TheBurg Podcast: Year-in-Review Edition

December 31, 2014 | by Admin

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

Dec. 31, 2014: Larry and Paul look back at the year that was. From parking and crime to street planning and fiscal sanity, they discuss stories ranging from the overplayed to the overlooked.

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.

Dispirited: Zoning Board Denies Distillery Plan

December 30, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Two Harrisburg residents hope to transform this dilapidated building into the city's first distillery.

Two Harrisburg residents had hoped to turn this building into a distillery.

The plan to locate a craft distillery in Midtown Harrisburg suffered a major setback last night, as the city’s Zoning Hearing Board denied a variance for the project.

The board unanimously turned down the variance request, which would have allowed Kennedy Spirits LLC to locate in the so-called Carpets and Draperies building at 1507 N. 3rd St. The proposal previously had been approved by the city’s Planning Commission.

The two-hour hearing was at times marked by heated exchanges between the applicants, Alan Kennedy-Shaffer and Stanley Gruen, and members of the board. The two parties seemed to have widely differing opinions over the level of documentation and detail necessary to approve the variance, which is needed because the area is not zoned to permit a distillery to operate there.

“We have endeavored to answer all of your questions,” said Kennedy-Shaffer, near the end of the hearing. “We believe we have met our burden under the law.”

The board, however, did not believe the information provided was sufficient to warrant approval.

“We don’t have the information required upon which to base a decision,” said board Chairwoman Marian Frankston. “We are disappointed with your presentation.”

The hearing was the second one in two weeks for the project, which proposed a tasting room and a bar, in addition to a manufacturing facility to produce about 500 gallons a week of such liquors as vodka, gin, whiskey and rye. During the first hearing, the board requested more information, documents and plans, necessitating last night’s special hearing.

Kennedy-Shaffer and Gruen presented some of the requested information, including a signed sales agreement for the dilapidated, three-story building, which was built in 1922 to house a home furnishings retailer called the Gerber Department Store, later renamed the Keystone Furniture Co. They also addressed questions about the building’s condition, customer parking, supply deliveries, storage and the distillation process.

Board members, however, felt their answers were not thorough enough. They wanted greater detail, such as floor plans and architectural renderings, as well as testimony from experts in the distillation of spirits, the waste it produces, safety issues and if that particular building is suited to serve as a distillery. Neither Kennedy-Shaffer nor Gruen is a distiller.

“We review real plans that are submitted to us,” said Frankston. “You submitted your dream.”

For their part, the partners were upset that the board did not let their distillery consultant, who is based in New Hampshire, testify over the telephone. They also felt that the information they provided should have been sufficient to grant the variance and that the level of detail and documentation the board wanted was onerous and costly.

The board gave the business partners the option to continue the hearing to its next meeting, slated for late February. However, Kennedy-Shaffer and Gruen said that a two-month delay could cause them to lose investors for the distillery, which they estimate will cost $1.2 million.

“I think this project will be dead in the water if we wait until February,” said Kennedy-Shaffer, who refused to agree to a continuance, leading the board to cast a negative vote.

Following the meeting, Gruen and Kennedy-Shaffer said they would have to assess their next step.

“We’re going to move forward,” said Gruen. “The question is where.”

Drive-By Band: No Last Call–They have trumpets, and they’re not afraid to use them.

December 30, 2014 | by Laura Good

Is that . . . could it be . . . “Rock Lobster?”

On a warm fall evening, notes from that discordant, circa-1980 B-52s song drift down North Street in Harrisburg. Interpreted through horns, woodwinds and percussion, it sounds even stranger than the strange original.

Little by little, the sound gets closer to the restaurant where you’re dining al fresco. Before you know it, a large group of youngish, middle-age-ish musicians gathers around you, dressed in eclectic outfits that can best be described as high school marching band meets Mad Max.

You’ve unwittingly been sucked into the vortex of Harrisburg’s only “hit and run” street band, No Last Call. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll end up having half the fun that they’re having.

“There’s an edge to [hit-and-runs], not knowing what to expect from either side,” said Doug Wilburne, a No Last Call founder who also happens to be vice president of public relations at industrial giant Textron. “We’re building its momentum with a focus on routine and choreography as it becomes a permanent fixture in the landscape.”

On the “other side,” listeners greet No Last Call with a mixture of enthusiasm, discomfort, delight and puzzlement. Should you sing along? Ignore them? Tip them?

No Last Call is made up of 32 members identified as professionals by day and performers by night. Band members include doctors, attorneys, former music teachers, computer programmers and one-time band geeks, to name a few.

It all started about five years ago, when a rowdy group of musicians stumbled out of a bar in Providence, R.I., awakening Wilburne, who owns an apartment there. The ruckus later inspired him to team up with Ted Reese (also known as the director of development for the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra) to replicate that band’s loud, spontaneous, ragged performance for greater Harrisburg.

A few years ago, No Last Call—not knowing what to expect—hit the streets of the city for the first time. They chose a busy night, when there were lots of outside diners along restaurant row on N. 2nd Street.

“While we were waiting to be chased away by the police, people were so surprised to see a marching band in downtown with fairly decent musical quality,” Reese said. “When money started coming into our bucket and people were hiring us to perform at events, Doug and I realized this was not a joke.”

On a recent evening, I attended a band rehearsal on the second floor of the Hummelstown American Legion. Members were preparing for the winter season of parades and holiday honks, their sounds mixed in with the rattle and clash of pool sticks and balls from downstairs.

Without warning, a thunderous BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR erupted from a trombone in the left corner. Immediately, sounds from tubas, clarinets, trumpets and saxophones filled the room among chatter and laughter between friends and acquaintances. There was an energetic and contagious vibe with full camaraderie, like a stadium of sports fans during a rival game.

“Our relationships are strong,” Wilburne said. “We’re building friendships that provide support and reinforcement with exposure in front of a lot of people.”

Musical Director Brant Kenny, a satellite office support specialist at Lincoln Intermediate, gave the band credit for becoming more polished over time.

“There are different playing levels with a variety of skills that add to the diversity of the group,” he said. “Some people take lessons just to be in the band, so we encourage those interested in playing, as well as new, experienced musicians.”

Typically, the band purchases arrangements, but trumpeter Jim Neidinger and soprano sax player Jamie Mosher have arranged a few songs to supplement No Last Call’s unique style. The band finds ways to reinterpret the tunes of performers like James Brown, Lady Gaga and the B-52s. On the night I heard them, the roundup featured familiar melodies like “Thriller,” “Timber,” “Centerfold” and “Dance to the Music.”

After a break, Kenny stepped back into his role, fortifying a circle of musicians awaiting cues from his lead. His talent in matching and correcting tones unfolded as the overall music quality improved through balance, sound and rhythm with each song. There was discipline and creativity during sets, as the band became more discerning but also friendly and collaborative.

“I didn’t expect how much I would enjoy adults rediscovering music and instruments,” Reese said. “For some, it’s been 10 to 20 years since they touched an instrument. It’s gratifying.”

This sense of gratification shows in their impromptu street performances, which fuels the passion behind No Last Call. The band, though, has found it an increasing challenge to live up to its reputation as a “hit-and-run” band.

“We can’t bolt anymore,” Reese admitted. “It’s more of a ‘meander away’ when you have 20 people come out and play.”

In addition to its signature street act, No Last Call performs at booked events like the Dillsburg Farmers Fair in October and Palmyra’s Holiday Parade in November. The band relies on its Facebook page and website to connect with its members and fan base. For “hit-and-run” shows, they notify followers the day beforehand with a general location of their expected whereabouts.

So, don’t be surprised if you see and hear a rambunctious street band playing outdoors once the weathers warms up. No Last Call is just adding to the music of the city.

Learn more about No Last Call by visiting www.nolastcall.net or the band’s Facebook page.

The Secret Is Out: Uptown Chicago Grill may seem like an unimposing little neighborhood eatery. But. Oh. The food.

December 30, 2014 | by Brigette Barto

On a busy corner in Midtown Harrisburg, catty-corner to the Governor’s Residence, the smell of home-cooked goodness entices a passerby.

Peering in the glass door, black-and-white photos of cityscapes hang on crisp yellow walls, and small lamps shed light onto each table. You can hear chatter within—at tables, among tables, between customers and staff, as everyone seems to know everyone else.

Walk inside. You’ll be glad you accepted the invitation.

“Thanks for stopping in,” says the guy behind the counter, who makes time for a reporter while cooking up generous portions of grilled meats and seafood and simultaneously chatting with patrons whom he knows by name.

That man is Fred Baskin, the owner of Uptown Chicago Grill, a family-style, neighborhood restaurant that has been serving Harrisburg for six years.

In a nutshell, the Chicago Grill is a classic neighborhood joint, one of those places cherished by locals, but a mystery to many outsiders, who may know of it only by seeing its sign as they speed through the light at the corner of N. 2^nd and Maclay during their daily rush out of the city.

“We depend on a lot of regulars,” said Baskin, who often identifies checks not by table number, but by scribbling the first names of his customers on them. “We get a lot of the Midtown folks coming over for Saturday brunch. It’s all the same faces. Saturday is a lot of fun for us.”

Baskin knows how to keep it good, simple and inexpensive. With an expansive menu of baby back ribs, fish, pasta, steak, burgers, pulled-pork barbeque, traditional grilled chicken and big entrée salads, there’s something for every kind of food mood. And it won’t break your wallet either.

“You can’t fool the customer,” he said. “You try to cut costs wherever you can without raising prices. Keep your quality, save expenses otherwise.”

A Good Choice

Baskin knows a thing or two about running a restaurant. He took his first food service job soon after graduating from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

“I went to work for a restaurant chain called Black-Eyed Pea,” he said. “I met with their recruiter my senior year and went to work with them right out of college.”

In 2000, he moved to the area to operate an independent restaurant in Mechanicsburg. After eight years working there, he took over the Chicago Grill.

So, why Harrisburg?

“The opportunity that was presented to me was in Harrisburg. Business was here, so we came to Harrisburg. I wasn’t looking anywhere else.”

And it seems that the city was a good choice to call home.

“Midtown is really exploding,” he said. “There’s a lot of new folks. Younger professionals seem to flock to Midtown. With the excitement of Midtown’s growth, we’re just going to hope to ride that wave. And as it keeps growing and coming around, we want to grow with it.”

Let’s Sample

Shortly after I arrived on a recent visit, I cozied up to a feast.

I first tried a grilled, juicy steak, which sat beside a colorful pasta blend of feta, spinach and tomato pasta bathed in aioli sauce. I then sampled the grilled salmon—tender and moist—topped off by a helping of freshly homemade seafood bisque.

Ice clinked in my fresh Arnold Palmer iced tea, a perfectly cool refreshment after a long day. The banana pudding was a unique and light dessert, providing closure to a delicious meal.

“Our menu is grilled to order,” Baskin said. “Our biggest seller is the baby back ribs. They are outstanding. And the voodoo salmon. Our entree salads are pretty big, as well.”

Baskin said that the menu, though large, changes often to cater to customer tastes.

“As seasons change, we tweak the menu with specials and seasonal items,” he said.

Booth or table? For here or to go? It’s up to you.

“To-go orders are a big part of our business,” Baskin explained. “We are a family-operated business. We appreciate our guests and regulars. We try to provide everything they like.”

Can’t decide between the ribs and the steak? Simple. “We can do half and half too if you can’t decide between two meals.”

The restaurant also offers self-catering.

“We provide everything, and you pick it up. We give you all the equipment: warmers, chafers, paper products. Then you set it up and bring it back. It eliminates all of those catering charges you would normally have. It also eliminates us having to keep a staff for that, as well.”

The staff at Uptown Chicago Grill is exceptional, knowledgeable and friendly. “All of our employees are long term,” Baskin said with a smile. “They’re all cross-trained, so everybody can chip in anywhere. Since they are long term, they all work well together.”

With its huge, affordable menu, family-friendly atmosphere and prime location, Uptown Chicago Grill may someday lose its reputation as the best “hidden spot” in Harrisburg. Regardless, the emphasis will always be on the neighborhood and the regulars.

“Working as an owner/operator, you are able to be more hands on and really cater to what local folks want,” said Baskin.

Uptown Chicago Grill is located at 2101 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. More information is at www.uptownchicagogrill.com or 717-233-7487.

So What? Writer Jack Veasey has spent a lifetime answering a simple, two-word question.

December 30, 2014 | by Lori M. Myers

Poet Jack Veasey writes stories—hard, nitty-gritty, ironic, heartfelt stories. And, after he’s finished with each one, he thinks about the advice he received years ago from a poet/novelist friend in Philadelphia. Writers, the friend said, must ask the question, “So what?”

“He was the person who taught me the most important lesson ever—how to give myself the ‘so what’ test,” Veasey says. “If, after you’ve written something, you read it and ask yourself, ‘So what?’—there better be a good answer.”

Veasey has come up with hundreds of good answers in his years of living the creative life, and they’re apparent in his dozen or so published poetry collections, his music and his plays. The Philadelphia native, who has lived in Hummelstown for the past 20-plus years, is a force in the Harrisburg poetry scene. Say the name “Jack Veasey,” and the first word that comes to mind is “poetry” and the group, the Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, where he is an active member. Despite the image many have of the solitary writer chained to a desk while tapping at the keys, Veasey explains that poets need the camaraderie and support of other poets to continue to be inspired and to keep the art form alive.

“Throughout the history of the form, we’ve tended to clump together like cat litter,” he says. “You need to see what’s happening with and to the art form and to share your work with other poets. It’s the same reason painters establish art galleries and musicians form orchestras.”

Many of Veasey’s poems exhibit his struggles of growing up gay in the tough Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia, where Archie Bunker-types ruled and where the nuns in his Catholic school were tougher than old meat. It also didn’t help that Veasey had the attitudes and values of a hippie and that being gay in this place and at this time “was about the most despised thing you could be.”

“I had plenty to struggle against in Fishtown, and the neighborhood’s old atmosphere still pervades a lot of my work,” Veasey says. “I was a target for bullies, and that gave me an outsider’s perspective and made me identify with the underdog, which I still do. That colors a lot of my choices of subjects, and the viewpoints from which I write, even when they aren’t my own.”

Two poems from Veasey’s soon-to-be-published book, “The Dance That Begins And Begins,” illustrate that point. One poem is titled “Mr. Martin,” who was Veasey’s high school typing teacher and whom Veasey describes as the first man he ever loved. This narrative poem relays that yearning, the “pangs,” the loss after the teacher marries. Despite the pain, it offered Veasey evidence of being alive.

Another poem in this collection, “And Then Came The Plague Of Frogs,” tells the Catholic school story of Veasey freeing frogs that were about to undergo dissection in his biology lab. His action resulted in a suspension, a punishment he considers worth it. He writes:

“I may never have been/Popular, but, for a few years later/I’d be/Legendary.”

Legendary, indeed.

Veasey called his prior poetry collection “Shapely,” an autobiography in verse that sections his work by a particular form, such as sonnets and the Japanese 17-syllable forms of haiku and senryu.

“Some poets claim that writing poems in forms are limiting, but I found they enabled me to write about a much broader range of subjects, including some that had been too big to tackle or even to face,” he explains. “It pulled insights out of me. Sometimes, I’d articulate something in a form and then realize, ‘My God, I never knew I saw it that way.'”

Veasey has a lot more “So what’s?” to answer. Despite now being disabled with back issues resulting from spina bifida, he’s examining his entire body of work—from 1973 to the present—to see what remains to be brought out. And, of course, he’s always writing, always exploring. There’s possibly a collection of stories on the way, a murder mystery about Catholic priests, a full-length musical with new songs he’s composed.

Ah, but poetry.

“Poetry is my life,” Veasey muses. “I continue to write for pretty much the same reason as I continue to breathe. I need to. It’s how I make sense of being in the world.”

You can catch Jack Veasey and the Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel every Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m., at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. His next book, “The Dance That Begins And Begins,” published by the Poet’s Press, is slated for release this year. All of his books are available at www.amazon.com.

A Time to Mourn: Emmy’s Heart supports those who lose a pet.

December 30, 2014 | by Amy Worden

Let’s face it: for most of us, pets are part of our families. We spoil them with gourmet treats and salon visits, doggie day care, artisan kibble and specialized medicine.

When they are gone, we grieve. But there have been few places to turn to for support in our time of loss.

That is, until Emmy’s Heart, a pet bereavement group, arrived in Harrisburg.

Named for Harrisburg resident Charlotte Kluge’s beloved Yorkie, the group meets monthly in a cozy room above Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, just over the city line in Susquehanna Township.

Those who come know they won’t hear “it was just a dog” or “you can get another one.”

“It’s a nice, safe place to share feelings and memories,” said Mandy Rothenhoefer, one of the group’s founders who led the session I recently attended.

Emmy’s death a year ago left Kluge heartbroken.

“It was the first time I realized the loss of a pet is real and nothing to just ‘get over,’” said Kluge, who runs a family-owned insurance business. “She was my heart and everything to me. My grief was entirely real.”

Kluge wanted to offer others similarly finding it difficult to cope with a loss an opportunity to connect and talk about their feelings. So, she teamed up with Rothenhoefer, whose dog Sunny used to play with Emmy, and they started holding meetings in May.

On a recent Thursday evening, six pet lovers showed up, including me.

Rothenhoefer read a brief poem and lit candles in memory of pets who had passed on and one who had been reported missing on the Carlisle Pike.

She offered a theme for the evening, autumn rituals, asking attendees what they recalled about the change of seasons, walks in the woods, adjusting to the shorter days with their pets.

Jackie Hamill, who, with her husband Jim, has lost two dogs in the past three years, remembered how her chow-chow/retriever mix Angel loved to play in the fallen leaves and pulled out an iPhone picture to prove it.

“They are our children,” Jackie said.

Angel died in March at age 13, and the Hamill’s other dog, Clay, a Lab mix, died two years earlier after struggling with cancer and other serious health problems.

Rothenhoefer asked me if I had an autumn memory of Mindy, my childhood border collie, who lived to be 17.

Tears welled up as I told the group about a fall outing the two of us had at Sugarloaf Mountain near Frederick in the mid-1990s. As Mindy sat and watched several white geese paddle on a pond, I snapped a picture from behind, her black fur and the orange beaks of the ducks against a backdrop of dying grass and turning leaves. It was a moment of quiet reflection that occurred 20 years ago, and still I felt the emotions come bubbling to the surface.

Kluge said the sessions usually draw four to seven people. Participants are invited to bring pictures to post on a memory board of those who have “crossed the rainbow bridge,” as the pet people like to put it.

The conversation shifted to the hard choices about what to do with a pet’s body. Sharon Wilson said she hated the idea of having had to cremate her beloved beagle Tanner, but was not able to afford a plot in a pet cemetery.

“I have a hard time looking at pictures,” she said. “I was upset about cremating him.”

The Hamills said they chose to cremate their pets because then they could take them along if they moved. That sparked a discussion about whether there was an ordinance about pet burials in city backyards, something Kluge said she would investigate and post on the group’s Facebook page.

Clearly, Kluge’s idea has struck a chord. Hospice of Pennsylvania and several veterinary hospitals are now handing out cards to clients with information about Emmy’s Heart, Kluge said.

There is a sense of knowing that others love dogs like we do, said Jackie Hamill, who, with her husband, traveled 45 minutes to attend a bereavement group in Red Lion before Emmy’s Heart started. “I can share and talk. The pet people get it.”

The Hamills already “paid it forward” by taking Prince, a schnauzer who belonged to a neighbor who died. “[The family] wanted to get rid of him,” said Jackie. “But he helped Angel come out of depression after we lost Clay.”

Emmy’s Heart also wants to be there for those facing potentially fatal health issues with their pets who may not be able to afford life-saving treatment.

The group has already helped a single mom cover the costs of treatment for a serious skin disease and an elderly man pay for chemo treatment for his cat.

To raise funds, the group is selling commemorative leather bracelets that look like dog collars with a single paw print design.

Said Kluge: “It shows they left a paw print on your heart.”

The Hamills said they recognize that grieving is an ongoing process even as they enjoy their time with Prince and their newest rescue dog, Lexie.

Jackie Hamill gets choked up when she talks about Angel and Clay.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think of them,” she said.

Emmy’s Heart pet bereavement group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, 3963 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. Anyone with a pet that is ill, missing or has died is welcome. For more information, call 717-364-0852, email [email protected] or go to the Facebook page.

In addition, The Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area has a pet grief counselor available for anyone who brings in a pet to be euthanized and offers a monthly support group, Healing Haven, open to members of the public at no charge. Visit www.humanesocietyhbg.org/pet-bereavement.

Chasing Paper: When it comes to unearthing what happened, documents usually trump memories.

December 30, 2014 | by Paul Barker

A few months ago, I heard a kind of wild story.

I was talking to Keith Myers, a maintenance supervisor with the Harrisburg Housing Authority, in the parking lot between the Jackson Lick apartment towers and the public swimming pool that bears the same name.

Myers, a garrulous Harrisburg old-timer, was dishing out every anecdote he could think of about the pool, the subject of an article I was working on at the time. At some point, he coughed up a memory of an annual tradition under former Mayor Steve Reed, which involved the city dumping hundreds of striped bass in the pool for a kids’ fishing competition at the close of each summer.

Myers wasn’t sure when the tradition ended, but he thought it was only a few years ago. By that point, I’d been reporting on the city long enough to know that people’s recollections of the Reed years could be a bit hazy. I’ll occasionally come across old Reed memos which, if it weren’t for a date in the upper corner and some giveaway proper nouns, could have been written at any time since 1982. The courtly, typewritten prose, the mayor-for-life swagger, is present in every year.

But hundreds of fish in a public pool? If it had happened only a few years ago, I was sure I’d have heard about it already. I wanted the anecdote in my piece, but I didn’t trust Myers’ recall. Instead, I had to undertake my favorite task in reporting. I had to go find a record.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s James Steele and Donald Barlett are supposed to have talked about an investigative reporter’s “documents state of mind.” Unless you believe that officials will tell you the truth simply because you ask nicely, you had better know how to find a piece of paper that can substantiate (or challenge) their claims.

For example, there was a puzzling story last month about a few mounds of backfill that had been dumped on a vacant lot. The city said it was storing them there, which would seem to imply permission from the presumed landowner, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. But the HRA director thought the land was owned by an L. J. Walker. A search through online property records cleared things up quickly. The lot comprised four parcels, with the mounds strewn across them, like a miniature mountain range. Walker did own one parcel—but HRA owned the other three.

From the vantage point of someone looking to tell a story, court documents are often the most valuable records. Civil complaints will methodically lay out the who, what, when and where of each local travesty—though you should always keep in mind whose interest the claims are serving. I tend to rely on court records for their attachments more than the complaints themselves.

Last fall, working on a story about the eviction of a nuisance business by an out-of-town landlord, I obtained a copy of the eviction complaint from the district court. It contained several interesting items, including a letter from neighbors fed up with the store and some time-stamped emails and notices tracing the landlord’s (rather sluggish) decision to evict. Later, when the landlord tried to distance himself from the story, I relied on business filings at two state departments to confirm he was bluffing: the “general partner” he said controlled the building was a Nevada corporation, registered under his name.

Building records are another treasure trove, although you have to tread carefully. The county has two online property records databases, and they don’t always agree. They also use different search functions. Your best bet, once you have a name, is the website of the county Recorder of Deeds, where you can pull up facsimiles of the original deeds and mortgages. These are authoritative when it comes to dates and names, although they only go back to 1979.

You can get older records at the courthouse, but for the really old stuff, I tend to seek expert advice. One source for which I am always grateful is the Dauphin County Historical Society, and particularly its librarian, Ken Frew. Membership in the society is very affordable ($35 a year) and grants access to invaluable resources. Earlier this year, I was one of several reporters following the story of a church collapse in south Harrisburg. The county database said the church had been built in 1900, but a visit to Frew quickly set me straight—lots of old buildings were supposedly “built” in that year, because past county assessors, lacking actual records, would simply write “1900” as a best guess.

Frew patiently led me through some old maps and newspapers, which suggested the building had been around since the 1870s. We never did find an exact date, but if the only product of a day’s record-mining is to substitute informed ignorance for uninformed certitude, it will have been worth the while.

An obsession with records can make a man aware of the paper he leaves behind. I once asked the city to send me its list of dog licenses. Not realizing dog names would be a part of it, I was amused to learn that counted among the local canine population are a William Wallace, a Cookie, a Cutter, a Merlin, a Zeus Ellington, and an Oliver Fernando.

One key to an effective use of records is to remember what they can never do as well as people, which is tell a story. My search for the pool fish wound up being brief—it only took a few tries with key words in Google to produce a city press release from 2006. The release had some useful figures, but the real gold was the name of the local fishing club that had co-sponsored the event. I found a phone number and eventually wound up speaking with the club’s president, who was able to provide me with firsthand recollections. Sometimes what you really want is a quote on the record, but you often need a record to get it.

Open Mic Magic: Veteran hosts explain how to kill it on open mic night.

December 30, 2014 | by John Duffy

So you’ve got a guitar, a ukulele, an autoharp. You can play and sing reasonably well at the same time. Friends say you’re talented. What next? Put a band together and struggle, realizing you weren’t really all that prepared?

You could do worse than getting a few songs together and heading to an open mic event. And, luckily, the Harrisburg area has more than a few that are well-run, giving a chance for amateurs young and old to hone their chops, gain confidence and take part in the rich music scene this area has to offer.

There are, though, a few rules to follow, along with some best practices. So, we asked for advice and observations from the hosts of some of the best events in and around Harrisburg. Before you take your star turn, listen to the sage advice offered by veteran hosts Mike Banks (HMAC Stage on Herr), Justin Clauser (Bube’s Brewery), Janelle Eurich (Holly Inn), Phil Freeman (The Cove) and Jonathan Frazier (Cornerstone Coffeehouse).

Play it like you mean it

Of course, you are nervous—who wouldn’t be? But, if you do one thing right, do this: play your songs like you mean them. If you’ve practiced enough, listened to yourself, prepared your gear, gotten comfortable with the idea that you will likely make a mistake, there is no point being sheepish, timid or shy.

Banks: “For many folks new to open mic, there’s a huge disparity between what they’re accustomed to in their living room and what it’s actually like on an amplified stage. While it may be appropriate to be delicate and quiet when rehearsing at home, the stage is no place for such subtlety. Microphones and monitors only work well when folks put as much sound into them as possible. Dig in—physically and spiritually.”

Clauser: “What makes a good open mic performance is no different than any other performance. At the heart of it is good music. It also helps to have good stage presence and connection with the audience.”

Eurich: “Have fun. Your natural feeling for the song should be what is portrayed. We are not recording you. You are not being paid. Relax.”

But don’t make it about you

This is not the place to exorcise your childhood demons or get over a heart-trampling breakup. If you have songs about them, that’s one thing. But do not take half your time explaining the gory details of your tumultuous life. Let the songs do it, and let the audience connect to them in their own way. Good songs and good performances connect, almost all the time. Don’t force it.

Banks: “Generally speaking, an audience is much more likely to be interested in your stories after you’ve gotten their attention with your music, not before. But, either way, don’t squander away precious stage time with banter.”

Know the room, know the audience, know the host

It’s always a good idea to be a spectator before being a performer. Go to the venue without your instrument and observe. What does the audience respond to? Is it too big a place for you to feel comfortable? Is it a bar or a coffee house? There will be a difference. Most importantly, introduce yourself to the host and get to know how they like to run things. Get any technical stuff out of the way before you show up to play. Does your guitar have a preamp? Do you know what one is? Watch and be supportive of whomever is playing.

Banks: “Do your homework: know what your gear is and how it works before you show up—and make sure your instrument is strung, in tune, and has working batteries before you get on stage. While I’m happy to help folks fine-tune technical details on the fly, the stage is no place for Audio 101.”

Freeman: “From folk rock to country to spoken word, anything and everything is welcome as long as it doesn’t make the bartender’s or the patrons’ ears bleed. Definitely make the effort to connect with the host. People who do this are at the top of my ‘awesome’ list, so this is a priority.”

And know your songs

This should be a no brainer, but it deserves emphasis. Do not think a song you finished this afternoon is going to be one that connects. It might, but probably not. Few performers, even seasoned ones, can bluff their way through a set without looking awkward. Play your songs to the mirror, to friends, your cat. Be aware of your pacing because you will probably do them faster onstage. And make sure the arrangement you are going to play actually works.

Frazier: “So many people try to play full-length versions of songs, totally neglecting the fact that the layered variety of sounds in the original is lacking in their guitar rendition. Perhaps they hear the drums…but all the audience hears is someone banging out the same four chords in mind-numbing repetition. It’s usually best to cut the song down, get to the point, and wrap it up while you’re still ahead of the game.”

Try not to suck, but know there are worse things than sucking

Even if you do the above, there is a good chance you will mess up once—or several times. No worries. This is the place to do that, not once someone has offered you money to play. You will see onstage, before and after you, people who may be 10 times better or 10 times worse than you. However, there are worse things than playing slightly out of tune, forgetting words, fumbling chords.

Banks: “Remember: open mic isn’t a competition. In fact, what comes as a surprise to many is that it’s actually quite the opposite. Do your best and be prepared to learn from others—they’ll certainly learn something from you.”

Clauser: “I have seen people come in who were shy and barely spoke to other musicians turn into confident players.”

Freeman: “Performers should always start with a song that is both familiar to them as well as technically easy. For instance, I usually start with a slow- to mid-tempo song that is easy to play and that is lower in my vocal range so that I can use it as an extended warm-up.”

Choose your tunes wisely

If you’ve done the above, this should be no problem. You pick two of your own songs and decide to add a cover in the middle. Smart move, but you could completely ruin things by choosing poorly. There are 20 other people playing before and after you; chances are good that the Lorde or Dylan or Mumford hits have already been done. So go deep! An obscure J.J. Cale or a completely re-arranged Bright Eyes can convey just as much about you—maybe even more—than a smart-sounding “Angel From Montgomery” or “Wagon Wheel.” And, no, Nickelback is not acceptable in any situation!

Banks: “The goal should be to sound like yourself, not someone else—whether the material you’re performing is yours or someone else’s. And, please, no matter how fond you are of their music, don’t ever try to mimic the singing of Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Adam Duritz, Janis Joplin or anyone else. They certainly didn’t—and, unless it’s a spoof, neither should you.”

Freeman: “If you’re a metal band that’s hoping to destroy a stage and incite a riot, that’s awesome, but you’ll never be welcome at most, if any, open mics in bars and restaurants. Save that for the basement show or the rock club. No death metal—unless it’s a killer acoustic version of it.”

Don’t overstay your welcome

If it’s three songs, then play three songs. If it’s 15 minutes, finish up in 13. All the same, have five songs ready. You never know when people are going to bail or the host is going to need to pad some time. If he or she says, “Give us another one,” be ready to do so. Plus, you never know when a certain song is just not going to feel right once you get onstage. Have another couple in your back pocket.

Banks: “Asking for extra time over the microphone is about the worst thing one can do at open mic. The host is responsible for making everyone happy—no small task, let me assure you—and that means lots of time management and diplomacy involving many more people than just yourself. Forcing the issue through the PA only makes you look foolish and gives the host little reason to want to go the extra mile for you in the future. ”

Eurich: “Be aware that there are different formats and timeframes for different open mics. For example, Roy Bennett and I conduct our open mics in order of arrival. So, if you need an early out, arrive early.”

But do stick around

Unless you have somewhere specific to be, hang around and watch other performers. Chances are most performers are going to be at a similar skill level as you. You can learn a lot by just watching them and maybe even more by sharing a beverage. Plenty of great musical partnerships have begun this way. And, since everyone is going to tell you how awesome you were, you need to be there to hear it. No points awarded for being the mysterious disappearing musician.

Banks: “The cross-pollination of ideas and influences may be the most under-appreciated benefit of open mic—for both beginners and seasoned players. Newer players do themselves a tremendous disservice by avoiding interacting with more experienced performers, who are typically happy to share their insights.”

Clauser: “Amateurs who do well are the ones who already have the talent but need to gain confidence, experience playing with others, and connections with their local music scene. I have seen a lot of music partnerships born of musicians meeting and collaborating at open mics.”

Eurich: “Do your best to connect with the audience, host and other musicians. Staying and listening to other performers helps everyone.”

You’re an amateur, but act professional

When you’re onstage, make NO apologies, even if you make a mistake. When you are offstage, make even fewer. Don’t tell the audience this is your first time doing this. They can tell. Don’t downplay your abilities, degrade your songwriting, or appear otherwise unworthy. You are in a strip mall coffee shop playing for free on a Wednesday night—you don’t need to make yourself any lower. Say “thank you” when you’re done, and thank the host. And it should not have to be said at this point, but, if you cannot get up and play without excessive amounts of liquid courage, you are not ready.

Banks: “Everybody makes mistakes on stage—everybody, at every level. Play through them, forget about it, and move on. Stopping to start over almost always does far more harm than good, and apologizing on stage is worse still.”

Frazier: “I’ve seen people show up late, tune their guitars while others are playing and not listen to anyone else, then play their own slot and promptly leave without even hanging around to hear the next performer. That sort of behavior definitely makes a statement.”

Learn from your mistakes, learn from your triumphs

So you bombed? No worries, plenty of people have. That’s what an open mic night is about: getting the failure out of the way early. There is nowhere to go but up, right? So, practice more. Play more. Think about partnering with someone. There is strength in numbers. Take note of what you did well and double down on it for next time. And make sure next time is not six months from now, that is, if you want to get good.

Banks: “The key is to listen to yourself as objectively and critically as possible and solicit input from those with more experience. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus on the former while working to improve the latter.”

Eurich: “It is important for our community to foster a welcoming environment at our open mics. Ultimately, as these people grow, it will help perpetuate live music.”

Freeman: “Recently, I saw a guy who used to whisper into the mic and stop in the middle of songs to apologize just tear up a version of Rolling Stone’s “Dead Flowers.” It was a huge step, and it made me very proud for him to see that happen.”

Looking for a positive, supportive and well-run open mic? Then catch the contributors to this story at the following places:

Mike Banks: HMAC Stage on Herr, 268 Herr St., Harrisburg, Wednesday, starts 7:30 p.m.

Justin Clauser: Bube’s Brewery, 102 N. Market St., Mount Joy, Thursday, starts 8:30 p.m.

Janelle Eurich: Holly Inn, 31 S. Baltimore Ave., Holly Springs, first and third Sunday, 7-11 p.m.

Jonathan Frazier: Cornerstone Coffeehouse, 2133 Market St., Camp Hill, second Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Holly Inn, 31 S. Baltimore Ave., Holly Springs, second and fourth Sunday, 7-11 p.m.

Phil Freeman: The Cove, 1500 S. George St., York, Wednesday, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

A Year of Change: In 2014, you had to sift through the pastors, treasurers and gun-packing lawmakers to get to the most important news.

December 30, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

At TheBurg, we’re not much into new media stuff.

Link bait, user-generated content, seeding. Yuck.

In recent months, I’ve had several news people defend aggregation to me, the practice of taking content produced by others and liberally repurposing it for one’s own use.

“We used to call that plagiarism,” I’ve snapped back, stunned that reporters are now being told to do things that used to get them fired.

Then there’s the listicle.

Using lists to convey information has been around for a long time.

For years, one of my favorite features in the Washington Post was the annual “What’s Out and In” list that appeared every New Year’s Day. I had no idea how the contributors determined what would be hot or not over the coming year (why, a few years back, were “cancer memoirs” out and “grief memoirs” in? Beats me), but I relished sitting down with a big cup of coffee and poring over the lengthy, whimsical list every Jan. 1.

In part, I enjoyed the feature because of its novelty. Presenting information as a list was an exception, not the rule, or a crutch, as it’s become for many media outlets today.

For the past few years, I’ve created my own list each January: the Top 10 Harrisburg news stories of the past year.

So, enjoy the list for what it is: a highly subjective summation and ranking, with my own spin on the year’s news. Feel free to nod, argue or curse me out. And I promise not to make a habit of it. This will be my one and only listicle of 2015.

10. Civil War War: Sometimes, big stories seem to pop up from nowhere, and the scuffle over funding for the Civil War Museum fit into that category. Without notice, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse appeared at a Dauphin County commissioners session to mount a case for negating an agreement that set aside about $300,000 a year in hotel tax money for the museum. Over the ensuing months, the city and county revived issues that hadn’t been discussed much in years: the purpose of the museum, its viability, its funding and how Harrisburg should use its limited funds to market itself. It also re-engaged the always-simmering battle over the legacy of former Mayor Stephen Reed.

9. Pastor Arrested: Upon taking office, Papenfuse declared an all-out war on blight, targeting slumlords, deploying codes officers and even formulating a new Housing Court. That sounded fine to most people until the first person arrested under the get-tough policy was one of the city’s most prominent pastors, Bishop A.E. Sullivan, Jr., whose blighted church began to crumble down on its neighbors. For some, the arrest was an early test of Papenfuse’s resolve. For others, it signaled the re-emergence of racial tensions that always seem to lie just beneath the surface in Harrisburg.

8. Grand Jury Convened: What happens when you open a closet and a room full of secrets pours out? In the case of Harrisburg, a grand jury is empaneled. At press time, months after official-looking guys in official-looking jackets hauled away box-loads of potential evidence to Pittsburgh, the investigation continued into the myriad twisted, dubious deals that led to Harrisburg’s financial collapse.

7. Primetime Crime: If it bleeds, it leads, right? The media continued to have a field day (or year—or years) over the issue of crime in Harrisburg. Not that there wasn’t ample material to draw from. A continuing high homicide rate largely negated the good news that some other types of crime fell. Meanwhile, a few high-profile stories (the tragic case of Jared Tutko, Jr., a brief exchange of gunfire between a state legislator and a teenage mugger) led to predictable bouts of media hysteria. We’ll have to see if a few more cops and, as has been proposed, the revival of the school resource officer program make any difference for 2015.

6. Treasurer Trouble: Sometimes, it seems like Harrisburg just can’t catch a break. In August, trouble arose from an unexpected corner when city Treasurer John Campbell—a young man with a seemingly boundless future—was arrested on charges of taking money from several organizations where he also served as treasurer. These allegations involved no city business, and the treasurer’s office operates largely independently from the administration. Nonetheless, Campbell’s arrest was yet another reason for people to dump on Harrisburg, as was the withdrawal, two months later, of his appointed successor, Timothy East, after a personal bankruptcy came to light.

5. Receivership Ends: It came in with a bang and ended with a whimper. No, I’m not talking about the month of March, but about Harrisburg’s state-imposed receivership. In November 2011, bond attorney David Unkovic rode into the office amid tremendous skepticism over his intentions. In just a few months, he allayed those worries so that, when he suddenly resigned, many people feared the city had lost its best friend. In stormed Air Force Maj. Gen. William Lynch, who completed what Unkovic had started: selling the incinerator, privatizing the parking system and trying to straighten out and normalize Harrisburg’s calamitous finances. Count me among the surprised that the receivership ended so quickly after the major elements of the financial recovery plan were put into place. Today, the state retains some supervision over city finances as Harrisburg remains in Act 47. However, the receivership was never as strong-armed as many thought it would be, and, instead of fading away, it just went away.

4. Parking, Parking and More Parking: Besides crime, parking became the media’s go-to story of the year. Sleepy news day? Go find some suburbanites and restaurateurs pissed off about the rising cost of parking. Beneath the hype, there was a real story. As part of the city’s financial recovery agreement, parking rates doubled and metered parking expanded, which did negatively impact some businesses. In addition, the rollout of the new digital meters was bumpy, and Standard Parking was (how shall I put this?) god-awful in communicating with the public. But, by the end of the year, people seemed to be adjusting, and the new regimen even had some pluses, such as a new source of revenue for the city, the ability to use credit cards and much higher turnover of street spaces. Also, while some weak businesses shut down (though not all due to parking, believe it or not), several others opened.

3. Front Street Makeover: Sometimes, events are deemed important because they follow an accepted standard of what constitutes news—a political scandal or a high-profile crime, for instance. Other times, the importance is less certain, and only later do people realize the significance of a piece of news. I put the state’s announcement that, starting this spring, it will reconstruct Front Street, into the second category. Moreover, the state is studying improvements to Forster Street and to making much of N. 2^nd Street two-way. It also plans to re-open the dormant rail bridge to pedestrians and maybe transit. In other words, the state seems to want to reverse the damage wrought almost six decades ago, when much of Harrisburg was turned into either a freeway or a traffic island, with devastating results. A more welcome, livable city could be a game-changer for Harrisburg.

2. Papenfuse Takes Over: In January 2014, Eric Papenfuse took the oath of office as mayor of Harrisburg. In so doing, he promised to be both an effective administrator and an inspirational leader. A year later, I’m not sure about “inspirational,” but he has shown competence both in identifying what needs to be done and then taking steps to get those things done. From finances to blight to streetlights to schools, Papenfuse took on a full plate of issues, most very difficult, many controversial. My fellow columnist, Tara Leo Auchey, has described Harrisburg as being in a state of “reconstruction” following decades of misrule. The administration’s first year has been to try to stabilize a government in shambles and then plant the seeds of that reconstruction.

1. Balanced Budget: This may seem like an odd choice for the #1 news story in Harrisburg. Yawn, right? Yes, in most cities, a balanced budget indeed would be a non-event. In Harrisburg, however, this was (or should have been) major news, as it was the city’s first truly balanced budget in—God knows—20, 30 years? Papenfuse even insisted on including items that had been kept off-budget for decades, as Reed was a genius at tucking inconvenient expenses into places where they couldn’t be found, then masking the overage with borrowing. This is an achievement that should not be understated. Going forward, it should allow the city to build an honest foundation and move forward from there.

So, there you have it—my Top 10 stories of 2014. Looking at the year in whole, I consider 2014 to have been a transition year: a transition from state to local control; a transition from perpetual crisis to some level of normalcy; and, I hope, a transition from dishonest and incompetent government to one that conscientiously serves the people of Harrisburg.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Relax, Rejuvenate, Renew: Need to de-stress? Reiki may be just the ticket.

December 30, 2014 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Ask any Reiki practitioner to explain the practice, and you’ll quickly learn that it doesn’t fit neatly into one descriptive little box.

The non-invasive, benign healing technique, is, in my opinion, a bit ethereal in nature, which is why categorizing it is as difficult as clutching a cloud. What I can tell you is that I walked into Rickie Freedman’s office recently in my “wound-too-tight” default mode and sat up from the table an hour later, relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the day.

I even kept my cool when someone cut me off as I was pulling out of the parking lot after my session. For me, that’s progress.

To better understand the relaxing practice known as Reiki, it’s helpful to know that the word is actually composed of two Japanese words—Rei and Ki. Rei can be defined as a higher intelligence, while Ki is the non-physical energy that animates all living things.

According to Reiki practitioners, negative feelings have an adverse effect on our health since they block the Ki that flows through and around us. While Western medicine doesn’t necessarily embrace Reiki, doctors do concede that there is a mind/body/health connection. During sessions, Reiki practitioners use a light touch to restore balance to the body and mind of those who seek its healing properties.

A Call

Rickie Freedman was born and raised in the Philadelphia area and faced unique challenges due to her name throughout her youth.

Every year, she was enrolled in boy’s gym and choir and, as a teen, received mail from the Army and Navy. Later in life, she ended up thanking her parents for the appellation. “I believed it was a call to my purpose,” she said.

Freedman’s interest always gravitated towards the healing arts.

“One of my teachers tried to talk me into going into med school at one point,” she said.

As a person with a nurturing, caregiving personality, Rickie eventually decided upon physical therapy, practicing at a nursing home in Lewisburg. In the mid ‘90s, friends introduced Freedman to Reiki.

“They took a class, and, when they came home, they practiced on me,” she said. “I had been going through a challenging, stressful time and had a big detoxification release afterwards, so I began studying it for my own emotional healing.”

She later would pay it forward by sharing the practice with others.

“I helped employees at the nursing home cope with the stresses of that kind of work and began incorporating the technique into my physical therapy,” she said.

Several years later, Freedman received a Reiki table as a gift. She offered her services to friends and word spread, so, when one co-worker opened up a wellness center, she asked Rickie to join her.

“I felt like it was an opportunity, so I gave it a try, and what I learned is that, when you believe in something with every fiber of your being, it radiates,” she said. “People feel that and are attracted to it. In a short amount of time, more people were coming there for Reiki than anything else.”

Eventually, this led to her decision to practice Reiki full time. In 2008, Freedman moved to Harrisburg, where she worked at establishing her expertise and reputation in the area. By 2013, she was ready to create her own space.

Swears By It

Freedman’s current base of operations, located off Linglestown Road, is comprised of an office, two healing rooms, a comfortable waiting room and an event area.

The new space has enabled her to expand her practice to offer more services like Indian head massage, chakra foot massage and the popular REIKIssage—a blend of Reiki and therapeutic massage.

Classes and workshops are held throughout the year and include topics like meditation, stress management and aromatherapy, to name just a few.

Tessa Shaffer travels from Liverpool to benefit from Freedman’s services.

“I met Rickie at an event she was doing and signed up for a 15-minute mini session and, in that short time, it alleviated a headache and some of my back pain,” she said adding that she was so intrigued that she decided to study the practice herself after contracting Lyme disease.

Thanks to Freedman’s instruction, Shaffer is now a practitioner.

“There are three levels, and Rickie holds monthly classes for the different levels,” said Shaffer. “Anyone can do it, and it has aided in improving my energy and managing my pain. It’s amazing, and you don’t really need to understand how it works for it to work.”

Kris Shulenberger has been undergoing Reiki sessions for about a year and swears by it.

“I have more energy and vitality,” said the Carlisle resident. “The first thing I noticed is that I didn’t have the winter doldrums last year, and the other thing I noticed is that I have a different level of energy in dealing with issues and problems. It’s a deep form of relaxation, and you come out energized and feeling better.”

For those considering Reiki, Freedman recommends scheduling the first three sessions a week apart.

“They work together in a series to get you to a better place of balance,” she said. “By the end of the third session, clients have a better sense of the good it does.”

In choosing this line of work, Freedman said she has found the “perfect peace,” which she lives to share with others.

“Every single day is awesome because I get to witness people’s transformations as they come into the fullness of who they are and are able to let their light shine so they can go out into the world and bring that to others,” she said. “That’s awesome, with the emphasis on the awe. I love my work, every single day. I love teaching, and I love sharing this.”

Reiki by Rickie|ReikiSpace & Learning Place is at 2793 Old Post Rd., #10, Harrisburg. Call 717-599-2299 or visit www.reikibyrickie.com.

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