Hot Rocks & a Train Wreck: The Flinchy’s jam: good food, a fun time.

June 30, 2014 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Flinchy’s “Train Wreck Deck” was hopping at 8 p.m. on a recent Wednesday night. A pleasant breeze blew across the crowd, and the party was in full swing as Shea Quinn and Steve Swisher (aka Swish) entertained the audience.

As the duo performed a rendition of “Train Kept ‘A Rollin” by Aerosmith, a train sped down the nearby tracks seemingly right on cue, much to the delight of the crowd, who cheered the coincidence.

Camp Hill resident Ginny Rea, who was just settling in after a long day at work, managed to secure a coveted seat on the deck right in front of the duo.

“They’re a big draw. I really enjoy them, and they have quite a following,” she said, before pausing to join the crowd in singing the chorus of a Tom Petty song.

Temporary Insanity

Dawson Flinchbaugh, who operates the Camp Hill restaurant with his son Matt, has moved through life racking up experiences.

He served in the Marine Corps for six years and spent two tours in Vietnam. He sold life insurance, ran a horse farm and headed a digital imaging business. Ever busy, Dawson also served his community as president of the Wormleysburg Borough Council and as chairman of the Dauphin County Historical Society, where he helped raise $1 million for the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion restoration. During his spare time, he cooks, travels with his family, skydives and rappels.

So what made him decide to add restaurateur to the list?

“Temporary insanity,” quips Dawson with typical lighthearted humor, before explaining why he signed on for such an ambitious endeavor.

“Matt was managing one of Donny Brown’s restaurants in Harrisburg, and somebody informed him that the old Theo’s in Lemoyne was up for sale. He approached me to see if I wanted to run it with him, and I said, ‘Why the hell not? We haven’t done that yet.’”

That was 11 years ago, and the joint is still jumping, even though the formula has been tweaked a bit over the years.

“When we first opened, we tried to be a ‘white tablecloth place,’ serving upscale food. That didn’t work so well since our bar was very active, and we attracted a lot of 20-somethings,” said Dawson.

So, the flexible Flinchbaughs tinkered around the edges to add a more casual vibe to the place.

Matt suggested adding the Train Wreck Deck, which ended up being great for business, according to Dawson and, today, crowds flock to the popular deck to enjoy live music throughout the week.

Hot Rocks

Two years after Flinchy’s was up and running, Dawson’s wife Betty recalled a concept they had seen in Germany called the “hot rock,” where diners cook their own meals on a volcanic stone. They brought it on board and, to this day, the hot rock is one of the more popular requests. It requires no oil or fat and, therefore, appeals to health-conscious diners who want to control the temperature of their cooked meat.

Staff serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, and patron Danielle Kinback, who works nearby, stops in often for a quick soup and salad before returning to work. When she meets friends for dinner, she usually chooses the feta-stuffed portabello mushroom on the hot rock, but also enjoys the filet, which she describes as “very tender.”

Other popular items include steaks and crab cakes, along with the new “steamer pots” containing shrimp, clams, mussels and crab legs. Flinchy’s also appeals to those who are on a restricted diet by offering a wide variety of gluten-free choices.

The Flinchbaughs will even serve you off-site. They recently added catering to their repertoire, offering assistance with parties, meetings and special events.

Meet the Chief

Since Dawson goes by the moniker of “Chief Chili,” it would be an oversight to omit another popular dish he serves at the restaurant.

He and his wife perfected their chili recipe in the ‘80s as they traveled from state to state, competing in the World’s Championship Chili CookOff. He’s since judged the cookoff several times and has been running the regional cookoff on Labor Day weekend for the past 30 years.

Another spicy tidbit is that Flinchy’s designed the self-contained cooking pot that made the Guinness Book of World Records, weighing in at more than 1,400 pounds. The pot that used to cook the chili was custom-made at Hauck Manufacturing in Cleona, according to Dawson.

“We steam crabs in it now,” he said.

Giving back to the local community is also important to Dawson and Matt. So, each year, Flinchy’s sponsors a local sports team and participates in a number of events to support area causes, including the popular “Flinchypalooza,” a parking lot party featuring several local bands to benefit the Lower Allen Township Police Department.

Dawson said that running the restaurant has been a rewarding experience, but watching his customers enjoying themselves is the best part of the business. So, it’s not likely he’ll retire anytime soon.

“It’s like throwing a party for 200 of your closest friends every day,” he said. “It’s fun.”

Flinchy’s is located at 1833 Hummel Ave., Camp Hill. www.flinchys.com.

Seen at the Scholar: This month, an urban journey.

June 30, 2014 | by Catherine Lawrence

Of Gardens
by Paula Deitz
384pp—University of Pennsylvania Press
Good for fans of: nature, travel writing and landscape design

Why: Writer and cultural critic Paula Deitz has delighted gardening and design aficionados for more than 30 years with her vivid descriptions of famous and hidden landscapes. In these newly collected essays, she shares the stories of her extensive travels, from the waterways of Britain’s Castle Howard to the Japanese gardens of Kyoto, and home again to New York’s Central Park.

If you like it: You’ll also enjoy gardening writer Adrian Higgins’ “Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden,” with exceptional photographs by Rob Cardillo.

Historic Architecture of Pennsylvania
by Scott D. Butcher
180pp—Schiffer Publishing
Good for fans of: local history, photography and the built environment

Why: York photographer Scott Butcher surveys the architectural history of south-central Pennsylvania. Beginning with early-18th century buildings, almost every style of American architecture is featured in the region’s mid-sized cities, charming towns and quaint villages. He devotes special sections to local farmers’ markets and train stations.

If you like it: You’ll also enjoy Virginia Savage McAlester’s “Field Guide to American Houses,” a fully expanded and updated edition of the 1984 classic, the best all-around descriptive handbook of architectural styles.

Design after Decline: How America Rebuilds Shrinking Urban Cities
by Brent D. Ryan
280pp—University of Pennsylvania Press
Good for fans of: Philly, city design and civic life

Why: Almost 50 years ago, America’s industrial cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Baltimore began shedding people and jobs. Today, they are littered with tens of thousands of abandoned houses, shuttered factories and vacant lots. With ongoing population and housing losses, the future of their neighborhoods is precarious. In this award-winning book, an MIT professor of Urban Design and Public Policy explores how Philly and Detroit are faring.

If you like it: You’ll also enjoy “Buck,” a raw, lyrical memoir by the award-winning filmmaker and hip-hop artist M.K. Asante. “Buck” is his powerful, personal account of growing up in the urban jungle of Philadelphia.

Aftertaste: A Novel in Five Courses
by Meredith Mileti
384pp—Kensington
Good for fans of: Pittsburgh, food and women’s fiction

Why: Battling to save her restaurant, New York trattoria-owner Mira Rinaldi falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. For Mira, cooking isn’t just about delicious flavors and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others’ needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfillment lies—even if the answers are unexpected. Aftertaste is a novel about rebuilding and rediscovery, about food passionately prepared and unapologetically savored, and about the singular contentment that comes with living and loving, with gusto.

If you like it: You’ll also enjoy Bucks County writer and dance critic Kathryn Craft’s “The Art of Falling,” a moving novel about a dancer who must find a way to overcome a tragic fall.

All these books can be found at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. www.midtownscholar.com.

This Is Your Hometown: Local on Harrisburg: Hipsters, homeless & Steve Reed.

June 30, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

What does it take to snag an interview with former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed?

Persistence, yes, lots of it. It also helps to learn some of the elusive man’s habits, like his tendency to show up at an area social club in the wee hours of the morning.

That’s how Dan Webster tracked down his subject. After months of sending the seven-term mayor letters, knocking on the door of his Midtown townhouse and asking intermediaries for help, Webster found out about Reed’s peculiar habit of popping into the Harrisburg Maennerchor each Sunday at 2:30 a.m., drinking three light beers over ice, then leaving precisely one hour later.

So, he cruised into the North Street club in the middle of the night.

“He said ‘you’re stalking me,’ and then he said that other reporters have tried and failed,” said Webster about his first interaction with Reed at the Maennerchor bar. “We stated who we were and what we wanted to do.”

What Webster wanted to do was this—get an interview with Reed and make it the cover story for the just-released issue of Local Magazine, which Webster founded and runs. A quarterly publication, Local dives deep into a chosen community, attempting, through a couple dozen stories, to capture the lifeblood of the place.

The recent, 138-page issue, focused entirely on Harrisburg, has stories on subjects as diverse as Neato Burrito, life in Allison Hill, the Bridge Club of Harrisburg, The MakeSpace and the city’s many rundown bars.

Some stories have a high quirk factor, even when they’re about ostensibly serious subjects. Can’t bear to read anything more about the incinerator? Well, how about if the trash started talking to you? You’ll also discover what happens when an email interview with the governor gets fed through the snark chipper.

“We had fun with some of the political stuff,” said Webster, a former managing editor of TheBurg. “But, for the most part, we wanted to tell more honest stories about Harrisburg than the CNN and Gawkers of the world.”

Local’s feature story offers a Reed-eye view of recent Harrisburg history, along with Webster’s first-person narrative of the interview, a lot of news background and an undertone of irreverence. Clips from old Patriot-News stories pepper the piece, breaking up the text and providing visual interest.

As Webster recounts, Reed refused, as a condition, to answer anything about his “personal life,” though he did manage to get some information about his youth growing up in Shippensburg and Harrisburg.

Otherwise, Webster details chronologically the hopes and successes of the early years; the increasing controversies—and public complacency—as Reed won term after term; and the city’s inevitable debt crash after decades of over-borrowing and over-spending. The tragicomedy of Reed’s pharaonic building schemes is fully detailed, as is Reed’s obsession with saving the city incinerator.

Webster’s conclusion? Reed was pleasant and polite, if “mildly defensive” about his legacy. In general, he seemed to give honest answers, with two exceptions.

Webster said he didn’t believe Reed’s statement that he pushed for the incinerator upgrade because it was better for the environment than a landfill. Through the incinerator retrofit, Reed was primarily trying to protect the cash cow that the incinerator had become, Webster said.

“I felt he meant he couldn’t float bonds anymore if he didn’t have the incinerator,” he said.
In addition, he didn’t believe Reed when he said he had no personal interest in Wild West artifacts. Reed, after all, attended countless auctions throughout the country, spending about $8.3 million in public money to buy 11,000 items for the oddity of building an Old West Museum in Harrisburg.

“I felt some of his answers were odd and contradictory,” Webster said.

In the end, Webster said he believes his staff captured the essence of Harrisburg perhaps more accurately than places like Asbury Park, N.J., Roanoke, Va., and Jersey Shore, Pa., which were profiled in previous issues.

In part, that’s because Local is based here, so the staff could write from a deeper level of knowledge and meaning. But it’s also, he said, because of the unique nature of their hometown.

“There’s this groundswell of people who don’t want to give this place up,” he said. “That mettle is something we also write about. This is a hardy place.”

Find out more about Local Magazine and order a copy of the Harrisburg issue at www.localmag.us.

July Jumble: This month, little cohesion, but plenty of chops.

June 30, 2014 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Admittedly, there is not much of a theme for this month’s musical selections. However, while July may be lacking cohesion, it is not short on talent. With so many excellent performers rolling into Harrisburg this month, there are plenty of reasons to take advantage of the warm summer evenings.

MAN FOREVER & SŌ PERCUSSION w/ CUDDLE MAGIC, 7/9, 7:30 P.M., SECOND CITY CHURCH, $10: John Colpitts (aka Kid Millions) founded the experimental percussion project Man Forever in 2010 in order to explore the art of percussive composition. The results have been nothing less than breathtaking. While percussion is an essential element of the majority of musical compositions, it often cannot stand on its own. Despite these odds, Man Forever creates musical soundscapes that are both passionate and mesmerizing. He will be joined by America’s premier percussive ensemble, Sō Percussion, to perform Man Forever’s latest release, “Ryonen,” with opening support from the superb Brooklyn band, Cuddle Magic.

AMERICAN OPERA, 7/19, 7 P.M., LITTLE AMPS UPTOWN, $5 Suggested Donation: American Opera’s music can best be described as handmade. A passionate and growling voice is coupled with glockenspiels and melodicas to create an intriguing juxtaposition that evokes images of marathon songwriting and do-it-yourself recording sessions taking place in a starving artist’s living room or loft. But this is not an example of style over substance. In the end, American Opera is about songwriting in the truest sense of the word. Built on a backbone of traditional folk, these are songs about living a life that is often difficult and at times painful.

MATTHEW SWEET ROCK SHOW, 7/20, 8 P.M., ABBEY BAR, $18/$22: Matthew Sweet is not young. His career began in the mid-80s, and, considering the short shelf life of most rockers, that feels like ages ago. But Sweet continues to churn out the solid rock and roll that has sustained his longevity. Still present is that jangly, hazy guitar so characteristic of the Athens, Ga., scene that produced both Sweet and R.E.M. However, Sweet’s latest work also demonstrates a confidence that can only come with age. Never content to trot out the same numbers that brought him fame decades ago, he continues to let his music evolve. Sweet’s performance at the Abbey Bar is sure to satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Mentionables: The Bacon Brothers, Whitaker Center, 7/10; The Greatest Funeral Ever, HMAC Stage on Herr, 7/12; Dick Dale, Abbey Bar, 7/25; The Baseball Project/The Split Squad/The Minus 5, HMAC Stage on Herr, 7/26

1 Story at a Time: LGBT History Project re-creates an often-hidden past.

June 30, 2014 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Dan Manedal’s voice still shakes when he recalls the night that teenagers pelted rocks through his windows.

“There was nothing I could do,” he said. “My life was like this because I had decided to be open about my sexuality.”

Coming out in the 1960s and ‘70s was far different than it is for people today, said Manedal, now 67. At age 25, after telling his friends and family he was gay, his life changed.

He moved to a trailer park when he didn’t feel safe in his home.

He was beaten walking out of a gay bar.

He met someone at a gay social event 200 miles from his home in Williamsport only to find they were neighbors. Each had been forced to go far from home to try to find support.

Manedal said he’s proud to see how far the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement has advanced. But he fears that where it came from will soon be forgotten.

His story is just one of many that, when combined with artifacts and stacks of documents, will help tell the story of LGBT people in central Pennsylvania.

A Story Told

Barry Loveland is founder and chair of the History Project organized by the LGBT Center of Central PA. He’s worked with about 50 volunteers, from student interns to retired professors and historians to preserve the local history of the LGBT community.

The project was started in August 2012 after Loveland met with the center’s Common Roads group for teenagers. A small panel was formed to talk to the younger generations about the hardships many faced when coming out often meant giving up family and friends.

The panel was so well received that it led to a story circle at the LGBT Center, located in Midtown Harrisburg. About 20 people attended, and it sparked the idea, Loveland said, that there were stories to be told.

Over the following months, Loveland recruited volunteers, who were trained how to perform interviews, use video equipment and catalog artifacts. A partnership also was created with Dickinson College in Carlisle, where anything collected or recorded would be kept safe.

The project has grown into a full chronology of central Pennsylvania’s history regarding LGBT issues, from political movements to social acceptance.

“My vision is to have a way for LGBT people to really connect with that history,” Loveland said.

After dozens of interviews are transcribed and more than 100 artifacts are cataloged, the center will create an interactive website including videos, photos and documents.

Many stories examine discrimination, what it was like for people to come out at home and in the workplace, and how community infrastructures were developed for support and socialization, Loveland said.

“A lot of straight people don’t think about the fact that, in their tradition or families, people kind of hand down stories to generations,” Loveland said. “LGBT people have their families, but they also have their chosen families, and sometimes those intergenerational stories don’t come down to them. It’s really important that we build those ties that have never really been there for the LGBT community.”

Slow Process

Lonna Malmsheimer, professor emeritus from Dickinson College’s American studies department, heard about the project while attending a separate event at the LGBT Center.

Because of her experience in communication and history, she was asked if she’d train a group of people who would interview LGBT activists.

So far, three groups of volunteers have gone through training on how to use the video equipment needed to record interviews, but it’s been a slow process.

“Working with volunteers is generally not all that easy,” she said. “They are busy people, too, and it’s often the busiest who offer help.”

While they’ve completed a number of interviews—Malmsheimer having done five or six herself—there are about 80 people on a waiting list who want to tell their own stories.

Malmsheimer, now 73, remembers going to a research library as a graduate student and finding that materials related to LGBT issues were locked up in a separate room. If she wanted to see any of it, she had to get permission.

“Part of the push, as far as I see it as a historian, is that, in the past, this work not only wasn’t done, it couldn’t have been done,” she said.

Sara Tyberg, a 20-year-old sophomore sociology student at Dickinson College, is one of two interns assisting in the project.

Her responsibilities include transcribing interviews and proofing the completed work.

“I think the LGBT History Project is an important project because it is revealing a huge, marginalized history in this area,” Tyberg said. “There’s the saying, ‘History is written by the victors,’ and, for most of history, especially in areas like central Pennsylvania, the (LGBT) community hasn’t been the victor.”

So Local

Tyberg believes participating in the project has taught her a lot about the LGBT experience.

While most people are familiar with LGBT identity, she said, each story is unique.

Louie Marven, executive director of the LGBT Center, said he’s happy to watch the project form under the work of volunteers.

“They’re really the ones who have been making this happen,” he said.

What’s unique about the project is that it’s so local, Marven added. Similar things have been done in major cities, he said, but LGBT people are everywhere.

Many people who are just coming out feel they’ll find the most support in big cities, Marven said. But he wants to change that.

“I hope this project can emphasize that people in rural spaces are doing things to support each other,” he said. “Changes are happening in the LGBT community. I’m excited to see where it takes us.”

For more information on the project or to learn how to get involved, visit www.centralpalgbtcenter.org.

Water, Weeds & Wilting: Welcome to high season for plant care.

June 30, 2014 | by Erica Shaffer

Spring fever is winding down, so now what? It’s time for some tips for the summertime gardener.

To water, or not to water? That is the question.

Newly planted trees and shrubs require twice a week watering for a few weeks. A nice soaking once a week into the deep autumn days is usually enough. If we have a long, dry summer, returning to twice-a-week watering may be beneficial. But please remember that over-watering is every bit as bad as under-watering.

Plants respond to water issues the same way—too much or too little will result in wilting. The trickiest part is knowing which plants like wetter soil and which like drier soil. Once you know this, a water meter probe can help gauge soil moisture content for both outdoor and indoor plants.

Also, if your mulch is very deep (over 3 inches is too deep), the water may not even be making it to the root systems. In addition, the mulch “volcanoes” around trunks can cause rot or roots growing up to search, encircling and then strangling the trunk. A mulch ring should look like a low bowl, the mulch only 2-inches deep or less around the trunk of a tree.

Time to Fertilize

Fertilizing your plants can increase vigor and flower power. For annuals and especially hanging baskets, I love Jack’s Blossom Booster. Since annuals only make it one year, fertilizing helps them to be all they can be. For perennials, flowering shrubs and roses, use Espoma’s FlowerTone every six weeks. For evergreen shrubs and trees, HollyTone or PlantTone should be applied. The “Tone” fertilizers are full of slow-releasing, easily applied, granular organic ingredients. Thus, the effect lasts longer—plus soil health is increased. Chemical fertilizers do not help your soil at all and need to be reapplied frequently.

“Dead heading” is not about zombies, but is a term for keeping the faded flowers removed from your plants. While visually tidy, this action also encourages more flowers to grow. Grab a pair of garden scissors and let off some steam.

And how to keep all those weeds away? The number-one way is mulching beds 2 to 3 inches deep (and no volcanoes!). This smothers weed seeds. Hand weeding before seeds are produced is certainly a big plus. Preen is a chemical that can be sprinkled around to suppress seeds that land on top of the mulched beds.

Organically, corn gluten does the same, but needs to be reapplied more frequently. Many people also use the non-selective vegetation killers. Most are chemical concoctions, but some organic choices are emerging. Being non-selective, they will kill anything that is green, not distinguishing between your favorite zinnia and that weed right next to it. If the wind is blowing, the chemical can drift and damage neighboring plants. Wait for a still day and be focused in your action.

Know Thy Enemy

Insect and disease issues can rise up and be simply a nuisance or a full-blown destructive force. Knowing the “enemy” and the name of the plant is imperative to proper treatment. Don’t choose to just “spray something.” Not only is that environmentally irresponsible; most times, it won’t even take care of the issue.

Bring a leaf or the insect to your local experts for proper diagnosis. This saves money and time and gets results. Be aware when using chemicals that advertise their ability to kill lots of different kinds of insects—this also means bees and butterflies! Even hummingbirds sipping nectar can be hurt or killed by the systemic or broad-spectrum chemicals. Beware the chemicals that tout their long-lasting effect. That means they are so heinous that it will be weeks or months until they finally begin to dissipate. Sometimes, the best thing to do when encountering these little spots or holes is…nothing.

Lawn care in the summer couldn’t be easier. Start by raising the mower deck up to 3 inches, and make sure you have a sharp cutting blade. Allowing your grass to grow taller does a few helpful things. Longer grass can photosynthesize (bask in sun for energy) with greater efficiency, making the plant stronger. The resulting height shades the ground, helping to prevent moisture from evaporating as quickly. Longer grass blades equal longer root length, which helps with the drought tolerance of the lawn. And, if all that isn’t enough, leaving your grass a bit longer makes the grass more competitive for holding out against weeds.

Fertilizers should be avoided in July and August, as the lawns don’t need to be forced to grow when we travel through our hot and dry period of the year. Watering early in the morning, deeply fewer times a week, instead of a little every day, is best. The deeper watering will cause the roots to grow deeper. As for weeds, I call ‘em wildflowers… let ‘em be.

Happy Gardening!

Erica Shaffer is a nursery manager with 24 years of experience at Highland Gardens, Camp Hill. She’s also a proud landscape designer, consultant, lecturer, writer, blogger and tree-hugging plant geek. www.highlandgardens.org.

The Select Few: Our wine guy picks his favorite recent quaffs.

June 30, 2014 | by Steve Juliana

A few weeks ago, I attended my first wine tasting of the latest Chairman’s Selections sponsored by Fine Wine and Good Spirits (many thanks to Lauren and Stacy!). In the space of a long day, I got to sample wines that will appear in your local PLCB store.

During the time spent in “tough labor,” I compiled my notes and wish to pass on my impressions to readers of TheBurg. The wines that I selected are the ones that I personally like the most. These will match well with food in this season of outdoor cooking.

One thing about tasting in a group is that it was possible to compare notes with other people. This only confirms that judging wine is highly subjective. It seems that most folks can find common characteristics in a wine, but, to some, other flavors and scents seem to crop up. Also, some people will tell you they just don’t like a particular wine that you do.

I hope you get to enjoy what I consider some of the best wines available in Pennsylvania, many of which are very affordable. My suggestion: Purchase one of each, which will give you a nice case and more.

Keep sipping, Steve.

White Wine:

Beringer Sauvignon Blanc 2012, code 33239, $10.99: Fruity summer sipper for light fare and picnics. Closer to Loire than Marlborough.

Monchiero Carbone Recit Roero Arneis 2013, code 33229, $13.99: Unique summertime wine from one of Italy’s oldest white grapes. Doesn’t age well, so drink up.

Evening Land Pouilly-Fuissé 2011, code 33286, $17.99: Very nice quaff with real French character. Good fruity, minerally Chardonnay without tasting over-oaked.

Red Wine:

Roth Estate Pinot Noir 2011, code 33255, $17.99: A light and easy drinking example of what to expect from California.

Bodegas La Magdalena Sueño Tempranillo 2011, code 33233, $12.99: Rich and dark from Spain, headed to your barbeque.

Bonny Doon Contra 2012, code 33245, $9.99: Randall Graham’s version of a French red made from California grapes. A West Coast Cotes du Rhone.

Sebastiani Merlot 2010, code 33258, $10.99: Smooth round blend, mostly Merlot for cookouts. Nice wine that shows this grape is back.

Vignerons De Caractère Domaine de la Pertiane Vacqueyras 2012, code 33250, $19.99: A 50/50 blend of Syrah/Grenache that is delicious now and will only get better.

Finca Don Leta Reserva Malbec 2013, code 33266, $10.99: Soft, fruity Malbec that is a good match for grilled meats. Not overly oaky.

Château De Belcier Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux 2011, code 33237, $15.99: An excellent example of an entry-level Bordeaux from the third good vintage in a row.

Bodegas Heredad de Aduna Reserva Rioja 2008, code 33234, $15.99: A 100-percent Tempranillo with five years of bottle age. Rich fruit with a long finish.

Villa Cafaggio Cortaccio 2006, code 33238, $29.99: It seems pricey at first glance, but this wine is aged and shows a unique side to a classic Cabernet Sauvignon.

Conti Sertoli Salis Valtellina Superiore Grumello 2009, code 33244, $12.99: Unique funky red that is mostly Nebbiolo with others blended. For Italian dishes.

Contino Gran Reserva Rioja 2007, code 33236, $29.99: A classic wine, blended and well aged. Smooth and elegant Spanish red. The bottling is a PA-only exclusive.

A Better City: We all share responsibility in building community.

June 30, 2014 | by Michael A. Young

PinnacleHealth System has enjoyed being a part of Harrisburg for more than 140 years. What makes our city so wonderful is that, through good times and bad, individuals and organizations have stepped up to give back to the communities they call home.

A story in TheBurg epitomizes this spirit—a spirit where one person encounters a challenge and seeks a solution (“Let There Be Lights,” June 2014, p. 19).

After falling along a poorly lit section of Front Street, Stacia Zewe decided to do something about it. She didn’t have to, but, in that moment, she wanted to make a difference. Working with Historic Harrisburg Association and Lighten Up Harrisburg, she helped organize a 5K run to raise money to restore some of the streetlights along Front Street. More than 600 participants wore something that glows—like a glow stick—and ran off into the dusk to help illuminate the city they love.

This effort won’t fix all the lights in the city or even all the lights on Front Street, but it will raise awareness of a problem that affects more than one individual. And little by little, working together, we can build consensus and momentum to truly address the problem.

Stacia is a model for us all. Whether we work or live here in the Burg, we share in its services, amenities, culture, dining, arts and sports. We share in the life of the city. This means we also share a responsibility to help make the city a better place.

How can we do that? We may consider ourselves “ordinary,” but ordinary people partnering for a positive change can elicit extraordinary results. We may look around our cities, homes and neighborhoods and feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do. We may want to throw our hands up and say, “What could I possibly do to make a difference?”

You can find that answer in several ways. First, figure out what affects you and your family on a day-to-day basis. Are transportation issues a problem? Do you pass city blight on your way to work? Are you or someone you know suffering from a disease? Do you share a passion for abused or homeless animals? Do you want to help children?

Tap into your passion, and your calling will become clear. Then you’ll know where you would best serve your community and your personal needs. The next step is to begin reaching out to others. It all begins with a question or a conversation. When you find those who share your passion, you’ll be surprised just how quickly the wheels are put into motion.

This philosophy has been at the heart of PinnacleHealth’s mission. We are always reaching out into the community, talking to people, listening and sharing. Many great ideas have resulted from that approach. Harrisburg has been very good to us, and we are proud to support many programs that give back to the city and its residents.

It feels great to be part of such a dynamic and caring community. Together, we are able to support the well-being of our residents in every aspect: medically, socially, spiritually.

Everyone wants to feel as if they belong. And you’ll find no better way to build a stronger connection to your community than by giving back. Get out and talk to your neighbor, local grocer, physician or faith provider about your community. It’s been said before, but “change begins with you.”

I am very fortunate in my job. Every day, I see how giving back to others fuels a greater sense of self, a greater sense of empowerment and a greater sense of hope. I hope you consider joining everyone at PinnacleHealth and giving back to the city.

Michael A. Young is president and CEO of PinnacleHealth System, one of TheBurg’s Community Publishers.

Patience and Time: The reconstruction of Harrisburg will need long-term vision, effort.

June 30, 2014 | by Tara Leo Auchey

It’s been six months since the city of Harrisburg has officially been in recovery. Six months since the deal was signed, the Harrisburg Strong Plan enacted, and the city considered out of its “fiscal crisis.”

In that same time, a new mayor took office.

Eric Papenfuse rode in on a wave of great ambition, which largely reflected a public push for change. Fueled, too, by the state’s expectations, Papenfuse exhibited a determination to lead the city to glory.

When he was elected in November, Papenfuse said he and his team intended to “make Harrisburg a model for the whole country.” He spoke of taking the city “out of its current state of despair and into a new era of pride and prosperity.”

Everyone—the mayor included—wanted to see much get done fast.

After four years of the Thompson administration, three years of state oversight, and a year of listening to the negotiations of the crisis, people want to see the immediate benefits of the so-called “recovery” of Pennsylvania’s capital city.

However, the state would have been better to call the recovery plan the reconstruction plan, because that’s really what we’re in.

We’re in a period of rebuilding—not just physically but politically, mentally and emotionally.

We’re a citizenry re-establishing a relationship with our elected leaders—and they with us. The people of Harrisburg—the region not just the city—are trying to figure out if they are proud or ashamed of this place.

There are members of the public declaring enough isn’t enough and that the foundation is weak. Then there are those who are trying to cope and have hope that things will indeed improve.

This juxtaposition of attitude and stance is typical in a period of reconstruction. During these times, people have great expectations and great impatience for change of condition and society.

In Harrisburg, the air of expectation and impatience is palpable. I hear often the lament of when. When will this happen? When will that occur? When will this get done? Residents, commuters and observers from outside continually inquire.

Of course, we all have lists of wants. Undoubtedly, the public’s list of desires is similar to the mayor’s. One and all want Harrisburg to be better, and, with a glance around, we could see that meant fixing streetlights, maintaining roads and improving basic services like trash collection, codes enforcement and policing.

Of course, there also are the differences in the lists—different priorities, different approaches, different perspectives, different ideals and different visions.

Since January, the city’s communications director has sent out scores of press releases announcing various initiatives like the Broad Street Market Task Force, City Hall Beautiful, Adopt-a-Park, a program to reduce gun violence, an agreement with the fire union, the Housing Court, a lighting repair program, a “Word in the Burg” television program and a summertime campaign.

Papenfuse has revamped the budget, debated City Council about a variety of things, including new positions and a hiring freeze, and denounced the school district’s recovery officer.

That’s a lot. Maybe too much. Perhaps not enough at all.

The fact of the matter—and something for the public and the Papenfuse administration alike to remember—is that the city’s government doesn’t have the wherewithal to accomplish certain tasks, especially in this first year.

Harrisburg is still short-staffed and broke, and everything that needs to get done comes with paperwork, processes and procedures, some of which must be designed along the way.

Rushed notions of accomplishment can mess up the renewal and poison the vital optimism necessary in times like these. And, while enthusiasm naturally wanes every day people don’t see the improvements they want, it can be re-sparked again with the opportunity of long-term sustainability.

It’s impossible to eliminate anger, frustration and annoyance at the pace of reconstruction.

Fortunately, those feelings can serve as motivators for movement. They can also destroy the delicate sense of potential that envelopes a city attempting to reconstruct itself.

At this point in the year, we would all do well to reconsider our expectations and recheck our lists of priorities. This is a good time to revamp our ideas of what progress is and think about the long haul. Objectives like pride and prosperity will surely take longer than one administration’s tenure to establish. It will take more than a generation of people to sustain. It will take patience and time.

After all, ultimately, the point is not only to recover but to rebuild Harrisburg.

Got a Cause, Take a Jog: Forget about parties, balls and walks; the 5K has become the go-to fundraiser.

June 30, 2014 | by M. Diane McCormick

After the friends of Jersey Mike Van Jura recovered from the shock of his sudden death, they vowed to raise money to support his children. They asked themselves, “What would he have hated?”

“Let’s do something athletic,” they said. “Let’s have a race.” And so, says Jason Bowser, the friends of Jersey Mike joined the 5K culture.

Once the weather warms up, an organization in our area is holding a 5K every weekend—and on some weeknights—often on the Harrisburg waterfront. The old walk-a-thon has strapped on a pair of running shoes, complete with timing tag, and is going for a 3.1-mile sprint.

Dress for Success South Central Pennsylvania added a timed run this year to its annual Power Walk in Hershey because supporters claimed that “walks are so 1980” and wanted more excitement, says Executive Director Ruth Koup.

“They shame you into doing this,” jokes Koup. “It’s like, ‘Oh, you’re walking.’”

Several trends converged to make 5Ks commonplace. First, nonprofits are diversifying their revenue sources.

“Rather than do a gala, they might do a run,” says Anne Gingerich, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. “The things that aren’t working, many nonprofits are looking to put those down and try new things.”

They’re also reaching out to younger supporters, although 5Ks easily attract older runners, too.

“It’s definitely a younger demographic,” says Stacia Zewe, an organizer of last month’s Glow Run for Lighten Up Harrisburg and Historic Harrisburg Association. “We need to broaden that base.”

The Norm

A 5K attracts large crowds and can be customized to any cause, such as the evening Glow Run, which spotlighted the campaign to repair city streetlights. They also dovetail with our growing health consciousness.

“Running or jogging has become a norm, where 5Ks and half-marathons end up becoming something that everybody can do, everybody can work towards,” says Mike Spooner, assistant manager of the running store Inside Track, Swatara Township. “It works great for charity X, so maybe it’ll work great for charity Y.”

Although “the first mile sucks no matter how far you run,” the 5K distance is comprehensible to the layperson, Bowser says.

“You’re not committing to a half-marathon,” he says. “You can wrap your head around it and say it’s gonna be hard, but I can do that.”

Harvest Health, a Carlisle-based, health-focused organizer of walks and runs, tries to keep races welcoming for cause supporters who “won’t come out of the house because they are intimidated by the runners,” says President and Founder Michelle Grochalski.

“Yes, we have walkers,” she says. “Yes, we have runners, and yes, we have in-betweeners.”

From Runners to Dregs

Many 5Ks are basically big costume parties, interrupted by a jog around blocked-off streets. Like some newer runs, the Glow Run concluded with socializing and drinks, as did the Jersey Mike run.

“They (Sawyer’s Cantina) graciously partnered with us just to keep that sense of community and fun going,” says Zewe, of the Glow Run after-party. “It’s not just run and go home.”

The Jersey Mike event’s rock ‘n roll theme honors the man who reinvigorated Harrisburg’s music scene. When the first run in 2013 wildly exceeded expectations by attracting 450 runners, organizers felt overwhelmed until “an army of volunteers” took over, Bowser says.

“They saw how community gets together, that they can have nice things,” he said. “A 5K invites everyone from the professional runners to the dregs that never get out of bed.”

Dress for Success increasingly heard people say they’d come to its walk, but they were runners, Koup said. So, she contracted with an organization to time the runners and, with the greater participation, had to add “accommodations.”

“Now that we have runners, all of a sudden we have to get port-a-potties,” says Koup.

Signing up for a 5K motivates participants to stay in shape, organizers agree.

“It’s healthy. It’s good for your heart. It’s great for your mind,” says Bowser. “I want other people to know about this because I don’t want to lose any more friends.”

“You start training for your first Color Run, and hopefully, you think, ‘I really like feeling in good shape,’” says the Inside Track’s Spooner.

Says Grochalski, “Just get out and walk. Take the first step. It’s amazing where your feet will take you.”

In the turnout and the army of volunteers for the first two Rock + Runs, Bowser saw growing financial support for Jersey Mike’s children—Kaiya, 11, and Lennon, 2—and a message, as well.

“Life sometimes deals you a crap hand, but you gotta make the best of it, and you’ve gotta stay positive, and you’ve gotta find the good in everything,” he says. “Yeah, you lost your dad, but here’s a whole community that is gonna show you what a cool guy he was.”

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