Music, Gumbo, Faith: Hot time for a great cause at “Taste of Jazz.”

March 31, 2015 | by Priscilla Morales

Steve Rudolph

Spring. Flowers. Easter. April is a month for being outdoors, warming up and preparing for the summer ahead.

Perhaps lesser known, it’s also a good month to listen to some great music. April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and there may be no better way to celebrate in Harrisburg than with a “Taste of Jazz.”

Sponsored by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, this event features the sounds of vocalist Diane Wilson Bedford, the Steve Rudolph Trio and the Break from Blue Collar Barbershop Quartet. That’s the jazz part. The “taste” part comes thanks to the Cajun cuisine of Crawdaddy’s, where the event takes place.

But it’s not just cool jazz and spicy food. “Taste of Jazz” also serves as a fundraiser, supporting and highlighting the work of the church.

“It will create a sense of family and community, understanding of the programs and mission of church, as jazz is multicultural, which highlights the theme of the church, and is a day of celebration,” said Sarah Weedon, senior warden of St. Paul’s Vestry.

Diversity, Empowerment

Event organizers expect more than 150 people to attend the event, given the popularity of the performers and the restaurant.

Steve Rudolph is a prominent fixture in Harrisburg’s jazz scene, keeping the movement alive and going. He is currently the executive director of Central PA Friends of Jazz.

Harrisburg native Diane Wilson Bedford is a well-known vocalist locally and performs both regionally and nationally. Break from Blue Collar is a barbershop quartet comprised of classically trained singers.

“They will provide an added dimension to the event displaying tight harmony to the jazz standards they will perform,” explained Christyan Seay, the musical coordinator of the event, member of St. Paul’s and participant in the choir.

Given the multicultural nature of jazz, the event fits well into the mission of St. Paul’s, which ministers to a diverse congregation and neighborhood in Uptown Harrisburg.

The church has been at the corner of Green and Seneca streets since 1993, though it first came together as a Mission Sunday School at St. Stephen’s in November 1857. Due to floods, fires and economic spirals, St. Paul’s has switched building locations throughout Harrisburg over the past 150 years.

In addition to worship services, St. Paul’s oversees several important community programs. In partnership with St. Barnabas, a youth center that is located at St. Paul’s, the church runs a summer program for about 60 Uptown neighborhood children. Meals, educational activities and field trips, including theaters and amusement parks, are incorporated in this child-focused ministry.

A newer ministry, which just launched on March 3, is the Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope. This health clinic is targeted to those in the community who are uninsured and underserved in the Dauphin County area. Volunteer doctors and nurses supply a holistic treatment in caring for these people.

“[St. Paul’s] is about empowering people to do God’s work in the church and the community,” said St. Paul’s member Kara Beem.

To continue its ministries, St. Paul’s relies largely on congregational donations and community fundraisers. Much has gone into “Taste of Jazz,” as it is the first fundraiser of its kind for the church, and the event planning committee has been hard at work since last summer, carefully fine-tuning the details.

“[The goal of ‘Taste of Jazz’] is for everyone to have a good time, acquire a sense of breadth with what St. Paul’s is about, which is love of God and neighbor, an appreciation of community, to know more, meet people and enjoy fellowship,” said the Rev. Canon Katherine Harrigan, the rector of the church.

“Taste of Jazz” takes place April 12, 2 to 5 p.m., at Crawdaddy’s, 1500 N. 6^th St., Harrisburg. The cost is $45 per person. For more information and to order tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/a-taste-of-jazz-tickets-15485657017?aff=eac2.

Change of Course: New races, dates, routes for 2015 Harrisburg runs.

March 31, 2015 | by Matt Lewis

If you’re a runner in Harrisburg, you know the drill.

The Harrisburg Mile is in July, the half marathon in September, the marathon in November.

It’s been that way seemingly forever.

For 2015, the East Shore YMCA has decided to shake things up to inject new life into an old routine, add some races and better integrate the events.

“This new series is no longer a number of single events,” said Tom Gifford, race director for the East Shore Y. “Now, they are all tied together for the cause of promoting the Y and its programming for the community.”

The result is the Harrisburg Area YMCA Race Series, sponsored by Capital BlueCross.

“This is an ideal sponsorship for Capital BlueCross because of the strong connection to health and community,” said Amy Nilsen, manager of community relations for Capital BlueCross.

For many runners, the greatest change will be in the popular half marathon, which now will take place in late June, not September. The event was moved up to serve as a training run for the marathon later in the fall, said Gifford.

The marathon still will be run in early November, but runners will enjoy new scenery as the course has been completely rethought. Instead of plodding mainly along the Greenbelt, runner also will wind through Harrisburg neighborhoods.

“We are looking at featuring the bridges and neighborhoods of Harrisburg with the new course design, as well as the most scenic parts of the Greenbelt and downtown,” said Gifford. “However, we will still try to keep it as flat as possible since this is a Boston [Marathon] qualifier, and people look to run good times here.”

The course change will better connect the race with its host city, said Chad Krebs, executive director of the East Shore Y.

“We have a gem of a city and would love to grow the marathon to a premier race on the East Coast with 3,000 to 5,000 runners,” he said. “Ultimately, we look for the series to have a positive economic effect on the city.”

The marathon also has a new sponsor, AspireCARE/AspireFIT of Harrisburg.

“This is a great hometown race with a beautiful course, and Aspire is excited to promote it,” said Dr. Richard Rayner, Aspire’s director of family medicine, who has volunteered for and run the marathon in the past. “At Aspire, we are all about encouraging fitness as a way to prevent illness.”

Wine, Beer, Mud

The East Shore Y is hosting new and near-new events designed to appeal to every type of racer, from those who just like to run to those who also like a tasty drink. In addition, there’s now a racing event nearly every month.

On May 3, the Vinewinder will debut, covering a four-mile course of rolling hills in and around the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey.

“This is the first year we have partnered with them, and we are really excited,” said Gifford. “We hope to sell out and make it a yearly event.”

The following week, the Y will hold the Freedom 5K to give members of the military and veterans their own event, while still involving the community. This will be an evening run, and organizers plan to follow the race with an after-party and fireworks.

“This year, we are offering separate heats, one for civilians and one for individuals with military service,” said Gifford.

Another addition is the Mud Mash, to be held on Aug. 23 near Fort Hunter. At press time, specifics for this race were still being planned. However, Gifford promised a “fun event where finishing time doesn’t matter and people get as filthy as possible.”

The Troeg’s Hop Dash was introduced last year, and the 500 participant spots sold out in 90 minutes. This is a 5K that starts and finishes at the Troeg’s Brewery in Hershey.

Local Cause

Gifford and Krebs said that they want to continue to cater to locals, but would also like to attract elite runners from around the country.

“Each race has something for everyone, from the novice to the expert,” said Krebs. “We want to draw people into the city from the East Shore, suburbs and greater region to show them that the city is not a bad place. It is safe, and it is thriving.”

The YMCA also wants people to understand that they are running to support a great local cause.

“Ultimately, our goal is to allow the Y to do better for the community,” said Krebs. “This series will provide us with positive income that we can reinvest in our programming, and the rebranding will help us raise our visibility and let people know that we are here to help serve Harrisburg.”

For more information on the Harrisburg Area YMCA Race Series and to register, visit www.ymcarun.com.

2015 Harrisburg Area YMCA Race Series

Vinewinder
Sunday, May 3

Harrisburg Freedom 5K
Thursday, May 14

Harrisburg Half Marathon
Sunday, June 28

Harrisburg Mile
Wednesday, July 15

Harrisburg Mud Mash
Sunday, Aug. 23

Troeg’s Hop Dash 5K
TBD

Aspire Harrisburg Marathon
Nov. 7 and 8

A Kid’s-Eye View: What do Harrisburg youth think of their city? I asked.

March 31, 2015 | by Tara Leo Auchey

Lately, I’ve been talking with a lot of kids in the city of Harrisburg. They’re all ages, from little ones to young adults, and we’re talking about all sorts of things.

Mostly, though, we’re talking about how they see the city. I keep asking them what they think of this place. How do they see other people seeing the city? What do they think the city’s best parts are? What do they think the city needs?

Specifically, I’ve been asking them their points of view of Harrisburg. Here’s what I’ve heard.

They want things to do

“It seems like every time we have something good, the city takes it away.”

So said a 17-year-old SciTech student during a discussion about what there is for young people to do in Harrisburg.

From what I’ve gathered, there’s not much.

Sure, all kids say that about their hometown, but, in the city of Harrisburg, it’s a bit different.

This is a city so, by its very definition, there should be a variety of options for the kids, from shopping spots and entertainment venues to skate parks and diners. But, around here, there really aren’t many places for kids to gather. Yes, there’s the Boys and Girls Club, Harrisburg Police Activity League and the Bethesda Youth group, all of which have youth activities. However, this isn’t for everyone, especially the teenagers of our city.

They don’t always want to do something so organized. They simply want to meet up with each other and chill in a cool city space.

“So many people think that all of us Harrisburg kids are bad. We’re not. But there’s not much for us to do. There used to be a skating rink out on Derry Street. That’s gone. Music? We don’t have anywhere to see it or perform. We’re too young for most places. The nearest mall is awful. We don’t have any place to go and just hang out with our friends.”

Think about it. They’re right.

They want people to talk to and ways to express themselves

When I get together with the older kids, I push them to learn Harrisburg stories, history, people and facts.

Sometimes, I push hard and, in response to one such push, a young lady said to me, “Miss Tara, you want us to go interview people, but I’ve never felt anyone ever wanted to talk with me. I mean,” and she swept her hand over the six adults in the room, “this is the first time a grownup has ever asked me what I think.”

There was a collective intake of breath in the room among those adults. We felt the impact of what she had just said.

She was a high school student who never had been asked to give her thoughts before. She never had the opportunity to converse with an adult, simply asking questions and freely discussing the answers.

It wasn’t that simple, though, because, for her and so many of her classmates, no adult had sat with them and chatted with them about their perspectives, desires, concerns, hopes and ideas.

These kids are ready to express themselves, but they need the grownups in the room to help them do it.

They want respect

Disrespect hurts. It kills. It devastates. It ruins things.

These kids know that. Sort of. They know disrespect for Harrisburg is there, but I’m not sure they know exactly how insidious it is.

What they do know is that they want to get away from it.

As a result, many of them are ready to leave this place just to get away from the contempt.

They hear/see/experience disrespect for their hometown all of the time. They see the bleeding headlines on the news. They hear people say awful things. They know the horror stories, many of which are not true from their points of view.

In February, I attended a gathering at Messiah College. It was at the president’s house after Michele Norris of NPR notoriety gave a talk entitled, “Eavesdropping on America’s Conversation on Race.”

A Harrisburg student from Rowland Middle School was there dressed and poised for the occasion. Initially, I was just impressed with her mature presence and good manners.

Then I started talking to her about our city.

She spoke of perceptions. She spoke of misconceptions.

Her words to me were short and sweet, but they conveyed a young person with keen awareness and wisdom.

She knows that a lot of people talk bad about the city, and she knows it hurts everyone who lives here.

“There are so many people that say so many terrible things about Harrisburg that if we don’t start showing how much good is here, then well, we’re just going to get crushed.”

She’s right.

Ultimately, we have to remember that, with every generalization, with every stereotype so rudely stated, there’s a young person who hears it.

Every time someone bashes this place, there’s a child here who feels the blow.

It’s as simple as that.

What’s especially harmful is that this place is supposed to be someplace special. It’s the capital city. It’s along the mighty Susquehanna River. It’s one of the early settlements of America.

We try to teach the youth that, yet, everyday, it gets so vehemently dismissed by too many adults around them.

When Harrisburg is disparaged—especially by the people who live merely a drive away over a bridge in any direction—it resonates with the young people who live here.

They feel Harrisburg hated. They feel hated.

Some things for us all to think about.

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

Soul Seeker: As artist Aron Rook creates, she searches for answers–within, without.

March 31, 2015 | by Laura Good

The aroma of coffee and the sound of idle chatter fill the space around our table. Sirens send conversations to a halt as heads turn to the front window. Figures of fire trucks and an ambulance blur down Hanover Street for a reason unknown to us.

Recovering from the loud noise still in our heads, we begin speaking again.

“It’s simple here,” she says. “After moving around trying to find excitement….” She trails off then takes a breath. “I couldn’t find my soul.”

As a child, artist Aron Rook began her artistic instruction in Carlisle at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

“Art became an immediate interest,” Rook says, explaining how she left ballet to pursue classes at the Art Association of Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg Art Center. Her initial interest gelled into a passion that led to an illustration program at Rhode Island School of Design and the Pennsylvania Governor School’s sculpture program, all before completing high school.

She next earned a degree in illustration and fine arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore and then found herself on the road, traveling from Raleigh to New York to Pittsburgh, before returning to her roots and replanting herself in Carlisle.

Rook acknowledges that “it has taken a community to keep going” despite the rich talent, inspiration and imagination that exists within her. She explains her battles against criticism, critique and even herself that kept everything dormant for periods of time.

“A challenge has been doing the thing I love, but getting through the bad days,” she states. “My entire being struggles with it. It’s such a part of me, and I can’t separate from it.”

What Hurts

Rook finds it a constant trial determining and organizing which ideas to express and how exactly to create art from the freshness of an idea.

“My imagination is always alive, and, while vast, I think I’m only at 10 percent,” she says. “I want to stretch it further—further than the known and unknown universe. This is where my art begins.”

While she fears setbacks, Rook understands that, without them, her work would not exist. She recalled a time when a professor critiqued her drawing as “too pretty.” The class provoked question and doubt, but, during her final year at MICA, Rook submitted a piece to the Society of Illustrators that was selected and showcased at the “Student Scholarship” exhibition in New York City.

More recently, she enrolled with Klein Artist Works by Paul Klein, which provides live online webinars with reputable artists, collectors, curators and professionals who serve as resources, counselors and advisors to guide artists to build success. This resource, paired with a new non-profit in town, The Charles Bruce Foundation, which supports and funds artists, writers and musicians, has greatly influenced Rook this past year.

“It’s a sphere of contacts and influences,” she says.

As per influences—she suddenly mentions her admiration for Picasso. “And you know who else?” she says. “Charlie Chaplin! I like the underlying despair. His art is distinct.”

Endless Cycle

Within the last year, Rook has created a VIP database to better communicate with followers, admirers and audiences that encounter her creations. It provides an opportunity for her fan base to see new projects that are coming; learn valuable tricks and techniques; and earn discounts on pieces of art.

With the Carlisle community behind her, Rook now devotes her time and energy on large-scale paintings with bright, vivid colors, along with pen-and-black-ink drawings. Over the holidays, she introduced Gourdnaments, gourds made into ornaments, which were not only symbolic but custom-made upon request.

“There are a few projects that I’ve been thinking about for years,” she says. “But they [have] yet to come into the physical world.”

She also has decided to help others by teaching at Carlisle Art Learning Center (CALC). The class, which is for students without formal art training, is based on optimizing personal expressions and individual artistic sensitivities, says Rook.

In recent years, her artwork has shown at CALC, as well as at the Time Bomb and Thought Lot Contemporary Arts Center in Shippensburg, among other places.

Her work demonstrates a natural growth, the result of a continual urge to improve her technique and shape her skills while feeding the spirit.

“Nothing is final; everything is a point of growth, a lesson for the next piece,” Rook says. “During my practice, thinking is different. My concentration level is at its highest, yet my mind feels completely flexible and open. But then comes a time when the flow stops, and there is a puzzle, a knot, a challenge. This can be extremely frustrating and disheartening. The great idea is now like a sad flapjack lying on a dirty floor.”

But starting over creates a fresh slate to make it even better. The cycle is endless and, to keep the momentum, there is a need to translate her ideas, even if fragmented, into the physical world.

Rook reminds herself that failure is no longer a fear, because the universe will catch her.

Learn more about Aron Rook’s art at her Facebook page: Aron Rook Art. Her work also can be viewed monthly in TheBurg.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified one of the artists who influenced Rook. He is Charlie Chaplin, not Charlie Chapman. A quote about a piece of art that “needed more soul,” attributed inaccurately to Rook’s former professor, has also been removed. Additionally, one of Rook’s road stops was Raleigh, not Charlotte, as stated in the original article.

Musical Notes: Rock ‘n’ Rain–April offers a shower of classic & contemporary rock.

March 31, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Whether you’re hip to the music of today or prefer that your rock be strictly classic, April has something perfectly suited to your tastes.

All three featured artists have something in common: quality. All have collected heaps of accolades throughout their careers and all are surely poised to put on powerful performances. So, this month, brave the seasonably rainy weather and take in one of Harrisburg’s fabulous shows.

ALVVAYS, 4/15, 9PM, LARSEN STUDENT UNION, MESSIAH COLLEGE, FREE

Messiah College may be a little outside the typical sphere for the “Musical Notes” column, but this was just too good of a show to pass up. Alvvays (pronounced “Always”) has been quickly garnering the attention of the music world’s literati. The band’s 2014 eponymous release charted at No. 36 on Rolling Stone’s year-end list and No. 5 on Paste’s. Sunny and surfy, this Canadian band provides the perfect soundtrack for the young spring. Vocalist Molly Rankin’s voice is simultaneously dynamic and haunting as she sings nimble melodies over jangly guitars. And considering that Messiah College is offering this show for free, it is certainly worth the short drive down Route 15.

TERRY REID, 4/17, HMAC, DOORS AND ADMISSION TBD

If young, new bands aren’t your thing, consider a well-known classic. Terry Reid has been a hot ticket for generations. You know you are in demand when you’re too busy to join Led Zeppelin. Reid was Jimmy Page’s first choice for heading up the new band that Page was forming. Due to touring and contract conflicts, Reid had to decline, but suggested that Page recruit a young Robert Plant instead. Spend one moment with Reid’s voice, and you’ll know why he caught Page’s ear. Like so many young rockers in the U.K. at the time, Reid sings with power and soul and has taken to the road in support of some of the greatest rock bands of all time, including Cream, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones.

OVER THE RHINE, 4/23, 8PM, MIDTOWN SCHOLAR, $20

Over the Rhine has also been doing their thing for a long time, though admittedly not as long as Reid. I first discovered their music when I was in college, more than 10 years ago, and they were already well into their career at that point. Yet their music doesn’t feel dated. The husband and wife duo met while in college in Ohio in the ‘80s, and they have been writing soulful folk music together since. Their music is smoky, dark and rich, driven by Karin Bergquist’s remarkable vocals that soar over Linford Detweiler’s masterful instrumentation. Tickets are available for presale and at the door. Make sure to get there early, because the show is not to be missed.

Mentionables: Beards, Bands and Brews Charity Event, 4/4, FedLive; Rivers, 4/10, Little Amps Downtown; Eilen Jewell, 4/19, Abbey Bar; The Stray Birds, 4/26, Abbey Bar

Community Corner: Notable Events in April

March 31, 2015 | by TheBurg Editor

Happy Hour Fundraiser
April 1: The YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s Junior Board will host its fifth annual happy hour, “A Night of UnWINEding with the YWCA,” 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at Spring Gate Vineyard, 5790 Devonshire Rd., Harrisburg. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit the YWCA’s Camp Reily. Visit ywcahbg.org/events.

Archaeological Lecture
April 1: The World Culture Club of Central PA will present a free program, “Uncovering Madame Montour’s Otstonwakin: Archaeological Excavations at an 18^th Century Native American Village” at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Dr., 5^th Floor, Lecture Room C, at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Visit worldcultureclubpa.org.

Exploring Diversity
April 2: Join the Carlisle Chamber for “Women for Women: Exploring Diversity in Women…Let’s Talk,” a forum on facing diversity issues in religion, race, gender, age and economic diversity. The event takes place 3 to 5 p.m. at the YWCA Carlisle. More information is at www.ywcacarlisle.org.

Stress Relief Walk
April 8: Walk off the stress of the day with a vigorous 3-mile walk around Wildwood Park. Meet at the Olewine Nature Center at 6 p.m. For more information, visit wildwoodlake.org.

Foreign Film Friday
April 10: The Indian film, “The Lunchbox,” will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill. More information is at fredricksenlibrary.org.

Clean Up Your Earth
April 11: In honor of Earth Day, drop by Wildwood Park to help clean up its lake, streams and trails. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided for the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. event. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Logan’s Run
April 11: Run for fun and a great cause at the 10^th Annual Logan’s Run & Walk for Autism. The run takes off from City Island, Harrisburg, at 10 a.m., with the Family Fun Walk for Autism at noon. For information and to register, visit LogansRunWalkForAutism.kintera.org.

Sing-Off
April 11: Revel in some of the best voices in the Mid-Atlantic at the M&T Bank Regional Glee College A Cappella Competition. The fifth annual sing-off starts at 7 p.m. at the Carlisle Theatre in Carlisle. Tickets are $15 and $25 for adults and $8 and $15 for students. Call 717-243-4805 or visit carlisleunitedway.org.

Light and Creativity
April 11: Harrisburg Camera Club will hold its 5th annual “Light and Creativity” workshop, 8 a.m. to 5p.m., featuring nationally known photographers at Central Penn College Conference Center, Valley Road and B streets, Enola. The cost is $60 for Harrisburg Camera Club members, $70 for non-members and $45 for students. Visit lightandcreativity.org for details.

Railway Society Banquet
April 11: Join the Harrisburg Chapter National Railway Historical Society for its annual banquet, featuring keynote speaker Amanda Trainor Patrick, whose topic will be “Women in Railroading.” The event begins at 5 p.m. at Colonial Golf & Tennis Club, 4901 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. To make reservations before April 1, contact 717-232-6221.

Harrisburg Together
April 12: Harrisburg Together will host its second annual event to raise funds to repair the Pennsylvania Holocaust Monument. The 5K run or 1-mile walk will begin on City Island at 2 p.m., with registration at 1 p.m. To register and donate, visit holocaustmonument.myevent.com/3/donate.htm.

Environmental Rights Symposium
April 12: Legal experts on Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment will discuss its future at an event sponsored by the PA Sierra Club and PennFuture. The symposium takes place at 3 p.m. at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 25 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Free parking in the Market Square Garage. For more, visit marketsquarechurch.org.

Lincoln Presentation
April 12: “The Lincoln Funeral Train” will be the subject of a presentation by Joseph Garrera, executive director of the Lehigh County Historical Society. The event begins at 3 p.m. at the Historical Society of Dauphin County (Harris-Cameron Mansion), 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. Information is at dauphincountyhistory.org.

Antique Auction
April 12: Antiques, artifacts and collectibles will be up for auction starting at 2 p.m. at Cordier Auctions and Appraisals, 1500 Paxton St., Harrisburg. Items will include the last remaining stained glass from the old Senate Hotel, political memorabilia, coins and currency and an antique chair used by a Harrisburg dentist. Proceeds benefit Historic Harrisburg Association. A complete list of auction items is at historicharrisburg.com.

Noir at the Bar
April 13: Join some of the midstate’s best crime fiction writers, who will read their work as audience members enjoy a drink and a meal. The fun starts at 8 p.m. at Sturges Speakeasy, 400 Forster St., Harrisburg. More information is at Noir at the Bar’s Facebook page.

Chamber Mixer
April 15: Join the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for its monthly business networking mixer at the Paper Lion Gallery, 1217 Hummel Ave., Lemoyne, 6 to 8 p.m. More information is at cpglcc.org.

Youth Benefit
April 16: Dining with Diakon holds a networking/fundraising event at the Hilton Harrisburg, 6:30-9 p.m., to benefit troubled youth, helping them learn skills to be successful. Food, fun and a silent auction are on tap. Go to diningwithdiakon.org for information and tickets.

Meet the Candidates
April 16: Friends of Midtown invites the public to meet the candidates for Harrisburg City Council. The candidate forum will take place at Harris Street UMC, 250 Harris St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit friendsofmidtown.org.

3^rd in The Burg
April 17: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3^rd in The Burg, the monthly arts event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. This month, the food trucks are back! For more information, visit thirdintheburg.org.

Jersey Mike 5K
April 18: Get set and go to the Jersey Mike Rock + Run 5K, the third annual fundraiser and race organized as a tribute to concert promoter Mike Van Jura. This year, the event has a “rock ‘n roll circus” theme, with costumes encouraged and prizes awarded. Visit jerseymikerun.com for more information and registration.

Book & Media Sale
April 24-26: The Fredericksen Library will hold its annual spring book and media sale. Items include media, puzzles and games, parent and teacher materials, as well as a wide variety of books. Additional information is at fredericksenlibrary.org.

Beer Week
April 24-May 2: Raise a glass and learn about all things beer during Harrisburg Beer Week. Scores of events are planned at area venues throughout the week, including food pairings, brewer socials, tastings, giveaways, contests, forums, tap takeovers, educational events and more. Check out all the action at harrisburgbeerweek.com.

Wetlands Festival
April 25: Celebrate Wildwood Park’s wetlands with a day of fun and educational activities, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be special wildlife exhibits, displays and live animal programs. For more information on the free festival, visit wildwoodlake.org.

A Novel Idea
April 25: Join six award-winning authors for a once-a-month program designed to help writers draft a first novel. A second program of one-day workshops will address such subjects as “How to Write a Query Letter” and “Writing a Memoir.” Information session at Midtown Scholar Bookshop, 1 to 3 p.m. For more, visit perrycountyarts.org or call 717-567-7023.

Spring Festival
April 25: Holy Spirit Hospital Auxiliary will hold its 18^th annual Spring Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Adams Ricci Park in Enola. The event features a flower sale, chicken barbecue, children’s games and craft vendors. A 5K run begins at 9 a.m. For more information, call 717-763-2796 or e-mail [email protected].

PUREhope Coffeehouse
April 25: The annual PUREhope Coffeehouse will take place in the social room of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 240 Broad St., Highspire, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to donate at least $5 to support the work of Hope for Justice and Blood:Water Mission. In addition to beverages, there will be food, music and a silent auction. Visit hopeforjustice.org and bloodwater.org.

Race Against Racism
April 26: The 10^th annual Race Against Racism 5K takes off from City Island at 9:30 a.m., with day-of registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. The event promotes awareness of issues surrounding racial injustice and raises funds to support the YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s racial justice program. Details are at ywcahbg.org.

Downton Abbey Tea
April 26: Preview the new Downton Abbey clothing exhibit before it opens to the public. The event runs 1 to 3:30 p.m. and starts with an illustrated talk on heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post followed by high tea and the exhibit preview. Cost is $30 per person and $25 for members. For information, visit forthunter.org.

State Museum Tour
April 26: Beth Hager of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will offer a guided tour of select areas of the State Museum and Archives, 1-3 p.m. Free with museum admission on a first-come, first-served basis, but tour slots are limited. Register by emailing [email protected].

Anti-Bullying Forum
April 29: Author Cheryl Dellasega will deliver a lecture, “Mean Girls All Grown Up,” highlighting the issue of aggression between women in the workplace. The event takes place at noon at Widener School of Law, 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg. Information and registration are at pawomensforum.org.

Healthy Discussion: The ladies of Zoombalicious offer Harrisburg a fitness lesson and a civics lesson.

March 31, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

You see a lot through five-plus years of covering Harrisburg City Council meetings.

Fights and arguments. Council members muttering and swearing. Power plays and shifting alliances. People getting ejected bodily by police.

I’ve been through one bankruptcy filing, two receivers, three mayors and four or five different PennLive reporters.

But something happened recently that I’d never seen before.

Last November, a group of women (mostly women anyway) began attending council meetings to make a plea for a shared cause. At that meeting, they cautiously stepped before the public microphone to urge council to help save a program that they said had changed their lives.

Then they came back in December, a little bolder, even enduring a four-hour budget hearing to get a turn to speak, and twice again in January. By the time late February rolled around, City Council chambers was packed with the ladies of Zoombalicious.

Back at the first meeting in November, few people in the room had any idea what Zoombalicious was or why it mattered. The assembled officials, reporters and citizens were there mainly to hear Mayor Eric Papenfuse deliver his budget address, which now was going to be delayed by a queue of women talking up a Zumba fitness program. They even had handouts!

But then the ladies spoke, and the importance of the program began to sink in.

Zumba had helped them lose weight, had improved their health, had boosted their energy and confidence and self-esteem, they said.

And, now, it was under threat.

At year-end, a wellness grant from Highmark would expire, potentially dooming the free program. That’s why the ladies were there. They wanted to know if the city could find the money to continue it.

“Basically, we’re here to try to convince you to keep the program going,” said one speaker. “There have been amazing results with a lot of the people there.”

The Zumba class regularly attracted 70 or 80 women each session, she said, and it was held four times a week. It had become an important part of their lives, promoting not just good health, but purpose, support and friendship.

Council President Wanda Williams said it was the first she had heard that the program would end and recommended that the group meet with Jackie Parker, the city’s director of Community and Economic Development.

So the city of Harrisburg—struggling with serious budget, crime, parking and personnel problems—tried to find an answer to Zoombalicious.

Over the coming months, several solutions were suggested. The mayor said he would try to secure a new grant, but, when that failed, proposed allocating some $5,000 from the city’s general fund. That idea, though, caused its own set of problems. The city would have to put the contract out for general bid, which meant that the program’s beloved instructor, Sandy Johnson, probably wouldn’t end up teaching the class.

That’s what brought out the biggest crowd yet. In late February, 50 or 60 women (and a few men) crowded into City Council chambers to make personal pleas for their program and their teacher. This time, they didn’t submit testimonials in writing, as most had before, but went face-to-face with the mayor and council.

One woman said she had lost 54 pounds in six months.

Another said the class helped her believe in herself again.

A young man said that Zumba had helped ease his bipolar disorder.

All credited Johnson, as much as exercise, saying they couldn’t imagine Zoombalicious without her.

“Without these ladies, I wouldn’t be able to stand before you and say that I’m happy to be healthy,” said one speaker.

Johnson, in fact, had been teaching the class four times a week for free since funding expired in December.

“They want me, they need me,” she told council members amidst loud applause.

Johnson also announced some good news. A day before the meeting, she had met with city spokeswoman Joyce Davis, who proposed another solution. The program would be put under a sports-related nonprofit, M.O.S.E.L.F. RBI, which would allow the group to accept grants and outside funds, while retaining control.

“We had a lot of obstacles to overcome to keep this Zumba class,” Johnson said, thanking both Davis and Williams.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people speak before City Council.

Many have brought up personal problems that are beyond council’s purview (the school system, parking). Others have asked council to address serious societal issues that members, unfortunately, can do little about (racism, homelessness).

The (mostly) ladies of Zoombalicious took another approach.

They brought to council a problem that might be solvable. They were gracious and friendly, committed and passionate. They were organized, prepared and persistent. They showed an understanding of the city’s constraints. They were realistic and flexible.

Yes, they proved how important an exercise program—and instructor—is to their lives. But they also gave a lesson in civic engagement, in how to take an issue, advocate for a solution and see it through to resolution.

Would you like to help the (mostly) ladies of Zoombalicious? You can mail donations to support the Zumba program to: M.O.S.E.L.F. RBI, P.O. Box 1541, Harrisburg, Pa., 17105. For more information on the free classes, which take place at Foose School in Harrisburg, visit the Facebook page: Zoombalicious.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Beauty All Around Us: The natural, the manmade become one as Art in the Wild returns.

March 31, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Debbi Cowl remembers the first time she walked the trails of Wildwood Park in Dauphin County and stumbled upon the whimsical creatures and colorful creations left behind by artists.

As the director of Tender Years Child Development Center and an artist herself, Cowl desperately wanted to introduce her students to Wildwood Park’s annual Art in the Wild program.

“We really wanted to be committed to participating this year,” Cowl said.

Beginning its third year this month, “Art in the Wild” will turn Wildwood Park into an al fresco gallery for 17 artists who will display their work along the 3.1-mile trail loop.

Good to her word, Cowl and her students will be part of it. Along with kindergarten teacher Carol Lauver, Cowl will fill a tree with birdhouses created by about 20 students as a way to contribute to the park’s evolving program.

The theme for this year’s exhibit is “Reflections,” said Chris Rebert, manager at Wildwood Park and Olewine Nature Center. Artists can interpret that however they like, but all of the projects must be made from mostly natural materials, he said.

Winners for first through third place will be announced on opening day, April 11. Three top winners also will be selected for a people’s choice award, where visitors can vote on their favorite exhibits throughout the summer. Those winners will be announced Sept. 27 at Celebrate Wildwood.

The year’s late snow proved a challenge for artists who needed to start setting up as early as mid-March. By early April, depending on how warm it is, the poison ivy could be an issue for those who have to work in the brush. Despite these concerns, things were shaping up well for this year’s exhibit, Rebert said.

All from PA

Art in the Wild allows artists to bring in their own items, as long as they aren’t invasive plants, and create pieces using whatever inspiration nature might provide.

Sometimes, Rebert said, artists will even use dead materials or invasive vines already in the park, such as the oriental bittersweet vine, helping to benefit both the park and the artist.

While previous years have hosted artists from throughout the region, including three from out of state and one from Canada, each of the 17 artists represented this year are from Pennsylvania. When they submit applications to be considered for the exhibit, a panel of five jurors chooses from the ideas without knowing the names of the applicants, Rebert said.

This process allows everyone from professional artists to hobbyists and even school students to be included.

With more than 85,000 park visitors a year, mostly for walking, running or to participate in a park program, Art in the Wild gives Wildwood Park the chance to reach a larger group of people, Rebert said.

“We feel like Dauphin County Parks has pioneered an exciting format for the discovery of art in nature,” he said. “We want to show people that there is beauty throughout Pennsylvania’s landscape, and sometimes it can be intentional art.”

Inventive and Wonderful

Each year, Cowl and Lauver look forward to walking through Art in the Wild. Artists themselves, they admire the ingenuity that the program offers those with a creative spirit.

Their students will be creating birdhouses made from wood kits and coconut shells, and they’ve even started looking for natural items to decorate with, such as natural dyes from berries and carrots.

“Projects like these go beyond standardized testing that a lot of the public schools have to do,” Cowl said. “By working with the children on these projects, they have the chance to learn about habitats, natural resources and critical thinking when it comes to building something. These are the connections to learning we want to provide.”

Incorporating art with early childhood education has the power to leave a lasting impression, said Lauver, who has taught kindergarten at the school for 13 years. Growing up in New York, she remembers when an art teacher said her painting was good enough for an exhibit. From that moment on, Lauver said, she thought of herself as an artist.

Kathleen Swain of Susquehanna Township has also found inspiration. An avid knitter, she will use felting, the process of creating very dense fibers through knitting, to create more than 20 different animals to place in the exhibit.

In addition to birds and birdhouses, she will knit turtles, snakes and Canada geese that she’ll hang from the trees, place on logs and otherwise position in their natural habitats.

“I think Art in the Wild is one of the best things that park has done,” Swain said. “Some of the exhibits are just so inventive and wonderful.”

As a member of the Friends of Wildwood Park and an avid hiker, Swain waited until after her daughter’s wedding last year to get involved.

Now, she might spend up to 10 hours making a single bird to hang in her display. Working with the theme of reflection, Swain is making all of her creatures in pairs and posing them to look at each other, much like a parent and child.

Unlike the many sweaters, blankets and mittens she’s knitted in the past, a project of this size has taken much of her time since Thanksgiving, she said. But the experience is one she doesn’t regret.

“When you visit, just be prepared to walk the entire loop,” she said. “There are so many beautiful, unique exhibits, that you don’t want to miss any. Keep an open mind and be alert. You don’t know what beauty might surprise you.”

“Art in the Wild” will be on display April 11 to Oct. 31 at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Park Way, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.dauphincounty.org and search for “Art in the Wild.” A brochure featuring a map of the displays is available at the Olewine Nature Center.

Spirited Arrival: Distillery Set to Open in Harrisburg

March 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Midstate Distillery is slated to open in the summer in this building on Harrisburg’s Cameron Street.

Lovers of small-batch, locally produced spirits, raise a glass—it looks like Harrisburg will get its first craft distillery after all.

For more than a year, business partners Dan Healy and Brian Myers have been quietly creating a distillery inside the former Smith Paint Building at 1817 N. Cameron St, a couple of blocks south of the state Farm Show Complex. If all goes according to plan, the pair expects to open Midstate Distillery this summer.

“We want to make a product that the people of the greater Harrisburg area will embrace,” said Healy, 32, a Camp Hill resident.

Healy and Myers, 42, bought the building in December 2013 and have been hard at work since transforming the dilapidated, 7,000-square-foot space into a modern distillery and tasting room. They plan to manufacture rum, vodka and moonshine at first, then gin and whiskey.

Healy said they originated the concept two years ago after leaving another manufacturing company co-owned by Myers.

“We left and brainstormed what to do next,” he said. “We had considered brewing, but thought that market seemed more saturated.”

They began touring micro-distilleries, taking distilling classes, working on their business plan and searching for a site. They decided on Cameron Street because of the central location, the proximity to the Farm Show Complex and the existing industrial zone, which allows distilleries to operate by right.

In addition, the building was already fitted with an extensive sprinkler system, which is essential given the potentially volatile process of manufacturing spirits.

This is the second micro-distillery proposed for Harrisburg in recent months. In December, city residents Alan Kennedy-Shaffer and Stanley Gruen attempted to locate a distillery in the historic “Carpets and Draperies” building in Midtown Harrisburg, a location that required a zoning variance. Following a contentious meeting, the city’s Zoning Hearing Board denied their application.

Healy said Midstate Distillery will produce about 20 cases of liquor a week to start, with the ability to ramp up as demand increases. They will serve drinks by the glass, as well as sell bottles, and also would like to distribute to bars in the area. There are no plans to serve food, though they are open to partnering with food vendors.

Healy and Myers hope to open in July, though the timing will depend upon receipt of their state distillery license. They’ve already received their federal Distilled Spirits Permit. They also must complete the interior renovation, which they’re mostly doing themselves.

“The building has required a lot of TLC,” said Healy.

When Midstate Distillery opens, it will be the first distillery in Harrisburg in many decades, perhaps since Prohibition. In recent years, craft distilleries have opened in cities across Pennsylvania, such as Old Republic in York and Thistle Finch in Lancaster.

“We’re very excited,” said Healy. “But we’re also a little nervous because we still have a lot of work ahead of us before we can open.”

Homicide Solve Rates, Here and Elsewhere: A Story Supplement

March 30, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.

How hard is it to get away with murder in Harrisburg?

TheBurg’s April issue, which comes out tomorrow, includes a story about the city’s homicide clearance rate—the percentage of murders solved by police.

Relying on data from the county coroner, the county courts, newspaper reports, the district attorney’s office and the Harrisburg police department, we compiled a chart of local homicides over six years, from 2009 to 2014.

There were 87 homicides in Harrisburg in that period, a high murder rate for a city this size. Police made arrests in 77 percent of the cases, with 20 remaining unsolved.

That’s a relatively high clearance rate—higher than the national average for homicides in 2013, which was 64 percent. Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter, in an interview for the story, explained some of the factors he thought contributed to his department’s success, including good police relationships in the community.

This morning, a few days after our story went to print, NPR debuted a tool on its website that allows users to compare clearance rates of local agencies.

NPR requested data from the FBI for local law enforcement agencies across the country. (The FBI already makes regional data available on its website.) Their tool provides data on homicide and other crimes from 2011 to 2013.

In those years, Harrisburg reported solve rates of 125 percent, 64 percent and 88 percent, respectively. Over the three years combined, the clearance rate on a total of 36 murders is about 89 percent.

One note on percentages: The NPR tool, following the FBI’s crime reporting standards, gives a clearance rate for each individual year. You simply take the number of crimes cleared in a given year, and divide by the number of new crimes that year.

That allows for more uniform comparisons, though it does come with some caveats—data reported by local agencies are not always accurate, and some are missing, leading to obviously incorrect conclusions (for example, the tool reports the NYPD cleared zero homicides in 2011 and 2012).

For our analysis, we used homicides committed and solved to get a single percentage over the six-year period, a somewhat different measure. Our solve rate skews high in the early years (since police have had more time to solve those crimes) and low in the later years (since they’ve had less time).

Missing data aside, though, one great thing about NPR’s tool is it allows you to compare Harrisburg with other cities. York, for example, has a homicide rate and population similar to Harrisburg’s: there were 39 murders in York between 2011 and 2013, in a population of 43,841.

In 2012 and 2013, York reported clearance rates of 55 and 33 percent, respectively. (Clearance data appear to be missing for 2011.)

Philadelphia, which saw 902 murders from 2011 to 2013 in a population of 1,553,153, posted clearance rates in those years of 60, 70 and 70 percent.

You can view NPR’s clearance rate tool here. To access a spreadsheet of our 2009-2014 homicide data for Harrisburg, click HBG homicides, 2009 – 2014. Our story on Harrisburg’s solve rate will appear in TheBurg’s April issue.

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