Lawn Chair Cinema: Harrisburg gets its own outdoors film series.

June 1, 2015 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Sometimes, there’s nothing you’d rather see more than an 8-foot-tall projection of Matthew Broderick’s 20-something face smirking down at you in public.

Maybe I’m only projecting my own desires on the masses. Then again, if that weren’t the case—if not with Matthew Broderick then with another household celebrity actor—the concept of an outdoor movie wouldn’t be so widely beloved.

There have been many outdoor film series across the country, such as “Screen on the Green” in Washington, D.C., and “Rooftop Films” in New York. Clearly, many people enjoy the communal experience of enjoying cinema in the warm outdoors.

Harrisburg now will have its chance, too. This summer, Friends of Midtown presents a series of films that will be projected in the parking lot of Midtown Cinema. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring the community together for a free event, enjoying a good film and each other’s company.

“We want to provide something enjoyable for individuals and families of Midtown and to just make it a more fun place to live,” says Shawn Westhafer of Friends of Midtown. “That’s our obvious goal, but outreach, of course, is too. We’re always looking to reach out to more people, always trying to do things that will cause us to reach new folks.”

Six films will be played throughout the summer, from June to August, with two per month. The movies were chosen for their widespread popularity and family-friendly content, as well as being suitable for summer fun.

One of the films (“Plan 9 from Outer Space”) will combine the Outdoor Film Series with another Midtown Cinema series, “Down in Front!” in which improv comedians make fun of atrocious movies. “Plan 9,”directed by Ed Wood—a filmmaker some regard as the worst director of all time—will be a fun change from the more mainstream movies that will grace the outdoor screen.

So, pull out your lawn chairs and blankets and join the fun. The films will start at dusk, but make sure to come early. It’s going to get pretty crowded!

Outdoors Film Series

June 5: “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”
June 26: “Batman”
July 10: “Plan 9 From Outer Space”
July 24: “Labyrinth”
Aug. 7: “The Princess Bride”
Aug. 28: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

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

Midtown Cinema
June Events

Midnight Matinee Series
“The Matrix” (1999)
Saturday, June 6, 11:45pm (BYOB)

Contemporary Digital Theatre Series
“Showboat” w/Bill Irwin
Sunday, May 31, 4pm

“NTL’s Man and Superman” w/Ralph Fiennes
Sunday, June 7, 4pm
presented by Open Stage of Harrisburg

Classic Film Series
“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)
Sunday, June 14, 6pm

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Clueless”
Friday, June 19, 9:30ish (BYOB)

Family Film Series
“The Neverending Story” (1984)
Saturday, June 20, noon
Sunday, June 21, 2pm

MOVIATE Night
Sunday, June 28, 7pm

Snack Attack: Embark on a road trip to Pennsylvania’s most tempting factories.

June 1, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

From pretzels to potato chips, Pennsylvanians know how to chow down.

Grumbling bellies in the middle of the afternoon are no match for the thousands of pounds of snacks that are produced in this region each year.

Those with an appetite big enough to tackle the salty offerings of central Pennsylvania should pack the kids in the car and hit the road for free tours and factory samplings. Bring your water bottles. You’re going to get thirsty.

We’re headed south to York County, where the self-proclaimed “Snack Capital of the World” offers suggested stops on its Sweet and Salty Trail guide. Here are a few worth the trip.

Martin’s Potato Chips

Technically located just outside of York County in Adams County, Martin’s Potato Chips has a history rooted in snacking.

Legend has it that Fairy Martin started making her famous potato chips in 1941 to keep her son from spending money at the Utz potato chip stand in the local market.

Today, the company produces more than 1 million bags of potato chips and popcorn each month. According to the company website, the product is so popular that the past three presidents have served Martin’s chips on Air Force One.

“We order boxes at a time,” said Joanne Kinner, who used to live in Hanover but moved to Florida a couple of years ago.

She was going on the tour with family members recently and getting ready to stock up on her favorite potato chips.

Tours are only available Tuesday mornings and calls should be made in advance to reserve a spot. Visitors have to wear hairnets, but it’s worth it. This is one of the few factory tours that will allow you step right onto the production floor.

The process of making potato chips hasn’t changed much at Martin’s. The washed spuds make their way on conveyor belts to be peeled, sliced, fried, cooled and salted. If you’re tempted by the delicious smells of freshly fried potato chips, the tour guide can help satisfy your craving. At Martin’s, visitors can sample potato chips right off the line before they’re packaged.

Martin’s Potato Chips, 5847 Lincoln Highway West, Thomasville, www.martinschips.com.

Snyder’s of Hanover

When you’re making your way back to York County from Martin’s, it makes sense to stop by Snyder’s of Hanover.

A reported 80 percent of America’s pretzels are made in Pennsylvania, helping contribute to the nearly two pounds of pretzels the average American eats each year, according to Snyder’s tour guides.

Visitors can go on guided tours Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Calls in advance are recommended.

Since 1901, Snyder’s of Hanover has been making pretzels, still using the original recipe. This 30-minute tour runs along a hallway above the factory floor, which allows for great views of what’s happening below.

“The kids are always well-behaved when they know they get a treat at the end,” said Michael Lourette, who took the tour with his family recently.

The tour is a great way to see the variety of products that Snyder’s offers. A century-plus in business, the company has grown to manufacture more than 10 different kinds of pretzels, tortilla chips and salsas.

The best part of the tour? A free bag of pretzels when you leave.

Snyder’s of Hanover, 1350 York St., Hanover, www.snydersofhanover.com.

Utz Potato Chip Factory

Unlike some other snack factory tours, Utz Potato Chip Factory tour is self-guided. Open Monday through Thursday, the 30-minute tour takes visitors through the factory via a private entrance and video tour. Be sure to give yourself enough time to press the buttons that prompt the narration at various stops along the way.

As the largest independent snack factory in the United States, Utz produces 3.3 million pounds of snacks a week, about half of which are potato chips.

When it first started in 1921, William and Salie Utz made about 50 pounds of potato chips an hour from their summer kitchen in Hanover. The company grew each decade until it became the snack franchise it is today.

Eleven different stations through the tour give visitors a view of the factory below. A small bag of chips is given to each visitor at the end, but, if that doesn’t satisfy your hunger, a factory store is located on-site.

Utz Potato Chip Factory, 900 High St., Hanover, www.utzsnacks.com.

Wolfgang Candy Co.

If salty snacks are weighing you down and your sweet tooth is begging for some attention, head to the Wolfgang Candy factory tour.

A fourth-generation family business, Wolfgang Candy Co. was founded by Delphy Eli and Mima Mae Wolfgang in 1921.

Food safety regulations no longer allow tours in the production area, but there are still opportunities to learn the history of candy-making and see how the handmade items are created today.

Tours are available at 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, although larger groups may be accommodated at other times.

On the tour, visitors learn how chocolate is tempered and see how hollows are made. The whole tour takes about 45 minutes.

The Das Sweeten Haus also has display cases filled with wooden sugar molds, glass candy jars and other candy-collectible antiques.

Janice Tally, a York native who was visiting the factory recently, said she loves to go on the tour for the smell alone.

“That sweet chocolate sticks with you all day,” she said. “The thing about local treats is they’re the ones you grew up with. Even if you move away or try other things, nothing is as good as the foods that remind you of home.”

Wolfgang Candy Co., 50 E. Fourth Ave., York, www.wolfgangcandy.com.

Other Snack Happenings

Central Pennsylvania is full of sweet and salty destinations. A few others include:

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, 219 E. Main St., Lititz. Visitors get to tour the original 1861 bakery and take a shot at twisting their own pretzel. www.juliussturgis.com.
Wilbur Chocolate Company, 48 N. Broad St., Lititz. Visit the Candy Americana Museum, where you can sample a free Wilbur Bud. www.wilburbuds.com.
The Turkey Hill Experience, 301 Linden St., Columbia. While it isn’t a real factory tour, The Turkey Hill Experience gives visitors a backstage look at dairy production and the work that goes into making its famous ice cream. www.turkeyhillexperience.com.
Hershey Chocolate World, 251 Park Blvd., Hershey. You can’t go on a snack-food tour and not mention Hershey. The free tour is a popular destination for tourists. www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld.

A Matter of Will: Do the people have a collective desire to make Harrisburg better?

June 1, 2015 | by Tara Leo Auchey

I recently had a conversation with someone who isn’t from around here. As we were discussing the challenges that Harrisburg faces, the great divide of the river (which seemed absurd to him), and the things needed to make this place be the great place it can be, he said something that struck me as perfectly right.

He said, “All of your city’s problems are solvable. It’s just a matter of the will.”

When he said it, I knew instantly his simple words were complexly correct. All of the issues of this capital city can be fixed, but the will must be found to fix them.

Over the nine years I’ve lived inside of the city, I’ve oscillated in believing that will is here. I’ve witnessed incredible inspiration and vision to improve Harrisburg’s conditions. I’ve also watched as frustration with the situation has manifested into a supreme lack of motivation.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. There’s a will always apparent here in Harrisburg. There tends to be a strong will for power, authority and glory. People want it, and they go for it. However, that’s not necessarily the type of will the gentleman from out-of-town was talking about.

He was talking about a more collective type of will. He meant the will of a group of people to prioritize and organize, to strategize and get things done for the overall good of as many people as possible, not only for now but for the future. He was talking about rising above our differences and identifying common problems that we all share as citizens of this place.

And therein lies the real problem.

It’s been a sad sort of custom around here to not work together in any en masse fashion. There’s not really a broad sense of community. Sure, there are little pockets of community, but that too quickly becomes an “us” and “them” thing. Instead of combining resources, efforts and initiatives, it becomes a case of competition. Personalities take over projects, and pluralism becomes fragmentation rather than the creative force of the city.

Fortunately, though, there are times when this gets overcome.

One such time happened at the start of last month. On May 2, the Great Harrisburg Litter CleanUp occurred for the third year in a row. It’s a true grassroots initiative born from a coalition of people, organizations and businesses seeking nothing more than to make Harrisburg a cleaner, healthier place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

While government is asked to help facilitate the cause, it’s not government or any one organization directing the whole thing. In fact, the Clean and Green Harrisburg coalition takes its cue from movements such as the City Beautiful movement of the early 20^th century. That movement, in particular, epitomized the collaboration of the region’s businesses, community organizations, nonprofits, governments and residents to focus on one thing and one thing only—to fix the city of Harrisburg.

That’s precisely what happened last month for the common cause of picking up litter. In just four hours, more than 300 volunteers removed 16 tons of trash from the city’s streets, alleys and public spaces. They also successfully collected 3,600 pounds of discarded electronics and 665 spent tires. The entire effort was supported by a range of sponsors and benefactors, who donated money and the means to make it all happen.

The Great Harrisburg Litter CleanUp didn’t occur in one neighborhood or one section of the city. It happened citywide. In well-coordinated unison, residents of Allison Hill, Uptown, downtown and Midtown broke the stigma of separation and worked as one to rid Harrisburg of one of its greatest banes—litter.

It could be said the trash of Harrisburg is a symbol of the will of the people. A discarded and ignored piece of litter on the sidewalk is a sign of disregard and disrespect. It means people don’t care. It means people aren’t improving the situation. It invites more neglect and fosters an attitude of indifference.

Yet, at the same time, picking up that piece of litter or better yet, never throwing it on the ground in the first place, means the exact opposite. It means people care. It means people are keen on maintaining this place. It fosters an attitude of pride and dignity for the city and each other.

Litter is a major problem in Harrisburg, one of several, but, like any of the problems, it can be solved.

The question of whether or not this city can be fixed is not the question we should be focusing on. The most significant questions are:

Do the people in and around Harrisburg have the will to make this city better?
Will they join together and bring their efforts, talents, skills and time to do it?
Will it be done?

As we all know, where there’s a will there’s a way. It’s just a matter of finding it.

Tara Leo Auchey is the creator and editor of today’s the day, Harrisburg. www.todaysthedayhbg.com

Happenings: Our June Calendar of Events

June 1, 2015 | by Admin

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Suspensions,” a series of work by Hanna Dobek that shows unnaturally suspended moments; reception, June 19, 6-9 p.m.

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

“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

“87^th Annual International Juried Show,” through June 18.

“Art School Annual,” featuring works of art by AAH students, June 26-July 23; reception, June 26, 5-8 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Jesus Martinez

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

The works of Larry Doyle and Mairin Egge, through June 13.

Artwork by Jim Lambert and Tami Bitner, June 18-Aug. 15; reception, June 19, 6-9 p.m.

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

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

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

“Intimacies,” contemporary art by Daniel C. Boyer and Silvia Soares Boyer, through June; reception, June 19, 6-9 p.m.

Landis House
67 N. 4^th St., Newport
www.perrycountyarts.org

“Director’s Choice,” featuring the director’s favorite works of student art from PCCA’s 2015 Youth Art Day, through June 5.

“Cosplay,” featuring the character performance photography of Nicole Dube and Aara Vinsh, through July; reception, June 12, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

Works by Gianna Veno & Elide Hower, though June.

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 U.S. Congress, June 19-June 2016; reception, June 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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

“Abandoned America,” photography by Matthew Christopher, through June 27.

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

“Creative Synthesis of Organic Life,” highlighting modern-styled pressed wildflower pictures by Judy Bouder and rustic and elegant turned wooden burl vessels by Toby Bouder, through June 6.

“Man Cave,” showcasing cleverly crafted items and artwork associated with or typically found in the man’s room of the home, through July 3; reception, June 12, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

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

“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

“Quilts,” an exhibition of historic and contemporary quilts; opening reception, June 19, 6-9 p.m.

“Found in Transition,” a juried Doshi exhibit, through July 5.

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

Artwork by Andy Getty and Ashley Zimmer, May 15-June 13.

Works by Kelly Curran, June 18-July 15; reception, June 19, 6-9 p.m.

Yellow Wall Gallery/Midtown Scholar
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Artwork by Monica Smith; reception, June 19, 6-10 p.m.

Read, Make, Learn

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

June 10: Vegetarian Grilling on the Deck, 6-9 p.m.
June 12: Early Father’s Day Grilling, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
June 19: Father’s Day Grilling on the Deck, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

Saturdays: Free improv mixer, 7 p.m.

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

June 2: Women’s Group, Positive Energy, 7-9 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Alcoholic’s Anonymous, noon-1 p.m.
June 11: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12-2 p.m.
June 25: Aging with Pride Bake-Off, 6-8 p.m.

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

June 2, 16, 30: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
June 2, 17: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
June 3, 10, 17, 24: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
June 3: Alder Healthcare Community Class on Transgender Children, 6 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
June 5, 12, 19, 26: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
June 6, 20, 27: Coloring at the Little Scholar, 11 a.m.
June 6: Good News Café, 6:30 p.m.
June 7: Book-signing for Leonard M. Adkins, 2 p.m.
June 7, 21, 28: TED Talks, 1 p.m.
June 10: Friends of Midtown Events Meeting, 6 p.m.
June 11, 18: Camp Curtin Toastmasters
June 13: Discover the Author Within You, 10 a.m.
June 13: Parents of Midtown Meeting, 10 a.m.
June 20: Coffee and Critique Designer Workshop, 8:30 a.m.
June 21: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
June 21: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
June 22: Feminism Book Club, 7 p.m.
June 27: Book-signing for David Krulac, Kelly Sangree and Susan Hicks, 2 p.m.

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

June 6: Watercolor “Full Bloom” Poppy Painting Party
June 10, 24: June Watercolor Workshop
June 12: Letting Go Paint Night Party
June 14: Watercolor “Three Poppies” Painting Party
June 26-28: June Oil and Cold Wax Workshop

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

June 8-12: Summer Anime Drawing Class
June 22-26: Young Artist Camp

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

June 11: Theme is “Homecoming,” 8 p.m. (at Harrisburg MakeSpace)

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

June 3: Damsels and Dragons—Flies That Is, 6:30 p.m.
June 10: Early Morning Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m.
June 13: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.
June 13: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, 8 a.m.
June 14: Flower Walk, Peak of Blooming, 10:30 a.m.
June 20: Wild About Art, Scratchboards, 1 p.m.
June 27: Discovery Walk, 1 p.m.
June 28: Meet a Naturalist, Animals of Wildwood, 1 p.m.
June 29: Canoe Wildwood by Moonlight, 7 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

June 1: Merle Haggard
June 7: The Wess Cooke Show
June 15: Michael Bolton
June 16: Million Dollar Quartet
June 19: Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals & Mark Farner
June 20: Doo Wop Cavalcade
June 28: Clare Bowen & Charles Esten

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

June 5: Midnight Spaghetti
June 6: Bumperyachts and Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart
June 11: Simone Felice
June 12: The Dirty Sweet
June 13: Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons
June 26: Gleason’s Drift, The Swaines and Case 150

Broad Street Market
1233 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
broadstreetmarket.org

June 13: The Coalishun Blues Trio

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

June 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 19: Chris Emkey
June 2: Daniel Sheehan
June 3, 17, 25: Jessica Cook
June 5, 26: Noel Gevers
June 6, 12: Ted Ansel
June 9: Deborah Anderson
June 10, 13, 23: Roy LeFever
June 14: Anthony Haubert
June 16, 24: Christine Purcell
June 18: Giovanni Triano

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

June 10: CPFJ Jam Session

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

June 3: World/Inferno Friendship Society
June 5: Rubblebucket
June 8: Reel Big Fish & Ballyhoo
June 12: Framing Hanley
June 13: Josh Abbott Band
June 14: Local H
June 20: Against Me!

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

June 5: Antonio Andrade
June 6: Jim Haas
June 7: Carly Clark
June 12: Mike Banks
June 13: Doug Morris (Bob Dylan celebration)
June 14: Rezidence
June 19: Grit
June 20: Steven Gellman
June 21: Treze Music Jazz Night
June 26: Jeanine and Friends
June 27: Womack and Lowery

The Garlic Poet
148 Sheraton Dr., New Cumberland
717-774-5435; garlicpoet.com

June 4: Shea Quinn
June 11: Jazz Me Duo
June 18: Funktion Duo
June 25: Shotgun Ragtime Band

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

Through June 14: HSO Showhouse & Gardens

HMAC/Stage on Herr
1110 N. 3rd St./268 Herr St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

June 4: Some Kind of Nightmare
June 5: First Friday Dance Party w/Vetour Productions
June 11: Strangest of Places
June 12-13: Summer Break Dance Party Weekend
June 18: Della Mae
June 20: “About a Girl” (all female artists)
June 26: Sleepy LaBeef
June 27: Parthenon Huxley & Friends
Every Tuesday: Open Mic

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

June 5: Adrian Blitzer
June 6: Penntera
June 12: Cell 15
June 13: Stomp’d
June 19: Fith
June 20: Trailer Park Cowboys
June 26: TBA
June 27: Postcard Cowboys

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

June 5: Steve Wilkins
June 12: Marie Danielle & Dreambook
June 19: Grant Goldsworthy & Shawan and the Wonton
June 26: TBA

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

June 6: The Lettermen

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

June 20: Home Body

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

June 12: Carly Clark
June 13: Steve Wilkins

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

June 6: Ava Luna w/Eternal Summers
June 9: Merchandise
June 12: Koji
June 13: Birthmark
June 19: Jake Lewis & The Clergy
June 21: Author w/Navigator & Marathon
June 26: The Hello Strangers
June 27: Francis Dunnery

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

June 13: Michael O’Brian Band
June 27: Men in Harmony

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

June 5: Keith Goldstein
June 6: Kirk Wise
June 12: Silver City Rodeo
June 13: Rhyne McCormick
June 16: Music Thru Science Lite
June 19: Wally DeWall
June 20: Up Pops the Devil
June 26: Songsmith
June 27: The Visitors Duo

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

June 5: Jazz in the City
June 6: Kathleen Madigan
June 10: The Felice Brothers
June 21: Melissa Etheridge

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

June 5: Aaron Gaul
June 6: Rivers
June 12: Kim Mayfield & Roy Schneider
June 13: Nate Myers & the Aces
June 19: Scott Peoples
June 20: Minks Miracle Medicine
June 26: Crys Matthews
June 27: TBA

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

June 21: Beth Hart
June 23: David Crosby

The Stage Door

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

June 8: Weird Al Yankovic

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

June 14: Oxymorons

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

Through June 13: “Les Miserables”
June 18-Aug. 1: “Oklahoma!”

Gamut Theatre Group
3^rd Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg
717-238-4111; www.gamutplays.org

June 5-20: “Troilus & Cressida” (Shakespeare in the Park)
June 10-20: “Tales from Ancient Greece” (Popcorn Hat)

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

June 6, 13, 20, 27: Improv Comedy

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

June 26: Daniel Tosh

HMAC/Stage on Herr
1110 N. 3rd St./268 Herr St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

June 25: Improv 101

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

June 19-July 5: “Clue: The Musical”

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

June 13: “Ballroom with a Twist”

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

June 19: TMI Improv
June 19: Comedy Night at the Scholar

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

June 5-21: “Stories from Home: People Who Care”

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

Through June 7: “Bus Stop”

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

June 9: John Edward
June 17-20: Harrisburg Symphony Youth Ballet

Community Corner: Notable Events in June

June 1, 2015 | by Admin

Governor’s Breakfast
June 3: Learn more about Gov. Tom Wolf’s vision for business at the annual Governor’s Breakfast sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. The event runs 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Cost is $60 for members and $85 for non-members. Information is at harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Business Women’s Conference
June 3: Business Women’s Forum will hold its annual daylong conference at Messiah College’s High Center. The event will feature breakout sessions, chances to network and a keynote speaker. For information and to register, visit businesswomensforum.com.

Historical Society Fundraiser
June 4: Enjoy local wine, craft beers and hors d’oeuvres at the annual spring fundraiser for the Historical Society of Dauphin County. The 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. event takes place at the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey, 598 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown. Tickets are $35. Call 717-233-3462 to reserve.

Public Safety Fair
June 6: Learn more about how to stay safe in an event sponsored by Friends of Midtown. Public safety personnel will be on hand to speak to the public at the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, 1820 N. 4^th St., Harrisburg. The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event also will feature entertainment, food trucks and free admission to the museum. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Summer Soirees
June 6 & 20: Show your support for the arts in Harrisburg at summer soirees held in the private homes of patrons of the Art Association of Harrisburg. The first takes place June 6 in Lemoyne and the second June 20 in Mechanicsburg. All soirees feature food, music and, of course, art. For details, visit artassocofhbg.com.

Breast Cancer Fundraiser
June 6: Gather at the new Bucks Valley Winery & Vineyards to support the work of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, 4 to 8 p.m. Donations are $35, with summer white wines, music, light refreshments and a silent auction featured. More information is at pbccbenefit.com.

Glow Run
June 6: Put on glow gear and run for a good cause during the second annual Glow Run, sponsored by Lighten Up Harrisburg. The 5K, which raises money to replace streetlights in Harrisburg, begins at 8:30 p.m. in Riverfront Park just south of State Street. For more information, visit lightenupharrisburg.com.

Tour de Belt
June 7: Take a ride around the Greenbelt during the annual Tour de Belt, a biking event that raises money for the Capital Area Greenbelt Association. The ride begins at 10 a.m. at HACC’s Wildwood Campus. More information is at caga.org.

Rail Talk
June 9: “Conrail Memories” will be the topic of an illustrated talk by Mark Hoffman to the Harrisburg Chapter National Railway Historical Society at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m., with a meal available as early as 5 p.m. Dinner and meeting are open to the public. Email [email protected] and visit www.harristower.org.

Diabetes Class
June 10: Learn what diabetes is, risk factors, treatments and more at an “Introduction to Diabetes” class sponsored by PinnacleHealth. Class takes place 2 to 4 p.m. at the Community Center at Giant Food in Camp Hill. Visit pinnaclehealth.org.

Stress Relief Walk
June 10: Release the stress of the workday with a Stress Relief Walk, a three-mile stroll around Wildwood Park. Meet at the Nature Center at 6 p.m. Bring water and sturdy shoes. Information is at wildwoodlake.org.

Chamber Mixer
June 10: Join the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for its monthly business networking mixer at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. More information is at cpglcc.org.

Concert on the Lawn
June 11: Trinidad & Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra kicks off Fredricksen Library’s 2015 Summer Concert Series on the Lawn. The tropical music begins at 7 p.m. Details are at fredricksenlibrary.org.

KOJI & The Giving Keys
June 12: Join Harrisburg native, singer/songwriter and activist KOJI as he celebrates the release of his new E.P., “Fury,” and the launch of his collaboration with The Giving Keys, repurposed keys with inspirational messages meant to be passed on. Koji is collaborating with The Giving Keys on the “Peacemaker” key meant to honor the intention, sacrifice and love required to show leadership in our local and global communities. The show starts at 10 p.m. at Millworks in Harrisburg. Admission is free. Visit kojisaysaloha.com/thegivingkeys.com.

Elegance at Hershey
June 12-14: A weekend of auto events is on tap for the annual Elegance at Hershey, held on the grounds of the Hotel Hershey. The three-day event features a vintage car race, a 5K, a car show, a garden party and more. Visit aacamuseum.org for more information.

Volunteer Work Day
June 13: Help beautify Wildwood Park by volunteering for a few hours. Meet at the Nature Center starting at 10 a.m. Snacks, tools and gloves provided. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Knit in Public Day
June 13: Celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day on the grounds of the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill, 1 to 4 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, a project to work on and maybe a finished piece. No registration necessary. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Petapalooza
June 13: Petapalooza, central PA’s pet adoption festival, returns to Harrisburg with a day of music, fun, a dog show, a vaccination clinic and, of course, adoptions from area animal shelters and rescues. The event takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at PA United Church Center, 900 S. Arlington Ave., Harrisburg. Learn more at petapaloozapa.com or email [email protected].

Music & Wine Fest
June 13-14: Rock, relax and sip during the annual Dauphin County Music & Wine Festival at Fort Hunter outside Harrisburg. This year, musicians will include both national recording artists and homegrown talent. A two-day pass is $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Visit forthunter.org.

Mascagni Tribute
June 13-14: Capitol Opera Harrisburg presents “The Magnificence of Mascagni,” featuring selections from the prolific Italian composer. The concerts take place June 13 at 7 p.m. and June 14 at 2 p.m. at the Holy Name of Jesus Auditorium, 6150 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg. Donations can be made at the door or by visiting capopera.com.

History Presentation
June 14: Author Erik Fasick will discuss his new book, “Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River” during a 2:30 p.m. lecture at the Harris-Cameron Mansion in Harrisburg. Immediately following, a new exhibit featuring historic photos of the river will open. Information is at www.dauphincountyhistory.org.

SAM Fundraiser
June 14: Enjoy creative cuisine, wine pairings, entertainment and auctions during a “Night at the Museum,” a fundraiser for the Susquehanna Art Museum. The 6 to 9 p.m. event takes place at SAM’s new facility, 1401 N. 3^rd St. Tickets are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. For more information, visit www.sqart.org or call 717-233-8668.

Business After Hours
June 18: Mix and mingle with local business professionals at this free networking event sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. This month, the 5 to 7 p.m. event takes place at Milton Hershey School, 300 Hotel Rd., Hershey. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

3^rd in The Burg
June 19: 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.

Civil War Lecture
June 22: Civil War historian Jim Schmick presents “Camp Curtin and Harrisburg’s Role in the Civil War,” examining the critical role Harrisburg played in the conflict. The free lecture starts at 6 p.m. at Camp Curtin Church, 2221 N. 6^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit historicharrisburg.com.

CBW Roundtable
June 24: The Chamber Business Women (CBW) Roundtable returns with “Learning to be Creative with Your Skill Set,” a presentation by Amy Kaunas, executive director of the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area. The event takes place 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC office. More information is at harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Annual Meeting
June 24: Learn more about the Historical Society of Dauphin County at its annual meeting, which will include recognition of volunteers, exhibition of artifacts and free refreshments. The 5:30 p.m. meeting takes place at the Harris-Cameron Mansion, Harrisburg. For more information, visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

Harrisburg Thriving Together
June 25: Help make Harrisburg a better city at a “volunteer opportunity fair,” which will feature dozens of organizations sponsoring activities like cleanups, tree plantings, anti-crime initiatives, etc. Event takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Scottish Rite Masonic Cathedral, 2701 N. 3^rd St. For more, visit https://hbgcb2.ning.com.

Celebrate Diversity
June 25: Help promote diversity in business with a reception sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. The 5 to 7 p.m. event, which takes place at Dixon University in Harrisburg, will feature an appetizer cuisine, live music and a chance to network. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Golf Outing
June 26: The Rotary Club of Perry County will hold its 23rd Annual Golf Outing to raise funds for the scholarship fund. A noon lunch will be followed by a 1 p.m. start at the Carlisle Barracks. Cost: $100 per golfer. Call 717-834-3111 for more information.

Folklife Festival Trip
June 27: Learn about the culture of Peru during a bus trip to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The bus departs the Radisson parking lot in Camp Hill at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $40. Information is at cumberlandcountylibraries.org.

Harrisburg Half Marathon
June 28: Join your fellow distance runners for the annual Harrisburg Half Marathon, which this year moves to June. The course starts and ends on City Island in Harrisburg. Details are at ymcarun.com.

Canoe Wildwood
June 29: Paddle into Wildwood Lake at dusk for a unique look at the inhabitants of the aquatic ecosystem. Canoes, paddles and life jackets provided, but please bring a flashlight. Meet at the middle parking lot on Industrial Road at 7 p.m. Information is at wildwoodlake.org.

Tired Teens: Rest assured, adolescents need solid sack time.

June 1, 2015 | by Dr. Brittany Ann Massare

Parents often focus on making sure young children get enough sleep, but not as much for teenagers. Frequently, teens and their parents come to see me due to concerns about excessive tiredness. Inadequate sleep is often found to be the cause.

A 2006 poll by the National Sleep Foundation showed that 75 percent of 12^th-graders (as opposed to 16 percent of sixth-graders) receive less than eight hours of sleep per night. One of the objectives of “Healthy People 2020,” goals set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to increase the percentage of children in ninth through 12th grade who get sufficient sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends more than eight hours per night.

Besides your teen telling you that she is tired, other signs that your teen is not getting enough sleep include having trouble waking up in the morning, napping during the day, sleeping in for more than two hours on weekends and frequently drinking caffeinated beverages.

Why is sleep important? An obvious answer to this question is that, when we do not get enough, we are tired. This tiredness, as well as other changes that occur with lack of sleep, can greatly affect the lives of teenagers. Studies have shown teenagers who slept less than the recommended eight hours per night were more likely to be involved in car crashes, have decreased academic performance, report higher levels of depression and stress, have worse control over chronic illnesses such as asthma, and have a higher risk of obesity.

How can we improve our teenagers’ sleep?

Part of the lack of sleep in this age group is related to puberty. During this time, circadian rhythms shift to make teens want to stay awake later in the evenings and sleep in longer in the mornings. This change in sleep schedule is not possible due to early school start times. Often, teens will sleep in longer on weekends, but this shifts their circadian rhythm further and makes it difficult to fall asleep on weekdays and maintain a good sleep schedule.

Improving sleep hygiene is another effective way to get better sleep. Sleep hygiene consists of habits that help sleep. Using a bed only for sleeping, not for eating, reading or other activities, helps to decrease the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. Other behaviors that help improve sleep–but are hard for today’s technology-driven teen–are stopping the use of electronics (cell phones, computers, tablets, televisions, video games, etc.) one to two hours before trying to fall asleep and never using electronics in bed.

Limiting caffeine intake and controlling other medical and psychological conditions will also improve sleep and decrease daytime sleepiness in children.

If you think your child is having trouble sleeping, be sure to discuss this with your pediatrician.

Dr. Brittany Ann Massare is a pediatrician with Penn State Hershey Medical Group.

May News Digest

June 1, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Mayor’s Slate Victorious in Council Primary

Three candidates endorsed by Mayor Eric Papenfuse won nominations last month for four-year terms on Harrisburg City Council.

Incumbent Jeffrey Baltimore and challengers Cornelius Johnson and Westburn Majors emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for three council seats. Challenger Destini Hodges tallied the most votes for the lone two-year seat.

No Republicans ran in the primary, meaning the winners of the Democratic primary will be strongly favored in November’s general election.

Moreover, Papenfuse vocally denounced incumbent Brad Koplinski, pleading with residents to vote against him. Koplinski placed fourth, losing to Majors by just 18 votes for the nomination for the final four-year seat.

“This is a big night for Harrisburg, absolutely phenomenal,” said Papenfuse after the final votes were reported. “I’m elated that we’re finally going to get new leadership to move the city forward.”

Primary results were as follows: Johnson, 1,474; Baltimore, 1,429; Majors, 1,257; Koplinski, 1239; Ellis “Rick” Roy, 1,048; Rhonda Mays, 760; Jeremiah Chamberlin, 719; Ron Chapel, 332; Koscina Lowe, 226.

In the race for city treasurer, Tyrell Spradley defeated challenger Brian Ostella by a count of 1,279 to 1,221. Council appointed Spradley last year to fill the unexpired term of former city Treasurer John Campbell, who was arrested on theft charges.

For Harrisburg school board, Jennifer Smallwood, Monica Blackston-Bailey, Matthew Krupp and Melvin Wilson Jr. won nominations for four-year seats. At press time, Daunessy Penn and Lionel Gonzalez were tied for the final four-year slot, each with 1,159 votes. Judd Pittman defeated LaTasha Frye for the nomination for the sole two-year seat.

Tax Abatement Plan Passed

Harrisburg City Council last month narrowly approved a 10-year tax abatement ordinance that many had considered dead.

By a 4-3 vote, council members passed a plan that would provide full tax abatement on residential property improvements and new construction in Harrisburg for 10 years.

“For the first time ever, we have 100-percent tax abatement,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “Before, there wasn’t enough of an abatement (to promote development). This is a stronger, more powerful LERTA.”

Council twice before had failed to pass the administration’s plan for the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program.

Councilman Brad Koplinski last month introduced his own LERTA plan, a program that would have diminished the tax abatement by 10 percent a year over 10 years. However, a council majority opted instead to re-introduce and pass the administration’s plan, along with certain responsible contracting provisions.
“I was totally shocked,” said Papenfuse. “I didn’t see this coming, but it’s great for the city of Harrisburg.”

The LERTA ordinance now must be approved by Dauphin County and the city school board, which are the other entities in Harrisburg that tax property.
Veno Announces Departure

Gene Veno, the state’s chief recovery officer for the Harrisburg school district, said he would step down at the end of June.

In December 2012, Veno was appointed to help revive the struggling, debt-ridden district. Several months later, he presented a five-year plan that he hoped would lead to a financial and academic revival.

Since then, the district has been in financial surplus, due to a combination of tax increases, school closures, staff layoffs and the discovery of millions of dollars that had been kept off the books. Academically, however, the district’s performance has deteriorated further.

Veno said he was departing to focus more on his consulting and lobbying firm, Gene Veno and Associates.

Last year, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse asked the state to remove Veno, claiming he was too focused on financial, not academic, improvement.

As of press time, the state Department of Education had not announced a replacement for Veno.

Comprehensive Plan Team Named

Harrisburg last month awarded a contract to a consulting team for the first update in more than 40 years to its comprehensive plan, a document that will guide development across the city for the next two decades.

The $200,000 contract went to a team led by Bret Peters of the Harrisburg-based Office for Planning and Architecture and that includes designers, planners and engineers from both local and global firms.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse and city planner Geoffrey Knight said the update was long overdue and would help speed the city’s recovery.

Papenfuse described the plan as “the vision of the residents and the business owners and the stakeholders and everyone who has a stake in Harrisburg and its future development.”

The mayor added that he expects the plan to be ready for formal approval in April 2016 and that it will probably result in a revision of the city’s zoning code.

Knight said the plan, when finished, would overhaul an existing comprehensive plan dating back to 1974.

“So we’re in arrears by about 20 years with updating and adopting a new one,” he said.

Moose Lodge Conversion OK’d

The landmark Moose Lodge Temple in Midtown Harrisburg took a step closer to revival and reoccupation last month, as the city’s Zoning Hearing Board approved a plan to renovate it as mixed-use space.

The board unanimously granted a variance to WCI Partners LP for 33 apartments on three upper floors with commercial space on the ground floor. WCI needed the variance because the size of the apartment units, about 500 square feet apiece, is less than the 1,200-square-foot size permitted under the zoning code for the 900-block of N. 3rd Street.

WCI President David Butcher assured the board that the apartments, while small, would have high-end finishes that would appeal to young professionals. He estimated that the units would rent for around $1,000 per month.

WCI is purchasing the four-story building at the corner of N. 3rd and Boas streets for $900,000 from Atlanta-based Mosaica Education, a for-profit charter school company that is in receivership.

The purchase includes several adjacent parcels of land—three dilapidated townhouses and a 40-vehicle parking lot. Butcher said that WCI also plans to renovate the townhouses into apartments and retail space and would landscape the area around the parking lot to make it more attractive.

Harrisburg City Council now must approve WCI’s land use plan. If all goes smoothly, the project should start by the end of summer with completion expected in 12 to 18 months, said Butcher.

For five years, the former Moose Lodge housed the Ronald Brown Charter School. However, the building has been empty since 2005, when the school district’s board of control refused to reauthorize the school’s charter.

The Harrisburg Moose Lodge Temple was built in 1924, designed in the Beaux Arts style by renowned Harrisburg architect Clayton J. Lappley.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler, publisher of TheBurg, is a principal with WCI Partners.

Changing Hands

Benton St., 634: 8219 Ventures LLC to S. Jawhar, $32,000

Briarcliff Rd., 135: J. & J. Lawrence to A. Sawyer, $215,000

Briggs St., 207: PA Deals LLC to S. & K. Plummer, $90,000

Brookwood St., 2424: G. & M. Tipton to R. Patterson, $70,000

Capital St., 911: K. Dolphin to B. & A. Lentz, $171,000

Chestnut St., 1925: J. Harbilas to J. Munoz Tineo, $45,000

Cumberland St., 1322: D. & D. Oswandel to E. Brinkman, $109,900

Cumberland St., 1416: T. Lewis to Full Harvest Ministries, $80,000

Division St., 609: D. Miller to G. Barone & L. Ambrosino, $90,000

Edgewood Rd., 2309: W. & N. Robinson to M. Cool & J. Smith, $162,000

Emerald St., 405: P. Dobson to G. Venable, $40,000

Fulton St., 1710: Cartus Financial Corp. to W. Fletcher & K. Cropper, $97,872

Green St., 1819: K. Livingston to N. Fickes, $105,000

Green St., 3212: R. Darr to E. Griffin, $55,000

Hale Ave., 426: M. & J. Williams to Gandy Real Estate LLC, $40,000

Kelker St., 500: Hamilton Health Center to Ministerio Nuevo Renacer, $65,000

Logan St., 2446: PA Deals LLC to M. & J. Sather, $104,300

Melrose St., 1029: S. & J. Wydra to W. Hocker, $35,000

North St., 244: E&S Properties LLC to K. Bryner, $161,000

North St., 1719: G. & M. Ramsey to K. Siddal & D. Cook, $35,000

N. 2^nd St., 515: M. & B. Habib to Candlelight Properties LLC, $625,000

N. 15^th St., 1617: Ajaz Uddin Inc. to T. Sweet, $35,000

N. 16^th St., 911: E. & J. High to M. McManus, $82,500

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 404: R. & R. Fried to J. Kelley, $210,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 613: J. Wirick to Pact Enterprises LLC, $108,000

Peffer St., 220: R. Scarabello to G. Cudaback & S. Cox, $190,000

Rudy Rd., 1944: V. Kelly to V. & S. Reyes, $66,900

Showers St., 616: J. Forr to S. Clearfield, $112,000

S. 13^th St, 1530: M. Watson to W. Okello, $58,000

S. 19^th St., 1340: PA Deals LLC to S. Orr, $81,000

S. Front St., 623: D. Sullivan et al to G. Schwab, $117,500

State St., 231, Unit 401: LUX 1 LP to S. Sehar, $164,900

Susquehanna St., 1724: Fannie Mae to B. & E. Burchfield, $35,000

Swatara St., 2101: T. Sweet to R. Gonzalez, $55,000

Swatara St., 2224: H. Romanovicz & W. Shade to L. Ho, $105,000

Wyeth St., 1412: J. Cruz to PA Deals LLC, $82,000

The Good Intentions of “Yes”: Women’s group combines comedy with cause.

June 1, 2015 | by Lori M. Myers

Vicki Fox, photo by Meredith Kaminek

When all-around funny person Jennie Adams, a member of the improvisation group No Artificial Sweeteners, was contacted by Vicki Fox, founder of Women of Intention (WOI), the request seemed simple enough—put on a performance for an upcoming WOI event.

When Adams explained that the group only performs at charitable fundraisers and was not for hire, Fox offered more details that changed Adams’ mind. Her event was to help the C.A.R.E. Program at Allison Hill Community Ministry so that the group could receive much-needed funds. That new bit of information and the now resounding “yes” from Adams sealed the deal.

No Artificial Sweeteners is an all-female, all-volunteer improv group that has put on shows in the past to benefit organizations such as the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, Caitlin’s Smiles and The MakeSpace. WOI is a community of women committed to changing the world. When the two merge, you get an evening of hilarity, connection and support for everyone involved, but particularly for a local after-school program that serves about 30 Allison Hill children, providing them with meals, tutoring and field trips.

“When Vicki called, I couldn’t say no,” Adams recalls. “The match-up was just too perfect.”

Fox couldn’t agree more. She’d been looking to create another entertaining evening for her group of women but, at the same time, wanted to extend her reach to help the local community.

“I believe women are the change agents making this world a more humane planet,” Fox says. “We are the ones who tend and befriend and are mindful of the generations that will follow. In order to be able to give, a trait that women excel in, we have to have something to give. In order to nurture, we need to nurture, replenish, rejuvenate and refresh ourselves. What does that better than laughter?”

Improv comedy, as many know, is an unscripted, seat-of-your-pants art form where the actors create characters, dialogue and story as they go. It’s edgy and scary for the people on stage; it’s refreshing and fun and in-the-moment for audiences. The mantra that improv comedians follow is “Yes, and…”, meaning they accept and go with any scenario they are presented with and, in a sense, jump into the comedic fire with everything they’ve got.

While comedy was not Fox’s objective when she organized WOI in 2006, most of the other descriptions of improv probably apply as to why the group exists in the first place. It was at her 55th birthday party attended by 38 female friends where she asked each to share their intentions. They did so with such passion, Fox recalls, that she sought to continue that intention-sharing experience—thus the name Women of Intention, whose tagline is “Ordinary Women Making an Extraordinary Difference.”

In a way, Fox’s journey headed toward that improv rule of “Yes, and….” Saying “yes” to coming up with the idea of WOI, going with her gut, and creating events where like-minded women—teachers, doctors, activists, artists, entrepreneurs—are nurtured, informed and connected and where they give to each other and to others.

So women making other women laugh for a good cause? Yes, and…it all makes sense.

“No Artificial Sweeteners proved my point of how women find it natural to come together to make the world a better place,” Fox says. “While they perform in different troupes, they feel drawn to gather in supporting each other and donating their time and energy to support causes that improve our community. It will benefit the WOI women because not only will we be having an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and fun, we will have the joy of knowing we are helping people in our local community.”

The Women of Intention benefit for the C.A.R.E. Program at Allison Hill Community Ministry will take place on Thursday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at Passage to India Restaurant, 520 Race St., Harrisburg. For more information and registration, visit www.womenofintention.com.

Editorial Judgment

May 27, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Cornelius Johnson and Westburn Majors, two of the victors in the recent Democratic primary for Harrisburg City Council.

In the Burg Blog, I’ve written previously about my distaste for editorial boards and professional editorial writers.

My dislike has nothing to do with certain individual columnists or newspapers. I just find it confounding and presumptuous that people, sitting in an office building somewhere, can cast judgment on issues that they’ve never covered and really know little about.

They’re not at the meetings; they don’t witness the often-subtle dynamics between the players; they don’t interview anyone; chances are, they rarely even step foot in the places (like Harrisburg city hall) they’re writing about.

How can you have an informed opinion about something in which you have such limited knowledge? Yet, there they are—people whose main job is to have opinions about stuff. How strange.

That thought occurred to me again the other day when PennLive’s editorial board weighed in on Harrisburg’s recently concluded primary election. The rather sloppy editorial seemed to suggest that Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, in alliance with businessman Alex Hartzler, unduly influenced the election.

I’m not writing this blog post to defend Papenfuse or Hartzler, who, no wallflowers, are perfectly capable of defending themselves (Hartzler also is publisher of TheBurg). My issue is that the editorial demonstrates scant knowledge of what actually happened in that election and, just as much, with the election process itself.

A mayor, any mayor, has an interest in seeing that his agenda is passed. Mayors do this in numerous ways, including compromise, cajoling, begging, alliance-building, promising, cutting deals, even intimidation. They also often try to get their supporters elected to the legislative body, in this case, City Council.

Over the past year or so, Papenfuse has employed various tactics to pass legislation that he deems important to the future of Harrisburg. At some point, he concluded that several council members, including Wanda Williams and Brad Koplinski, were obstacles to this agenda. Therefore, he went on the offensive, seeking to unseat Koplinski and neutralize the power of Williams, the council president.

When Papenfuse vocally urged Harrisburg residents to reject Koplinski and vote for his preferred candidates (Cornelius Johnson, Jeffrey Baltimore and Westburn Majors), I thought his stance might be too aggressive, that it might turn off voters or even mobilize supporters of the other candidates. But he gambled that, in the end, more residents would be motivated to vote for his slate than vote against it, that he could have out-sized influence in what would be a very low-turnout election. To his credit, he was right.

Papenfuse’s bold support of and campaigning for Johnson and Majors, two men with little name recognition a few months back, almost certainly helped their election. Likewise, his condemnation of the incumbent Koplinski, the candidate with perhaps the greatest name recognition (and recently a candidate for lieutenant governor), almost certainly led to his loss.

As for Hartlzer—I don’t understand why the PennLive editorial mentioned him three times. Yes, he is a member of Harrisburg Capital PAC, but the PAC’s donations were hardly excessive ($5,000 to Johnson and $1,500 to Majors, according to Dauphin County Elections Bureau). The PAC also paid for a poll early in the election cycle (the negative mailings that Koplinski repeatedly warned would result from the poll never materialized).

The sad truth is that, in the United States, elections are financed privately. Any serious Harrisburg council candidate should expect to spend at least $5,000 for campaign signs, literature and mailings. I don’t like it—PennLive evidently doesn’t—but that’s the way it is.

That said: money guarantees nothing. Koplinski received $500 from Vision for PA PAC, $1,000 from IBEW 98 out of Philadelphia and $2,000 from a guy named Alex Shchegol of Staten Island, N.Y., among other contributors. And he still lost, as did other candidates who raised money.

And that brings me to the most important point.

The PennLive editorial, while crediting (or blaming) Papenfuse and Hartzler for the primary results, ignores one of the most important and obvious factors in the election: the candidates themselves. The editorial reads as if a Big Brother-like force selected these candidates to run and then people hypnotically marched to the polls to nominate them.

In fact, Johnson was a superb candidate who ran an energetic, well-organized campaign. He was everywhere: at neighborhood events, at doorsteps, at debates, where he presented himself as caring, hardworking and knowledgeable. He also raised a significant sum of money from sources other than Harrisburg Capital PAC. Voters—particularly “super voters” who vote in every election and were rightly targeted by Johnson—responded to that effort. Did the mayor’s endorsement help? Yes, but Johnson deserves much credit for his own victory.

Destini Hodges, who was not endorsed by Papenfuse, also ran an energetic campaign. Voters similarly responded to her effort, and she won the two-year council seat by a surprisingly large margin.

I was not impressed with the campaigns of the other candidates, even the winners. Incumbent Baltimore, who placed second for three, four-year council seats, did not run a particularly vigorous campaign, but he is well liked and well regarded, and his election was never seriously in doubt. Majors may have benefited most from Papenfuse’s nod, eking out a 19-vote win for the final four-year seat.

As per Koplinski—he depended too much on the perceived power of incumbency and not enough on selling himself again to the voters of Harrisburg. If he had, he might have been able to overcome Papenfuse’s anti-endorsement—or even used it to his advantage. If anyone could fend off, or even turn the tables on Papenfuse, it should have been Koplinski, a two-term councilman whose day job is professional political consultant.

In the end, PennLive seems baffled by Papenfuse, whom the editorial condescendingly describes as a “two-time failed candidate for elected office with no political experience” until two years ago. How could he now have so much power and influence?

I can tell you how: Papenfuse has learned. Over the years, he’s learned how to be successful in politics, how to go from sideline firebrand to skilled tactician who got himself elected and now is helping to elect others. He has a clear idea of what he wants to do and plots a path to achieve it. He also is focused and works harder than other politicians in the city.

You may disagree with Papenfuse’s agenda; I don’t agree with all of it. However, even in disagreement, I can see that he has grown immeasurably as a political practitioner. In that sense, he deserves respect—enthusiastic or grudging, depending on your viewpoint—not sour grapes or condescension.

Harrisburg deserves a fuller accounting and more sophisticated analysis of an important election from its “paper of record.” The vote totals resulted from some combination of the candidates themselves, their campaign strategies, the voters, the low turnout and, yes, the influence of Papenfuse (both pro- and anti-). The backers of the candidates, whether Hartzler, Shchegol, Jimmy Pianka or Dan Miller, also played small roles.

The election, like most elections, was a complex beast, dependent upon many factors that mixed, mingled and overlapped. The superficial, rather lazy, analysis by PennLive shows little understanding of that complexity.

Turned Out

May 20, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Turnout was sparse yesterday at polling stations throughout Harrisburg, including at the Neighborhood Center in Midtown.

As you may know, there’s an old adage in real estate about what’s most important: location, location, location.

In politics, the corollary might be: turnout, turnout, turnout.

Ideally, elections are supposed to measure the mood of the electorate, but most don’t. In off-year elections, particularly off-year, primary elections, only a small slice of the body politic is measured–the people who bother showing up to vote. As a candidate or a candidate-backer, you need to get your people to the polls. Otherwise, believe me, you will lose.

That point was proven yesterday in the Democratic primary for Harrisburg City Council. Hours before the polls closed, I told my wife that I believed the three council candidates endorsed by Mayor Eric Papenfuse (Cornelius Johnson, Jeffrey Baltimore and Westburn Majors) were likely to win and that incumbent Councilman Brad Koplinski–vocally denounced by Papenfuse–would probably lose his seat.

I’m no political genius, but I saw two trends emerge in the final week or so that convinced me that the mayor would have his way.

First, I assessed which candidates were running the best campaigns. In low-turnout elections, campaigns matter a lot, and no one ran a more organized, professional and energetic campaign than Johnson. For the past two months, Johnson systematically knocked on doors throughout the city, met with residents, and asked for their votes. At debates, he was personable, thoughtful and respectful. He raised money and smartly deployed it building up his name recognition through direct mail. As a result, the 26-year-old Johnson, virtually unknown to swaths of the city before the campaign, was the top vote-getter in the election.

Majors also ran a good campaign, though perhaps without the youthful vigor of Johnson, as did Destini Hodges, the winner of the two-year seat. The rest of the field ran campaigns that ranged from mediocre to practically invisible. Koplinski seemed to make a classic politician’s mistake, depending too much on the power of incumbency. As a result, he placed fourth in a field of eight (nine if you count Koscina Lowe), which is pretty awful for a sitting office-holder, especially one as widely known as Koplinski.

Secondly, I believed that a low turnout election would benefit Papenfuse’s slate. People need a reason to vote for a candidate–and some need a reason to show up to vote at all, particularly in a mid-May primary. Papenfuse provided that motivation and guidance for voters who like him or agree with his pro-business/balanced budget/Reed rollback approach to the office. Meanwhile, anti-Papenfuse sentiment in the city, while it exists, seems rather feeble and unorganized.

I’ll be honest–when Papenfuse announced on TheBurg Podcast a few weeks back that he was publicly supporting Johnson, Baltimore and Majors, I thought that a mayoral endorsement was a risky (if bold) move. I thought the same when he vocally urged residents to vote against Koplinski and when he became ever-more critical of council President Wanda Williams.

Papenfuse, though, has proven himself a savvy tactician. He gambled that, in a low turnout election, he could have outsized influence, perhaps even enough to sway the election–and that the louder and clearer he announced his choices, the better.

He was right, which I realized in something of an epiphany when I sauntered to the polls at around 2 p.m. yesterday and was just the 72nd person in my ward to vote. The turnout was so sparse that the punchy poll-workers actually applauded my arrival.

Assuming the election’s unofficial results hold (Koplinski is down just 18 votes from the final four-year slot), Papenfuse now must ensure that he retains the allegiance of his slate. Former Mayor Steve Reed was famous (perhaps infamous) for running a “Reed team,” only to lose their support as his erstwhile allies, once in office, increasingly recoiled at his dismissive, bullying attitude towards council.

Papenfuse is an ambitious man with a broad agenda. When the new council takes office next year, he will have an opportunity to push through a number of items that, so far, he’s been denied (sustainability officer, anyone?). However, to do so, he needs to keep his support on council in tact.

Johnson and Majors owe Papenfuse some measure of thanks for their wins. However, after an initial period of adjustment, nearly all new council members find their voices, priorities and preferred constituencies. Expect the same here. Come January, the mayor may have more allies on City Council, but he still will have to work hard–and wisely–to retain their support, to line up the votes he needs to pass his legislative agenda.

In the meantime, Papenfuse can take pleasure in knowing that he, again, has out-maneuvered his political foes. Perhaps he and his team understand something that oddly seems to be lost on other local politicians and their backers. Half-measures and wishful thinking don’t win elections. Effort does. Strategy does. Organization does. To win, you must do what needs to be done to turn out your voters.

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