Spradley Resigns as Harrisburg Treasurer

May 17, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Treasurer Tyrell Spradley as he took the oath of office last January.

Harrisburg will need to find another new treasurer, as Tyrell Spradley today announced his resignation after 18 months on the job.

In a letter to City Council President Wanda Williams, Spradley said that he would leave effective Friday.

“It is with great gratitude, and a little bit of sorrow, that I resign as City Treasurer of Harrisburg, effective May 20, 2016,” Spradley wrote.

Spradley’s letter states that he will go onto other opportunities in the public sector. He could not be reached immediately for comment.

City Council now will need to appoint a new treasurer, its third in less than two years.

The revolving door began in September 2014, when elected Treasurer John Campbell resigned in wake of theft allegations against him. He since pled guilty to charges involving taking money from several organizations, though not from the city.

Two months later, Spradley was appointed, but only after city council’s first choice withdrew his name from contention. He then was elected in his own right last year, narrowly besting primary opponent Brian Ostella.

Council now will need to accept applications for the city treasurer post. In the past, council members interviewed each applicant, nominated their preferred candidates and chose among the finalists.

Ostella declined to comment whether he would apply for the job.

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.

Judge Dismisses 300+ Counts Against Long-Time Mayor Steve Reed

May 16, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed speaks last July after announcement of charges against him.

A judge today dismissed 305 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 committed beyond the statute of limitations, according to presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess.

In his decision, Hess said that counts needed to have been brought against Reed either two or five years following the alleged offenses, depending on the allegation.

The offenses alleged by the attorney general took place between September 2003 and January 2010. Reed was charged in July 2015, about six months after the deadline for the latest-possible counts.

The dismissed counts include some of the most serious claims against the former mayor, including bribery and corruption allegations.

Hess also said that a law that extends the statute of limitations to 13 years for public officials did not apply in this case, since prosecution would have needed to start within five years of Reed leaving office. He left in January 2010 after serving as Harrisburg mayor for 28 years.

Hess let stand another 144 counts, mostly pertaining to allegations that Reed stole and kept city-bought artifacts. The state last year confiscated numerous historical artifacts found in Reed’s home and at a nearby storage site, but the former mayor has insisted that they legally belong to him.

“Whether the evidence as ultimately presented will support convictions for theft by receiving stolen property is for a jury to determine,” Hess wrote.

Reed had an ambition of building a series of museums in Harrisburg, including a “Museum of the Old West,” spending millions of dollars of public money to buy artifacts for them. Many of the artifacts taken from Reed’s home and storage facility were western in nature, including statues, clothing, saddles and Indian headdresses.

Last July, Attorney General Kathleen Kane charged Reed with 499 criminal counts covering 17 separate felony and misdemeanor charges. Several counts were later dropped or combined, so that about one-quarter now remain from the original grand jury presentment.

The attorney general’s office has the option of appealing Hess’ ruling.

New Restaurant, Shops for Strawberry Square

May 3, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

New businesses are about to move into 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.

The 60-seat Fresa Café is slated to open in early fall near the 3rd Street entrance in a long-empty space once occupied by a bank branch.

Fresa Café is the latest concept of restaurateur Juan Garcia, who owns El Sol and La Noche, both up the block on S. 3^rd Street. 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. Shah is familiar with Strawberry Square, as he also runs Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the food court.

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. Later this month, Johnson will take another 1,200 square feet, extending her product line, as well. Johnson just opened her Strawberry Square location in December, but cites strong demand for needing additional space.

Another specialty retailer, Ideas and Objects, also is making an adjustment. Jones said that the long-time retailer will relocate from an interior location to 11 N. 3^rd St., a smaller space with street access. That move should be completed by mid-June, he said.

Meanwhile, Harristown is completing the conversion of a part of Strawberry Square to upscale apartments. The 22-unit Flats at Strawberry Square should be opened in late July, and Harristown already is accepting rental applications, said Jones.

Up the street, Harristown is continuing work on 29 apartments and renovated commercial space. Former office space at 18 to 22 S. 3^rd St. is being converted to 15 one-bedroom apartments and being renamed Fifteen@Twenty-Two or F@tt. Across the street, adjacent townhouses at 19 to 27 S. 3^rd St. are being renovated as 14 pet-friendly apartments with lower-level commercial space. That complex will be called SoMa on Third.

“Things are looking very positive in the downtown,” said Jones. “We’re excited at the progress.”

Holding Cost

April 29, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

The very expensive, very empty federal courthouse site at 6th and Reily streets in Harrisburg.

How much would you pay for a piece of empty land in Harrisburg?

Not much, I’m sure.

Most plots here don’t cost much, and a few Uptown and on Allison Hill have even sold recently at tax sale for a few hundred bucks. In many areas of Harrisburg, you can get one with an actual house on it for $20,000 or $30,000.

A quadruple lot, with an old building on it, just sold in the heart of Midtown’s commercial district for $50,000.

Then there’s the radical exception.

There’s a large chunk of land—you may be familiar with it—with a ever-escalating price that now stands at around $55 million. It’s where someday, maybe, a new federal courthouse for Harrisburg will stand.

To clarify–only a portion of the first round of $26 million in federal funds was used to acquire and clear the land at N. 6^th and Reily streets. Some was used for other purposes, such as for studies and design. The U.S. General Services Administration now is asking congressional approval for another $29.5 million.

This amount, though, still won’t yield an actual building, but just more study. So, if Congress approves the use, $55 million will be spent without raising a single board, without driving in a single nail, for a building that, best case, is five to 10 years away from judge and jury.

To put this into some perspective, Pennsylvania just announced a new state Archives building of a similar size, occupying about the same amount of land, directly across the street from the courthouse site. The total cost: $24 million, meaning an entire government building will be built for less than half the price that the feds plan to spend on studies, preparation and land.

I admit this is an imprecise comparison. The courthouse has certain needs, such as for security, which raise the cost of the project, even in the design phase. The Archives, though, has its own exacting criteria that make it more expensive to plan and construct than your average office building.

Recently, I visited the courthouse site, a grassy expanse with an imposing sign, now several years old, announcing the project. Squirrels scampered about, and, looking around the site, I could see traffic and a few blighted buildings and more emptiness beyond.

At one time, rowhouses, corner stores and bars lined these blocks, serving a working-class community of hard-living railroad men and their families. After the buildings fell apart and were razed, much of the land was used for parking, as well as for a fast food restaurant that later became a drop-off point for donations to the Bethesda Mission across the street.

What a strange fate, I thought. Fifty-five million dollars could buy some of the grandest palaces in the world, from the Hollywood Hills to Paris. But, apparently, it’s also the price of a grassy field, bees picking at the dandelions, birds pecking the ground, of a hard-luck corner on a busy street across from a gas station and a homeless shelter in Harrisburg, Pa.

Community Corner: Notable May Events

April 29, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Bike Harrisburg
May 1-29: For National Bike Month, Bike Harrisburg will host a series of events, including the Seersucker & Lace Benefit Bicycle Ride (May 15), a Capitol Rally (May 16), Ghost Bikes at the Capitol (May 18) and International Ride of Silence (May 18). For a complete schedule, visit bikeharrisburg.org.

Night of UnWINEding
May 2: Enjoy happy hour with the YWCA Junior Board at Spring Gate Vineyard, 5790 Devonshire Rd., Harrisburg, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Bid on themed gift baskets and taste the vineyard’s wines. Proceeds benefit YWCA’s Camp Reily. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Visit ywcahbg.org.

Leads Over Lunch
May 3: Mix and mingle with business leaders at this free lunch hosted by Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC at Buffalo Wild Wings, 4600 Jonestown Rd., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Heart Healthy Shopping
May 4: PinnacleHealth will host “Heart Healthy Grocery Shopping Tour” at the Giant Food Store, 2300 Linglestown Rd., at 6 p.m. Discover heart-healthy groceries and comparison shop for nutritional content and value per dollar. Visit pinnaclehealth.org.

Cinco de Mayo Mixer
May 5: West Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold its 8th Annual Cinco de Mayo Regional Mixer at the Conference Center at Shippensburg University, 500 Newburg Rd., 5 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy food, drinks, networking and free admission. Visit wschamber.org.

Art of Tröegs
May 5: Grain + Verse Bottlehouse, 148 Sheraton Dr., New Cumberland, will host Art of Tröegs Tap Takeover, 6:30 p.m. Make art and drink Tröegs brews. Get creative with coloring books and colored pencils and participate in a group art piece. Visit grainandverse.com.

National Public Gardens Day
May 6: Head to Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, for National Public Gardens Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy half-priced admission with a voucher available on the Hershey Gardens website. For more details, visit HersheyGardens.org.

Londonderry’s 5k and Fun Run
May 7: Londonderry School will host a 5K and Fun Run, its annual spring fundraiser. The 5K will start and finish on City Island in Harrisburg. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the race starts at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Visit thelondonderryschool.org.

Flower Barrel Planting
May 7: Friends of Midtown will replant barrels throughout Midtown and replace damaged ones from 9 to 11 a.m. Volunteers will start the day at N. 3rd and Verbeke streets. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Mother’s Day Flowers
May 7: Kids ages 5 to 13 can create a flowering container for mom with Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County at the Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A parent or guardian must be present. The $10 fee covers the cost of supplies. Visit extension.psu.edu/cumberland.

Book Fundraiser
May 7: Eugenio M. Albano will host a book fundraiser at The Cornerstone Coffeehouse, 2133 Market St., Camp Hill, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a portion of the book sales benefitting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. For more details, visit thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com.

HBG Flea
May 7: The HBG Flea first outdoor market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on N. 3^rd Street between Herr and Cumberland streets. Enjoy local art among vendors, food trucks, music and more. For more details, visit hbgflea.com.

Circle School Spring Gala
May 7: The Circle School, 210 Oakleigh Ave., Harrisburg, will host its annual Spring Gala from 12 to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Enjoy student entertainment, refreshments, a silent auction and a basket raffle. For more details, visit CircleSchool.org.

Multicultural Parade and Festival
May 7: YWCA of Greater Harrisburg will host the 14th Annual South Allison Hill Multicultural Parade and Festival, kicking off at 1 p.m. at the Heart of the Community Garden at Derry and Kittatinny streets. Visit ywcahbg.org for more details.

Tea and Conversation
May 7: The Historical Society of Dauphin County will host an afternoon tea at 2:30 p.m. in the Victorian parlor of the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. Tickets are $20 and $15 for Historical Society members. Call 717-233-3462 or email [email protected].

Rail Transit in Action
May 10: Harrisburg Chapter National Railway Historical Society will host “Rail Transit in Action,” an illustrated talk with Bob Vogel at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m., with a meal available as early as 5 p.m. Call 717-439-9744 or email [email protected].

Midtown Cleanup
May 10: Friends of Midtown will hold a #2MinTue Cleanup, starting at Green and Maclay streets, 6:15 p.m. The group will collect trash around the Olde Uptown neighborhood, weather permitting. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Human Resources Seminar
May 12: SMC Business Councils will host “Key Human Resource Obstacles for Small Business: Human Resources for Non-Human Resource Professionals” from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott Harrisburg West. Visit smc.org for more details.

Soils Workshop
May 12: Penn State Extension will offer a soils workshop at the Penn State Extension Cumberland County office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The registration fee is $60 and includes lunch, a soil test kit and a textbook. Visit extension.psu.edu.

Midtown May Market
May 14: Friends of Midtown will host a Midtown community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A waffle brunch will be held at Second City Church, 251 Verbeke St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Volunteer Work Day
May 14: Lend a hand at Wildwood Park to help with continued park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. To reduce plastic usage, the park asks that volunteers bring a water bottle. Visit wildwoodpark.org.

Odd Ones Bizarre
May 14: The Odd Ones Bizarre will be held at The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate spring with 26 crafters, artists and creators who will sell their handcrafted wares along with the 31 resident artists. Visit millworksharrisburg.com.

Pint .5K
May 14: Rotary Club of Harrisburg Keystone’s 4th Annual Pint .5K Endurance Challenge will begin at Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St. at 2 p.m. Cost is $15 before May 6, $20 afterwards. For more details, visit rotarypoint5k.org.

Firkin Funday
May 15: Art and beer join together as Sprocket MuralWorks unveils new concepts and Zeroday Brewing Co. taps a new firkin to support the project. Vote on your favorite concept and listen to great music. Firkin Funday starts at 3 p.m. at Zeroday, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

Networking Mixer
May 17: Join the West Shore Chamber and other local business professionals at the May networking mixer, 5 to 7 p.m., at Myers-Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory, Mechanicsburg. The event is free and open to chamber members. Visit wschamber.org.

Business After Hours
May 19: Mingle with business professionals at Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event at Keystone Technical Institute, 2301 Academy Dr., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Camp Reily Open House
May 19: Join the YWCA Greater Harrisburg for an open house at Camp Reily, 300 Camp Reily Rd., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy free camp food and refreshments, kids’ activities, information on Camp Reily and music by Shawan and The Wonton. Visit ywcahbg.org.

North Korea Program
May 19: Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg will host Frank Plantan, co-director of the International Relations Program at the University of Pennsylvania, in a talk about North Korea at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. Dinner precedes at 6:30 p.m. Visit fpa-harrisburg.org.

3rd in The Burg
May 20: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.

St. Stephen’s Benefit
May 20: St. Stephen’s Episcopal School will host “Foundation,” an evening with premier restaurants, coffee roasters, breweries, world class wines and silent and live auctions, at WITF Atrium, 4801 Lindle Rd., 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 and $30 for St. Stephen’s families and cathedral members. For more details, call Denise Paran at 717-238-8590.

Simpson Library ComiCon
May 21: Joseph T. Simpson Public Library will host its second annual free, family-friendly ComiCon at the First Church of God Community Center, 201 E. Green St., Mechanicsburg, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org.

Women’s Day Service
May 22: Capital Presbyterian Women will celebrate Women’s Day during morning worship service at Capital Presbyterian Church, 1401 Cumberland St., Harrisburg, 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be Harrisburg Councilwoman and church Elder Destini Hodges. A reception will follow. Call 717-236-2332 with any questions.

Local Lunch
May 22: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, which will be held at note. Bistro and Winebar, 1530 N. 2nd St., 12 to 2 p.m. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Business Women’s Forum
May 25: The Carlisle Area and West Shore Chambers of Commerce will host the Business Women’s Forum at High Center at Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The daylong conference is designed to create opportunities for women to network and build leadership skills. Visit wschamber.org.

Preservation Celebration
May 26: The Historic Harrisburg Association will host its annual Preservation Celebration and Toast at John Harris/Simon Cameron Mansion, 5 p.m. The event will include a silent auction and a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. Visit historicharrisburg.com.

49th Annual Artsfest
May 28-30: The 49th annual Artsfest takes place in Riverfront Park. The free event features more than 250 juried artists and craftsmen in a variety of mediums from across the United States and Canada. The festival also features live music, Kidsfest and FilmFest. Visit www.jumpstreet.org/events/artsfest.

Happenings: Our May Calendar of Events

April 29, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Zack Rudy solo exhibition,” featuring illustrations and printmaking, May 13-June 20; reception: May 13, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Early Off-Roaders,” May 21-Oct. 15.

“Pinstriping & Automotive Art” by HotRod Jen, through May 31.

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

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

“5 Artist Invitational,” with Claire Giblin, Aron Johnston, M. Tinnin Portwood, Paul Saberin and Gene Suchma, through May 12.

“88th Annual International Juried Exhibition,” May 20-June 23; reception: May 21, 6-9 p.m.

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

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

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

“The Tree Project” one tree photographed by Bill Bonney over 10 years, with eight colorful images in different seasons and weather conditions, through May 31.

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

Artist of the Month: Aron Johnston

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

“Works by Frederick D. Swarr and Michele Taber,” May 5-June 11; reception: May 20; 6-9 p.m.

The Hershey Story Museum
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

“Chocolate Workers Wanted,” life in Hershey’s chocolate factory from 1905 to 1925, through spring 2016.

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

“Interior,” an exploration of physical, emotional, sculptural and pictorial aspects of interior space through sculptures and paintings by Brian and Naomi Menkis, through May 7.

“Landis Legacy: Mary M. Landis,” a celebration of the life, legacy and community contributions of Mary Landis, May 13-Aug. 6; reception: May 13, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“Printmaking works by Andrew Sedgwick Guth,” May 1 to May 31; reception: May 20, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Obsession,” featuring the artwork of Jeremiah Johnson, through May 28.

“KA-POW!,” a group show of cartoons and comic art, May 6-June 24, reception: May 6, 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 2016.

“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.

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.

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

“Student Honors Show 2,” through May 6.

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

“National History Day in Pennsylvania,” highlighting a year-long classroom program that engages students in hands-on historical research and exploration based on the 2016 theme “Exploration, Encounter & Exchange,” through May 1.

“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,” May 13-Aug. 11.

“New Light: The Pennsylvania Impressionists, Highlights from the Woodmere Art Museum Collection,” through May 22.

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, May 12-mid-June; reception, May 12, 5-7 p.m.

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

Works by Ann Yeager Lawson, through May 18

Art by Grace Bevelheimer, May 19 to June ; reception, May 20, 5-8 p.m.

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

“Monstourage,” an exhibit by Rance Shepstone, May 20 to June 16.

Read, Make, Learn

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

May 20: “Magic of the Mediterranean,” 6:30-9:30 p.m.
May 25: “Shrimp It Up,” 6-9 p.m.

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

May 2: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
May 3: Curl Up With the Classics—“Anne of Green Gables,” 1 p.m.
May 6: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
May 9: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
May 10: Teen Artists’ Meet-up, 7 p.m.
May 13: Foreign Film Friday—“Gett,” 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
May 17: Fredricksen Reads, 7 p.m.
May 17: “Gardening with Nature: Mosquitoes and Ticks in PA,” 7 p.m.
May 18: Adventure Crafts, 4:30 p.m.
May 19: Kids and Companions Book Club, 6:30 p.m.
May 20: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
May 26: Drop-in Storytime, 7 p.m.
May 29: Comics Creator Workshop, 2 p.m.
May 31: Master Gardener Plant Clinics, 6 p.m.

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

May 15: “Film Makin’ Soup for the Independent Soul”
May 22: “Why So Serious?” dramatic improv workshop

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

May 5: Sugar Cravings and Root Vegetables, 6-8 p.m.
May 19: Diet for Strong Bones and Inflammation Reduction, 6-8:30 p.m.
May 24: Healthy Fats Keep You Moving, 6-8 p.m.

The Hershey Story
63 West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

May 1-31: Chocolate Lab Classes
May 1-31: Tastings—Chocolate from Around the World

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

May 21: “Improving Relationships Through Meditation,” 1-4 p.m.

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

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 p.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
May 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21, 29: Weekly Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
May 12: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
May 17: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.

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

May 3, 17: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
May 3: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
May 4, 11, 18, 25: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
May 5, 12, 19, 26: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
May 6, 13, 27: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
May 7: Health and Wellness Meet-up, 10 a.m.
May 7: Bright Hawk’s Storytime, 11 a.m.
May 7: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
May 8: Conversation with God Book Club, 1 p.m.
May 10: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
May 12, 19: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
May 14: Story Time w/Lisa, 11 a.m.
May 14: Local Author Saturday, 2 p.m.
May 15: Midtown Writer’s Group, 1 p.m.
May 15: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
May 18: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
May 20: Coffee Tasting with Café Staff, 12 p.m.
May 20: Tea Tasting w/Café Staff, 2 p.m.
May 21: Storytime and Book Release w/ Mrs. Marbles, 11 a.m.
May 23: Feminism Book Club, 7 p.m.
May 24: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.
May 29: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.

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

May 14: “Letting Go!” Paint Night, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
May 15: Wild Basketry, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
May 20-22: 3-Day Encaustic Workshop

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

May 8: Open House free class, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

May 7: Spring Bird Walk, 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 12: Colossal Fossils, 7 p.m.

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

May 7: Free Drop-in Art Class for Kids, 1-4 p.m.
May 14: A Novel Idea writing workshop, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 21: Introduction to Carving Soapstone, 6-8 p.m.

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

May 1: “Beginner’s Yoga and Walk,” 10-11:30 a.m.
May 4: “Bird Walk: Peak Migration,” 7:30-9:30 a.m.
May 8: “Flower Walk,” 1:30-3 p.m.
May 11: “Stress Relief Walk,” 6-7:30 p.m.
May 21: “Bird Walk: Songbirds,” 8-10 a.m.
May 21: “Leave No Trace” Boy Scout program, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
May 26: “The Mysteries of the Harrisburg State Hospital Grounds,” 6-8 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

May 6: The Lettermen
May 8: Foreigner
May 13: Gene Watson w/ Lacy J. Dalton & Bobby Bare

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

May 5: Hot Buttered Rum
May 6: Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
May 13: Adam Ezra Group
May 14: Dirty Sweet
May 7: Colebrook Road
May 27: Southern Culture on the Skids

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

May 3: Daniel Sheehan
May 4: Deborah Anderson
May 5, 12, 20: Corinna Joy
May 6, 12, 20: Noel Gevers
May 7: Ted Ansel
May 8, 26, 29: Anthony Haubert
May 10, 13, 28: Chris Emkey
May 11, 19: Jessica Perla
May 17, 21: Roy Lefever
May 18: TBA
May 24: Christine Purcell
May 25: Mark Lubbers
May 31: Maria Battista

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

May 7: Street Corner Symphony
May 14: Oak Ridge Boys

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

May 22: Steve Turre Quartet

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

May 4: Hellyeah
May 5: Texas Hippie Coalition
May 6: DMX
May 7: Sick Puppies
May 9: Avatar
May 10: Insane Clown Posse
May 13: Eagles of Death Metal
May 17: Sunflower Bean
May 19: Beartooth
May 22: Hollywood Undead
May 27: Minus the Bear

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

May 6: Antonio Andrade
May 7: Janie Womacj
May 8: Itsy & Jim
May 13: Crimson
May 14: Kevin Kline
May 15: Dan Zukowski
May 20: Jeanine & Friends
May 21: Doug Morris
May 22: Shawan and the Wonton
May 27: Jim Haas
May 28: Dominick Cicco
May 29: Kirk Wise

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

May 5: Rivers
May 12: Shine Delphi
May 19: Rhyne McCormick
May 26: Visitors Duo

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

May 7: “Chaps in Chaps” Spring Concert

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

May 6: First Friday w/Vetour Productions, J Soul, Afrobass
May 8: Jackson Howard
May 13: Psyday the 13th
May 14: Mock Suns, Flower Garden
May 19: Hey Guy
May 20: Kate Faust, Eskimo Wav
May 21: The Stonewall Vessels, The Mellowells, Kississippi
May 26: Denny Laine and Moody Blues
May 27: Kilmaine Saints
May 28: The April Skies
Every Monday: Barcrawler Karaoke
Every Tuesday: Open Mic

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

May 8: Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra
May 14-15: Masterworks 7

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

May 12: Tedeschi Trucks Band

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

May 6: Sapphire
May 7: No Bad Juju
May 13: Uptown Band
May 14: Luv Gods
May 20: Cruise Control
May 21: Hollywood Nights
May 21: Honeypump
May 27: Smooth Like Clyde
May 28: Up Next
May 29: D-Bo

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

May 7: A Tribute to American Music

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

May 20: Taylor George Moreland Beard

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

May 14: Sinatra Forever: Salute to Frank Sinatra

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

May 6-8: Rites of Spring Festival

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

May 6: Mama’s Broke
May 25: Animal House

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

May 1: United Voices of Praise
May 3: Musica Nova

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

May 6: Trio Agave
May 14: Manian Van Hacker

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

May 7: Shea & Swish
May 14: Tangello Blue
May 21: Joshua Krevsky
May 28: Darcie Miner

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

May 6: Back Rhodes
May 13: Don Hoffman Band
May 20: Bushmaster
May 27: Rhythm on Main

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

May 4: Stuart Malina & Friends

Palmyra Church of the Brethren
45 N. Chestnut St., Palmyra

May 22: Organist Shawn Gingrich

Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org

May 21-22: Plant a Tree of Peace concerts

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

May 4: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
May 4, 11, 18, 25: River City Pinball League
May 5, 12, 19, 26: Open Electric Jam
May 7: Don Johnson Project
May 9: Slippery Rock Jazz Ensemble
May 11: Blue Elephant Open Jam
May 14: Shawan and the Wonton
May 18: Open Showcase w/Shawan Rice
May 21: Soul Solution
May 22: “La Playa” Miami Fusion Dance Party
May 27: Miles Davis Birthday Celebration

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

May 6: Music Thru Science Lite
May 7: Up Pops the Devil
May 13: US2 Duo
May 14: Visitors Duo
May 20: Maria Wilson
May 21: Shea & Swish
May 27: Joshua Krevsky
May 28: Song Smith

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

May 18: Chris Isaak
May 21: York Symphony Orchestra
May 24: The Milk Carton Kids

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

May 14: Davey O.
May 21: TBA
May 28: The Christopher Dean Band

Susquehanna Chorale
susquehannachorale.org

May 6-7: “Sing Me to Heaven” Spring Concert

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
sfmsfolk.org

May 1: The Quebe Sisters
May 8: Jam
May 15: 30th Anniversary Birthday Bash
May 20-25: Bob Dylan Celebrations

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

May 1, 6: Lancaster British Brass
May 14: Broadway Our Way

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

May 20: Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes

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

May 1: Rivers
May 13: Shine Delphi Trio feat. Milly Raccoon
May 14: HIP450

The Stage Door

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

Through Oct. 8: Crooners

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

May 6-June 19: Million Dollar Quartet

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

May 11-26: “Robin Hood”
May 20: TMI Improv Troup Mainstage Show

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

May 20-22: “Jungle Book”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

May 4-7: World Series of Comedy
May 13-14: Raymond the Amish Comic
May 20-21: Paul Hooper
May 27-28: Big Al Goodwin

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

May 1: Level 3 Class Show
May 6, 13, 20, 27: Jam
May 6, 20: Harold Hour: Spank’d/Spacework
May 13: Harold Hour: Pop Vultures/TBA
May 27: An Indian Comedian: How Not to Fit In
May 29: Magic Fairy Pirate Monkeys (family-friendly improv)

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

May 1: Sundae Best Variety Show
May 29-30: “No Exit” (Narcisse Theatre Co.)

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

May 8: Lewis Black
May 22: Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards

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

May 13: Say What? Poetry Night

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

May 13-29: “Kitchen Witches”

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

May 15: Totem Pole Playhouse Awards
May 17: Fishtown Beer Runners
May 21: Kathleen Madigan

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

May 20: Comedy Night
May 21: Popcorn Hat Storytime

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

May 21: Pennsylvania Regional Ballet

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

Through May 1: “The Old Friends”

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

Through May 1: “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!”
May 27-June 12: “The Burning Man”

Rose Lehrman Arts Center
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

May 23: “The Second City”

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

May 14: Ballroom with a Twist

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

May 1-14: “Big Fish” (Theatre Harrisburg)

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

Through May 8: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

Suit Up, Muddy Up: The YMCA’s 2016 Race Series reaches for speed, makes a mess.

April 29, 2016 | by Ashleigh Pollart

Illustration by Aron Rook.

Feet pounding on pavement for 13.1 or 26.2 miles may not be for everyone.

For those in central PA who dread the presumed monotony of the traditional race, you may be pleased to hear that the East Shore YMCA has been adding options to its race schedule.

If army crawls and mud slides are your idea of a perfect weekend, you’ll celebrate when you hear that the YMCA’s MudMash is back for a second year with new obstacles, more mud and more memorable moments.

“The race world has changed a lot in the past five years,” said Tom Gifford, the race series director of the East Shore YMCA.

Gifford and his team of volunteers are on a mission to rebuild and rebrand their traditional race series. One of the goals is to make races that the whole family can participate in. The MudMash illustrates this approach—a combination of running, family fun, memorable moments and impact on the local community.

Getting Dirty

The Y’s annual race series actually steps off this month, with another non-traditional event—the Vinewinder, a four-mile run through the grounds of the Vineyard at Hershey. To balance out the universe, a beer-based run, the HopDash 5K, returns later in the year.

And, of course, there are perennial, traditional favorites like the Harrisburg Mile (July), the Harrisburg Half Marathon (which returns to September) and the Harrisburg Marathon (November).

But, this year, Gifford is especially juiced over the MudMash, which is also the only mud race in the immediate area. So, for the first time, mud-loving runners don’t have to travel long distances to get to the event location.

The race—about the length of a 5K—is one of the few of its kind not considered fiercely competitive. The first heat is perfect for MudMashers looking for a little competition, but the overall course is designed to be safe and accessible for many ages and athletic abilities.

Melody Matter and Jenn Chetaitis—dedicated runners turned dedicated MudMash committee members—said that helping to plan the race gave them a new perspective on the logistics necessary to execute a successful event.

The committee’s unique list of tasks included making the mud pit appropriate for the obstacle; making sure there wasn’t a backlog at obstacles; coordinating obstacles to avoid any younger participants feeling scared; and multiple trial runs, just to name a few.

Andrew Hildebrand has been volunteering for the YMCA for three years, dedicating more than 100 hours to prepping for the 2016 MudMash. Many of those hours have been in the woods bringing the committee’s imagination to life through new and revised obstacles. The greatest obstacle the committee had to face? Making the mud.

“The biggest challenge for this race so far has been water,” he said. “Because the race is on the side of a mountain, we can’t bring large water trucks in like most other races that are held in a field.”

The location also makes the MudMash unique. The race is held on land given to the YMCA by long-time donors Daniel and Barbara Witman Rogers. The mountainside woods make it the ideal place to prep and hold the MudMash, said Hildebrand.

“We dreamed up this course that we can put out on property that we own so we could build permanent obstacles that we can just refine every year and make it better,” he said.

What’s better this year compared with last year’s inaugural race?

Matter and Chetaitis mentioned the mud slide (they were so enthused telling me about it that I wanted to register), as well as the general point that participants can expect to be muddier this year than last.

Also, the 2016 event will host a 21-and-over “Happy Hour Heat” on Friday, June 17 at 7 p.m., complete with a build-a-bar truck quenching the thirst of muddy participants with Shock Top. The all-ages race, the “Saturday Scramble,” will be held the next day, June 18, with starts at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Friends, fun, mud, beer, a good cause and a slide. How could you not want to get a little dirty?

The Harrisburg MudMash takes place June 17 and 18. For more information and to register for this and other races, visit www.ymcarun.com.

Memory Lane: A great deal, a step into the past, at A. Lane Furniture

April 29, 2016 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Wendy Turns discovered A. Lane Furniture by “accident”—but made a very deliberate purchase.

“I liked what I saw,” Turns said, when, two years ago, she purchased a bedroom set for her daughter. “You can’t find that kind of furniture—so put together—anymore. It was probably from the ‘30s. What’s more, at $275, for hardwood furniture, it was a real steal.”

The furniture wasn’t the only thing about A. Lane that dated from the time of art deco and jazz. Established in 1926, A. Lane long has been a Harrisburg institution, offering furniture and other goods at affordable prices, said fourth-generation owner Eric Epstein.

Located on Market Street just off Cameron, A. Lane is a treasure hunt. In addition to sturdy furniture, you might find expensive china, a blender, a 1926 high-school yearbook or old Life magazines.

“We’re the one-stop shop if you need a new wardrobe, dining room suite, kitchen table or any basic furniture,” said Epstein.

Eccentric, Kind

A. Lane has always been a family affair. lt was founded by Abe Lane and then run by his daughter Rebecca.

Nephew Eugene Fievish, known as Gene, took over in 1964 and continued to run it until his death last fall.

“My uncle was also the last vestige of the East European Jewish merchants who once populated Market Street,” Epstein said.

Never married, Fievish was devoted to his business, getting up at 5 a.m., coming home late and attending auctions or estate sales five nights a week.

But he had two other passions: his family, with whom he lived his entire life, and his synagogue, Kesher Israel, said Epstein. It wasn’t unusual for Rabbi David Silver to show up at the store asking for help.

“But Uncle Gene was very shy and never wanted to be acknowledged for his philanthropy,” Epstein said. “He was eccentric but kind and gave people money if they needed it.”

Though Fievish also co-founded Lemoyne Sleeper, he became inseparable in the public’s mind from A. Lane. He was also known for never negotiating a price but always delivering free—within a 10-mile radius.

A determined Fievish steered the store through troubled times—natural disasters like Hurricane Agnes and Tropical Storm Lee, and man-made challenges, including a 1974 arson and relocation.

Toward the end of his life, he suffered from dementia and an infected leg, a by-product of undiagnosed cancer, according to Epstein.

“But though he was clearly in decline mentally, he went to work every day,” he said. “He was very stubborn and regimented.”

Personally, I was charmed by the store and fascinated with Fievish, who sold us a breakfront and bookcase when we moved to Harrisburg and then bought a dining room set from us when we moved away.

Selling Memories

Until taking over A. Lane, Epstein was better known as the founder of a nuclear energy watchdog group. But it’s really Clyde Ferguson, a 20-year veteran at A. Lane, who manages the store and is “the force behind it,” Epstein said.

“I took care of most of everything when Mr. Fievish was alive,” Ferguson said. “But there was no one like him. He was a very nice man, generous. He did a lot for people other people didn’t realize.”

Admittedly, the two clashed in one way. Fievish liked the store messy.

“When he was away, we’d try to straighten it out, but when he came back he’d put it back the way it was,” laughed Ferguson.

Epstein was “little more than a child” when he began to help out at A. Lane, making deliveries and cleaning up, to the degree permitted. By the time he was a teenager, though, he had made up his mind not to be involved in the business.

Now, after his uncle’s passing, Epstein’s commitment to the store has come back strong.

“I will try and run it as long as it’s financially practical,” he said. “The last five years were rough.”

But he and Ferguson have already made improvements. Formerly, the store had no website or fax machine; now, it has both. Epstein replaced the old rotary phone. A. Lane did no advertising before, but that too has changed.

Missing is the “bunch of old guys out front,” he said. The staff is leaner than it was, but the inventory is robust, and there’s an adjacent warehouse.

“The customers appreciate the changes,” Epstein said. “The store is less cluttered and more navigable. Items are organized by function.”

Challenges remain: being in a flood plain and having limited parking, among them.

On the other hand, there is family nearby. Stevie Pearlman, Epstein’s cousin, runs Atomic Warehouse, an antique and vintage store, next door.

And people’s sentimental connection with A. Lane is “overwhelming,” Epstein said. “So I’m pretty optimistic.”

It could be said that the furniture store is “selling memories.”

“People would come in and say they had bought an item at A. Lane 10 or 15 years ago, and when it’s time to downsize, they’ll sell it back to the store,” said Ferguson.

Thus, the legacy continues.

A. Lane Furniture is located at 1025 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-232-8612 or visit www.alanestore.com.

Craft Cuisine: Christian DeLutis leads a kitchen perfectly paired with Troegs’ beer artistry.

April 29, 2016 | by Rebecca Oken

Photo by Dani Fresh.

On Good Friday this past March, Troegs Independent Brewing in Hershey was bustling as families and friends embraced the beginning of spring.

The malty aroma of brewing beer filled the echoey tasting room and the modestly named “Snack Bar.” Despite its location in an old warehouse, Troegs has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a quality in which head chef Christian DeLutis takes pride.

“I feel like the room’s inviting,” he said. “It’s comfortable. It’s a place where you can sprawl out a little, even if it is busy.”

DeLutis, who is celebrating his fourth year at Troegs, grew up in Hummelstown in a big Italian family. Homemade food and wine were priorities and dining out was not.

“I didn’t have a good scope of what good food was outside of my grandmother’s cooking,” he said. “But I understood that food was important to bringing people together and happiness in life.”

Food Around Beer

DeLutis didn’t enter the profession right out of high school, as so many chefs do. He went to college in Pittsburgh with a goal of becoming an English teacher.

Meanwhile, he cooked for friends and worked in a restaurant, where he discovered his true passion for food. When a friend mentioned he should go to culinary school, DeLutis didn’t realize the option even existed.

He eventually enrolled at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh and, after finishing school, took an internship at the five-star Harbor Court Hotel in Baltimore, where he was immersed in every facet of the restaurant industry. The hotel was large and semi-corporate but still privately owned, a setting that appealed to him. Over the course of five years there, he “went from putting a tomato at 12 o’clock on a salad for 5,000 plates in a wedding to being executive chef.”

DeLutis stayed in the Baltimore-Washington area for a little more than a decade, working in fine dining and learning about wine and craft cocktails. He came back to central PA for what he thought would be a pit stop on the way to another big city, taking a job at the now-closed Brew 22 in West Hanover Township.

“That was my first real exposure to craft beer,” he said.

In the process, he became familiar with Troegs, which, at the time, was outgrowing its Paxton Street location in Harrisburg and planning a move to Hershey.

During a phone interview for a position in Philadelphia, he received another call from Delaware restaurateur Matt Haley, whom the Troegner brothers had hired to help develop a new dining concept for the Hershey brewery, which had opened with scant food options.

Sixteen interviews with Haley and four years later, DeLutis can say he knows a bit more about craft beer now.

“I look at our beers as ingredients,” he said. “I try to create food around it.”

While he and his team occasionally cook with beer, the main goal is to pair the brews with complementary and contrasting foods. For example, a hoppy IPA would go well with a ripe peach, a combination that was on DeLutis’s mind lately as he planned dishes for the spring menu.

“I don’t use ‘farm-to-table’ very often or preach that, but we just do that,” he said. “I kind of create these pantries for each season that we always refer back to. And not only are they ingredients-based, but they might be feelings-based or nostalgia-based.”

Core Values

DeLutis prioritizes food that is made from scratch and is seasonal, although popular dishes like the brown butter popcorn, soft pretzel and five tons of French fries per week have become year-round staples.

“I think the rest of our menu is kind of always being sketched about and things erased and things penciled in and—just always open for discussion really,” he said.

DeLutis’s dishes also fit the time constraints of the Snack Bar’s fast-casual style, but don’t limit quality or creativity. That was an adjustment from his slower-paced fine dining background. He shifted his thinking to paper boats instead of ceramic plates, fewer garnishes and letting the ingredients speak for themselves, leaving room, of course, for the beer to shine.

DeLutis also feeds off of the enthusiasm of customers, as well as the greater philosophy at Troegs.

“What we grow towards really is cultivated by what people have to say about who we are,” he said. “I think it’s important, but we also really have our core values.”

DeLutis, who doubles as the company’s food and beverage director, said he values communication among everyone, from his five sous chefs to the in-house baker and butcher to the marketing department—and, naturally, to Chris and John Troegner themselves. He has his hands in many aspects of the Troegs operation—he designed the kitchen with special ovens to accommodate the extra-tall bread loaves.

Weekdays are spent doing behind-the-scenes office work, but, when Friday night comes, he’s on the floor, whether that means in the kitchen, interacting with guests, cleaning tables or pouring beer—wherever he’s needed.

An open kitchen and a facility that is designed for roaming and observing remind customers that Troegs doesn’t take itself too seriously. DeLutis wants the experience to feel like one where everyone is invited, from the family looking for a casual meal to the beer snob whose brain he can pick.

“Cooking is truly when I’m the happiest,” he said. “I try to be here a lot because I’m happy to be here.”

Troegs Independent Brewing is located at 200 E. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey. For more information, visit www.troegs.com.

A Growing Family: The Conklins complete a transition from finance to farming.

April 29, 2016 | by Susan Ryder

Looking at the father/son team, with their muddied hoodies and worn work pants, one would never guess that, just two years ago, both men donned suits and ties and worked in corporate finance.

But here are Joseph Conklin and son Joe at the PA Farmers Open Air Market, standing beside veteran vendors hocking fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Last season was the first summer for the “two Joes,” the first time they presented themselves publicly as farmers.

The senior Conklin purchased the 1865 house and 65-acre Newville farm in 2004, with a thought of eventually working the land. Those plans accelerated when, after graduating from the College of New Jersey and beginning a career as a sales representative for a payroll company, Joe discovered that a financial career didn’t suit him. He described coming home from work and saying to his dad, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m done.”

After that, Joseph suggested they open the farm. Joe never considered a career in agriculture. So, to test the waters, he interned at a farm near Pittsburgh. It stuck. About that same time, Joseph’s employer offered him an early retirement, and Conklin Farms launched.

The Conklins didn’t just want to farm, though. They wanted to farm organically.

“God gave us this land, and we should treat it with the utmost respect, and we should not only leave it like we found it, but improve it for the next generation,” Joe said.

Their farm’s mantra reads, “Healthy soil, nutritious food, happy people.”

Twin Benefits

Organic farming is (ahem) a growing business. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales increased by $24 billion between 2004 and 2014. Joseph noted that this type of farming should allow his son to make a living long after his retirement.

But, mostly, the Conklins chose to farm organically for the twin benefits of a decreased carbon footprint and increased nutritional value. They grow a variety of vegetables—Asian greens, broccoli and sweet potatoes, to name a few—as well as some fruits like melons and strawberries on their 20 acres.

Produce picked at Conklin Farms is rinsed within an hour and placed in a refrigerated room in the barn, chilled to 40 degrees as quickly as possible. According to Joseph, the quicker the produce temperature decreases to 40 degrees, the better preserved it will be.

The Conklin farm also includes livestock such as chickens, turkeys and pigs.

On a recent spring day, the Conklins’ pigs greeted them enthusiastically as they walked toward the pen. The 200-pound-plus animals romped around like Labradors at the dog park and insisted on belly rubs and scratches. The pen is moved from place to place in the field to allow the pigs to eat bugs, worms or anything else they can root up and to provide manure for soil fertilization. The pigs are lean because of their movement, Joseph said, adding that one customer commented that they have athletic animals.

Organic farming does come with its share of headaches. The federal government has strict rules for organic farms, requiring attention to detail and plenty of spreadsheets. Fortunately, the men’s previous careers have prepared them for this. Joseph supplies the numbers end of the farm, and Joe supplies farming know-how and market knowledge.

“We complement each other,” Joseph said.

“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” added Joe. “Some of his weaknesses are my strengths, and some of my weaknesses are his strengths.”

Hard Work, Commitment

The farm offers three different CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) programs: a meat and vegetable CSA, which includes eggs and meat; a market CSA, which allows customers to purchase any items from the market stand; and a winter CSA, which includes many varieties of greens, broccoli and other cool crop vegetables.

Moving forward, the Conklins plan to farm an additional 10 acres and to add beef. Both father and son look at the past 18 months and can hardly believe all the changes to the farm. Back then, the barn stood a mess, crops unplanted and livestock nonexistent.

“Look at where we’re at,” Joseph remarked.

After hard work, with many 100-hour workweeks, the pair has chickens, pigs, turkeys, summer and winter crops and sells all of this at three farmers markets.

The PA Farmers Open Air Market served as the Conklin’s first market presence. Both Conklins have great things to say about the market and its manager, Meg Gleason, who welcomed them as the market’s first Certified Organic producer.

When the market opens this month, customers again will benefit from the Conklins’ hard work and commitment.

“To be able to do that with my son and my wife, my two best friends, my daughter as well, is perfect,” said 56-year-old Joseph. “It doesn’t seem like work.”

For more information on Conklin Farms, including how to purchase products from their CSAs, visit www.conklinfarms.com.

The PA Farmers Open Air Market opens for its 42^nd season on May 3 and runs each Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the PA Farm Show Complex parking lot. For more information, visit the Facebook page: PA Farmers Open Air Market.

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