Why I Bought TheBurg: A strong community must have an engaged, supportive press.

August 29, 2013 | by J. Alex Hartzler

Jeff Bezos’ purchase of The Washington Post last month triggered all manner of articles and commentary in media around the country. As I am learning, nothing is more interesting to media types than other media types in the media. Of course, this is perhaps true in other professions, with the small distinction that not everyone gets the opportunity to read or hear about it in quite the same manner.

Print media generally has been in decline for a decade or more as the rise of the Internet has fundamentally altered the production and consumption of “news.” It is ironic to some that those who have made their fortune as a result of new media, like Bezos and Chris Hughes, a founder of Facebook who bought The New Republic in 2012, among others, are now returning to invest in print.

Some wonder whether these purchases will save the publication in question or hasten its demise. One commentator in the New York Times pointed out that Bezos is spending a very small percentage of his wealth on the Post and cannot possibly be expecting a return. The commentator speculated that it is only proper that one of the people who has most benefited from our current Gilded Age would now pursue the enrichment of society more generally through the pursuit of knowledge and community education more broadly. I suspect that this is exactly what Mr. Bezos has in mind.

Inevitably, a few friends have mentioned to me the parallel between my own prior career in an Internet-based company and my recent purchase of TheBurg. While flattering, there is, of course, no parallel in size, scope, influence or anything else, beyond a possible shared belief in engaged community reporting. I do acknowledge, however, that I have been very lucky in my career and that the “new economy” has treated me exceedingly well, perhaps disproportionately so, and that this fortune has given me the opportunity to encourage community improvement more broadly. To the extent that Bezos will “save” the Post and allow its staff to continue to do what it does best, for the benefit of the national community, without requiring a financial return or answering to the vagaries of the public financial markets, I congratulate him and hope to emulate his efforts on a local level.

The story also made me think once again about the reasons behind my purchase of TheBurg and about our key operating principles. They are as follows:

1. The mission of TheBurg is to provide responsible, engaged reporting on the people and places that make up our local community in the Harrisburg area, while setting a high standard for principled and integrative journalism. TheBurg will tell the stories of the 95 percent of what is right about our area, while playing a constructive role in trying to improve the 5 percent that is wrong.

2. The editor-in-chief and staff have complete editorial control, within the confines of our mission. If you ever see mug shots, sensational crime stories, inflammatory political coverage or Jerry Sandusky on the cover, you will immediately know that I am no longer the publisher. Beyond that, however, Larry, Paul and their staff make the story decisions and write what they want so long as it is accurate and fair. I may provide story ideas from time to time, but the stories you see are ones that Larry and his team have decided are newsworthy. Cynics may believe that I unduly influence coverage—as my staff’s community or political views may occasionally align with mine—but that is simply wrong.

3. TheBurg will achieve a break-even business model after a grow-in period. I bought TheBurg because, after four years, Larry and Pete told me that they could not financially sustain the paper. By stepping in and providing new financial resources, TheBurg has been able to grow its number of pages; greatly improve its design, graphics and website; and produce a leading monthly publication. However, it will eventually have to stand on its own to be sustainable long-term. In other words, it will have to break-even from an annual income and expense standpoint. I do not expect or even wish to earn a financial return publishing TheBurg. I also do not expect or wish to lose money on a continual basis. I have already told our staff that, due to our impressive content and business side improvements this year, I will support TheBurg financially through 2014. However, we continue to have much work to do to reach financial sustainability.

4. TheBurg will be a force for positive change within the wider community. Unlike other suburban media outlets that consistently tell you what is wrong with Harrisburg, without suggesting ways to improve it, I firmly believe that a community newspaper is an actor in the community, not merely an observer of the community. What we say and what we print do matter to those who live here and those who visit us from outside. The community ethos, if you will, stems in large part from the stories we tell each other, about ourselves. TheBurg will do its part of that storytelling in an engaged, productive and principled manner. The alternative of the disengaged critic leads to cynicism and ultimately despair, which tears down the community. My belief is that this model also rests chiefly on a failed business model built upon the false perception of people’s desire for sensation and controversy over thoughtfulness and consensus-building. I believe that a strong community, like Harrisburg, deserves a positive voice that accurately reflects the great strengths we have to offer, not a forum for the lowest common denominator and for commentators seeking to display their ignorance and grievances.

That is why I bought TheBurg. I hope you have been enjoying our work this year as much as I have.

August News Digest

August 29, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

Judge Tosses Mindlin, Curtis Candidacies

A Dauphin County judge last month upheld challenges to the independent candidacies of Nevin Mindlin and Nate Curtis, throwing both men off the Nov. 5 general election ballot for Harrisburg mayor.

Judge Bernard Coates Jr. ruled Mindlin’s candidacy invalid because he failed to fill out a mandatory section of his nominating petition. He rejected Curtis’ petition for failing to meet the city’s residency requirement.

The decision came after both Mindlin and Curtis defended their candidacies in court before Coates.

Mindlin said that he did not fill out a section of the petition because it seemed to pertain only to political parties, and he was running as an independent. He said that advice he received from the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections backed up his belief.

Nonetheless, Coates, citing legal precedent, rejected that argument, asserting that filling out that section was a requirement under law. Curtis also failed to fill out that section, but Coates rejected his petition first for not complying with the mandatory one-year residency requirement for candidates.

Mindlin said that he would appeal the ruling, which was not decided at press time.

Miller Back in Race

City Controller Dan Miller last month re-entered the race for Harrisburg mayor, days after saying he would not run again.

Miller lost the Democratic primary in May, but gained a slot on the November ballot by earning 196 write-in votes as a Republican.

Since his primary loss to Eric Papenfuse, Miller had not publicly stated if he’d run on the GOP side. At a press conference, he finally publicly declined the opportunity, only to change his mind four days later following petition challenges to independent candidates Nevin Mindlin and Nate Curtis.

Mindlin and Curtis eventually lost their challenges and were thrown off the ballot.

Miller, who is a Democratic state committeeman, will now run as the Republican against Democrat Papenfuse during the Nov. 5 general election.

Carter Named Police Chief

Twenty-five-year force veteran Thomas Carter was named acting chief of police last month following the retirement of former Chief Pierre Ritter.

Carter, who was promoted to captain just three months ago, was selected from among the department’s three captains, who all were interviewed for the post, said Mayor Linda Thompson. Most recently, he had headed up the department’s criminal investigation division.

Thompson said she has no plans to nominate Carter for full chief, so he will remain “acting” chief until the end of her mayoral term. The next mayor, she said, should be granted the opportunity to appoint his own police chief.

“I’m here to do a job here and now,” said an emotional Carter as he was introduced as the new acting chief. “The only thing I care about is serving the people of this city.”

Ritter, another long-time Harrisburg police officer, retired from the force unexpectedly after three-and-a-half years as chief.

Recovery Plan Set to Hit Court

The Commonwealth Court this month is expected to begin consideration of elements of Harrisburg’s financial recovery plan.

Receiver William Lynch said last month he expected to bring some—or all—of the plan to the court for approval.

The court must OK all changes to the original proposal approved last year. These include the details of deals involving the incinerator, the parking system and the water/sewer system. Other key elements of the plan include renegotiation of contracts with the city’s three labor unions and possible concessions from the city’s numerous creditors.

City Council also must pass enabling legislation to enact many elements of the recovery plan. It had planned to start that process at a special legislative session in mid-August, but that meeting was cancelled.

July Property Sales

Bellevue Rd., 2101: First National Bank of Pa. to J. & E. Lewis, $100,000

Benton St., 509: C. Morrow to J. Washington & J. Barksdale, $89,900

Brookwood St., 2108: Trusted Source Capital LLC to Herlason LLC, $39,000

Chestnut St., 2223: T. & B. Johnson to T. Jeffers & C. & M. Bauer, $32,700

Edward St., 501: E. Marino to A. Telford, $123,000

Fulton St., 1732: LT65 Sunrise LP & C. Michael to PA Deals LLC, $46,500

Fulton St., 1732: PA Deals LLC to B. & M. Weaver, $62,500

Green St., 1328: D. Wong to D. Misner, $69,900

Hamilton St., 312: A. Clionsky to M. & E. Gillespie, $45,000

Hanna St., 103: T. Craig to S. Brown, $64,000

Holly St., 1940: D. Williams to H. Terry, $54,910

Hudson St., 1148: Bank of New York Mellon to PA Deals LLC, $38,600

Hummel St., 219: Bank of Landisburg to Brethren Housing Assoc., $90,000

Kelker St., 245: J. Stumpf to A. Peragine, $36,000

Logan St., 2331: T. Cunningham to M. Daniel, $39,713

Market St., 1604: J. Carchidi Jr. to James Goodfellow LLC, $38,000

N. 2^nd St., 1530: Clark Resources Inc. to MGRP Holdings Ltd., $225,000

N. 2^nd St., 2525: F. Vicknair to S. Barry, $193,500

N. 3^rd St., 1401, 1405, 1407, 1409, 1411; 300 & 302A Calder St.; 1405, 1410 & 1412 James St.: Third Street Development to Susquehanna Art Museum, $808,455

N. 4^th St., 2320A: Trusted Source Capital LLC to K. Lee & Y. Su, $36,000

N. 4^th St., 3310: E. Powden to B. Yonkin, $125,000

Parkside Lane, 2910: P. & C. DiMartile to W. & B. Hoover, $233,153

Penn St., 1314: Fannie Mae to E. Jones, $75,000

Pennwood Rd., 3135: PNMAC Mortgage Opportunity Fund LLC to PA Deals LLC, $58,000

Race St., 608: D. & C. Smith to Shipoke LLC, $140,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: S. Carbaugh & M. Dutton to PI Capital LLC, $31,855

Sayford St., 121: M. & R. Plaut to G. Nebinger, $80,000

Showers St., 609: A. Beam to R. Leiphart, $137,500

S. 26^th St., 655: L. Kramer & T. Starr to Twenty Ninth Street United Methodist Church, $120,000

S. 27^th St., 655: G. & A. Havrilla to S. Sullivan, $59,900

S. Front St., 557: D. Yarkin & C. Carlson to K. Stennett, $125,000

Swatara St., 1323: E. Molina to J. Ortiz to D. Millar, $35,800

Waldo St., 2616: Gary Neff Inc. & City Limits Realty to J. Palmer, $32,900

Source: Dauphin County, for sales exceeding $30,000. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Taste the Torch: Torchbearer Sauces spread the hot, the mild through the midstate & beyond.

August 29, 2013 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

It all started with the “spicy dinners,” said David “Vid” Lynch, owner of Torchbearer Sauces.

“A few of my friends and I used to host parties in college, and we’d cook spicy foods and people really liked it,” he said.

Spurred on by the popularity of the get-togethers, Vid and his friends took a road trip to Texas to stock up on habaneros. The ambitious bunch came back to Harrisburg with more than 600 pounds of the peppers; then they commenced to chop and freeze. After exhausting that supply, the students decided to grow their own.

Eventually the dinners ended, but the habanero harvest continued unabated.

“We didn’t want them to go to waste, so we made the Sultry sauce as a way to preserve them,” said Lynch, referring to his first foray into the hot sauce business.

Friends loved it. So, bolstered by that feedback, Lynch and his partners, Ben Smith and Tim Wortman, decided to test it out on the general public. “We knew we’d need to have a bit of a product line to begin marketing, so we started out with six varieties,” he said.

Lynch enlisted the help of friend Rich Hauck, owner of Hauck Interactive in Harrisburg, to create colorful, eye-popping label graphics to help them stand out among the competition. Pretty soon, the product took off.

“For the first four years, we outsourced the packing and production, then we started making it ourselves and people liked it better, even though it was the same product. Since then, sales have grown 10-fold,” said Lynch.

Today, the company employs five full-time and 20 part-time workers. Lynch’s parents, Tom and Tricia, are co-owners and also lend a hand turning out more than 20 varieties of Torchbearer Sauces.

The products are marketed at more than 100 festivals, 27 farmers markets and 200 stores around the country, including Wegmans, where the Torchbearer crew will be offering samples in upcoming weeks. Customers who have the temerity to taste the sauces with colorful names like Zombie Apocalypse, Ultimate Annihilation and The Rapture, should come prepared with liquid refreshment, especially those who are brave enough to try The Rapture, which contains two types of Scorpion pepper.

“Scorpion peppers are the hottest in the world, so I stick to The Zombie Apocalypse myself,” he said, referring to the sauce containing ghost chilies, which are mild in comparison. “Rapture is just evil,” he added.

But it’s not all hot and spicy in the Torchbearer world. Barbecue sauces, honey mustard and garlic sauces account for two-thirds of the company’s sales. “The Honey Barbecue on wings and ribs is awesome, and the Carolina Barbecue won an award for best salad dressing in a competition in Texas. It’s great on pulled pork,” said Lynch.

Brandon Sarzynski, a Mechanicsburg resident who has been a fan for years, said Honey Barbecue is his current favorite. “I use it on everything from burgers to mac and cheese. My fall favorite is the Mango Papaya. It goes great on pumpkin pie and ice cream paired with a nice pumpkin ale,” he said.

The current bestseller, however, is a flavor bomb called “Oh My Garlic,” according to Lynch. “People put it on salads, subs, pizza—we haven’t found much it doesn’t work on,” he said.

Later in the year, Torchbearer Sauces will be rolling out six new flavors, including a horseradish sauce, just in time for the holidays, according to Lynch.

The company has faced and overcome challenges throughout the years, most recently adapting to a surge in growth. “We sold about 50,000 bottles last year, and we’re projecting sales of about 90,000 this year, so we’re tweaking efficiency to improve production,” said Lynch, who foresees the company needing more warehouse space in a few years.

“It will have to evolve, no question. We’re approaching the point where we’re going to have to do something different, that’s for sure,” he said.

And that sounds like a tasty problem to have.

To learn more about Torchbearer Sauces, visit www.torchbearersauces.com

For Adults Only: It’s grown-up time at PM Bistro

August 29, 2013 | by TheBurg Staff

Not every new restaurant starts with a wedding.

But that’s what happened recently at PM Bistro & Lounge, which debuted in July amid the nuptials of two of its owners.

Elijah Q. Massey and Monica Archie declared, “I do,” then celebrated their union at the former Parkside Café at the edge of Reservoir Park on State Street in Harrisburg.

The grand opening/reception brought an overflow crowd, said Massey, with the Urban Guerilla Orchestra performing.

How did they manage to pull it all off?

Apparently without a hitch (save for the vow exchange) since everyone was still smiling days later. Massey goes on to say that he and Archie set out to find a place to purchase more than a year ago. Once they settled on the location and took a look at the inside, he was thinking, “easy, simple, paint it up and open.”

Archie, however, had other ideas: tear down this wall, add another …

With a king-sized cowboy hat perched proudly on his head and one of PM’s signature drinks in hand, Massey explained that the result of the renovations became a casual, elegant and open space. The color scheme connects to the surrounding environment as the light cream/beige matches the band shell at Reservoir Park.

“So people will think ‘PM Bistro’ while they’re enjoying a concert,” said Massey, a recently retired police captain.

Massey and Archie own the spot with Charles Pryor and his wife, Sheila. The four, plus General Manager Keith Smith, all actively participate in daily operations at the bistro.

Massey also mentions that, when the Pryors heard of their plan for the old Parkside, they were “eager to come on board and join us in our vision.”

The result ended up what you might see when southern, urban and city-chic meet and merge.

That means interesting, colorful cocktails, entrees for grown-up tastes (with a down home twist), Sunday brunch, dancing, a salsa night, karaoke and an upcoming cigar dinner series, among many other events.

In addition to being a full service restaurant that offers take-out, PM Bistro provides a location for events such as rehearsal dinners, business meetings and parties. The space can accommodate larger parties of 50 or more, but reservations are strongly suggested, said Smith.

Massey said they also provide services for those who might need a cab home or security for ladies who are going to their cars, with Smith adding that the staff is Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) trained and certified.

Massey finishes Smith’s statement with: “The safety of our customers is our number one concern,” and, “We want everyone to have fun and arrive home safely.”

When Archie finally gets a minute to sit down, she asks if there are any questions left for her as she reaches over to share a piece of warm cornbread that appeared moments before next to a bowl of freshly made (and downright delicious) cheesy grits.

She asks the question breathlessly, with her signature smile that helped sweep Massey off his feet and led him to ask her for a date the day they ran into each other in Costco.

Massey then disappeared somewhere into the restaurant. But, just before, he tipped his hat and said: “Good food plus good people. Cowboy up!”

PM Bistro & Lounge

717-236-2181

2009 State St.

Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight

Daily, but closed on Monday

Reservations suggested, walk-ins welcome

Take-out available

Out with the Old 8th: A teeming neighborhood once stood on the grounds of the Capitol complex.

August 29, 2013 | by Jason Wilson

The Pennsylvania Capitol complex occupies approximately 45 acres of ground, mainly to the south and east of the main Capitol building. The sheer size of the buildings and scope of the plan took almost three-quarters of a century to fully develop, but, prior to 1917, the area east of the Capitol was Harrisburg’s 8^th Ward, a densely populated neighborhood.

During the course of the later 19^th century, the 8^th Ward had gained a reputation as one of the “seedier” areas of Harrisburg, full of saloons, gambling dens and houses of prostitution.

But the crowded, narrow alleys and maze of streets also housed thousands of people and many businesses, including the State Street Market and numerous shops, hotels, small manufacturers and synagogues. It consisted of a largely poor, multi-ethnic population that became increasingly African American over time. After the Capitol’s completion in 1906, the “old 8^th” must have looked, to some civic-minded residents, even more squalid by comparison.

So, in 1911, the commonwealth and the city came to an agreement in which the state would gradually buy up the houses, stores, churches and properties within the 8^th ward and raze them to make room for future government buildings. This, it was argued, would serve both Harrisburg in eliminating a vast portion of outdated, often cramped tenements, while allowing architect Arnold W. Brunner to develop an overall plan for a campus of state buildings. By 1917, most of the buying and demolition were complete and, aside from a few homes and churches, barren lots and weeds were all that remained of the “old 8^th.”

The South Office Building was built first in the early 1920s, along with four barrack-like temporary buildings for other state agencies. The North Office was completed in 1929, the Forum (or Education Building) in 1931 and the Finance Building in 1940. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Bridge was planned in honor of all Pennsylvania’s veterans in 1919, but was not completed until 1930.

Arnold Brunner passed away in 1925, well before most of the complex buildings were even begun, and William Gehron and Sydney Ross completed his design. In the 1930s, Fisher Plaza and Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Grove were laid out, but the final piece of Brunner’s plan came in the mid-1980s, when a large, open parking lot was replaced with the Capitol’s East Wing.

The Capitol complex is one of the largest and most successful campaigns of governmental civic building in the United States and a National Historic Landmark, but the history and photographs of the 8^th Ward are equally as important—a view of what is lost, for better or worse, in favor of progress.

Jason Wilson is a historian for the Capitol Preservation Committee.

The lighter photographs show the dense neighborhood shortly before its destruction, with the Capitol dome looming over it. The darker shots depict the “old 8^th” after most of it had been razed to make way for the expansion of the Capitol complex. Photos supplied by the Historic Harrisburg Association and the Capitol Preservation Committee.

A Caring, Sharing Place: Highmark Caring Place marks a decade of helping grieving children.

August 29, 2013 | by Daniel Smyth

Terri Bowling, child grief specialist, tells a story of a macho football captain playing a heated game of air hockey with a 4-year-old girl.

“Both were having fun,” she said. “All the children are going through the same things; no one is the odd one out.”

Bowling serves as outreach and education coordinator for Caring Place, a safe space where grieving children and families come together to form a support group for one another. It is kids helping kids. The Caring Place is an essential resource and has been offering free support services for the Harrisburg community for a decade now, this year marking its 10-year anniversary.

The Harrisburg location is one of four Caring Place centers, all located in Pennsylvania. The initial Caring Place began in 1988 in downtown Pittsburgh, “giving grieving children a place to go,” explained John Kajic, child grief specialist and manager of Caring Place.

Within Caring Place, each child’s experience is created by his or her effort and participation. The program is designed in group sessions spanning about five months. These groups are made up of children and families who eventually become the foundation of peer support for each other. There is no guiding curriculum, only that each group forms its own goals and guidelines, recalling the exception paradox, “the only rule is no rules.”

One teen who had gone through the Caring Place program after a loss of her brother and father described the process.

“If you don’t want to say anything, don’t say anything. If you want to listen to music, listen to music. We talk about it sometimes, and other times we put it aside and we just talk about what’s going on in our lives.”

Each peer support group functions differently from one another, but all are consistent with the idea of a communal bond, a safe place for one another. “How we define a family is how they define themselves,” explained Kajic, who manages four other staff members and roughly 180 volunteers.

“The success of the group is where they can feel safe with each other,” said 10-year volunteer Tony Lobato. “A lot of time folks tiptoe around them. Within their groups, there is the opportunity where they are not the only ones going through this.”

Lobato continued to explain the therapeutic process of simply sharing experiences.

“I’ll say to the kids, this is after they are comfortable sharing and everything else, I’ll say, ‘How many hear a special song or a special something and tears come to your eyes because you remember?’ Their hands go up. They’ll say, ‘Mom loved this.’ ‘Dad liked to have a beer and watch Jeopardy.’ It gives them some outlet. Sometimes, you can see the calm come over them because they’re sharing.”

The group sessions include various activities created to aid in the grieving process. An example is the specially designated activities room with air hockey tables decorated with group quilts along the walls. The quilts are a part of a therapeutic remembrance activity where the child or family celebrates the life of a deceased loved one on a square piece of fabric, which is then compiled into a large quilt.

Lobato explained the quilt-making. “It gives them something to come together…it’s so personalized and makes it so special.” Once the quilt-making process is finished, there is a ceremony, a celebration of the past, presenting the group’s finished quilt.

“It’s a beautiful ceremony where they unveil it, and they bring their families…it’s very impressive,” said Lobato.

At the conclusion of the five-month cycle, the names of each group member are added to the Tree of Growth. Each name is on a single leaf, and the leaves are organized in bunches representing each individual group. The names make up a full lush tree of leaves with the names of everyone who has gone through the program.

Lobato explained, “In the very last session, after everything’s done, we tell the kids their names are up on the Tree of Growth. They love it.”

This constant support is impossible without the work of the roughly 180 volunteers. They are the heart of the community resource.

“As long as there is a child affected by death, there is a volunteer to tend to them,” said Kajic.

“We are facilitators,” explained Lobato, a retired accountant. “You just have to care and be sincere. I truly care about these kids.”

To learn how to volunteer at Caring Place, contact Val Fletcher, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected]. To become a volunteer, no special experience is required, only the care and willingness to support grieving children and families.

If you or a family member is seeking support after the death of a loved one, stop by the Caring Place, 3 Walnut St., Lemoyne, and find support and shared experiences.

Keeping Focus: For 80 years, the Harrisburg Camera Club has stayed up with developments.

August 29, 2013 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

From prints to pixels, photography has changed greatly since 1933, an evolution reflected in the eight-decade history of the Harrisburg Camera Club.

“The club has morphed a lot,” said Camp Hill resident and group president R. Andrew Hoff. “At one time, it was all dark-room people. Then it evolved into a projector slide club, which focused predominantly on travel. Now, it is all over the map—architectural, abstract, street photography, black and white and creative,” said Hoff.

The group is comprised of non-professionals still learning the hobby and professional photographers eager to share their tips. Some have been published in local, regional and national magazines, and others have taken top awards in various contests around the country.

Hoff’s interest in photography began years ago in the mid-1980s. “One of my friends owned a photo studio and told me I needed to improve my photography skills,” he said. That was the impetus to propel Hoff past the “point and shoot” mode, eventually leading him to serve as an officer of the club.

Camera Club Vice President Randal Lathrop harkens back to childhood to explain how he developed an interest in the hobby. The Carlisle resident said, “I’ve been taking pictures since I was a kid. When I was growing up in the ‘60s, my father was stationed in Germany, and I bought a Kodak Brownie camera at a flea market for a nickel. When we transferred to Hawaii, I took some black and white developing classes.”

Lathrop put photography on hold to attend college and the military, only to pick it back up years later. “I learned about the club when I was browsing for accessories at Carlisle Camera and saw a meeting advertised. I joined that night back in 2007 and have been a member ever since,” he said.

The club has enjoyed steady growth through the years and now boasts about 100 members who meet twice a month from September through April at the Giant Community Room in Camp Hill. During the meetings, attendees are encouraged to enter competitions and submit their best photos to be critiqued—a process that appeals to both new and seasoned photographers alike, according to Hoff.

“We lay them out on the table and form an opinion on them, explaining what makes a photo good and what would make it better,” he said.

Cathy Marone, who has been a member for two years, travels to the meetings from Lewisberry.

“My husband Tom pushed me into it after I purchased my first digital camera,” she said. “He told me I needed to learn to take it off automatic and adjust my speed, exposure and aperture.”

Marone was a bit hesitant to compete the first year, but decided to take the plunge and enter some of her photos the second year. To her surprise, she won third place—a bronze coin—in two of the print competitions, with a picture of an amaryllis and a zebra.

Karen Commings said that entering the digital competitions was a big help in improving her photography. The Linglestown resident, who has been a member for three years, said, “The judges offer useful critiques of your photos; my photography has improved, and I’m having fun doing it.”

In addition to the regular meetings and the competitions that are held throughout the year, the group hosts an annual workshop at Central Penn College. According to Hoff, the one-day event features speakers like Tony Sweet and John Barclay, both Nikon legends, and Ed Heaton, a Tamron professional. “We bring in the highest-level speakers we can afford, and it’s been well received, with participants coming from as far as West Virginia and Philadelphia,” said Hoff.

The club also plans field trips, which are popular. Excursions include a Knoebels Grove outing, a visit to the Strasburg Railroad Museum and a Wildwood Park trip, where seasoned members will mentor those who request guidance.

As part of its public outreach, the club has supported a program called “Photography for Kids.”

“Canon supplied the equipment, and we conducted two one-week camps. Our booth at Artsfest showcased the children’s work, and we conducted a raffle to raise funds, splitting the proceeds between the club and the program,” said Hoff.

More recently, the club provided photography services for Special Olympics, sending six photographers to Messiah College to photograph the athletes in sporting events.

So, if terms like aperture and F-stop freeze you in your tracks, you might be a good candidate for the Harrisburg Camera Club. “We encourage people to attend free to try us out and see if they want to join,” said Hoff.

Club member Marone said she learns a lot at the meetings. “My husband Tom and I enjoy the people, and they are very eager to share their knowledge,” she said.

“My goal is just to make everyone a better photographer—period,” said Hoff.

To learn more about the Harrisburg Camera Club, visit harrisburgcameraclub.com.

Market in the Middle: Riddled with bureaucracy, Broad Street Market strives to move forward.

August 29, 2013 | by M. Diane McCormick

Broad Street Market is a study in contrasts. Signs of hope coexist with signs of neglect. Posters announce “Coming soon: Cornerstone Eatery” at a prime spot in the stone building on N. 3rd Street. A pergola-style booth houses the new, pristine Harvest organic foods stand in the brick building that backs onto N. 6th Street.

But inside the stone building, the space is dim—maybe because so many lights aren’t working. Plywood is tacked over worn doors leading into the brick building.

The Broad Street Market is an old-fashioned market looking for new everything. New roof. New doors. New manager. New customers.

Renewal, say market officials and vendors, is around the corner. Envisioned changes in ownership and management, it is hoped, will restore stability, attract vendors and lure new customers.

Scrutiny of the 150-year-old Broad Street Market has intensified as the farm-to-table movement goes mainstream and Midtown Harrisburg cultivates its artsy identity. The Market once thrived, but recent troubles—two shutdowns for pest violations, manager churn, vendor turnover and vacant stands—have tarnished its reputation.

“It’s one thing for a city resident to say, ‘I don’t go there,’” said Broad Street Market board chairman Jonathan Bowser. “It’s another for them to say, ‘I didn’t know they were still open.’”

Still, the market has its assets and charms.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvement,” said vendor Joy Gillette, of Simply Soup & Beyond Café. “A lot of foot traffic is starting to come back. This market is different. You really have to gain the customer’s trust.”

Some of the turmoil can be attributed to the market’s convoluted ownership and management structure. In short: Historic Harrisburg Association owns the Market entity. The city of Harrisburg owns and is responsible for maintaining the buildings, at least on the outside. The for-profit Broad Street Market Corp. board oversees operations and internal maintenance. A manager and facilities manager, hired by the board, run daily operations.

Got that?

“It’s like four carts trying to move along and pull things forward,” said Assistant City Solicitor Carlesha Halkias. “You look to the right, you look to the left, and you’re not really sure where the other is. We’ve worked hard the last several months to make sure that communication is flowing. I think that was a barrier before.”

Coming Soon

Anticipated changes could finally untangle the Gordian knot. HHA has removed its authority to amend the Market board’s by-laws and hopes to dissolve its ownership and become “a friend of the market,” said HHA Executive Director John Campbell. The city’s management lease expires at the end of 2013, and Halkias and Bowser say they’re working together on refinements that clarify responsibilities.

“We still want to have a very strong relationship and partnership with the city but a little more flexibility to manage the way we see best,” said Bowser. For instance, the ability to access funds more quickly would streamline daily operations, he said.

After the contract is finalized—Halkias said the mayor “has not advised me yet” on timing—the board expects an “internal conversation of what we want to look like as an organization,” said Bowser. One strong possibility is restructuring as a nonprofit or community development corporation, capable of seeking federal, state and local grants directly, without having to partner with the city.

Financially, the Broad Street Market earns just enough to pay the bills for its annual $350,000 budget, said Bowser and Campbell. But the market owes NRG an unspecified amount—Bowser said the details are confidential—for past steam bills that, due to an undetected leak, soared as high as $20,000 a month. Today, a gas system, funded by state grants, heats the buildings.

About $220,000 in grant money has been accumulated toward a “cooling mechanism” to remove hot air from the buildings, and Halkias said the city is consulting with contractors to determine the scope of a cooling project.

Vendor Energy

Bowser hopes that board transparency and stronger communications will improve vendor relations, and consistent enforcement of rules and regulations should simplify the manager’s job. Board member Amy Hill sees social media as a “gigantic untapped opportunity” to replicate, in electronic-age style, the word of mouth that once brought customers to the stands.

“It’s still that same sense of community that kept this market alive for 150 years,” she said.

Matthew Hickey co-owns the new Harvest organic foods stand. His co-owner, Joshua Kesler, is developing Stokes Millworks, located just across Verbeke Street, into a farm-to-fork restaurant.

“We know that there’s great potential in the Market, and we know there’s a need for good, healthy fresh food in the city,” Hickey said amid tidy displays of just-picked peaches and tomatoes. “It seems like there’s energy happening within the board, and everyone involved is very progressive. We all have the same vision.”

Vendor Leon Glick, of Two Brothers BBQ, racked up pans heavy with marinated beef and then meticulously cleaned the stainless steel counter while explaining that he invested in stand upgrades to be “courthouse compatible” for the day when a federal courthouse is built at N. 6^th and Reily streets.

Some vendors don’t think appearances matter, Glick said, but “just because we have low- to middle-income customers, that doesn’t mean we have to look low class.” Besides, he said, the Market is attracting “a totally different, new clientele here. More people means more business.”

Glick and other vendors have bought joint advertisements, but the market “has not spent anywhere close enough of our rent dollars on advertising,” he said. The motorists zooming past must be convinced to stop.

“I think we’re going to have to spend a lot of money to make money,” Glick said.

###

Addition to the print story: On Aug. 30, the Market announced the exit of HHA as part of its management. The press release follows:

THE BROAD STREET MARKET’S BRIGHT FUTURE

New Governing Structure Announced

HARRISBURG (Aug. 30) – “Fresh start” and “new beginnings” are not words typically associated with an organization with a history more than 150-years old, but that is how leaders of Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market described its new governing structure. The City of Harrisburg owns the landmark brick and stone buildings that make up the Broad Street Market at 3rd and Verbeke Streets in Midtown, but since 1996 the Historic Harrisburg Association has overseen the property and delegated the routine operations to a volunteer board of directors. The new agreement, announced today, simplifies the governing structure. HHA will step aside and a newly formed corporation run by community volunteers will assume direct control of the operational decision making. The city will remain the landlord.

“The change is one step forward in the very long process of revitalizing this community treasure,” said Jonathan Bowser, chairman of the Broad Street Market Board of Directors and Director of Economic Development, Corporate VP for Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation. “HHA has been a great partner, but the new structure is more efficient. We will be better prepared to leverage funding and other investments to improve the Market when needed.”

HHA’s executive director, John Campbell is equally encouraged by the change. “Historic Harrisburg is proud to continue as an advocate and neighbor to the Broad Street Market; but the time has come for the teenager to leave home and go out on his own,” he joked. “We do not need to be in the managerial position anymore.” Both Bowser and Campbell stressed that the reigns of the Market are not being handed over to a typical private corporation. The Market will be governed by people from the community committed to maintaining its benefit to the neighborhood. Both agreed that change was not getting rid of something that does not work. The mutual decision to restructure will allow the Broad Street Market to focus on meeting the community’s need for a thriving farmer’s market in the city and to free up HHA to pursue its mission of historic preservation and building a sustainable community for the City of Harrisburg.

The Broad Street Market boasts 34 vendors providing fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, cheeses, baked goods and other grocery items as well as diverse, ethnic and fresh prepared foods. It is located at 1233 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102 and hours of operation are Wednesday: 7a.m. – 2 p.m. (limited vendors); Thursday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. There is ample free parking surrounding the market. For more information, visit www.broadstreetmarket.org.

# # #

NOTE: Jonathon Bowser and John Campbell are available for individual interviews and guided tours of the market. Contact Amy Hill at [email protected] or 717-343-9475 to arrange.

For more information, contact:

Amy B. Hill, APR

717-343-9475

[email protected]

Extra Credit

August 28, 2013 | by Paul Barker

Sometimes press conferences answer questions, and sometimes they raise new ones.

Two weeks ago, after the stabbing of three police officers during a confrontation in an Oxford Street home, the newly promoted chief, Thomas Carter, gave an example of the former. His debrief of the incident told reporters just about all they could want to know, right down to the name (Kiki) of a dog in the home.

The same day, a conference celebrating a Harrisburg baseball team did the latter. During what should have been an easy victory lap for the recent inter-league champions, a coach went off-road and began defending himself against charges that he had packed the inner-city team with out-of-city players. Many of the reporters, unaware such charges existed, raised their eyebrows and started scribbling.

And sometimes conferences do the latter inadvertently while trying to do the former. That was the case this morning, when Mayor Thompson called a conference to discuss the updated plan for the city’s state-shepherded recovery, submitted by receiver William Lynch Monday afternoon.

The implicit question was who deserved credit for the comprehensive plan. The answer, as in many Thompson conferences, was that credit was mostly due to one person: Mayor Thompson. She began the conference by reminding listeners that in October 2010 she had “requested financial protection for the city of Harrisburg” under Pennsylvania’s Act 47, the 1987 law delineating a program of state assistance for distressed municipalities.

“I stand here today to say that if I had not done that, if I had not stayed the course and placed us under Act 47, who knows where we’d be today,” Thompson said.

She took credit for the ideas to sell the incinerator and lease the city’s parking lots—she advocated for these things, “long before the receiver came on board,” in town hall meetings and “numerous press conferences.” She was sensitive to the perception that “the mayor has been pushed aside and the receiver is the king in the room,” and asserted that, to the contrary, anyone who reads the plan “will know that we worked together as a team.”

She didn’t claim to be the only figure deserving gratitude. She also thanked key players, including Governor Corbett, DCED Secretary Walker, Lynch, the county commissioners and City Council. But lest the list of acknowledgements crowd the frame, she concluded by thanking God “for using me to get the job done.”

Setting aside, for the moment, the fact that the job is not done—it requires approval by the Commonwealth Court, and depends upon legislative action by City Council—this mea facta from the mayor is a bit off-key.

The recovery plan, renamed the “Harrisburg Strong Plan” in its current incarnation, is indeed impressive. Its scope includes the sale of the city’s incinerator and the monetization of its parking assets, the injection of immediate funds to balance the 2013 budget, and a pledge to balance city budgets through 2016. It promises to reduce debt and projected deficits by way of several “reworkings”: of the city’s labor contracts; of its obligations to creditors; of its plan for funding the apparently roofless cost of healthcare for retired city workers. It also includes an increase in residents’ earned-income tax to 2 percent, more or less forcing City Council to reverse a promise that the hike would only last a year.

To what extent was the mayor responsible for any of this? In claiming credit, she has placed herself in a curious position. Beyond the jump in the income tax, none of the plan’s major pieces required Act 47 to get done. Entering receivership bought the city expertise and, to some degree, extra bargaining power. But the mayor’s need for these things in the first place is a testament to her inability to navigate the political labyrinth on her own. She has asked to be lauded for, essentially, acknowledging what she could not do.

Throughout the long months of announcements that the plan was around the corner, the mayor and the receiver were a study in contrasts. Both spoke of imminent steps towards recovery. But where Thompson was profuse, Lynch was guarded. At times, he was distressingly silent on topics of critical interest to city taxpayers: he would not even hint at the expected hit to the city’s creditors, saying that to reveal anything could hurt negotiations. Some began to wonder how the state-appointed receiver could possibly be an advocate for residents of the city.

The plan, at last, speaks where Lynch did not, and promises significant concessions from all sides. But where the residents’ tax hike will be sealed with legislation, the concessions from creditors—at least for now—are backed by little more than Lynch’s good word. But whom else can Harrisburg put its faith in? Its primary elected advocate, despite whatever credit she publicly takes, had next to nothing to offer in the way of specific areas where she had affected the final plan.

When asked whether she had ever pushed back at Lynch on behalf of the city, she responded, “You better believe I made some rumblings in those rooms.” She was pressed for examples, but provided none.

“I don’t think that’s important,” she said.

Officials React to “Harrisburg Strong”

August 27, 2013 | by TheBurg Staff

Receiver William Lynch’s financial recovery plan, which he calls the “Harrisburg Strong Plan,” has garnered official comment from many politicians and government officials over the past day. Here’s a sample of reactions to the plan.

Mayor Linda Thompson:

The sale of the incinerator, and lease of parking assets for 40 years are the major pieces of the Harrisburg Recovery Plan submitted to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania this afternoon. The revenue generated from the Recovery Plan, will allow for funds to bring the city current on vendor payments, close the structural deficit balancing the budget while simultaneously meeting creditor obligations and preserving Harrisburg’s economic future.

“If confirmed by Commonwealth Court,” Mayor Thompson said, “we believe Harrisburg will become a model for other financially distressed municipalities in Pennsylvania and across the county.”

The mayor added that “this plan shows that a consensual path is preferable to an on going dispute that brings protracted delays, substantial costs and uncertain results.”

The mayor reiterated that the core of the plan provides Pennsylvania’s capital city with:

1. A balanced budget through 2016.
2. Elimination of the incinerator debt.
3. $5 Million to bring the City current on vendor payments
and close the City’s shortfall for this year.
4. $10 Million over the next few years to foster economic development.
5. $10 Million in funding to upgrade and repair infrastructure and public safety.
6. A task force consisting of a diverse group of elected officials, civic, business, academic and community groups that will create an economic development and infrastructure improvement plan for no fewer than five years.
7. The creation of a health care trust fund that will help address rising costs for public employees with an initial $6 Million investment.
8. A meaningful reduction of labor costs through cooperative agreements with Harrisburg’s public
unions with contracts through 2016.
9. A reworking of the City’s general obligation debts allowing for repayment over a greater period of time and creating an environment where the City will have market access sooner and under more favorable borrowing terms as part of normal operations.
10. As soon as possible, return the City’s financial future to its elected officials, bringing the Receivership to a conclusion.

The $16 million in funding in the plan produces a health care trust; economic development and improvement of infrastructure that will provide Harrisburg the opportunity for a viable economic future and true economic recovery.

City Council:

Today, after years of fighting for a fair & justifiable solution for the citizens of Harrisburg, our City takes a big step forward with a detailed Recovery Plan being filed with the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. If approved, this plan crafted by Receiver William Lynch & his team, would take the necessary steps that pave the way to achieving fiscal stability for Harrisburg. It aims to reorganize debts, leverage assets, balance the budget, and most importantly, release the city from the crushing debt of the incinerator.

In many ways, the proposed plan accomplishes the many things we have fought so hard for, such as: shared pain and responsibility for the fiscal burdens of the incinerator; a robust process to identify and value our city’s assets and liabilities; a debt solution that brings all major stakeholders to the table; and most importantly, a plan to realistically deal with Harrisburg’s chronic structural deficit.

City Council has stood firm on various issues and fought for a fair solution for our city; one where the taxpayers would not be alone in shouldering the enormous costs of past mistakes. In that respect, today’s plan goes further than any prior plan that has come before this body.

In the coming weeks, through the legislative process, City Council will be addressing many aspects of the complex plan, including: issues related to the incinerator; parking, water and sewer services; and union agreements, among others. Our ultimate goal is to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us by the voters of this city. We hope and expect the public to be actively involved, rightfully questioning whether the plan fairly and adequately addresses their needs. To help in the process, Council has asked to employ the services of a financial advisor to review and advise on the economic aspects of the Plan and the contracts that follow.

Council recognizes the hard truth that by its very nature, a Recovery Plan cannot be expected to satisfy everyone completely. We respectfully ask others to do the same. Every stakeholder can and will find things to like and dislike about the plan; it’s the nature of the beast.

In the course of searching for solutions to the vexing issues facing our city, this Council has strived to keep an open mind and has been willing to work with those who also have wanted to find real resolutions to our problems. Now, as we work together with other stakeholders to move Harrisburg past this fiscal crisis, we will continue to work diligently for the betterment of the citizens of Harrisburg, as is our duty, entrusted upon us taking the oath of office during these challenging and troubling times.

Democratic candidate for mayor Eric Papenfuse:

Eric Papenfuse, Democratic Candidate for Mayor of Harrisburg, said Tuesday the economic recovery plan announced late Monday provides significant hope that Pennsylvania’s capital will overcome its financial crisis and avoid the scourge of bankruptcy.

“The plan that Receiver William Lynch has announced gives Harrisburg residents a second chance to rebuild our city and provide a brighter future for our children,” Papenfuse said. “It is a positive step and shows that Harrisburg will once again be a great capital. We thank city leaders who decided to work through Harrisburg’s problems and not cave in to bankruptcy and defeat.”

Papenfuse cautioned that the plan is not perfect and there are further steps that need to be taken before it is implemented. “But these developments show what can be done when people work together in a spirit of compromise, sacrifice and service.”

Harrisburg now needs committed leadership that can make the most of the fresh start that Harrisburg has been given, Papenfuse said. “We need a mayor who will seize this opportunity, work to attract business and investment in the city, fight to improve our schools and make our city beautiful and prosperous again. This is my platform and I’m ready to lead Harrisburg into a new era of pride and prosperity.”

Republican candidate for mayor and City Controller Dan Miller (in a letter addressed to City Council):

I applaud Harrisburg City Council’s decision to seek help from competent financial advisors to help review the receiver’s plan. The decisions this Council is being asked to make will affect the City for decades to come. So, it’s critical that there is a full understanding of the short and long term impact of the plan and all the fine points it entails. There is no need to rush to judgment! A careful and deliberative process is required and I am both hopeful and confident that Council will pursue one.

The plan is complex and comprehensive. I intend to make further comments and observations over the course of time to help inform and protect the interests of the citizens of Harrisburg.

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