Harrisburg Mayor OKs State’s Verizon Workout, Reluctantly

January 30, 2015 | by Paul Barker

On Tuesday night, Harrisburg City Council voted 6-0 in favor of an agreement with Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., the bond insurer familiarly known as AGM, to help the city avoid default on a $41.6 million debt that starts coming due in 2016.

The settlement represents a last, critical piece in a complex negotiation to resolve the debt in a way that would keep Harrisburg’s finances stable, a year and a half after the city adopted a state-sponsored plan to avert bankruptcy.

Council’s vote, however, passed the settlement to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who on Friday had a message for the folks who brokered it: he’ll sign, but he isn’t happy.

In a 770-word open letter to Fred Reddig, Harrisburg’s coordinator under the state oversight program for distressed municipalities, Papenfuse critiqued what he saw as the deal’s numerous flaws, saying Reddig’s team had put “enormous pressure” on him to sign the documents before he had time to review them thoroughly.

The mayor attacked the city’s share of the proceeds from the deal, saying they ranged from “anemic” to “disappointing.” He accused the coordinator of having failed to consider the city’s best interest, and blasted an energy contract that wasn’t publicly bid. And he claimed he’d been threatened with the loss of $5 million in annual state funding if he didn’t sign off on the deal.

Several of the involved parties did not return calls on Friday. But a few who did stuck up for the arrangement. Steven Goldfield, a financial advisor to Reddig, said the state Department of General Services, whose 17-year downtown lease is a key piece of the transaction, “bent over backwards” to make things work for the city.

And Brad Jones, the CEO of Harristown Development Corporation, the manager of the downtown properties involved, said he and his colleagues “really feel like we’ve been thrown under the bus.”

Under the arrangement, Harristown had assumed the risk of a new loan and had waived its customary management fee, Jones said. The deal was difficult, he added, but “we did the best we could.”

The deal is the culmination of two years of negotiations to resolve an outstanding debt burden from a city-backed borrowing in 1998.

That year, the city sold three office towers in Strawberry Square to the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, at the same time guaranteeing around $24 million in bonds the authority issued to finance the purchase.

Some of the bonds were secured by rent payments from the Commonwealth, which is under contract to lease office space in two of the towers through 2025.

But about $7 million of the original debt was secured by the rent in a separate tower, whose primary tenant, Verizon, was set to depart in 2016.

Under the terms of the original debt issue, the only security for the bonds beyond tenant payments was city tax revenues, meaning that the empty office building would leave Harrisburg on the hook for the full principal and interest on the original debt, for a total of $41.6 million.

In September, the state Department of General Services agreed to pick up where Verizon lets off, with a 17-year lease that will pay off a portion of the city’s obligation each year, for a total of around $11 million through 2033.

As a condition of that lease, however, the Commonwealth required renovation of all three buildings, which Harristown agreed to undertake by way of a $16 million retrofit, financed with a guaranteed energy savings contract with Siemens.

In turn, the lender for the retrofit, First National Bank, required the settlement agreement with AGM that council voted for Tuesday, which would provide some assurance that the Strawberry Square assets wouldn’t get tied up in litigation in the event of a city default.

The mayor’s complaint about the no-bid contract was a reference to Siemens, which Jones acknowledged was awarded the contract without a bid. But, Jones added, Harristown was not a government entity and was not required to seek bids.

Additionally, Jones said, Harristown chose Siemens because the company had already done no-fee work auditing the energy consumption of the Strawberry Square facility, which he described as having high maintenance costs and being badly in need of upgrades.

The mayor ultimately signed the agreement around noon on Friday, he said. But in his released statement, and again at a press conference in the afternoon, he explained he did so “not because I think it is a good enough deal for the residents of Harrisburg, but because I feel the consequences could be worse.”

Reached by phone Friday, City Councilman Ben Allatt, the budget and finance committee chair, said he sympathized with the mayor’s remarks, describing the ultimate arrangement as “the lesser of two evils.”

Allatt pointed to some of the expected benefits of the state lease, including the parking and restaurant revenues that should be realized from the addition of around 900 workers to the downtown scene.

He also expressed frustration over feeling that many negotiations have been “forced on the city” in the course of the state’s intervention, saying Papenfuse “is always right to push back” on contracts that may not be the best deal for the city.

“Are we really getting the best deal? At the end of the day, it’s hard to say,” Allatt said. But, he added of the coordinator’s team, “I don’t think they were negotiating in bad faith for the city. I think there was no easy scenario.”

Harrisburg Gets a Lift as Uber Launches in City

January 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Surrounded by media, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse gets set to take the first ride in our area in an Uber car.

Got a car?

Then you might be able to go into business for yourself, as the Uber ride-sharing service launches later today in Harrisburg.

Company General Manager Jennifer Krusius joined Mayor Eric Papenfuse to announce the arrival of Uber, which uses a smartphone application to link drivers and riders. The service goes live at 5 p.m.

Papenfuse touted Uber’s “ease of use” for riders, as well as the opportunity for drivers to earn extra income. He then took the ceremonial first Uber ride.

The cost to use the service is a $2 base fare, then $1.75 per mile and 25 cents per minute. Anyone who signs up for Uber will receive two free rides valued at up to $25 each, said Krusius.

Harrisburg is at the center of this area’s Uber territory, which runs west-to-east in a peanut-shaped design that goes from the western Carlisle suburbs in Cumberland County to Palmyra in Lebanon County. Besides Harrisburg, the territory includes such places as Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Linglestown, Hummelstown and Hershey.

The state has approved a two-year license for Uber, which began in a few large American cities before extending service to smaller metropolitan areas and even foreign countries. Some people believe that Uber threatens the long-established taxi industry, which, unlike Uber, is heavily regulated by government.

To find out more about Uber, including how to use the app and become a driver, visit the company’s website.

Senior writer Paul Barker contributed to this story.

TheBurg Podcast, Jan. 30, 2015

January 30, 2015 | by Admin

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

Jan. 30, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul discuss City Council’s latest legislative session, gun-rights groups suing the city, and a whole bucketful of honorable mentions, including the cover of the February issue, which was distributed today.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music and whose own podcast, the PRC Show, is available on SoundCloud and in the iTunes store.

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

Without a Filter: Step into Stephen Michael Haas’ funhouse at The MakeSpace.

January 30, 2015 | by Missy Smith

Word vomit.

Not everyone would use this phrase to describe their work and personality. But Stephen Michael Haas fully embraces the fact that his creative brain and mouth can move a mile a minute, something he fervently channels into his artwork.

The 23-year-old Harrisburg resident already has a lengthy resume. In recent months, he designed a vibrant cover for TheBurg, has enjoyed a solo show at Little Amps, had a full-spread illustration in Harrisburg Magazine, appeared at CASA as a guest artist, completed various murals and has poured his time and energy into what he says is his most ambitious work yet.

Currently taking over The MakeSpace is Haas’ art installation, “Sprung from the Tongue,” a phrase he refined from his working title (that would be the aforementioned word vomit). This ambitious show is an all-encompassing, zany visualization of Haas’ high energy and fast-moving thoughts.

His featured paintings, drawings, writings, cardboard sculptures, audio and even a book of his creative ideas encompass the belief that artistic thoughts are oftentimes spewed from our mouths and minds, revealing personal themes that many people are anxious to express.

“This show doesn’t take itself too seriously. You won’t see fragile paintings on white walls,” Haas said, in his typically rapid-fire speech. “It is a fully tactile experience that pushes the limits of what people have seen at art shows. This is more like a play. This is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. And it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. My goal was to make something that everyone can enjoy.”

Each room has its own installation and a list of Haas’ various art pieces, with the design being reminiscent of Eye Spy books.

“This is Stephen’s interpretation of a ‘mad house,’ where his bold, graphic imagery, words and colors are ‘sprung’ into the environment of The MakeSpace, and, in turn, ‘sprung’ onto the viewer,” explained Valerie Dillon of The MakeSpace. “Expect to have sensory overload in viewing this house filled with Stephen’s own consuming thoughts and feelings that we can all relate to.”

Haas takes an approach that challenges viewers’ vulnerabilities, while still allowing them to enjoy a rare, intimate exhibit. His work is quite personal, as though the viewer is reading Haas like an open book.

“I really wouldn’t miss this experience,” said Dillon. “To get inside the mind of an artist, so directly, is a once in a lifetime occurrence. Stephen is putting it all out there in this site-specific installation piece, and the amount of hours he put into the development of this show is impressive.”

Over the summer, when Haas pitched his initial ideas to The MakeSpace, the staff jumped at the opportunity to host the show. According to Dillon, the far-ranging exhibit exemplifies the vision of The MakeSpace as a place for artistic exploration and risk-taking that often isn’t allowed in a more traditional gallery setting.

“The MakeSpace has presented some of Stephen’s work in the past with positive reactions, and this is a perfect place for a show such as this,” she explained. “To have The MakeSpace be a catalyst for an installation environment where Stephen could have the freedom to present a complete vision of his amazing artwork is something we couldn’t pass up.”

For Haas, art is a deeply personal thing. His creative itch began around the age of 4 with a drawing pad and crayons, he said. His artwork is not an entity separate from himself. Instead, it is a visualization of his innermost thoughts, experiences and suffering and a sort of therapy and meditation. When people enter The MakeSpace, they will step into his mind and even their own.

“We read stories of suffering and what others are going through. We all experience these things as we get older,” he said. “I think people will find themselves within [this show].”

Much of Haas’ artwork focuses on language and simple symbols that are very recognizable components, which then create a hip, urban pop style. And, he said, Harrisburg has been the perfect backdrop for this work.

“It is a smaller city, which is a good place to nurture a young person like me,” he explained. “People being interested in my work is one of the most important things to me.”

While Haas has really made his mark within the Harrisburg art community, he hopes this show will leave an impression on those who attend, especially people unfamiliar with his previous work.

“This is the most prolific, amazing thing I’ve done yet,” he said.

“Sprung from the Tongue” by Stephen Michael Haas runs through Feb. 20 at The MakeSpace, 1916 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Visit www.hbgmakespace.com.

Truth in Spending: As a candidate, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse outlined a broad vision for a Harrisburg renaissance. But the legacy of his first year may be something more prosaic: fiscal responsibility.

January 30, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Two nights before Christmas, Eric Papenfuse, the Midtown businessman who was elected mayor in November 2013, was sitting in council chambers in city hall. Outside, in the atrium, was the 26-foot artificial holiday tree which, in a characteristic coaxing of largesse from area corporations, he had gotten donated from Giant Food Stores. While council members amended one of his proposed bills, the mayor spun a pen rotisserie-style between his fingers.

The bill proposed a policy, known as tax abatement, which attempts to incentivize development by providing tax breaks for improvements on certain properties. Ultimately, council amended it so extensively that the administration asked it to be withdrawn. (A subsequent effort to revive it last month was rejected by a split council.) As a result a major administration initiative, and one that Papenfuse announced his support for during his mayoral campaign, wound up on an indefinite backburner.

After the meeting, Papenfuse expressed his disappointment about the failure of the bill. But then he pivoted to a positive note—council had passed his 2015 budget without substantive disagreement, aside from a few quibbles over the salaries of his front-office staff.

A balanced budget, as political achievements go, is not particularly exciting (even if governments at every level seem to struggle to pull it off). Yet, given Harrisburg’s circumstances at the start of his tenure, it might be the most enduring legacy of Papenfuse’s inaugural year.

Tightening the Belt

The state’s recovery plan for Harrisburg, which was called the Harrisburg Strong Plan, included a promise—carefully hedged—of basic financial stability. The city, the plan said, would get a balanced budget in 2013, plus the “expectation” of future balanced budgets through 2016. For each of those years, the city could be “comfortable” that its revenues would cover “required operating expenses.”

There was a reason for the hedging. Four months later, City Council approved a 2014 budget that contained a $4 million “plug”—an accounting trick to conceal the fact that the budget included several expenses the city could not technically afford. Making up a little less than half of the total were savings expected from a new labor agreement with the firefighters union, which the city did eventually secure under Papenfuse in February. Most of the rest was attached to vacant positions, meaning that the city could keep a balanced budget simply by not hiring. But there was an additional challenge. The city was carrying about $4.5 million in unpaid bills over from 2013 into the new year.

Early in the year, Papenfuse met with his finance director, Bruce Weber, as well as the new controller, Charles DeBrunner, about a spending strategy. According to DeBrunner, he looked over the mayor’s wish list and told him, “You’re going to be a miserable mayor in 2014. We’re not doing any of this stuff.” They agreed on a tightened-belt approach: not only would they enact a hiring freeze, but they would also urge city departments to spend less than they were authorized to spend.

During an interview last month, Papenfuse presented a chart showing the results of that directive. In each of four spending categories, the city had significantly underspent its approved budget: $36.8 million on personnel, out of an approved $38.9 million; $1.6 million on supplies, out of an approved $2.6 million; and so on. (Some of the savings, Weber said, resulted from the use of lease financing for certain equipment, so that expenses were spread over several years.) As a result, the city had more than covered the plug, managing to pay down all but a few hundred thousand in 2013 payables while still having an end-of-year fund balance of $5.3 million.

“In my wildest dreams I never thought I’d see a fund balance like this,” DeBrunner told me. “The mayor’s had a terrific year. I’m really pleased with him. And controllers don’t get pleased.”

Nonetheless, in Papenfuse’s view, the city’s cash balance is still less than it ought to be. At the suggestion that the city could afford to cut taxes, he replied, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“You should never run a business or a municipality to the point where you have to just stop paying people,” he went on. “The problem with Harrisburg is that, in the past, they just stopped paying the bills. And we now have enough of a cushion to be ensured to be able to pay our bills on time. But that’s it. And that cushion’s not going to be duplicated in the coming year.”

Weber, noting that $5 million represents about one month of city expenses, said that a city with a budget like Harrisburg’s should really maintain a balance of around $15 million. (A best practices document from the Government Finance Officers Association, approved by the organization in 2009, recommends that governments generally maintain a minimum unrestricted fund balance of two months’ worth of operating expenses.) But the surplus does leave him confident that, in 2015, the city will be able to pay its bills on time—and to do so, in contrast with the Harrisburg of the not-too-distant past, without borrowing any money.

Settling Debts

The Strong Plan settled Harrisburg’s historic debt tied to the city incinerator. But it left unresolved a substantial obligation, related to a downtown real estate deal from the late 1990s, which threatened to topple city finances only a few years later.

The debt is associated with the so-called Verizon building, a tower in Strawberry Square where the telecommunications company rents office space. In 1998, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority issued $23.6 million in revenue bonds to purchase Strawberry Square land and facilities from the city. The city, as part of the deal, guaranteed $6.9 million of these bonds. But the debt payments, which were supposed to be secured by tenant rents, would not begin until 2016—the same year the lease with Verizon is set to expire. Furthermore, the bonds were capital appreciation bonds, meaning that the full principal has been accruing interest since the bonds were originally issued, so that the debt load currently exceeds $20 million. (By the time the debt schedule concludes, in 2033, $41.6 million will have been paid back on the original $6.9 million borrowing.)

In September, the state Department of General Services agreed to a 17-year lease in the building beginning in 2016, relieving the city of part of the burden. DGS’s rent, however, will not be sufficient to cover all of the debt payments, and the city and its advisors are currently negotiating how the remainder will be paid.

The obligation weighs heavily on Papenfuse. When I arrived for our interview, a leather-bound book of documents from the Verizon-building debt issue was on his desk. “We feel we can meet the obligation,” he said. “It’s just such a horribly bitter pill for the city to have to swallow.” He called the debt the “worst of all of the Reed transactions,” referring to former Mayor Stephen Reed, under whose watch the borrowing occurred. “It’s preposterous. It should never have been recommended,” Papenfuse said. Yet, the debt was approved by a City Council vote; the city had pledged its credit, and though the mayor was reviewing the related documents, he felt that the city would likely have no choice but to pay it.

Last March, the city exited receivership, the period of direct state oversight that produced the Strong Plan. But it remains in Act 47, the state program for distressed municipalities, through which it continues to receive guidance from many of the same advisors who helped craft the plan.
One of those advisors is Steven Goldfield, who has been working closely towards a settlement on the debt related to the Verizon building. In a recent interview, Goldfield said it was his “mantra” that the city “would not have ascending debt service” under the Strong Plan. To achieve this, however, may require some postponement of some of the early payments the city owes under its guarantee. Under the proposed settlement, details of which were still being negotiated at press time, Assured Guaranty Municipal, which insured the original bonds, would advance some portion of the payments to bondholders and be paid back by the city with interest at a later date.

Even with a settlement, the city’s borrowing ability will be deeply constrained. In accordance with his mantra, Goldfield’s target is to limit annual debt service to 10 percent of the city’s revenues. According to a chart of projected debt payments under the proposed settlement, provided by the mayor’s office, a conservative estimate has city debts hitting the 10-percent-of-revenues mark through 2032—and that’s without any new borrowing. (Debt payments currently exceed the 10-percent cap and are projected to do so through 2022.) In other words, as Papenfuse put it, the city has “basically maxed out” its credit for the next 17 years.

A Fiscal Conservative

Given the city’s financial condition, a mayor with any ambitions for projects beyond the bare essentials—like spending on safer streets, for instance, or road repair—has two options: increase revenues or get somebody else to fund them. This context may help make sense of some of the mayor’s recent battles. When Papenfuse took up the issue of student safety, for instance, he supported the idea of police officers in city schools—he just wanted the district to pay for them. (The district, so far, has declined.) Likewise, he sees the debate over tax abatement as a debate about the best way to expand the city’s tax base over the long term.

Understanding these constraints also helps to form a picture of Papenfuse’s politics. He is in many ways an urban progressive, supporting same-sex marriage, standing by the city’s gun control ordinances, demanding better educational results from city schools and promoting city living. But he is also a fiscal conservative, who prioritizes paying the city’s bills on time over, say, filling a vacant position, even one he believes the city needs. Among his department heads, he said, he sought to instill a new ethos: “Just because it’s in the budget doesn’t mean you have to spend it.”

“I think that this particular time and this particular moment in the city’s history required a level of fiscal conservatism,” Papenfuse told me. He claimed to have operated under even more conservative estimates than the city’s state advisors, who projected higher revenues than Papenfuse was willing to believe. “Believe it or not,” he said, “we are more fiscally conservative than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Mansion of Glory: One building has housed a century of service to the Allison Hill community.

January 30, 2015 | by Jared Stump

Drive down 13th Street in South Allison Hill, and you’re sure to notice two buildings that stand out, located between Swatara and Kittatinny streets.

The first is an old school, which has long since been converted to apartments. The second is a stately Georgian Revival home, known by locals as “The Mansion.”

Built in 1909 by prominent Harrisburg attorney and community activist A. Carson Stamm,

the four-story structure and adjacent carriage house have 20 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.

It’s well known among people in the community, as it has housed several non-profits over the last 30 years. Today, a faith-based organization, Burn 24-7, uses the structure as its global headquarters, staff housing and training school. It often serves as a gathering place for neighborhood children, who stop by after school and on the weekends.

The presence of Burn 24-7 in this particular neighborhood is not random, but very intentional.

“We recently had three shootings within six weeks, all within a block of the house,” said Tannon Herman, director of The Mansion. “That’s why we’re here: to initiate change and restore hope for a better Allison Hill.”

Herman and his wife, Cristina, moved to Harrisburg from Oklahoma in 2013. They initially had no intention of running The Mansion, but couldn’t say no when the opportunity presented itself.

“Community transformation is what we’ve given our lives to, and it was what the man who originally built the house gave his life to as well,” Herman stated.

Stamm, the first owner, served on the Harrisburg school board during the early 20th century and played a significant role in the development of the many schools that were built in the city during that time, including the one next door to The Mansion. He is also remembered for the role he played alongside City Beautiful advocate J. Horace McFarland in connecting Allison Hill to downtown via the Mulberry Street Bridge.

Burn 24-7 continues that community mission, unifying service to others with a deep sense of spirituality. Founded in an Oklahoma college dorm in 2006, the now-global organization re-located to Harrisburg several years ago.

“There are currently more than 30 of us living at The Mansion,” said Kelsie Plante, a native of Alberta, Canada, and missions director for Burn 24-7. “People have moved here from all over the country to live here in Allison Hill and reach out to the community. “

The purpose of The Mansion is not just to serve Allison Hill, but to be a part of Allison Hill.

“We are here long-term to make this neighborhood a better place for everyone, a safe place for families to raise their children,” said Plante.

One of the ways that The Mansion serves the local community is through the annual Harvest Party, which is held in the fall. The most recent event, in November, consisted of an afternoon of entertainment, games, a shared meal, free family photos and a coat drive.

“The Harvest Party is just one of the ways we seek to bring the community together,” said Plante. “Our neighborhood has been through some especially difficult times lately, and we wanted to have a fun day focused on families.”

Julio and Mary Torres, 25-year residents of Hummel Street, attended the Harvest Party with their son.

“This is my first time here,” Julio said of The Mansion. “I’ve always heard of a lot of good coming from this place.”

A tour of The Mansion reveals many areas where renovations are needed, like many of the turn-of-the-century homes throughout Harrisburg. The Burn 24-7 team appears to have made much progress in a short time on the renovation work, which they are taking on themselves.

Members believe that restoring The Mansion to its former splendor is one of the keys for its sustainability as an attractive residence in Allison Hill.

“That’s the difference between us and other community service organizations,” Herman said. “We actually live here. This is our neighborhood.”

Learn more about Burn 24/7, its mission and its beliefs at www.burn24-7.com.

An Exotic Ride: A new exhibit shines a light on the elegant, speedy Lotus.

January 30, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Kyle Kaulback will never forget the first time he drove a Lotus.

The speed demon of cars is best known for its appearance in the James Bond films “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “For Your Eyes Only.” Off the screen, racecar driver Mario Andretti clinched his Formula One World Championship in 1979 thanks to the lightweight vehicle.

It took just one spin round the block for Kaulback to get hooked on the car he believes has worked behind the scenes for too long.

It was about two years ago, after regular visits to the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey that Kaulback suggested a Lotus exhibit. After hours of calling on Lotus club members to dust off their collectibles, the AACA Museum last month opened its doors for “Lotus: The Art of Lightness,” which runs through April 26.

It was 1992 when Kaulback sat behind the wheel of his first Lotus. He had been car browsing for some time and was weighing his options between a Mercedes X1, a classic Mustang and a Mazda CX-7. He was leaning pretty close to purchasing a CX-7 when he saw an ad for a Lotus Elan M100.

“I hadn’t actually been able to drive the Mazda out of the lot, so, when I pulled the Lotus out onto the street, it just felt like an exotic ride,” Kaulback said.

At first, it was just a fun car to have, he said. But it was the start of a collection that today includes hundreds of brochures and books on the carmaker, as well as nine vehicles, including one he bought as a restoration project to work on with his 5-year-old son.

“I can’t really pick a favorite because it’s like trying to say which child is your favorite,” he said. “It’s just an icon.”

Mark Lizewskie, executive director at AACA Museum, said he’s excited for the museum to feature its first Lotus exhibit.

“Lotus is like the David versus Goliath of car engineering,” he said. “You don’t think much of David when he comes out to contend, but he blows you away. For the size of the company, it’s been able to do huge amounts of work.”

But Lotus is about more than cars. Also on display will be design items, such as bicycles and airplanes. Many of the items expand beyond the antique limit of 25 years and older. While Lotus had a hand in historic car-making, the company has continued to develop new methods for lightweight transportation on and off the racetrack.

“We’re very fortunate to have a guest curator who owns a large collection and was able to reach out to a lot of Lotus people for all sorts of unique items,” Lizewskie said. “The automobile is so intertwined with life here in America. So many people know Mustangs and Corvettes, but there are so many other factions out there, and it’s our job to educate people.”

The exhibit will take visitors through the 66-year history of Lotus, with more than 15 models from the 1956 Mark VI to the 2014 Evora. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, is best known for his research in creating a lightweight vehicle that still embodied an elegant design.

Chapman released his first car in 1948, when he transformed an Austin Seven “Chummy” into his first competition vehicle. Lotus Engineering would emerge in 1954. His designs would invade British Club racing and international competitions.

Chapman’s philosophy of lightweight, small engines soon were translated into the famous “racing cards of the road,” including the Seven, Elite, Elan, Cortina, Europa, Esprit, Elise, Exige and Evora.

Some of the pieces included in the exhibit come from collectors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Alabama—even as far away as Texas.

“Lotus is a car that so many people might not have seen up close or in person,” said Nancy Gates, director of marketing and publicity for the museum. “Sometimes, people don’t want to just see thing in magazines—they want to see it in real life.”

For collectors like Kaulback, Lotus’ history of innovation and alternative methods makes it different from any other vehicle. People with technical and engineering interests also might enjoy the wide range of transportation methods in which Lotus had a hand.

If you plan to visit the exhibit, Kaulback said, make sure you don’t miss anything. Items will be set up throughout the museum and are worth the walk through to find each one.

“It’s a classic car for classic collectors,” Kaulback said. “It doesn’t matter if you prefer street or race cars—or those that pull double duty. Lotus is one of a kind in its industry.”

“Lotus: The Art of Lightness” runs through April 26 at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey. For more information, call 717-566-7100 or visit www.aacamuseum.org.

A Victorian Valentine: A step back in time, a short drive away.

January 30, 2015 | by Don Helin

Harrisburg is an incredible place to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The mood is just right at romantic restaurants like Char’s, Mangia Qui and note.; at a bed and breakfast like City House; while huddling with your sweetie in Riverfront Park as the moon sparkles off the icy Susquehanna River.

But maybe you’ve done Valentine’s Day in the city before, or maybe you’d just like to get out of town for a night. Fortunately, there are places nearby that may fit your desires, each evocative of Victorian-era romance and just a short drive from Harrisburg.

Tea for Two

Looking for a romantic way to begin your Valentine’s Day weekend? Then be sure to stop by Sweet Remembrances Tea Room, located in an artfully restored post-Civil War era red brick row home in historic downtown Mechanicsburg, just 15 minutes west of Harrisburg.

“We opened the tea room to complement Rosemary House, the herb and spice shop that my mother, Bertha Reppert, started in 1968,” said owner Nancy Reppert.

Presently, Nancy’s sister, Susanna, owns and operates the Rosemary House where, in addition to herbs and spices, she sells the wide variety of loose leaf teas they serve in the tea room, along with related tea accouterments.

“We work closely together,” Nancy explained, “and our customers enjoy the personal touch of our combined businesses. It’s not uncommon to find Susanna pouring tea in Sweet Remembrances Tea Room or me helping out in the Rosemary House.”

Afternoon teas are scheduled on Wednesdays throughout the year and on the first Saturday of the month. Nancy also offers a wide variety of unique events throughout the year, such as themed teas, guest speakers, herbal workshops and bus trips.

Valentine’s Day will be a special time at the tea room this year.

On Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m., Nancy will host a special afternoon tea for guests to celebrate friendships or to provide a serene location for the romantic couple.

“The menu is special,” Nancy said. “We’ll feature hearts and roses galore with heart-shaped sandwiches, rosy red foods, our famous fresh-from-the-oven English cream scones, and of course, chocolate.”

Advance reservations are encouraged for the $35-per-person special tea, so plan early.

During my visit, I especially enjoyed the French caramel crème brulee and found it fun to sit, relax, sip tea and nibble on sandwiches, scones and sweets.

I found something for every tea lover on the menu: 13 different kinds of black teas and 18 flavored teas, along with a number of herbal teas. According to Nancy, the most popular flavored tea is the Blue Lady tea, composed of coconut, strawberry and kiwi, a fruity delight just perfect for Valentine’s Day.

House of Love

Following tea, it’s time to get dressed for a romantic dinner. Outside of Harrisburg, it’s hard to beat Alfred’s Victorian, a restaurant nestled within the historic Raymond-Young Mansion in Middletown, the interior all gussied up in high Victorian décor.

“I call Alfred’s Victorian the ‘House of Love,’” said manager Jill Seltzer. “So many couples come to us to celebrate an anniversary of dating or their marriage anniversary or simply to enjoy a romantic dinner.”

Many bed and breakfasts in the local area send their guests who are on a romantic weekend to dine at Alfred’s Victorian during their stay, said Seltzer.

Valentine’s Day is a special event at Alfred’s Victorian, and the restaurant takes reservations a year in advance. The Victorian mansion, built in 1888, is covered inside, top to bottom, with hearts, lace, red, pink and cupid pops.

“We celebrate all weekend and into the next weekend trying to accommodate the many couples wanting to come out and visit,” Seltzer said.

The restaurant, in fact, offers a special discounted menu the weekend after Valentine’s Day.

The menu for Valentine’s weekend includes such holiday-themed items as “You’re My Valentine Salad,” “Seafood Passion Papillote” and a special Valentine’s cheesecake. The wine list will feature an additional Champagne and prosecco ready for your “toast of love.”

Gold Rush

A bit farther to the east, the General Sutter Inn occupies a prime downtown spot in the quaint town of Lititz. In 1776, this Moravian settlement was named for the Bohemian town of Lidice where, in 1756, the followers of John Hus formed the Moravian Church.

In 1930, the name of the inn on the square was changed to the General Sutter to honor John Augustus Sutter, a California gold rush pioneer who lived his last seven years in Lititz and is buried in the Moravian Cemetery.

“This inn has been in the hospitality business since 1764,” said Joseph Cilluffo, the inn’s general manager. “I take great pride in our multi-concept restaurants, including the Bulls Head Public House room, which is a traditional English pub, and our more elegant white tablecloth dining room, perfect for any special occasion.”

The inn has two floors of rooms, the second floor Victorian in style and the third floor modeled in modern decor. On Saturdays, the inn offers a special English breakfast in the pub. The inn also serves a complimentary continental breakfast each morning for guests in the bed and breakfast.

“Each year, we feature a speciala la carte menu in our dining room for Valentine’s Day,” Cilluffo explained, “but we still offer our traditional fare in the pub. My favorite menu items are the chicken leak pie and the filet dinner. Everything on our menu is made from scratch. Our purpose is to give each and every one of our guests a warm memory of their visit, an overall sense of home.”

Special House

On the other side of Harrisburg, the stone Cochran-Anspach Mansion in Millerstown will host a special Valentine’s Day dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 13 and 14.

“The dinners will be catered by Rocco’s Restaurant in Harrisburg,” organizer Curt Black explained. “Our dinners are designed for couples, or groups of four in an intimate setting.”

The circa-1821 mansion is not technically Victorian, but later remodeling has left Victorian touches, such as the entryway lighting, and the overall elegance of the house offers an early indication of the decorative era to come.

The mansion was built by Thomas Cochran, one of the first settlers in Millerstown.

“Cochran owned vast land holdings in Pennsylvania and Missouri,” said Dennis Hocker, president of the Perry County Historical Society. “The son of his granddaughter, Anna Kaufman Anspach, willed the home to the Perry County Historical Society in 1981.”

As you enter, you’ll see this is a special house. The front door is enhanced with a graceful double arch of six panes overhead and leads to a spacious central hall with a suspended stairway. There are four large rooms downstairs, each with a handsome fireplace, and, upstairs, four more rooms. An herb and flower garden is located on either side of the patio in the back of the house.

So, there’s a plan: four Victorian-inspired celebrations, each less than an hour’s drive from Harrisburg. Make your reservations early and enjoy the most romantic day of the calendar with that special someone.

GOING THERE

Nancy Reppert’s Sweet Remembrances Tea Room
118 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg
www.sweetremembrancestearoom.com or 717-697-5785

Alfred’s Victorian
38 N. Union St., Middletown
www.alfredsvictorian.com or 717-944-5373

General Sutter Inn
14 E. Main St., Lititz
www.generalsutterinn.com or 717-626-2115

Cochran–Anspach Mansion
18 N. Market St., Millerstown
Call Curt Black at 717-589-3598.

Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His recently published novel, “Devil’s Den,” has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was published in November. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com.

Brushes and Briefs: Arty types find help from a most unexpected source–lawyers.

January 30, 2015 | by Ann Hess Myers

Lawyers. Artists.

It’s not every day you think of these two different types of people together, joined in a common endeavor. But that’s what’s happening under a unique collaboration between attorneys, law students and creative folks.

Led by the Dauphin County Bar Association (DCBA) and Widener University School of Law’s Harrisburg Campus, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts helps artists with the unique legal issues they face. This assistance is provided at no charge to the artist or the arts organization.

“Artists are, for the most part, incredibly resilient people,” said Harrisburg photographer Dani Fresh. “But, sometimes, even we need help.”

Through the program, artists and arts groups contact the Dauphin County Bar Association, which assesses the applicant’s financial eligibility for pro bono (free) assistance. The DCBA then forwards potential cases to Widener Law students, who research the legal issues that artists may encounter.

“As a student, this is a win-win situation,” said Widener law student Victoria Beard, whose mother, a weaver, put together a craft cooperative in Waynesboro, Pa. “We can sharpen our skills as future attorneys, perfecting the art of asking questions and eliciting information. We can provide a valuable service to artists and arts organizations that lack the funds to hire an attorney for the help they really need.”

That help may entail such issues as intellectual property, contract disputes, sales, business information, landlord-tenant law, taxes and the creation of corporations, to name just a few. Students conduct client interviews and develop necessary case files that are passed on to licensed attorneys.

Legal issues can become overwhelming to an artist as he or she attempts to establish a career or continues to pursue a career.

“This is an underserved community with unmet legal needs,” said Widener Law School Associate Professor Michael J. Hussey, who joined Professor Juliet M. Moringiello in helping found the program with the DCBA.

Hussey adds that the program allows artists the freedom to pursue their art while volunteer lawyers and law students help to protect their legal interests.

“This program helps artists identify and avoid legal risks when possible,” said Liz Simcox, executive director of the DCBA. “It raises artists’ awareness of the resources available from the DCBA and other organizations when legal representation is needed.”

Bar Association Pro Bono Coordinator Sandy Ballard plays a key role in coordinating this project.

“This is a great opportunity for artists and small arts organizations to find the help they need to become stronger and more successful,” she said.

However, it also benefits the students, as they learn to apply their education while developing their talents and skills through volunteer opportunities before facing the pressures of working in a law firm.

“Law students learn valuable business skills while working with lawyers and artists,” said Ballard.

Since Sept. 15, Lawyers for the Arts has accepted requests from artists and arts organizations through the DCBA Lawyer Referral Service, which assists individuals in identifying private attorneys appropriate to their needs. Students and faculty of Widener review applications. The DCBA then refers selected applicants to participating local attorneys for representation.

“Through this program, everyone in central Pennsylvania will be enriched by the creativity of our thriving arts community,” said Hussey.

Harrisburg artist Liz Laribee agreed, adding that the need for legal services will only increase as the city’s already-vibrant art community continues to grow.

“With the number of creative professionals and entrepreneurs honing their craft here, it’s encouraging to see efforts to buffer their work against risk,” she said. “I love when concentric circles of the ecosystem work together in such creative ways. It makes for a better outcome and a greater city.”

For more information or to become involved in Volunteer Lawyers for Arts, contact Sandy Ballard at 717-232-7536, ext. 7, or [email protected].

Great Coffee Is Elementary: Harrisburg’s coffee culture revs it up at the Broad Street Market.

January 30, 2015 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Andrea Musselman recalls her first sip of coffee at the age of 8.

The family had stopped at a convenience store while on a trip, and her dad bought a cup and passed it around.

“It was that disgusting, artificially sweet cappuccino, and I finished it all. I was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the night,” she said with a chuckle.

As she grew older, her tastes became more refined, and her quest for the perfect cup intensified. When she left home to attend college, she began brewing coffee in her dorm room.

As she recalls her relationship with her favorite libation, her eyes light up.

“I love everything about it—the packaging, the warm mugs, the taste, the smell, just everything,” said Musselman.

After graduation, the Harrisburg resident pursued her passion by joining the team at St. Thomas Roasters in Linglestown.

“They created a position for me, so that was exciting because they never taught anyone to roast there before,” she said.

The businesswoman spent three years honing her craft at the small coffee shop before deciding that it was time to spread her wings. She crafted a business plan and chose the Broad Street Market as her base of operations for her new company, Elementary Coffee.

“I wanted to do something for myself—interacting with people and promoting my product. Ashlee Dugan took over as the new [market] manager in June, and she is re-envisioning the market and bringing in new vendors. I think it’s a low-risk venture that is community-oriented, and it’s a great way to meet a variety of people,” she said.

Today, Musselman continues her relationship with St. Thomas Roasters, using their beans and roasting them according to her own style. “I am testing out some milder blends at the moment and, as I build up more interest, I want to start purchasing my own beans, working with the wholesaler,” she said.

For brewing, Musselman uses a Chemex Coffee Maker developed by chemist Peter J. Schlumbohm in 1941.

“It’s an individual pour-over method that’s all about control. It’s going back to basics where coffee is presented in a very manual form,” said Musselman, who eschews automatic drip coffeemakers, which she says produce a substandard product resulting in a flatter, sometimes bitter and less full-bodied flavor.

Each week, Musselman features three different coffees from regions around the world.

“I like African coffees and typically try to feature one from South America, Africa and Indonesia,” she said.

She also offers her own creation—a latte-based coffee flavored with cardamom and maple syrup called “Abacas.”

“It’s like a latte version of Turkish coffee, and it’s gaining in popularity, which is exciting because it’s something I developed,” she said.

Musselman prefers to keep it simple, hence the name Elementary, so there aren’t many food offerings at her stand. “I prefer to focus on the coffee,” she said.

But, for those seeking a little treat to pair with their java, she offers the artisanal chocolate of Frederic Loraschi. Based in Hummelstown, Loraschi has been wowing customers with his high-end chocolate creations for years and has created a mocha mix that Musselman uses for her hot chocolate.

“I was looking for a good mocha powder and found he had a hot chocolate mix that’s amazingly rich and decadent,” she said.

And, for those in the mood for something just a little different, Musselman offers Stroopwafels, too. Stroopwafels, or “Stroopies,” hail from the Netherlands, and the round waffles with the caramel center fit nicely atop a steaming hot mug.

“I found this place in Lancaster that makes them,” said Musselman, who grills the gluten-free treats onsite.

Musselman is expanding her business by partnering with Harrisburg resident Brad Moyer, a brewer at Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy. He, along with his assistant, Steve Nott of Linglestown, searched for a local roaster and were impressed with Musselman’s expertise. They shared their techniques, joining together for the perfect pairing.

“When we started, we were putting the coffee beans in the beer and letting them soak for a week or so. Andrea came up with a better way. She suggested that we cold brew the coffee, filter out the grounds and then take the concentrated product and pump it into the tanks,” said Moyer, who reports that Elementary Espresso Stout has been popular with patrons and sales have been brisk.

“Our collaboration has worked out well due to the harmonious blend of knowledge about two artisanal crafts,” he said.

As for the future, the wheels are turning in Musselman’s head as she thinks of new ways to get the word out about her coffee. She’s toying with a few ideas, like offering “flights” of coffee, where customers will have the opportunity to try several small cups and learn more about each selection. For now, however, she’s been satisfied at how well things are going since opening in November.

“It’s good to be part of the community, and I think it’s headed in the right direction,” she said.

Elementary Coffee Co. is located inside the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. For more information, including weekly featured brews, visit their Facebook page at Elementary Coffee Co.

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like