A Hop Around Harrisburg: New website helps you navigate the city, its amenities.

September 18, 2012 | by Lawrance Binda

From across the Susquehanna River, Harrisburg can seem dense and intimidating.

The streets, the neighborhoods, the buildings–where does a person with little knowledge of the city begin to explore the shops, the restaurants, the sights?

Adam Brackbill felt just that way. He grew up nearby, in Mechanicsburg, but, to him, Harrisburg seemed like an alien place.

“When I first came into the city, I didn’t even know where to get a cup of coffee,” he said.

The 22-year-old Brackbill had made the trek across the river to locate his Web design company, Render Innovations, a business he had started while still a student at Messiah College.

He wanted to be in Harrisburg because the city was busy and vibrant commercially, with so many small and mid-sized businesses he hoped to turn into clients. However, he had no idea where to start exploring.

Then inspiration hit.

If he wondered how to navigate Harrisburg, then others might too. So, he began working on a new online portal to Harrisburg called Hop in The Burg, which he launched last month.

“It started out as a personal project because I didn’t know where to go,” he said. “But it evolved into a place where people can always find out something new about Harrisburg.”

Currently, Hop in The Burg focuses on businesses and services.

Are you downtown and want to know where to get a sandwich? Uptown and need to have some dry cleaning done? Maybe you need some gas or would like to meet friends for a burger and beer?

With a quick search, you’ll find all the options in town, along with a very helpful map and directions to tell you exactly where to go.

Going forward, as more people discover the site, you’ll find reviews, comments, photos and other helpful information, said Brackbill, who also hopes to add an events section.

There are also articles and blog posts with useful and interesting tidbits about Harrisburg. For instance, a recent article tracks former Harrisburg Senators players who are making an impact in the Major Leagues. Another story features a profile of Midtown Scholar Bookstore and another pictorial timeline of the history of Harrisburg.

Brackbill said he doesn’t see Hop in The Burg as a moneymaker. Most of all, he’d like to provide a service to the city, to its residents and visitors, with just enough advertising and sponsorships to support the site.

“The purpose is mostly just to provide a service, to help people,” he said.

Well, he does have one other objective, which he’s not shy about stating.

He’d like to entice his fellow West Shore-ites to make that often daunting, mile-long journey over a bridge that seems to separate cultures as much as it does bodies of land.

Since coming to Harrisburg, Brackbill said he’s been astounded at the city’s vibrancy and variety, as well as its sense of community.

He loves walking the streets of Olde Uptown, where his office is located, getting lunch at Alvaro’s or coffee at Little Amps.

In Midtown, he’s watched the river flow by while sitting on the porch of City House Bed & Breakfast, where his cousin, Bruce Burchfield, is the innkeeper.

So, he wants to do his part to dispel the notion, shamelessly promoted by local media and believed by many, that Harrisburg is little more than crime and bankruptcy.

“I want people to find out something new about Harrisburg,” he said. “I’d like them to understand that there’s a tight community here with things to do that people just don’t realize.”

Hop in The Burg is at www.hopintheburg.com. Adam Brackbill and Render Innovations can be reached at 888-594-0446 or www.renderinnovations.com.

Magnetic Pull.

September 5, 2012 | by Dr. Deepa Sekhar

I am in the office with the parent of a 9 month-old and we are laughing together over his progress. His mother describes how he is now pulling up to stand with the furniture and grabbing for everything he can to put in his mouth.

These are exciting milestones for children, but present a whole new level of safety concerns for parents. We spend a portion of every well-child visit focused on injury prevention. Usually, the discussion is based on the child’s age. For infants close to walking independently and developing increasing hand coordination, we often discuss keeping older children’s toys with small parts out of reach.

I seldom have a specific item to caution parents about, however, recent media attention has focused on a product I think few parents would initially consider a danger to a child. These are tiny BB-sized neodymium magnet balls, marketed under the names Rare Earth Super Magnets, Executive Desk Toys, Bucky-balls, Nanospheres, Zen Magnets and Magnet Balls. They are sold in sets of 100 or more pieces in multiple colors. The magnets may be purchased online, in gift shops, and office supply stores. The products get high online reviews for their ability to secure multiple sheets of paper to refrigerators and file cabinets. Adults seem to enjoy them as a desk distraction during the work day. However, comments also include how difficult they are to remove and detail pinched fingers accidentally caught between magnets.

Though nobody would think to give such a product to a young child, children will naturally find the shiny magnetic pieces attractive. If they can reach the magnetic pieces, they are very apt to put them in their mouths, swallow and choke on them. The danger comes when more than one magnet is swallowed. Because the magnets are so strong, they will work to find each other anywhere in the stomach and intestines. The result has been obstructions, perforations (holes), twisted bowels, severe infections and even death. Children have undergone multiple surgeries, endoscopies and bowel resections.

Since the sets have so many small pieces, it is very difficult for a parent to tell that a couple of the magnets are missing. They are difficult to find if dropped in fluffy carpets or between couch cushions. Even teenagers have tried to use two magnets to make it look like they have tongue or lip piercings and accidentally ingested the magnets while manipulating the pieces in their mouths.

Reports of children swallowing the magnets began in 2002 with currently more than 200 reports, many of which required emergency surgery. The first product warning was released in 2007 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 2009 the CPSC required the magnets be labeled for adult use only (14 years +). However, this labeling did not decrease the continued number of injuries and sales continued. Then, just last month, on July 25, the CPSC filed a formal complaint against the manufacturer of Buckyballs and Buckycubes, Maxfield & Oberton Holding LLC. The firm has been ordered to stop selling the products as the CPSC did not feel after discussions that they reached a satisfactory plan for voluntary recall with the company. In addition, multiple retailers have agreed to suspend sales of the product including similar products made by other companies.

Though the CPSC is working at a national level with manufacturers and retailers, it is up to parents and physicians to work together on an individual level to keep children safe. At this point in time, parents should be very careful to keep all small magnets away from children younger than 14 years old. Teenagers should be cautioned not to keep the magnets anywhere near their faces in an attempt to pretend they have a piercing. If you suspect your child has swallowed a magnet you must seek immediate medical attention. Do not expect that the magnet will pass on its own. Typical symptoms following ingestion of the magnets include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea though these may also be symptoms of a variety of other illnesses.

The Rare Earth magnets are in the news today, and it is likely next year that there will be another product raising safety concerns. No matter what the product, our goal as parents and providers is to try our best to provide a safe space for our children to explore, develop and grow.

Day at the Trolley Museum: Transport back to the midstate’s past.

September 4, 2012 | by Matthew Nawn

The Rockhill Trolley Museum, a cultural resource of central Pennsylvania since 1960, is located in Huntingdon County, about 90 minutes west of Harrisburg. Among its collections and exhibits is a rare find – the former Harrisburg Railways Company trolley car #710.

Built in Philadelphia by J.G. Brill Company in 1913, it served Harrisburg until the end of trolley car service on July 15, 1939. The car was then stripped of its wheel assemblies, known as trucks, and nearly all of its other running gear and sold to become a summer home near Mount Holly Springs. It remained there until 1986 when it was acquired by the museum and, after removal of the structure built around it, moved to the museum shortly before it would have been lost forever.

Since its acquisition, the museum has ensured the car is kept protected from the elements and has actively searched for the components necessary to restore the car, an effort which continues today.

The car will require a tremendous amount of effort to return to running condition again but is in the museum’s long range plans. An individual or corporate entity interested in sponsoring the restoration of this historic car would help accelerate the restoration process. Car #710 is the only former Harrisburg trolley car preserved anywhere in Pennsylvania.

The trolley museum is also home to two other unique and historic central Pennsylvania trolleys; former York Railways car #163 and former Valley Railways car #12. York #163 was built in 1924 and after streetcar service ended in York in 1939, spent 33 years as a summer cottage before the museum restored the car over a 17 year period. Beautifully restored, the car has regularly carried visitors since 1989.

Also in the museum collection is former Valley Railways car #12, which served in the Carlisle area. This car was also used as a home after 1923 and was acquired in 1985. Built in 1895, it is the oldest car in the museum collection and, like the Harrisburg car, components are actively being collected for its eventual restoration to running condition.

For rail enthusiasts or the genuinely interested, the trolley museum is a good day trip from Harrisburg.

Matthew W. Nawn is First Vice President of the Rockhill Trolley Museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, Pa. For more information on the museum, visit www.rockhilltrolley.org.

Elegant Time Rewind: Fundraiser sashays back to Hershey Ballroom.

September 4, 2012 | by Eileen Voyles

For one night, the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society will recreate the aura of a structure that’s been gone for more than 30 years. The Hotel Hershey’s Garden Terrace Ballroom will transform into the once popular Hershey Park Ballroom for the society’s 16^th Annual Preservation Dinner on Sept. 22.

“We want participants of the evening to feel as if they are actually experiencing the Hershey Park Ballroom on a Saturday night in 1947, with all the sights and sounds of the of the Big Band era,” said Lauren Grubb, who serves on the Preservation Committee.

The committee plans life-size displays, large-scale photos, and music from Hershey Symphony Orchestra’s Big Band, under the direction of Paul Metzger. “It will be a wonderful evening of music and dancing, and we invite everyone in the region to come enjoy the nostalgia,” Grubb said.

First called the Dance Hall, the Ballroom opened in the mid ‘20s, when Hershey was in its earliest stages of growth. The hall boasted a massive 22,900-square-foot dance floor and came into national notoriety in 1930 when Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees performed for a sold-out crowd. The Ballroom became a destination point for the most acclaimed performers of the day.

By the late ‘30s headline acts such as Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey performed in Hershey. Over 176 different groups played in the Ballroom between ‘33 and ’42, regularly attracting crowds of 5,000 or more. Dances were held every Wednesday and Saturday evening with a ticket price of 50 cents to $1.50.

“People don’t believe you when you tell them you saw Miller and Dorsey for a buck,” said the late Bob Payne, a former Hershey resident, in an interview recorded with the Historical Society. “Those were great days.”

World War II impacted the Ballroom when the US Price Administration announced automobiles could not be driven to “places of amusement.” The facility was shut down for the ‘43 summer season, opening again that fall.

After the war, the big-band craze continued and in ‘47 Vaughn Monroe’s famous band drew one of the largest crowds in the history of the Ballroom. More than 6,000 people danced to his hit song “Racing with the Moon.”

“On a given night the ballroom attracted more than the entire population of our town. That’s really something,” remembered Kathy Lewis, Hershey native and long-time supporter of the Historical Society. “It brought many people into our community that otherwise wouldn’t have come here.”

By the mid ‘60s, ballroom dancing had faded as one of America’s favorite pastimes. The Ballroom was remodeled in hopes of reviving the dance movement in Hershey. The center portion of the roof – previously damaged from a snow storm – was removed, leaving the dance floor open to the night sky. The venue received its third name: Starlight Ballroom.

Patti Boccassini, editor-in-chief of Harrisburg Magazine, recalled: “I can still picture my father getting ready for the evening in his white dinner jacket and bow tie. My parents enjoyed many lovely evenings at the Ballroom.”

In 1964 the Starlight Ballroom hosted only 16 dances and by the late ‘60s was nearly abandoned. It was torn down in 1977.

“Recreating something that has been gone for many years is a challenge,” Grubb said. “This will be a wonderful way to remember an important piece of the Harrisburg area’s history.”

The event, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, includes a silent auction prior to dinner and dancing. Proceeds will benefit the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society, which provides a free museum and other services and educational programs for the community. Tickets are $100 each. To reserve seats, donate auction items or sponsor, visit www.HersheyHistory.org or call 717-520-0748.

Community Spirit: New magazine sets out to look for America.

September 4, 2012 | by Peter Durantine

Daniel Webster is a tall, angular young man who exudes a sense of purpose. One afternoon in his studio apartment along Front Street, he described a publication that he’s been raising money to produce this fall.

“Journalism isn’t my profession,” the 25-year-old said, relaxing on his sofa. “It’s always been a sincere interest.”

Sincere enough that this Messiah College graduate – where he earned a degree in English followed by a graduate degree in creative writing at Vermont’s Bennington College – pursed an idea, a journal capturing the people of the land where he lives.

His pursuit brought him in 2011 to create “Local: A Quarterly of People and Places.” The pitch on its website – www.localmag.org – is: “Local is seeking out the overlooked American narrative, chronicling one town per issue.”

It follows in the tradition of such periodicals as the Utne Reader. Webster explained, “We do everything a traditional magazine does – investigative reporting, humor columns, features, etcetera – just from the vantage point of a single place.”

In June, Webster and his editorial team raised more than $20,000 on Kickstarter, a web-based campaign program to help fund creative projects. With the money, Webster hopes to launch the first of four issues per year in October.

Eventually, said Webster, “We’d like enough advertising to support us.”

The issues also include a special section called Annexed, which looks at the state and region Local is reporting from. Webster said the initial coverage area is Philadelphia, Williamsport, and Harrisburg, but the aspirations are national.

The first issue will feature Pennsylvania’s Jersey Shore, a misnomer of name for a town nestled in the mountains of the Keystone State. Webster said the town has a history of rich characters such a Prince Farrington, a popular bootlegger in the 1920s.

“They said he was one of the best whiskey makers on the East Coast,” Webster said, chuckling.

As with all places Local will feature, Webster said, the Jersey Shore story delves deeper; how the community began, what life is truly like there, its relevance to American culture. “To show there’s a lot going on, you got to dig a little bit,” he said.

Local is a collaborative effort done voluntarily.

The editorial team, 10 friends and associates, come from varied backgrounds: Webster, the editor-in-chief, is sustainability projects coordinator at Dickinson College, while Allison Davis, the managing editor, is an editorial assistant at Elle Magazine.

As a new journal in search of America, Local’s mission statement, here in part, is simple: “We will explore why Main Street still matters, communicate curiosities without cynicism, and report on serious, germane issues, preserving heritage where it’s dying and thriving.”

Visit Local at www.localmag.org.

Food Pedalers: Local eateries roll out eco-friendly bike delivery.

September 4, 2012 | by Fazna Zain

Next time you think of ordering in lunch or dinner from your favorite restaurant, consider having it delivered the green way.

The Harrisburg Bike Taxi service is going one step further to help out the community by teaming up with local restaurants to deliver food right to your home or office. El Sol, Arepa City, Mangia Qui, The Soup Spot, Ceasars Italian Ice and Pita Pit form a short list of Bike Taxi’s clientele. Delivering food via bicycle is becoming more and more popular as it is hassle free, economical and adds a unique feel to Harrisburg.

“We just purchased two new bikes from Maryland in April and they have more space in the back which makes it convenient for food delivery,” said Sean Hertzler, owner of Bike Taxi. He said food deliveries are made anywhere from downtown, Midtown and sometimes even to Uptown Harrisburg.

Lunch deliveries range from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The delivery rate for the bike taxi is $2.99 plus tip.

The Soup Spot, 1014 N. 3rd St., is Bike Taxi’s spotlight restaurant. They offer tips only rides for lunch or dinner. Randy Straub, part owner and chef, decided to use the taxi service for food delivery because he wanted to make his product available all day.

Another local eatery that has embraced this ecologically friendly practice is The Old Town Delicatessen, which recently opened at 512 N. 3rd St. Old Town offers its own bicycle food delivery service.

Ron Gilbertson, owner of this quaint restaurant, said they have two old fashioned bikes. “The old style bikes tie into the theme of the deli,” he said. They have top of the line deli meat and their breads come in fresh every morning.

Gilbertson likes the idea of bike delivery because bikes can get around the city easily and there is no hassle with parking.

Cribari’s Ristorante, 263 Reily St. in Midtown, also has its own delivery service. They make deliveries on their bike to customers within an eight-block radius.

Manager Charlie Cribari said they are working on building up their clientele and would like to extend the range of delivery in the future. This quaint venue offers Italian cuisine that is sure to satisfy your appetite.

Take advantage of this new eco friendly way to taste Harrisburg’s culinary scene.

Call Bike Taxi at 717-461-2202 for deliveries or call the restaurants: Old Town Deli, 717-856-8432; Cribari’s Ristorante, 717-412-0550.

Bird Watching Wonderland: Central Pa.: a mecca for eyeing majestic raptors.

September 4, 2012 | by Kermit G. Henning

It’s no surprise that bird watching is the number one outdoor recreational activity in the United States. At least 20 percent of all Americans spend more than $36 billion each year in their pursuit of our feathered friends.

From homeowners with a simple backyard seed feeder to the ultra-serious birders who eagerly travel thousands of miles to add a single species to their life lists, birding includes young and old alike.

Right here in Central Pennsylvania we have one of the most celebrated birding hotspots in North America. Waggoner’s Gap is a ridge top lookout six miles northwest of Carlisle along the Blue Mountains.

During the 1930’s, new attitudes began to emerge about raptors. Instead of large-scale killings of hawks and owls, raptors began to be studied and protected. Migration routes along the mountain ridges spurred dedicated birders to set up lookouts along these ridges and keep counts of birds observed.

Places like Hawk Mountain, Bake Oven Knob and Sterrett’s Gap became well known in the birding community. Dr. Ted Hake of York County was one of the pioneer birders who made regular visits to Waggoner’s Gap, beginning in the late 1930s and continuing into the 1990s.

The first to regularly record numbers of birds was Lou Knohr, a high school teacher in Carlisle. His records stretched from 1948 to 1951. In 1952, counts were taken over by Dr. Bertram Henry. The first daily counts were made by Lou Knohr, starting in 1954.

By the 1970’s, interest had grown so much that regular monitoring of raptor migration was sponsored by the Appalachian Audubon Chapter, led at first by Michael Kotz, a high school student from Harrisburg. The Hawk Mountain Association of North America was founded in 1974 and Rich Peiffer, a high school teacher at Cumberland Valley became the first official compiler. Peiffer held that position until his death from cancer in 1981 and has since been succeeded by Greg Smith, Kim Van Fleet and the current compiler Dave Grove.

Daily numbers are recorded by a host of volunteer counters starting on August 1, and running the entire migration season to December 31. Detailed records are kept from dawn to dusk every day for seventeen species of hawks, falcons, vultures and eagles.

Because of its unique position, Waggoner’s Gap actually records more birds than more famous sites like Hawk Mountain in Berks County. The position of the mountains funnels the winds through the ridges and provides easy gliding for the migrants.

Broadwing hawks are by far the most abundant with astounding counts of over 5,000 a day during the peak. They are also among the earliest to migrate, with the bulk of the migration between August and September. Smaller raptors like sharp-shinned hawks and American kestrels are also early migrators.

Eagles are the most impressive visitors. On average, bald eagles number over 500 each year and golden eagles over 300. Even the novice birder can spot these huge birds as they sail by the lookout. And even the most experienced still get a thrill at the sight of these once rare and endangered visitors.

A well-maintained oval parking lot off state Route 74 is at the base of the site. A rocky trail leaves the lot at the right hand (uphill) side. It splits after about 100 yards, but both forks lead to the lookout. The right hand trail is less steep but longer. The lookout is an angled rock pile. Bring a cushion to sit on and warmer clothing than you think you might need. Space is very limited for chairs of any sort and it’s claimed very early in the day. There is a Porta Potty in the parking lot.

Take the best pair of binoculars you can afford and make the trip to Waggoner’s Gap. This is an amazing place right in our own back yard – take full advantage.

For more on Waggoner’s Gap, visit www.waggap.com.

Walk This Way: Take a stroll this fall to help end Alzheimer’s.

September 4, 2012 | by Tiffani Chambers

It only takes two words – Alzheimer’s disease – to stop life in its tracks. Every 68 seconds someone in America develops the currently cureless disease. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest risk factor is age.

Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia – a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s will rapidly escalate, increasing beyond today’s estimated 5.4 million Americans living with the disease.

With more than 280,000 Pennsylvanian’s living with Alzheimer’s, there has never been a greater need for the citizens of South Central Pennsylvania to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is more than just a walk by over 1,700 local people; it’s a reflection of their unique journey and experiences with Alzheimer’s and their commitment to end the disease. Our walkers drive our mission and their reasons for walking fuel our efforts to reach our vision: a world without Alzheimer’s.

Why We Walk …

As a walker for Alz-About-It, Harrisburg WTEA, I walk for the families that have experienced Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, and for those who have yet to hear those words associated with a loved one. Each step is a commitment to fulfill the promise to remember, honor, care and fight Alzheimer’s.

Others have their own reasons for walking.

— “I was just diagnosed, at age 52, with early onset Alzheimer’s,” said Mary Read, Mary’s Early Onset Alzheimer Fighters, Lancaster WTEA. “I was a nurse and lost my job. I have been laughed at, yelled at and called stupid because of Alzheimer’s. We need to spread awareness and raise funds to conquer this battle of Alzheimer’s.”

— “I am walking for my father who has this terrible disease,” said Jennifer Schultheiss, Family Pride, Harrisburg WTEA. “He takes meds to slow it down, but that is all it will do. Seeing him slowly lose his memory kills me as much as it does him. We need to find something that will stop this disease.”

— “We are walking this year in honor of Grandfather George W. Jones who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease,” Jordyn Elby, Poppy’s Crew, York WTEA. “As a family we were unaware of Alzheimer’s and how it affected the body. He battled this disease for many years- pulling our family closer together. We are walking in remembrance and honor of our grandfather. We want less people to lose their loved ones.”

Why Will You Walk?

By participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s you are leading the way! Together, we can raise awareness and funds to enhance Alzheimer’s care and support and advance research.

Please join us at one of our local Walks: Sept. 8 at Harrisburg’s City Island; Sept. 15 at York’s Cousler Park or Sept. 22 at Lancaster’s Long’s Park. For more information on your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk or contact Tiffani Chambers at 717-561-5020 or [email protected].

Tiffani Chambers is a Constituent Relations Manager at Alzheimer’s Association.

Flowers of Remembrance: From grief, a creative enterprise takes root.

September 4, 2012 | by Renee Heyden

Changing careers in midlife is not unusual. People get bored, or burned out. Or they want to try something they’ve always dreamed of but never had the nerve to attempt. But for me, a career change came about as a result of personal tragedy.

I had been a physician’s assistant for 30 years – most recently at Woodward and Associates in Harrisburg. I loved my work; I loved my patients.

Then, on July 18, 2011, our eldest daughter, Allison, passed away suddenly as a result of surgical complications. It was a great shock, and left an overwhelming emptiness in my heart.

Alli was only 24, but she was already an accomplished fashion designer living her dream in New York City. She was featured in many magazines, received awards, and designed six of her own collections. Alli had been voted one of the “Top 100 Up and Coming Fashion Designers” in the country.

Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t go back to my old jobs. What was I going to do?

A few months after Alli’s passing, her publicist delivered a huge amount of remnants and bolts of material from our daughter’s apartment. When a friend of Stephanie’s, our younger daughter, gave her a small floral arrangement made of fabric and pipe cleaners, I got an idea to create unique, elegant, and everlasting flowers in Alli’s memory from the fabric she had left behind.

I named this fabric-flower enterprise “Alli’s Everlasting Arrangements.” The flowers we sell are one-of-a-kind, either stand-alone or in a vase. We also sell flower accessories, including pins, ponytail holders, headbands, and hair clips.

A father-and-son business in New York City – M&S Schmalberg Inc. – crafts the flowers. But I take an active part, by adding embellishments to each flower – various accents that enhance the fabric. If I’m stumped about which direction to go in, I’ve asked myself what Alli would have wanted. She liked glitz and bling.

Alli’s Everlasting Arrangements has a charitable component: we donate a percentage of each purchase to the fund set up in Alli’s memory at her alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design. The Alli Heyden Passion for Fashion Memorial Endowment Fund awards a scholarship each year to a deserving fashion student.

Our family has also donated a game-ready machine in Alli’s memory to Drayer Physical Therapy Institute in Susquehanna Township. Drayer holds a special place in our heart because Alli was treated there, and Stephanie had a summer internship there.

Some day I may return to my long-term career. But for now, enhancing and selling the floral arrangements in our elder daughter’s memory gives me a sense of contentment and emotional satisfaction much needed after the loss of a child.

Like our love for Alli, these floral arrangements last forever. They don’t need water, just love.

For flowers, visit www.AllisEverlastingFloralArrangements.com. The flowers are also available locally at First Impressions in Harrisburg and Pazazz in Lemoyne. We are working on national distribution. Renee Heyden lives in Lower Paxton Township.

Mystery Meet-Up: Whodunit confab slated for September

September 4, 2012 | by TheBurg Staff

For fans of mysteries, thrillers and suspense novels, the little shop of murder –Mechanicsburg Mystery Books & Gifts – is offering readers another opportunity to investigate the writers of whodunits.

The second annual “Murder as you like it” Mystery Conference is scheduled for Sept. 22, where 17 authors will be on hand for panel discussions, workshops and book signings at the day-long event.

“A lot of people around here don’t get the chance to see so many mystery authors in one place,” said shop owner Debbie Beamer.

Beamer, a lover of good mysteries who opened her shop 22 years ago, had long ago wanted to start the conference. It had its debut last year at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, where it will again be held this year.

Early on in the business, she had customers tell her they didn’t like mysteries, but instead detective novels, thrillers or suspense novels like James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark. Beamer gently explained that those, too, were mysteries.

“They’re reading them and they don’t know it,” she said.

The shop, which had been in downtown Mechanicsburg for awhile before she moved to the west end of town at the corner of Trindle and Clouser roads, also drew customers looking for Bibles.

“I really thought about having a Bible section because I had so many people asking for Bibles,” Beamer recalled.

But the shop is strictly mysteries. For fans seeking behind-the-scene peaks at mystery writing by local and national authors, the conference, Beamer said, should reveal some secretes about plot and character development.

Conference sessions include how authors create and write about worlds that don’t exist, tropes mystery and thriller authors use such as “turn in your badge” and “you’re off the case,” where plot ideas come from, and how to approach a publisher.

For young readers age 6 to 10, there is a kid’s writing session in which children’s mystery author Traci Vallano discusses how to develop a story.

“I hope we get a lot of kids,” Beamer said, thinking of the next generations of mystery readers and writers. “I’m amazed at how many kids want to write.”

For more information about the conference, its authors and to register, visit www.mysterybooksonline.com. The Mystery Conference is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 22, at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 5000 Simpson Ferry Rd., Mechanicsburg.

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