Summer Sounds: Perfect music for the steamy heat.

June 30, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Saintseneca. Photo courtesy of Saintseneca.

We’ve made it into the heart of the summer. The temperature continues to rise, but so does the quality of music here in the city. And this month we have three perfect audio companions for the summer heat.

All three featured artists build their sound on an acoustic base, but take it in very different directions. On the one hand, you have complex, African-inspired polyrhythms; on the other, quiet melodies well suited for a campfire. Whichever you prefer, make sure to add these shows to the soundtrack of your summer.

RUSTED ROOT, 7/2, 7PM, SAWYER’S, FREE

Most people are familiar with Rusted Root’s single, “Send Me On My Way.” Fusing world music rhythms with acoustic jam band songwriting, these Pittsburgh natives dropped the platinum album, “When I Woke,” back in 1994. But they haven’t stopped touring and have released five additional albums in the 20-odd years since they broke out. They’ve always had a distinctly summer sound, so they’ll fit in perfectly on Sawyer’s outdoor stage in the heart of the city. So whether you come for the nostalgia or you’ve been following their lengthy career, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the warm nights of July.

LYDIA LOVELESS, 7/9, 8PM, H*MAC HERR STREET STAGE, $12

Lydia Loveless, an alternative country artist on Bloodshot records, possesses a sound and attitude that is beyond her years. Ohio born, she has earned a reputation for being a strong, assertive woman in an industry that all too often prefers that women stick to unchallenging love songs. She attributes her attitude to her punk rock childhood, a quality that places her in the company of a hard-living alt-country man, Ryan Adams, who is also a Bloodshot alum. So whether you prefer rock or country, this show will be perfectly paired with a shot of whiskey.

SAINTSENECA w/HEAVY LIGHTS, 7/29, 10PM, MILLWORKS, FREE

Like Loveless, Saintseneca hails from Ohio. Employing a wide range of acoustic instruments and led by songwriter Zac Little, they have been garnering significant critical attention, even recording a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR’s “All Songs Considered.” This isn’t their first time making their way through our city, but their star seems to be shining a bit brighter since I saw them perform at a backyard house show a few years ago. With their creative and delicate arrangements, they’re a perfect match for the Millworks and a terrific expression of the summer’s quieter moments.

Mentionables: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 7/12, The Forum; Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, 7/17, Abbey Bar; Jarekus Singleton, 7/22, H*MAC Herr Street Stage; Dustbowl Revival, 7/23, The Millworks; Porcelain, 7/25, Midtown Scholar Bookstore

Senior Pet Moments: Aging dogs and cats require special attention and care.

June 30, 2015 | by Kristen Zellner

Myna

Puppies and kittens are energetic bundles of joy.

As humans, we are drawn to their baby-like faces and cuddly nature. They capture our hearts with puppy breath, purring, laughable clumsiness, tail chasing and all the silly acts that young animals perform. There are thousands of YouTube videos dedicated solely to the antics of baby pets.

However, it is rare to see senior pets portrayed in the media. The reality is that aged animals are not as cute or fun to look at as their younger kin. We know that aging and death are inevitable when raising a pet, but it seems like something we need not worry about for years to come. It creeps up on us, and sometimes we even live in denial when we begin to notice the signs of aging in our own beloved animals.

Much like raising a kitten or puppy, caring for senior pets is more time consuming and less convenient. It is sad and frustrating to watch pets age as their bodies and minds begin to slow down. Mobility issues, incontinence, joint pain, dental problems, hearing or vision loss, anxiety and cognitive dysfunction are common ailments that senior pets experience.

To help your aging pet, consider having a pet sitter visit to allow dogs to relieve themselves during the day. You may also want to clean litter boxes more often, put up baby gates to prevent pets from falling down stairs, modify duration and type of play and exercise and use puzzle toys for mental stimulation. A consistent schedule is important to keep pets in a routine, which will help them feel more secure. For anxious and stressed pets, calming remedies, Thunder Shirts and a quiet place to relax can help.

Many senior pets develop more severe issues such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease as they reach a geriatric stage of life. Be sure to watch for signs that may indicate that a serious health problem is emerging. These may include loss of appetite, lethargy, panting, pacing, confusion, agitation, aggression, increased vocalization, increase in sleep, frequent urination, restlessness and a decrease in self-care. Keeping notes on any health or behavioral changes can assist your vet when developing a senior plan of care.

Proper veterinary care is the first line of defense in finding out where problems may lie within the body. Even if a pet “looks” fine, there may be underlying disease that can be remedied, but, if left untreated, can lead to premature death and unnecessary suffering. Complete blood panels, urinalysis and radiographs are basic tests that can help determine if a pet is beginning to have a problem and enable the veterinarian to treat a condition at early onset.

A growing number of pet owners are seeking supplemental treatments that were once only used on humans. Acupuncture, cold laser therapy and acupressure can help reduce inflammatory issues and pain. Chiropractic care is used to treat and prevent joint degeneration, hip dysplasia, incontinence, neck and back pain, and improve mobility.

Pets with mobility problems may also benefit from physical therapy and swimming. Massage therapy increases circulation and flexibility, eases muscle and joint discomfort and calms anxious pets. Homeopathy, herbs, aromatherapy and Reiki are growing in popularity for pet owners who are seeking more natural and less invasive ways to treat ailments, especially when other treatments are not working.

With the many care options available for our pets, they are living longer and with greater quality of life. There is no remedy for aging but, with our good care and companionship, senior pets can live happily and healthfully for many years to come.

Kristen Zellner is owner of Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, 3963 N. 6^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.abramsandweakley.com or call 717-232-3963.

Delightful “Chaos”: Rickman chooses period piece for long-awaited return as director.

June 30, 2015 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

At the beginning of “A Little Chaos,” Alan Rickman’s second directorial feature, there is a warning: “There is an outdoor ballroom in the gardens of Versailles. In what follows, at least that much is true.”

In an era in which the phrase “based on a true story” is used like a lifeline, this promise is refreshing, to say the least. And, besides, the plot of this 17^th-century story is almost too progressively good to be true. Written by Alison Deegan, the film tells the story of the woman who is (supposedly) hired to design said ballroom—Madame Sabine De Barra.

Madame De Barra (Kate Winslet) took to landscaping after her husband died, necessitating that she support herself. The problem is, while most Enlightenment artists base their work on reason and order, she is inspired by chaos. So, when King Louis XIV (Rickman) issues a project for the Garden of Versailles under the eye of landscaper André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts), she applies for a job expecting to be turned down. But Monsieur Le Notre witnesses Madame De Barra moving a pot in his garden before the interview, revealing her nonconformity and stirring Le Notre to choose her for the project.

The job does not come without struggles, including the problem of being a woman in a “man’s job” and the jealous eye of Monsieur Le Notre’s wife (Helen McCrory) as romance flares between the two landscapers. And all the while, Madame De Barra’s thoughts are tormented by the mysterious image of a little girl.

As form follows function, the structure of “A Little Chaos” is—well—chaotic. The humor is not evenly spread throughout the film, though it is deftly added where needed. And though Madame De Barra’s past is a prominent feature in the story, the revealing moment feels a bit belabored. But, overall, the film is engaging and deals with the gray areas that period pieces often glaze over (i.e. affairs). It seems that the central point of the film is that sometimes chaos is order.

Winslet and Schoenaerts are a delight together, and Rickman owns his role as the king. There are even a few fabulous, though short, moments with Stanley Tucci as the king’s brother, Philippe d’Orleans. It’s a smart little period piece that you should be sure to catch—hopefully it won’t be another 18 years before Alan Rickman directs again. “A Little Chaos” will be playing soon at the Midtown Cinema.

Midtown Cinema

July Events

Midnight Matinee Series
“Airplane” (1980)
Saturday, July 11, 11:45pm

Classic Film Series
“Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)
Sunday, July 12, 6pm

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997)
Friday, July 17, 9:30ish

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)
Saturday, July 18, noon
Sunday, July 19, 2pm

MOVIATE Presents
“The Punk Syndrome”
Sunday, July 26, 7pm

LGBT Film Festival
July 26 to July 28

– – – – –

Outdoor Film Series

July 10
Down in Front!
“Plan 9 From Outer Space”

July 24
“Labyrinth”

Aug. 7
“The Princess Bride”

Aug. 28
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

All outdoor movies start at dusk in the parking lot of Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg.

State Commission Calls for Meeting Over Front Street Trees

June 29, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Two of the trees marked for removal in Riverfront Park, as part of a Front Street resurfacing project .

A state historic preservation office last week reversed its position on the removal of four century-old trees along Harrisburg’s riverfront, urging the state Department of Transportation to hold a public meeting on the proposal before proceeding.

The four trees are located in a historic district Uptown in Riverfront Park, at the intersections of Front and Radnor and Front and Emerald streets.

They may have been planted under a landscaping plan from the City Beautiful movement, an early-20^th-century effort to enhance Harrisburg’s appearance and infrastructure.

PennDOT plans to remove them as part of a state-funded resurfacing project underway along Front Street between Forster and Division.

The state preservation agency that reviewed the project initially found it would not adversely impact any historical resources, and PennDOT earlier this month described the loss of four trees in a 20-mile-long district as “extremely minimal.”

But in a memo dated June 23, Douglas McLearen of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission said his office had received multiple emails and phone calls from local stakeholders requesting PennDOT protect the trees during construction.

As a result, McLearen wrote, his office now “strongly suggests” PennDOT solicit comments and hold a public meeting on the proposal.

Three of the trees are believed to be American elms dating to 1919, according to PennDOT project findings. The fourth is believed to be either a Chinese elm or a maple dating to after the Great Depression, the department said.

PennDOT said it needed to remove them in order to install wheelchair-accessible ramps, along with twelve other trees that are on the opposite side of the street and therefore outside the historic district.

TheBurg Podcast, June 26, 2015

June 26, 2015 | by Admin

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

June 26, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk trash – starting with the law that emboldened gun rights groups to sue Harrisburg, which a court ruling this week consigned to the dustbin, and moving on from there to the overhaul of city sanitation services.

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

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page.

Court Strikes Down Pro-Gun Law, Saving City Some Fees

June 25, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, left, and City Solicitor Neil Grover spoke about the Commonwealth Court ruling Thursday afternoon.

Harrisburg officials claimed a partial victory in the battle over its gun laws Thursday, after a state court struck down a law that emboldened gun-rights groups to sue Pennsylvania municipalities over their firearms regulations.

The Commonwealth Court, in an almost unanimous opinion, ruled the law violated constitutional requirements that a bill must have a single subject and must not depart from its original purpose in the course of being passed into law.

In its opinion, written by Judge Robert Simpson, the court rejected the argument that the provisions of the bill fit within the single subject of “amending the crime code,” saying such a subject was overly broad.

It agreed with the law’s challengers—three state senators, two state representatives and the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh—that the bill was altered beyond its original purpose when the firearms provisions were added.

City officials celebrated Thursday’s ruling, though with the lawsuits still pending, they could not say precisely how decisive a victory it was.

“We know it helps us,” Harrisburg city solicitor Neil Grover said Thursday. “We just have to identify exactly how.”

The law aided gun-rights groups and their members by granting them automatic standing to sue municipalities, relieving them of the difficult legal task of demonstrating local ordinances had harmed them.

It also allowed them to recoup legal and other costs if they prevailed, leading attorneys like Justin McShane, whose firm is one of the two suing Harrisburg, to threaten the city with tens of thousands of dollars in damages.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse referred to those threats on Thursday, saying one consequence of the ruling is that the city will not have to make such payments.

“Attorney McShane was rather vocal about trying to bankrupt the city through his enormous legal bills,” he said. “I am pleased to say we will not have to pay them.”

Harrisburg has been defending its gun laws against two separate lawsuits since January, spending upwards of $65,000 so far, with mixed results.

A county judge has barred the city from enforcing three of its ordinances, while a federal judge, siding with the city, has voided a $21,000 default that was awarded to one of the plaintiffs.

The state law, Act 192 of 2014, began as a two-page bill about the theft of metals including copper and aluminum, but later was amended to incorporate almost verbatim the provisions on challenging local gun laws from a separate, stalled bill.

Kim Stolfer, whose group Firearms Owners Against Crime helped craft the law and is one of the groups suing Harrisburg, described Thursday’s ruling as “one of the worst examples of tortured logic I’ve ever seen.”

He said the ruling dodged the question of the legality of local gun ordinances, and pointed to a partial dissent by Judge Patricia McCullough arguing the majority left legislators in the dark as to how to amend the crimes code.

Papenfuse, for his part, claimed the opinion sent the right message to legislators. “Hopefully, the result of this will be, in the future, the public will be protected from lawmaking in that sort of last-minute, hidden-from-view style,” he said.

Stolfer, however, disagreed, saying the bill had been well-publicized when it was being considered and the legislature had “overwhelmingly” voted to pass it. “The people of Pennsylvania wanted this,” he said.

New Trash Bins Hoped to Fight Litter, Increase Recycling

June 24, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Dwayne Simon, of the 400-block of Crescent Street, with the city's new black trash toters Wednesday.

Dwayne Simon, of the 400-block of Crescent Street, with the city’s new trash toters Wednesday morning.

Beginning this week, Harrisburg is distributing 31,000 new trash and recycling bins throughout the city, as part of a sanitation overhaul aimed at increasing recycling, reducing litter and ultimately lowering trash bills.

The new bins—95-gallon black toters for trash and 32-gallon blue cans for recycling—are being distributed free of charge to residential properties ranging from single-family homes to multi-unit buildings with four or fewer apartments.

The bins, manufactured and distributed by Rehrig Pacific under a $1.2-million contract, will be handed out over the next several weeks, starting with Allison Hill this week and proceeding through south Harrisburg and the river wards.

“This is going to hold all the trash anyone could possibly need,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said Tuesday of the new black toters. As for the recycling bins, he said, “They’re rigid, they’re strong and they hold an awful lot of recycling.”

Rehring Pacific is relying on city records to identify where to place the bins, which will be tracked by serial numbers linked to individual addresses. Residents do not need to be present to receive their bins, the city said.

On Wednesday morning, Dwayne Simon stood in front of his home in the 400-block of Crescent Street beside a line of toters dropped off minutes before by a crew.

“We needed these. Very, very helpful,” he said, adding that in the past bins often overflowed and bags were left spilling their garbage into the street. “But these are big enough to hold all the trash,” he said. “With these right here, there’s no excuse.”

The new bins for recycling (left) and trash, on display at city hall.

The new bins are part of an overhaul of sanitation services first contemplated under former Mayor Linda Thompson, after a state intervention into city finances recommended privatizing sanitation to improve results and lower costs.

The city rejected that option, however, and, under Papenfuse, has sought to prove its own fleet can provide a reliable service at a reasonable price.

The city also hopes to encourage recycling with a set of policy changes, which the new blue bins are designed to accommodate. Under the new policy, residents can recycle virtually all paper products, tin, steel and most plastics, but not glass.

(The full 2015 recycling guide can be found on the city’s website or downloaded here.)

John Rarig, the city’s recycling coordinator, said that preliminary results suggest recycling has doubled under the policy, and Papenfuse said his own household had doubled its recycling.

More recycling will mean less trash and reduced dumping costs, although the city must still reach an annual 35,000-ton “put or pay” target at the incinerator or else face a financial penalty.

The city hopes to boost its numbers by bringing commercial and other accounts back to the city from private haulers, an effort that has prompted at least one lawsuit so far.

The monthly charge for pickup for each trash container is $32.34. Residents can request additional containers, but must pay the monthly fee for each one. Additional recycling bins will be distributed on request and picked up at no extra charge.

Residents can also request smaller bins, though the city is asking them to “give the new containers a chance” before downsizing, Papenfuse said. Smaller bins will come with the same monthly pickup charge and can be requested by calling 311.

Once the new bins have been distributed, the city will cease to pick up other containers. Residents can drop off old containers at the public works building at 1820 Paxton St. or can leave them out with their trash for pickup by the city.

In Trash Bill Suit, City Sees Source of Sanitation Woes

June 23, 2015 | by Paul Barker

A trash hauler on the tipping floor of the Harrisburg incinerator. (File photo.)

A trash hauler tips waste at the Harrisburg incinerator. (File photo.)

When a south Harrisburg apartment complex filed a lawsuit against the city last week, it hoped to challenge what it called an “unconscionable” new city bill for trash pickup, one it says would more than triple what it pays a private hauler to provide the same services.

But the city says the suit, filed by Harrisburg Park Apartments, an affordable-housing complex in the 1400-block of S. 15th St., instead demonstrates one of the reasons officials are overhauling sanitation in the first place: private haulers are dodging city dumping rules.

An invoice attached to the complaint, from the complex’s private hauler Republic Services, strongly suggests the company is evading the $190-per-ton charge to dump trash at the city incinerator, Mayor Eric Papenfuse told reporters Tuesday.

“If you look closely at the lawsuit, they put forth a bunch of assertions and facts which would tend to support our contention,” Papenfuse said. “It’s direct proof of the fact…that they’re not paying the city rate. They’re paying the county rate.”

The Harrisburg incinerator charges vastly different rates for municipal waste based on where it originates—$190 per ton to dump waste from Harrisburg, as opposed to $80 per ton for waste originating anywhere else in Dauphin County.

The incinerator does not specifically monitor where the trash is from, depending instead on an honor system in which haulers themselves declare the point of origin.

“We rely upon the haulers to be honest and forthright,” said Katie Sandoe, a spokesperson for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, which bought the incinerator in 2013. Sandoe said the authority also reviews historical totals for disparities, which it has not detected.

Robert Hasemeier, a consulting engineer who worked on a recent audit of city sanitation services, estimated there were 6,000 to 8,000 tons of city trash that were declared each year as having originated elsewhere.

Presented with these numbers, Sandoe said the authority has “not seen the type of disparity that’s being described,” though she did say she was referring to recent disparities, rather than the historic shortfalls the city claims it has been facing.

According to the suit, Republic Services charges the apartment complex $2,200 per month to pick up trash twice per week from its five, six-cubic-yard dumpsters.

The weight of the trash would vary considerably depending on what sort of materials are in it and how full the dumpsters are, and without a breakdown of tonnage in the invoice, it’s uncertain how many tons Republic is transporting to the incinerator from the complex each month.

But assuming the dumpsters are only half full, and using an industry estimate of 200 pounds per cubic yard of household trash, the monthly total would be around 12 tons of garbage.

The cost of dumping that amount of garbage alone, and excluding personnel and other costs, would be $2,304 if the company were properly declaring its origin.

A customer service representative at Republic Services referred questions to Andy Warntz, an area sales manager, who could not be reached Tuesday.

Harrisburg Park says its complaint was prompted by a February letter notifying local businesses that the city would be taking over all waste collection and recycling within its boundaries this year.

The letter noted that several properties previously relied on private haulers for such services, but that the city was compelled to reclaim those accounts to meet “trash volume requirements” agreed to in the course of the incinerator sale.

The city must deliver 35,000 tons to the incinerator each year or else pay to cover the shortfall, providing extra incentive to recover lost city accounts, especially if the audit has correctly estimated the amount of trash being improperly declared.

“We are confident the city’s waste disposal and collection services will meet or exceed the services provided by private haulers and potentially save your business money,” said the letter, which was signed by the mayor and public works director.

According to the lawsuit, however, a new bill based on existing city rates would more than triple Harrisburg Park’s current trash costs, bringing them from Republic’s $2,200 per month to nearly $7,500.

The strongly-worded complaint blasts the city’s takeover, calling its rates “facially unconscionable,” “unreasonable and absurd” and “usury.”

It claims the city takeover, if not prevented by the court, would either force the owner to charge higher rent from tenants or go bankrupt and close the property, thereby reducing the stock of affordable housing available to low-income families.

Jordan Cunningham, a partner at the law firm Cunningham, Chernicoff and Warshawsky, which is representing Harrisburg Park in the complaint, could not be reached Tuesday. Ralph Salvia, another attorney at the firm, declined to comment, saying only that the complaint had to be re-filed to remedy a procedural error.

Papenfuse, for his part, said he has arranged to meet with Harrisburg Park’s attorneys to explain the city’s position. In the meantime, he offered his own opinion of the lawsuit, which he says is not the first one that has been threatened over the sanitation takeover.

“There is no merit to their case at all,” he said.

TheBurg Podcast, June 19, 2015

June 19, 2015 | by Admin

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

June 19, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul chop through some red tape and try to shed some light on two rather abstract-sounding projects afoot in the city – the comprehensive planning process, which held its first public meetings this week, and Impact Harrisburg, a non-profit that has been quietly setting the stage for what to do with $16 million in public money.

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

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page.

Ad Company Donates Billboard Spot to City

June 12, 2015 | by Paul Barker

A digital advertising company has donated a rotating billboard spot to Harrisburg city government, the mayor and company representatives announced today.

Jeff Cook, president and owner of Advanced Digital Advertising, said the 6-second spot on the billboard at 7th and Forster streets was his company’s way of helping the capital city’s recovery.

The city expects to use the easily-updated ad spot primarily for public safety, for example by posting information about wanted persons, or for informing citizens about street closures, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

The spot is one of several that appear in the digital billboard’s rotation, which stands above the entrance to a parking lot and looks over a traffic circle behind state office buildings.

On Friday the city’s ad was a picture of Papenfuse and Police Chief Thomas Carter shaking hands, beside the message “Targeting Crime: A Safer Harrisburg For You.”

The billboard is viewed by an estimated 18,000 people each day, according to the company.

The donated spot, which the company said would typically cost an advertiser $1,800 per month, has no set end date.

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