Restoration on the River: Life returns to the Moffitt Mansion.

March 31, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

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Last month, the employees of WebpageFX moved into the fully renovated Moffitt Mansion at 1703-05 N. Front Street in Harrisburg.

The re-location of the company from Carlisle marked not only a significant development for the city, but a major milestone in the history of the dressed blue limestone mansion, which long ago was divided into a warren of small offices, then fell into disrepair. For many years, it even served as the home of the former Midtown magisterial justice’s office.

WCI Partners, Urban Interiors and Trinity Construction now have brought the mansion back to life, restoring and opening it up to serve the needs of WebpageFX, an Internet/Web design firm. Last July, we featured a series of photos showing the mansion before the renovation. We now present the “after” photos, so readers can see the potential for Harrisburg’s historic buildings, increasingly restructured for modern use and given new purpose and new life.

In addition to these images of the completed renovation, please check out the “before” shots of the mansion and additional history on the building from our July issue.

A Venezuela Victual: When the owner of Arepa City moved to Harrisburg, he brought his native food with him.

March 31, 2014 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Those who know Daniel Farias describe him as a “people person,” an important trait for someone who works long hours serving the public.

And those who visit his downtown Harrisburg restaurant, Arepa City, look forward both to chatting with the ever-present, typically smiling businessman and dining on his delicious cuisine, which is based upon the Venezuelan staple known as an arepa.

“He really cares about his customers and wants everyone to have an enjoyable experience,” said Camp Hill resident Allen Gordon, who considers himself a regular and has been frequenting the establishment since it opened.

Gordon and his wife even took friends who were visiting from Venezuela to the restaurant, and they gave the food rave reviews.

Farias began his career in the hospitality industry working on a cruise line after leaving his native country.

“I started out as a busboy; it was the only position they were able to give me,” he said, explaining that he knew little English at the time. “I then decided that I wanted to grow and made up my mind to master the language in order to open up better opportunities.”

Farias turned out to be a quick and astute learner, and, before long, he was promoted to assistant manager.

While working on the cruise ship, Farias met his wife Mildred, who was living in Boston. So, he decided to move there and began working in a hotel. His career eventually took him to Florida, and then Hershey Entertainment came knocking, so he moved Mildred and his twin daughters Diliana and Daniela to the central Pennsylvania area, where he became banquet director at the Hershey Lodge.

Farias, though, dreamed of working for himself, so was always on alert for the opportunity. When he heard that a small, turnkey establishment was for sale on N. 2nd Street in Harrisburg, he decided to investigate.

“Turns out the owner wanted out, and I wanted in, so it was mutually beneficial,” he said.

For Farias, who studied at culinary school back in Venezuela and spent his career in hospitality, making the decision to open a restaurant was a no-brainer. Choosing what to serve was an equally easy decision.

“I decided to stick with what I know best, which is my cuisine,” he said. “In Venezuela, I grew up eating arepas almost every day and wanted to offer the public authentic Venezuelan cuisine. If you go to my country tomorrow and ask for an arepa, you will get the same thing.”

Arepas are a sandwich, a bit like a pita, with the dough made from corn meal, salt, sugar and water, said Farias. Customers can choose from a variety of fillings, including pork, lamb, chicken, chorizo, beans, flank steak—whatever strikes their fancy.

“Since it’s a bread, anything goes with it,” he said. “Only a few people have asked me to customize them according to what they want, but I want people to feel free to do that, too.”

Patrons also can order other Venezuelan specialties like pernil asado, which is slow-roasted pork leg, cassava sticks and spicy cabbage, and patacones—green plantain open sandwiches that are offered with a selection of toppings from shredded flank steak to chicken to avocado salad.

Ana Yost lives in Etters and makes the trip to the restaurant often.

“My daughters and I love it there,” she said. “He puts his special touch on every dish. Everything is fresh, and he comes out and talks to people, too.”

For Farias, the future looks bright, as he plans to continue pleasing his patrons for years to come.

“I’m very positive about Harrisburg and the renewed focus on business in the area,” he said. “I know that this restaurant is unique in many ways. There is no restaurant around here similar to this. Philly is the closest, and they say this is better.”

Then, with a laugh, he adds, “Who knows?”

Arepa City is located at 316 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.arepacity.com or call 717-233-3332.

Battling Bias: Community Responders Network offers support for victims of discrimination.

March 31, 2014 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

It hasn’t been easy for American Muslims since 9/11.

Samia Malik, a central Pennsylvania community activist, is aware of the looks of fear that people give her, of the doors closed in her face and incidents that affected her kids when they were in college.

But things came to a head in 2008. Before the presidential election, millions of free copies of a DVD called “Obsession” were mailed to people. The film “claimed that all Muslims are against America and the west,” Malik said.

Shortly afterward, a chemical irritant was sprayed inside a Dayton, Ohio, mosque, afflicting children whose parents were praying nearby. Then someone set a fire outside the Malik house, though the family wasn’t sure this was connected.

Malik turned to other activists she knew, among them Margee Koistra and the Rev. Sandy Strauss—both serving on the peacemaking committee of Market Square Presbyterian Church.

They agreed that something needed to be done, and the Community Responders Network was born.

The non-profit organization is comprised of a coalition of local leaders and concerned citizens seeking to build a stronger, more inclusive community in central Pennsylvania by educating people about, preventing and responding to instances of bias and intolerance based on such personal characteristics as religion, race, gender, age or sexual orientation.

The network provides support, information and referral to services to the victims of a hate crime or incident of bias. It also aims to serve as a “moral voice,” reinforcing the message that intolerance is not acceptable.

Members of the Community Responders Network represent a variety of faith communities, non-profit organizations, state and county governments, as well as YWCAs. Its administrative home is at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, where its volunteer members meet about once a month.

The network has been busy. One incident under investigation concerns a middle-aged African-American woman who was stopped by a police officer because the windows of her car were tinted, which is illegal in Pennsylvania. She explained her unfamiliarity with the law, and the officer seemed satisfied.

But then two other officers from another municipality, in an unmarked car, stopped by.

“It was an exacerbation of the situation already resolved by the first officer,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous. “I felt it was overkill and filed a complaint. It was very intimidating. I felt it was racial profiling.”

There is also the case of a midget football game in which a primarily white team shouted racial slurs at a primarily African-American one. The Community Responders Network is helping to provide guidelines for behavior for players, coaches, officials, cheerleaders and fans.

“We’re working with the league to beef up policies and procedures,” said Amanda Arbour, racial justice development specialist at the YWCA and liaison to the network. “We felt the incident had not been adequately addressed.”

A classic situation involving bias is when a family of a different race, religion or ethnicity than the majority moves into a neighborhood. Suddenly, there is hate graffiti or slashed tires, explained Ann Van Dyke, a long-time executive of the state Human Relations Commission who now volunteers for the network.

“Law enforcement may do what it can, but the family is often left shaking in its boots, and it’s often hard to prove who did these things,” Van Dyke said. “Moreover, many incidents go unreported.”

Van Dyke helped the network compose a manual subtitled, “A Guide to Engaging the Community in Prevention and Response to Intolerance, “ which was updated in July.

The manual includes a “flow chart” of procedures of how community organizations and citizens can respond to hate and bias incidents, said Arbour.

In addition to its coordinating committee, the network has a rapid response team to help community members who feel they have been targeted, as well as a prevention and education team, which strives to address the root causes of intolerance.

The network will be working with local school districts since intolerance “starts at a young age,” said Koistra, chair of the coordinating committee.

“We’re a citizens group,” she added. “The Human Relations Commission follows through, but not all incidents come to their attention. We needed a way for ordinary citizens to work together in a supportive way. “

The network does inform the Human Relations Commission and, if appropriate, the local police—which both track trends of hate crimes and incidents. “We try not to step on toes but to be collaborative,” said Koistra.

Carl Choper, chair of the Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania and rabbi at the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, has been involved with the network from the beginning.

“It offered a way to have a united response when hate incidents happen,” he said.

Some of the tension that develops in communities between perceived “insiders and outsiders” is “beyond our control, but the silence of people about the incidents is not beyond our control,” Choper said. “We have to speak out early and make the community inhospitable to hate.”

Part of the Community Responders Network’s mission is to make itself and its work better known. The organization recently enhanced its website and is using social media more. It’s trying to increase the involvement of faith groups, as well as LGBT and minority communities.

The network hopes the number of victims who are willing to report incidents will increase. To assist that effort, it held two informational events last spring for the community, which attracted more than 50 people. Similar events may be held again this year.

Most people who feel they have been targeted come to the Community Responders Network through word of mouth or because they personally know a network volunteer. But community members also can reach the network through the CONTACT Helpline, 717-652-4400, which will refer them to an individual on call from the network.

For more information, visit www.communityrespondersnetwork.org. The YWCA of Greater Harrisburg is located at 1101 Market St., Harrisburg, 717-234-7931.

News & Brews: Sure, Harrisburg is just emerging from an historic financial catastrophe, but, hey, where’s the beer?

March 31, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

A lot of reporters go into journalism because (believe it or not) they love government. Or, at least, they think it’s important, which, in fact, it is.

Public policy affects our lives in so many ways, and most college journalism majors can’t wait to get out there to cover their first City Council meeting or mayoral press conference or legislative hearing (even if they later end up working for a trade magazine or in communications or as someone’s shill, which, these days, is more likely than not).

I was like that, too. As a kid, I was a voracious reader and, following graduate school, spent several years in the trenches of local newspapers before becoming a freelance technology writer. I later circled back to real journalism when I co-founded TheBurg.

I found it refreshing to cover stories again that actually mattered to people—taxes, schools, sanitation. That said: I quickly realized that covering Harrisburg was the journalism equivalent of a middle-aged man deciding to take up skiing again with a first run down the perilous “Harikiri” slope in Austria.

I spent endless hours, so many late nights, covering fights over budgets; fights over the financial crisis; fights over bankruptcy; fights over the Harrisburg Authority. In my mind, it was important that our readers had our perspective of some of the most significant events in the history of this city.

Silly me. You want to know what really interests our readers? Beer. Hey, at least, it’s good beer!

Last year, we re-designed and upgraded TheBurg’s website, which, among other things, allowed us to track which stories were the most popular online. Since then, the most-read and most-shared story, by far, has been a news article that I wrote in January about Alter Ego Brewing Co. planning to build a brewhouse in Midtown Harrisburg.

It wasn’t even close.

As of this writing, that story had more than 3,400 views and nearly 1,500 Facebook shares. In second place: a photo feature on the renovation of the Moffitt Mansion for WebpageFX (the company moved into Harrisburg and into the building last month), followed by stories on our November cover, a Whitaker Center exhibit, the Mary K properties and the purchase of the First Church of God by Gamut Theatre Group.

Now, at TheBurg, we do journalism the old-fashioned way. We don’t measure our success by clicks or by the apparent online popularity of content. In other words, we’re not in it for the eyeballs.

Therefore, I don’t really care which story ranks first in page views. It’s not going to change our news judgment, nor make any difference to our bottom line. Besides, most readers still cherish our print product above all, and, indeed, we believe it’s vital for us to have a strong physical presence in the community we serve.

Nonetheless, as a close follower of all things Harrisburg, I find the relative popularity of our stories fascinating, even if forced to use the deeply flawed measure of page views and Facebook shares.

So, Harrisburg, you care a lot about beer, culture and development issues. You also like to read about dogs, restaurants and small business. Interestingly, the two bread-and-butter issues of local reporting—politics and government—rank lower in the order.

I guess that doesn’t surprise me. As I’ve said time and again, TheBurg tries to reflect the totality of life here. We often report and comment on government matters, but also know that, unlike most young journalists, politics and policy aren’t everyone’s obsessions.

In the end, I do find one common thread among our most-read online content. These stories tend to be hyper-local—both news and features—that have a big impact on our small community and that are hard (if not impossible) to find elsewhere. And we definitely plan to bring you more of those.

Community Corner: Notable Events in April

March 31, 2014 | by TheBurg Staff

Leads Over Lunch

April 1: The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC will hold its free monthly lunchtime networking event, with a chance to mix and mingle with the regional business community. Event is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hershey Center for Applied Research, 1214 Research Blvd., Hummelstown. Registration is required. For more information, visit www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org/events.

Embracing the Future

April 2: Luann Zinsmeister will give a talk on nursing informatics at Messiah College, in the Alexander Auditorium in the Frey Hall Academic Building, Mechanicsburg. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.messiah.edu.

Journey to the West

April 3-6, 10-13: Mary Zimmerman’s play “Journey to the West” will be performed at Messiah College. The production is suitable for all ages. Cost of admission is $10. Student and senior tickets are $7. For more information, visit www.messiah.edu/theatretickets.

Mini Mountain Laurel Concert Series

April 4, 5: The four-piece band Mountain Fling will hold two performances in our area. The first concert will be at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 120 Main St., Lewistown, on April 4, and the second will be held at Highland United Presbyterian Church, 11 Church Rd., Newport, on April 5. Both shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 717-567-66406 or 717-567-9469.

Youth Workers Conference

April 5: A one-day Youth Ministry conference will be held at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. Featuring keynote speaker Duffy Robbins, the session will last from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.messiah.edu/ywc.

Camera Club

April 5: Drop in for the 4^th Annual Light & Creativity Workshop, open to anyone who would like to expand his or her photography knowledge. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Penn College Conference Center, 600 Valley Rd. Summerdale. Registration is $60 for Harrisburg Camera Club Members and $70 for non-members. For more information, visit www.harrisburgcameraclub.org.

Sunday Arts Hour

April 6: Join the Perry County Council of the Arts for an educational and entertaining program about opera composer, Richard Wagner. There will be a short recital in addition to the historical presentation and an opportunity to tour the current exhibit. The event will be held at the Landis House, 67 N. Fourth St. at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.perrycountyarts.org.

“The Wizard of Oz”

April 6: Authors Jay Scarfone and William Stillman will discuss the beloved film “The Wizard of Oz” based on the research for their book, “The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75^th Anniversary Companion.” New and rare information on the film will be the focus of the event, which will take place at the Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St. A $10 donation is requested at the door. For more information, visit www.artassocofhbg.com.

Taste of the Chamber

April 9: Local banquet facilities, caterers and restaurants will offer samples of their finest dishes at Sun Motor Cars Porsche/Audi, 6691 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. The event is open to the public, and tickets are $25 per person. For more information, visit www.wschamber.org.

Egg Hunt

April 12: Easter bunny visits will be held at the Antique Auto Museum of Hershey, 161 Museum Dr., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by several egg hunts for various age groups up to 10 years old. Hot dogs and popcorn will be served. For more information, visit www.aacamuseumm.org.

Harrisburg Cemetery Walk

April 12: See spring bloom in a beautiful setting at Harrisburg Cemetery, 521 N. 13th St. The 1-4 p.m. event is self-guided, but members of Penn State Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. Light refreshments will be available. Rain date is April 13. For more information, call 717-635-8949.

Dauphin County Egg Hunt

April 13: Bring the kiddies to the annual egg hunt on the grounds of Fort Hunter Park. The event runs 2-5 p.m. and features face painting, pony rides and other activities, in addition to the hunt, which is staggered for various age groups up to 9 years old. Learn more at https://forthunter.org.

Fashion for Awareness

April 13: Local fashion label, Artemisia, will be showcased for a good cause at the Holiday Inn Grand Ballroom in Grantville. Before the show, there will be makeup and skin care demonstrations by Artistry. The event also will feature a cash bar, silent, auction, raffle and special guests. The event begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit www.artemisiafashionforawareness.myevent.com.

Second Sunday at the Mansion

April 13: A presentation, “Andrew Curtin, Civil War Governor,” will be held by Civil War re-enactor David Klinepeter at the Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St. Tours of the mansion begin at 1 p.m. Admission is free for members of the Historical Society of Dauphin County and by donation for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.dauphincountyhistory.org.

“Twenty Feet From Stardom”

April 15: This Oscar award-winning film tells the story of the backup singers of some of the greatest musicians of the last century. There will be two showings at the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a discussion following the final showing. This film is rated PG-13. For more information, visit www.fredricksenlibrary.org.

Meet Your Elected Officials

April 17: The opportunity to talk to local, county and state legislators will held at Capital BlueCross, 2500 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The event is open to anyone who would like to attend and will be from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org/events.

Spring Warblers

April 17: Learn 10 different techniques to help identify warblers this spring. Presenter Terry Neumyer will provide photographs and songs of the warblers. The program will be held in the Christ Presbyterian Church in Camp Hill. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.appalachianaudubon.org.

Jersey Mike Rock + Run 5K

April 19: Celebrate the life of Jersey Mike Van Jura and run for a good cause at the Jersey Mike Rock + Run 5K. The 5-kilometer race begins at noon on City Island, Harrisburg, and benefits children who have tragically lost a parent. There is also a one-mile fun run for kids. An after-party follows at Ceolta’s Irish Bar on N. 2^nd St. Pre-register or register on the day of the race starting at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.jerseymikerun.com.

Changing 401(k) Landscape

April 22: The West Shore Chamber of Commerce will present an event on 401(k) plans, focused on recent changes to the rules and laws of these employer-sponsored retirement plans. The event will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Cost of admission is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. For more information, visit www.wschamber.org.

First-Time Home Buyers

April 26: Learn about the home-buying process from a panel of local experts, who will explain the basics of home insurance, pre-qualification, financial preparation and more. The course will be held at the Charlie “T” Jones Conference Center in Mechanicsburg from 9 to 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.wschamber.org.

Race Against Racism

April 26: The YWCA Greater Harrisburg will hold its 10th annual Race Against Racism, a 5K to promote awareness of the issue of racial injustice and to raise funds for the organization’s racial justice programs. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. on City Island in Harrisburg with a kid’s fun run at 9 a.m. A Humanity Fest will coincide with the race. Pre-register online at www.ywcahbg.org/events.

Hershey Handbell Ensemble

April 26: The Hershey Handbell Ensemble will present a concert, “A Celebration of Our Ten Years,” featuring Malmark handbells, hand chimes and other instruments. The concert will take place at the Grace United Methodist Church of Christ, 1947 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, beginning at 7 p.m. A donation of $10 is suggested. For more information, visit www.hersheyhandbellensemble.org.

Little Miss Tea Party

April 26: Penbrook Community Center will hold a tea party complete with food, prizes, entertainment and more. Dress clothing is required. Admission for those ages 0 to 17 is $10 and $15 for anyone over the age of 18. For more information, call 717-503-2242 or email [email protected].

Broadway Comes to York

April 27: A theater workshop will be held in the York JCC building by Geoffrey Goldberg, Broadway performer, for kids ages 7 to 16. All skill levels are welcome at this workshop, and participants should expect the opportunity to perform mock auditions and receive feedback. For more information, visit www.aclassactny.com.

Downton Abbey Tea

April 27: View the costumes from the hit show “Downton Abbey” at the Fort Hunter Mansion and Park in Harrisburg. There will be an educational talk of the era and the characters featured on the show. An afternoon tea will take place, in addition to the preview tour of the exhibit. For more information, visit www.forthunter.org.

Fight for Air Climb

April 27: Climb the 2,000 stairs of Hersheypark Stadium, 100 Hershey Park Dr., during the Fifth Annual Fight for Air Climb. Participants may climb individually or with a group. Registration is $25 and will begin at 11:30 a.m. The climb begins at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.lunginfo.org/stadiumclimb.

“The Rocket”

April 29: Come to the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill to see this award-winning film of a boy living in a war torn land, attempting to make a new life and home for himself. There will be two showings, at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. The final showing will feature an open discussion after the film. The film is not recommended for children under 17 without an adult. For more information, visit www.fredricksenlibrary.org.

Hop Haven: It’s a craft beer bonanza at Brewhouse Grille.

March 31, 2014 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

As a craft beer drinker (read: beer snob), the first thing I do when I belly up to a bar is check out the tap handles. I can ignore an absence of ambiance, a lackluster menu or poor song selection coming from the sound system. I cannot ignore a poor beer selection.

I’ve been to the Camp Hill’s Brewhouse Grille before, so I wasn’t worried about its draft menu, and I have always enjoyed the food and friendly atmosphere. But old habits die hard, so when I arrive to meet with one of the co-owners of the restaurant, Larry Dolan, my eyes immediately track to the tap system.

Just as I suspected, a wide variety of critically acclaimed craft brews are on display, including one of my favorites, Resin, an imperial India pale ale by Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Brewery. As I complete my inspection, Dolan emerges from the dining room and invites me to join him at a table in the back where we can have a quieter conversation.

The Brewhouse Cometh

Brewhouse Grille is not a new establishment, so we discuss origins first.

“Co-founder Norm Fromm and I opened the Brewhouse in 2005,” says Dolan. “We were craft beer enthusiasts, and there weren’t many bars serving these types of beers, so we wanted a place that had good food and good craft beer.”

The Brewhouse opened with a 12-tap system. It’s now expanded to 38 taps between two bars, serving 30 separate beers on draft. The owners feature a revolving draft list with an emphasis on seasonals and special, hard-to-find beers, although they make sure to have some “macros” on hand to keep all the customers happy.

“We keep in touch with our wholesalers,” adds Dolan. “We make sure to get in any special releases being offered.”

The Brewhouse features offerings from a number of top-notch craft breweries, such as the previously mentioned Sixpoint, Bell’s Brewery, Lagunitas Brewing Company and Great Lakes Brewing Company.

“We make an effort to highlight local breweries as well,” notes Dolan. “Obviously, we carry Tröegs. But we also have a variety of other local brewers, like Millbock [Linglestown], Springhouse [Lancaster] and Liquid Hero [York].”

But Brewhouse is about more than beer. The owners take their food seriously, too.

“We have our own smoker,” says Dolan. “Our menu features smoked chicken, ribs and pulled pork. And our house dressing includes smoked tomatoes.”

Furthermore, the Brewhouse is not light on atmosphere. Come warmer weather, customers flock to the restaurant, as the second bar can be opened up to let in the air. It also hosts special events, such as an annual breast cancer awareness party, “Brews for Boobies,” held every May. March Madness and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration are also big draws, and the Brewhouse regularly features live music; it was a participating venue in this year’s Millennium Music Conference.

Brewhouse Family

At this point, Larry calls over one of his bartenders, Amy Bentley, who has been working at the Brewhouse for nine years.

“For someone to work here for that long shows you how much this place is like a family,” says Bentley. “It’s been nice to get to know the regulars, to hear their stories and find out what’s going on with them.”

She is clearly on to something. Even though I arrived during the off-hours in the mid-afternoon, friendly patrons chat up the bartenders, who all respond to the customers by name. As we talk, she is quite comfortable sitting with her boss, yet another indication that the Brewhouse is more family than place of employment.

Having gotten a sense of what makes the Brewhouse unique, I take the opportunity to solicit specific food and beer recommendations.

“The Tuscan tuna salad is my favorite,” says Bentley. “The red onions, capers and olives add a wonderful flavor.”

As for beer, her favorite current offering is Great Lakes’ Edmund Fitzgerald, a world-class American porter.

Dolan chimes in, “I prefer the IPAs.”

As a fellow hop-head, I have to go with his recommendation. It’s then that I remember the Sixpoint Resin tap handle I saw on my way in.

Brewhouse Grille is located at 2050 State Rd., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.brewhousegrille.com or call 717-737-0030.

Bit of Change: Harrisburg’s new parking regimen has hit an unexpected snag, but an innovative solution may be at hand.

March 31, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda and Paul Barker

Terry Sweeney stopped coming to downtown Harrisburg last month, even though several of the restaurants on 2^nd Street are among his favorites.

He felt he had no choice. The increased cost of parking was putting a huge dent in his monthly budget.

“I simply can’t afford the parking or the tickets,” said the Mechanicsburg resident. “I’m not sure anyone can.”

Sweeney was more accurate in his assessment than he may have realized.

Parking operator Standard Parking last month said its internal studies revealed that there is not enough dollar-denominated currency in circulation in the greater Harrisburg area to pay for the new parking rates.

So, according to spokesman Rob Porter, it’s begun to retrofit its new meters to accept bitcoins, the digital currency that some regard as a legitimate form of money.

“We took a closer look at our budget for 2014 and realized that, in fact, the citizens of Harrisburg do not actually have sufficient American currency—or really sovereign currency of any kind—to meet our revenue projections,” Porter said. “And one way to close that gap is for residents to tap into the shadowy, unregulated underworld of a Japanese software eccentric’s technological fantasy.”

Software developer Satoshi Nakamoto created bitcoin just five years ago as an alternative to traditional, country-sanctioned forms of money. Bitcoins are not controlled by nations or central banks, but use computers on a network to confirm bitcoin transactions and mint new currency.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that he “warmly welcomes” the prospect of bitcoin-compatible parking meters.

“It’s just so exciting,” he said. “It’s a terrific example of exactly the kind of public/private/shadow economy partnership that I’ve been touting all along. Once again, Harrisburg is on the cutting edge of creative financing.”

Papenfuse then went on to list all the “really neat things” the city would be able to buy when Harrisburg receives its share of bitcoin revenue: sushi from a restaurant in Palo Alto, Calif.; a college degree from the University of Cyprus; black market cigarettes; the ability to wager in online casinos.

Other city officials were taking a more cautious approach to the development.

“The founding fathers and Ronald Reagan didn’t need any bitcoin,” said Councilwoman Sandra Reid. “I say this to un-American bitcoin: Four score and seven years ago!”

Reid added that, following several neighborhood hearings, she would urge the city to reconsider its embrace of the virtual currency. When reminded that the city no longer owns or controls the parking system, she responded, “When did this happen? Why wasn’t I consulted?”

Council President Wanda Williams said she was still studying the issue, but would read an hour-long, prepared statement defending her position once she makes up her mind.

Indeed, bitcoin has become increasingly controversial since it began to be embraced last year, mostly by day traders, tech geeks and people who believe that modern civilization is a fiction whose time of reckoning is at hand.

One problem is the potential that the currency will collapse altogether, a possibility heightened by events like February’s theft of $477 million in bitcoins from Mt. Gox, a virtual currency giant, by online hackers.

If that happens, said spokesman Porter, Standard Parking may have to fall back on its “Plan B”: accepting the city’s physical assets as a form of substitute payment.

“We’ll take anything, really,” Porter said. “Civil war museums, minor league ballparks, state Capitol buildings, parking systems. Oh right, we already got that last one.”

He said, in a pinch, he’d even accept private houses.

“We’d generously lease them back to the old owners,” he said, “as long as their tribute—I mean rent—is paid in bitcoins.”

“Anything except sewer pipes,” he added. “You can keep those.”

The potential downside, however, does not concern former city receiver William Lynch, who said he approves of what he called bitcoin’s “essential characteristic”: the fact that no one really understands what it is or how it works.

“That same characteristic was the key to the whole receivership and the recovery plan,” said Lynch, who then winked, boarded a helicopter and flew away up the Susquehanna.

Upon further reporting, TheBurg has learned that nothing in this story actually happened, was said by the individuals quoted or paraphrased or is otherwise accurate. Happy April Fools, Harrisburg! (with inspirational credit to #ScotchinTheBurg)

Musical Notes: April’s Musical Showers–Lush sounds blossom this month.

March 31, 2014 | by Dan Webster

April storms in with a trio branded “Brooklyn Country,” and Moviate and Matt Hickey are up to all sorts of good, promoting two hyper-experimental bands. Get passionate, get entranced, and don’t miss a drop of this music.

The Lone Bellow/York Capitol Strand/April 3/8 p.m./$24

The Lone Bellow is a trio triumph, featuring the harmonies of singer/writer Zach Williams, guitarist Brian Elmquist and mandolin player Kanene Pipkin. Their self-titled debut album is chock full of songs ablaze with passion and emotion, but very dissimilar to the country rock found in pop radio. “Teach Me to Know” is a harmonic masterpiece utilizing all three voices perfectly—although lyrically repetitive. The songs “Green Heart and a Heart of Gold” and “You Never Need Nobody” are stock favorites that will warm you to this Brooklyn band that is two parts The Lumineers (acoustic rock template), one part non-annoying Gavin Degraw (does that exist?), and a dash of Teitur (lyrically speaking).

Thollem McDonas & Brian Chase/The MakeSpace/April 4/8 p.m./$8 Cover

This is going to be a road trip into Avatar world—spacious, luscious and otherworldly. Thollem McDonas is an avant garde pianist pairing up with the drummer of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Brian Chase. Their album, “Dub Narcotic Session,” explores many a sonic landscape, sometimes shockingly together like freestyle jazz piano on top of punk-style drum playing. I’d say this kind of thing comes around Harrisburg once in a blue moon.

Koen Holtkamp/Little Amps Uptown/April 6/7 p.m./$5 Suggested Donation

Thanks Moviate for this one. Holtkamp, like the above duo, is difficult to define. He layers all manners of sounds—keyboards, wood blocks, rattles, etc.—to create hypnotic, contemplative musical poetry. “Haus Und Spirale Im Regen” is a 15-minute stretch of his more soothing material, while a song like “Walker” is layered with city sounds and ethereal voices, creating a scary dissonance. Grab a coffee and let your mind wander at this one.

Mentionables: The Martini Brothers, HMAC, April 19, starts at 8 p.m.; Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, The Abbey Bar, April 27, starts at 4 p.m.; Prairie Empire & Anthonie Tonnon, The MakeSpace, April 30, starts at 8 p.m.

A Venice Visit: This chicken dish transports you to the land of canals and gondolas.

March 31, 2014 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

When I was growing up, one of my father’s favorite projects every year was preparing for the Harrisburg Art Association’s Bal Masque, an event that continues to this day (and was just held last month).

One year, my father convinced the planning committee to have a Venice theme for the ball. He loved Venice. For weeks, I accompanied him to the old Penn Harris Hotel, where he painted scenery that would rival that of a Broadway musical. He and my mother even commissioned costumes to be made for the ball. They dressed as the Merchant of Venice and Portia. (Haven’t times changed?)

My father beautifully captured the misty hues of Venice in his paintings. One of his favorites, he titled “Going to the Doges,” a watercolor depicting the great palace on Venice’s Grand Canal, home to the doges, the dukes of Venice. So, this lovely Italian city rising from the water has always intrigued me.

Venetian food differs from other regions in northern Italy. Gnocchi and polenta are preferred over pasta. Risotto is a Venetian mainstay, and a rice dish with fresh peas called risi e bisi is cherished in the springtime. There is less emphasis on meat. Fresh fish and fowl dominate the cuisine, prepared simply with ingredients like green olive oil, garlic and parsley.

This month’s recipe is inspired by the light fare of Venice. It is another one of those dog-eared recipes I have saved from a very old cooking magazine. This variation calls for chicken, but, in Venice, it would just as likely be prepared with whole fish.

Baked Chicken Breasts with Scallions and Lime

Pound 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts to an even thickness. Dredge them in flour (Wondra is great and less heavy), and place them on a plate.
In a large, preferably non-stick skillet, melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter. When the butter is bubbling, sauté the chicken breasts until golden, about 4 minutes on a side. But use your judgment, as thicker breasts may take a little longer. When cooked, remove to a clean plate.
Reduce the heat to low and add 2/3 cup minced scallions (green and white parts) and 1 minced, fresh garlic clove. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
Increase the heat to high and add ½ cup dry white wine. Scrape up any browned bits in the skillet and cook until the wine has reduced to half, 2-3 minutes.
Place half the cooked scallion mixture in a heavy, rectangular baking dish that you have buttered (no substitute for real butter here).
Place the browned chicken breasts over the scallion mixture, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with a tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Cover with the remaining scallion sauce.
Sprinkle the chicken with 2 teaspoons of grated lime zest, a tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley, and a tablespoon of dry, fine bread crumbs. Dot with a tablespoon of butter cut into small pieces.
Bake in a pre-heated, 400-degree oven for 15 minutes. Check for doneness. The chicken should still be juicy.
Place the chicken on a platter, perhaps garnished with a little fresh watercress.

This is a wonderful, fresh dish that is great for company. I have served it many times to rave reviews. You could try making it with whole fish as they do in “The Veneto,” if that is something you do (whole fish, that is). Try serving it with white rice or rice with peas, and end your meal with another Venetian favorite, tiramisu. A chilled soave would pair well—it is the white wine of choice in Venice during the warmer months of spring and summer.

I dream of going to Venice someday. I imagine the excitement of Carnevale (the pre-Ash Wednesday celebration), the winding canals, mysterious passageways, St. Mark’s Square and what is described as the ever-changing translucent light.

And, of course, I’d make sure, as my father and mother did, to toast this great city with a bellini at Harry’s Bar.

Context is King: News has the most value when history, perspective are kept in mind.

March 31, 2014 | by J. Alex Hartzler

“It’s not the words, it’s the context of the words.” – Chris Rock

Context. Responsible reporting and analysis provide the reader with the overall circumstances that form the setting for an event or situation, or, in other words, the “context” of the topic at hand. Without context, individual facts are rendered meaningless at best, misleading or deceptive at worst—making true understanding difficult.

The timeframe one uses for analysis is critical to context. Several years ago, I had the honor of attending a luncheon with the Dalai Lama. What I remember most from the Dalai Lama’s engaging lecture was his humility and surprising sense of humor. Throughout his remarks, he emphasized the context of his work in terms of centuries, even millennia. He challenged the audience to think not in terms of days, weeks or even years, but in terms of what our actions mean for the next 100 or even 500 years.

For a humbling mind experiment, take 10 minutes to think about your life in the context of 100 or 500 years, looking back on history and into the future. It is not quite “Cosmos” time, but it is enough to have fun and to contemplate the point.

The Dalai Lama’s comments came to mind again this past month with two news items in the local media. In Harrisburg, increased parking rates have led to vigorous discussion, while the debate about whether or not Harrisburg is “gentrifying” received additional attention. Both discussions, however, suffered from a lack of context.

On the parking front, various news outlets and commentators decried the increased parking rates currently taking effect in downtown Harrisburg. These changes will raise rates for street parking to as high as $3 per hour on certain streets from the current $1.50 and were widely panned.

However, as Paul Barker astutely pointed out in his Burg blog, “The High Cost of (Cheaper) Parking,” higher parking rates can have significant beneficial effects on the overall community. Far from being a detriment to business, higher parking rates can help ensure the availability of short-term street/surface parking for business patrons while encouraging longer term commuters to use lower rates in underused garages. If commuters choose either to carpool or use alternatives, such as public transportation, biking or even old-fashioned walking to get to their destination, numerous potential societal benefits may stem from decreased car traffic. If we want a livable, vibrant city in future decades, paying a bit more to park now might be a good idea after all.

The local gentrification debate suffered from an even greater lack of context. A recent article wondered if Harrisburg is “gentrifying” and asked people their opinion. As a long-term resident (since 1995) and real estate developer (since about 1998), I have a vested interest in this debate. Whatever one thinks of gentrification on a national level, the local debate requires context in order to be understood.

The first and most important missing contextual point is population. In the 1950s, Harrisburg’s population peaked at around 100,000 residents and fell to a low of slightly less than 50,000 at the turn of the century, while the surrounding suburban community grew its population and economy. Since 2000, Harrisburg has had a net increase of about 700 people, the first increase in half a century.

Now, let’s generously assume that the current trend continues, and Harrisburg is able to add 100 new residents a year indefinitely into the future. At that rate, it would take about 500 years just to bring the population back to where it was 50 years ago. At least in this century, it is clear that there is plenty of room for everyone who wants to call Harrisburg home, regardless of your personal situation.

Our company, WCI Partners, has renovated about 100 homes in Olde Uptown Harrisburg since 2005, including 18 new homes that were built on vacant city lots (two of the lots required demolition of an existing structure). Most renovated homes were purchased from out-of-town owners. Other leading companies, such as Brickbox, GreenWorks and Vartan, have converted old offices buildings to residential living, restored long-vacant buildings or, in rare instances, built new on vacant land. No one was displaced or forced to leave.

As a result of these activities, there are increased city revenues, new businesses and jobs, decreased crime, improved streetlights and sidewalks and a host of other benefits to new and prior residents in the city. That said: the area where WCI works only occupies about nine square blocks. Out of about 12 square miles of land in the city (even assuming one-half is not residential use), this means that we have impacted less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the land area and less than one-half of 1 percent of all residential dwellings. In other words, the recent debate often missed the point of context and scale.

Even when added with that of other developers and individual homeowners, it is simply not at the scale required to dramatically impact the city population as a whole or, conversely, deprive anyone of a place to live. Thus any argument—ironically often from nonresident, elitist/privileged voices—about a “dark side” to development or “invasion” of the neighborhood is mere silliness, outdone only by its meaninglessness to any rational debate.

Harrisburg continues to make small, but positive strides toward returning to its past vibrancy, and we can look forward to one day again being a leading capital city. Increased parking rates and small sprouts of development are but two of the many signs of good things to come for all residents and would-be residents. With any luck, Harrisburg’s resurgence will come well within the Dalai Lama’s time horizon and be embraced with contextual understanding.

J. Alex Hartzler is publisher of TheBurg.

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For more information, visit www.communityrespondersnetwork.org. The YWCA of Greater Harrisburg is located at 1101 Market St., Harrisburg, 717-234-7931.

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