Student Scribes: How to Celebrate an Anniversary on Amtrak

March 31, 2016 | by Alison Smolinski

My husband and I are taking a five-year anniversary trip courtesy of my father-in-law’s Amtrak rewards. It’d be faster to fly from Harrisburg to Boston, even drive, but a free ride where passengers can sleep, read, eat, stretch is an easy choice.

Everyone is plugged in thanks to free WiFi. Heads are buried in phones, tablets and gaming gadgets. Tweens wearing Kentucky University tees text each other. They laugh in synchronicity. I wonder what’s so funny, but I probably wouldn’t understand their coded text-speak. I’m way too old. If you’re not attached into the dual, 120-volt plugs then you’re a snoring grandpa, Sudoku granny or a boring mommy enjoying the scenery while scribbling in a notebook.

I believe there are few better, more satisfying and relaxing places to write than on a train. Constant inspiration with movement is unbeatable. Flow—it’s impossible not to race along with the speeding locomotive, jotting down as much scribble as fast as possible for fear of losing even one thought to the tracks behind you.

The conductor routinely passes, inspecting tickets. He never makes eye contact or cracks a smile. Maybe his malformed right ear has made his life hard, and he’s detached because of it. Or maybe, like most people, it’s Friday and he’s ready for the weekend and has no desire to be on the job. He scans my e-ticket, places it above the seat, and sluggishly continues down the aisle.

The click and clack of the nine-car vessel against the tracks lulls some and invigorates others. My husband, Chris, is sleeping or pretending to. The window seat holds my attention. I can’t doze or drift, only briefly looking away from the changing scenery. Picking up speed as we leave the Paoli station, my eyes strain to focus. The horn blares, a warning call for anyone or anything in our path. Heading east, the sun breaks through the fog, revealing changing leaves hiding the subdivisions and used car lots. Maples, oaks, asters—I download an Audubon app to decode the varieties of trees and flowers I might see along the eight-hour trip. That makes me the biggest nerd on the 642.

Closer to Philly, graffiti holds my attention instead of trees. Random tags remind me of childhood. Trips on the Metro downtown with Grandaddy and Abuelita, to the Smithsonian. Eating in the members-only restaurant was muy especial. Abuelita always commented on the ugliness of the graffiti, but, to me, it was a voice to the voiceless. Art to be appreciated. Maybe not to the same extent as the fine works in the museum but art nonetheless. Philly graffiti is bright. There’s even a colorful tag of Amy Winehouse hanging with Stevie Wonder. I’d believe they’re friends. I can’t decipher most of the meanings because they look like my daughter’s crayon scribbles.

Massive freight trains pass, carrying materials that build or destroy our country. As we pull into Philly, the myriad of wires overhead seem within arm’s reach. How do all these wires stay above the lines? Maybe I should wake the electro-mechanical technician to my left. I won’t poke the bear. He deserves some extra shuteye, working 10-hour days and often mandatory overtime on top of that. This trip is supposed to be relaxing for both of us.

After a brief stop, we leave the 30th Street Station, heading to New York City. The ATF agent and his K-9 occasionally stop next to unsuspecting passengers, scaring the crap out of young and old alike. Chris is happy he opted not to bring anything. I told him that, with the added ISIS threat, there’d definitely be more security. Damn those militants, harshing everyone’s buzz.

West Philly looks like a war-torn, post-apocalyptic nightmare. It could be the backdrop for an episode of “The Wire,” reminiscent of South Baltimore in the early 1990s, just waking from a crack-fueled slumber. I see seemingly endless blocks of deteriorating row homes, empty lots filled with used tires, burned sofas and dogs roaming for scraps. This section of Philly could be Baltimore, the District, New York or Boston. Traveling at ground level offers close-up views of the real situation, which in this case is poverty.

The gentrified suburbs re-emerge but only for a few stops. A slick suit sits across the aisle with greasy, thinning hair, loafers without socks, and a deep tan. He’s conversing with his much younger associate about a 2 o’clock meeting in Midtown. I don’t care about quarterly earnings reports or break-even tables. Dear woman sitting behind me, please stop smacking your gum! It could only be worse if she were biting her fingernails, too. I wonder if maybe we should move to the quiet car.

Entering Jersey, my Irish family is in the front of my mind. “Hardscrabble” is the term of choice Nanny used to describe her Northern Irish immigrant parents and her 11 older brothers and sisters. The Connellys lived hand-to-mouth under the shadow of Campbell’s Soup and NJ Power & Light. Five of Trudy’s brothers and her father were county linemen. I see their silhouettes in the glare of the train window. Two died the cruelest deaths imaginable, including patriarch Pat, by high-voltage electrocution. What a way to meet St. Peter. Fifty dollars from Power & Light was all the family received in compensation, and, sadly, there was in-fighting over the small sum. Nanny speculated it’d be spent at O’Malley’s down the block by her “grieving brothers.” Their wives would be happy they’d be drinking someone else’s paycheck for a change. These were the days before mandatory life insurance for high-risk industries and advertisements for worker-injury attorneys vying to help you “get the compensation you deserve.” Newark, you pit of disparity—wasteland, dirty depressing midway point on a journey to somewhere else—somewhere better. Closed warehouses with broken windows and overgrown lots lost to time litter the landscape as the 642 gets closer to Penn Station.

Penn Station at last. A brief, 90-minute stop, then on to Beantown. We decide to leave the train for the layover. Air. Not fresh air, as we are in the guts of NYC, but it’s better than train air and the sun’s out. We book it to Lenny’s across from Madison Square Garden. Chris has never been there, and I want pastrami piled high with coleslaw and Thousand Island on fresh rye bread. And pickles, lots and lots of pickles. Count it as the first official pregnancy craving for baby Smolinski II. After shooing away the aggressive pigeons, we reluctantly head down the gigantic escalator where another four-hour train ride awaits. We’ve decided that, for this leg, however, we will ride in the quiet car.

A young Spanish couple and their toddler follow us to platform W10. We load in a somewhat orderly fashion. “Single file,” squawks the conductor. “86 to Bah Stun now boardin’.” A middle-aged woman snaps at the couple just as they place their stroller in the overhead bin. “This is the quiet car.” They don’t speak English, or not enough to make a confident reply. My heart sinks. Should I repeat the phrase in Spanish? Chris tells me to stay put and keep quiet. They leave the quiet car.

The horn blares and train 86 emerges slowly from the bowels of NYC. The clicking of cell phone cameras overtakes all other sounds as we catch a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge and Empire State Building. We snap some because the light is great and it’s NYC. The high-rises fade, skyscrapers of industry capitalists are long gone as the scenery mutates, revealing uniform apartment buildings. Still stretching high, these neatly spaced modern tenements showcase a vast array of international flags, laundry and other paraphernalia lining the barred windows, microscopic patios and open-air hallways where children play. Raising my children on a farmette in Lancaster County, I just can’t imagine living in those conditions—especially with children.

The quiet car is aptly named. Most people read, snooze, watch and re-watch episodes of “Friends,” “Girls” and “Modern Family”—even tackle the occasional Sudoku. We stare out the window, moving farther away from our child, Lucy, by the second. Leaving a child for the first time for more than an overnight—what were we thinking? She’s not ready, we’re not ready. Nanny and Pappy aren’t Mama and Daddy. This damn quiet car is too quiet. I need some non-recirculated air. I need a refill, but if I go to the cafe car again, I’ll have to use that horrible blue chemical potty—no thanks.

We pass the beautiful seaside towns, and then Providence and Pawtucket are in the dust— we’re almost in Boston. I can’t wait for the street clatter and the posh hotel room of the Hilton Back Bay.

We leave the train, and we’re almost skipping as we reach the corner of Dalton Avenue, where the hotel’s 26 stories beckon two tired travelers. A smiling face greets us as we take our hotel room keys. “Swanky. Dad doesn’t disappoint,” Chris comments as we take the elevator to the 25^th floor. A charmed view of the city emerges as we gaze out the panoramic windows. Getting comfortable isn’t difficult. Taking off our train traveler clothes, we laugh, because life with a toddler limits our amount of alone time.

Just as we fall into bed (it is our anniversary getaway)—there’s a knock at the door. A man with a thick accent says “room service,” as I leap to put on the robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door and Chris hides underneath the covers. The clean-cut young man wheels in a cart with red wine, chocolates and fresh fruit. Turning a deep shade of red, the server doesn’t make eye contact or attempt to leave the cheese tray but books it for the door. As soon as the door shuts, we burst into laughter. I put the do not disturb sign on the door handle and draw the curtains over the panoramic windows. Chris remerges from underneath the sheets to say, “Happy Anniversary.”

Alison Smolinski is a graduate student in communications at Penn State Harrisburg.

Musical Notes: Eclectic April–This month shows many musical moods.

March 31, 2016 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

There are a number of ways to think about the month of April. As the old adage goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” which reminds us that sometimes-gloomy moments foretell future joys. But, for many, April is the first true month of warm sun after a long, dreary winter, a time to start rocking sandals instead of woolen socks.

Our slate this month reflects this season of diverse moods. At times, the selections are raucous and uplifting. At other times, they are somber and morose. But that doesn’t mean that one mood is better than the other. As a certain Oscar award-winning animated feature tells us, you can’t have joy without some sadness. So, explore the full range of your emotions this month with another wonderful round of musical performances here in the state capital.

JEWEL, 4/9, 8PM, THE FORUM, $39.50-$69.50:

Those of us who experienced a ‘90s adolescence will be familiar with Jewel’s mythology. She grew up in Alaska in a home without indoor plumbing. She lived in a car while touring the country before being discovered. These stories, along with her penchant for storytelling, solidified her reputation as one of the last troubadours of the 20^th century. But focusing too much on her past obscures the fact that she has continued to record and tour, receiving critical acclaim along the way. She is coming to Harrisburg in support of her 2015 release, “Picking Up the Pieces,” which has been heralded as a return to the folk music that earned her such wide praise. Jewel herself entered the recording process actively trying to forget all she had learned about the music business in an effort to tap into her authentic roots. So, join her as she takes the stage as the storyteller that America fell in love with 20 years ago.

VITA AND THE WOOLF, 4/15, 8PM, H*MAC STAGE ON HERR, $10:

Formed in Philadelphia, this project is the vision of Jennifer Pague. Gifted with a powerful and soulful voice, she has drawn comparisons to Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine. With a name inspired by the famed and tragic romance between Vita Sackville and Virginia Woolf, the group features music that is romantic yet haunting, skirting the line between soulful R&B and gothic operatics. For a two-piece, they definitely know how to fill the room with sound. They also know how to change pace, alternating between upbeat tunes with driving beats and mournful dirges. While it may not be the most joyful show you’ll see, the group’s musical range will satisfy many diverse tastes.

PALE BARN GHOSTS, 4/22, 9PM, ZERØDAY BREWING CO., FREE:

Of all the bands and artists I’ve featured in this column, this band may be the most aptly named. Conjuring up dusty and haunting records of the Great Depression, this Pennsylvania four-piece likes to refer to their particular brand of folk-rock as “cemetery folk.” Like any good folk outfit, they sing about hard living, heartbreak and the open road. Strong acoustic strumming, gravelly vocals and jangly electric guitar textures make this band a great representation of the ways in which 21^st-century songwriters are recovering old-fashioned music and making it their own. This show is reason enough to schedule a trip to Harrisburg’s cozy artisan brewery.

Mentionables: John Brown’s Body, 4/8, Abbey Bar; Genesis Lorraine w/The Start, 4/8, H*MAC Stage on Herr; Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, 4/15, Abbey Bar; Music for Murals, 4/17, River City Blues Club; Colt Wilbur Band, 4/29, H*MAC Stage on Herr

Duck Season: For April, one last hearty meal before we whip out the grill.

March 31, 2016 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Bricco’s sage pappardelle, duck ragout, pancetta and parmesan.

I have always loved duck. In the early 1970s, I was fortunate to eat at the famous Four Seasons restaurant in New York. It was springtime, and the duck was served with an amazing brown sugar glaze. I have never forgotten it.

In my early cooking years, I prepared duck in the classic French tradition: à l’orange—a whole duck roasted to a golden brown with a sweet orange and wine sauce. And I did learn the hard way one evening, as I was entertaining guests, that a small whole duck does NOT serve four people!

Finding duck to cook is not difficult these days. Both poultry vendors at the West Shore Farmers Market carry fresh duck, and it can usually be found at supermarkets too, sometimes frozen.

I did a little “duck research.” Ninety-five percent of all duck consumed in the United States is Pekin duck, a mild-tasting duck also known as Long Island duckling. It is likely the variety you will find in supermarkets and is relatively inexpensive. The breasts are usually sautéed, and the legs braised to tenderize them. It is likely the duck I ate at the Four Seasons.

Muscovy duck is a large duck that is roasted or stewed to veal-like tenderness. Its meat is strongly flavored.

Moulard duck is a cross between the above two varieties. It is commercially grown on farms for its meat and for foie gras, a specially fattened duck liver considered a delicacy in France.

The majority of meat from a duck comes from the breasts and legs and is darker than that of chicken or turkey. You will notice a layer of fat under the duck skin, which melts away after roasting. But duck fat is used in cooking, too, such as French duck confit (duck cooked in its own fat) and even French fries at downtown Harrisburg’s Federal Taphouse.

We know that the French love duck, but did you know that it is a part of Italian cuisine, as well? One of my favorite Harrisburg restaurant dishes is Bricco’s “Sage Pappardelle, Duck Ragout, Pancetta and Parmesan.” This dish has been on Bricco’s menu a long time, and it is luscious. So, I went looking in my cookbook library for a recipe for duck sauce that can be made at home and served over pasta.

What I found was a tomato-based sauce that only needs to simmer for an hour. It is a hearty sauce spiked with red wine and a little pancetta. The recipe originates from Florence, Italy, and there it is served over tortellini (homemade, of course). But it is equally good over fettucine, soft corn polenta or the wide noodles (pappardelle) used by Bricco. It calls for a whole duck cut into parts, but it is much easier to use duck breasts. I usually substitute bacon for pancetta in most recipes because I like it better.

Pasta al Sugo di Anatra
(Pasta with Duck Sauce)

Ingredients

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces pancetta (Italian bacon) or thick regular bacon (smoked or unsmoked), cubed
1 small red onion, chopped
1 small carrot, peeled and chopped
¼ cup Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 small duck cut into parts or (much easier) 4 small duck breasts (defrosted, if frozen)
1 cup dry red wine
4 cups chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe

In a deep heavy pot or pan, warm the olive oil.
Add the pancetta or bacon and onion until both are soft and golden in color.
Add the carrot, celery and parsley and sauté 4 minutes more until softened.
Add the duck pieces or breasts and brown well on all sides, about 10 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper and raise the heat to high.
Pour the wine in the pan and deglaze the pan by scraping up all the brown bits from the bottom.
When the wine has almost evaporated, stir in the tomatoes and cook stirring occasionally until the sauce is very thick (about 1 hour).
Transfer the duck to a cutting board and remove all the skin and bones if using whole duck pieces.
Chop the meat and place back in the sauce.

The duck ragout can be served over any of your favorite pastas. But, as noted above, because it is such a hearty sauce, it seems to work better with wider noodles such as fettucine or pappardelle. Try it with ravioli or potato gnocchi, as well, and sprinkle the finished dish with grated Parmesan.

April is here, and, hopefully, a lovely spring will follow. Before I drag out my grill, I’m going to try this duck ragout on what will certainly be a remaining stubborn cold weekend. Now, if only Bricco would share its recipe with us…..

March News Digest

March 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Pot Hearings Held

Harrisburg last month held two hearings on proposed legislation to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

City officials, including the mayor, police chief and several council members, listened attentively as dozens of residents testified for and against a proposal to change simple possession from a misdemeanor to a less-serious summary offense and ease penalties to $100 for a first conviction and $200 for a second. After a third offense, possession again would be considered a misdemeanor crime.

Several opponents claimed that marijuana served as a gateway drug to harsher drugs or that prolonged use could be harmful. Supporters said that marijuana is mostly benign, less dangerous even than alcohol use. Some speakers advocated making cannabis a legal substance, though state law currently prohibits that.

City council’s Public Safety Committee sponsored the hearings, which were held at the HACC Midtown 2 building on Reily Street and then, two weeks later, at the Public Works Department facility on Paxton Street. A final council vote on changes to the law is expected this month.

Strong Plan Revisions Debated

Harrisburg held several workshops and a hearing last month on proposed changes to the city’s financial recovery plan.

The city’s Act 47 recovery team is urging the modifications, which notably would include adopting a Home Rule Charter, which would empower the city to make changes to its governmental structure.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse and Act 47 coordinator Fred Reddig told council that, if the city didn’t adopt Home Rule, it could not retain hikes to its earned income and local services taxes once it exited Act 47, potentially leading to large property tax increases.

Several council members seemed cold to the idea of Home Rule and argued that, instead, the state should make a larger contribution to the city for services rendered.

Separately, city council also is considering a tripling of the local services tax to $3 per week for all city workers.

Report Splits Local Officials

An independent review of the Harrisburg treasurer’s office has split elected city officials, after City Controller Charles DeBrunner last month released a preliminary internal report on the findings over objections by the city solicitor and mayor.

The review, which encompassed the treasury’s general practices as well as specific activity during the 2014 calendar year, found the office lacked certain written policies and that aspects of its operations left it more vulnerable to fraud.

DeBrunner said that the 20-page report, by the New York consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, found “numerous serious accounting problems” encompassing both the treasury and the city’s finance bureau, as well as a “culture at the city where errors are accepted and expected.”

But Mayor Eric Papenfuse sharply critiqued that characterization, saying it was politically motivated and misquoted the report’s actual findings. He further accused DeBrunner, who published a redacted version of the report on his official website, of “short-circuiting” an ongoing investigation that was still in its early stages.

In its report, Alvarez & Marsal found that a lack of internal controls in the treasury in that period and perhaps earlier resulted in “an environment where the opportunity for fraudulent activity exists.”

The report also said that the deputy treasurer, Celia Spicher, performs “too many” functions, including both initiating and approving outgoing wire transfers and reconciling monthly bank accounts, a practice that “weakens checks and balances and negatively affects operations of the office.”

Though the review found no specific instances of suspicious activity, DeBrunner said, the state of the city’s controls and records made it “less likely” that such activity would be detected by the firm’s limited review.

Conservation Plan Proposed

Harrisburg’s water and sewer authority announced plans last month for a $9 million conservation agreement that would permanently restrict development on its 8,200-acre property in Clarks Valley, a pristine, forested watershed in northern Dauphin County that supplies the city’s drinking water.

The agreement would involve a partnership with the Nature Conservancy, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation and Fort Indiantown Gap, a National Guard training facility that neighbors the property. The agreement would keep the land in authority hands while restricting how Capital Region Water could use it.

Under the proposal, such protections would be enshrined in a conservation easement, a legally binding agreement that attaches to a property and restricts how it can be used by current and future owners.

The easement would seek to preserve the watershed property “predominantly in its natural, scenic, forested and open space condition,” maintaining water quality and protecting rare plants and animals while preventing further development, according to a summary provided by Capital Region Water.

Equipment Authorized

A few new pieces of heavy machinery are headed Harrisburg’s way after City Council last month approved nearly $600,000 in equipment purchases.

Public Works Director Aaron Johnson made a successful plea before council for two loaders, two skid steers and a tow truck. Johnson told council members that his department’s ability to handle January’s blizzard was hampered by a lack of equipment to tow cars and move snow.

Harrisburg long has depended on an independent towing company to move cars that are blocking access for city vehicles. The new tow truck will help the city handle its towing more quickly and efficiently, Johnson said.

In addition to snow, the loaders will help Public Works employees remove other types of debris, Johnson said.

Youth Program Expanded

More young people will get jobs this summer, as Harrisburg City Council last month agreed to expand the city’s youth employment program.

Under the revised program, the Harrisburg Housing Authority will employ 75 young people, compared to 50 teens last year. Moreover, participants will get paid a stipend of $1,500 for the six-week program, up from $1,000 last year.

To pay for the expansion, Council doubled the budget for the program to $127,500. The money will come from the host fee, funding that the city receives from LCSWMA for hosting a regional waste facility.

So Noted

Capital Area Transit last month launched “Find My CAT Bus,” a GPS-based mobile website to help transit riders locate CAT routes, stops, bus locations and estimated arrival times. Riders can access this information on their smartphones and other devices via www.findmycatbus.com.

The Millworks has announced that it is building a brewery at the rear of its building in Midtown Harrisburg. Using a 15-barrel system, brewmaster Jeff Musselman will oversee the 2,000-square-foot facility, which will produce beer for the restaurant and bar.

MX Cocina debuted its second restaurant in the Campus Square building at N. 3^rd and Reily streets in Midtown Harrisburg. Brothers Varonio and Carlos Hernandez opened their first location last year outside of Linglestown. The snug Midtown eatery features Tex-Mex fare such as burritos, burrito bowls and tacos.

PinnacleHealth Express has relocated from Harrisburg Hospital to 805 Sir Thomas Court in Progress. PinnacleHealth Express offers non-emergency primary care for patients without an appointment.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 2022: PA Deals LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian FBO Ramesh Narinesingh IRA, $67,000

Berryhill St., 2435: J. Luevano & J. Pacchioli to N. Downey, $64,900

Berryhill St., 2438: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA to T. Hoang, $50,220

Boas St., 418: PA Deals LLC to D. & L. Engelhardt, $123,200

Briggs St., 2030: Kings Investment Co. LP to D. King, $35,000

Calder St., 508: Bank of New York Mellon Trust Co. to PA Deals LLC, $69,900

Charles St., 232: R. Gosnell to D. Fukton, $145,900

Green St., 3215: M. & C. Bornstein to All Nations Evangelistic Church Inc., $131,000

Greenwood St., 2714: A. Aponte to P. Smith, $70,000

Jefferson St., 2900: K. Gilmer to R. Raoof & A. Kokoiy, $148,000

Kelker St., 217, L2: AJ Fedore & Co. Inc. to T. Smith, $110,250

Kensington St., 2231: Donald Pong Trust K. & L. Johnson, $42,500

Market St., 1638: C. McMullen to E. Patry, $75,000

N. 2^nd St., 310: 310 North Second Street LLC to VMV Creations LLC, $630,000

N. 2^nd St., 2517: AXL Realty Group Inc. to J. Swope, $49,000

N. 2^nd St., 2940: A. Baley & R. Baker to C. Markley & T. Magilton, $239,900

N. 2^nd St., 2965: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to R. Finck, $160,000

N. 3^rd St., 1408: GreenWorks Development to Zecharya International Inc., $130,000

N. 3^rd St., 1720: A & A. Campoverde to R. Metzger, $115,000

N. 3^rd St., 2530: D. & N. Schertz to K. & A. Bryan, $139,900

N. 6^th St., 1336: F. Brewington to G. Wright, $100,000

N. 6^th St., 1741, 611 Kelker St., 631 Hamilton St. & 638 Hamilton St.: Dobson Family Limited Partnership to Buonarroti Trust, $192,500

N. Front St., 2921: J. Krafsig Jr. to D. & D. Schankweiler, $300,000

Norwood St., 947: PA Deals LLC to Equity Trust Company FBO Ramesh Narinesingh IRA, $62,000

Peffer St., 621½, 610 Muench St. & 1609 N. 6^th St.: P. Dobson to Buonarroti Trust, $130,000

Pennwood Rd., 3208: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Information Systems Network Corp. to L. Harrisburg, $62,000

Pennwood Rd., 3243: G. Irwin to Consolidated Holdings International LLC, $235,000

Rumson Dr., 2644: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Information Systems Networks Corp. to M. De Cayamcela, $45,000

S. 25^th St., 346: Wells Fargo Financial Pennsylvania Inc. to T. Vu, $36,500

Swatara St., 1522: Tri County HDC Ltd to C. Rae, $64,900

Woodbine St., 239: J. Morgenstern to D. Hoffman, $60,000

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

Support Structure: Bailey House offers a home away from home for loved ones of hospital patients.

March 31, 2016 | by Priscilla Morales

Catherine Moussa, Bailey House coordinator.

Coming from Wilkes-Barre, it didn’t make sense for Tiffany Piech to travel an hour and 40 minutes to and from Harrisburg when visiting her sick friend at Harrisburg Hospital.

So, Piech stayed two blocks away at Bailey House, a Washington Street residence that houses friends and family of seriously ill patients. It was a perfect solution for Piech, who could visit with her friend, hospitalized with pneumonia, every day without burning out her car.

“The nurses told me about the Bailey House,” said Piech. “I found it to be clean and beautiful.”

PinnacleHealth established Baily House in 1987 and, since then, more than 9,300 people have stayed there. It’s named after Mrs. Charles L. Bailey, who was the first president of the Harrisburg Hospital Auxiliary.

Upon her arrival, Piech said that Catherine Moussa, Bailey House coordinator, warmly welcomed her.

“Catherine’s a sweetheart,” Piech said. “She was polite and friendly while preparing coffee and breakfast every morning. [The experience] was better than expected. The Bailey House has all the necessities, so I can just sleep and shower, while having less to think about. It helps keep the stress off.”

Bailey House actually consists of two adjoining buildings, which together can house up to seven families. The facility underwent extensive renovations last year. The living space was made cozier and more inviting, a bathroom was added, a kitchen upgraded and the interior design was refreshed. Guests stay free of charge, including all amenities like Internet, television and puzzles and games.

Baily House is run by a nonprofit board, which assists in seeing that the facility operates smoothly and guests are able to relax and take care of themselves between hospital visits, especially young mothers visiting their newborns in the NICU.

Because it doesn’t charge, Bailey House seeks help from volunteers, donations and fundraisers. In fact, most of the furniture brought in during the recent renovation was donated. Events like annual holiday tributes and fashion shows provide other means of support. Brochures and a Web presence help spread the word.

Opening Up

Families of patients who live at least 25 miles away are eligible to stay from one night to a few months at a time, on a first-come, first-served basis. Because the walk to the hospital is so short, guests typically don’t have parking or security concerns

Between hospital visits, guests can take time to rest and collect themselves before returning to see their loved ones. Moussa said that, while staying at Bailey House, families often open up to her and to each other, sharing their experiences. Bonding in this way has transformed these individual families into one, she said.

“I provide emotional support,” said Moussa. “I’m someone who they can let go of their day with.”

Although the families often are experiencing tough times, Moussa tries to turn difficult situations into less trying ones. In some cases, families have kept connected over the years after their stay.

Piech, for one, says she now feels part of the extended Bailey House family.

“I want to make a donation,” she said, expressing appreciation for her home away from home. “[Bailey House] is something I highly recommend. It’s a very nice facility.”

For more information on Bailey House and participation in fundraisers and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.pinnaclehealth.org.

Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 31, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Creepy Crawlers,” featuring imaginative acrylic, ink and graphite works by Sean Arce, through May 20; closing reception: April 15, 6-9 p.m.

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

“It’s a Small World: Micro & Mini Cars,” through April 22.

“Pioneers in African-American Auto History,” through April 30.

“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, April 8-May 12; reception: April 8, 5-8 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, April 22-June 11; receptions: April 22 & April 23, 7-10 p.m.

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

Artist of the Month: Joan Marie Donavan

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

“Works by Nance Huerter and Chris Lyter, through April 30.

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.

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

“Inchoate/Afterglow,” photographic works by Caleb Smith and Lisa Bennett, through April; reception with artists, April 15, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Hard Boiled,” an art tribute to pulp novels and B movies, through April 30.

“Obsession,” featuring the artwork of Jeremiah Johnson, April 1-May 28; reception: April 1, 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.

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

“Stories of Individual Struggles and Personal Growth,” featuring relief paintings and sculptures by Evgeny Krayushkin (ZheKa), through April 2.

“Duets,” an exhibition of artwork featuring 10 pairs of collaborating artists,” April 8-June 4; reception: April 8, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“Student Honors Show 1,” April 8-April 20; reception: April 14, 5:30-7 p.m.

“Student Honors Show 2,” April 25-May 6; reception: April 28, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

“Pennsylvania Modern, A Juried Photography Exhibition of Midcentury Modern Architecture,” honoring iconic and modern architecture, extended through April 24.

“2016 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards,” through April 28.

“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.

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

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

Whitaker Center/The Curved Wall
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

“Art Center Instructor Exhibition,” featuring the work of Art Center School and Galleries, Mechanicsburg, instructors, through April 1.

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, April 9-Oct. 31.

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

“Foundations,” works of photography by Michael Hower, through April 14.

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

The artwork of Kyle Baskin, through April 11

Works by Ann Yeager Lawson, April 13-May 18

Read, Make, Learn

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

April 8: “Tuscan Food and Wine Pairing,” 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 13: “Superfast Entrees,” 6-9 p.m.
April 22: “Tuscan Food and Wine Pairing,” 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 28: “Fresh Fish and Sauces,” 6-9 p.m.

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

April 1: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 4: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
April 5: Curl Up With the Classics—“Great Expectations,” 1 p.m.
April 8: Foreign Film Friday—“Two Days, One Night,” 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
April 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
April 12: Teen Artists’ Meet-up, 7 p.m.
April 15: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
April 19: Fredricksen Reads, 7 p.m.
April 19: “Gardening with Nature: Shade Lovers Supreme,” 7 p.m.
April 21: Kids and Companions Book Club, 6:30 p.m.
April 27: Adventure Crafts, 4:30 p.m.

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

April 7, 14: Clean Eating Detox Series & Cooking Class
April 21: Cooking With Leafy Greens

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

April 1-30: Chocolate Lab Classes
April 1-30: Tastings—Chocolate from Around the World

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

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Weekly Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 p.m.
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
April 14: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
April 19: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.

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

April 7-9: “The Tender Land”

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
April 2: Story Time w/Wildwood Park Staff, 11 a.m.
April 2: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
April 5, 19: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
April 5: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
April 9: Story Time & Book Release w/Mrs. Marbles, 11 a.m.
April 12: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
April 14, 21: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
April 15: Coffee Tasting with Café Staff, 12 p.m.
April 15: Tea Tasting w/Café Staff, 2 p.m.
April 16: Coffee & Critique—Designer Workshop, 8:30 a.m.
April 17: Midtown Writer’s Group, 1 p.m.
April 17: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
April 20: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
April 24: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.
April 25: Feminism Book Club, 7 p.m.
April 26: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.

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

April 1-3: Abstract Painting 3-Day Workshop
April 9: “Letting Go!” Paint Night, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
April 10: Watercolor Poppy Painting Party, 1-4 p.m.
April 22-24: Cold Wax 3-Day Workshop, 6-9 p.m.
April 27: Make Art & Drink Tröegs , 6-9 p.m.

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

April 9: Open House free classes, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

April 2: Cruisin’ the Cosmos: Spring Star Party, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
April 14: Fungi: the Good, the Bad, the Beautiful, 6-8 p.m.
April 30: Spring Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

April 2: Free Drop-in Art Class for Kids, 1-4 p.m.
April 9: A Novel Idea writing workshop, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 13: Introduction to Carving Soapstone, 6-8 p.m.
April 27: Soldered Cross Bracelet, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

April 2, 9, 30: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 2-May 7: Young Artist Camp, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

April 14: “Discovery” at Zeroday Brewing Co.

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

April 2: “Leave No Trace” for Girl Scouts, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
April 3: “Beginner’s Yoga and Walk,” 10-11:30 a.m.
April 3: “Art in the Wild: Meet the Artists,” 1-3 p.m.
April 6: “Bird Walk: Early Migration,” 8-10 a.m.
April 7: “Art in the Wild” Lecture by Myth Makers, 7-8:30 p.m.
April 10: “Flower Walk,” 1:30-3 p.m.
April 13: “Stress Relief Walk,” 6-7 p.m.
April 16: “Environment Matters” for Junior Scouts 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

April 1-3: Celtic Woman
April 7: Straight No Chaser
April 9: Kansas w/Blue Oyster Cult

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

April 1: Juggling Suns
April 2: Beats of the Burg w/Plane Jaymes
April 8: John Brown’s Body
April 10: Dom Flemons
April 15: Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
April 17: Project/Object w/Ike Willis
April 20: American Babies

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

April 1, 9, 15, 19: Noel Gevers
April 2, 12, 30: Corinna Joy
April 5: Maria Battista
April 6: Deborah Anderson
April 7, 21, 29: Jessica Perla
April 8, 22: Roy Lefever
April 10, 24, 28: Anthony Haubert
April 13: Marc Lubbers
April 14: Daniel Sheehan
April 16, 23: Ted Ansel
April 20: TBA
April 26: Christine Purcell
April 27: Sivart Lee

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

April 3: Peter Bernstein Trio

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

April 1: Dr. Slothclaw, The Big Dirty, The Meadow Men
April 2: Box of Rain, ’68-‘74 Dead Tribute
April 5: Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown
April 6: Metal Allegiance
April 11: The Heavy Pets, The Magic Beans
April 16: Har Mar Superstar
April 17: Peter Murphy
April 19: Breaking Benjamin Unplugged
April 22: Jon Pardi
April 27: Cash’d Out, Tribute to Johnny Cash

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

April 1: Antonio Andrade
April 2: Maria Wilson
April 3: Steve Wilkins
April 8: Stephen Lee Rich
April 9: Paul Zavinksy
April 10: Kirk Wise
April 15: Jim Haas
April 16: Alex McQuade
April 17: We3
April 22: Kevin Kline
April 23: Seasons
April 24: Crimson
April 29: Dominick Cicco
April 30: Doug Morris

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

April 7: Shawan and the Wonton
April 14: Indian Summer Jars
April 21: Root 74 Acoustic
April 28: Mark DeRose

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

April 12: Trio Valtorna

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

April 1: First Friday w/Vetour Productions
April 2: The Dirty Sweet
April 7: The Blackberry Bushes Springband w/Colebrook Road
April 8: Genesis Lorraine w/ The Start
April 9: Humandala w/Yam Yam
April 15: Vita & The Woolf w/Super City
April 22: Terry Read w/Tony Ryder & True West
April 23: 91S
April 29: Colt Wilbur Band
Every Monday: Barcrawler Karaoke
Every Tuesday: Open Mic

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

April 16-17: Masterworks 6
April 30: “And the Tony Goes to…”

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

April 8: Hershey Symphony
April 14: “Let it Be,” Tribute to The Beatles
April 15-16: Brit Floyd
April 23: Hershey Symphony

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

April 1: Save the City
April 2: Funktion
April 8: The Luv Gods
April 9: Sapphire
April 15: Radio Neon
April 16: Amish Outlaws
April 22: Uptown Band
April 23: Smooth Like Clyde
April 29: Jumper
April 30: Lima Bean Riot

Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com

April 2: Fith
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Walter DeWall
April 9: Observe the 93^rd
April 16: Colt Wilbur Band
April 23: Adrian Blitzer
April 30: TBA
Every Sunday: Open Mic Night

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

April 10: Sunday Arts Hour w/Gary & Bernadette Boerckel

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

April 1: Allyot Ray
April 8: Carly Clark, Shawan and the Wonton
April 15: The Sydney Richardson Quinton
April 22: Shanna Rae
April 29: TBA

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

April 5: Hallowed Bells, WORT

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

April 10: Concert Band Spring Concert
April 17: Community Orchestra Spring Concert
April 21: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
April 23: Neil Sedaka

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

April 3: Cherish the Ladies
April 15: Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra

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

March 5: Honduras, Seasonal, Prodigal Suns
March 8: The Receiver, Saint Brendan and the Navigators, Fly Overs

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

April 6: Enso Quartet
April 23: Calefax Feed Quintet

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

April 3: Concert Choir and Chamber Singers
April 23: Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds
April 24: Choral Arts Society

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

April 23: Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra at the Little Scholar

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

April 2: Sherri Mullen Duo
April 9: Soul House
April 16: Don Johnson Project
April 23: Dave Kelly Duo

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

April 3: Hodera w/Flower Garden
April 8: Lucy Dacus, Marathon & Wetherman
April 19: Author w/Infinite Me & Many Rooms

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

April 1; Visitors Duo
April 9: Rhythm on Main
April 15: Unplugged w/Josh & Dan
April 16: Frank & Lauren
April 22: Christopher Dean

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

April 9: A Gallery Cabaret

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

April 1-2: Bushmaster w/Gary Brown
April 2-3: Sabrina Duke Band
April 3: Open Jazz Jam
April 6: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Open Electric Jam
April 13: Blue Elephant Open Jam’
April 15: People’s Open Jam
April 17: Music For Murals
April 24: “La Playa” Miami Fusion Dance Party

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

April 1: Josh Krevsky
April 2: A Perfect Storm
April 8: Keith Goldstein
April 9: Up Pops the Devil
April 15: Mitch Gregory
April 16: Visitors Duo
April 22: Shea and Swish
April 23: Music Thru Science Lite
April 29: Up Pops the Devil
April 30: Song Smith

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

April 1: Jazz in the City
April 2: York Symphony Orchestra
April 16: The Mountain Goats
April 17: York Junior Symphony Orchestra
April 30: York Symphony Orchestra

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

April 2: Sweet Corn and Peanut
April 9: Erin and The Project
April 16: Nate Myers and The Aces
April 23: TBA
April 30: TBA

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
sfmsfolk.org

April 2: Scott Ainslie
April 9: Coffee House
April 10: Jam
April 23: Ken & Brad Kolodner, w/Alex Lacquement

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

April 1: Jose Holland-Garcia
April 2: Malpass Brothers
April 3: Percussion Ensemble Showcase
April 3: Anita Renfro & Ioannis Potamousis
April 8: Naked Eye Ensemble
April 9: Robin Spielberg: American Tapestry Trio
April 15: Concert Band & Wind Ensemble
April 15: Jazz in the Sky
April 16: Jazz and Java

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

April 9: Jewel

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

April 8: Great Northeast
April 9: Dan & Josh Unplugged, Indian Summer Jars, Traveling Broke
April 22: Pale Barn Ghosts
April 29: That Girl

The Stage Door

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

April 26-Oct. 8: Crooners

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

April 8-16: “The Full Monty”
April 23: Regional College A Cappella Competition

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

Through April 30: “Menopause, the Musical”

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

April 1: “Improvapalooza” w/Harrisburg Improv Theatre
April 8-10: “Snow White” w/Popcorn Hat Players
April 13-30: “Rumplestiltskin”
April 15: TMI Improv Troup Mainstage Show
April 17: Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration

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

April 19: The Capitol Steps

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

April 1-2: Larry XL & Ryan Denisco
April 14: Graham Phillips
April 15-16: Tammy Pescatelli
April 22-23: Donna Carter & Monty Mitchell
April 29-30: Paul Lyons w/Bryan Siegel

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

April 9: Panzer Division/Pillow Talk
April 9, 23: Monotone—An Improvised Musical
April 22, 24: Level 1 Class Show
April 24: Magic Fairy Pirate Monkeys
April 29: Teen Class Show
April 29: Level 3 Class Show
April 29: Improv Level 1, Teens Show
April 29: Voltron 1633
Every Saturday: Free Improv Mixer

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

April 28: Harrisburg Area Improv Radicals (HAIR)

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

April 4: “Peppa Pig Live!”
April 17: Chinese Cultural & Arts Institute
April 26-May 1: “Ragtime”

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

April 20: PCCA Awards for Poetic Excellence
April 20: Coffeehouse Open Mic

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

Through April 10: “Death Trap”

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

April 2: “Million Dollar Quartet”
April 7: “Year of the Monkey” w/The Peking Acrobats
April 14: Capitol Steps

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

April 15: Comedy Night

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

April 15-May 1: “The Old Friends”

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

April 15-May 1: “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!”

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

April 21-24: “Reasons to be Pretty”

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

April 2: York Symphony Orchestra
April 3: Sleeping Beauty
April 8-9: “In the Heights” w/ William Penn H.S. Performing Arts
April 19-21: Riverdance
April 24: Sinbad

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

April 2: “Be the Change,” Dance Benefit Performance
April 7: “An Evening with C. S. Lewis”
April 10: NetCo Dance: Suspended Perspectives
April 15-24: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”

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

April 16-17: Coppelia

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

April 29-May 8: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

TheBurg Podcast, March 25, 2016

March 25, 2016 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

To listen to this week’s episode, click here.

March 25, 2016: This week, Larry and Paul talk about a $9 million conservation proposal involving the forested watershed that supplies Harrisburg’s drinking water. They also discuss City Council’s after-session discussion of a home rule charter plan the members aren’t quite warming up to. Plus, the Bernie Sanders campaign arrives in Midtown, and Larry appears in a WITF interview.

TheBurg Podcast is proudly sponsored by Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar at the Hilton Harrisburg.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. Check out his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud or in the iTunes store. You can also subscribe to TheBurg podcast in iTunes.

Capital Region Water Weighs $9 Million Conservation Bid

March 21, 2016 | by Paul Barker

The authority seeks to conserve the pristine 8,200-acre property that includes the reservoir supplying Harrisburg's drinking water.

The authority seeks to conserve a pristine 8,200-acre property that includes the reservoir supplying Harrisburg’s drinking water.

Harrisburg’s water and sewer authority announced plans Monday for a $9 million conservation agreement that would permanently restrict development on its 8,200-acre property in Clarks Valley, a pristine, forested watershed in northern Dauphin County that supplies the city’s drinking water.

“The DeHart watershed property is critical to protecting our drinking water,” said Capital Region Water CEO Shannon Williams. “Yet there are not protections in place against future development of this land.”

The property falls within one of the largest road-free areas in the state and forms part of the Kittatinny Ridge migration corridor, said Josh Parrish, director of the Nature Conservancy’s “working woodlands” program.

“For us, it’s a conservation priority,” he said.

The Nature Conservancy, a Virginia-headquartered environmental charity, will be Capital Region Water’s long-term conservation partner under the proposal, monitoring compliance with the restrictions on use of the land.

The project cost will primarily be funded through the Army Compatible Use Buffer program, or ACUB, a federal initiative that seeks to maintain undeveloped zones around military bases.

Fort Indiantown Gap was the country’s busiest National Guard training center last year and is the site of constant aviation, making it incompatible with residential development, according to Lt. Col. Christopher McDevitt, construction and facility management officer for the Pa. National Guard.

“We fly constantly, 7 in the morning til midnight, pretty much every day of the year except Christmas,” McDevitt said. “We’re noisy neighbors sometimes.”

The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, a conservation non-profit founded by the former NASCAR driver and 2002 Daytona 500 champion, will work with Fort Indiantown Gap to establish the easement with the federal funds.

The new proposal differs significantly from a prior conservation agreement that the authority’s board rejected in a 3-1 vote in early 2015. That agreement would have involved the $1 million sale of a smaller portion of the property to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which would have submitted to similar land-use restrictions.

The earlier proposal shared the aim of conserving the property in perpetuity, and would have left the door open to expanding the acreage subject to restricted uses.

But the outright sale to the Game Commission, in contrast to the proposed easement, would have meant Capital Region Water retained much less control of the parcel, a prospect opposed by some authority customers.

Through letters and comments at two public hearings, customers told the authority they “did not want to give up ownership of the property to an organization with a statewide constituency,” Williams said.

Williams also said the proposed conservation agreement would provide “much-needed revenue” for the authority, which plans to spend tens of millions in the next few years on upgrading the city’s aging water and sewer infrastructure.

In addition to the $9 million payment for the easement, Capital Region Water could also see future revenues from the property through timber sales and sales of carbon credits.

The authority is working on a 10-year plan to sustainably harvest timber on the property, which the easement will require to be approved by the Nature Conservancy and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit Parrish called the “gold standard” in forest management.

Capital Region Water is asking for public comment on the proposal by mail or through its website, capitalregionwater.com, by April 8. It will also host two public meetings on the proposal, on March 23 at 6 p.m. at 212 Locust St. and on March 29 at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Health Center, 110 S. 17^th St.

TheBurg Podcast, March 18, 2016

March 18, 2016 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

To listen to this week’s episode, click here.

March 18, 2016: This week, Larry and Paul talk about a blistering report on the city treasury leaked by City Controller Charles DeBrunner. They also discuss what happened when state officials showed up at City Council chambers to hear about the city’s proposed updates to its recovery plan.

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Harrisburg Officials Split over Critical Report on Treasury Department

March 14, 2016 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Controller Charles DeBrunner takes the oath of office two years ago.

An independent review of the Harrisburg treasurer’s office has split elected city officials, after City Controller Charles DeBrunner released a preliminary internal report on the findings over objections by the city solicitor and mayor.

DeBrunner said Monday that the 20-page report, by the New York consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, found “numerous serious accounting problems” encompassing both the treasury and the city’s finance bureau, as well as a “culture at the city where errors are accepted and expected.”

The report “seems to have been released for political purposes over the objection of the solicitor and the administration as the investigation is not yet complete,” Papenfuse said.

The city retained Alvarez & Marsal after former Harrisburg Treasurer John Campbell was arrested in August 2014 on charges that he had embezzled funds from a number of local non-profit organizations.

Those non-profits were unaffiliated with city government, but they led to Campbell’s resignation from his elected post and prompted Harrisburg to seek an independent review of the treasury’s internal controls and financial activity during 2014.

In its report, submitted to the city in late February, Alvarez & Marsal found that a lack of internal controls in the treasury in that period and perhaps earlier resulted in “an environment where the opportunity for fraudulent activity exists.”

Spicher is on vacation this week and was unavailable for comment, according to a person at the treasurer’s office who answered the phone there Monday.

DeBrunner also claimed the problems found in the report encompassed the administration’s finance bureau, and not simply the treasury, which is headed by an elected city treasurer. The report does not explicitly mention problems with the finance bureau, but DeBrunner said they could be “inferred.”

DeBrunner, an independently elected official who oversees certain aspects of city finances, said he released the statement because he believed that citizens deserved to see it and wanted to push the city to address the issues it raises.

“I am hopeful that this report will motivate the Mayor and the Treasurer to improve the city’s internal controls and change the default expectation to one where the city’s financial records are given the attention they deserve,” DeBrunner said.

Yet he and Mayor Papenfuse appeared to draw opposite conclusions about the implications of the findings. Papenfuse said most of the problems had been or were in the process of being resolved, and that the unauthorized release of the report hampered the investigation into possible abuses under past practices.

“He’s hindered our ability to go forward with Alvarez,” Papenfuse said, noting that the report was simply the first phase of a two-phase project that was later to weigh the benefits of a more expensive forensic investigation into specific account activity.

“In my opinion, he’s acted recklessly and irresponsibly and wasted $42,000 of taxpayers’ money,” Papenfuse added, citing the cost of the first-phase review.

Neil Grover, the city solicitor, said Alvarez & Marsal had taken the position that the city needed the firm’s permission before releasing its report to the public, based on clauses in its contract relating to disclosure to third parties. He said the issue had been “still under discussion” when DeBrunner released the report without the mayor’s blessing.

The mayor also denied that the city had a “culture” of tolerating errors, saying the statement did not reflect the administration and noting that most of the employees Alvarez interviewed during its review worked under the treasurer or controller.

Tyrell Spradley, the current city treasurer, said Monday that he had agreed with DeBrunner upon taking office in November 2014 that there were significant problems with the treasury’s internal controls.

He said the findings in the report were “no big surprise,” but that he was glad to have outside confirmation of the problems, which he said his office has made significant strides in correcting.

Spradley also concurred with the controller’s opinion that the problems extended beyond the treasury. He said he supported the controller’s release of the report, whether or not it had been approved by the administration.

“I honestly think the public should know,” he said.

Read the redacted report here.

This story has been updated with information about efforts to contact the deputy treasurer and with details from the city solicitor about a discussion regarding disclosure with Alvarez & Marsal.

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