Part of the Network: Small business hooks up in networking groups.

May 3, 2012 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

It’s 8:30 on a Friday morning, but instead of winding down for the weekend, Pam Schultz, owner of the Frugal Decorator and of Moving Maniac, is attending –along with other entrepreneurs and professionals – a meeting of ExecConnect.

ExecConnect is one of a growing number of networking groups in greater Harrisburg offering opportunities to meet people, share knowledge, and promote and grow a business.

“It’s a nice group of professionals,” said Michael Gaffney, president of ExecConnect and owner of an electrical contracting business. “We don’t have a lot of rules or requirements to bring referrals. If people enjoy each other and build relationships, the referrals will come naturally.”

More structured is LeTip, which builds business success through personal referrals. On Thursdays from 11:46 a.m. -1:01 p.m., to be precise, the Harrisburg Metro Chapter meets at Perkins Restaurant for a lunch meeting.

Members are expected to bring a tip and a guest or pay into the “kitty.” Only one person in any given profession is accepted per chapter – a model used by other networking groups. First-year fees may add up to $1,000, but are worth many times that in referrals, said David Castro, the Harrisburg Chapter’s outgoing president.

Business Networking International is a business and professional organization that also accepts one professional of any type per chapter. The Capital Region I Chapter has 25 members – many of them businesses owners – and meets at the Appalachian Brewing Company every Thursday from 8-9:30 a.m.

“BNI members operate under the ‘Givers Gain’ concept of ‘What goes around comes around,’” said Robert Gill, chapter president. “If I help you with your business you will want to help me with my business; therefore, we all benefit . . . If you become an active member, it is like having 25 salespeople working for you.”

Harrisburg Business Woman originated from a “group of ladies who lunched” and became “formal group with an informal structure,” says Lynne Baker, facilitator. HBW meets at the Best Western Central on the second Tuesday of every month at 11:30 a.m., and speakers are primarily from the group itself.

Women pay for their own lunch (hbwluncheon.com) and can register online. There is no membership fee, but there is a fee for a display table or a presence on the web site.

“The group is special to me,” says Baker. “I used to get frustrated in groups where I’d meet people quickly and superficially. I’ve developed good friendships and trusting relationships. With that, people are more likely to refer.”

Another female-oriented group is the Mechanicsburg Business Women, composed of a lot of business owners, executives but also employees. AbeerSrouji is president of the group, which meets 11:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month – mostly recently at Flavours, a Mechanicsburg catering company.

Although there’s an annual coed mixer, essentially “The group is for women – offering educational and vocational speakers, and an opportunity to showcase our businesses,” Srouji said. “We try to educate small-business owners. Women want to help other women succeed. There’s a lot of togetherness.”

The area is rich in chambers of commerce. At the Harrisburg Regional Chamber – with some 1,500 members in Dauphin, Cumberland Perry Counties – the emphasis is very much on networking.

“A lot of our members say they joined [primarily] for that,” said Christine Brindle, director of communications and marketing. “Almost all of our events and programs have some time either before or after for networking, and we have specific networking events as well. If members have good relationships and need services, they will obviously recommend those people.”

Last year HRC instituted speed-networking luncheons. The first fifty people who register attend. The next scheduled events are June 1 and September 7.

To get the most out of networking organizations and events:

— Be prepared, with business cards and a name badge and an elevator speech.

— Plan ahead what you want to accomplish.

— Behave in a way that reflects positively on your business.

— Take notes.

— Be helpful to others when you can.

— Be friendly but not “pushy.”

— Research which group seems best for you.

Conversions Continue: Office-to-residential slated for 2 more downtown buildings.

May 3, 2012 | by Peter Durantine

Development of two historic office buildings into residential living downtown received approval from Harrisburg’s Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board in April, but for the century old Barto Building, there remains two more steps in the process.

Because it’s in the historic district, Barto, at 231 State St. on the southwest corner of 3^rd and State, needs final approval from the planning commission and approval from the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board. Hearings are May 2 and 7, respectively.

Once approval is granted, work should commence soon after on transforming the eight-story Barto into 50, one to two-bedroom condominiums and the four-story William Seel office building at 319 Market St. into 25 multi-family apartments.

The buildings, both about a century old, are under contract for purchase by Dan Deitchman, president of Brickbox Development Ltd. He has become one of the premier developers in the city for restoring historic buildings into residential living.

Deitchman said he also is considering the old Moose Lodge at 3^rd and Boas streets, which had been the Ron H. Brown Charter School.

The 45,440-square-foot Barto Building, eyed for years by other developers as a potential hotel, was constructed in 1911 as a Masonic Temple and has been vacant for several years. The asking price is $1.5 million, according to the listing by NAI/CIR.

The 10,200-square-foot Seel building, directly across from the Market Street entrance to Strawberry Square, is a narrow brownstone built in 1912-13. It’s on the market for $755,000, according NAI/CIR’s listing.

The Seel building currently houses the headquarters of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, owner of the Seel and Barto buildings. Jim Deegan, union spokesman, said if the deals go through the AFL-CIO plans to relocate near the state Capitol building.

“We’re staying in the city,” Deegan said.

The Harrisburg Planning Commission gave unanimous consent to both projects on April 4. Only the Seel building needed to go before the Zoning Hearing Board, which granted approval on April 16.

Deitchman is bullish on the city’s commercial and residential prospects. Last year, he converted the old Governor’s Hotel at 4^th and Market, renamed Residence on Market, into student housing for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.

Currently, he’s converting the 98-year-old, nine-story office building at 301 Market St. (formerly the Kunkel Building renamed Market View Place) into 40 to 50 market-rate apartments. Harrisburg University signed a 10-year lease on that building.

Deitchman said he is in negotiations with the university on leasing the Seel building for student housing.

In Midtown, Deitchman, along with GreenWorks Development, is converting the 1908 Beaux Arts Furlow Building, on 3^rd Street across from the Broad Street Market, into 20 to 24 one-bedroom apartments with commercial space on the first floor. The developers are matching $2.5 million in public money for the project.

In 2009, Deitchman finished restoring Riverview Manor along the riverfront at Harris and Front streets, a 76-unit apartment building designed by renowned architect Clayton J. Lappley and built in 1927.

“Silly Brainstorm,” on the Page: Creative nonfiction focus of new literary journal.

May 3, 2012 | by M. Diane McCormick

Donna Tallarico’s idea came from a group exercise during Wilkes University’s creative writing MFA program: Why not create an online journal for creative nonfiction, the publishing genre producing popular memoirs and compelling histories? It was all make-believe, but still, what would the journal be called?

“Where do memories form in the brain?” Tallarico thought. “The hippocampus. We can’t have memories without the hippocampus.”

That “silly brainstorm” of an idea followed Tallarico to the midstate, where she is integrated marketing manager at Elizabethtown College. In 2009, she bought the domain name hippocampusmagazine.com. In January 2011, she started accepting submissions. In May 2011, she launched the first edition of Hippocampus, adding a one-of-a-kind journal to central Pennsylvania’s burgeoning literary scene.

The nation’s few literary journals devoted exclusively to creative nonfiction – and they can be counted on one hand with a couple of fingers left over – are issued in print. Hippocampus combines blind-judged submissions with regular articles on the craft of writing creative nonfiction.

Which begs the question: What is creative nonfiction? Tallarico calls it “a true story told with literary elements that you find in fiction.”

“If you’re writing a memoir, it could read very much like a novel,” she said. “You’re still using character development and foreshadowing.”

At Penn State Harrisburg, Professor Jen Hirt – winner of a 2010 Pushcart Prize, very prestigious on creative nonfiction circles – defines creative nonfiction by comparing a newspaper story about a car crash to an account that factors in the accident’s emotional toll.

Creative nonfiction is “more engaging,” she said. “Many times, it’s confessional. You’re allowed inside the writer’s world in a way you’re not usually allowed in. It’s compassionate.”

Devoting a journal to creative nonfiction exclusively “reinforces that it’s a legitimate genre,” said Tallarico.

“Look at all the memoirs that are hugely popular today,” she said. “There are so many home runs out there – Nick Flynn’s memoir (“Another Bullshit Night in Suck City”) is being made into a movie (“Being Flynn”). My mentor’s book, ‘Riding in Cars with Boys,’ was made into a movie. We like real people because we can relate to it.”

When Hirt entered college, nonfiction received little attention as a genre or career choice, but now she’s teaching it, and her students’ writings are winning awards. Like Tallarico, Hirt said that a creative nonfiction-only journal “legitimizes” the field.

Now celebrating its one-year anniversary, Hippocampus draws submissions from around the world, running only about 15 pieces in each month’s edition. Its core staff – all unpaid – remains anchored in the Harrisburg area. Interviews editor Lori Myers, a Susquehanna Twp. writer, snagged a recent Q&A with Dinty Moore – not the canned stew maker, but a top CNF writer and editor. Mechanicsburg-based Ally Bishop is reviews editor.

“It’s just nice to have that personal touch and meet in person,” Tallarico said.

Creative nonfiction “doesn’t get enough credit,” said Tallarico. Hippocampus is a way to elevate its profile.

“People might not realize they’re reading creative nonfiction sometimes, but there’s really a place for it, and I’m glad to have a place in it,” she said.

For more information, visit hippocampusmagazine.com.

Judge and Be Judged: America in Bloom checks out Hummelstown.

May 3, 2012 | by Jay Stanton

In honor of its 250^th Anniversary this year, Hummelstown is entering the America in Bloom contest.

America in Bloom (AIB) is a national quality-of-life program, using horticulture to help beautify a town, assist in economic improvement and build community pride. Camp Hill and Hershey have enjoyed the benefits of the AIB process. Any town, regardless of size or circumstance (including Harrisburg), can use AIB as a catalyst to improve its public image by encouraging community involvement and inspiring change and improvement.

The America in Bloom program is a contest among similar-sized communities. AIB efforts are judged in six categories and the process begins with someone or a group of interested residents learning about AIB and deciding that the process would benefit their town.

As the group gets organized, the first step is to share the benefits of AIB with business leaders, local government officials and private citizens. Once there is sufficient interest, an application is sent to the AIB office. Two judges are assigned to each population group.

Before judges visit each town for two days during the summer, they receive a community profile. This is an introduction to the town with basic information on municipal services, commercial vibrancy and local citizenry. The profile includes a written section about these six criteria being judged:

Overall Impression – Cleanliness and proper maintenance of private and public spaces including the commercial area. How the town looks and feels when you are there.

Floral displays – Flower beds, containers, arrangement, originality, distribution, as well as integration of annuals, perennials, and seasonal flowers, in well-maintained fashion.

Landscaped Areas – Overall design and suitability of turf and ground covers including native plants with concern for maintenance and sustainability.

Urban Forestry – Distribution, variety and suitability of trees that are used, planted and inventoried by qualified personnel and managed by a local commission of volunteers.

Environmental Effort – Sustainable practices such as recycling, water quality management for use and waste, cleanup of the environment, and lowering of the town’s carbon footprint.

Heritage Preservation – The cultural, natural, historical, preservation and restoration of public and private buildings and sites by a committee or historical society.

When the judges complete their multi-town tour, each town visited receives a detailed evaluation highlighting strengths and listing areas for possible improvement. In the fall, there is a symposium and awards program. This begins the process of seeing what others see when they come to your town. Once you become aware of areas that are seen and appreciated by others – and perhaps some areas where attention is needed – your town’s overall efforts can expand and improve.

This summer, Hummelstown will be judged. Come, see what we’ve done. We look forward to hosting the judges and the America in Bloom program. For more information about America in Bloom, visit www.americainbloom.org.

Jay Stanton of Hummelstown is a gardener, founder of the Susquehanna Hosta Society, and a member of the Hobby Greenhouse Association. You can reach him at [email protected].

Spring Flowers= Allergies: Nature’s beautiful season comes with a downside.

May 3, 2012 | by Dr. Deepa Sekhar

It finally seems winter is over! The weather has started to warm up and the first spring flowers are blooming. It’s also the time when lots of kids come into the office with stuffy noses, coughing and sneezing and parents ask me about seasonal allergies.

Seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever) are believed to affect up to 40 percent of children. Children affected by seasonal allergies will react during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release spores, or trees, grasses and weeds release pollen. A child may be allergic to one or more types of pollen or mold. An individual’s specific allergies will determine when symptoms occur. For example, in central Pennsylvania, tree pollen is present from late February through May. Grass pollen is present late April through early July. Molds are present once the snow melts to when it returns, but peak mid-June to mid-August.

Allergies are uncommon in children under 2 years of age. It seems at least a couple of years of allergen exposure are needed before symptoms develop. Allergies usually present in a child by 10 years old and peak in the early 20s with symptoms typically disappearing later in adulthood.

Allergy symptoms may be very similar to symptoms of the common cold and include sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itchy nose, itchy throat and fatigue. In addition, children may have itchy, watery or red eyes.

Unlike the common cold, allergy symptoms will often show up at the same time every year. Children with colds may run fevers, which are not seen with allergies. Lastly, most colds will resolve in about 7-10 days with allergies persisting beyond this time frame.

As a physician and parent, distinguishing between a cold and allergies can be helpful as the common cold is usually managed with supportive care. For colds, this includes taking a bath at bedtime, running a cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom, and encouraging lots of fluids. There is currently no evidence to support the use of over the counter cough/cold medications in management of the common cold. In fact, some of these products may actually cause serious side effects. In contrast, there are treatments available for seasonal allergies.

The first step in allergy management is to avoid exposure if the allergen is known. Blood and skin testing is available to test an individual for reactions to specific allergens and your child’s doctor can decide if such testing would be beneficial. You may hear about the pollen count during the weather report in the springtime. The pollen count is a measure of how much pollen is present in the air. Typically, pollen counts are highest in the morning and on warm, dry, breezy days. Pollen counts decline in the afternoon and early evening and in wet, chilly weather. If your child has seasonal allergies, it may be helpful during their peak allergy season to keep windows closed, use the air conditioning and stay inside if the pollen counts are high. Having children bathe and change after playing outside can also reduce allergy symptoms.

If avoidance alone does not help symptoms, several medications are available. These typically include oral antihistamines (e.g. Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra). A physician may also prescribe a steroid nasal spray (e.g. Flonase, Nasonex). If symptoms cannot be managed with medications, allergy shots (immunotherapy) may be recommended in consultation with an allergist. The goal of allergy shots is to gradually desensitize children to particular allergens.

Bad seasonal allergies can significantly impair a child’s ability to participate in school, sports and other outdoor activities. I find allergies are sometimes very frustrating for both parents and children. Once it is determined a child has seasonal allergies, it is important for parents and physicians to work together to optimize treatment so children can function at their best.

Your Credit & You: A few simple steps can shore up your credit score.

May 3, 2012 | by John Anthony

These days, a credit score can come between you and your dreams. Whether it is your dream home, dream car or dream job, your credit is impacting your price and ability to buy.

It is critical in these times to understand how we can raise our score and thereby improve our purchase capacity and own what we want and need at the lowest possible cost. To that end, here are a few ideas on points to keep in mind when working on raising your scores.

Pay Your Bills On Time – It’s obvious, but it needs to be said. Approximately 35 percent of your score is tied to how you pay your bills. Nothing replaces making your payments on time. There is no extra credit for paying early but the impact of paying late will be felt for at least two years.

Keep Your Balances Low – This one might surprise you. Many think that paying off your debt will drive their scores higher when, in fact, keeping small balances on your revolving debt may have a higher impact. Additionally, spreading your debt out among all available lines (or credit cards) will reduce ratios important to the algorithmic calculations.

Consider Not Closing Out Your Older Credit Cards – Before closing out accounts, consider that the age of your credit has impact on your score. Closing out your oldest credit may have long term effects. To this point, young people should consider opening and holding open accounts early in life.

Don’t Let Everyone Pull Your Credit – Be aware that when a creditor pulls your report to determine if they will extend you credit, your score is negatively impacted. The points you lose will be gone for a year. When shopping, do so in short confined periods of time. Don’t let just anyone pull your credit.

Be Purposeful About The Credit Types You Hold – One should have a balance of revolving accounts (credit cards, for example) and installment accounts (closed ended loans such as car and college). Additionally, borrowing from institutions that cater to higher risk customers may have a negative impact to your score.

Be purposeful. I suppose that’s the best advice. Some say “knowledge is power.” I say that “applied knowledge is power.” Your credit touches so many parts of your life. Taking the time to evaluate and plan your credit profile will save your thousands.

John Anthony, a mortgage lender in central Pennsylvania with 25 years in the industry, has taught for multiple organizations across the country on credit and mortgage topics.

Sipping Lattes, Making Deals: Pols, Occupiers, tourists pack Caffeine Connection.

May 3, 2012 | by Peter Durantine

In the shadow of the state’s looming, green-domed Capitol, the Caffeine Connection evokes the coffee houses of 18th century London, where Whigs and Tories, authors and merchants, the famous and not so famous, mingled over coffee and scones.

The modern day equivalent in this little coffee house at the corner of State and Third streets, across the street from the steps to the Capitol, are state legislators and Cabinet officers, lawyers and lobbyists, grass root activists and journalists.

And it’s oatmeal they mingle over, though scones are available, too.

“Senators were in here this morning,” said owner Pat Erb, a petite, pleasant woman who likes to dote on her customers. “I don’t know what they were up to.”

Even if she did, she wouldn’t tell.

Most of her customers are city and state movers and shakers who sip their lattes and enjoy Pat’s homemade baked oatmeal (for which she is famous for, from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.) as they share gossip, gather intelligence and cut deals.

Pat enjoys serving them all, and though she’s not privy to their conversations, it’s easy to guess by body language and intense conversation that some strategy is being made or some policy being developed.

“Pretty much all my clientele are from across the street,” she said. “And the lobbyists – I can’t forget the lobbyists. They’re pretty generous to me.”

“What makes Caffeine Connection so unique is Pat herself,” said Kurt Knaus, who, as managing director at Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy, often meets clients there.

“It’s really great in a cookie-cutter kind of world to find someone who stands out so much and who clearly puts in the time and effort to ensure her customers get a memorable experience with every cup of coffee and homemade snack,” he said.

For Pat, the coffee house she opened seven years ago is a realized dream, having grown up in Chicago among family who owned restaurants, bars and pastry shops, where she learned how to bake the muffins, cookies and other sweet confections she serves.

“I always had a passion for coffee,” she said. “I love my customers.”

She presides in a shop decorated in her eclectic tastes. Photographs and art works from local artists hang on the walls. A painter for 16 years, she occasionally has some of her paintings on the wall in what is a warm, comfortable place to be on a cold day.

“I’m blessed,” she said of her clientele. “I’m very blessed.”

3 Officials, 3 Views: Thompson, Unkovic, Smith air opinions on recovery plan.

April 26, 2012 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg will grow stronger. Or become a ghost town. Or muddle through to eventual, hard-fought stability.

These three visions were presented last month by three city officials: Mayor Linda Thompson, Councilwoman Eugenia Smith and receiver David Unkovic, respectively, as each spoke extensively about where the city could be heading under the receiver’s financial recovery plan.

“We’re going to end up putting the burden on the taxpayers,” said Smith. “Taxes will be raised, and people will not be able to afford to live in this city under these plans. It’s just a fact.”

Thompson, Smith and Unkovic offered their differing opinions during a two-hour forum sponsored by the community group Harrisburg Hope and held before a large crowd of some 200 people at Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

Smith reiterated her support for municipal bankruptcy as the only way that the city could avoid disposing of its valuable assets, such as its parking garages. Without the revenue from these assets, the city was certain to eventually declare bankruptcy and/or raise taxes to such a level that residents would be driven out, she said.

Thompson passionately disagreed with that assessment, calling the financial crisis “solvable.”

She likened Harrisburg’s dire situation to that of an individual in a similar predicament.

That person, she said, might have to leverage his house to pay his debts, and Harrisburg also must sell or lease its most valuable assets. The other alternative: immediately raising taxes to unacceptable levels, she said.

“I’d rather have the assets I can leverage than raise your taxes,” she said. “It’s going to be painful but as long as we have assets, I will not put it all on you.”

For his part, Unkovic said he had no choice but to immediately put the city’s parking assets and its incinerator on the market to raise the cash to settle about $317 million in debt accumulated over many years from upgrades to the city’s troubled incinerator.

He must determine how much these assets are worth, he said, before he can move on to subsequent steps, such as asking for concession from labor unions and the city’s creditors.

“Once we know what these numbers are, then we can negotiate with the creditors,” he said.

Unkovic said that municipal bankruptcy remains on the table, but only as a final resort.

“We don’t want a city in bankruptcy,” he said. “It’s better to work a solution out without bankruptcy.”

Thompson and Smith did agree on one thing—that Unkovic has proven himself to be better friend of the city and a far better, more conscientious leader than either imagined when the state passed a bill mandating a receiver last year.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better person to be receiver,” said Smith.

Both she and Thompson defended Unkovic from a charge by city resident Ron Chapel, who accused him of practicing “plantation politics” and wanting to force “undesirables” out of the city.

“Mr.Unkovic and I have a cooperative relationship,” said Thompson. “I respect him, and he respects me.”

The forum was held as the city marked another low point in its long financial crisis.

On the same day as the forum, Harrisburg defaulted on $5.3 million of general obligation bonds. While it has defaulted previously on incinerator bonds it has backed, it had never defaulted on its own bonds, which finance city operations.

Unkovic said that he didn’t want to order the default. However, two weeks before, he forbade the city from continuing to transfer money from its water/sewer fund to its general fund to meet operational expenses. Therefore, the city had no money to pay the bonds, unless it stopped paying its municipal workforce.

“The reason the general obligation bonds weren’t paid was to obligation bonds weren’t paid was to ensure that vital services continue,” he said. “It’s unfortunate the city can’t make this payment, but some things may get worse before they get better.”

The greatest applause from the audience came when Unkovic said he had turned over the Harrisburg Authority’s recent forensic audit on the incinerator to his team’s laywers for analysis and possible action. He previously has questioned the legitimacy of several bond financings related to the incinerator.

“I’ve asked my lawyers to go through the forensic analysis carefully and determine if there are areas of action that can be brought,” he said.

Meals on Wheels: Food trucks proliferate, go gourmet (please don’t ask for a hot dog).

April 15, 2012 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Food trucks are one of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry right now, according to the National Restaurant Association.

From Tyler Florence’s “Great Food Truck Race,” with its devoted fan base, to cities hosting “food truck wars,” the craze has momentum. A few area food truck owners are hoping sales will grow as the trend continues to rev up.

Harrisburg resident Chef Ed Monuteaux had his finger on the phenomenon’s pulse when he purchased his 21-foot-long truck, parked it on Walnut Street near 4th and flipped open the window to Chef Ed’s Lunch Mob.

“At first it was a tough go, but business eventually took off, and I’m holding my own right now,” he said.

Monuteaux, who spent eight years as a chef at Char’s Bella Mundo in Shipoke, sets himself apart from other lunch trucks with his unique and healthy offerings.

“I don’t prepare your average lunch truck stuff,” he said. “There are no hot dogs, cheese steaks or fries. Everything is homemade and I use lots of fresh vegetables.”

Among the more popular items are shrimp and crab croissants, fresh fish tacos and what Monuteaux calls “Asian hotpot.” The noodle dish contains fresh vegetables, lemongrass broth, sesame oil and shrimp, which he packs “to go” for peckish state workers to carry back to their desks.

A conversation about 2nd Street and the dearth of good cheese steaks got the wheels rolling on the EZ EATZ truck on 2nd Street in Harrisburg. Camp Hill couple Angela Klobusicky and Mike Ruell park their 25-foot vehicle in front of the Hilton during weekdays and move further up the street to cater to the late-night crowds on weekends. Their lunch menu is extensive, from homemade soups, hot dogs, sausages and, of course, the traditional Philly Cheese Steak “wiz wit” or without, cradled in a roll baked at Amoroso’s in Philadelphia.

When Camp Hill resident Port Dare decided he’d had enough of retail, he, too, bought a food truck to capitalize on the craze. “The Little Black Truck with the Big Flavors” set out to satisfy hungry patrons.

“When I was younger, I went to chef’s school at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and I wanted to get back to my roots,” he said.

The attractive, 16-foot truck, festooned with a pink lady, is parked beside River Bottom Pottery located in a modest strip mall at 3809 Paxton St., where Dare spends his days pleasing many a palate.

“One of our most popular items is pulled pork BBQ, which I smoke for hours and serve in a delicious Carolina-style barbeque sauce.”

Those logging into Yelp seem to agree, as person after person raves about the sandwich on the popular review site. Dare could go head-to-head with the big chains, according to one Twitter user, who left a tip saying Dare’s half-pound Angus” is better than Five Guys.”

A consensus among all truckers is that the job can be grueling, with long hours.

“I start at midnight getting ready. Just because we’re not working in a traditional restaurant doesn’t mean we don’t have extensive prep work to do, and this even includes some late-night Wegman’s runs,” Monuteaux said.

On the plus side is the ability to pick up and go, if traffic slows to a crawl. “One of the best things is the portability of it,” Dare said. “If I’m not happy where I’m at, I can move. I signed a six-month lease for now. If that’s not a good spot–I can just move. You can’t have that with brick and mortar. They make you sign a five-year lease–minimum.”

Life, 1 Base at a Time: Bat meets ball meets mentoring.

April 15, 2012 | by Lawrance Binda

Maurice Robinson is almost 5 years old, his regular-sized kids’ T-shirt practically at his knees.

Casey Zellers, a volunteer with Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), leans over, showing him the proper way to hold a bat.

Got it? Great. Ready? Play ball!

Whiffle ball, that is.

On a recent Tuesday evening, more than two dozen local youth, ages 4 to 14, packed into the Camp Curtin YMCA gym to have some fun, let off energy, learn about teamwork and even enjoy a healthy snack at the new HYP Junior Sports League.

“He loves it,” said Maurice’s mom Valerie, who watched from sidelines. “He’s in Karate here, and when he saw they were playing whiffle ball, he wanted in.”

The Junior Sport League is the brainchild of Midtown resident Jill Kane, who thought of the idea during last year’s HYP Annual Meeting.

At that meeting, she learned that a majority of HYP members played sports through the organization’s sports leagues.

“I was working in Allison Hill with different mentoring projects and thought–what if I could get just 1 to 2 percent of that group involved in youth sports?” she said. “What if I could get them involved as role models?”

After discussions with the HYP sports and outreach committees, the Junior Sports League was born. The first organized league, kickballl, took the field last year at the Boys & Girls Club on Allison Hill. In addition to kickball and whiffle ball, the league hopes to add a fitness run.

But it’s not just about playing sports. As the 6-week whiffle ball season opened in February, Kane wanted to fortify the program to make it more about mentoring.

So, each 90-minute whiffle ball session opens with a motto and team-building. After the game, the children are treated to healthy snack. At every opportunity, the HYP volunteers instruct the children on sportsmanship and working together to achieve common goals.

“It’s set to be more of a comprehensive approach,” said Zellers. “We understand that some of these children lack mentors and role models.”

Fortunately, many of the whiffle ball players clearly had very engaged parents, as groups of adults gathered on the sidelines to watch their kids and to socialize.

Jame Robinson was following the action as his son, 8-year-old K.C., smacked a few hits. Though he now lives in Lemoyne, James grew up just down the block from the Camp Curtin Y, so he brings his son there regularly.

“He was playing basketball when he heard they were going to play whiffle ball, and he said,’I want to play,'” said Robinson.

For HYP, the Junior Sports League has proven to be a great way to extend its presence and reach. It’s part of a conscious effort to become more involved in city life–from youth to beautification to development.

“We’re trying to see where we can provide the greatest benefit to the city,” said Sara Kehler, who, with Zellers, chairs HYP’s outreach committee. “This is our city, so it’s our responsibility.”

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