Tag Archives: Hershey

A “Modern Love” Story: Midstate couple finds love at first sight and recounts it in the New York Times.

January 29, 2021 | by Debbie Lynch

Xander Miller and Naomie Brinvilus. Photo by Danae Blackburn

Xander Miller could never figure out why his wife Naomie Brinvilus always wanted to buy so many pillows.

Their bed already had at least a dozen pillows. It wasn’t until they started writing a joint memoir on their love story that he discovered the reason and got to know so much more about her.

In a section about her life that Brinvilus wrote one evening and that Miller read early the next morning, she described how her family used to make their beds on the floor of their home in Petit-Goâve, Haiti, with carpeting and a foam mat. “We never had any pillows,” she had written.

“And, I realized that that’s why she likes pillows so much,” Miller said, as Brinvilus laughed during a Zoom interview from their home in Lancaster. “It’s been an interesting experience to learn more about her life from her stories. It’s been a way to enrich our lives a little bit after all these years.”

Brinvilus and Miller, who have been married for seven years, found love thanks to a voodoo priest and a rooster, the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, and a cholera epidemic that followed. Brinvilus, a Haitian who was working for the nonprofit Oxfam, and Miller, a volunteer from the United States, were serving in a cholera treatment tent. After their unlikely meeting, Brinvilus knew that Miller was the rooster that a priest had foreseen for her during a consultation.

“We made eye contact; that was all. When I got home, I told my sister I had seen my rooster and was afraid I would never see him again,” Brinvilus wrote in a “Modern Love” essay entitled, “A Glance (and a Rooster) That Changed Everything,” published this past August in the New York Times.

“Ever since the pandemic started, Xander and I have been spending time writing and revisiting our love, since we met in a pandemic and an epidemic and now we live again in a pandemic,” Brinvilus said. “It follows back to the time when we first met, so that’s why I wrote the [New York Times] column.”

Locked Eyes

Their meeting came on Miller’s second trip to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January 2010. He first went for three months to help as an EMT volunteering with the Jatukik Providence Foundation.

Miller discovered that small communities outside the capital of Port-au-Prince had no means of moving critical patients to city hospitals. He returned to Sante Fe, N.M., where he had worked as an EMT, and started a nonprofit called “Ambulance for Haiti” to raise money to buy and ship an ambulance back to that community. He succeeded and returned along with it in September 2010, when Haiti was now on the verge of a cholera epidemic.

Early on at a cholera treatment center, he and Brinvilus locked eyes. They dated until he left again in January 2011. Her friends and family predicted that would be it, but long-distance phone calls and Miller’s trip back with a ring proved them wrong. After Miller spent nearly a year trying to get a fiancée’s visa, Brinvilus was finally able to join him in Cleveland in March 2012.

The couple landed in Hershey in 2018, when Miller started the physician’s assistant program at Penn State Hershey. Two years later, he graduated in the middle of another pandemic and landed a job as a physician’s assistant in one of Lancaster General Health’s primary care practices. The couple recently moved to Lancaster, where they live together there with their 2-year-old Emerson (Emmy) and Brinvilus’ sister and her two children.

Fell in Love

Days before Brinvilus’ “Modern Love” essay appeared, the New York Times reviewed her husband’s first fiction novel, “ZO,” which was published last summer by Alfred A. Knopf. Miller wasn’t sure he would be the best person to write about Haiti, but the earthquake and the lack of literature written about it spoke to him.

“First of all, I fell in love in Haiti after the earthquake, after cholera,” he said. “I couldn’t write about falling in love anywhere else with anyone else except a Haitian woman in Haiti.”

“ZO” is a socioeconomic class story of forbidden love—an orphan falls in love with a doctor’s daughter. The earthquake and its devastating effects figure prominently in the story. Miller’s descriptions of sailing, boxing and pulling a cart filled with injured people feel brutally real.

He felt compelled to write the novel after listening to a radio show that interviewed an earthquake survivor who described waking up in a dump truck bound for the burial ground. Many experiences in the novel were those that Brinvilus had lived firsthand.

Brinvilus had moved to live with her uncle in Port-au-Prince for college. After the earthquake destroyed their home, she and her sister lived in a tent on the grounds of the Mormon Church.

She had no way of reaching her mother and family after the earthquake. She didn’t know if they were even alive, just as they also didn’t know her fate. She used the last of her money for bus fare to get to their hometown five days after the quake hit. Although her mother’s house suffered destruction, she was OK, and she broke down crying to see her daughters alive.

Soon after that, Miller spied her in the cholera treatment clinic, and the rest is history that will form the foundation for their memoir—a study of love at first sight—that they hope to finish writing in the next six to nine months.

“It’s going to be about us falling in love, “Brinvilus said. “It’s changed me—I will say for the best.”

Miller spoke further of their special connection.

“Naomie and I—we should be very different, right?” he said. “Naomie grew up in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and I grew up here in the richest country in the western hemisphere. I’m white; she’s black. I speak English; she speaks Creole. I’m a Jew; she’s a Catholic and a voodooist, depending on what day of the week it is. In America, we make such a big deal over differences. But, for Naomie and I, we knew there should be differences, but they kind of all faded away, and we wanted to write about how that works and explore why, when we saw each other, all the things that should have been barriers just melted away. We just want to explore that story.”

It’s a story of pillows, roosters, disaster and love at first sight.

“A Glance (and a Rooster) that Changed Everything” appeared in the New York Times on Aug. 14, 2020.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Band Barn: The Englewood was built for music, but includes food, brews, views

August 31, 2020 | by Cathy Jordan

The Englewood

Jeff Sharp and Rick Russell are band members and music fans. They’d been on the lookout for about 10 years for a great community hangout—from a music standpoint.

When Sharp, now co-owner of The Englewood in Hershey, met me in the new lobby, the first question I asked him was, “So, how’d you discover this place?”

Their band, The Hockersville Station, played Americana/alternative country on Thursday nights at the nearby farmers market.

“We’d be jamming with a good view of the farm and the dilapidated barn, look at it and think, ‘Huh,’” Sharp said.

As music fans themselves, they didn’t believe there were enough good places in the Hershey area for music.

“There is so much talent in this area,” Sharp said. “We wanted a listening room as opposed to some club or theater. No dive bar. And if we were gonna have something like that, we wanted a great brewery to go along with it.”

Enter The Englewood.

Dating as far back as 1861, The Englewood was once a strawberry farm, then a dairy farm that provided milk to Milton Hershey for his chocolate. The main building is the old barn, a gloriously red-roofed structure now completely transformed from its origins as a cavernous cattle barn.

The massive renovation project entailed removing cattle shoots, taking down cement walls and generally removing over a century of cow. To preserve as much of the barn as possible, the contractors cob-blasted wood beams, cleaned limestone walls, repurposed barn wood for the bar counters, and installed new windows that mimicked the old ones.

They were three weeks away from finishing construction on the barn when COVID-19 hit. Sharp gave a smile with a shrug.

“The delay allowed us to do a slow rollout,” he said. “The silver lining here is that we got to ease into it without changing the experience for our guests.”

All the Senses

Managed by Tom Scott, former owner of McGrath’s Pub and Scott’s Grille in Harrisburg, The Englewood’s main entrance boasts a welcoming hallway. From there, I entered a cozy tavern on the main level and was told it will serve Pennsylvania wines and spirits. I then stepped onto the outdoor deck, which overlooks the grounds, a patio space with a fire pit, and the lower level brewery.

The Englewood is music-focused, so the two-tier, 650-person event space is the wow factor. It hosts the main level area, including the stage and movie screen, and a mezzanine with couches and plush seating. Lancaster-based Clair Brothers installed the sound systems.

“They’ve got the best performance sound system in the industry, as far as world tours,” said Sharp.

In addition to the sound system, the venue has a spacious green room and plenty of parking.

Chef Matt Miller runs the lower level restaurant’s state-of-the-art kitchen, which brings to life a casual menu. Sharp talked up Miller’s pizzas and the “Barn Burger,” a seasoned short rib, brisket, chuck and bacon combo with cheddar cheese. Housed in what used to be the milking parlor, the restaurant has a brick fireplace and a wood-fire oven with counter seating. Doors lead to the outdoor patio. And let’s not forget the brewery, also on the lower level.

For that, the owners sought out Rubber Soul Brewing co-founder Jesse Prall, who will run the brewery on a seven-barrel system. I asked Prall about the beers he likes and what he plans to offer.

“I get this question a lot, and it’s hard for me to put my finger on the exact beers I like,” he said. “I do prefer to brew more traditional styles and leave out the ‘off the wall’ stuff.”

Prall describes himself as a “seasonal-style drinker.”

“I like the wheat and Belgian beers during the summer, but then in the fall/winter, I get more into the darker beers, like stouts, porters and dubbels,” he said. “And don’t get me wrong—I dig a good IPA. All that being said, I will offer the gambit depending on the season.”

Six core brands are on tap all the time: session IPA, IPA, DIPA, lager, amber and chocolate milk stout. Six other taps will be in rotation.

This is Prall’s 20th year brewing. He got his start cleaning kegs on Sunday evenings at Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg.

“The electric steam boiler was cheaper to run on Sundays,” Prall said.

He met his brewing mentor at ABC and then eventually took over the position of head brewer. After spending around five years there, he ended up in Delaware, working at Dogfish Head for 10 years as a head cellarman, production planner and brewing manager.

“There is where I learned even more and was ready to take on something of my own,” he said. “Here’s where Rubber Soul happened. Even though it didn’t last long, I still gained something from it. I want to grow The Englewood brand both in-house and outside to the public.”

At that point, my tour was complete, with all bases covered—the music, the food, the beer.

“We wanted a vibe that tapped into all the senses,” Sharp said.

He ticked off all five on his fingers.

“The sound of the music, the smell and taste of the food, the comfortable décor and the scenery,” he said.

Angela Moramarco, marketing and creative director, summed it up with a snappy catchphrase.

“Eats, brews and beats,” she said.

The Englewood is located at 1219 Research Rd., Hummelstown. For more information, visit www.englewoodhershey.com.

Blooming in Midtown: Hershey’s go-to florist opens shop in Harrisburg

June 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Shawn Durborow-Bowersox sat at a Starbucks table across from his boss, Cherylann Wagner, over a pair of coffees in 2014.

Wagner had called for a meeting—one that would hold an agenda her employee wasn’t anticipating.

“It was a two-part meeting,” he said. “One to tell me that I needed to be at work on time because I was always late—she was fun like that—and two she wanted me to buy her business.”

She owned a flower design business in Hershey, with clients as big as the Hershey Lodge and Hershey’s Chocolate World. Each week, Durborow-Bowersox helped his boss cut, water and arrange floral masterpieces for the Hershey enterprises. He enjoyed what he did, but there was one problem: Durborow-Bowersox had never run a business.

“She said, ‘I’ll teach you; we will talk about it later,’” Durborow-Bowersox said.

However, a few months after their meeting, Wagner passed away.

“Later never came,” he said.

Durborow-Bowersox assumed the responsibility of making sure everything floral in Hershey was taken care of for the Christmas season. It was difficult to fill the shoes of his former boss, but he had no choice.

“I basically learned on my own,” he said. “It seemed like everyone supported me. I really had to scratch my head over that because I didn’t realize what I had.”

When Frank Gilbert, Hershey Lodge’s general manager, asked Durborow-Bowersox where he would work next, he didn’t know. He would have to get a job somewhere else now.

“He said, ‘no, you’re going to start your own business,’” Durborow-Bowersox said. “Frank believed in me. I didn’t necessarily believe in myself, but he believed in me.”

Made It Work

In February 2015, with a name inspired by his favorite Nat King Cole song, Paper Moon Flowers and Events was born.

Each week, Durborow-Bowersox left his house in Harrisburg, drove his PT Cruiser to the wholesaler, stuffed it full with flowers and headed to Hershey. A day of changing out floral arrangements can take up to eight hours, and, every other day, he returned to water and maintain everything.

“I was like a little flower peddler,” he said. “I just made it work. All the things Cherylann taught me that I didn’t know she was teaching me came out.”

Not only did Durborow-Bowersox work to create arrangements as beautiful as Wagner’s, but he intentionally sought out relationships and conversations with everyone he came in contact with.

“I believed in talking to everyone, and I still do,” he said. “From the housekeeper to the highest. Everyone’s important, and you have to treat them the same.”

Durborow-Bowersox is the lead florist for the Hershey Lodge and boasts a client list including the Hershey Conservatory, the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Country Club and Hershey’s Chocolate World.

With only one employee, he grew his flower business almost singlehandedly.

Now, it was time to open a storefront.

Custom Touch

One rainy afternoon, Durborow-Bowersox was driving home when he passed the same property he always did before turning down the street to his home. This time, there was a lease sign in the window.

In October, the building was his, but it wasn’t until January that Durborow-Bowersox began turning the property—long boarded-up but most recently renovated for an office—into a store. He painted, wallpapered, ordered coolers for the flowers and purchased décor items to sell, some of which he sources from local small businesses.

“I give you a custom touch,” he said. “I give you real foil on your flowers or brown paper around your bouquet.”

Last month, Paper Moon Flowers opened on N. 3rd Street, offering custom flower arrangements, candles, gifts and decorations to the Harrisburg community.

Durborow-Bowersox recognizes the lack of flower shops in Harrisburg and is excited to have a presence in the community.

“I’ve lived here for 20 years, and I can’t buy a birthday card anywhere,” he said. “It drives me crazy. I want people in the community to be able to buy a birthday card or get a little flower arrangement or get a small gift for someone.”

Overall, Durborow-Bowersox wants to bring joy to the neighborhood.

“Flowers make people happy, and they smell good,” he said.

Paper Moon Flowers is located at 916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

In the Moment: Mindfulness emerges as a way to alleviate stress, manage anxiety.

December 28, 2018 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

In today’s hectic world, many of us become so consumed by life’s twists and turns that we often look past the moments that are right in front us.

Maybe it’s the commuter so fixated on traffic and the upcoming workday that she misses the day’s unfolding dawn before her on the road.

Maybe it’s the out-of-breath parent rushing a child to practice after a quick meal that neither of them really enjoyed.

Maybe it’s happened to you.

Maybe deep inside, you harbor a gnawing dissatisfaction that your life is missing something, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. You feel sort of like the aimless circle character in Shel Silverstein’s children’s book, “The Missing Piece.”

But really, that so-called “missing piece,” that restless feeling that many of us perceive, may not be as unknowable or unsolvable as we think. A journey of self-discovery may begin with a practice known as mindfulness, and classes are available throughout greater Harrisburg.

So what exactly is mindfulness?

“Mindfulness is a neat kind of thing we already have,” said Timothy Riley, associate vice chair for wellness, Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State Hershey. “It’s different from meditation. Meditation is practicing a skill for the mind, like playing scales on an instrument. Mindfulness is when we bring skills we’ve learned in meditation into everyday living.”

Riley began practicing mindfulness on a personal level in 2013, he said, to help level stress he experienced as a private practice physician.

Likewise, Nancy Behney was introduced to mindfulness as a way to help address her own problems, in her case, depression and anxiety. The practice, she recalled, “helped me tremendously.”

“Mindfulness is learning to pay attention to the present moment instead of worrying about the future or feeling stuck thinking about something in the past,” she explained. “There are very real benefits to this, such as decreased anxiety, increase in ability to focus, and coping more effectively with sources of stress and pain.”

Behney was so impressed that she recently completed training to become an instructor. She now teaches a mindfulness course that begins in January at Free Spirit Yoga in Hershey.

“It changed my life,” she said. “It really helped with anxiety. It allowed me to enjoy the moments of life.”

Instructor Shelly Ungemach described mindfulness as increasing people’s ability to “respond rather than react” to stressful situations. Besides reducing anxiety and depression, it can decrease blood pressure, expand one’s attention span, and increase empathy and compassion for others.

“Mindfulness has a wide variety of benefits” Ungemach said. “It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s another tool in our toolbox.”

Since 2013, Ungemach has served as a mindfulness-based stress-reduction facilitator for The Mindfulness Bridge in Palmyra. Her next course begins in January at Free Spirit Yoga in Hershey with Behney.

“Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness causes the same sort of changes to the brain as physical exercise does to the body on a daily basis,” she said.

Michael Hayes, a licensed psychologist, learned about the concept of mindfulness in 2010 when attending training for dialectical treatment therapy. Then, in 2014, work-related stress landed him in the hospital for a couple of days.

“The doctors couldn’t put a finger on it,” Hayes said. “That’s when I decided to put it all together, and my health improved upon practice.”

Today, Hayes serves as an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Penn State Hershey Department of Psychiatry while running a clinical practice at the Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State Surgery Specialties.

Hayes’ clinical practice is geared to help patients and their families cope with serious health issues, such as a cancer diagnosis or waiting for an organ transplant. This spring, he plans to initiate a mindfulness-based stress reduction program for adult patients diagnosed with cancer, as well as for adults with a loved one diagnosed with cancer.

“We’re really at an exciting place to think carefully about mindfulness,” he said. “It can provide meaningful, positive change for a whole host of things.”

Mindfulness-based courses can be found at places throughout central Pennsylvania. They also begin in early January at Free Spirit Yoga, 1512 E Caracas Ave # 100, Hershey. For information, visit www.mindfulnessbridge.org.

Stage Struck: Hersheypark ups its stage game just in time for the new concert season.

May 31, 2018 | by M. Diane McCormick

James Taylor, a look of amazement on his face as he marveled at the fans enduring a pouring rain for his sake.

Dave Matthews, sending the sounds of “Satellite” into the summer night’s sky.

Bruce Springsteen, up close and personal from down in the pit, bodysurfing the crowd just a few feet away from us.

Hersheypark Stadium can haul off its 22-year-old stage to make way for a new one, but they can’t haul off my memories. The old stage had its day in the sun—and wind and rain and hail. This summer, a new stage brings state-of-the-art capabilities, in hopes of attracting more of today’s technology-driven, top-tier acts.

“The tours have become more entertainment-focused,” said Heather Storm, Hershey Entertainment’s director of event programming and execution. “It’s not just the person that gets up and sings or plays a guitar. It’s actually focused on the entertainment, the different kind of theatrical aspects. Obviously, when you have a stage that’s almost 30 years old, some of that equipment doesn’t even hang well.”

So, the stage that was good enough for Rod Stewart on May 18, 1996 (the old stage’s first concert) was hauled away in early April, and construction began on the new stage. On a sunny day in May, crews working four hydraulic lifts raised the quarter-ton roof of the new Mountain HD+ Staging System. The same design, the flagship of Wilkes-Barre-based Mountain Productions, has been underfoot for acts at Lollapalooza and for the 2017 NFL draft.

The new stage is capable of holding up to 500,000 pounds of equipment, up from the 100,000-pound range. At 80-feet wide in performance area, with 40-foot wings, it’s wider, deeper and higher than the old stage. A four-foot overhang protects the artists—and their pricey equipment—from sudden downpours. Lights can hang straight down in what’s called a “dead hang,” instead of requiring angled bridles. Items that used to take two riggers to hang will now need only one.

With the new stage, the artists are comfortable because the lighting and projections are consistent. The crew—artists’ roadies plus members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 98—won’t be “getting creative” with riggings, Storm said.

And perhaps most important to Hershey Entertainment and its event partner, Live Nation, the stage will accommodate not just the hair bands and Disney-made sensations of the world but the Beyoncés and the Paul McCartneys.

But wait, you’re thinking: Beyoncé and Sir Paul have played at Hersheypark Stadium. You are correct, but they didn’t strut their stuff on that old stage. When you’re Queen B, your stage specs are specific and glitzy. Hershey, of course, wants the prestige acts, so the old stage would come down, and a rental upgrade would go up. After the concert, the process was reversed.

“It’s an undertaking,” Storm admitted. “The stages come in 15 to 17 trucks.”

Worse, the process would take several days or even a week, crossing off dates from the calendar that could have been booked by another act.

The new stage rang up at a “six-figure cost,” including installation, said Storm. Its versatility, capabilities and durability are “super important, because we knew the toll of loading and unloading,” she said.

A few acts will always require their own stages, “but we wanted to make sure we had a really, really good shot of letting anyone use this stage. We don’t want to jeopardize the dates or the wear and tear on the facility of loading the stage in and out.”

The old-stage roulette has even caused a bit of confusion. McCartney rocked the stadium on July 19, 2016. A few days later, the ever-popular Zac Brown Band trundled into town while the stage rented for Sir Paul still stood. Negotiating for the next year’s return, the Zac Brown people were surprised to learn that, no, Hershey hadn’t purchased a new stage. They just got the benefit of McCartney’s star power.

Zac Brown returned in 2017, though, and is re-returning on June 22 for his fourth straight year. Very few artists are fussy in their demands, Storm said. And those that might request such items as a competing company’s candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hands, are just trying to surround themselves with familiar comforts in a crazy life on the road—but the Zac Brown Band is an accommodating favorite.

“Zac Brown is amazing,” Storm said. “It’s an easy day. They’re easy people. No heavy-duty anything.”

The only challenge she anticipates is reeling in the artists for their 11 p.m. hard curfew because, after all, their sole purpose for being there is to play and do what they love.

Expected to perform first on the new stage is Journey and Def Leppard in a big-selling summer kickoff the Friday before Memorial Day. Storm said she’d be surprised if concertgoers “don’t notice a difference” from the old stage. For one thing, the controls will be lower and not as intrusive. And overall, “it’s so new and so fresh and so open. We’re working on it to make sure there’s an impact.”

The former stage went to Mountain Productions, perhaps for use at smaller events, so without even knowing it, you might catch our old friend hanging out with an indie band or up-and-coming country group.

Venues get a reputation among acts, from the summer’s first-class stages to the ones that make funny sounds when the wind blows. Hershey Entertainment officials hope that once favorable word starts getting out, the new stage will become a selling point to lure premier artists to Chocolate Town.

“That’s what we’re trying to do,” said Storm. “We’re trying to attract them here.”

Hersheypark Stadium is located at 100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey. For more information, visit www.hersheyentertainment.com/hersheypark-stadium.

Bears to Caps: Hershey fans will see familiar faces during Stanley Cup final.

May 29, 2018 | by Erica Koup

The Stanley Cup finals are underway this week—16 teams entered and two are left. The Washington Capitals are facing off against the Vegas Golden Knights.

One of the teams has a special connection to the central Pennsylvania region. If you have ever been to a Hershey Bears game, you might see some familiar faces on the ice for the Capitals during the final series. Since the 2005-06 season, the AHL’s Hershey Bears has been the primary development club for the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Hershey has developed players like Braden Holtby, Philipp Grubauer, Dmitry Orlov, Nathan Walker and Chandler Stephenson, all former Bears players. These former Bears will play a key role in this series, in an attempt to secure Washington’s first Stanley Cup.

Hershey has been ingrained in hockey history and is the longest continuously operating member club still playing in its original city. The history of Hershey hockey goes way back to 1931 with amateur matches between college teams. Milton S. Hershey saw the popularity of these games, which encouraged him to bring a professional hockey team permanently to Hershey. Gordie Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey” and 1972 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, even once remarked that, “Everybody who is anybody in hockey has played in Hershey.” It was a high compliment from the hockey icon.

This year’s Stanley Cup match up will be compelling as both teams have great storylines.

The Caps are known as a hard-luck squad that, while typically one of the best teams in the league, can’t close the deal once they hit the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are a first-year expansion team out of Sin City. Made up of leftover players from the other 30 squads, the team is making history for having the best first-year ever for any professional expansion team.

The Caps’ captain, Alex Ovechkin, is electric and the best goal scorer of his time. He is facing Marc-Andre Fleury in net, who is looking to continue his great playoff run. Fleury is a veteran to postseason hockey, winning the Stanley Cup three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Someone is going to win their first Stanley Cup. Will it be the Washington Capitals or the newcomers, Vegas Golden Knights?

If you have not been watching the Stanley Cup playoffs so far, it is time now to tune in for some of the best competition of the 2017-18 sports season. Hockey not your thing? Vegas does not disappoint during the pregame show, starting every home game with a cosplaying Knight dueling a mascot from the other team, faux-stabbing that mascot, then “vanquishing” him and lifting him up into the rafters. Let’s hope these two teams take it to game seven, which means we won’t have our Stanley Cup champ until June 13.

The Stanley Cup finals began Monday night, with the Vegas Golden Knights taking a 1-0 series lead with an exciting, high-scoring 6-4 victory. The series continues on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Family Way: As Smith Land & Improvement turns 100, a new generation takes the lead.

March 30, 2018 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Portrait of Luther Bruce (L.B) Smith

Family businesses are so important to the economy that Forbes Magazine has even created something it calls the “Family 500,” an index comprised of the largest family-owned businesses in the world.

You won’t find Camp Hill-based Smith Land & Improvement Corp. on that list (at least not yet), but the company has played an important role in the Harrisburg area’s economy for a century.

Founded in 1918, the company didn’t actually start out as a family venture, which came a bit later and took some good fortune.

In the 1930s, young Dick Jordan was thumbing a ride to a baseball game, which is how he met Luther Bruce (LB) Smith, a tireless entrepreneur who had started out as a butcher but then built a business in Lemoyne refurbishing government vehicles and machinery.

Smith took a liking to him and gave him a position in his purchasing department, even holding a job for him when he went off to fight in World War II.

“Between the mid-‘30s and 1968, my father worked for the company, and LB thought enough of him to make him the successor and CEO,” said Richard E. Jordan II, the current board chairman who has been with the company since 1963.

Three decades later, his son, Richard E. Jordan III, joined the business and, just this past January, as the company turns 100, replaced his father as president and CEO.

Jordan II laughed as he reflected back on LB Smith’s ambitious nature and the fact that the businessman was once involved in 77 different corporations.

“He even had gas wells in West Virginia, and we had to employ a well tender to ensure they were operating correctly,” he said.

As the decades passed, the company streamlined and divested not only of the heavy equipment business, but of most of the other businesses. It kept two main assets: the LB Smith Ford Lincoln car dealership in Lemoyne and the development arm, Smith Land & Improvement Corp.

Staying Power

The amiable father/son pair laugh when they attempt to describe the secret to their longevity in the business.

“I’ve gone through two-and-a-half economic downturns, and, the more you go through, the less hair you have,” said Jordan II, patting his smooth pate. “We managed our way into it and our way out of it. Resilience is key. It wasn’t fun, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

The younger Jordan added that the recession years following the financial crisis of 2008 were especially challenging.

“There wasn’t a lot happening in the real estate business at that time, and some people lost their shirts,” he said. “But we were able to make a few deals.”

In part, they credit their conservative approach to being able to survive during the toughest economic times.

“We put 20 percent down and finance the rest and engage in deals that have a critical mass of tenants and equity before we get underway,” said Jordan III, explaining the company’s cautious approach.

Today, Smith Land’s portfolio is comprised of some 50 properties throughout the region, including a variety of retail establishments, including the West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne, the Silver Creek Plaza on the Pike in Hampden Township and the Leola Square in Leola, along with numerous office sites. The company currently is seeking to generate interest in a 165-acre tract of land called “Swatara Plaza at the Concourse,” a $150-million, mixed-use infill project just outside of Hershey.

On the other side of the Susquehanna, Smith Land is redeveloping the area between S. 18th and S. 19th streets in Camp Hill to make the area more pedestrian-friendly—a development that has many borough residents excited.

As the junior Jordan settles into his new position as CEO, his goals are similar to those who came before him.

“They’ve laid a good foundation for success, and we like the idea of redeveloping where we live and improving the environment for our neighbors,” he said. “We want our projects to be representative of who we are and make the residents proud of what we do. They know we have a reputation for doing it the right way, and, if something goes wrong, we’ll be here to fix it.”

Smith Land & Improvement Corp. is located at 1810 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-731-0207 or visit www.smithlandusa.com.

March News Digest

March 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Free Evening Parking

Free parking could come to downtown Harrisburg as early as this month, as City Council passed a resolution that would offset street parking costs after 5 p.m.

Council agreed unanimously last month to join Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) in ponying up money to offset parking revenues that operator Park Harrisburg would lose between 5 and 7 p.m.

“I think it’s a boost for the city,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I think it will lead to more people visiting downtown.”

Harrisburg’s contribution will amount to $110,000 over the next year and will come from money that the parking system already owes the city, said Papenfuse. The county has also pledged $110,000, and HDID will pay $50,000.

The county and HDID had hoped for a three-year deal, though council approved just a one-year test period.

By entering into the “memorandum of understanding,” the three entities—the city, county and HDID—must finalize the exchange with the parking system operator. Papenfuse has said he expects no pushback, as the system operator, SP+/Park Harrisburg, and its asset manager, Trimont, just want to ensure that contributions offset lost revenue, which, last year, amounted to $270,000 between 5 and 7 p.m.

Papenfuse said the parking subsidy could kick in as soon as April, but may take longer.

Since 2014, the city has tried several tactics to mitigate the cost of street parking. First, the Papenfuse administration convinced the system’s operators to lower the “happy hour” rate from $3 to $2 an hour between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. It later turned many of downtown’s loading zones into 15-minute free parking areas.

Nonetheless, downtown bar and restaurant owners continued to complain about a loss of business, which they largely blame on high parking rates.

If implemented, the plan would come with some conditions. First, it would apply only to street, not garage, parking. Secondly, it would take effect only within the HDID boundaries, which run downtown from State to Chestnut streets.

Loan Fund Launches

Whether you’re a shop owner looking to expand your storefront or an aspiring entrepreneur with a business dream, you may benefit from a new loan fund that launched last month in Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg is partnering with the Community First Fund and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to launch the Harrisburg Business Opportunity Fund (HBOF) with $1 million in seed money, according to Sheila Dow Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg, which was founded with proceeds from the sale of Harrisburg’s incinerator, will contribute $350,000 to the fund. The Pennsylvania Housing and Financing Authority has pledged $650,000 through its nonprofit subsidiary, the Commonwealth Cornerstone Group.

Loans will be available to small, for-profit business owners or aspiring business owners in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. According to Dow Ford, the goal of the fund is to encourage economic development, job creation and a diverse workforce in the city of Harrisburg.

“We’re providing for a segment of the population that has, for various reasons, been overlooked by traditional lending institutions,” she said.

Any for-profit business or startup in Harrisburg can apply for a loan, Dow Ford said, though real estate trusts or businesses that buy and sell property will not be eligible.

The new fund bears some resemblance to Harrisburg’s old revolving loan fund, which was launched in 1984 and languished in the 2000s as many borrowers became delinquent.

Dow Ford acknowledged that some HBOF loans might be considered risky by traditional lending standards, since they will be issued to people and ventures that might be denied by traditional lenders. However, she hopes that the partnership with Community First Fund will prevent the same mismanagement and delinquency that plagued the city’s revolving loan fund.

Superintendent Search Begins

The Harrisburg School District is putting up a help wanted sign, but there won’t necessarily be a personnel change in its highest office.

In a 5-4 vote, the Harrisburg School Board decided last month to accept applications for the position of superintendent. The vote means that if current Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney wishes to stay in her post, she must apply for her job and beat out other candidates.

The vote came after more than an hour of spirited public comment at last month’s school board meeting, as near-equal numbers of district residents encouraged the board to vote for or against a resolution to initiate the hiring process.

Residents who supported renewing Knight-Burney’s contract emphasized the importance of consistent leadership during the district’s recovery process. Those who called for an open hiring process said that the district deserved to consider candidates who might make more dramatic gains in student achievement.

Knight-Burney became Harrisburg’s superintendent in 2011. Since 2013, she’s been responsible for implementing the actions in a state-crafted recovery plan, which outlined almost 100 initiatives to improve the district’s academics and operations.

Her current contract, which was renewed in 2014, expires on June 30. Asked if she would reapply for her job, Knight-Burney declined to comment.

Act 47 Status Considered

“The clock is ticking” on the next step in Harrisburg’s path to financial recovery.

That’s the message that a state official had for Harrisburg’s administration and City Council last month, as both bodies were briefed on the timeline for the city’s remaining six months in the state’s Act 47 program for distressed municipalities.

Marita Kelley, Harrisburg’s Act 47 coordinator, appeared at a council work session to explain the city’s duties before Act 47 status expires on Sept. 23.

Here’s what lies ahead, according to Kelley. The mayor and the city clerk will receive a financial condition report, prepared by Kelley and the Pennsylvania Economy League. A public meeting on its contents should take place this month.

After the meeting, she and the Pennsylvania Economy League will have 90 days to prepare a final exit plan for the city. In that plan, they’ll make a formal recommendation for what the city should do in September: extend its Act 47 status, exit the program or enter the oversight of a state-appointed receiver.

The exit plan should arrive before city officials in mid-July. After another round of commenting and a public meeting, Kelley will finalize the exit plan in time for the Sept. 23 expiration deadline.

Kelley thinks it’s highly unlikely that Harrisburg will enter receivership in September. She was hesitant to recommend an action to the city last month, but said during a budget meeting in December that Harrisburg will likely spend another three years in the program, at least.

Reports Released for Train Station, Paxton Creek

A restaurant and café in Harrisburg’s train station, a pedestrian bridge over the train tracks, a flood-controlled Paxton Creek.

Those are a few of the ambitious goals laid out in two reports released last month by the state Department of Transportation, which is taking the lead on rehabilitating the blighted Market Street corridor just east of the Harrisburg Transportation Center, roughly from the train station to Cameron Street.

“These studies serve as a road map to help the city continue to develop as an attractive place to work and play,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.

PennDOT’s first priority is rehabilitation of the train/bus station itself, set out in a report titled, “Harrisburg Transportation Center Transit Oriented Development Master Plan.”

That project includes removal of the large office space in the main lobby, the addition of an “open-concept café” in the lobby, new seating in the station concourse, the addition of a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a new entry plaza from the lower-level Market Street entrance and the addition of office space on the upper floors.

According to Richards, work is expected to begin relatively soon, as the department has completed 90 percent of the design for the $15 million renovation and is now working with Amtrak on a construction schedule.

The next priority is a massive flood control project designed to restrain, improve and restore Paxton Creek, as delineated in the “Paxton Creek Master Plan.”

The plan outlines steps to modify the channel size and make other improvements that would take 133 acres out of the 100-year flood plan and partially remove another 275 acres, making the area far more attractive for redevelopment. The plan also envisions enhancing the creek area with recreational paths and restoring it to a more natural environment.

PennDOT anticipates four to five years of preliminary work before construction on the project could begin. The estimated cost of the creek improvements is $60 to $90 million, with potential grants coming from the state’s Multimodal Fund, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The transportation master plan envisions other projects, which include:

Streetscaping and façade enhancement, including new sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, signage and utility and lighting poles.
A pedestrian bridge that would extend the station concourse over the railroad tracks, through the former Harrisburg central post office and into the redevelopment area.
Relocation of the intercity bus terminal from Market Street to the redevelopment area and expansion of the facility.
Development of the area near an east entrance to the station.
A new plaza on Market Street.

“These projects will provide exciting opportunities for development in the city of Harrisburg, and for enhancing the quality of life for our residents,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with PennDOT on projects that will benefit not only Harrisburg residents but the entire region.”

New Districts Upheld

Pennsylvania’s redrawn congressional districts withstood two court challenges last month, clearing the way for some areas, including the Harrisburg area, to be unified under new district lines.

First, a three-judge federal panel threw out a Republican-led challenge to the new district map. The same day, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a Republican request for an emergency stay that would block use of the new map in this year’s elections.

As a result, the state Supreme Court’s redrawn district map will stand. This includes a new 10th congressional district that encompasses all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties, including Harrisburg, York and Carlisle.

The primary election is slated for May 15.

Gaming Grants Given

The Dauphin County commissioners shelled out some $6 million to dozens of projects last month in the annual disbursal of gaming grant money.

The commissioners spread the money around to municipalities throughout the county, with the largest sums, by state law, going to those nearest to the Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Grantville.

In and around Harrisburg, grants to governments included:

* City of Harrisburg: $229,724 for police equipment, the engineering bureau and for Fire Bureau dive team equipment

* Susquehanna Township: $159,900 for sanitary sewer system extension, for Progress Fire Co. vehicle replacement and for Wedgewood Hills Swim Club heat pump installation

* Lower Paxton Township: $82,825 for Devon Manor pool improvements, Koon’s pool improvements and Ranger and George Park soccer upgrades

* Hummelstown: $58,471 for municipal building debt service

* Highspire: $57,200 for roadway rehabilitation

* Steelton: $43,000 for Fire Department apparatus and Skate Park debt reduction

* Swatara Township: $13,000 for Police Department K-9 and training

Grants to Dauphin County entities included:

* MDJ Court Administration: $200,000 for construction of MDJ buildings

* Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $137,000 for solar farm project debt reduction

* Dauphin County Parks & Recreation: $101,000 for Detweiler Park master plan and Fort Hunter Station planning project

* Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority: $100,000 for a project on the former State Hospital grounds

* Dauphin County Land Bank Authority: $100,000 for renovation of vacant homes

Grants to organizations included:

* Camp Curtin YMCA: $100,000 for conversion of an indoor pool into a recreational area

* Central Dauphin School District: $75,600 for a school safety improvement project

* Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg: $75,000 for an emergency generator project

* Penn FC (Harrisburg City Islanders): $72,562 for a field conversion project

* Humane Society of Harrisburg Area: $70,000 for an expansion of veterinary services

* Salvation Army: $50,000 for a new headquarters and services facility

* Harrisburg Rugby Food Club: $50,000 for Perseverance Field improvements

* Homeland Center: $40,000 for an emergency generator project

* The Nativity School: $40,000 for furniture purchase and building renovations

* Open Stage of Harrisburg: $32,000 for facility and equipment upgrades

* Capital Region Literacy Corp.: $30,000 for books in schools and clinic program

* Habitat for Humanity: $28,000 for weatherization project

* Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $25,000 for ADA-compliant restrooms

* Midtown Action Council: $13,652 for historic marker renovation and expansion

* Beacon Clinic: $5,000 for HVAC installation and renovations

More Downtown Apartments

More apartments appear headed for downtown Harrisburg, though it may be awhile before you’ll be able to move into one.

Harrisburg City Council last month introduced a resolution that would allow Harristown Enterprises to convert a circa-1952 office building to a 25-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor.

The building, at 124 Pine St., currently houses Keystone Human Services, which would seek new space following a sale, said Harristown CEO Brad Jones.

Keystone currently has the six-story, 30,000-square-foot building on the market for $1.5 million.

Over the past few years, Harristown has converted several downtown office buildings to higher-end apartments, most recently at the corner of N. 2nd and Cranberry streets. That 12-unit building, Jones said, has been renamed “The Bogg on Cranberry.”

The Pine Street project, he said, would consist of 18 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units that would range from about 700 to 850 square feet in size. Jones said that he expects rents to be about $1,095 to $1,395 a month. The project includes 19 off-street parking spaces, which would be rented separately.

If Harristown gets City Council approval, the company hopes to close on a building purchase in May. Jones, however, expects that Keystone will then lease the building back until it can find a new home, meaning that renovation work probably won’t begin until early 2019.

So Noted

Blake Lynch was named Harrisburg’s new community policing coordinator last month. In this position, Lynch, formerly director of development at the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg, will serve as a liaison between the city’s Police Bureau and the community.

Club XL is set to open this month near S. Cameron and Hanna streets in an industrial area of Harrisburg. Owner Phil Dobson said the 18,500-square-foot nightclub and concert venue will feature a large stage, a sophisticated light and sound system and an exterior patio, among other amenities.

Gamut Theatre Group this month plans to begin the second phase of the build-out of its building in downtown Harrisburg. The Gamut Theatre Education Center will include the Alexander Grass Second Stage, two renovated classrooms and other areas for students to learn various aspects of theater operations. The $700,000 project should be completed by August, according to Gamut.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is making plans to open in the newly constructed Hershey Towne Square on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey. The company expects the 9,000-square-foot space to be ready late this year or early next year.

Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority announced last month that Robert “Bob” Zorbaugh will replace Jim Warner as CEO when Warner retires at year-end. Zorbaugh, the current chief operating officer, has served with LCSWMA, which owns Harrisburg’s waste-to-energy incinerator, since 1990.

PSECU last month announced the planned retirement of President Greg Smith, effective February 2019. Smith has served with the credit union for nearly 30 years.

Right on Reily is slated to open late this month in restaurant space across the street from Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg. Owner Dylan Simon said he plans to open at 7 a.m. and will feature freshly made breakfast items, sandwiches, soups and salads from the eatery at 263 Reily St.

Theatre Harrisburg last month announced the departure of its executive director, Allison Graham Hays, who served in the post for about one year. A search for a new director has begun. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2421: J. Howard to L. Brown, $69,900

Berryhill St., 2216: PA Deals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $64,900

Boas St., 111: P. & M. Keelen to J. Swope, $67,000

Boas St., 409: A. Antoun to P. Cannon & M. Hertrich, $84,000

Boas St., 1910: Dobson Family Limited to M. Cardona & S. Guzman, $36,000

Duke St., 2433: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Evergreen St., 17: E. Ordonez to P. Paniagua, $40,000

Fulton St., 1625: Z. & H. Khan to J. Seibert, $125,750

Fulton St., 1722: Wilmington Savings Fund & Society FSB to PA Deals LLC, $77,500

Green St., 2322: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $36,000

Hale Ave., 383: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,000

Hale Ave., 403: O. Peck to C. & A. Bullock, $71,000

Harris St., 204: G. Olives to A. Hermany & T. Minnick, $149,900

Holly St., 1916: W. Aikens Jr. to R. & B. Cook, $43,000

Hummel St., 243: Tri County HDC Ltd. to B. Dixon, $69,900

Kensington St., 2267: M. Eismann to Blackfoot Viking LLC, $40,000

Kensington St., 2328: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Market St., 1028: J. & A. Karagiannis to R. Luu, J. Son & KS Property Management LLC, $250,000

Market St., 1800: G. Walker to Horizon Trust FBO, Timothy Carter IRA, $105,000

Mayflower St., 1366: G. Vargas to D. Tellado, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 221: CJ2 Group LLC to Second and Cranberry LLC, $350,000

N. 2^nd St., 2338: H. Witte & A. Atkinson to V. Paredes, $95,000

N. 3^rd St., 3218: T. & B. Seely to S. Dudek, $139,900

N. 4^th St., 1911: K. & D. Fletcher to M. DeMeo, $73,900

N. 5^th St., 1948: L. Blanton to B. & K. Feidt, $73,500

N. 5^th St., 2554: J. Johnson to D. Mallek & W. Sarris, $60,000

N. 5^th St., 3201: Branch Banking and Trust Co. to F. Nestico, $80,000

N. 15^th St., 2: R. Sharma & N. Saini to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $100,000

N. 15^th St., 1425: Top Notch Properties LLC to B. Wevodau Sr., $30,000

S. 24^th St., 563: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $65,000

Parkway Blvd., 2509: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $118,500

Peffer St., 321: K. Whitehead to V. Robinson, $74,000

Penn St., 1504: R. Davis to D. & M. Witwer, $70,000

Penn St., 1612: A. La Luz to N. Giustra, $140,000

Race St., 552: G. & K. Nguyen to A. & H. Appleberry, $144,000

Revere St., 1722: R. Brunstetter to Top Unit Properties LLC, $80,000

Rolleston St., 1153: A. Phillips to C. Suriel, $43,000

Rudy Rd., 2492: HT Properties LLC to W. Marca, $59,000

Rumson Dr., 2899: S. Markowitz to M. Gleason, $58,000

S. 14^th St., 1404: S. McMurray to City of Harrisburg, $47,000

S. 14^th St., 1409: V. Brice to City of Harrisburg, $48,000

S. 14^th St., 1411: DRW Properties LLC to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 14^th St., 1412: M. Hudson to City of Harrisburg, $53,000

S. 14^th St., 1420: S. Crittenden to City of Harrisburg, $52,500

S. 14^th St., 1436: J. Newhouse to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1441: W. & B. Hornung to City of Harrisburg, $39,000

S. 14^th St., 1442: Blue Real Estate LLC to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. River St., 315: Red Realty LLC & D. Shearer to J. & S. Bachman, $109,000

State St., 1713: D. Schneider to J. Virbitsky, $85,000

Susquehanna St., 1622: R. & G. Harris to H. Maierle & C. Kostelecky, $134,500

Susquehanna St., 1704 & 1706: J. Shoop to N. Lotze & A. Anderson, $122,000

Sycamore St., 1421: G. Neff to C. Pizarro, $35,000

Waldo St., 2627: PA Deals LLC to S. Henry, $54,000

Wyeth St., 1413: M. & J. Boyer to J. Hegarty, $105,000

Harrisburg property sales for February 2018, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

The Sweet Spot: Chocolatefest celebrates 23 years of confections, connections.

December 29, 2017 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

January, for many, seems like a big letdown.

After the highs of the holidays, an icy landscape brings on cabin fever, and, let’s face it, who has ever heard of “summer doldrums?”

Just around the time everything seems so bleak, we are reminded that Keystone Human Service’s Chocolatefest is right around the corner. Suddenly, life begins to take on a brighter sheen, not unlike that of a good bar of chocolate, by the way.

Author and humorist Sandra Boynton once said, “Research tells us that 14 out of 10 individuals like chocolate.”

If that “statistic” brings a knowing smile to your face, imagine having access to a huge smorgasbord chock full of chocolate creations. And what better place to throw a chocolate party than in chocolate town?

This year’s extravaganza will take place on the last weekend of January at the Hershey Lodge. The annual “ChocolateBall” will kick off the event on Friday night with live music, dancing, dinner and auctions. On Saturday, guests can choose to attend the premiere reception or opt for one of two 90-minute sessions beginning at noon and continuing through the afternoon.

The theme chosen for this year’s black-tie gala is “Reach for the Stars,” a reminder that Keystone’s mission is to advocate for those with disabilities to live full, rich, meaningful lives and become valued members of their communities.

Works of Art

This year, some 60 vendors will participate. Confectioners, hoteliers and restaurateurs will offer a wide-range of samples to ensure no one’s sweet tooth goes unsatisfied, and other businesses will do their part to support a worthy cause.

“We are grateful for the partnerships that we have made in order to provide such a great community event,” said Danielle Ruddy, Keystone Human Services development specialist.

Each year, guests’ eyes pop out at the over-the-top cakes created by skilled bakers. The annual baking competition creates quite a stir as retailers, students and professional decorators show off their talents and vie for prizes awarded by a professional panel of judges.

“The cakes are amazing—real works of art,” commented Ann Moffitt, vice president of community development.

Ruddy said that this year’s event will include several new activities.

“Home Depot will be bringing along kits for kids’ workshops, and the Girl Scout STEM Mobile will be onsite where girl’s can earn their STEM Mobile patch,” she said.

The STEM Mobile lab provides students with hands-on opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Hershey Kissmobile will also make an appearance.

Speaking of kisses, a select group of four-legged friends will be in attendance with tails wagging, eager to unleash their charm on willing guests.

“We will have a Susquehanna Service Dogs kissing booth, where guests can get a kiss for a $1 and take their own picture with them,” said Ruddy.

Wineries, breweries and distilleries will join the event for the first time this year, keeping spirits bright by offering a variety of adult libations for tasting and/or purchasing.

Remarkable Job

Chocolatefest depends on the generosity of not only businesses, but also hundreds of volunteers.

Mimi and Bob Goodling have donated their time throughout the years in various ways, from buying a table at the ChocolateBall to traffic control to serving on various boards. The Mechanicsburg couple has witnessed firsthand what a blessing Keystone Human Services can be. The couple’s son has benefited from the services provided by the organization.

“Once I saw how Keystone treated these individuals and how they worked with them, I knew this was an agency I wanted to help,” said Bob, adding that he saw his son flourish after Keystone helped him transition from the state hospital into a productive and happy life. “They do a remarkable job enhancing the human spirit.”

Keystone currently serves 7,500 people and families in central Pennsylvania, even reaching other states and places as far away as India.

Ruddy considers the event a win-win for everyone—from businesses to patrons to the folks who benefit from the thousands of dollars generated to enhance our neighbors’ lives.

“Chocolatefest isn’t just about the massive amounts of desserts that can be consumed,” she said. “It’s about our community businesses coming together to support one another while providing an event that is fun and inclusive, while raising much-needed funds for our programs and services.”

Chocolatefest takes place Jan. 27 and 28 at the Hershey Lodge, Hershey. To learn more, visit www.keystonehumanservices.org or call 717-232-7509. Tickets can also be purchased at the Hershey Lodge, Hotel Hershey, Boscov’s and AMMA JO in Strawberry Square.

Craft Community: At Mount Gretna, come for the beer, stay for the people.

August 31, 2017 | by Cathy Jordan

Mount Gretna Craft Brewery throws a party every night. At least that’s what it feels like to owners Brad Kleinfelter and Todd Holsopple.

I sat down with head brewer Kleinfelter and business partner Holsopple in the brewery’s lounge—in what looks like a cabin living room complete with leather chair and couch, a shelf stocked with books and games, a mounted wildebeest head over the large brick fireplace and hardwood floors.

There, I got a sense of where the party happens. The place is deceptively large with a pub, event room, windowed brewery room where patrons can watch the process and outdoor seating area.

Breakfast and lunch are served along with specialty drinks and locally baked goods inside the attached Red Canoe General Store, which is a coffee bar and a small market. Coffee—roasted in the large coffee roaster nestled in a corner—also winds up in the beer. As far as the suds go, Kleinfelter considers himself more of a traditionalist.

“I like a medium-body beer,” he said. “But, we have everything from pale ales, IPAs, ambers, porters and Belgiums. I just tapped a honey basil pale ale this morning.”

“Did you taste it?” Holsopple asked Kleinfelter.

“Oh yeah,” Kleinfelter responded with a smile. “It was pretty good.”

Love of Movement

Holsopple said they looked at other sites before buying the former Leed’s Corner, conveniently situated at the corner of routes 322 and 117.

“The first location fell through when the owner decided not to sell, and the second didn’t work due to zoning rights,” he said. “This spot wound up being a blessing.”

Kleinfelter piped in.

“Every corner of this place has a story. Let me show you the bathroom.”

He led me toward the men’s room, where old kegs serve as urinals and the bathroom sinks are antique feed troughs.

Back at the bar, one of the original Leed’s Corner signs hangs on the wall. The lone television played a video showing the 30-foot long, 2-foot wide and 3-inch thick bar top, community table and window ledge being cut from the same slab of oak. The oak slabs were dried right inside the unfinished brewery in a kiln. Cabinets behind the bar are reclaimed wood from an Elizabethtown barn. The wood on the walls came from Kleinfelter’s property, and the floorboards came from trees cut down on Holsopple’s property.

And the bicycle shop next door to the brewery is not there by chance. The space was originally an auto body shop when owned by founder Harry Leed and was later a gun shop. Holsopple, who has lived in the area for 30 years, is a cyclist, and he said he always liked the idea of a bicycle shop next to a brewery. According to Allison Kleinfelter, they sought out a bike shop to reinforce active outdoor values.

“We also are expanding our yoga offerings through our general store and brewery,” she said. “So, we really bring in the love of movement indoors and out.”

Although Kleinfelter and Holsopple bought Leed’s Corner in July 2016, Kleinfelter said he’s been brewing for more than 20 years.

“I had bought a pilot home brew system,” he said. “Then I used friends and family as guinea pigs.”

Given the positive reaction, he thought he was onto something, but it took a long time before seriously considering going pro.

“Five years ago, my wife Allison and I had this crazy idea to get into brewing,” he said. “We live in Mount Gretna and liked the idea of having a brewery here. Mount Gretna is all about art, refined products, and a craft brewery fits that idea.”

A Hub

Leed’s Corner boasts tremendous local history. For decades, people swung by for such diverse goods as gas, shotgun shells and baseball cards.

“People stop in and share good memories from when they used to come in here as a kid,” said Kleinfelter. “It was a hub.”

Kleinfelter and Holsopple still think of it that way, and they reconstructed the building to include a centralized area where the brewery regularly hosts book readings, musical performances, art classes for kids and adults, ladies nights out, craft classes, yoga and more. People stop by in the morning for coffee and breakfast, afternoon for lunch and evening for family entertainment, dinner and a craft beer.

“All the food will be locally sourced with local vendors,” Kleinfelter said. “We want to keep the menu small and continually rotate with the seasons.”

The pair recruited their chef, Marc Achenbach, from Hotel Hershey.

“He’s a vital part of the operation,” said Kleinfelter. “He’s very creative.”

Achenbach offers upscale pub food, like gourmet pizza and burgers, fries, salads and soups. Additionally, he plans to always have something new to draw interest.

“The chef will come up with a weekly item along with a seasonal item,” Kleinfelter said.

The food should get people coming back to the brewery, even after the craft beer phenomenon has peaked, Kleinfelter said, as should the strong sense of community.

“Our unique niche is this corner—our sense of community,” he said. “If you’re from the area, you know Mount Gretna. People come here to unwind. We can offer that relaxing lifestyle with our coffee shop, bike shop, comfortable environment and restaurant. And really good beer.”

Mount Gretna Craft Brewery is located at 2701 Horseshoe Pike, Palmyra. For more information, visit www.gretnabrewery.com.

Author: Cathy Jordan

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like