Visual Appeal: Harrisburg’s GK Visual raises its profile with local stories, high production values.

August 31, 2015 | by Jess Hayden

Nate Kresge. Photo by Dani Fresh, www.danifresh.com

If you had the opportunity to check out Harrisburg Beer Week this past spring, you may have made it to Midtown Cinema for a screening of the documentary “Brewed in the Burg.” The one-hour film takes a look at the local craft beer industry in and around Harrisburg.

“Brewed in the Burg” was produced by GK Visual, a “boutique” cinema production house that has been operating for a decade in Harrisburg. Although it created a lot of buzz for the company, the feature film, made in collaboration with SaraBozich.com, really was just a side project.

“We found it interesting to explore the local craft scene,” said co-owner Nate Kresge. “In the film, you’ll see Sara Bozich not only interviewing the professional brewers, but also talking to home brewers, restaurant owners, beer distributors and, of course, the people who drink the beer.”

The company makes its real living creating video and photographic art for political, corporate and non-profit clients, earning more than 60 industry awards along the way. GK Visual has produced television commercials for political candidates and corporations like Penn National Insurance and web videos for non-profits such as Whitaker Center and the Salvation Army.

“Every day is a little different,” said Kresge, who, this year, was selected as a recipient of Central Penn Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40,” which honors young business leaders. “You never know what project you are going to be working on or who is going to walk into the door.”

Talented and Creative
Kresge began his career at Pennsylvania Cable Network and has always been heavily involved in politics, a perfect fit for a Harrisburg-based outfit. When he started the company, the bulk of his work was for political campaigns.

“Little by little, we have added corporate clients to the point where we now are doing more corporate work,” he said. “Next year, when we get into House and Senate races, the political work will really gear back up and take a lot of our time.”

Two years ago, Kresge took on a partner, Doug Metz, and, since then, has hired two additional staff members—Nick Chohany and Sean Purcell. They also work with freelancers.

“Everybody kind of has their own role,” said Kresge. “The nice thing is that everyone is just incredibly talented and creative and, if one of us doesn’t have the ideas to give a client, someone else always does.”

The company’s focus on storytelling follows a trend in marketing to seek out more meaningful ways to engage viewers.

“I think a lot of people are tired of the glossy sell,” he said. “Our videos are very professional and look great, but they’re made without a lot of flashy effects. So, often, I’m just looking for raw emotion.”

The Best Stories
Kresge says that clients come to see him with projects in all stages of development, from barely fleshed out concepts to fully written scripts. He and his staff love to try to help them figure out what they are trying to communicate and who the audience is.

“The biggest thing we’ve found is that it’s more effective to film the people who know the story. We rarely use actors,” he said. “So, we get them on camera, and we’ll just sit down and interview them. Then we’ll kind of chop that up and weave it back together to find what that narrative is. We look for what’s going to appeal to a client or somebody landing on your website for the first time.”

Besides “Brewed in the Burg,” another side project that has gotten GK Visual attention is “What’s on Tap with Sara Bozich,” a Web series focused on highlighting community leaders. Although the series is now in redevelopment, it featured a more informal interview style, with Bozich and her guest often relaxing with a cup of coffee or a pint of beer.

“The goal was to try to film a less guarded, less TV news-style interview,” said Kresge. “I feel this is how we were able to get the best stories.”

GK Visual didn’t receive any pay for either “Brewed in the Burg” or “What’s on Tap with Sara Bozich,” but Kresge says that’s OK.

“To be honest we don’t do much advertising, but we find, when we do these fun projects, people really latch on to them and enjoy them,” he said. “It seems to bring in much more work for us than if I had put our own TV commercial out somewhere.”

For more information about GK Visual, visit www.gk-visual.com. “Brewed in the Burg” will screen next on Sept. 21 at Tellus360 in Lancaster.

Happenings: Our September Calendar of Events

August 31, 2015 | by TheBurg Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“The Introduction,” works by Yolanda Webb; reception, Sept. 18, 6-9 p.m.

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

“1929 Duesenberg J Dual-Cowl Phaeton,” a display of “The World’s Finest Motor Car,” through Oct. 9.

“Motorbikes for the Masses,” an exhibit dedicated to low-cost transportation including motorbikes, scooters and mopeds, through Oct. 11.

“Automotive Jewelry Art Exhibit,” images by Michael Furman, through Oct. 11.

“A Family Affair,” an exhibit celebrating the station wagon, through Oct. 12.

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

“Traditional & Modern Art of the Orient,” through Sept. 3.

“Structures II,” fall membership show, Sept. 11-Oct. 15; reception, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

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

Artist of the Month: Clare Klaum

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

Artwork by Peter Dehart and Joanne Finkle, through Oct. 3.

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Rd., Hershey
717-534-3492; hersheygardens.org

“ArtCycle,” a sculpture exhibit featuring local artists, through Sept. 20.

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. Daily activities for families through Sept. 7.

Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-4646; historicharrisburg.com

“The Life, Work and Landmarks of Harrisburg Architect Clayton Lappley,” featuring the work of the renowned Harrisburg architect; receptions, Sept. 13 & Sept. 18.

Landis House
67 N. 4^th St., Newport
717-567-7023; www.perrycountyarts.org

“The Texture of Ireland,” featuring Nemo Niemann’s images of Ireland, through Oct. 2.

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

“1865,” an exhibit highlighting the fifth year of the Civil War covering battles, strategies and civilian lives, through December.

“The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls,” the story of a man born into slavery who rose to the U.S. Congress, through June 2016.

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

“Everyday Life,” featuring everyday details as documented by photographer Irene VanBuskirk, through Sept. 5.

“PCCA Staff Exhibition,” featuring artwork by Perry County Council of the Arts staff members, through Oct. 3; reception, Sept. 11, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“Hollow,” mixed media by Matt Wilt, Sept. 4-Oct. 1; reception, Oct. 1, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

“Art of the State,” the annual exhibit dedicated to the works of Pennsylvania artists, through Sept. 13.

“A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania’s Alexander Wilson,” featuring bird prints and first-edition volumes of the 200-year-old “American Ornithology” series by Alexander Wilson, through Jan. 3.

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

“Towards A New/Old Architecture ” an exhibition exploring modern architecture, Sept. 13-Jan. 17.

“The Edgeless Divide,” an installation by Sun Young Kang, through Nov. 1.

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

“Animation,” an interactive exhibit exploring animation from concept to finished product, through Sept. 6.

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

“Art in the Wild,” through Oct. 31.

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

The artwork of Amie Bantz, through Sept. 13.

Works by Lynn Kennedy-Putt, Sept. 15-Oct. 12; reception, Sept. 18, 6-9 p.m.

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

“What Lurks in the Shadows,” acrylic paintings by Sean Arce, Sept. 18-Oct. 16.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Sept. 9: “Fresh Pastas & Sauces” class, 6-9 p.m.
Sept. 16: “Grilling on the Deck” class, 6-9 p.m.
Sept. 24: “Sensational Shrimp Dishes” class, 6-9 p.m.

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

Sept. 24-27: Friends Fall Book & Media Sale

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

Sept. 18: Kidprov & Workshop

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

Sept. 1: “Funky Fruity Pies” class, 6:30 p.m.

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

Sept. 1: Women’s Group, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2, 9, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Sept. 5, 19: Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
Sept. 6, 20, 27: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 p.m.
Sept. 10: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
Sept. 24: Aging with Pride, 6 p.m.

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

Sept. 1, 16: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
Sept. 2: Alder Healthcare Community Class on Transgender Children, 6 p.m.
Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5: Back to School Party, 11 a.m.
Sept. 5: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6: Sunday Screeners at the Scholar, 3 p.m.
Sept. 7, 20: Midtown Writer’s Group, 6 p.m.
Sept. 8: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
Sept. 10, 17: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 12: Book signing w/Catherine Jordan, Heather Harlen and Sherry Knowlton, 2 p.m.
Sept. 13, 27: TED Talks, 1 p.m.
Sept. 16: Book Club: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18: Coffee Education w/Café Staff, 12 p.m.
Sept. 18: Tea Tasting w/Café Staff, 2 p.m.
Sept. 19: Storytime with Andrea, 11 a.m.
Sept. 20: Sunday Screeners at the Scholar, 3 p.m.
Sept. 20: Book Club: LGBT, 5 p.m.
Sept. 26: Book signing w/Mary Anne Morefield, Marian Dornell and Jesse Waters, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28: Book Club: Feminism Group, 7 p.m.

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

Sept. 11-13: Encaustic Workshop
Sept. 25-27: Oil and Cold Wax Workshop

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

Sept. 5: Lecture w/Garry Adelman, 1 p.m.
Sept. 12: Lecture w/Carl Westmoreland, 1 p.m.
Sept. 19: Lecture w/Dr. Brian Mathew Jordan, 1 p.m.
Sept. 26: Lecture w/historian Kevin M. Levin, 1 p.m.

Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7348; mangiaqui.com

Sept. 30: “Wines of Venice” pairing dinner, 6:30 p.m.

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

Sept. 10: “Journeys” at Zeroday Brewing Company, 8 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

Sept. 12: Fall Doo Wop Cavalcade
Sept. 18-20: The Gaither Vocal Band
Sept. 24: Brian Regan
Sept. 27: Urban Cowboy Reunion Tour w/Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee

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

Sept. 3: Primate Fiasco
Sept. 4: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
Sept. 11: Hillbilly Gypsies
Sept. 18: Herbie

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

Sept. 1: Corinna Mazzitti
Sept. 2, 5, 18: Roy Lefever
Sept. 3, 10, 13, 27: Anthony Haubert
Sept. 4, 25, 26: Chris Emkey
Sept. 8: Daniel Sheahan
Sept. 9: Andrea Britton
Sept. 11, 17, 19: Noel Gevers
Sept. 12: Ted Ansel
Sept. 15, 22: Christine Purcell
Sept. 16: Julie Moffit
Sept. 23, 30: Deborah Anderson
Sept. 24: Jessica Cook
Sept. 29: Maria Battista

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

Sept. 11: Spanish Harlem Orchestra w/Dred “Perky” Scott & Steve Rudolph (Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival)

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

Sept. 5: Revocation
Sept. 9: Mac Sabbath
Sept. 11: The Jayhawks
Sept. 19: Avatar
Sept. 22: Built To Spill
Sept. 26: The Hackensaw Boys

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

Sept. 4: Jim Haas
Sept. 5: Joe Cooney
Sept. 6: Ellyot H. Ray
Sept. 11: Antonio Andrade
Sept. 12: Steven Gellman
Sept. 13: TBD
Sept. 18: Josh Krevsky
Sept. 19: Seasons
Sept. 20: Coco & the Bug
Sept. 25: Paul Zavinsky
Sept. 26: Dan Zukowski
Sept. 27: Erik Bohn

Fed Live
234 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg
717-525-8077; federaltaphousehbg.com

Sept. 6: “Bigtadoo”

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

Sept. 6: Nick Jonas
Sept. 11-13: Hershey Gospel Music Festival
Sept. 26: The Magical Music of Disney

Hersheypark Stadium
100 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey
717-534-3911; hersheypa.com

Sept. 5: Zac Brown Band and Gregg Allman

H*MAC/Herr Street Stage
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Sept. 3: Wovenhand
Sept. 4: Vetour Productions “First Friday”
Sept. 6: Mimicking Birds w/Spherehead & Humandala
Sept. 10: Strangest of Places
Sept. 11: The Figgs w/Headache with Pictures
Sept. 12: The Dicks from Texas (film screening)
Sept. 13: Blair Crimmins & The Hookers
Sept. 14: Little Wings & Weyes Blood
Sept. 19: Young Rapids
Sept. 23: Wayne Hancock
Sept. 24: Jeffrey Gaines & Freedy Johnston
Sept. 25: Bardedoo
Sept. 26: The Hello Strangers w/Ruthie & The Wranglers

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

Sept. 4: Deletions w/Dreambook & New Boss
Sept. 11: Viking Moses w/Saint Brendan & The Navigators & Hot Mess
Sept. 18: Eric+Erica w/Aaliyah J
Sept. 25: Ellyot H. Ray

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

Sept. 10: Vince Gill
Sept. 26: The Orchestra

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

Sept. 18: Imani Winds
Sept. 29: Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”

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

Sept. 9: Dirty Fences

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

Sept. 11: Jon Shain
Sept. 18: Tony Halchak
Sept. 25: John Gorka

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

Sept. 3: Sofia Talvik

MoMo’s BBQ and Grill
307 Market Street, Harrisburg
717-230-1030; momosbbqandgrill.com

Sept. 18: Christopher Dean

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

Sept. 19: Twin Valley Players Roadshow

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

Sept. 2: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: Open Electric Jam
Sept. 5: Cedric Lawson
Sept. 9: Blue Elephant Open Jam
Sept. 11: Shawan Birthday Celebration
Sept. 12: Larry Moore Reserved
Sept. 19: Sabrina Duke
Sept. 26: Don Johnson Project

Rubicon
270 North St., Harrisburg
717-317-9027; rubiconhbg.com

Sept. 5: Brasilian Vibes
Sept. 10: Little Amps Vinyl Night
Sept. 26: Aortic Valve

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

Sept. 3: 1096
Sept. 4: Hank Imhof
Sept. 5: Just Dave
Sept. 10: Carly Clark
Sept. 11: Pat McCaskey
Sept. 12: Channalia
Sept. 17: Rhoads & Putt
Sept. 18: Cotolo
Sept. 19: Six Bar Break
Sept. 25: Dan Zukowski
Sept. 26: Joe Cooney

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

Sept. 4: US2 Duo
Sept. 5, 25: Wally DeWall
Sept. 11: Houston Baker
Sept. 12: Songsmit
Sept. 18: The Visitors Duo
Sept. 19: Music Thru Science Lite
Sept. 26: Shea Quinn and Steve Swisher

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

Sept. 12: The Harmaleighs
Sept. 18: Not Without Texas
Sept. 19: Jeff Calvin and the Moderate Rebels
Sept. 25: Flint Zeigler
Sept. 26: Gary Brown

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
sfmsfolk.org

Sept. 20: Fort Hunter Day

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

Sept. 4: Adam Blessing

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

Sept. 3: Rivers
Sept. 17: Caleb Liddick
Sept. 24: Great Northeast

The Stage Door

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

Sept. 28: “Always…Patsy Cline” starring Sally Struthers

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

Through Sept. 19: “West Side Story”
Sept. 24–Nov. 7: Church Basement Ladies: “A Mighty Fortress”

Fed Live
234 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg
717-525-8077; federaltaphousehbg.com

Sept. 20 & 27, Oct. 4: “Hair” (Bare Bones Theatre Ensemble)

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

Every Saturday: Improv Comedy, 7-10 p.m.
Every Sunday: Open Mic

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

Sept. 15-20: Once

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

Sept. 18: Comedy Night
Sept. 20: Troupe Hayati w/Troupe Asherah & The She Serpents

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

Through Sept. 6: “First Baptist of Ivy Gap”
Sept. 25-Oct. 11: “Next To Normal”

Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

Sept. 24: The Kinsey Sicks

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

Sept. 11-20: “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra”

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

Sept. 16-20: “Menopause: The Musical”
Sept. 26: Joy Behar w/Earl David Reed

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

Sept. 25-Oct. 4: “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.”

Life, Nothing More: “Bridge and Tunnel”–A must-see selection in the new Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival.

August 31, 2015 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

If art is supposed to represent real life, then Jason Michael Brescia’s newest film hits the nail right on the head.

“Bridge and Tunnel” focuses on a group of 20-somethings trying to make a life in the suburbs of New York. Through vignettes spanning over the course of a year, we get to know these characters pretty well, each bringing his or her own dynamic to the group: Sal and Meghan Lodato (played by Ryan Metcalf and Brianne Berkson) are trying to have kids, though Sal deals with anger management and Meghan wonders if he’s ready; Terry (Arjun Gupta) just got caught with a DUI on New Year’s Eve and is working to pay off the legal fees; Nate McLaughlin (Joe Murphy) helps his uncle at the bar while trying out online dating; and Eric Richter (Chris Viemeister) is dealing with a breakup with his first girlfriend, Lina (Natalie Knepp).

Though the dialogue is a bit dense and backstory-laden, there are many natural interactions, and the characters feel comfortable with each other. You will spend the film getting to know a large group of people, a feat that usually can’t be accomplished in an hour and a half. And perhaps that is because the film is, first and foremost, a character film. The only point of the film is watching these young adults wander through and deal with life. There’s no harebrained plot line trying to wrap things up too nicely at the end—just a year in the life of some friends.

“Bridge and Tunnel” will be playing at the Midtown Cinema as a part of the Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival, which plans to showcase documentary, short and feature-length films created by local, national and international filmmakers over the course of three days (Sept. 11 to 13). The films on the program run the gamut, covering diverse topics such as hometown rock bands, superhero sidekicks, suicide, Mr. Rogers, shut-ins and the meaning of life.

The film festival strives to add to the growing arts community of Harrisburg. Screening just two weeks prior to VIDJAM—a filmmaking festival inspired by the 48-Hour Film Project—perhaps this festival will usher in a new wave of filmmaking for our beloved city. You never know… maybe soon there’ll be a film about 20-somethings in Harrisburg.

Midtown Cinema
SEPTEMBER EVENTS

(Don’t forget to BYOZ – Bring Your Own Zeroday!)

Midnight Matinees
“Boogie Nights”
Saturday, Sept. 5, 11:55pm

Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival
Sept. 11-13

Down in Front!
“The Apple”
Friday, Sept. 11, 9:30pm

Classic Film Series
“2001: A Space Odyssey”
Sunday, Sept. 13, 6pm

3^rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“The Big Lebowski”
Friday, Sept. 18, 9:30pm

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“Free Willy”
Saturday, Sept. 19, 12pm
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2pm

Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
“Anonymous People”
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6pm

Sing Along!
“Grease” Sing-along
Saturday, Sept. 26, 7pm

Digital Theatre Series
“Othello”
Sunday, Sept. 27, 4pm
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7pm

Manhattan Short Film Festival
Sept. 27 & 29

VIDJAM 48-Hour Film Festival
Meeting on Friday, Sept. 28, 5pm
Screening on Thursday, Oct. 1, 7pm

Leashing the Lobbyists: Tighter rules, greater transparency needed for fourth branch of government.

August 31, 2015 | by Stan Rapp, Matt Steck, Clint Cullison, Ken Rapp and Sarah Copley

The operations of Pennsylvania government certainly are not inexpensive, nor are the industries that endeavor to influence those operations. It is incredibly big money, annually north of $25 billion on the government side alone. When there is that much money at play, there will always be opposing interests on how to spend those dollars. The mechanics of how that money gets spent is an interesting one, but surprisingly few people actually pay any attention at all, until something drastic occurs.

In 2005, a state government pay raise sparked cries from the public for reforms to what was seen as “business as usual” in Harrisburg. House and Senate rule changes prohibited voting past 11 p.m. and addressed other aspects of the legislative process; a Right to Know law was established and improved; and a new Lobbying Disclosure Act was adopted. Most recently, Gov. Tom Wolf enacted a gift ban for all employees under his control. The measures seemed to quell, at present, the public’s concerns over government openness and transparency. But has it really changed anything?

For our government to truly operate in the best interests of the people, it must be accountable to those it serves. Equitable and accountable application of the rules should not be a disguise or superficial. The rules must exist, carefully articulated in the law and crafted with their practical application in mind for the full impact of transparency and openness to carry prominence both in law and in cultural acceptance.

Many government outsiders say the influence of lobbyists should change. While one might argue the mindset of elected officials themselves necessitates change, lobbying and lobbyists seem like as good a place as any to start.

The current lobbying law set up a framework to continue discussions on how we hold accountable the actions of lobbyists in their interactions with elected officials. However, current law requires lobbying firms and principals (clients) to report aggregate amounts spent on direct and indirect communications, as well as aggregate totals for meals, entertainment, gifts and the like. So what? The numbers provide little accountability or context. For the public to find out what they really want to know (e.g., who the lobbyist is spending money on), an elected official must reach aggregate thresholds of $250 in gifts or $650 in meals and entertainment annually. Firms with many clients oftentimes spread expenses incurred with elected officials among all of their clients. By way of example, Lobbying Firm buys Senator X a $200 meal, which is then spread out among all 50 of the firm’s clients so each client accrues only $4 of aggregate spending on Senator X. Using this method, Lobbying Firm would have to take Senator X out for a meal in the same amount 163 times before a lobbying expense report would specifically name Senator X as a recipient of said entertainment.

What is the solution? So-called “dollar one reporting,” whereby lobbyists report every expense incurred with every elected official from the very first dollar. Some may opine that this would be overly burdensome on lobbyists; the truth is they should already have this system in place. If they don’t, how do they know when they hit the aggregate thresholds already in law?

The Lobbying Disclosure Act not only required the reporting in terms of dollars, but also in terms of representation of interests before elected officials. To that end, conflicts of interest are rightly prohibited—lobbyists are prohibited from representing two clients with conflicting interests. A lobbyist cannot fairly and justifiably represent People for Taxing Stuff and People Against Taxing Stuff. It is just common sense.

Utilizing the same concept, why does the law not prohibit the lobbyist from having other conflicts? The law does not prohibit a lobbyist from running political campaigns of elected officials. Lobbyists can represent People for Taxing Stuff and undertake political consulting work for Representative Y who opposes any taxes simultaneously, paid by two opposing interests, and yet the law allows it. Who is the lobbyist truly accountable to?

The solution is simple: prohibit lobbyists from also serving as paid political consultants, ensuring lobbyists are not utilizing either capacity to shortchange their clients. Further, give the law teeth and aggressively enforce. Penalties are prescribed in ethics laws not only to serve as a punishment, but, and perhaps more significantly, to serve as a deterrent to not adhering to that law. Penalties without enforcement are similarly no deterrent to not following the law. Even if deterred by the penalties, if one reasonably assumes nobody is watching, the law possesses little, if any, impact. The penalties in the current law are too lenient on would-be scofflaws, exacerbated by limited enforcement. Combined, the weakness in compliance leads to poor information available to the public, which naturally breeds further distrust. Providing stiffer penalties and adequately funding proper oversight and enforcement is a must if the law intends to promote transparency and accountability.

Not until we acquiesce to these and many other changes will Pennsylvania achieve meaningful culture changes in the state’s Capitol. Changes incur resistance as they impact the status quo and create real transparency in the process—and yes, even force elected officials to modify their thinking and behaviors. Regardless, one way or another, we all pay the cost absent meaningful change.

The authors are partners and associates with Greenlee Partners, a community publisher of TheBurg.

Community Corner: Notable Events in September

August 31, 2015 | by TheBurg Editor

Leads Over Lunch
Sept. 1: Mix and mingle with business leaders at this free lunch hosted by Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. The event takes place at Buffalo Wild Wings, 4600 Jonestown Rd., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Kipona
Sept. 5-7: Bid adieu to summer at the annual Kipona Festival, which will be held on City Island and at Riverfront Park over the Labor Day weekend. Expect food, music, kid’s activities, a pow-wow, canoe races and more. Fireworks will take place on Sunday. For more information, visit festivalsinpa.com/kipona-festival.

State of the City Address
Sept. 8: Mayor Eric Papenfuse delivers the latest news on Harrisburg at the annual State of the City address at the Hilton Harrisburg, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Member rate $60, general admission $85. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

A Year of Travels
Sept. 8: Join the National Railway Historical Society at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola, for an illustrated talk on traveling by Steve Barry. Meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m. Meal available as early as 5 p.m. For more information, contact Sloan Auchincloss at 717-238-2131.

Camera Club Meeting
Sept. 8: Listen and talk with photographer David Graham as he discusses his career and the importance of creativity. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Giant Community Room, 3300 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill. Visit harrisburgcameraclub.org.

Mega Mixer
Sept. 10: Join more than 500 local professionals at the ninth annual “Mega Mixer” featuring all four chambers of commerce from Cumberland County. The free event takes place at Allenberry Resort Inn & Playhouse, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Visit wschamber.org.

Blood Drive at Fredricksen
Sept. 11: A blood drive will be held in the lower parking lot of Fredricksen Library, 4 to 7:30 p.m. If you have questions, call Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank at 1-800-771-0059 or visit cpbb.org.

Foreign Film Friday
Sept. 11: Join Fredricksen Library for “Timbuktu,” an Oscar-nominated film about a boy and his family’s tribulations, with showings at 2 and 7 p.m. Not recommended for children under 17. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Film Festival
Sept. 11-13: The 1^st Annual Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival will showcase 31 independent feature and short films at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For information and full schedule, visit harrisburghersheyfilmfestival.com.

Jazz & Wine Fest
Sept. 11-13: Head to Fort Hunter Park to listen to elite jazz artists and sample wine from some of the state’s best wineries at the Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Fest, 4 to 9 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Visit forthunter.org.

HU Block Party
Sept. 12: Help Harrisburg University celebrate its 10^th anniversary with a block party on Market Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets. The 4 to 9 p.m. party will have entertainment, food and live music. For more information about HU, visit HarrisburgU.net.

Rugged Trail 5K
Sept. 12: The Ned Smith Center and Troegs Brewing Co. will partner for the first annual Troegs Trail Run for Conservation, with proceeds benefiting the Center’s mission. Day-of registration begins at 9 a.m., and the race starts at 10 a.m. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Annual Beer Fest
Sept. 12: Appalachian Brewing Co. will hold its 18^th annual Capital City Invitational Beer Fest, 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door and $15 for designated drivers. Visit abcbrew.com.

Queens Who Cook
Sept. 12: The 2^nd annual Queens Who Cook will take place at the Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, 1 to 3 p.m. Enjoy a variety of dishes and desserts, musical entertainment and prizes. For more, call 717-232-3644 or e-mail [email protected].

German Fest
Sept. 12: Take part in Evangelical Lutheran Church’s 152^nd annual German Fest. Enjoy fun activities including games, music and authentic German food at 420 N. Progress Ave., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit oslutheranharrisburg.org.

All-American Dairy Show
Sept. 12-17: The PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg will host the annual Dairy Show, featuring some of the nation’s best dairy cattle. Visit allamerican.state.pa.us.

Local Lunch
Sept. 13: Join Friends of Midtown at their monthly community lunch, which will be held at K&K Soulfood Café, 660 Boas St., 1^st Floor, noon to 2 p.m. Attendees receive a free ShopMidtown coupon book. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

27^th Annual Gallery Walk
Sept. 13: The annual Harrisburg Gallery Walk will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nearly 30 galleries and studios will participate, providing entertainment, art and refreshments. See story in this issue or visit artassocofhbg.com.

Mural Dedication
Sept. 13: It’s a special Gallery Walk for the Susquehanna Art Museum, which will dedicate its new mural by artist Daniel Finch in the courtyard of its new building. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the facility at N. 3^rd and Calder streets. Information is at sqart.org.

Artist’s Conversations
Sept. 13: Join the State Museum of PA as select artists and curators from “Art of the State” discuss their work, artistic processes and this year’s exhibit. The event is free of charge, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Visiting Writers Series
Sept. 14: Author Sean Prentiss will read an excerpt from his book, “Finding Abbey,” and will answer questions at Kunkel Auditorium, Penn State Harrisburg. Free to the public, 7 p.m. For more, contact Jen Hirt at 717-557-6753.

Restaurant Week
Sept. 14-18 and 21-25: Restaurant Week is back, featuring some of Harrisburg’s favorite restaurants, each offering three-course meals for $30. A full list of restaurants and menus is available at HarrisburgRestaurantWeek.com.

Chamber Mixer
Sept. 16: Join the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for its monthly business networking mixer at Lebanon Valley College, 101 N. College Ave., Annville, 6 to 8 p.m. More information is at cpglcc.org.

Happy Hour 5K
Sept. 16: Join the Junior League of Harrisburg for a Happy Hour 5K run on City Island. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m., and the 5K starts at 5:30 p.m. $30 per person until race day. For more information, email [email protected].

RV and Camping Show
Sept. 16-20: Come see more than 1,300 of the newest RVs and camping gadgets at America’s Largest RV Show at the Giant Center, Hershey. $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Visit largestrvshow.com.

Business After Hours
Sept. 17: Mingle with business professionals at this free networking event sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. This month, the event takes place 5 to 7 p.m. at David’s Furniture & Interiors, 5078 Jonestown Rd., Harrisburg. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Diversity Forum
Sept. 17: Join the YWCA Greater Harrisburg for networking and education on diversity. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and will feature remarks from Dauphin County Comm. George Hartwick, Rep. Patty Kim and Sen. Rob Teplitz. Visit ywcahbg.org.

3^rd in The Burg
Sept. 18: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3^rd 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.

Castaway Critters Picnic
Sept. 19: Celebrate the volunteers, adopters and supporters of the Castaway Critters Foundation, 12 to 4 p.m. at Sunset Park in Middletown. Attendees should bring a covered dish or snack for sharing. For more information, visit castawaycritters.org.

Heart and Stroke Walk
Sept. 20: Join the American Heart Association and PSECU for the 2015 Capital Region Heart and Stroke Walk at Metro Bank Park on City Island. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. and the walk starts at 2 p.m. Visit heart.org/capitalregionwalk or call 717-730-1781.

Interfaith Harmony Walk
Sept. 20: Celebrate cooperation among religions at this year’s Harmony Walk. The event starts at 2 p.m. at Wesley Union AME Zion Church, 2219 N. 5^th Street, Harrisburg. For more information, call Behzad Zandieh, 717-234-6552 or Michael Sand, 717-238-5558.

Fort Hunter Day
Sept. 20: Fort Hunter Mansion & Park will host a free autumn festival with games and shows, farm animals, music, food and more. The event takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit forthunter.org.

Book Fair
Sept. 24: Join the West Shore YMCA and Books Are Fun for this year’s book fair. The fair will be held in the lobby, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will benefit the YMCA Annual Campaign. Visit ymcaharrisburg.org.

Terrorism Talk
Sept. 24: Listen as retired Army Col. James Roberts discusses terrorism and the threat of ISIS. The Foreign Policy Association reception and dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Radisson Penn-Harris Hotel in Camp Hill. $24 for FPA members, $27 for non-members. For more, call Ron Pontius at 717-991-0899.

Charity Bartending
Sept. 25: Help support the fight against breast cancer at a charity bartending event, 5 to 7 p.m., at Rubicon, 270 North St., Harrisburg. Proceeds benefit Wiggity Wig Walk. Visit wiggitywigwalk.com or rubiconhbg.com.

Community Cleanup
Sept. 26: Friends of Midtown will host a community cleanup throughout Midtown Harrisburg, 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a picnic. Meet and eat at Penn and Dauphin Park. Contact [email protected] or visit
friendsofmidtown.org.

Museum Day
Sept. 26: The Harris-Cameron Mansion will open its doors free of charge as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s annual Museum Day Live. Guided tours will be able at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. For tickets, visit smithsonianmag.com.

Unity in Diversity
Sept. 26: Celebrate diversity in your community at the Unity in Diversity Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Shaffner Park, Hummelstown. The event will feature food, music, dancing, a multicultural fashion show and more. Information is at 717-991-5105.

Barn Fest
Sept. 26: Join Harrisburg Symphony Society for the annual Barn Fest, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Alexander Barn in Hummelstown. Enjoy relaxing music from The Hot House Trio, drinks and food. $45 for general admission, $75 for reserved seating. Visit HarrisburgSymphony.org.

Matchbox Car Show
Sept. 27: The AACA Museum will host a Matchbox Toy Show 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admissions is $7 and free for children 3 and under. Visit aacamusuem.org.

WoofStock
Sept. 27: The Central PA Animal Alliance will host the 11^th annual Woofstock, the largest adoption event for dogs on the east coast, along Riverfront Park, Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit cpaawoofstock.com.

Architecture Talk
Sept. 28: Historian Ken Frew delivers the lecture, “Ten Architects Who Changed the Face of Harrisburg,” at Historic Harrisburg Association. Program begins at 6 p.m.; come as early as 5 p.m. to see the exhibit “The Life, Work and Landmarks of Harrisburg Architect Clayton Lappley.” More is at historicharrisburg.com.

Just Around the Bend
Sept. 29: Nan Reisinger, the oldest woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, will share her experiences and challenges at a lecture starting at 7 p.m. at Fredericksen Library in Camp Hill. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Gee, That’s a Great Wine: Two tough names, two terrific grapes.

August 31, 2015 | by Steve Juliana

If you could peruse a dictionary of all the wine of the world, you’d do well to stop and examine the letter “G.” This is where you’ll find two white wines with individual character, as well as difficult to pronounce and spell names. They are Gewurztraminer and Gruner Veltliner.

Gewurztraminer originates from the Italian Tyrolean Alps near the village of Tramin in the region known as Alto Adige, where it has grown since the Middle Ages. In this German-language province, the name is translated to “perfumed traminer” as one of its main traits is a heady, pungent aroma, making it easy to recognize when a bottle is opened.

Gewurztraminer is technically a white grape for fermenting into white wine. However, it is also subject to mutation on the vine so that the fruit is now closer to pink in color, calling for a designation of “vin gris” or “gray wine.” Alsace is where this quaff shows its best pedigree. The styles vary from bone dry to very rich and fruity. Most possess a high degree of acidity, making these wines food-friendly with a variety of dishes, such as rich, heavy French cuisine, as well as fish and turkey.

I believe this wine is a perfect match for Thai food, complementing the spice but with enough rich sweetness to tone down the heat. While this is a European grape, the popularity of traminer is growing worldwide with plantings springing up on both coasts of the United States, as well as Canada and New Zealand. I have tasted good examples in New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Gruner Veltliner is a mouthful to pronounce and a wonderful wine to drink. A savory quaff from Austria, it occupies almost 40 percent of the vineyards in this central European country. Translated as “green veltliner,” it has been part of the wine culture of this region for centuries, even though the “green” moniker did not apply until 1930. Mostly light in color and weight, the majority of gruner is drunk young, although the potential exists for long aging in single-vineyard bottlings.

This wine’s flavor is a mix of citrus, herbs and minerals. It matches the food of Germanic Europe and also works as a palate scrubber. It is very refreshing during the summer and should be served with finger foods. I personally have had this wine on the table for Thanksgiving, too.

Gruner is slowly making fans in the United States, which is a good thing for all of us. Vines are appearing in the Finger Lakes and here in the Keystone State. To taste excellent Gruner locally, Galen Glen Winery bottles this unique wine in a mineral-accented liquid that shows the true terrior of its beautiful vineyards. It is wonderful that we have such a great wine relatively close to where we live. If you make it up to the vineyard in Andreas, Pa., tell Sarah that we said “Hi.”

Keep sipping, Steve.

In a Courtroom, Behind a Pen: For William Costopoulos, crime comes in 2 flavors–real and made-up.

August 31, 2015 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

If you live in this area, are of a certain age and unfamiliar with attorney William C. Costopoulos, then you probably aren’t paying attention. The lawyer is no stranger to the media, having appeared throughout the years often in newscasts, print and now in social media.

What you may not know is that Costopoulos, a husband, father and grandfather, enjoys writing as well as practicing law.

The high-profile attorney recently released his third novel, “Soul Witness,” a fictional account of terrorism and its toll on society. Area residents who pick up a copy will recognize many of the places the author references as the story unfolds in south-central Pennsylvania.

“We’ve been promised that terrorism will visit us on our soil,” said Costopoulos. “‘Soul Witness’ develops that promise in a realistic, fictionalized account that could happen any day.”

True Crime

Costopoulos said he “kinda backed into” a law career, after serving his country.

“I was drafted before law school right out of college and served my tour of duty in Fort Sill, Okla., trained in reconnaissance, until being honorably discharged in 1968 as a staff sergeant. After that, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I decided I’d rather continue my schooling than start working at that point.”

He applied to the Duquesne University School of Law and was accepted, and there he found his niche. He graduated valedictorian and earned his juris doctor degree before attending Harvard University School of Law.

Shortly after graduation, Costopoulos spent a year serving as the deputy district attorney of Dauphin County, after which he became a partner in the firm of Kollas & Costopoulos (now Costopoulos, Foster & Fields) in Lemoyne. He’s made his home there since.

In 1980, he took on one of his first high-profile cases, a lottery-rigging scheme that sparked national attention. Costopoulos represented two brothers, Pete and Jack Maragos, who were accused of injecting ping pong balls with latex paint, ensuring that only three numbers (666) would rise to the top of the machine.

“The brothers were given probation for cooperating, returning the money, and explaining how they did it,” Costopoulos said.

The movie “Lucky Numbers,” released in 2000, was based on the case.

A few years after the lottery scheme, Costopoulus played a role in yet another infamous case when Jay Smith, an English teacher at Upper Merion school district, was accused of murdering colleague Susan Reinert, whose body was found in the trunk of a car in a parking lot in Harrisburg (her two children’s bodies were never found).

Smith spent six years on death row before the case was overturned by the state Supreme Court, which cited “egregious” misconduct by prosecutors and state police in suppressing evidence at the trial.

Costopoulos, who served as Smiths’ court-ordered representative, declared the ruling a “victory for the citizens of Pennsylvania” against overreaching prosecutors. The case gained further notoriety when “Echoes in the Darkness,” authored by Joseph Wambaugh, hit the stands and was followed by a television mini-series.

When a wave of corruption swept the state Capitol, Costopoulos once again appeared in the public eye, representing high-ranking public officials like Senate Whip Jane Orie and Speaker of the House William DeWeese.

In 1994, Costopoulos took on the case against Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen.

“He was impeached on the Senate floor. That was the first and last impeachment trial since the Civil War, and it was an honor to be part of that history,” said Costopoulos, explaining that Larsen was charged with a host of offenses, but ultimately convicted of giving special consideration to a friend and obtaining anti-depressant drugs unlawfully.

More recently, Costopoulos’ attention has turned to representing Karl Rominger, a Carlisle lawyer and member of Jerry Sandusky’s defense team. Rominger is accused of misappropriating funds.

This spring, Costopoulos was named one of the “Nation’s Top One Percent” by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence.

Pushing Limits

Costopoulos, who recently celebrated his 71^st birthday, feels driven to write, but not because it’s a walk in the park.

“Writing is very hard for me; I work at it,” he said.

Perhaps it’s the desire to scratch his storyteller itch, or the urge to push his limits towards achieving excellence in yet another area, or a combination of both. Regardless, he makes it a point to carve out time in his busy day for the craft.

“I write in the very early morning, before daylight, and that’s my schedule. At that hour, the phones aren’t ringing and nobody’s talking to you,” said Costopoulos, as he explains getting into the zone and finding his flow. “When I start, it’s full bore.”

He used that technique for his latest work, “Soul Witness.”

“The story is driven by a series of events and how we, as a country, and our justice system respond to those events,” said Costopoulos.

He added that his career in the courtrooms makes him no stranger to the prospect of evil.

“I have dealt with evil and the pursuit of justice in our courts of law, therefore I am able to bring that message to the reader,” he said.

Author and reporter Brad Bumsted met Costopoulos years ago when he covered a trial where Costopoulos served as defense attorney.

“I didn’t know much about him as a writer; I just knew he was a great attorney,” said Bumsted.

Eventually, the two forged a friendship and joined forces to write a book together called “Murder is the Charge,” a true story about former York Mayor Charlie Robertson who was accused of murder in the York riots decades ago. Costopoulos represented Robertson, who was acquitted.

“You don’t meet too many attorneys that can communicate the English language as plainly as Bill does when he tells a story. He’s a good writer,” Bumsted said.

Costopoulos describes “Soul Witness” as some of his best writing, but says completing the novel is just the beginning when it comes to getting it out to readers.

“There are 959 new titles released every day,” he said. “If you’re willing to compete, the statistics are staggering. I wrote this book intending to compete.”

As for the future, Costopoulos hints that “Soul Witness” may not be his last.

“I’m driven by the stories I want to tell, and my writings have brought me a great deal of satisfaction. ‘Soul Witness’ has a message for all of us, including me,” he said with a smile.

“Soul Witness” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other outlets.

Musical Notes: Autumn Moodiness–A dose of folk captures the coming of fall.

August 31, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

September is the beginning of the end of summer. Students go back to school, vacation days are all used, and the days get a bit shorter.

But that’s no reason to mourn. This month’s slate features a wealth of seasoned musicians who channel the quiet surrender of the cooler months. All three can be categorized loosely as folk, but they approach the genre with their own sensibilities. So, let’s embrace the arrival of autumn together and check out some great live music this month.

WOVENHAND, 9/3, 9PM, H*MAC HERR STREET STAGE, $15:
Dark and brooding, the music of Wovenhand reflects a spirituality and weariness that is oddly refreshing when compared to the saccharine-sweet offerings of other religiously informed folk musicians. This musical project, now almost 15 years old, is driven by the creativity of lead singer and guitarist David Eugene Edwards. In a way befitting its name, Wovenhand deftly interweaves diverse styles, such as traditional folk, post-rock and industrial, creating a tapestry of sounds that is deeply moody and affecting. This show is a perfect pairing for the gradual transition from the sunshine of summer towards the long nights of winter.

VIKING MOSES, ST. BRENDAN & THE NAVIGATORS & HOT MESS, 9/11, 7PM, LITTLE AMPS DOWNTOWN, $5 SUGGESTED DONATION:
Another moody folk singer, Viking Moses, the musical nom de plume of the Baltimore-based Brendon Massei, has been touring almost constantly since 2003. His music reflects his wandering troubadour lifestyle, channeling the hard-living Americana of Depression-era folk singers like Woody Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He will be joined by local musicians, including the Philly/Harrisburg joint venture St. Brendan & the Navigators and Hot Mess, which hails from Carlisle.

JOHN GORKA, 9/25, 8PM, MIDTOWN SCHOLAR, $25:
A bit more traditional, John Gorka has been performing his folk music since the late ‘70s. A storyteller at heart, he uses his gentle, unassuming voice and quiet, guitar-driven arrangements to tell poignant tales about those he loves. He’s garnered the attention of leading critics, once being called the voice of the new folk movement by Rolling Stonemagazine. A mainstay on the stages of this nation’s folk festivals, he will be stepping into a fitting setting at the Scholar, as he is a kindred spirit of the good, well-worn books that will surround his performance.

Mentionables: Sofia Talvik, 9/3, The Millworks; Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, 9/4, Abbey Bar; Jon Shain, 9/11, Midtown Scholar; Wayne Hancock, 9/23, H*MAC Herr Street Stage; Jeffrey Gaines & Freedy Johnston, 9/24, H*MAC Herr Street Stage

Toasting a Town: Linglestown–2 roundabouts, 250 years of history.

August 31, 2015 | by M. Diane McCormick

Paulus Lingel came to Philadelphia from the Palatinate region of Germany around 1737. He had 11 children. One of his seven sons was Thomas Lingle.

Through generations of begetting, people today named Lingle, Lengel, Langle and Lingle are linked to their common forebear, Paulus, and to the crossroads town that came to be called after Thomas Lingle. Some now will travel from as far away as California and Colorado to join the celebration of Linglestown’s 250^th anniversary from Oct. 9 to 11.

The big birthday bash concludes a year’s worth of events involving Linglestown businesses and residents, as well as people who just appreciate the quaint village on the roundabout.

Floored, Flabbergasted

In 1765, Thomas Lingle, whose father had settled in Berks County, laid out 80 lots and called it the Town of St. Thomas after his namesake, the Apostle Thomas.

It’s not known exactly why Thomas chose this spot. Some of his brothers got land grants from the sons of William Penn. Family historian Thomas Lengle, of Crownsville, Md., says he has no record of Thomas getting a land grant, but it’s possible that he received one, sold the land, and used the proceeds to buy the property that would become his village.

People called the village Lingle’s town. After Lingle’s death in 1811, the name stuck. Today, the actual boundaries of Linglestown are a bit fuzzy. It is a cluster of homes, churches and businesses at the intersection of Route 39 and Colonial Road in Lower Paxton Township. And it is a place that people are passionate about.

“There is the actual historic village area,” says Pam Jones, co-chair with Polly Murphy of Linglestown 250, the celebration committee. “I don’t know there is a boundary. People who live pretty far out on Linglestown Road still think they’re in Linglestown.”

The village has celebrated its founding every 50 years, so, around 2012, the Linglestown Area Civic Association formed the Linglestown 250 Anniversary, a project of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. The birthday celebration was not to be one blowout event but a series of happenings that spotlight local history and culture, sponsored by a wide range of businesses and individuals.

In fall 2014, the kickoff spaghetti dinner and auction raised a whopping $13,000.

“In one evening, we were floored, just flabbergasted by it,” says Jones. “That got us going. That got our funding absolutely on track.”

Flocking to Town

Since the kickoff, there have been many other activities: a food, wine and beer tasting on the square, ladies’ day at Colonial Golf & Tennis Club, a home and garden show, a dulcimer concert, a Lego show and paintball.

The Linglestown 250 speaker series spotlighted central Pennsylvania abolitionists, Harrisburg trolley cars, frontier forts and “Linglestown Then and Now,” featuring Murphy presenting historic and contemporary photos and researchers Laura Gifford and Denise Deimler on their commemorative book, “250 Years of Linglestown, Pennsylvania.”

Celebration weekend, Oct. 9 to 11, promises many more events.

The festivities begin with a community church service. Then there will be walking tours, a flower show, a 5K race, Civil War reenactors, a Native American settlement, crafts sales and demonstrations, a children’s history hunt and the Popcorn Hat Players, music, a time capsule, firefighters vs. police softball and more music, culminating with fireworks in Koons Memorial Park. Colonial Park Rotary will dedicate its Linglestown Clock in the square, and St. Thomas UCC, where Thomas Lingle is buried, is reviving the Linglestown Fair, originally held in the 1920s.

Then there’s the Linglestown 250 parade.

“I think Polly and I want to take a little rest and vacation on the 12^th,” Jones admitted.

Jones and Murphy also created Roundabout after a young volunteer suggested the celebration needed a costumed mascot. A raccoon seemed to be the thing. Roundabout has appeared at schools and fundraisers and at Linglestown’s National Night Out festivities. For Roundabout Around Town, entrants are painting wooden raccoons for display and prizes on celebration weekend.

“Roundabout will be in the parade,” said Jones. “Any place we’ve been, he’s been there to greet the kids.”

Before Friday’s church service, about 100 descendants of Thomas Lingle and his brothers will dine at the Knights of Columbus. A Lengle will sing during social hour. Organizer Thomas Lengle, the family historian, hopes to line up a Lengle minister for the invocation. Prominent historian Edward G. Lengel of the University of Virginia—a great nephew of Thomas Lingle and an authority on George Washington—will keynote on the Revolutionary War service of Thomas Lingle and his brothers.

The fact that a place bears their name may help explain why people are flocking from all over the country for a village anniversary, says Lengle. He’s also “been surprised by the number of young people that have a total interest in this.”

“A lot of people wanted to know who’s who in the family and how’d we get here, and this is a big opportunity,” he said.

Linglestown 250 organizers hope to capitalize on the spirit stirred up by their celebration. Jones likes the small-town feel of Linglestown and its ever-present history. She and Murphy and the other participants “hope this has captured that energy.”

“We hope the vision has caught on,” she says. “We hope that people will keep the enthusiasm going and make this little village a little more attractive for people coming to town.”

Linglestown 250 will take place Oct. 9 to 11 in and around Linglestown. For schedule, sponsorship and volunteering information, as well as book orders, visit www.linglestown250.com.

August News Digest

August 31, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Crime Rate Falls

Serious crime in Harrisburg plummeted by almost 21 percent for the first six months of the year, according to statistics reported last month to the FBI.

Compared to the same period of last year, nearly all “Part 1” crimes were down by double-digits, including rape, vehicle theft, robbery, assault and burglary. Homicides were unchanged at seven.

Arson was the only crime that showed an increase, with 11 cases from January through June, as opposed to eight cases in 2014.

The statistics that the Harrisburg Police Bureau reported to the FBI include (Jan.-June 2015 vs. Jan.-June 2014):
Homicide: 7 vs. 7
Rape: 15 vs. 28
Robbery: 115 vs. 155
Assault: 593 vs. 680
Burglary: 238 vs. 263
Theft: 409 vs. 591
Auto Theft: 63 vs. 96
Arson: 11 vs. 8

In 2014, Part 1 crimes were down by 8 percent for the entire year.

Reed Defense Fund Goes Live

A website launched last month to accept contributions to the legal defense of former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.

The website, justiceforsteve.com, seeks to raise money to help Reed battle 499 criminal counts filed against him in July by the state attorney general’s office. The charges cover a wide range of alleged corruption, centering on Reed’s use of public borrowings to direct money to pet projects and favored professionals.

The website also refutes the state’s allegations against Reed.

“Steve Reed was one of the most honest, dedicated and brilliant public servants to ever serve our city and accusations now being levied against him are a travesty,” states the website, which adds that “it’s time to stand up for Steve Reed!”

Reed has engaged the Philadelphia-based law firm of Ballard Spahr to assist him with his defense.

More Downtown Apartments

New apartments continue to spring up in downtown Harrisburg, as Harristown Enterprises plans to add 23 more units near Strawberry Square.

Harristown expects to start this fall on the renovation of a six-story office building at 18-22 S. 3rd St., which also houses El Sol Mexican restaurant, which will continue to operate. The building will feature 15 high-end, one-bedroom apartments, each measuring about 800 square feet.

Directly across the street, Harristown will renovate historic townhouses at 19, 21, 23 and 27 S. 3rd St. Those three-story townhouses will contain eight one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, as well as commercial space on the ground floors.

This is the second time recently that Harristown announced it would convert downtown commercial space to apartments. It recently received City Council approval to renovate 21,000 square feet of office space and another 6,000 square feet of loft space to 22 apartments above a stretch of shops along N. 3rd and Market streets in Strawberry Square.

“We believe the market for high-end and unique apartments in the downtown is very strong, and we look forward to continuing to grow the downtown residential population,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown.

All of these projects are slated for completion in spring 2016.

Over the past two years, downtown housing has experienced a rapid revival, with numerous office-to-residential conversions. Most recently, WCI Partners completed its Walnut Court Apartments, a 21-unit project at Walnut and Court streets that opened in July and is already mostly leased, according to WCI President David Butcher.

Harristown will partner with Select Capital Commercial Properties for a portion of its most recent project.

New SAM Director

The Susquehanna Art Museum has named Alice Anne Schwab as its new executive director.
Schwab last served as director of education for the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and currently serves on the boards of several local non-profit organizations.

Schwab replaced Laurene Buckley, who served a little over two years in the post. Under her tenure, the museum constructed its new facility, which opened in January at N. 3rd and Calder streets in Midtown Harrisburg.

In this position, Schwab will oversee the day-to-day operations of the museum, supervising both the administrative and creative teams to create a “premier regional art museum,” according to the museum’s announcement.

To learn more about the Susquehanna Art Museum, visit www.sqart.org.

Little Amps to Open 3^rd Location

Attention state workers—your high-quality caffeine fix is closer than ever as Little Amps Coffee Roasters soon will open in Strawberry Square.

The third location of the Harrisburg-based coffee shop is slated to debut in October in vacant space adjacent to the Chockablock Clock on the first floor, said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns and manages Strawberry Square.

Little Amps owner Aaron Carlson said he was attracted to Strawberry Square so he can serve office workers who may not venture to his other shops.

“Our other stores tend to attract people who live in the city,” he said. “There are some 9-to-5 coffee-lovers that we think we can attract.”

The new location will be small, a kiosk-style space with a few cafe tables, Carlson said.

Little Amps was founded in October 2011 with a single location at the corner of Green and Muench streets in Olde Uptown in Harrisburg. It later opened a downtown location at the corner of N. 2nd and State streets.

Changing Hands

Boas St., 110: M. Lehocky to A. Seig, $130,000
Boas St., 1855: Pennymac Corp to M. Myers, $38,000
Boas St., 402: I. Lewis to E. Musselman, $89,900
Briggs St., 1608: C. Johnson to M. Bullock, $105,000
Crescent St., 326: S. & S. Rodriguez to O. & Z. Gonzalez, $51,000
Cumberland St., 270: W. Fritz & PA Deals LLC to D. Reinhart, $125,000
Derry St., 1201½ & 1224: S. & S. Rodriguez to O. & Z. Gonzalez, $51,000
Fillmore St., 614: C. Badillo to G. Boyd, $69,900
Fulton St., 1419: G. & D. Hanslovan to A. Skerpon, $88,500
Fulton St., 1420: PA Deals LLC to V. & D. Poplaski, $95,000
Green St., 1100: N. & A. Hoffner to B. Smith, $140,000
Green St., 1115: W. Hoover & D. Scoyoc to R. Slater & K. Hribar, $175,000
Green St., 1515: F. Bierach & R. Stanley to J. Barton, $109,900
Green St., 710: M. Coble to N. Pinkston & C. Maximowicz, $163,000
Hamilton St., 213: M. Montaine to R. & F. Armetta, $155,000
Harris St., 330: K. Barrow to A. Roth, $102,000
Kelker St., 201: Rockville Enterprises LLC to R. Stelzer, $82,500
Logan St., 1733: PA Deals LLC to D. Dougherty & K. Lyons, $96,900
Manada St., 2016: PA Deals LLC to D. Reinhart, $94,800
Mulberry St., 1158: S. Elazouni to S. Patel, $65,000
Nagle St., 119 & 709 Showers St.: T. Sangrey to J. Baer & A. Jury, $251,000
N. 2^nd St., 1827: K. Dougherty to J. Reneker & A. Woodrow, $110,000
N. 2^nd St., 2135: Fannie Mae to PA Deals LLC, $45,000
N. 2^nd St., 2727: M. & J. Hobson to W. Stabler, $246,900
N. 3^rd St., 712: Grandkott Corp. & M. Granderson to MLP LLC, $126,000
N. 3^rd St., 1229: S. Johnsen to J. Geronimo, $126,000
N. 4^th St., 1905: K. Clifford to A. Adesubokan, $75,000
N. 5^th St., 3108: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to J. Charlton, $33,478
N. 6^th St., 3212: PA Deals LLC to V. & D. Poplaski, $100,000
N. 19^th St., 28: D. County Property Investors LLC to N. Grimes, $50,000
Paxton St., 1908: S. Benjamin to Niel Real Estate Investments LLC, $250,000
Penn St., 1910: WCI Partners LP to A. LaFountain, $154,900
S. 20^th St., 19: M. Wolde & H. Andemapiam to W. Kharalah, $32,000
S. 25^th Street, 432: P. Bauer to D. Price, $106,000
S. 29^th St., 520 & 576: Goodrich Associates to Amerco Real Estate Company, $1,800,000
S. River St., 317: J. Dominick & R. Swartzentruber to W. Danowski & A. Mead, $82,000
Seneca St., 313: R. Sheetz to M. & V. Keyes, $35,000
Verbeke St., 222: A. DiSilvestro to E. Dean, $140,000
Vineyard Rd., 214: V. Grodner to L. Csovelak & A. Trone, $184,000
Walnut St., 211: M. Ntonados to R. Rammouni, $150,000
Zarker St., 2007: M. Wolde & H. Andemapiam to W. Kharalah, $32,000

Harrisburg property sales for July 2015, greater than $30,000. Source Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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