

June 23: Josh Dominick

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

June 3: First Friday w/Vetour Productions, J Soul, Afrobass
June 5: Felicia Renae
June 9: Time Sawyer & Mike McMonagle
June 10: Shine Delphi
June 11: J and the 9s
June 12: Arc & Stones
June 16: The Ellameno Beat
June 17: The Dirty Chakras
June 18: Mother Moses
June 24: The Jayplayers, Vulcans, Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart
June 25: Peter Asher & Albert Lee
Every Monday: Barcrawler Karaoke
Every Tuesday: Open Mic

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

June 30: Lebanon Valley College Quad

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

June 3: Uptown
June 4: Sapphire
June 10: The Luv Gods
June 11: Save the City
June 17: Into the Spin
June 18: Shadows of the 60s, Funktion
June 24: Platform Soul
June 25: Smooth Like Clyde

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

June 5: Summer Concert at Peace Church

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

June 3: Steve Wilkins
June 10: Aly Darwish Quartet
June 17: Apes of the State, Rivers
June 24: Ben & Joe

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

June 4: Hotel California—A Salute to The Eagles
June 25: The Raleigh Ringers

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

June 18: Shine Delphi
June 23: Prairie Empire

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

June 5: Kyle Marler
June 17: Kosi
June 25: Freddy & Francine

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

June 4: Ryan Moran
June 7: Corinna Joy
June 11: Funktion Quartet
June 14: Kevin Cole of Mountain Road
June 18: Troubadour Light
June 21: Dave Kelly
June 25: Don Johnson Trio
June 28: Shine Delphi

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

June 3: Silver Junction
June 10: Nate Myers
June 17: Havana Blue
June 24: New Direction

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

June 11: Colebrook Road
June 25: River City Big Band

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

June 1: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
June 1: River City Pinball League
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Open Electric Jam
June 3: Bushmaster w/Gary Brown
June 4: Paul Bratcher Trio
June 5: La Playa
June 10: People’s Open Jam
June 11: Music & Wine Jam w/Jackie Scott & the Housewreckers
June 15: Open Showcase w/Shawan Rice
June 17: Nate Myers & the Aces
June 18: La Playa Saturday Nights
June 19: Singer’s Lounge
June 20: River City Big Band
June 22: Don Johnson Open Jam
June 25: Lovers of Music
June 27: CPFJ Jazz Jam

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

June 2: Carly Clark

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

June 3: The Coalishun
June 4: Music Thru Science Lite
June 10: Maria Wilson
June 11: Visitors Duo
June 17: US2 Duo
June 18: Up Pops the Devil
June 24: A Perfect Storm
June 25: TBA

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

June 3: Jazz in the City
June 3: Brass Monkeys: Beastie Boys Tribute (Strand Offstage)
June 5: York County Honors Choirs
June 25: Sean Reilly presents Sinatra 101

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

June 4: Gary Brown
June 11: Hemlock Hollow
June 18: Nate Myers & The Aces
June 25: Jeff Calvin

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

June 11, 12: “French Café” summer concert

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

June 19: Indigo Girls

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

June 10: Rivers
June 17: Dan Jamison
June 24: Indian Summer Jars

The Stage Door

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

June 30-July 3: “Anything Goes”

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

Through June 19: “Million Dollar Quartet”
June 24-Aug. 6: “Mary Poppins”

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

June 3-18: Free Shakespeare in the Park: “The Merry Wives of Windsor” (Harrisburg Shakespeare Co.)
June 8-18: “Wonder Tales from Around the World” (Popcorn Hat Players)

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

June 3, 5: Level 1 Class Show
June 10: Brainwave Aftershave
June 24: Reptile Dysfunction/TBA
June 26: Magic Fairy Monkey Pirates

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

June 5: Chris Hardwick

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

June 10: Lancaster Improv Players
June 17: Comedy Night

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

June 10-26: “Sondheim on Sondheim”

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

Through June 12: “The Burning Man”

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

June 16-26: “The 39 Steps”

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

June 4: Imani Edu-Tainers African Dance Company
June 9-18: “Hamlet” w/The People’s Shakespeare Project

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

June 15-18: “Four Days of Spectacular Ballet” (Central PA Youth Ballet)
June 25: “60th Celebration Performance” (Central PA Youth Ballet)

York Little Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-5715; ylt.org

June 17-26: “The King and I”

May News Digest

May 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Local Tax Raised
People soon will pay more to work in Harrisburg, as City Council has tripled the local services tax.

By a 5-1 margin, council voted to hike the LST from $1 to $3 per week. Only Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels opposed the measure.

Tax withholding will begin on July 1. However, for 2016, workers will actually pay $5 per week to make up for lost revenue back to the effective date of Jan. 1.

People who work in Harrisburg now will pay a local tax of $156 a year if they earn more than $24,500. Commuters vastly outnumber resident workers in Harrisburg, so the majority of income raised from the tax will come from people who live outside the city.

The LST hike coincided with several other tweaks to Harrisburg’s financial recovery plan. Most notably, the amended plan suggests that the city could consider adopting a Home Rule charter, which would give it more taxing options once it exits the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed cities. However, council would have to pass another ordinance before initiating the Home Rule process.

Treasurer Resigns
Harrisburg will need to find another new treasurer, as Tyrell Spradley resigned last month after just 18 months in office.

City Council now must determine how to replace Spradley. For past vacancies, council members interviewed applicants, nominated their preferred candidates and chose among the finalists.

The treasurer’s office has been a revolving door since September 2014, when elected Treasurer John Campbell resigned after being charged with stealing money from two nonprofit groups. Two months later, Spradley was appointed, but only after council’s first choice withdrew his name from contention. Spradley was elected in his own right last year.

City treasurer is a part-time position that pays $20,000 per year. Deputy Treasurer Celia Spicher runs the office on a day-to-day basis.

New Archives Building
A new state Archives building soon will take shape on long-empty land along the 6^th Street corridor, the state announced.

The building will occupy a three-acre site along N. 6th Street flanked by Harris and Hamilton streets. The $24 million project will occupy almost three complete city blocks, with half of the site backing to N. 7th Street.

Design is expected to begin soon, followed by a two-year construction phase that should be completed in 2019, said Howard Pollman, director of external affairs for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The commission has been searching for a site for a new building for several years, as the Archives’ current home—a 20-story tower built in the mid-1960s at the Capitol complex—is bursting from more than 450 million documents.

“The building we have here is full,” Pollman said. “We also have issues with environmental concerns.”

The commission will retain and repurpose the tower, perhaps for collection storage, said Pollman.

Reed Counts Dismissed
A judge last month dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, saying the alleged crimes occurred too long ago.

The alleged acts, pertaining to Reed’s tenure as mayor, were outside the statute of limitations, according to presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess.

Hess let stand another 144 counts, mostly pertaining to allegations that Reed stole and kept city-funded artifacts. The state last year confiscated many historical artifacts from Reed’s home and at a nearby storage site, but the former mayor said they legally belonged to him.

The attorney general’s office could appeal the ruling.

Restaurant, Shops for Strawberry Square
A new restaurant and a new gift shop soon will open in downtown Harrisburg, among a flurry of business activity in Strawberry Square.

A 60-seat eatery is slated to open in early fall near the 3rd Street entrance in a long-empty space once occupied by a bank branch. It’s the latest concept of restaurateur Juan Garcia, who owns El Sol and La Noche. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will offer a variety of salads, soups, wraps and other healthy options, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

Inside the Square, Harristown has signed a replacement for Strawberry Patch, the Hallmark store that shut down in January after 35 years in business. By July, owner Shekhar Shah will open Strawberry Gifts, a 4,000-square-foot Hallmark store in the same space as the previous shop, said Jones.

In other retail news, AMMA JO, a fashion and lifestyle boutique, is expanding into space directly next to her original location, said owner Amma Johnson. Johnson will take another 1,200 square feet, extending her product line, as well.

Another specialty retailer, Ideas and Objects, is making an adjustment. Jones said that the long-time retailer will relocate from an interior location to 11 N. 3rd St., a smaller space with street access.

DeHart Deal Approved
The Capital Region Water board of directors has unanimously approved an agreement to conserve its 8,200-acre DeHart property in partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Fort Indiantown Gap.

DeHart, located in northern Dauphin County, is the primary source of drinking water for Capital Region Water’s 60,000-plus customers. The property includes the 5-mile long, 6-billion gallon DeHart Reservoir and 7,500 acres of forestland.

Under the agreement, Capital Region Water will receive approximately $9 million through the Fort Indiantown Gap Army Compatible Use Buffer program to grant a conservation easement restricting development on the property. Capital Region Water will continue to own and manage the property.

Incumbents Victorious
Harrisburg-area officeholders beat back party challengers during the recent primary election.

State Rep. Patty Kim defeated challenger Richard Soto by a wide margin for the Democratic nomination for the 103^rd legislative district. She is unopposed in the general election in November.

In the 104^th district, incumbent Republican Sue Helm topped challenger Nate Curtis. She’ll face Democrat Jody Rebarchak in the general.

In the 15^th Senate district, incumbent Sen. Rob Teplitz easily topped challenger Alvin Q. Taylor. In the general election, he’ll face developer John DiSanto, who narrowly beat Andrew Lewis in the Republican primary.

Home Sales Climb
Homes sales in the Harrisburg area rose substantially in April compared to the year-ago period.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors reported that April sales totaled 739 units in April, compared to 653 units in April 2015 in its region, which includes all of Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median price dipped a bit, from $163,000 to $160,000, though the average days on the market fell substantially, from 99 to 83 days.

County-by-county statistics reflected similar trends, with unit sales up substantially and average time on the market down.

So Noted

Aangan Express opened for business last month at 263 Reily St. in Midtown Harrisburg. The restaurant, located directly across the street from Midtown Cinema, is a second location for Aangan Indian Restaurant of Susquehanna Township.

Better Homes and Gardens Capital Area cut the ribbon last month at its location at 500 N. Progress Ave. The company offers a range of real estate services for the Harrisburg region.

Dalicia Bakery opened its doors last month at 1419 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Owner Samra Alic and her daughter, Ajla, run the bakery, which offers breads, sandwiches and Little Amps coffee, in addition to cakes and other sweet treats.

Eastern University and the Papenfuse administration announced a partnership last month to provide tuition breaks to Harrisburg city workers and their families. Employees will receive a 25-percent discount as well as some free professional development training.

Fasta & Ravioli Co. had a “pasta cutting” last month to open its elaborate new stand in the brick building of the Broad Street Market. To celebrate, owner Bob Ricketts gave away 1,000 pounds of pasta to customers.

Harrisburg Mall last month announced the arrival this summer of two new restaurants. Kondu, serving quick-style Asian cuisine, will take a spot next to 2^nd & Charles, while burger-and-fries franchise Checkers will open in the food court.

Mel’s Rock N’BBQ moved into a permanent home in the Broad Street Market last month. Mel’s had been in a pop-up stand for several months before building out a permanent spot in the stone building.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2525: R. Medellin to T. Brandon, $64,000

Briggs St., 235: J. Bradley to JLS Rentals LLC, $66,000

Calder St., 254: C. Elder to C. Baxter, $93,900

Derry St., 1221: N&R Group LLC & Touch of Color to 101 S. 17^th Street LLC, $250,000

Derry St., 2615: P. Nalewak to S. Mejia, $38,000

Duke St., 2436: A. Miller to D. Moran & M. Everetts, $56,000

Fulton St., 1410: C. Platkin to N. Richardson, $95,000

Fulton St., 1707: J. & C. Thomason to C. Hutchinson, $102,000

Green St., 1610: M. & S. Noorbaksh to A. Calvano, $118,000

Green St., 1619: D. Healey Sr. to M. & L. Stednitz, $101,200

Harris St., 220: E. Brown to D. Grossman, $49,000

Harris Terr., 2483: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to H. Nguyen, $35,000

Herr St., 267: B. Moehler to R. Joseph, $140,000

Hoerner St., 135: J. Gable to Green Property Management LLC, $49,900

Hoffman St., 3012: J. Dearing to D. Gule, $99,900

Logan St., 1712: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to PA Deals LLC, $72,250

Market St., 1913: Fulton Bank NA to Slatehouse Group LLC, $52,000

Market St., 2501A: J. Langley to A. Buglione, $55,000

Mercer St., 2468: PA Deals LLC to MidAtlantic IRA LLC & C. Hampton, $61,900

North St., 274: Mid Penn Bank to A. Gonzalez & L. Galvis, $240,000

N. 2^nd St., 1007: J. & M. Solomon to C. & E. Bryce, $195,000

N. 3^rd St., 1404 and 1409 & 1411 Susquehanna St.: Volunteers of America to Zecharya International Inc., $50,000

N. 3^rd St., 2331: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to F. Laoukili & M. Mtere, $32,000

N. 4^th St., 1623: GWD Capitol Heights LP to T. Menta, $109,900

N. 4^th St., 2715: J. Gilmore to K. Hilborn, $90,000

N. 5^th St., 1821: C. Mitchell & J. Jackson to Home for the Friendless, $71,500

N. 6^th St., 1408: PA Deals LLC to D. Sharma & N. Aggarwal, $103,250

N. 6^th St., 2508, 2512 & 2516: JRH Anthony Partnership & Mr. Handyman of Lincoln Park to Harrisburg Housing Authority, $230,000

N. 13^th St., 142: V. Trong to J. Forsyth LLC, $30,000

N. 17^th St., 1000: S. Osibodu to D. Robinson, $75,000

Park St., 1923: S&H Investment Group LLC to Diamond Mined LLC, $45,000

Penn St., 1801: C. Touma to M. McCann, $112,000

Penn St., 1820: PA Deal LLC to D. Kapil, $122,000

Penn St., 1915: A. Mills to J. Bankard, $136,000

Rudy Rd., 1914: J. Charlton to M. Thach, $66,000

Rumson Dr., 2990: M. Salerno to R. Gonzalez & M. Cabrera, $50,000

S. 16^th St., 1047: W. & E. Turns to W. Zawadski, $50,000

S. 18^th St., 1319: New Island Properties LLC to K. Shemory, $80,000

S. 19^th St., 24: J. Forsyth LLC to B. Zimmerman, $40,500

S. 25^th St., 442: P. Bauer to R. Weese, $94,900

S. Cameron St., 912: Camp Hill Cleaners & Mark Cleaners to New Vision Management, $100,000

S. Front St., 707: D. & G. Dowen to A. Patton, $180,000

State St., 1606: Mid Penn Bank to R. Covington & T. Pean, $35,000

Susquehanna St., 1336: Metro Bank to Frog Hollow Associates LLC, $77,500

Verbeke St., 316: Kidder Wilkes LP to Silver Stone Enterprises LLC, $52,400

Wallace St., 1637 & 1639: J. Shurns to Buonarroti Trust, $118,170

Walnut St., 108, 110 & 112: Vast Holding LLC to E. Etzweiler, $225,000

Run for Your Life

May 26, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Fab Four.

The Papenfuse administration had a little fun the other day.

The mayor, city engineer, city planner and budget director channeled their inner Beatle, posing on one of the new crosswalks along Front Street, mimicking perhaps the most famous road crossing this side of the chicken—the day that John, Paul, George and Ringo traversed Abbey Road for an album cover.

It was a publicity stunt, for sure, but Mayor Eric Papenfuse stressed the importance of the occasion, saying that, with the new crosswalks, busy Front Street was now a little safer for pedestrians to cross.

“State law mandates that cars yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk,” he said.

That may be, but will it make any real difference in the dangerous game of Frogger that residents play each day trying to cross over to Riverfront Park? Not much, I fear.

Now, I fully support the state’s recent improvements to the street. The conversion from three to two lanes has, in my view, made the street safer for motorists, particularly as the wide shoulder has allowed cars to enter the street and turn more safely. Front Street is also far more aesthetically appealing than before, and the change hasn’t much affected the flow of traffic.

But, from my office window overlooking Front Street, have I noticed traffic slowing down closer to the 35-mile-per-hour limit? No. And the new, bright white crosswalks, while welcome, have just become just another mark on the pavement for cars to zip across.

Yesterday, to its credit, the city erected two temporary signs in Riverfront Park warning motorists to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. This type of public education is vital since few drivers seem to know their responsibility under the law. However, it’s hardly enough. If PennDOT is serious about pedestrian safety, it must go beyond painting some white lines on the road and must take additional measures to calm traffic along the two-mile stretch from Division to Forster streets.

These methods are well known to traffic engineers, but may include everything from raised pedestrian crossings to permanent signage to a new stoplight or two. Many cities have had success combining several methods, such as changing the surface material at crossings and installing flexible signs within the intersection. The state, in fact, already employs some of these methods around the Capitol complex.

Moreover, I long have advocated for more (or even some) enforcement of traffic laws along Front Street. Police could pick off motorists all day for excessive speeding (over 50, 60 mph easily), reckless driving and illegal turns. Just yesterday, I saw a driver wait for a gap in traffic, then purposely turn the wrong way up Front Street from the driveway of an apartment building because he wanted to enter a side street half a block up, in the other direction. And it wasn’t the first time I’d seen that.

On Monday, I knew the mayor and his cabinet officials had arrived for the photo op because a city police car had parked near the intersection where it was to take place. When the time came for the picture, an officer waited for a small break in traffic, then cautiously waded into the road to stop the next rush of cars. She then held up traffic for a minute so the photo could be taken.

“Without her, the city would have four fewer officials today,” I joked to city engineer Wayne Martin.

And, even with the new crosswalks, that about sums up the state of pedestrian safety along Front Street. If the state is truly interested in making the road easier to cross, it must implement additional safety measures, which, as a happy byproduct, would further integrate the street and the park with the city.

This story was modified to indicate that the city installed the temporary signage.

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