Theater of the Roses: Triple your pleasure with a short drive to York, Lancaster.

November 28, 2013 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

York may be best known for York Barbell and Harley Davidson, and Lancaster County is the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. But midstate theater-lovers know these nearby cities are home to more than just muscular pursuits and Amish culture.

Just a short hop away, live theater flourishes in both places, giving Harrisburg folks even more options beyond the already-rich offerings in our city and suburbs.

Let’s start in the White Rose City (aka, York), which has Dreamwrights Youth and Family Theatre, a nonprofit organization offering experiences in all aspects of the art form.

Founded in 1997, Dreamwrights features eight productions a year, fall and spring classes, weeklong summer camp sessions and outreach.

“Our programming is very process-oriented, based on teamwork, responsibility and healthy self-esteem,” said Ann Davis, executive director. “All these are essential in creating a production, and we invite people from age 7 to adult to create and grow.”

This year’s holiday production is “Miracle on 34^th Street”—complete with an indoor Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “It’s a story about believing, loving and doing unto others,” said Diane Crews, artistic director/playwright in residence.

Fairly new on the block is the Pullo Center at Penn State York, focusing on concerts, Broadway shows, family entertainment and comedies, said Vickie Hubbard, general manager.

Penn State York’s resident theater, Pullo also serves as a venue for tech rehearsals of touring companies of Broadway shows.

“We have a state-of-the-art theater, which is convenient and has good logistics, such as parking,” noted Chris Beaverson, director of marketing and sales. “There are boxes and crates, and the next day the stage is set up. It’s a crazy but amazing process.”

York Little Theatre’s productions appeal to audiences of all ages, noted Lyn Bergdoll, executive director. “We do family shows, a children’s series—with performers under 18—but also edgier shows.”

Now celebrating its 81^st season, YLT is “am-pro,”with three paid staff and many volunteers. Recently the theater launched the Belmont Academy, offering professional-level instruction in dance and Broadway musicals, among other areas. It also initiated a program for kids with disabilities.

“I strive to produce innovative shows that will have patrons wanting to see more,” said Rene Staub, director of artistic services. “We try to go the extra mile with special effects, costuming and set design… ”

Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit institution, offers diverse programming—ballet, stand-up comedy and family-friendly performances, such as last month’s “Hello Dolly.”

In the next county over, the arts scene in the Red Rose City (aka, Lancaster) is particularly flourishing.

Fulton Theatre, founded in 1852, is considered to be the nation’s oldest continuously operating theater and is one of only eight theaters in the country to be named a National Historic Landmark.

A professional regional company and one of the few Equity (actors’ union) theaters left in central Pennsylvania, Fulton has seven Premier Series productions and four Family Theatre productions each season, in addition to educational and outreach programs.

In 2009, the Fulton produced “Les Miserables,” which Executive Director Aaron Young called the “highlight” of his tenure. “It wasn’t so much the production as what the community felt. People were so excited.”

For the size of the community, added Artistic Director Marc Robin, “Lancaster has a deep appreciation for what the arts bring and a real outpouring of support. Actors here tell us they feel like artists.”

With an eye on the classics and new works, Theater of the Seventh Sister performs in different venues. Recently, it hosted a benefit Shakespeare Cabaret at Community Mennonite Church, featuring area actors in an evening of monologues, scenes and songs.

The Ware Center of Millersville University presents dance, classical music, opera and jazz and Broadway theatrical cabarets.

The American Music Theater focuses on Broadway, Christian, family and classical shows including the upcoming “Bring It On.” Sight & Sound in Strasberg, the largest Christian venue in the country, brings the Bible to life with elaborate productions.

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre presents traditional classics and new, critically acclaimed shows, as well as children’s theater, while Rainbow Dinner Theatre in Paradise bills itself as “the only all-comedy dinner theater” in the United States.

Two New York actors, David and Cindy DiSavino, founded Rainbow in 1984 and are the theater’s executive producer and artistic director, respectively.

“We do old and new standard published plays and brand-new ones,” David DiSavino said. “We cover the whole gamut of 20^th– to 21^st-century plays, including Kaufman and Hart’s ‘You Can’t Take it With You, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace,’ ‘Boeing Boeing,’ Neil Simon, a lot of farces by Ray Cooney and Ken Ludwig and murder mysteries.”

Opening the 2014 season is “Weekend Comedy” by Jeanne and Sam Bobrick, a play about an older couple going to the country to rekindle their romance.

In close-by Manheim, you can experience the outdoor Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire from August through October. But live theater enlivens Mt. Hope Mansion on the Faire grounds with its annual “Poe Evermore” and “Dickens of a Christmas” events.

“This year, the characters of ‘Dickens’ will be from Dickens’ novels,” said Mark Sullivan, artistic director. “As at the Faire, the actors remain in character and interact with the audiences; we break the fourth wall as part of our mission.”

Audience members are treated to a few shows in rotation—including, this year, an original musical version of “A Christmas Carol,” a trunk show about the “Nutcracker” and L. Frank Baum’s “A Kidnapped Santa Claus.”

Near Lancaster are Ephrata Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit presenting musical theater as well as stimulating, cutting-edge drama, and Gretna Theatre, a professional summer theater that does primarily musicals and kids’ shows.

There’s lots of theater to experience just a short drive outside of the capital city. So, take to the road to catch a play in York or Lancaster.

City as Classroom: Harrisburg is more than just a place where schools are located; it’s a learning environment itself.

November 28, 2013 | by Kerry Royer

A wide river. A rich history. Smooth government buildings balanced by planned green spaces. Meandering streets that twist and turn through Uptown, Midtown and downtown. Architecture with charisma. Harrisburg is a city worth exploring. City schools take advantage of its attributes all year long.

“We use the entire city as an extended campus,” affirmed David Rushinski, principal of Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School. He said that parents who enroll their children in the city campus note the phenomenal benefits of being next door to cultural, scientific and performance venues.

A valuable asset of Harrisburg is that it is such a walkable city.

“It’s simplified to schedule field trips almost every week to locations right around the corner such as the Whitaker Center, the planetarium or Strawberry Square to see the Popcorn Hat Players,” he said. “Plus, all of our students receive a year-long membership to the State Museum.”

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School on Front Street uses its picturesque spot in the city as a resource for several aspects of learning, from simple to more complex. Fall mornings are spent playing in Riverfront Park during recess.

“We don’t have a huge campus, so we are especially vigilant in how we use the space and the community around us,” said Ellen Konkle, development and alumni coordinator for the school.

The students enjoy walking to the Dauphin County Library, where they sign up for library cards and spend afternoons at the YMCA for swimming and gym class. “The takeaway is that it makes our students grateful for being an integral part of a community,” she said. “They learn civic responsibility by appreciating city parks, knowing that they are invested in making public space a nice place to enjoy.”

This is the next generation of city leaders, according to Konkle, and the valuable insight they gain from every day experiences in a cultural city boosts all levels of learning. “Also, the use of city resources in our curriculum is one of the most unique factors about St. Stephen’s and one that many alumni recount as a reason they think so fondly of their days with us.”

Caleb Smith, film and video teacher at Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School (CASA), said that, in his curriculum, students work on a variety of video projects, including narratives and music videos.

“Location makes a strong impression when used correctly, and, rather than having all the scenarios take place in locker-lined hallways, we use the city as our classroom with a large variety of close places,” he said.

For example, students have used Riverfront Park and the Walnut Street Bridge for recognizable and nature-oriented locations, he said. The Capitol steps down to 2nd Street provide an older look for shoots, while the modern buildings around Strawberry Square evoke yet another mood.

“The city is our classroom and also the location and background to almost all of our productions,” he said.

Books & Bridges

If writing is a student’s passion, there’s no need to venture far to find the perfect place for inspiration.

“Creative writing typically takes a ‘field trip’ to the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, where the writers get to explore the plethora of books,” said CASA creative writing teacher Ann Stewart. “When we enter, someone invariably notes, with a near-swoon, the aroma of musty books, pungent coffee and polished wood. To a writer, that’s heaven.”

The river along Front Street is a strong source of inspiration as well, remarked CASA dance teacher Rosemary Battista. Dance students visit the river every year to observe nature: not only the power of the water, but also the peace and tranquility that it provides.

In addition, students often comment on the bridges and relate their lines and form to the shapes they make when they dance. Often, the students create strong, emotional choreography from the contrast of the city noises and the quiet beauty of nature, she said.

Jackie Kosoff of Hershey graduated from CASA last year and is now majoring in dance at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She attests that the exercise by the Susquehanna provided an energetic muse.

“It opened my mind to a new way of thinking and finding a source for inspiration,” she said. “We take that experience and remember not to limit ourselves. It is a lesson that I carry with me now and will use in my studies. And it started as a quiet time taking notes on the energy of Harrisburg.”

The river is also used for scientific lessons to educate students on the history of floods in the region. Harrisburg School District pupils studied the high water mark from Agnes and tied the experience to a unit on weather, climate and watersheds, learning the causes of floods and how to be prepared.

In fact, nature provides many opportunities for students to get out and about in the city.

CASA students spent a day identifying native Pennsylvania trees on the Capitol lawn using keys provided by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Meanwhile, Camp Curtin School students celebrated the 25^th anniversary of Arbor Day last spring with the Harrisburg Department of Parks, Recreation & Enrichment at the Italian Lake band shell. They were able to assist and learn more about the important effect trees have in our communities and how urban and community parks provide value.

Speaking of nature, Harrisburg’s Math Science Academy partners with Harrisburg Inner City Outings, a local nonprofit, to provide life-changing experiences for Harrisburg youth.

“Over the last seven years, we have completed more than 70 outings with 300 or more Math Science Academy students participating in the program,” said teacher Judd Pittman.

He said that Harrisburg students have hiked to Hawk Rock and Pole Steeple and paddled the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers.

Students also participated in The Sierra Club-sponsored Susquehanna River Clean Up and Friends of Midtown’s annual fall clean up.

“The students have gained a deeper appreciation regarding their impact on and relationship with the natural world,” said Pittman. “The experiences students have on Saturdays are often expressed through blogs and student-generated write-ups in the school newsletter, bringing full circle the connection between school and the opportunities afforded our students through Harrisburg Inner City Outings.”

Lessons from the Past, Present

The Harrisburg Cemetery sits in somber contrast to the spirited stories of former city residents buried there. Here is where local historian George Nagle brings tales of mid-1800s Harrisburg abolitionists to life for local high school students. A member of the Camp Curtin Historical Society, Nagle leads a field trip each fall to teach about people who were critical national figures in the anti-slavery argument raging during the pre-Civil War era.

Harrisburg Academy senior Hannah Shea of Susquehanna Township attended the cemetery field trip to one of the city’s best-kept historical secrets. “It really put the stories of past national debate in context for me,” she said. “People from Harrisburg influenced the anti-slavery movement and participated in the Underground Railroad. I gained a deepened understanding from learning in such a meaningful atmosphere.”

Harrisburg Academy’s original location was the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion. “Our entire school community still returns to the city for our holiday concert at the Forum featuring student performers and for our commencement ceremonies at the Scottish Rite Cathedral,” said Kristina Pae, director of communications for the school.

Academy students of all ages participate in field trips in the city, including performances at the Gamut Theatre and the Scottish Rite Theatre, attendance at the Farm Show, tours of the state Capitol and visits to the Rachel Carson Building for presentations about the peregrine falcon banding. They go on walking tours of historic Uptown Harrisburg, visit the National Civil War Museum, explore the Susquehanna River, attend the Capital Area Science & Engineering Fair at Whitaker Center and watch educational films at Midtown Cinema.

In addition, each graduating senior concludes his or her final year with a three-week internship at a local business or organization.

“The resources of the city are readily available, and companies are willing to reach out in partnership to the school,” said Pae.

In 2012 alone, students interned at the State Street Academy of Music, Harrisburg Law Bureau, Pennsylvania State Museum, state Bureau of Forestry, Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, Equality PA and the East Shore YMCA, she said.

Other resources in the city offer a social and community service aspect to learning for all students.

For instance, the Harrisburg School District partners with local organizations to provide weekend food for needy families through the Power Pack program, sponsored by PinnacleHealth and the Central PA Food Bank. The life skills classroom at Camp Curtin bags the food, which is then picked up by the district courier, who delivers it to the schools.

“A bag full of non-perishable food goes home every Friday at the end of the school day to families who need extra help with food because sometimes some of our students do not eat on the weekends and come to school on Mondays starving,” said Laura Bloss, Harrisburg School District’s homelessness liaison. “This relates to curriculum in many ways. When our students have food and healthy nutrition, they are able to focus better in school. Also, our Life Skills students do the packing of the food, so they are getting skills for work like they would at a grocery store by keeping inventory and keeping track of the bags that are filled.”

Harrisburg schools also work with The Highmark Caring Place, which champions the cause of grieving children by creating awareness of their needs, providing programs for them and their families, and empowering the community to effectively support them.

“The Harrisburg High School SciTech campus has been sending a group to Highmark for several years, and it is one of our most popular partners for the students,” said SciTech Community Partnership Development Director Doug Reitz. “SciTech students help with the children’s grief center where young children are provided counseling to help them cope with the loss of a loved one. We send a group each month of the school year for community service work.”

Opportunity for learning abounds throughout the city, and every destination seems to be right around the corner.

“A hands-on experience of learning always trumps traditional classroom work,” said Harrisburg Catholic’s Rushinski. “We are fortunate to have a wide array of opportunities this city offers us.”

No Business Like Shoe Business: At Plum Bottom, come for the footwear; stay for the Joe Show.

November 28, 2013 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

JOE KNOWS BOOTS—touts the front page of the Plum Bottom flier featuring owner Joe Correale as a child, perched on porch steps, grasping a stick and sporting a sailor’s cap.

An intimidating-looking kid, his stern look seems to say, “I mean business.” If I could make a bet, I’d wager he was referred to as a “handful.” Fast-forward 60-plus years, and you can still see the same complex expression comprised of grit and determination. And yes, he’s still a “handful,” and he still means business.

Plum Bottom, located at the Shoppes at Susquehanna in Harrisburg, features an extensive selection of handbags, shoes and accessories, and owner Correale tells how he managed to succeed all these years while staying abreast of the latest trends.

He bounces back and forth between shoptalk, seriousness, animation, witticisms and the occasional threat. “I can see you’re not into shoes,” he says, warily eyeing my comfy suede boots. Then he cracks, “Too bad we don’t sell jewelry, she’d be an easy mark.”

The minute I started wondering if I should be offended, he heads off in a different direction, eliciting the inevitable laugh. I eventually give up trying to figure out how to feel and just enjoy the “Joe Show” with resigned bemusement as he gives me a summation of his life in the shoe business.

Starting at an early age, Correale helped his father run a shoe department in a large store, stocking shelves, sweeping floors and trimming windows. After graduating high school, he began working in a department store called Orr’s in Bethlehem. “It was huge at the time,” he said. As the years went by, he continued to move up in the shoe world, aided by his knowledge of the industry and his network, including his mentor, Mort Peskin, whom he met through a contact. Peskin owned a shoe store in Cumberland, Md., and Correale paired up with him.

“Peskin opened doors for me, paid my dues to the country club, took me to shoe shows in his private plane. He knew I had a talent for selling and the gift of gab. I’m getting better by the way, so you should come back next week,” he jokes.

Correale worked with Peskin for seven years before agreeing to meet Isaac Mishkin, the owner of The Plum in Harrisburg. “It was another opportunity to move closer to my family,” said Correale, who is from McAdoo and whose in-laws at the time were from Palmyra. The two partnered together, opening a store in Lancaster, but eventually they parted ways to pursue their separate visions.

Correale opened Plum Bottom at the Camp Hill Mall, where he operated the store from 1993 to 2004 before moving to his current digs.

His business savvy and infectious personality have earned him a loyal customer base. Tama from Halifax said, “I have been patronizing Joe’s businesses since 1981, and I have stayed a tried-and-true customer.”

When Correale moved to the Camp Hill Mall, she was disappointed at the driving distance. So, when she heard of the move to the Shoppes at Susquehanna, she was delighted to have her favorite store back on the East Shore. “You can’t beat the selection,” she said.

Correale said he’s grateful to Linda, a customer from Harrisburg, who wrote to the Shoppes when she discovered there was a vacancy there. “The developers came into my store in Camp Hill and found me,” said Joe, incredulously.

When asked about his famously extensive selection, Joe ticks off an endless list of designers: “We have Pikolino, Van Eli, J.Renee, Beautifeel, Naot, John Joseph… oh my God, I’m getting high now,” he says, pausing for a second before continuing—“don’t forget the handbags. We carry Pietro Allesandro and Due Fratelli, along with scarves, gloves, socks, a men’s section and mimosas on Saturday,” he said.

Everything about Correale is a testament to his love for the business—including his two daughters, whom he named after footwear—Carla Caressa and Nina. “If I had a boy, I’d have named him ‘Boots’ or ‘Rubbers,’” he quips.

Although he admires many styles, loafers aren’t among them. He credits his hard-working staff for his success. Harrisburg resident Andrea Mason, who has worked with Correale since 2005, calls him “a perfectionist with vision and a very good trainer.” He butts in before she finishes her sentence, yelling, “Every location I’ve been at, I’ve always had the best help EVER!”

Mason deftly manages to shoehorn in a quick introduction to a book of “Joe-isms” that the staff created for their boss. The hardcover book is replete with pictures of the shoe-biz star in various “states of Joe,” from reclining to fraternizing with females, interspersed with some of his oft-repeated phrases, including, “I’m a nice guy on Tuesday”; “I have more money than brains”; and “Thank God I’m not dead.”

Correale wanders outside at the end of the interview to sit on a bench and take a minute to reflect as I begin to make my exit, but not before surreptitiously instructing his staff to try to pair me up with more stylish footwear.

“This is my life,” he says, “along with two hairpieces and three wives, or a combination, I forget.” As I make my way to the car, he yells after me, “Hey, when are you getting that article done?”

As his staff says, “You’ll come for the collection and stay for the experience”—and part of that experience is owner Joe Correale.

Plum Bottom
Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace
2619 Brindle Drive, Harrisburg
(717) 651-1600
www.plumbottom.net

Seasonal Sip: Make sure to select the right wine for your holiday meal.

November 28, 2013 | by Steve Juliana

At this time of year, we prepare for our most festive gatherings with family and friends. Wine is a natural part of any holiday meal, but what do we match with our celebratory fare? Fortunately, we are living in an age when more good wine is being made than at any time in human history. The variety is amazing, and it’s easy to find a good quaff for any holiday get-together.

Turkey is a tradition in many households—and why not? What’s not to like about such a wonderful bird? For my dinner, two wines come to the fore: Pinot Noir for a red and Chenin Blanc for a white.

The amazing thing about turkey is that it is probably the most wine-friendly dish that you can serve. Pinot matches the bird with a fruity lightness and a long finish that also goes well with various other festive dishes. It is easy to find a good one, most notably from California and Oregon. Now that the “Sideways” fad has passed, quality is up and so is availability.

Chenin Blanc is the great fruity grape from the Loire valley in France, where it is known as Vouvray. It matches the noble bird with a light sweetness and good acidity. It will also stand up to side dishes but goes hand-in-hand with most desserts. This great grape is also very popular in South Africa, where it is known as “steen.” It’s not quite as rich as the French bottling, but still good.

Another popular centerpiece for a holiday meal is ham. The Germanic grapes match well with the sweet and salty flavors of this holiday favorite. Riesling and Gewurztraminer are from Germany, while Gruner Veltliner is the major white grape from Austria. These three are from the center of white wine production in central Europe. The great thing is that they have crossed borders and are now easy to find from many other parts of the world.

Riesling is low in alcohol while big in flavor and freshness. Light and easy drinking, it’s a perfect match for holiday dinners. Gewurztraminer is a spicy wine filled with pungent flavors and aromas. This seems to be a match made in heaven for pork and sweet potatoes. Gruner Veltliner is a minerally wine with more subtle flavors than its German cousins that works as more of a palate scrubber, making your next bite as good as your first.

The traditional Italian holiday meal is the Feast of Seven Fishes, a huge meal of seven courses without butter or meat that ends at midnight. Vermentino is the go-to wine for this fare. A white wine from the island of Sardinia, it has a reputation for being the finest available. My personal favorite for this meal is Greco di Tufo, the rich, ancient white from the Campania region. It has a unique flavor and a mouth-filling texture unlike any other wine. Readily available, try it if you can this holiday season.

Keep sipping, Steve.

Bah, Harrisburg! It’s time to celebrate, not Scrooge, your city.

November 28, 2013 | by Tara Leo Auchey

It’s that time of year again—the end of it. It’s a time to reflect, wrap up and peer ahead.

Looking over 2013 in the city of Harrisburg is no easy task, though.

In fact, it’s downright daunting. It was tiresome enough to go through it in real time—the tome-like plans, the endless public hearings, the continual chatter of truth and rumor in every nook and cranny of the city. Not to mention the constant burden of dissatisfying public services and the overgrowth of weeds, trash and strife.

Many of us may wonder, “What’s the point of exhausting oneself with the thought of going through it again?”

It’s enough to make us say, “Bah humbug!”

Humbug. We hear this word and use it profusely during this time of year, but its actual meaning is not commonly known or even considered. We just say it. Humbug.

It means deceit. Humbug is something devised as a fraud to mislead. Ebenezer Scrooge thought Christmas was humbug. Prior to coming face to face with his ghosts, he thought the yuletide season to be an overly sentimental occasion drenched in falseness and pretense.

Of course, as we all know, his mind was changed. Easier said than done in real life, most especially here in Harrisburg.

There’s lots of humbug around here right now. Humbug is being thrown around loosely and easily.

Some people think the outcome of the mayoral election is humbug.

Some people think the receiver’s recovery plan is humbug.

Some people believe the whole city is humbug.

While that attitude can be accused of being overly sour and peevish, there is indeed humbug in the city that we can all agree on.

It’s humbug that the city has been devastated by years of fiscal mismanagement and defective governance. It’s humbug that the capital city is physically crumbling and breaking. It’s humbug that this small city along the river is deficient in pride and unity. It’s humbug that the region scoffs at us. Humbug.

But, enough humbug already. Where are the ghosts to guide us to realization of other perspectives? Harrisburg has plenty of those—ghosts, that is. If we follow them, will our minds be changed so, like Scrooge, we end up shouting happily at the tops of our lungs in supreme celebration of a second chance given?

Absolutely. But how so? What has to be done?

We have to be engaged, get creative, be bold and find courage to do what needs to be done. There’s no more time for anything else. We’re at a crossroads, and, despite what the most pessimistic among us may say, we do have say in the direction this city goes.

The future of the city is ours for the taking.

Nothing is business as usual anymore. To say it is—or to attempt to make decisions like things are done now as they’ve been done before—is humbug. The next phase of Harrisburg’s prosperity is greatly contingent on the people who live, work and visit here and the decisions they make to pay attention, participate and promote.

With the implementation of the recovery plan, the playing field has been set. If all goes as planned, the massive debt will be eliminated, the city’s budget will be balanced, the incinerator will be gone, the parking system will be leased and generating revenue. Water and sewer operations have already been transferred to the experts, and, with a new administration about to take the reigns of City Hall, there’s new organization on the horizon.

As 2014 is about to commence, now is the time to generate community solutions and decisions that make sense and have lasting power to make Harrisburg prosperous.

The ideas are out there, topics of fruitful and merry conversations. There are suggestions on how to establish a smooth-running government to give us the semblance of competence we’re missing. There are recommendations for ways to strategically approach fixing the infrastructure and strengthening the fabric of community. There is support for smartly spending money for vital and necessary projects. There are volunteers, nonprofits and businesses standing ready to fill the gaps.

The city’s recovery will only succeed if we make it happen together.

There’s much being developed as cheerful and optimistic souls in the city discuss ways to make Harrisburg’s future comprehensively better. Naturally, some minds will not be dramatically changed by such ideas. There will be people who will not see the virtue of the offered proposals.

So be it.

However, one thing should be conceded—the efforts aren’t humbug. Someone may not like certain suggestions for various reasons, but, as long as the ideas come without deceit or pretense, they should be heard. They are ideas, specters of possibility. Creations of the situation we’re in. The fact of the matter is that Harrisburg must be handled smartly, positively, broadly and innovatively. And almost anything and everything should be a possibility.

It’s precisely that type of approach that will bring Harrisburg the gifts of fiscal stability, responsible and competent leadership and an influx of healthy businesses and residents.

Harrisburg has potential, incredible potential. This little capital city along the river. Humbug will ruin us. So let’s leave it behind as we move forward into the new year.

Tara Leo Auchey is creator and editor of todays the day Harrisburg. www.todaysthedayhbg.com

Harrisburg’s Chance: A cursed city no more?

November 28, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

“I knew I’d be arrested if I spent another night in Harrisburg. Cursed city!”

Jack Kerouac made that observation after a rough evening, much of it spent walking along the banks of the Susquehanna River with a hobo, while passing through our little city.

Indeed, it often seems that Harrisburg is cursed, at least since the late 1940s when Kerouac made the cross-country trip that resulted in the famous beat generation novel, “On the Road.” In the post-war period, the city has experienced almost unrelenting bad news ranging from de-industrialization to repeated floods to depopulation to profoundly irresponsible governance to near bankruptcy. And that’s the short list.

Harrisburg, though, now has the chance—the chance—to start anew, to move in a fresh direction. In January, the city will have new leadership and will begin to seriously implement the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan. In a city’s history, such opportunities for radical change don’t come about often.

No doubt, Mayor-elect Eric Papenfuse will face tremendous pressure on big issues once he takes the oath of office in January. He will need to assemble and deploy competent managers and staff; get up to speed on how best to handle the large, entrenched bureaucracy; ensure that critical services are delivered without interruption; and carry out many elements of the complicated Strong plan, among other overwhelming issues.

There are, though, numerous small things that Papenfuse could do immediately, with little effort, which would go a long way towards starting out right. Seeing to these would indicate a new day in Harrisburg, a clear break from the often-toxic, disruptive, high-handed Reed/Thompson approach to governing, which too often isolated the mayor and turned potential allies into enemies.

Court and respect City Council. Even in Harrisburg’s strong-mayor form of government, council members wield substantial power. It’s hard to get anything meaningful done without their support. So, meet with them, listen to them, involve them early in important matters and show that you respect them and their concerns. Also, as I’ve said before, don’t just send your underlings to council meetings. Go yourself, listen attentively and make yourself available as needed. Thompson’s original sin as mayor was immediately going to the mat with council over her first budget, which set off four years of often-pointless combat.

Follow the rules: Time and again, Reed and Thompson stumbled by not following proper rules and procedures. Reed knew the rules but habitually chose to ignore or go around them for the sake of expediency or to avoid checks on his power. Thompson often didn’t seem to understand processes or their importance, such as when she bypassed mandated principles when launching a redraft of the city’s comprehensive plan. Not following established rules is an unforced, avoidable error, one that will be exposed and has nothing but downside.

Be gracious and humble: In his acceptance speech as mayor-elect, Papenfuse said, “I’m a stronger and humbler man than the one who started this race.” I hope that’s so, as humility has been in short supply in the mayor’s office for a long time. Here are few ways to show the public that an attitude adjustment has arrived in city hall. First, get rid of Thompson’s wasteful security detail, car and driver. Second, don’t refer to yourself in the third person. Third, ditch other trappings of the office that have built up over time, such as the ridiculous “mayor’s tent” at festivals. The mayor of Harrisburg is a local public servant of 49,500 people, not a head of state, not a dictator and not chosen by God. There must be daily understanding and acceptance that the mayor serves the people, not the other way around.

Make the past public: Papenfuse spent years as an outspoken critic of Reed’s financing schemes and as an advocate for good government. Therefore, I trust that he will make good on his vow to release documents that may be relevant to how Harrisburg tumbled into the financial abyss. I’m not one who likes to pick at old wounds, but city residents, who pay each day for past wrongs, deserve as full an accounting as possible.

Expect criticism and don’t take it personally: As mayor of Harrisburg, you will be criticized constantly. You must accept that criticism comes with the office and take it in stride, even with good humor, even when you think it’s unfair. My best advice: ignore it entirely and move forward with your job. Do not let it distract you. If you believe press criticism is egregious, follow procedures to meet with editors and reporters. Do not call reporters to scream at them or refuse to meet with them because you feel they’ve “disrespected the office of the mayor,” both of which have happened to us.

Lastly, Papenfuse must always keep in mind his primary job—to provide a core set of services to residents who are paying for them through taxes and fees. The mayor is an administrator elected (hired) to head up the citizens’ collective that we call municipal government, which pools money to purchase things like police, fire and sanitation services. Somewhere during the past 30 years, the mayoralty morphed into something else, a strange mix of power-obsessed CEO, celebrity and monarch. To regain our bearings as a city, the mayor must return to his traditional role as a manager charged with delivering critical services to the 11.4 square miles that we call Harrisburg.

Papenfuse could begin to make these remedies immediately, from his first day in office. They won’t cost a dime and could well set the right tone within the government and with residents for years to come. Doing these things may help separate Harrisburg from its long-held reputation as “cursed city.”

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Out of Pocket (a bit of Burg humor)

November 27, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

Would you pay 28 cents more per gallon for roads, bridges and mass transit options? 56.9%: No. The roads do need improving, but I’m not paying for them out of my pocket.

–Pennlive Poll, November 2013

A scene from sometime in late 2014:

It’s almost hard to believe that a year has passed. This time last year, I was parked in traffic on I-83, just like most days during my 40-mile round trip commute from the suburbs to my job in the city.

“Won’t somebody do something about this?” I screamed out in frustration, as I swerved around a pothole and a tractor-trailer nearly sideswiped my car. “Somebody who isn’t me?”

I’d been complaining for years about the horrible state of our roads and bridges and all the traffic congestion that keeps getting worse.

“Betty,” I’d say to my wife, “why doesn’t the state or the county or the city or whoever fix my free roads?”

Betty corrected me by saying that the roads weren’t actually free to build and maintain and clear accidents and plow snow from, etc. Someone had to pay for them, she reasoned, but she wasn’t exactly sure who it was either.

“Maybe the Chinese?” she said.

It seemed like a good guess, and I thought she probably was right since I’d heard somewhere that the Chinese owned all of our houses. Or at least they did until the bubble collapsed and now it might be J.P. Morgan, whoever he is.

But, anyway, I didn’t like it one bit when I read that those politicians in Harrisburg wanted me to pay for my roads out of my own pocket. Why should my gas tax go up so I can continue to drive my car every day, wherever and how far I want? I was outraged.

So, it was terrific news when I read something on the Internet about this cul de sac somewhere, maybe in Montgomery County someplace, that seemed to fix itself. At first, I thought maybe it was one of those Internet things that might be true but probably isn’t, but maybe it is.

But, as everyone in Pennsylvania now knows, it was indeed true!

Suddenly, all the highways and neighborhood streets and bridges and tunnels began to fix and expand and improve themselves. So, for instance today, I got on a smooth, eight-lane highway with wide lanes that took me right into work, like the road was built just for me. It was beautiful! There’s even a new light rail system that maybe someday I’ll take (but probably not).

I’m not really sure how this all happened. No one seems to know. Some people have said that little road fairies burrowed up from the earth, wearing tiny little hard hats and driving tiny little bulldozers, and got busy. Other people say it was our alien-protectors or maybe Bill Gates or the NSA or the Lord.

Today, outside my office, a few guys wearing hard hats were leaning up against a building as a road nearby was being fixed. They didn’t seem to be doing any work, just standing there, smoking, chatting.

I leaned into one of them and quietly whispered, “Fairies?” They glared at me, rather unkindly at that, but wouldn’t spill their secret.

Whatever. I don’t really care. All I know is that I got bridges and roads and mass transit options at absolutely no cost to me, which is exactly what I voted for in that poll.

Now my problem is with all the other things that those politicians in Harrisburg want me to pay for out of my own pocket. Sure, kids need to go to school, but I’m not a kid anymore. Once again, I’m outraged!

November News Digest

November 27, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

Papenfuse Elected Harrisburg Mayor

Democrat Eric Papenfuse last month assumed the mantle of mayor-elect of Harrisburg, besting Republican candidate Dan Miller and write-in candidate Aaron Johnson.

Papenfuse won the race with 3,618 votes versus 2,333 for Miller and 1,213 for Johnson. Various others received another 121 write-in votes, including eight for former independent candidate Nevin Mindlin, who was tossed off the ballot after a successful petition challenge. Four votes went to Lewis Butts Jr., who campaigned as a write-in after losing the Democratic primary.

“The real victory will lie in the years ahead when our streets are clean, when our homes are safe, when our young professionals rush to get back to Harrisburg, rather than flee from it,” said Papenfuse, who, in his acceptance speech, encouraged his supporters at Midtown Scholar Bookstore to be humble and seek reconciliation with his opponents in the election.

“The true victory will lie in the days, the months, the years ahead when Pennsylvanians are once again proud of their capital,” he said. “When the people of Harrisburg once again cherish their homes, and when the rest of the nation connects Harrisburg with culture, prosperity and renaissance and not bankruptcy, despair and defeat.”

Running unopposed, Democrats Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt earned four-year terms on Harrisburg City Council, while sitting councilwomen Wanda Williams and Eugenia Smith were re-elected. Charles DeBrunner was elected in an uncontested race for city controller.

Papenfuse, DeBrunner and council members will be sworn in on Jan. 6.

For Harrisburg school board, Democrats Danielle Robinson, Patricia Whitehead Myers, James Thompson and Kenneth Mickens earned four-year terms. Monica Blackston-Bailey, LaTasha Frye and Adara Jackson each won two-year seats on the school board.

In Dauphin County races, Bill Tully outpolled Democrat Anne Gingrich Cornick for Court of Common Pleas judge, and incumbent Republican Stephen Farina won his contest for prothonotary against Democrat Kelly Summerford.

Parking Deal Passed

The Harrisburg City Council last month approved one of the most important parts of the city’s financial recovery plan, the long-term lease of its valuable parking assets.

The council authorized the city to enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Agency (PEDFA) and another with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. They, in turn, will contract with a group known as Harrisburg First to run and enforce the city’s on-street parking system.

The council also authorized the transfer of city-owned off-street parking to the Harrisburg Parking Authority, which is entering into its own agreements so that Harrisburg First can operate the HPA’s parking garages and surface lots.

These steps are necessary as the city fulfills the requirements of Harrisburg Strong, the financial recovery plan designed to free the city of about $600 million in debt, solve its long-term structural deficit and provide pools of funds for infrastructure and economic development.

Water/Sewer Rates Going Up

Water and sewer rates for city residents are about to go up significantly, according to the Harrisburg Authority’s proposed budget for 2014.

The budget, which had not been officially adopted as of press time, projects an average increase of around $325 per customer per year. That amounts to a nearly 50 percent hike to current rates, which average around $687 annually.

Shannon Williams, the executive director of the Harrisburg Authority, explained that the increased rates are necessary to pay for long-overdue investments in infrastructure. Harrisburg’s aging water and sewer system has not been adequately maintained for years, and it now requires expensive repairs, Williams said.

“No one likes to pay more for utility services—including me. But the reality is that there were more than 40 sinkholes identified in Harrisburg in 2013. Just one of them—the famous 4^th Street sinkhole—cost almost $1 million to repair. We cannot continue to punt on these decisions,” she said.

The rate increase comes on the heels of several weeks of customer concerns about expensive utility bills. Last month, City Councilwoman Sandra Reid devoted most of a public works committee meeting to water and sewer charges after she received a bill in the mail totaling several hundred dollars.

That total did not reflect a rate increase, however, but was the result of nearly 18 months of inaccurate bills, which Reid had been receiving because of problems with the city’s meter system. Batteries in the devices that transmit meter readings to the city’s electronic database have been expiring at unexpected rates, requiring the city to estimate water usage for properties across the city. Those estimates, which tended to be lower than customers’ actual usage, led to months of undercharging for Reid and several other residents.

In her announcement of the proposed 2014 budget, Williams tied the meter-battery problem to the infrastructure problem, saying both reflected the consequences of city officials deferring necessary investments onto future generations.

“If an investment had been made years ago to keep up with technology and replace those defective batteries, customers would not have had to rely on water usage estimates month after month,” Williams said. “It’s time to make the necessary investments in our future.”

Capitol View Sells

The unfinished Capitol View Commerce Center was sold last month in a bankruptcy proceeding to an out-of-area warehouse, distribution and storage company.

Watsontown, Pa.-based Moran Industries bought the 215,000-square–foot structure at N. Cameron and Herr streets in Harrisburg, including almost nine acres of land, for about $250,000.

Moran plans to finish the building next year then use about half the space for its own offices and rent out the other half, according to the company.

The building has sat as an incomplete shell since 2008, when unpaid workers walked off the job. Two years ago, Capitol View developer David R. Dodd pled guilty to federal charges of money laundering and misuse of government funds in connection with the project.

Trash Privatization Debated

Harrisburg last month announced it has selected Republic Services to be its new trash hauler, sparking another squabble between the administration and City Council.

Chief Operating Officer Robert Philbin told council that a three-person team had chosen the country’s second-largest waste hauler to collect and dispose of trash. He said the city would save about $900,000 a year by privatizing waste collection, which currently is done by the city’s Department of Public Works.

The administration had announced in March that it intended to issue an RFP to privatize trash service. Several firms then submitted bids, and the administration eventually selected Republic.

Council members, however, seemed surprised that the decision to privatize had been made definitively and that a hauler had been chosen. They also charged that they had been left out of the process.

The council’s Public Works Committee then held several hearings on the issue, focused on such issues as trash fees, workers’ jobs and the fact that equipment would have to be picked up in York each day. The proposed contract with Republic remained unresolved at press time.

Funds for Greenbelt Restoration

The Capital Area Greenbelt is a step closer to a significant improvement after the Harrisburg City Council last month agreed to dedicate $10,000 for a major fix.

Members of the Capital Area Greenbelt Association appealed to the council to transfer funds dedicated for environmental projects to help remediate and protect the Paxtang Parkway section near Penbrook from further damage caused by storm water erosion.

Originally, the association requested $20,000. However, Jim Warner, CEO of the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, who attended the council meeting, said LCSWMA would split the cost, kicking in $10,000. This month, LCSWMA is expected to close on its purchase of the city incinerator.

The city’s portion of the funds will be derived from the “host fee” that Harrisburg receives as the site of an incinerator that accepts trash from outside municipalities.

In addition to the $20,000, the association has received $25,000 from the Kline Foundation, enabling it to qualify for a $300,000 state grant to cover the extensive work on that portion of the Greenbelt, said Scott Shepler, an association volunteer.

New Antiques/Collectibles Shop

The good news keeps coming for Cameron Street, as a new crafts and re-sale co-op has opened near Paxton Street.

Crafty Antiques and Collectibles debuted in late October, featuring everything from antique furniture to old toys to holiday items.

Owners Kathy Clark and Rosemary Hibala rent out space in the 2,400-square-foot shop to a variety of vendors who showcase and sell their items. Though the long-time friends just opened their store, they hope soon to double its size by expanding next door.

“We decided to go into business because we work so well together,” said Clark.

The shop at 712 S. Cameron St. is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recently, several new businesses have announced plans to occupy space nearby on Cameron Street. Business partners Richard Hefelfinger and Phil Dobson plan to open a blues club and restaurant across the street at 819 S. Cameron St., while Dobson says he will remake 1119 S. Cameron St. into an entertainment and events space.

Crafty Antiques and Collectibles can be reached at 717-547-6032 or [email protected].

Receivership Extension Expected

The state last month requested an extension of Harrisburg’s receivership for another two years.

C. Alan Walker, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, filed a petition in Commonwealth Court asking for the extension, which would run through December 2015. Most elements of the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan should be implemented by then.

Separately, Commonwealth Court last month gave receiver William Lynch the authority to sign documents related to the Harrisburg Strong plan on behalf of city Controller Dan Miller.

Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter made the ruling after Miller had not signed off on contracts for key parts of the plan, including for the sale of the city incinerator and the long-term lease of the parking system. Both deals are expected to close this month.

Betsy’s Bakery Arrives Downtown

Betsy’s Bakery last month opened its second shop, serving its gluten-free baked goods from a prime location downtown.

Owners Betsy and Shannon Peffley began offering breads, sweets and sandwiches from a storefront right across the street from the state Capitol last occupied by Downtown Café.

Betsy said they decided to open in Harrisburg because so many of their customers from the first location in Camp Hill live on the East Shore. She added that there’s a growing demand for gluten-free products.

“We are 100 percent gluten-free,” she said. “Our customers with celiac disease or who have gluten-free needs appreciate that so they won’t get sick.”

In addition to baked goods and sandwiches made with Boar’s Head meats, the bakery soon will offer soups and paninis, said Betsy.

“We never expected our business to take off like it has,” she said. “We knew there was a need, but didn’t know it’d be so great.”

Betsy’s Bakery is located at 240 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop can be reached at 717-236-9901 or at https://betsysbakery.com. The original shop is at 115 St. John’s Church Rd., Camp Hill.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2453: W. Breeze to S. McKune, $58,500

Berryhill St., 2259: PA Deals LLC to J. Vergis, $65,000

Boas St., 122: D. & J. Mowery to J. Sadlock, $115,900

Boas St., 1937: S. Lopez et al to EB & ZEE LLC, $66,500

Briggs St., 233: A. & P. Cowell to T. Harris, $117,000

Cumberland St., 1416: PNL Penn Properties LP to T. Lewis, $35,000

Green St., 3030: E. & K. Peck to J. Luck Jr. & K. Kyper, $220,000

Herr St., 260: D. Leaman to S. Bruder & M. Richards, $165,500

Maclay St., 425: D. & J. Boyle to D. Perez, $31,738

Market St., 1249, 1253, 1255 & 3 S. 13^th St.: Hill Café Partners to Hill Café 1249 LP, $500,278

Market St., 1859: M. & D. Nichols to Z. Reeves, $105,900

N. 4^th St., 1324: L. Jones & J. Lambright to P. Little, $96,000

N. 4^th St., 2030: B. Lerew to I. Alderton, $82,000

N. 6^th St., 1500: 1500 SPE LP to A. Gulotta, $558,158

N. Front St., 2601: Radnor Realty to J.A. Hartzler, $200,000

Pennwood Rd., 3135: PA Deals LLC to T. Smith, $118,000

S. 20^th St., 1208: T. Nguyen & T. Pham to M. Nguyen, $112,005

S. 26^th St., 638: N. Reohr to J. Zimmerman, $69,900

Rudy Rd., 2145: J. Holmes & BAC Tax Services Corp. to M. & K. DeRosa, $162,900

Rumson Dr., 2920: A. & M. Tscherneff to W. Quezada & M. Cedeno, $34,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: PI Capitol LLC to C. Shenk, $64,900

Rumson Dr., 2991: Trusted Source Capital LLC to PA Deals LLC, $40,000

Susquehanna St., 1526: P. Mohr to C. Butcher, $104,500

Susquehanna St., 1725: Fannie Mae to M. Gojmerac & C. Roma, $48,000

Vernon St., 1308 & 113 S. 13^th St.: Stevens Emmanuel United to True Worshippers Ministries, $55,000

Community Corner: December Events

November 27, 2013 | by Admin

Cars & Christmas Celebration

Dec. 1–Jan. 15: The galleries of the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum will all be transformed into wintery wonderlands featuring Christmas trees and a variety of themed special exhibits for the holiday season. Special exhibits include a display of snowmobiles, sleds and sleighs and “Sammy The Snow Plow.” Standard admission prices apply. For more information, visit aacamuseum.org.

Trains and Trees

Dec. 1-Jan. 1: Experience a display of model trains and themed trees with the return of the season’s Holiday Trains and Trees exhibition in the Gloria M. Olewine Gallery in Whitaker Center. For more information and tickets, visit whitakercenter.org.

Christmas at Fort Hunter

Dec. 1-22: For the month of December, Fort Hunter will be bright with holiday trimmings, decorated with fresh greens, fruits and fresh flowers. Open every day but Monday, guided tours highlighting the holiday decorations and customs will be provided. For more information, visit forthunter.org.

Hershey Sweet Lights

Dec. 1-30: Get ready for the holiday spirit as Hershey illuminates more than 600 animated displays for onlookers as they drive by. The lights will be located between Route 39 and Sand Beach Road in Hershey. For more information and admission prices, visit Hersheypark.com.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Dec. 1-31: Hersheypark decks the halls for December. With 2 million twinkling lights, more than 30 rides and Hershey characters out and about in their holiday best, the park is prepared for the holidays. For more information and specific holiday attractions, visit christmasinhershey.com.

Deck the Halls Celebration

Dec. 4: The John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion will once again host “Deck the Hall,” a holiday celebration and recognition event. The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres, as well as dessert. In its 19^th year, this major fundraiser for the Historical Society is crucial in supporting its educational and research programs, as well as the national landmark itself. For more information, visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

2013 Catalyst Awards

Dec. 4: Each year, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC honor local businesses and individuals for their contributions to our local community. The event, called “It’s a Wonderful Region,” will begin at 5 p.m. at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg with a short reception followed by the awards program. General admission is $85, $75 member rate. For more information, visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

International House 11^th Anniversary

Dec. 4: Join the International House for a continental breakfast as it dedicates its Legacy Lounge with friends and partners. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and concludes at 9 a.m. The event will be held at International House, 29 S. 3^rdSt., Harrisburg. For more information, visit ihousehbg.org.

2013 Pennsylvania Christmas & Gift Show

Dec. 4-8: Be warm with Christmas spirit as people from across the state converge to share in gifts, crafts and merriment. This year’s show at the PA Farm Show Complex will host more than 500 specialty shops selling a wide array of unique holiday gifts. Hours of the show will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individual tickets are $7 per person, $5 for seniors; group rates also apply. For more information, visit pachristmasshow.com.

Craft Reunion

Dec. 6-8: Lovers of crafts and handmade gifts are welcome to appreciate and purchase one-of-a-kind creations at the Craft Reunion, located in the Centennial Barn in Fort Hunter. Sculptures, rustic furniture, jewelry, pottery and fine art pieces will be sold. The event will run noon to 9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. For more information visit forthunter.org.

“Twas the Night Before Christmas”

Dec. 7: A twist on the classic Christmas tale, Studio 91 presents its own unique rendition with more than 175 dancers performing. Doors will open at 1 p.m. at the Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center in Mechanicsburg. Tickets are $13.50 per person. For more information, visit studio91.com or call 717-691-5567.

Holiday Champagne Brunch

Dec. 8: The Civic Club of Harrisburg will host its annual Holiday Champagne Brunch beginning at 1 p.m. at the Club, 612 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Cost of the event is $32 per person and guests will be entertained by members of the Harrisburg Choral Society. Please bring gifts of toys and monetary donations to assist the Junior League of Greater Harrisburg’s program of helping needy families. For more information or to make a reservation, call the club at 717-234-4736. Reservations also can be made at the organization’s email address, [email protected].

24^th Annual Bistro Fundraiser

Dec. 8: Escape the cold and join the Market Square Presbyterian Church at a festive, all-you-can-eat holiday bistro, noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. All proceeds support the HELP Ministries of Christian Churches United assisting local communities and families in need. For additional information, visit marketsquarechurch.org.

Annual Children’s Christmas Party

Dec. 8: Visit Santa, create unique holiday crafts and enjoy entertainment and refreshments as the Zembo Shrine Center hosts this holiday celebration for kids. Open to children 10 years and younger, they are encouraged to bring gifts and toys to donate for children at the Philadelphia Shriners Hospital. The event will begin at 1 p.m. in the Zembo Auditorium in Harrisburg and conclude at 3 p.m. For more information and donation guidelines, visit zembo.org.

Christmas at the Harris-Cameron Mansion

Dec. 8: Santa is coming to town at the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion. Come see the mansion decorated in Christmas decorations, including a special exhibit of antique toys. Refreshments will be served, and the museum shop will be open. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 for adults; children under 12 are free. The event will be held 1 to 4 p.m. For more, visit www.dauphincountyhistory.org.

Green Sale

Dec. 8: Decorate for the holidays with handmade boxwood trees and topiaries, pine candle rings and more items sold at the Continental Barn in Fort Hunter. The sales begin at 11 a.m. and will continue until all is sold out. For more information. visit forthunter.org.

Home for the Holidays

Dec. 10: Join the Eaken Piano Trio at the 24^th annual “Home for the Holidays” concert. The concert begins at 7 p.m, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, Front Street, Harrisburg. A gourmet reception follows. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area. The event is free, but donations are encouraged. For a $25 donation, seats can be reserved in advance by calling the Habitat office at 717-545-7299.

Holiday Networking Mixer

Dec. 12: The Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual business networking holiday mixer featuring the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus and Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus. The event runs 6-8 p.m. at the Jay & Nancy Krevsky Production Center, 513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg. The event is free for members and $10 for prospective members. For more information, visit https://cpglcc.org.

Get On Board

Dec. 20: Swing down to the “Get on Board” skateboard art show to benefit the Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area. Presented by Rayzor Tattoos, the show features custom artwork on skateboard decks from locally and nationally renowned tattoo and fine artists. The show will run 6 to 9 p.m. at Little Amps Coffee Roasters, 1836 Green St., Harrisburg. The boards then will be on display for one month. All proceeds support Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area. For more information, visit facebook.com/getonboardforautism.

A Candlelight Christmas

Dec. 20-22: Enjoy a warm, candlelit Christmas performance as the Susquehanna Chorale performs three nights in a row. Listen in at three venues: Messiah College, Elizabethtown College or the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $5 for students. For more information, visit susquehannachorale.org.

“Countdown to Noon”

Dec. 31: Welcome the New Year and get a full night’s rest as the Popcorn Hat Players present the 21^st annual “Countdown to Noon,” a fun-filled day of entertainment for kids. The afternoon celebration and entertainment is hosted at Whitaker Center in Harrisburg. The show begins at 11 a.m. and includes a performance of “Snow White and the Two Dwarfs.” For more information and tickets, visit gamutplays.org.

Musical Notes: Seasonal sounds, different takes on the Yuletide.

November 26, 2013 | by Dan Webster

Hark. The show goes on in December, so here are a few holiday offerings. Jeffrey Gaines is our only exception—a hometown hero and a holiday present. So, rock round the clock (and your Christmas tree) in this final month of 2013.

The Celts, Whitaker Center, Dec. 5, doors @ 7:30 p.m.

The Celts are a straight-out-of-PBS special: Irish jigs, the flute, the fiddle, and the folksy tunes of these Irish-born musicians will bring their traditional set of holiday favorites to Whitaker Center. The “Christmas with the Celts” CD will give you a taste of their seasonal selections. Standards, such as, “O Holy Night” and “Little Drummer Boy” will be played, and others of Irish origin will be on tap, as well.

Tim Warfield, Strand Capitol, Dec. 21, doors @ 7:30 p.m.

A York native, saxophonist Tim Warfield and his impressive band, featuring Terell Stafford, will rely less on scat for this performance and more on the solid sounds of holiday faves. Expect some creative arrangements of “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.” Warfield has appeared on The Today Show and Bill Cosby’s You Bet Your Life, where he was member of the house band. His presence in the central Pennsylvania jazz scene is prominent, being a board member of the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz and now artist-in-residence at Messiah College.

Jeffrey Gaines, Appalachian Brewing Company, Dec. 28, doors @ 8:00 p.m.

Jeffrey Gaines has been playing the Harrisburg circuit for more than two decades, yet he’s known nationally and internationally for his ruminative songs on love. His claim to fame occurred after his cover of “In Your Eyes” hit a mainstream audience in the early ‘90s. Since his self-entitled debut album in 1992, he’s put out four other full-length albums. His ostentatious attire and make up on stage is in direct contrast to his throaty, yet soulful, voice. His songs are schmaltzy but grounded in theme. Start off with his classics, “Fear” and “A Simple Prayer,” for a taste of his talent.

Mentionables:

David Bazan, Mechanicsburg, (location revealed upon purchase), 12/2, doors @ 8 p.m., purchase tickets @ The Undertow.com

Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads Tribute), Appalachian Brewing Company, 12/7, doors @ 9 p.m.

The Irish Tenors, Strand Capitol, 12/8, doors @ 7:30 p.m.

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