Tag Archives: Pine Street Presbyterian Church

Christmas Past: This season, step back in time with “historic” holiday events

November 25, 2025 | by M. Diane McCormick

Pine Street Presbyterian Church

Bradley Smith stands in the historic Ephrata Cloister saal, amid the community chapel’s dark benches and peaked ceiling.

For some people today, he says, Black Friday kicks off the holidays. For others, it’s a concert of 18th-century hymns written by devout German immigrants living in a communal society.

“There’s something unique about being in a space like this, hearing 280-year-old songs, that you can’t really get in other places,” said Smith, administrator of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site. “You’re transported to the moment. You walk in the door, and you’re immersed in the 1700s.”

Maybe it started with Charles Dickens, but “Christmas Present” and “Christmas Past” are linked together like “figgy” and “pudding.” Even as the holidays reach a frenzy, the midstate’s historic sites and events invite guests to step into the past for getaways that teach about holiday traditions, create memories, and offer moments of reflection.

Simpler Times

Today’s downtown Ephrata is a product of the railroad’s arrival around the Civil War. Every December, Christmas at the Cloister concerts relocate downtown—metaphorically, at least—a few blocks south, to its origins of humble wooden structures built on 150 acres of rolling hills.

“If you were here 280 years ago, when we walk out that door, this is the town of Ephrata,” Smith said.

Nearer to home, in Susquehanna Township, the eventful, monthlong Christmas at Fort Hunter includes six longstanding traditions that were written into the indenture established by the foundation that ceded management of Fort Hunter Mansion and Park to Dauphin County in 1980.

Christmas at the Mansion tours, running through December and the annual Victorian Tea, are the longest-running events, introducing visitors to 19th-century gentility in a mansion decked out in elegant greenery with help from the Garden Club of Harrisburg.

About 9,000 visitors attended 2024’s events, including the Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society’s toy train exhibit that is “by far the most popular event,” said Park Manager Jessica Webster.

Nostalgia for a “simpler” time could be the attraction to history at the holidays, believes Webster, using quote marks intentionally.

“The modern world is so inundated with the lights and technology (and holiday music!) and shopping that people enjoy experiencing moments without all the modern ‘noise’ and expectations,” she said in an email. “Most modern Americans probably wouldn’t actually enjoy the lack of plumbing and electricity full time, but being able to step back in time for an hour or so can be a nice break from the modern world.”

In downtown Harrisburg, at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, the majestic sanctuary will resound, for one performance, with the globally known “Nine Lessons in Carols and Scripture.”

The Pine Street Chancel Choir is accompanied by a brass quintet, percussion and guest organist Matthew McMahan at the church’s four-manual, 83 rank, Skinner/Möller organ with 5,219 pipes.

The service’s solemnity and history convey peace, said Music at Pine Street Artistic Director Joseph Garrison. If audience members think about why they attend, the era’s uncertainties “certainly influence people once they’re here,” he said. “I think it reminds them of what may be more important than some of the things going on in the world. These things will pass, but this stands the test of time.”

Nearby, inside the Historical Society of Dauphin County’s John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, the annual Deck the Halls celebration entices attendees with an astonishing array of decorated cakes and cookies—historically themed in past years after such classics as “The Nutcracker” or “Around the World in 80 Days.”

Sweets bring back memories of holidays past, said HSDC Executive Director Christine Turner.

“I remember making those with my grandma,” people will say.

Learning Moments

History offers origin stories and lessons that put our times in perspective, say the keepers of Christmases past.

This year, HSDC’s Deck the Halls dessert array takes attendees on a tour of all 50 states for America 250, marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Each tray will be accompanied with a brief description answering the question, “Why is this a traditional cookie?” Many emerged from the cultures of immigrants or enslaved people—the shoo-fly pies of the Pennsylvania Dutch, and the benne wafers baked with sesame seeds probably brought to South Carolina by West Africans.

“You can really tell where people came from geographically and then tell that story,” Turner said.

Garrison has brought the “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” with its mix of Christmas choral works and scripture readings, to Pine Street Presbyterian Church every year since 2020 (adapted then for COVID but now in real life).

The original “Nine Lessons” of 1880 lured Christmas revelers out of pubs and into church through Christmas carols—increasingly popular but, despite their religious lyrics, creatures of the secular world.

After the horrors of World War I, the dean of King’s College, Cambridge, a former Army chaplain, revised the service into the program that spread to churches worldwide.

“Born from the profound grief and turmoil of the First World War, mere weeks after its conclusion, it embodies a powerful narrative of resilience and hope,” writes Anglican Compass.

Though the song selection varies every year, the service always begins with a solo voice singing “Once in Royal David’s City.” For many listeners, that moment heralds the arrival of Christmas, said Garrison.

“I love putting that service together because it’s so rich in history,” he said. “It’s not the great antique. There’s something to talk about in the history of how quickly it spread to the world.”

Ephrata’s Christmas at the Cloister concert transports visitors to the 18th century, when the order’s celibate members and “householder” families from the surrounding community gathered for services rich with the harmonies of vocal music.

Every year, the program includes hymns composed by cloister members—male and female.

“Music historians believe that this is the first place in North America that we can document that women composed these hymns,” Smith said.

After Christmas and New Year’s Day, Ephrata Cloister’s Lantern Tours will plunge visitors into the turbulent winter of 1777. Student historians will reenact the months after the Battle of Brandywine when the cloister, with its large buildings and location near Philadelphia but out of reach of the British, served as a Continental Army hospital.

As archaeological digs have found, guests of the contemplative community brought dice and weapons, as well as disease.

“This completely disrupts their entire world,” Smith said. “They were taken over by dozens and dozens of soldiers, doctors, sick and injured patients. The cloister members were pacifists. This creates what must have been very mixed feelings for them. This is a very different group of people, but the cloister offers help.”

Made for Memories

Learning about Christmas Past enhances enjoyment of Christmas Present by illustrating “why some holiday traditions came to be,” believes Webster. Fort Hunter’s Victorian Tea is augmented by demonstrations of 19th-century holiday treats made over an open hearth and the traditional delight of clear toy candy (from George Kopp and TheBurg’s own Gina Napoli).

Fort Hunter’s Festival of Trees, cosponsored by the Harrisburg Area Garden Center, demonstrates how Christmas trees weren’t widely popular in the United States until newspapers printed a photo of Britain’s Queen Victoria and her family, including Prince Albert, surrounding a tabletop Christmas tree from his native Germany, Webster said.

At Pine Street Presbyterian, sharing sacred music steeped in centuries of history “sets the tone for the season,” Garrison said.

“It is speaking in ways that maybe the spoken word or the sermons can’t,” he said. “Music has the power to open our hearts and minds in ways that we didn’t know they could be opened.”

And while the $10 ticket for Christmas at the Cloister, sponsored by Ephrata Cloister Associates, makes it “a little bit of a fundraiser,” its meaning goes much deeper, Smith said.

“It’s safe to say that the point of the event is to bring community together and just enjoy the Christmas season as a community,” he said.

If You Go

The following events are mentioned in this story. Please check ahead before you go as some are ticketed, require reservations or have limited seating.

Christmas at the Cloister
Historic Ephrata Cloister
Dec. 8 and 9, 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
www.ephratacloister.org

Christmas at Fort Hunter
Christmas at the Mansion tours, Dec. 2 to Dec. 23
Toy Train Exhibit and Festival of Trees, Nov. 29 to Dec. 21
Victorian Tea and Holiday Demonstrations, Dec. 7
www.forthunter.org/Christmas-at-fort-hunter

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
Dec. 14, 4 p.m.
www.pinestreet.org

Deck the Halls
Harris-Cameron Mansion
Dec. 4, 5 p.m.
Tours Tuesday to Friday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
www.dauphincountyhistory.org

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Season of Thanks & 3rd in the Burg Preview

November 15, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

The Art of a Cover

After all is said and done, the very best art comes from a community of contributors, as evidenced on the latest TheBurg cover for the November issue. A classic autumnal ambiance is achieved with all the colors of the season.

TheBurg’s November cover, photo by Haley Harned

Gracing the front page, the photo has a “wow” factor, staged and shot by Haley Harned. Behind the scenes, no less than nine artists and local businesses added accessories to the mix, elevating it to a still life masterpiece. Candles light the table from Millworks Moonrise Candle Co as its art director, Tara Chickey, provided the china and napkins. Silverware from the Antique Marketplace of Lemoyne sparkles and shines. Flowers courtesy of Paper Moon Flowers find a home, as well as an artisinal mug from potter Vivian Sterste of Vivi on Verbeke. Pumpkins from Radish & Rye Food Hub, coffee from Good Brotha’s Book Cafe, apple pie from Raising the Bar and fall spices from Callicut’s Spice Co. complete the frame.

Haley Harned is an editorial and commercial photographer, as well as a “staging stylist” for numerous local magazines. Having graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2008 with a BFA, Hailey employs film and digital media to capture her subjects with aplomb. The still life frame featured on the current issue of TheBurg speaks to a level of art obtained by a trained eye turning assignment to an articulated achievement of beauty.

Season of Thanks

A new mural in Harrisburg

In the season of appreciation and thanks, it is a gift to be able to write about the beauty that surrounds us, especially that of seasonal change and the natural landscape that we oftentimes take for granted. For those who live in the city of Harrisburg, there are other special words of thanks.

Over the past five months starting at the end of May and continuing well through the fall, Spocket Mural Works graced the community with myriad marvels of murals now totaling well over 50. The new additions combine with the mix of the previous mural festivals, creating an astounding allure. As before, the thanks are many and far reaching to all who made this third festival so special and meaningful. A thank you to one and all—from the 300-plus volunteer brigade to the artistic vision of the muralists to the generosity of the corporate sponsors and the dynamic duo that founded Sprocket, Megan Caruso and Jeff Copus. The murals are living proof of their commitment to the cause by providing public art that makes a difference, opens discourse and adds beauty beyond measure.

Gallery@2nd Notes and News

It could be the title for a Quentin Tarantino film, “The Grateful Eight,” as there are eight artists in all. The number included gallery owner Ted Walke, who generously offered studio space to a select group of likeminded local artists to showcase their work rent-free, as well as fee-free when art is sold. The original trio of artists came on board when Gallery@2nd reopened in July. They included Chad Whitaker, Keegan Beinhower and Sean Arce. After the initial response to the gallery’s new presentation, more art disciples were afforded space, including Johanna Martin, Rance Shepstone, Angelica Rios and Ashley Russo, all sharing a fervent zeal for the lowbrow art zen of Ted. It’s easy to see why gratitude is part and parcel from the artists’ point of view and, yet, it cuts both ways. The proprietor was grateful to be in a position for all of this to occur after being closed for almost three years. Gallery@2nd would like its clientele to know that the 3rd in the Burg event on Friday, Nov. 19, will be the closing night for the year, with the gallery reopening sometime in April.

HBB On the Road Saturday

Art of the Huckle Buckle Boys

A Saturday road trip to Easton on I-78E will be well worth the while for a Nov. 20 date to see the Huckle Buckle Boys’ “Wondering Ox” exhibit opening and reception party at the Hemlock Art Place for a 6 p.m. kickoff. Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy of HBB fame will be “unifying their flow experience” in their trademark style. Located at 9 N. Second St. in downtown Easton, the just-under 100-mile adventure promises to be a night to remember. Hemlock is an alternative art gallery that promotes special events and workshops, as well as being home to avant-garde art and gifts. Newly opened in July, the gallery fosters creativity locally and throughout the state. So, it is no wonder that HBB got the invite as Hemlock is excited to unleash their latest offerings in “Wondering Ox.” Be sure to look for Socrates, just don’t share his drink.

3rd In The Burg Preview

Rug hook by Susanne Robinson

With 28 venues participating in this Friday’s 3rd in the Burg, the event now surpasses the level of pre-pandemic involvement, which is a positive sign looking ahead to close out 2021 on a high note. From restaurants to clubs to museums to galleries, all bases are covered for support of the arts and local businesses. In this season of giving, it is important whenever possible to keep local business in the foreground and shop local whenever possible.

The latest art venue, Arts on the Square, opened its upstairs gallery housed in Market Square Presbyterian Church at 20 S. 2nd St. on Nov. 7. At the initial reception, this addition to the local scene found a stellar crowd supporting the quintet of artists showcasing their works.

Acrylic art by Kara Young

One of the highlights was Susanne Robinson, fiber artist, who demonstrated the lost craft of rug hooking, which had its origins in 19th century England. With ethereal woolens from Scotland, Susanne weaves a spell of color and texture throughout her exquisite rug tapestries. In addition, a trio of painters graced the walls of the loft gallery covering acrylic works from A to Z. Lori Sweet, award-winning local artist and congregant, is “inspired by nature, mythologies, as well as universal images of the divine feminine.” Kara Young from Gettysburg believes that “art is medicine.” Her guide to create focuses on “justice, peace and faith in a world she believes needs these qualities desperately.” Gail Walden Coleman, artist of local distinction, celebrates “the human spirit and also our sense of humor.” Mother Nature informs her work, and Gail does her best to capture it in her paintings. Last but not least is photographer Kevin Long, congregant and proprietor of Long Shots Photography. He finds mindfulness through slowing down to fully appreciate the world. Photography “helps me recognize the majesty, intricacy and diversity of creations more fully.”

Also, Pine Street Presbyterian, located at 310 N. 3rd St., and St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery, found at 221 N. Front St., offer up art throughout the church and in gallery spaces. Be sure to view “De-Colonizing Christ,” now in its last month through Dec. 19 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral.

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CONTACT Helpline celebrates 50 years of continuous community service

September 14, 2020 | by Linda B. Hunter

Harrisburg Mayor Harold Swenson signs a CONTACT Week proclamation in 1974, flanked by then-CONTACT President Anna Killinger and Executive Director Helene Oswald.

“Downhearted … distressed … depressed? Let CONTACT Help You.”

On Nov. 15, 1970, these words on a billboard heralded a new tele-ministry in Harrisburg. On that date, the first class of 60 volunteers were commissioned at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. After the commissioning, the president of CONTACT Harrisburg, the Rev. Robert E. Larson, Jr., crossed the street to the PA Churches United Building and answered the helpline’s first call. Almost 50 years later, CONTACT Helpline, as it is now known, has answered more than a million calls, from people reaching out for emotional support and those seeking connections to human-services information and referrals.

Rev. Larson is a local. He grew up in Harrisburg and attended John Harris High School. After eight years away in college and seminary and two years as an assistant pastor in Boston, he married his wife, Dottie. In 1967, a position as assistant pastor of Pine Street Presbyterian Church offered a return to his hometown.

A photo of long-serving former CONTACT volunteers. Top row left to right: Larry Baker, Emily Clemmer, Shirley Remis, Joe Long. Bottom row left to right: Arlene Randby, Mary Anne Beckley and Elsie Corlett

Larson was inspired to establish a CONTACT office in Harrisburg when his family attended a pastors’ conference in Virginia in 1968. After a presentation by Alan Walker, the founder of Lifeline in Sydney, Australia, the Larsons were invited to view a movie about Lifeline, which provides 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention by telephone. Impressed by their work, Larson then met with Walker for guidance on how to start a service like it back home. He learned that there was already a committee for CONTACT, as Lifeline had become known in the United States, in Nashville, Tenn. Walker advised his new friend to get in touch with them for help. Larson says he returned home, “Pretty well set to do this.”

He met with Chuck Dorsey, the director of the Harrisburg Council of Churches, and George Frank, a local Methodist pastor, to consider developing a CONTACT office. Dorsey worked with the Council of Churches to endorse the idea and the three formed a steering committee. By the spring of 1970, the group was ready to invite volunteers to start their training program. Harrisburg Area Community College hosted the training. According to Larson, “Training got off to a fine start with five great presenters.” It was completed by the fall of 1970. Larson said that he was especially pleased by the wide ecumenical representation among the first class of volunteers.

Recognizing how his church members were often hesitant to share private information with their pastor, Larson said that he knew that anonymity should be the primary component of the Helpline. Volunteers pledge confidentiality with callers and relate to them in a compassionate, nonjudgmental manner through active listening. In this safe environment, callers can trust the CONTACT volunteers to listen and help them find resources to address “the universal and continuing problems of loneliness, isolation, lack of purpose and conflict.”

CONTACT Helpline has participated in the Highmark Walk for a Health Community to raise funds for many years. This photo includes Tommy Gollick, Bill Gulik, Jan Gulik, Linda Hunter, Kelly Gollick, executive director, and Jessica McCoy with furry friend Nala.

CONTACT has now supported south-central PA communities through five decades of challenges, including the Hurricane Agnes flood, the Three Mile Island emergency, the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally relying on paper and pencil data collection and Rolodexes, CONTACT now accesses a comprehensive, computerized database of resources.

With today’s cloud phones, callers from across the country are able to reach out to CONTACT for emotional listening support, especially from areas where mental health services are limited. CONTACT originally served Dauphin, Perry and Cumberland counties. As the Capital Region’s PA 211 provider since 2011, CONTACT now serves 11 Central PA counties. CONTACT also assists the 33-county Eastern PA Continuum of Care, assessing callers’ needs for rent assistance, shelter or housing to prevent homelessness. In addition, CONTACT answers the PA Safe Haven Baby Line, which has saved 47 newborns since its inception. CONTACT also collects relevant data to determine areas of unmet need in the region and partners with local agencies such as United Way of PA to increase health and human resources to underserved populations.

CONTACT is preparing a yearlong agenda to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It will start with a Virtual Kickoff on Nov.19, including speakers from various stakeholders and a silent auction. There will be monthly topics on social media, as well as small events and a 50th Anniversary Appeal. CONTACT hopes to hold a culminating celebration in November 2021.

Reflecting on CONTACT’s 50 years, Rev. Larson said that he is grateful for what remains the same about CONTACT Helpline today. It is a confidential, nonjudgmental place to turn for listening and a gateway to human services.

To learn more about CONTACT Helpline, visit their website.

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Community rallies around Jewish congregation after swastikas found painted on synagogue

August 11, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Kesher Israel Congregation in Uptown Harrisburg

Members of the Kesher Israel Congregation heading to morning services on Monday were met with a disturbing surprise.

Swastikas had been painted on the front of their synagogue, said Rabbi Elisha Friedman.

“My security antenna went up,” he said. “People were worried about safety.”

Friedman quickly called the police. Local officers, state troopers and the attorney general came to the synagogue, he said.

Finding no sign of a threat to safety, Kesher Israel could continue services, and by the afternoon they had power-washed off the symbols of hate.

According to Friedman, the only other time something similar happened to their congregation was about 30 years ago.

By Tuesday morning, over 30 local people and organizations expressed their support for Kesher Israel and denounced acts of hatred in the community.

“An attack on one Jewish institution is an attack on all Jewish institutions, and we are here for you as your neighbors and friends to fight anti-Semitism wherever it exists and to support you at this difficult time,” said Rabbi Peter Kessler and President Rob Teplitz of Temple Ohev Sholom on N. Front Street in their statement.

Other Jewish leaders in Harrisburg stepped up to reiterate the sense that what happens to one congregation affects them all.

Rabbi Arianna Capptauber of Beth El Temple explained how the swastika personally impacts her, being the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor.

“I feel personally the sting of the swastika, as it represents the deadly hatred that killed many members of my family,” she said. “Yet I will not cower in the face of this weaponized symbol, for I know that we are held by a resilient Jewish community and a caring community of allies here in Harrisburg.”

Friedman said many people have been calling and reaching out to him to ask how his congregation is doing and to express their solidarity.

“It’s encouraging,” he said. “There’s this huge outpouring. It was every part of our community and all types of different religions in Harrisburg.”

Local churches, mosques and temples reached out to support the Jewish faith community, as well.

“We at Pine Street Presbyterian Church condemn this criminal act of hatred directed towards our Jewish brothers and sisters,” said Pastor Russell C. Sullivan Jr., in a statement. “With the people of Kesher Israel Synagogue and the Jewish community, we stand in solidarity and support.”

The Harrisburg Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council will hold a vigil outside of Kesher Israel’s synagogue at 2500 N. 3rd St. on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Local government, law enforcement and faith leaders will speak in support of the Jewish community.

“The person was intending to make us feel unwelcome and like a small minority in the community, but it backfired and the opposite impression was given,” Friedman said.

Kesher Israel is located at 2500 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information on their congregation, visit their website.

Winter Is Coming: Downtown Daily Bread makes plans to reopen overnight shelter for men.

August 29, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

Downtown Daily Bread on South Street in Harrisburg.

For a second straight winter, Downtown Daily Bread plans to open a men’s shelter at its facility on South Street in Harrisburg, and it’s now raising funds to make that happen.

Like last year, the downtown shelter, located at the Pine Street Presbyterian Church’s Boyd Memorial Center, would run Dec. 1 to March 31, with a capacity of 40 beds.

“Last year went very well,” said Anne Guenin, director of Downtown Daily Bread. “I don’t think anyone was unsheltered who wanted to be sheltered.”

Like last year, the shelter will open at 8 p.m. and close at 6 a.m. each day.

During most of the year, Downtown Daily Bread operates as a drop-in center, offering daytime shelter and meals to 70 to 90 people a day. Last year, it received city permission to extend its hours for a nighttime men’s shelter during the winter.

The need proved to be great, Guenin said. For most of last winter, the shelter was near capacity, averaging 25 men per night in December, 36 in January, 39 in February and 37 in March.

Guenin said that the men caused few problems, and she didn’t hear any concerns from the surrounding downtown community.

The biggest obstacles, she said, are staffing and funding. To that end, Downtown Daily Bread is trying to raise $100,000, which would cover expenses for the next two winters. Money also is being raised to fund a staff position dedicated to helping those staying in winter shelters get into long-term housing.

In addition to the shelter at Downtown Daily Bread, 23 beds for men will be available this winter at the Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven, run by Christian Churches United. Bethesda Mission in Midtown also opens up emergency beds for men when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or in case of inclement winter weather.

Guenin said that, last year, the number of men staying overnight at Bethesda Mission due to hazardous weather conditions plummeted, which she attributed to the opening of the Downtown Daily Bread shelter. That, she said, allowed Bethesda Mission to more effectively serve its existing clients—those committed to long-term recovery.

“We have a nice system of coordination,” she said. “If people went to Bethesda, they would be sent to us.”

To donate to Downtown Daily Bread, visit www.downtowndailybread.org or mail a check payable to Downtown Daily Bread, 310 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Vidjam: A world where filmmakers have 48 hours to make a decent movie.

June 1, 2018 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Cinematographer Matt Nease and actor Lisa Budwig on the set of “Hot Fizz,” a Vidjam entry from last year. Photo by Claire Collison.

In 2015, local filmmaker Sam Miller and a few friends had a very creative idea.

Block out a long weekend, fan across central Pennsylvania and see who can make the best movie in 48 hours.

Lights! Camera! Go!

Since then, “vidjam” has turned into an annual event, one that returns this weekend to Harrisburg as the city turns into one big movie set, supervised by increasingly bleary-eyed filmmakers.

But vidjam has become so much more than a two-day filmmaking frenzy. Miller institutionalized the concept under Vidjam (capital “V”), which, today, works to connect filmmakers and other artists to the community through workshops, monthly meetups, filmmaking competitions and a new community series. Though Harrisburg-based, Vidjam’s members include artists from throughout central Pennsylvania.

“Filmmaking has always been something that is really important to me,” Miller said.“I always said I’ll work and then I’ll save up enough money and go to film school. [Vidjam] has kind of nicely subverted that because we’re building our own community of filmmakers and having that experience of working on a film here.”

Miller got the idea of creating an organization after the first vidjam event, where filmmakers have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit their films. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for registration in larger competitions, Miller said he wanted to create an organization so that filmmakers could put that money toward making their art instead.

“The last two years, we’ve had about 15 teams each year, and the theater sells out,” Miller said. “It’s cool to be able to have people have their films screened.”

Since he was 6 years old, Miller has been behind a camera, he said. In high school, he created short films with his core group of friends after being inspired by works by Kevin Smith and the original “Evil Dead.”

While in college, he joined the Harrisburg Improv Theatre, where he saw an abundance of unused talent.

“There was just all this talent there, and we didn’t have anyone using it outside of improv,” Miller said. “So, that was when I did the first Vidjam. That first Vidjam was like the catalyst for finding our community.”

Start to Grow

After digging deeper into the filmmaking community, Miller met Sammi Melville. After earning her degree in film at Messiah College, Melville moved to Harrisburg in search of more film buffs and project opportunities.

“At the time, I thought, ‘There are so many people who want to be involved in film but don’t because they don’t have the resources or the know-how,’” Melville said.

So Melville started her own filmmaker meetups in 2016 with the hopes of networking and bouncing ideas off other artists.

“I just wanted to meet more people who are interested [in film],” she said. “If we actually get people in the same room then maybe we could start to grow as a community.”

Eventually, she was contacted by Miller, and they decided to adopt the meetups under Vidjam. From there, they also started workshops, each taught by a community member with a different specialty, such as writing, production and lighting.

“We found that the community in this area, they are really excited to work with each other,” she said. “The more people you know the more of a chance you can put together a production.”

Filmmakers gathered in startup Harrisburg during last year’s competition. Photo by Somers Compton.

Community Series

Ashleigh Pollart met Sam Miller after she planned the first TEDx Harrisburg event. She was already familiar with the organization since she worked as an actress for her videographer boyfriend for Vidjam’s filmmaking competition.

Since then, in her six months of volunteering, Pollart has created “Vidjam Community Series,” a documentary-style short film series.

“For each series, we want to focus on an ‘issue’ in Harrisburg,” Pollart said. “Something that the typical resident of Harrisburg may not be aware of.”

This year, as its first Community Series, Vidjam decided to focus on homelessness in Harrisburg. Pollart and her team will follow three homeless families and document what their life is like behind the scenes.

“Homelessness would be a very interesting thing to cover in the winter, but also I think there is something to be said about it in the spring and summer and fall,” Pollart said. “People forget about the fact that people are homeless. The media doesn’t cover it, people aren’t collecting as many funds for it. So, I think it’s actually an interesting time to focus on it during the summer months.”

Pollart said they have not started shooting yet, but hope to have the screening in the next four to six weeks at Midtown Cinema. All proceeds from the film will go to Downtown Daily Bread, an organization through Pine Street Presbyterian Church that provides shelter, food and other resources to the homeless.

According to Pollart, Vidjam already has a list of future topics that participants wish to cover through the series.

“We’re trying to highlight issues that have multiple factors because—one—how is it affecting people overall and—two—how is it affecting Harrisburg specifically?” Pollart said. “Issues change. Even from here to Lancaster issues are different.”

Unique Mark

Miller said working with Melville and Pollart has been an inspiring process.

“It’s cool to see something you created sort of grow to where other people can have a stake in it and have ideas about where it can go and what it can be,” he said. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to find people who want to help build this community and make their own unique mark on it.”

Vidjam is still on their journey to becoming an official non-profit organization. According to Miller, with more grants and funding, Vidjam will be able to give members more tangible items and ways to show their work. Still, Miller says he and his crew work hard to enforce typical production standards and provide resources for local filmmakers.

“I just want to provide filmmakers with a platform to share their work with the community,” he said. “I also want to give the community a chance to celebrate those filmmakers.”

Melville said that she hopes the organization branches out to include not only writers and filmmakers but a variety of different members of the community.

“In no way is filmmaking just this art in a box,” she said. “It takes so many different resources and assets. It’s a communal thing. I think a lot of people are scared to actually participate because they think, ‘Well, I’ve never done it before. My skills don’t fit into there.’ But, just give them a shot. What do you have to lose?”

The 48-hour vidjam competition begins 7 p.m. today, June 1, but registration is open until Sunday, June 3. The screening will be held on June 7 at 7 p.m. at Midtown Cinema. To watch previous vidjam winners, visit vidjam.org, you can register for the competition here.

November News Digest

November 30, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

City Election Marred by “Raffle”

Harrisburg’s uncontested mayoral election last month was supposed to be a sleepy affair, but it was upset by a raffle with apparent connections to a write-in candidate.

A Dauphin County judge issued an injunction on Election Day to stop the distribution of raffle tickets that may have encouraged people to vote a certain way in the race for Harrisburg mayor.

“The Court finds that the raffle ticket is also promoting of a particular race and suggestive of balloting,” according to the court order.

People at many city polling stations were found to be handing out raffle tickets, which promised prizes for voting. These included a new iPhone X (first prize), $500 in cash (second prize) and a $200 Best Buy gift card (third prize).

Dauphin County Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti later visited a downtown office owned by developer Jeremy Hunter, where Hunter stored both raffle tickets and flyers supporting write-in candidate Gloria Martin-Roberts.

Martin-Roberts, however, later denounced Hunter’s efforts, saying she never authorized the raffle or the flyers.

“I clearly told Jeremy, ‘do not distribute any of that information with my name on it,’” Martin-Roberts said. “He does not listen to anyone.”

Hunter also told TheBurg that he spent thousands of dollars in the primary and general elections in support of Martin-Roberts. At press time, those expenditures had not been reported to the Dauphin County elections bureau.

3rd Street Project Starts

Harrisburg officials last month broke ground on the long-awaited repaving of 3rd Street, though most of the work will not start until the spring.

Crews began on the Midtown portion with new curbing and ADA-compliant ramps at intersections. Work is expected to continue through December, depending on the weather, and will resume in March.

The entire project includes about a two-mile stretch of the main artery from Chestnut Street downtown to Seneca Street in Uptown Harrisburg.

Actual milling and paving of the street will hold off until next year, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. The project is expected to continue throughout much of 2018, wrapping up in October.

Papenfuse stressed that the project is not just for motorists. He said the improvements will make it easier to walk and bike, as well as drive along the street.

“By the time we are done, this entire area will be returned to the residents of the city,” he said.

City Engineer Wayne Martin said that, when paving begins next year, he expects temporary road closures and detours lasting about three days at a time. He also said that some parking, about 10 spaces at a time, will be occupied by construction equipment.

As part of the project, Capital Region Water will install trees and other environmentally friendly infrastructure, including green “bump outs,” to reduce storm-water flow, said CRW board chairman J. Marc Kurowski.

He said the project is part of CRW’s City Beautiful H2O program, which is meant to replace outdated infrastructure and improve storm-water flow.

“We’ll have new trees and new ways to manage storm-water,” Papenfuse said. “This will become a showcase for design for the whole region.”

Harrisburg has contracted with Elizabethtown-based Doug Lamb Construction Inc. for the $5.5 million project, a cost split between the city and CRW. The city is paying an estimated $3.5 million, with CRW footing the remaining $2 million.

Most of the project is funded by a grant from Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up as part of the city’s financial recovery.

City Incumbents Returned to Office

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse sailed to an easy re-election victory last month, despite two candidates mounting late write-in bids.

With all 28 precincts reporting, Papenfuse garnered 3,788 votes. All write-in candidates together tallied 502.

Shortly before the election, two of Papenfuse’s defeated opponents in the Democratic primary, Gloria Martin-Roberts and Lewis Butts, declared that they would mount write-in campaigns in the general election.

With his victory, Papenfuse will begin his second, four-year mayoral term in January.

Five Harrisburg City Council candidates also ran unopposed in their races. Council incumbents Wanda Williams, Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt each won four-year terms, as did newcomer Ausha Green. Councilman Dave Madsen earned a two-year seat.

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller and Controller Charlie DeBrunner each ran unopposed and will serve four-year terms.

For school board, all the listed Democrats won four-year seats: Brian Carter, Carrie Fowler, Danielle Robinson and Judd Pittman. Incumbent James Thompson, who lost in the Democratic primary but cross-filed, lost on the Republican side.

Percel Eiland, running unopposed, took the two-year seat for school board.

One district justice seat was contested. In the race for district 12-01-05, Democrat Hanif Johnson defeated Claude Phipps, who was on the Republican ballot, by a vote of 954-347.

In Dauphin County, Republican Matthew Krupp defeated Democrat Diane Bowman in a close race for prothonotary. In the heated contest for three Court of Common Pleas judgeships, sitting Judge Lori Serratelli lost to challengers Ed Marsico, Royce Morris and John McNally.

HU Proposes Downtown High-Rise

A new high-rise may soon add to downtown Harrisburg’s skyline, as Harrisburg University of Science and Technology last month issued a request for proposals for a new, mixed-use building.

According to the RFP, the proposed building at Chestnut and S. 3rd streets would house the school’s emerging Health Science Education Center, from which it would offer degree programs in nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other health programs.

The RFP is asking for bids of at least 200,000 square feet for educational space, plus housing for more than 300 students. The building, currently proposed to be 36 stories, may also contain amenities such as a boutique hotel, restaurant, executive conference center and/or fitness facility.

The school envisions the building as a high-rise on parcels that include 222 Chestnut St., currently a surface parking lot owned by Vartan Enterprises, and 24, 26 and 28 S. 3rd St., which contain small commercial buildings owned by Mechanicsburg-based Dauphin Land Co. Under the RFP, those low-rise, 19th-century commercial buildings would be demolished.

HU President Eric Darr said that the current property owners have agreed to sell their parcels to HU for the project. He added that the proposed location was perfectly situated between UPMC Pinnacle and the university’s main academic building on Market Street.

“Being a block away from Harrisburg Hospital makes all the sense in the world,” said Darr, who estimates the total cost of the project at $120 to $140 million.

HU has set Feb. 2 as the deadline for responses, with a proposal selection date of April 10. An evaluation committee comprised of members of the university’s executive staff, board of trustees and outside advisers will evaluate the proposals.

Darr said he hopes to break ground in 2019 and that construction should take about two years.

Overnight Shelter Opened

Following a change in policy at Harrisburg’s largest rescue mission, a downtown shelter will open an emergency overnight shelter for 30 homeless men.

Downtown Daily Bread, a soup kitchen and daytime shelter operated by Pine Street Presbyterian Church on N. 3rd Street, got approval from the city to operate a 30-bed men’s shelter from Dec. 1 to March 31 at its facility at 234 South St., according to Anne Guenin, director of Downtown Daily Bread.

Downtown Daily Bread currently runs a daily drop-in shelter where people can nap, shower, receive meals and pick up mail. It serves between 70 and 90 people on an average day, Guenin said.

The night shelter will be in the same facility as the daytime shelter, which operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The nighttime shelter will open at 7:30 p.m., giving crews time to clean and convert the gymnasium to a dormitory with cots, and will close at 6 a.m.

Guenin said that the shelter originated in response to an operational change at Bethesda Mission, which this year decided to focus its efforts on long-term recovery programs and open its emergency shelter only in extreme weather conditions.

Comp Plan Back on Track

Harrisburg’s long-delayed comprehensive plan appears to be back on track, as the city’s Planning Commission last month agreed on a draft plan and set forth a path for final approval.

The commission unanimously opted for a draft submitted by the Office for Planning and Architecture, a city-based firm headed by urban design consultant Bret Peters.

In May 2015, the city hired Peters for $200,000 to create a comprehensive plan, which cities use as frameworks to guide policy, ranging widely from land use to recreation. Plans typically have a shelf life of only 15 to 20 years, though Harrisburg’s had not been redrafted in some four decades.

Originally, the city expected its plan to be finished in about 10 months. However, a dispute with Peters over the editing process, communication and, especially, pay, led to a long delay.

At one point earlier this year, the city and Peters parted company after Peters wanted more money to complete the project.

That holdup ended with the commission’s decision to go with Peters’ draft, which is now public. A public hearing is slated for Jan. 10.

Following the hearing, the commission may make additional changes based on public input. It then must approve the final draft before submitting it to City Council for its approval.

More Apartments Approved

Harrisburg is poised for more apartment conversions, as the city’s Zoning Hearing Board last month gave the go-ahead to two projects.

The board voted unanimously to permit as many as 18 rental units in Tracy Mansion, which would complete the restoration of the historic Midtown building.

Owner Jack Kay of York-based Susquehanna Real Estate plans between 14 and 18 one-and two-bedroom units in the eastern portion of the century-old building at N. Front and Muench streets, space that has long sat empty.

“All of the existing architectural features will be restored and, if anything, enhanced,” Kay told board members.

Industrialist David Tracy built the 30-room mansion as a private residence in 1918. In 1951, it became an osteopathic hospital and eventually a mental health facility.

Kay bought the building in 2005 with plans to convert it to an office condominium, adding a new, seven-story building in the parking lot next door. He received zoning board approval two years later, but the project died after the recession hit in 2008.

In 2012, Kay sold the western part of the building to Char Magaro, who opened the restaurant, Char’s Tracy Mansion, there.

Kay said that he believes there now is a market in Harrisburg for upscale apartments, which motivated him to seek a special exception for that use. He said that his apartments will be “nice units” with such features as high-end finishes, river views and in-unit washers and dryers.

He said that he hopes to undertake the project next year, but that the timing depends upon securing financing, among other factors. He said that he had not yet determined rental rates, but that they would be competitive with recent projects by Harristown Enterprises and WCI Partners.

Last month, the zoning board also unanimously granted a variance to Harristown for the conversion of a downtown office building to residential space.

Harristown plans to develop 12 one- and two-bedroom apartments from a worn-out, long-empty office building at the corner of N. 2nd and Cranberry streets. It currently has the building under contract with the seller, Camp Hill-based CJ2 Group.

With Planning Commission and zoning board approvals, Harristown now must have its land use plan approved by Harrisburg City Council before it can begin the project.

Water, Sewer Rates Rise

Water and sewer rates in Harrisburg are set to increase more than 7 percent next year, as Capital Region Water passed its 2018 budget last month.

The CRW board unanimously approved the spending plan, which will raise drinking water rates 7.5 percent for all city and suburban customers. Sewer rates will go up by 7.1 percent for city customers and vary for suburban customers, depending on their location.

The 2018 full-service rates for water and sewer service are $9.46 and $6.99 per 1,000 gallons, respectively. Under the new rates, an average customer who uses 4,500 gallons of water per month will pay an additional $5.56.

A few months ago, the board was faced with even higher rate increases, in excess of 10 percent, said board Chairman J. Marc Kurowski. However, CRW was able to scale those back to more reasonable levels, he said.

“Nobody’s excited with having to have rate increases, but we’ve kept them manageable,” Kurowski said.

CRW has raised rates for several years running. For 2017, the utility increased drinking water rates by 11.6 percent and sewer rates by 7.9 percent.

David Nowotarski, CRW’s chief financial officer, said the rate increases were needed, in part, to pay for ongoing capital upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure.

For 2018, CRW expects to spend about $8.9 million for water system upgrades and about $33 million for sewer projects. CRW has several major initiatives in place to repair and upgrade the city’s aged water and sewer infrastructure.

So Noted

Brighter Living held its grand opening last month at its facility at 979 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg. Brighter Living offers daily activities for seniors such as crafting, cooking, watching movies and gardening, as well as therapeutic activities.

Merit Marketing last month acquired Portland, Ore.-based communications firm, LT Public Relations. Harrisburg-based Merit stated that the acquisition strengthens its West Coast presence and gives it a team of senior advisors in media relations, executive training and crisis communications management.

UPMC Pinnacle opened its new medical office, Strawberry Square FamilyCare, last month in downtown Harrisburg. The office features six exam rooms, a laboratory, conference room and waiting area. It is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located on the first floor, atrium-level of Strawberry Square, adjacent to Rite Aid.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 119: K. & R. Thames to T. McNair, $55,000

Berryhill St., 2216: M. & N. Haile to PA Deals LLC, $31,000

Berryhill St., 2334: W. J. & J. Morrow to X. Rios & L. Vega, $52,000

Berryhill St., 2338: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $59,500

Briarcliff Rd., 2311: W. & E. Warren to S. & A. Cornick, $220,000

Briggs St., 2035: L. McArthur to C. & M. Bruner, $64,000

Calder St., 321: C. Steinbacher to R. & F. Armetta, $40,000

Chestnut St., 1200, 1202, 1204, 1206, & 1208: San Pef Inc. to Round Rock Investments LLC, $369,000

Derry St., 2612: J. Beal to T. Dunmyre, $68,900

Evergreen St., 26 & 28: San Pef Inc. to Round Rock Investments LLC, $95,000

Fulton St., 1418: PA Deals LLC to E. Shenk, $109,500

Girard St., 740: I. Naranjo & D. Benitez to O. Caban, $64,000

Green St., 1327: S. O’Neal to B. & S. Cincotta, $118,000

Greenwood St., 2237: J. Erb to A. & S. Rankin, $50,000

Herr St., 1614: T. Lawson to E. Andrades, $52,000

Holly St., 1914: J. Kaffaya to D. Berhe, $43,000

Hudson St., 1215: PI Capital LLC to V. Jackson, $97,000

Hummel St., 342 & 1508 Hunter St.: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Terry Casey IRA to E&K Homes, $34,000

Kensington St., 2335: PA Deals LLC to End Properties LLC, $69,500

Kensington St., 2343: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $59,500

Lenox St., 2032: J. & J. Belfonti to S. Ash, $43,000

Linden St., 128: Hal Don Properties LLC to A. Elkanouni, $56,500

Maclay St., 1037: J. & S. Pagliaro to P2N2, $65,000

Mercer St., 2440: T. Carey to D. Chen & M. Brinkman, $55,000

Mulberry St., 2000: L. & R. Moore to P. Robinson, $50,000

N. 2^nd St., 912: S. Meyers to J. Radabaugh, $185,000

N. 2^nd St., 1215: R. Shultz to R. & G. Armetta, $137,700

N. 2^nd St., 2401: R. Buxton to M. Rathfon & S. Ewing, $162,000

N. 2^nd St., 3301: D. & C. Gilkey to K. & K. Eshenaur, $197,900

N. 3^rd St., 1914: J. Hobbs to J. Vega Jr., $90,000

N. 3^rd St., 2016: WCI Partners LP to K. Reed, $212,000

N. 3^rd St., 3301: N. Johnson to E. Verbos, $135,000

N. 4^th St., 1336: M. Reed to R. & F. Armetta, $80,000

N. 4^th St., 1620: Keech Equity Investments LLC to Acharya Rentals LLC, $60,000

N. 4^th St., 3116: L. Deatrick to G. & J. Desgres, $90,000

N. 6^th St., 930 & 932: K. & N. Galoyan to R. & F. Armetta, $170,000

N. 5^th St., 3024: J. Olan to C. Geis, $95,000

N. 6^th St., 3020: S. McCutcheon to L. Harris, $70,300

N. 7^th St., 2301 & 2327: Sam Hill Properties LLC to DF7 LP, $410,000

N. 17^th St., 28: V. Rivas to I. Mirambeaux, $35,000

N. Cameron St., 1301: J. & J. Salinger to R. Chatue & H. Tambo, $295,000

Oakwood Rd., 2301: PI Capitol LLC to J. Swetlick, $280,00

Penn St., 1721: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $129,000

Pennwood Rd., 3120: S. McCoy to J. Mohler & J. Suter, $38,000

Pennwood Rd., 3143: F. Travitz to T. Marhon, $85,500

Rolleston St., 1033: V. Clyde to L. Le, $35,500

Rudy Rd., 1959: E. Ripka to J. & M. Weaver, $66,500

Rumson Dr., 2627: G. & G. Chacon to L. & M. Holston, $81,000

Rumson Dr., 2956: A. & M. Berra to R. Gonzalez & M. Cabrera, $68,000

S. 14^th St., 1407: R. Williams to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1417: J. Vogelsong to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1421: S. Mosley to City of Harrisburg, $57,000

S. 14^th St., 1425: J. Coleman & A. Dannar to City of Harrisburg, $48,500

S. 14^th St., 1430: L. & C. Matter to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1438: A. & M. Reuveni to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1444: Atlantic North Star Properties to City of Harrisburg, $55,000

S. 14^th St., 1447: C. & F. Randolph to City of Harrisburg, $46,000

S. 14^th St., 1451: C. Colon to City of Harrisburg, $57,000

S. 14^th St., 1454: J. McFarland to City of Harrisburg, $52,000

S. 25^th St., 736: M. Anderson to L. Crowder, $44,500

S. Cameron St., 130: Goldman Sachs Mortgage Co. & Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to D&F 130 Cam LLC, $161,500

State St., 1326: Arthur A. Kusic Real Estate Investments to C. & T. Semancik, $100,000

Susquehanna St., 1635: R. Drakeford to S. & D. Williams, $99,900

Susquehanna St., 1932: St. Glecos to J. Gallant, $82,450

Swatara St., 1518: Tri County HDC Ltd to D. Kiser, $68,000

Sycamore St., 1625: T. Price to K. Fields, $79,042

Verbeke St., 208: M. Barrette to C. Malloy & K. Sica, $89,999

Wayne St., 1517: R. Palmer to J. Alvarado, $40,000

Harrisburg property sales for October 2017, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Shelter on South Street: Local soup kitchen will offer beds to homeless this winter

November 6, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Downtown Daily Bread will open an overnight shelter at its location at 234 South Street.

Following a change in policy at Harrisburg’s largest rescue mission, a downtown soup kitchen plans to open an emergency overnight shelter for 30 homeless men.

Downtown Daily Bread, a soup kitchen and daytime shelter operated by Pine Street Presbyterian Church on N. 3^rd Street, got approval from the city Planning Commission to operate a 30-bed men’s shelter from Dec. 1 to March 31 at its facility at 234 South St.

The organization expects to get a stamp of approval from the Zoning Hearing Board later this month, the final step in the permitting process, according to Anne Guenin, director of Downtown Daily Bread.

Downtown Daily Bread currently runs a daily drop-in shelter where people can nap, shower, receive meals and pick up mail. It serves between 70 and 90 people on an average day, Guenin said.

Guenin said that the shelter originated in response to an operational change at Bethesda Mission, which this year decided to open its emergency shelter only in extreme weather conditions. Bill Christian, director of the Bethesda Mission men’s shelter, said that his organization made this choice to better serve its neediest clients.

Christian and Guenin both explained that some patrons of overnight shelters have sources of income, but surrender their housing arrangements when winter shelters open.

Bethesda Mission served as many as 160 people every night in its shelter last year, far exceeding its 120-person capacity, Christian said. He estimated that a third of that population had sources of income and could afford housing.

But since Bethesda Mission ran a shelter from Dec. 1 to March 31, some low-income clients knew they could rely on the shelter for a place to stay and save money, Christian said.

This year, the emergency shelter at Bethesda Mission will provide 120 beds when temperatures dip below 20 degrees or when there is freezing precipitation. It will continue to operate its year-round temporary shelter, which offers initial stays of 20 days along with food, clothing and counseling services.

When the emergency shelter opened on a weather-dependent basis in the past, it never had as many clients as it did last year, Christian said.

“If a person knows that certain weather conditions have to be met, he won’t give up his boarding room,” Christian said.

Guenin and Christian and their staffs have told patrons about the changes and encouraged them to retain their housing if they have it.

Between this outreach effort and the 30 additional beds opening at Downtown Daily Bread, they hope—but are not certain—that anyone seeking shelter in Harrisburg will find it. Both said that some homeless people do not seek shelter, possibly because of zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies in effect at most missions.

While both the Downtown Daily Bread and Bethesda Mission shelters only serve men, the YWCA of Harrisburg operates a shelter for women and children at 1101 Market St. Guenin said that most of the homeless population Daily Bread serves is male.

To be eligible for a bed at Downtown Daily Bread’s overnight shelter, a patron must not have a source of income. Shelter staff will try to determine a patron’s eligibility during the nightly intake period, but Guenin expects that during their daytime services will help with recruitment.

“We’re starting that process now and already making a roster of who might be eligible,” she said.

Equipment and operating costs for the four-month shelter period will amount to roughly $50,000, Guenin said. Downtown Daily Bread plans to hire four additional staff to manage the shelter and provide overnight security, and will also buy a new washer and dryer to launder bed linens.

To learn about Downtown Daily Bread or donate to the shelter fund, visit https://pinestreet.org/ministries/downtown-daily-bread.

Art Everywhere: The 27th annual Gallery Walk will span themes, media, locations.

August 31, 2015 | by Gina Napoli

When you think of art, you may immediately think of a frame hung on a wall.

If that’s your sole conception of art, Harrisburg’s annual Gallery Walk is here to broaden your perspective, offering a multi-sensory experience involving multiple forms, genres and techniques.

“You don’t have to visit a big city to experience tremendously vibrant art,” said Carrie Wissler-Thomas, president of the Art Association of Harrisburg, who has organized the event since 1986.

You won’t find all the tour stops in traditional art galleries either. Many are in commercial businesses. Some are in churches. A few are even outside.

“Harrisburg doesn’t have a gallery district, and we have few commercial galleries,” Wissler-Thomas said. “We do well promoting the arts without having all our galleries in a row. We bring art to local businesses that are willing to open their walls to artists. We reach the people by bringing art to them.”

At Gallery Walk, you’ll find traditional paint on canvas—but so much more—from about 500 artists in 27 open house locations.

“Most tour stop locations are smaller venues or shows with one or two artists,” Wissler-Thomas said. “If you don’t have all day to invest, you can target some of the larger exhibits.”

For instance, more than 100 artists are featured just at the State Museum’s annual “Art of the State” exhibit. And, at 1 p.m., the exhibit gets interactive with the “Artists’ Conversations” talk.

Art with an architectural theme will be in focus at several venues, including at The Art Association of Harrisburg’s “Structures” exhibit. Across town, the Susquehanna Art Museum will feature “Towards an Old/New Architecture,” a show put on by the Central PA Chapter of the Architects of America. In addition, architect Clayton Lappley’s renderings of some of the city’s most famous buildings will be on view at Historic Harrisburg Association.

Gallery@Second, one of Harrisburg’s few dedicated art galleries, will feature work by Joanne Finkle and Peter J. DeHart. At other locations, attendees can expect to find sculptures, paper cuts, encaustic, knitted creations and myriad mixed media.

The Millworks, a new location for Gallery Walk this year, holds another large concentration of art, with 35 artists working in 23 studios that will be open to the public.

“Millworks is an exciting, significant change to the walking route this year,” said Wissler-Thomas.

Artists from the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters will create art outside on the grounds of City House Bed & Breakfast, while plein air artists also will set up at the Governor’s Residence garden.

Young artists will be well represented at Gallery Walk. Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School, located in Strawberry Square, will show pieces from its classes. Y Art’s contribution, “Discovering the Next Generation of Artists,” is a juried exhibit at Whitaker Center that features art by high school students from across central PA. Old City Hall will include artwork from students at Harrisburg High School. Uptown, you’ll find university-level art from Slippery Rock and Kutztown on the Dixon University campus.

Gallery Walk doesn’t limit itself to art from the area and the state. Brian Molloy is an impressionist artist from Boston who will open his small art studio on Locust Street. St. Stephen’s Mission Gallery at the Episcopal Cathedral will show artwork from Haiti and Brazil, and 704 Lounge will have pieces by New York artists.

At Gallery Walk, the art will extend to live music. Little Amps on State Street will feature an audio-visual music explosion from Harrisburg artist Stephen Michael Haas. The Latino Hispanic American Community Center on Derry Street will host live music with a cultural flair, while AAH will feature Hemlock Hollow, a guitar and mandolin duo. Pine Street Presbyterian Church and Midtown Scholar Bookstore also will offer live music.

No Last Call, Harrisburg’s “hit-and-run street band,” will play along the Gallery Walk route all afternoon.

“There are about 20 people in No Last Call,” said Wissler-Thomas. “They’re going to wear period marching band uniforms and play campy music all afternoon. They’re great.”

If all that walking makes you thirsty, many of the tour stops will offer refreshments, and you even can make your own bloody Mary at 704 Lounge from 2 to 4 p.m.

Wissler-Thomas said that she invests nine months of planning and promotions into each Gallery Walk.

“This is our gift to the community,” she said. “We hope it brings new people to Harrisburg to enjoy and sell art.”

The 27^th Annual Gallery Walk takes place Sunday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Street parking is free, and the Sutliff Chevrolet shuttle will be on hand to offer rides along the route. The Gallery Walk brochure can be downloaded at www.artassocofhbg.com/index2.htm.

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