Tag Archives: Whitaker Center

Instilling Confidence: Local organizations empower girls through physical activity, education and mentoring

December 30, 2024 | by Gina Napoli

Girls on the Run. Photos courtesy of Girls on the Run.

When my 9-year-old daughter signed up for Girls on the Run a decade ago, she wasn’t a runner. Or a walker, really.

But she laced her pink sneakers and started with a strong stride around the perimeter of Shenk Park anyway. When she became red-faced, she slowed her pace, lagging 50 yards behind. By the time all the other girls finished the race, my little cherub was walking, and not quickly.

We cheered for her anyway—even as the boys’ race started. She wasn’t *too* embarrassed about placing last. She finished what she started, saying she felt “accomplished.” She said, “I proved to myself I could do it.”

Girls on the Run is one of several local programs dedicated specifically to impacting young girls. GOTR Mid State PA Executive Director Gillian Byerly believes in the connection between a strong support system and breaking out from the pressurized, barrier-laden “girl box.”

“We envision a world where every girl can boldly pursue her dreams,” she said. “Our after-school programs inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, confident, resilient and connected with their communities.”

The evidence-based program provides a judgment-free environment for trying new things. GOTR volunteer coaches guide girls through the curriculum, packed with skill-building games, activities, projects and discussions to cultivate skills like building relationships, working in teams and impacting their communities.

Although the program takes its name from a run around the park, Byerly cites a “connection between physical and emotional health, moving bodies in a powerful way to regulate emotions.” Embedded into GOTR is imparting an emotional vocabulary, teaching girls to recognize emotions, to feel negative emotions without reacting, and to develop empathy.

“We target girls specifically because they have different challenges and mature differently,” Byerly said, citing a significant youth mental health crisis. “Girls drop out in larger numbers than boys. One in three consider suicide, and two-thirds feel negative effects from competition.”

A national program in its 10th year, built on a strong volunteer network that invests in approximately 2,500 girls annually, GOTR works with girls in grades 3 to 8, with a structured curriculum focusing on five “Heart and Sole” aspects: social, spirit, brain, body and heart. Girls and LGBTQ+ kids from all races, backgrounds and socioeconomic levels are welcome. There is an adaptive curriculum for girls with disabilities.

“With encouragement from friends and a robust mentor network outside the home to cultivate healthy relationships, there’s a team of girls behind them,” Byerly said. “It makes this program beneficial in so many ways.”

Who I Needed

If running isn’t your girl’s thing, other programs offer character development opportunities through different types of mentorships.

With roots in Harrisburg, Young Women’s Empowerment Academy is a nationwide mentorship nonprofit founded in 2017, offering girls aged 8 to 25 from diverse backgrounds mentorship, leadership development and life skills.

Its mission: “Be Who I Needed When I Was Younger.”

Founder Lisa Lickers-Ricks was once that younger woman—a teen mom who needed guidance. She observed women struggling with challenges related to self-esteem, societal expectations, emotional challenges, navigating personal relationships, and overall stress from feeling like “not enough.” Seeing this need inspired her to create a support system where women could feel empowered to succeed, despite their circumstances.

Through YWEA’s leadership workshops, mental health awareness sessions, community service projects, personal development seminars, entrepreneurship training and the occasional fashion show, each activity is designed to build essential life skills.

“Our leadership workshops help the girls take ownership of their lives, while mental health sessions provide them with coping mechanisms for anxiety and stress,” Lickers-Ricks said. “The community service projects instill a sense of purpose, and our entrepreneurship training encourages them to think creatively about their future.”

Ripple Effect

Also in Harrisburg, Whitaker Center has two evolving programs to connect girls with real-world computer science applications.

Their Women in STEAM committee supplies both the Girls in STEAM program (grades 3 to 8) and Girls Who Code program (grades 6 to 12) with professional mentors who encourage girls to explore STEAM careers as possibilities. Both programs counter cultural and societal gender stereotypes that previously limited career ambitions, resulting in underrepresentation in STEAM fields.

Girls in STEAM’s Education & Science Center Manager Kristin James said the programs “create safe spaces for discussion and encouragement to empower young girls to change their mindset, overcome challenges and thrive.”

The Women in STEAM program offers a range of topics to expose girls to various STEAM opportunities. Guest speakers from local partnerships like Capital Blue Cross, Hersheypark and Harrisburg University provide girls with powerful networking connections. And inviting NASA astronauts through the AstraFemina organization shows girls that women can succeed in male-dominated fields.

Providing girls with STEAM education, showing them what’s possible “can help drive workforce development for future generations,” James said. “We can help shape the goals and aspirations of the next generation and grow the region’s quality of life and economic vitality.”

Coding is just one career path in the vast and ever-shifting field of computer science. Girls Who Code’s Innovation Educator Josh Meek points to the foundation of their curriculum of computational thinking, requiring planning, problem-solving and curiosity. Attendees engage in curated lessons of various scope and difficulty, peer mentorship and friendship-building with others who enjoy solving puzzles and exploring technology. And they learn about computer science careers other than coding, ranging from cybersecurity to 3D art and design.

For nearly three decades, this writer has held a steady 9-to-5 in computer science occupations: technical writer, functional business analyst, data analyst, project manager/integrator, software tester, hardware evaluator. Girls, I’m living proof you can have a career in computer science aside from coding. Computational thinking and problem-solving will get you far.

I wonder how far I might have gotten with mentoring programs.

Lickers-Ricks summed up these enriching local mentoring programs best.

“It’s about creating a ripple effect—inspiring young women to become leaders, innovators, advocates for positive change, and change-makers who will give back to the community,” she said.

For more information about Girls on the Run, visit www.girlsontherun.org.

To find out more about the Young Women’s Empowerment Academy, visit www.yweacademy.com.

To learn more about Whitaker Center’s programming, visit www.whitakercenter.org.

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The Week that Was: News and Features around Harrisburg

September 13, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Gloria Vázquez Merrick of the Latino Hispanic American Community Center

It looks like a busy, beautiful weekend ahead. Before you head out the door, catch up on our news from last week, all listed and linked below.

“Cabaret” opened to a rapt audience at Theatre Harrisburg’s Krevsky Center last weekend. In her review, our theater writer describes why this show is so special.

Coda Rouge is a new Harrisburg restaurant in an elegant setting. In our magazine feature, we explain the owner’s unexpected journey from contractor to restaurateur.

Family outings are even more fun in the spectacular weather of September. Our “Adventure Together” columnist has several great ideas for a very promising weekend.

Fleetwood Mac is in focus at Open Stage’s musical tribute to the iconic 1970s-era rock band. Discover the story behind the show and what to expect if you attend, from our magazine feature.

Gallery Walk 2024 is in the books, and it was one for the ages, says our arts blogger. In his latest post, he reviews how the day went for several key art venues in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices ticked higher in August, according to the latest report on previously owned houses. Check out the latest data in our online story.

Harrisburg City Council had a lengthy list of questions about a city emergency declaration, and the administration countered with a terse response. Our online story outlines what the dispute is about.

Latino Hispanic American Community Center has a new home and new energy, says our magazine feature. LHACC kicks off National Hispanic Heritage month with a parade and festival this weekend.

Matt Maisel, Harrisburg’s director of communications, announced that he’ll be leaving his post, according to our online story. Find out what’s next for one of the city’s most visible public figures.

Public Safety Day took place last week in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, said our online story. The midday event gave the public information on staying safe and even offered leads for pursuing a career in the field.

Sara Bozich has a busy weekend ahead, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Whitaker Center. Find out about these and many other events in her Weekend Roundup.

Whitaker Center celebrated its silver anniversary all week long, capped off with a block party and gala this weekend. A recent Q&A with the executive director touches on where the downtown arts and science center has been and where it’s going.

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Whitaker at 25: Challenges, opportunities lie ahead for Harrisburg’s premier center for science and the arts

August 29, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Mary Oliveira

Could it really be 25 years already?

Back in September 1999, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts opened to great fanfare, heralding the dawn of a new institution and attraction in downtown Harrisburg.

A lot has changed since then for both the center and the city. To get a feel for where Whitaker is today—and where it’s going—we sat down with Mary Oliveira, who took the helm as president and CEO last November.

The following is our Q&A with her, edited for length and clarity. You can learn much more this month, as Whitaker plans an entire week of celebratory events, including a birthday bash and a block party, culminating with a 25th Anniversary Celebration on Sept. 14. Check out www.whitakercenter.org for more information.

TheBurg: What interested you in heading up Whitaker Center?

Mary: Whitaker Center is just this amazing anchor of our region. The pandemic and being a shuttered venue really caused it a lot of challenges. The opportunity to help work through some of those challenges and see how we can revitalize it and re-introduce it to the community seemed like a very exciting thing to want to be a part of.

TheBurg: What are some of the specific challenges you’re facing?

Mary: Whitaker Center is a big place and a nonprofit business entity. So, it faces the challenges that many nonprofits do when it comes to funding streams, revenue, balancing an operating budget, etc. And the physical maintenance of a 130,000-square-foot building presents us with some unique things to have to figure out answers to. So, we need to make sure that we become again a destination of choice with great performances in our theater, a lot of exciting exhibits happening in our science center, and the coding, gaming programs and workshops that we offer. There has to be a good balance with the fundraising, the donors, the grants, the foundation support, and all of that blended together.

TheBurg: What has impressed you about Whitaker Center?

Mary: The brand reputation is still so positive. So, one of the things I committed to early on was an intentional listening tour. It started with the staff members: “What’s your Whitaker why?” That’s an essential question I’ve asked everybody, and that’s really what we’re trying to amass information on so that it can help us strategically plan. This is Whitaker’s 25th anniversary year. So, what do the next 25 years look like? So, we’re using the mantra, “Whitaker Next,” to build that platform of stability.

We then followed with a board survey, taking it to the next level of those community leaders and business leaders who are connected to us by their service. Then we took it even further and went out to the community this spring, and we did a community survey of over 35,000 that are in our email database: “What is your Whitaker why?” It was overwhelming to hear the feedback that this is still considered a place of wonder and curiosity and learning and delight and experiences that multi-generational families are excited to share with one another.

TheBurg: Where do you see Whitaker headed?

Mary: In 1999, no one predicted the digital era that we’re in. So, they built this grandiose brick-and-mortar venue with the anticipation of enticing plenty of foot traffic to make it this cultural enrichment center that included both science and arts. We’ve now adapted. We have a first-of-its-kind coding and gaming den, where kids can come in and really get an opportunity to experience things that maybe they don’t have at home, especially with a focus on lower- and middle-income students.

I think there’s so much transformation that still needs to happen—kind of shifting from information age to innovation age. We’re looking at ways to update and enhance our science center. Some of the exhibits we have are the original ones from 1999. So, it’s a great opportunity to make sure we remain relevant to the students of today. So, I see Whitaker becoming a strong workforce development partner to the business community. We start with programs for children as young as 3 years old here. We have a weekly program called Little Learners, where we’re introducing STEAM and STEM concepts to them at an age-appropriate curriculum level of playing. It goes all the way up through high school.

TheBurg: What are you hearing from the community regarding your future?

Mary: I think the community is still very excited about Whitaker. I also think there’s an opportunity to introduce us to this newer generation that is growing up in a world where they can sit and watch a movie on their phone on their sofa.

I was asked in an early interview, “What do you want your legacy to be?” Without hesitating, I said, I want the conversation to include the question: “What do you mean you haven’t been to Whitaker lately?” So, that phrase, “creating Whitaker” or reinventing or revitalizing Whitaker Center as a destination of choice. Young adults, young professionals, young families are moving into this area, and we have to give them reasons to be excited and reasons to want to stay here.

TheBurg: Is there something about Whitaker you’d like our readers to know that they may not?

Mary: We want to build or rebuild our brand equity in the marketplace. We’re trying to figure out how we just get out there and get our voice heard. We want to invite people in the door. To explore us is to love us, so just come explore us.

The Animation Academy is an incredibly interactive exhibit [runs through Jan. 10]. It’s all about how science and art come together in an animator’s world. Some of the students’ favorite cartoon characters will be here. We’ll have artists come in and host workshops on animation skills. We’re told that this is one of those repeat exhibits that families will want to come back to time and time again, because there are so many components to it. All ages, from 8 to 88, hopefully, will find something that they enjoy about it.

We have our Celebration Week coming up, Sept. 9 to 14. Whitaker Center opened its doors on 9/9/99. We thought, “Let’s do five events in the span of six days.” So, we have a robust calendar of exciting events, all meant to encourage so many populations to engage with us.

Whitaker Center is located at 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.whitakercenter.org.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 2, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Volunteers put red sand in sidewalk cracks at the Capitol to recognize victims of human trafficking who often “slip through the cracks.”

Our August magazine dropped this week, with a special focus on youth and schools. Grab a copy at one of our many distribution locations or read online. But first, catch up on this week’s news, below.

“Back 2 School Drive 4 Success,” run by Renewal by Andersen and Harrisburg-based All You Can Inc., is currently accepting donations of school supplies for students in need. Read our online story to find out how to give.

TheBurg has what’s called a “high-class problem”—we can’t seem to print enough copies to meet the huge demand for our monthly magazine. Our publisher shares some tips for how to secure a copy, here.

Community Corner has all of August’s special events happening in the Harrisburg area. For a full, comprehensive list of music, art and cultural events this month, read our Happenings section.

Jones’ Resources, Harrisburg City Council and the city will host the first annual Destry “Des” Mangus Classic Basketball Tournament on Aug. 10 and 11 at Reservoir Park, our online story reported. The event honors a longtime coach and volunteer in the community.

Live music is hot, hot, hot this month in Harrisburg. Our concert reviewer shares her must-see shows.

National Night Out will return to Harrisburg next week with games, food and music on City Island, our online story reported. The event will give community members a chance to interact with city first responders.

Orville Peck performed in Riverfront Park as part of HU Presents’ summer concerts series this past weekend. According to our reviewer, “Peck gave concertgoers a night full of unbridled energy and authenticity.”

Our publisher shares the results of a community listening tour that TheBurg has been on. We have asked residents about the community and about TheBurg, and what they had to say has been interesting.

The Red Sand Project came to the state Capitol steps this week, with volunteers filling cracks in the sidewalk with red sand to raise awareness for human trafficking victims who have been overlooked, or “slipped through the cracks.” In our online story, find out more about the event, hosted by Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania.

Roads near the PA Farm Show Complex closed on Wednesday for a rally held by former President Donald Trump, we reported.

Sara Bozich has concert, restaurant and event recommendations for this weekend in Harrisburg, here.

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg released its Harrisburg Arts District app, which allows visitors and locals to more easily find arts-related venues and events in the city. In our online story, find out how it works.

Watson’s Wish financially helps pet owners when they need life-saving care for their furry friends, our magazine story reported. Jessica Beninsky launched the nonprofit in 2022 and has since helped dogs in central and northeastern Pa.

Whitaker Center’s “Girls in STEAM” program received a $35,000 grant from Comcast to help the program continue its career exploration opportunities for youth, our online story reported. “Girls in STEAM” promotes digital literacy and skill-building.

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Whitaker Center’s “Girls in STEAM” program awarded grant for educational efforts

July 30, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

Whitaker Center

An educational program for local girls will get a financial boost to support its skill-building efforts.

Whitaker Center’s “Girls in STEAM” program was awarded a $35,000 grant from Comcast to help the program continue its career exploration opportunities for youth, according to a Tuesday press release.

The grant from Comcast is part of the company’s Project Up, which has allotted $1 billion toward digital equity in communities across the country.

“Girls in STEAM” promotes digital literacy and skill-building through activities such as “Girls in STEAM” Sundays and summer camps, offered to girls in the area in 4^th to 12^th grade.

The grant money will help the program continue its programming, the release stated. The center also plans to provide various lessons on subjects like coding, online safety, ethical digital resource use and more.

“We’re proud to support the Whitaker Center and know that with this funding, they will successfully educate, empower and enable more people to achieve their goals,” Comcast’s Keystone Region Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Kevin Broadhurst said.

Even before obtaining the grant, the Whitaker Center has acted as one of seven Comcast “Lift Zones” in Dauphin County, which includes free WiFi for all visitors and offers digital skill training courses.

Pennsylvania currently has 176 Lift Zones around the state, according to the press release.

“On behalf of our staff and all of our visitors who benefit from the free WiFi and programming offered through the Whitaker Center, we thank Comcast for their generosity and support,” Whitaker Center President and CEO Mary Oliveira said. “Together we are helping to close the digital divide.”

For more information about the Whitaker Center’s Girls in STEAM program, visit their website.

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Hatching Wins: The “Penguin Project” puts special needs kids into the spotlight

July 30, 2024 | by Gina Napoli

As a parent of a special needs child, life is different for us.

We have less free time than parents of independent children. We spend more resources administering day-to-day care and attending appointments with specialists. We take emotional rides along the sliding scale of optimism/pessimism when dealing with our child’s limitations, both real and possibly overcome-able. And we’re often surprised by which are which.

Wherever your child is on their journey, there’s a place for you within the Penguin Project—giving developmentally disabled children ages 10 to 21 the opportunity to perform in a modified Broadway show.

Founded in 2004 in Peoria, Ill., by “Dr. Andy” Morgan, an accomplished developmental pediatrician, the Penguin Project has hatched 53 local chapters in 22 states, with the Theatre Harrisburg chapter being one of its most recent.

The final goal of the Penguin Project may be to put on a great show, but its wings span so much further.

Executive Director Lorien Reese Mahay attests to the program’s impacts reaching beyond the stage to enhance young Penguins’ social interaction, self-esteem, communication skills and self-confidence. The program has become its own community for children whose social opportunities may have previously been limited and for whom participation in traditional performing arts formats would be too overstimulating.

As much as possible, the staff treats the Penguin Project experience like a mainstage production, but with a few gentle tweaks to create an inclusive, sensory-friendly space. To keep from overstimulating the Penguins, setting and props are minimal. Lighting, sound and costume fabrics are sensory friendly, with no quick costume changes.

For production Director Matt Spencer, some Penguins met him first at his day job as Doc Chocolate at Hershey’s Chocolate World, where there is now a special time slot for those with sensory issues. The Penguin Project model has challenged him to think about how we can all show up for people in better and stronger ways, especially in creating an inclusive rehearsal space. Spencer brings that same level of energy from the sweetest place on earth to the Penguins’ igloo with his wife Abby, who serves as Theatre Harrisburg’s production manager.

The program model uses the buddy system to keep the Penguins on track. Each Penguin is paired with a peer mentor who helps them learn lines, cues, choreography and blocking. Depending on the pairing, mentors may need to provide support with emotional management, push wheelchairs or keep Penguins focused.

“The peer mentors are a huge part of the model,” Mahay said. “The mentor’s job is different for each Penguin. Some Penguins won’t need a partner, but support is always there.”

“The partnership between the Penguin and their mentor is the hallmark of the program. It’s the secret sauce of the recipe,” Spencer said.

The Penguin Project’s mentor coordinator has a challenging assignment, finding the right matches between peer mentors and Penguins, monitoring those pairings, and shuffling during vacation season. During rehearsals, Andrew Vinton helps keep the energy high, the chaos low, and the mood playfully chipper. Vinton and Spencer gain compliance from the colony without even a touch of impatience.

Penguins don’t have to endure the stress of formal auditions, according to Vinton, although they do participate in a lighter version called a “reading workshop.” Then, as everyone gets to know each Penguin, the staff casts onstage roles.

Penguins benefit from a lighter than average rehearsal schedule, with sessions lasting only one hour a few times per week, stretched over four months.

“Bite-sized rehearsals give [Penguins] the needed repetition,” Spencer said. “Using the show’s adaptive version and hitting the highlights allow the kids to succeed.”

A trending behind-the-scenes role in theaters Mahay finds useful when applied to the Penguin Project model is “intimacy coordinator.”

“COVID may have opened this conversation about acceptable touching,” Mahay said. “We have children who don’t accept touch, so we ask before touching them. Is it OK to touch on the arm, shake hands, high-five, elbow bump? There’s something so beautiful about the respect shown.”

Inspired by the Penguin Project, staff will consider the consent of touching in future productions, responding to expectations in terms of consent culture.

Although the Penguin Project began as a professional endeavor, it became personal for Mahay.

“As a mom, many stories from parents touched me,” she said. “A daughter who previously had no friends and was never included is suddenly getting phone calls, getting invited to the mall. She has friends now.”

Being time-poor, we special needs parents would probably confess to feeling isolated, if we had time. During rehearsals, it’s common to hear parents exchanging ideas about schools, community workshops, and other goings-on in the disabilities world. Parents have formed a life-changing support group, cultivating a sense of belonging.

“This four-month Penguin Project gave these parents a community, something to form around—deep roots that form over time,” Mahay said.

Although “not a theater guy,” Ron Hooven, father of Tyler, returned after last summer’s production of “Annie Jr.” at Whitaker Center.

“I thought it would be awkward seeing the people onstage, but I was blown away. That’s why I came back,” he said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house for ‘Annie.’ We were laughing so hard.”

Theater veteran and proud mom, Gerren Wagner, vouched for the catchy quality of the lyrics and choreography.

“He can’t dance, and there he was, dancing onstage [at ‘Annie Jr.’],” she said of her son, Owen. “You could see the parents in the back, dancing and singing along.”

With each rehearsal, adults talk about Penguins’ wins.

“As long as each kid has one win, that’s what matters,” Spencer said. “This gives kids something to talk to their parents about. And they’re going to have amazing memories.”

Come see Harrisburg’s local Penguin colony in “Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr.,” Aug. 17 at 4 p.m., and Aug. 18 at 2 p.m., at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg.

For more information on the Penguin Project, visit www.penguinproject.org and www.theatreharrisburg.com/penguin-project.

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Harrisburg Police Bureau officers sworn-in, honored at annual awards ceremony

July 1, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams swore in four new police officers at a ceremony on Monday.

Harrisburg gained several new police officers and recognized others for their efforts of bravery at a ceremony.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police held its annual new hire swearing-in and awards ceremony Monday at Whitaker Center. Eleven awards were presented, along with the honoring of a retiree and the swearing-in of four new officers.

Mayor Wanda Williams swore in cadets William Cartwright, Rebekah Chrisman, Yulmi Garcia-Lorenzo and Gurleen Grewal, all of whom will undergo six months of police academy training at Harrisburg Area Community College.

With the new hires, the bureau now has a complement of 140 sworn-in officers.

Additionally, bureau officers received awards on merit, bravery, valor and lifesaving efforts, and units were honored through distinguished unit citations.

“I thank you for your undying love for the city,” Police Commissioner Thomas Carter said. “Without you, our city would be suffering.”

One award commended a long list of officers for their collective work on an armed hostage situation involving children. Williams encouraged the audience to give the group a standing ovation, referring to the case as an example of how policing “takes a village,” which she stated in her opening address.

Detective Dennis Simmons, an officer since 2005 and the orchestrator of hundreds of successful narcotics investigations, was awarded Officer of the Year.

Police officers were awarded at Monday’s ceremony.

The following awards were presented by the police bureau:

Award 1: Domestic with Shots Fired
- Merit: Officers Sethton Wiest and Brendan Kovach
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Officers Brian Stright, Erik Henry, Corey Masse and Garrett Miller

Award 2: Armed Burglary with 3 Suspects
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Detective John Rosinski, Lt. Scott Johnsen and officers Cody Geier, Timothy Cheng, Nicholas Herbster, Marc Hall, Martise Scott and K-9 officer Eddie

Award 3: Armed Suspect with Child Hostage
- Bravery: Dauphin County Probation Officers James Robbins and Cale Hoover
- Valor: From Dauphin County Crisis Response Team (DCCRT), Sgt. Alex Wagner, Deputy Director AJ Somma and officers Pat Walsh, Shayne Barber, John Miller and Anthony Glass
- Distinguished Unit Citation: Harrisburg Police Bureau’s Street Crimes Unit, Uniformed Patrol Division (UPD) 2^nd Platoon and Criminal Investigation Division, and Pennsylvania State Police, Dauphin County Crisis Response Team, Pennsylvania State Parole, Dauphin County Probation

Award 4: Mental Health Violence
- Merit: Cynthia Kreiser

Award 5: Suicidal Male on 83 Overpass
- Lifesaving: Sgt. Tony Elliott and officers Nicholas Herbster, Cody Geier and Jarrod Haar, and Dauphin County Co-Responder Jorge Collazo-Gonzalez

Award 6: Gunshot Victim
- Lifesaving: Officers Timothy Cheng, Haden Landis, Christian Ribec, Caleb Tanner and Edgar Taylor

Award 7: Aggravated Assault Victim
- Lifesaving: Schuyler Glotfelty

Award 8: Unresponsive Child
- Lifesaving: Officers Nathan Ishman and John Doll

Award 9: Shots Fired at Officers
- Bravery: Detective Michael Rudy, Sgt. Matthew Novchich, Cpl. Travis Banning and officers Marc Hall, Steven Gray and Christopher Palamara

Award 10: Shots Fired
- Bravery: Cpl. Esteban Restrepo and officers Timothy Cheng, Haden Landis and Michael Fischer

Though not in attendance at the ceremony, the bureau also honored Officer Robert Fleagle who retired in May after 24 years of service.

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Burg Review: Theatre Harrisburg’s “Seussical” is a silly, song-y, splentabulous musical

April 26, 2024 | by Gina Napoli

Could I write this at my house? I could click my little mouse. I could keep you in suspense, although I’m sure you’d find me dense.

Theatre Harrisburg brings Whoville to Harrisburg with their wubulous rendition of “Seussical” the Tony-nominated musical, directed and choreographed by Matt Spencer. If you’re a fan of Seuss’s many books, you’ll spot spotted Easter eggs throughout “Seussical,” along with enough outrageous silliness to fill all your refrigerators with green eggs and ham. This play is pure joy, whether you’ve read a stack of Seuss’s books in several nooks, or whether you haven’t read his works since sitting on someone else’s lap.

The Cat in the Hat (Andrew Vinton) shines as our unreliable narrator and overall troublemaker for his co-stars. Throughout the scenes, Vinton seamlessly quick-changes into several other characters throughout the play, weaving us through nonsensical, yet still recognizable bedtime story plots.

We discover the world’s smallest community perched on a clover, painted with the most vibrant, buttery yellow, inspiring a buttery battle with butter knives. Then there’s an elephant named Horton who sits on a bird’s egg for so long that someone sold him to the Circus McGurkus.

Does any of this absurdity ring true? Its truth matters not one whit to me, and I hope not a whole awful lot to you.

But here I’ve gone down a bathtub drain. Call me insane or call me a pain. Back to Vinton. High-energy. Great sense of pacing. Timing: spot-on. Keeps the zany action moving. Super-zooper-flooper-do.

Vinton makes trouble for his young lead Jojo, (Tess Tucker), who is chastised by his parents for having thinks that were too big for his tiny world. Tucker’s voice carries through confidently in both speaking and singing in her TH debut, with the especially vulnerable delivery of my plus-one’s favorite ballad, “Alone in the Universe,” a duet with Horton (Eric Pope). Pope’s performance is both heartfelt and unguarded in its sincerity.

Our characters encounter even more serenading troublemakers in the Jungle of Nool, Whoville, and Solla Sollew, all with amazing voices. To credit the entire talented cast of others onstage and backstage who worked together to spring this story from its pages onto the three-dimensional stage would fill more books than Seuss, himself. All the ink I would have used to type your names went down that long drain. But I say to you, there’s no one more brainy or footsy or you-er than you.

Just the ones with the pipes: Sofiyah Ibidunni makes her TH debut as Sour Kangaroo. With a voice that’s a mix of raspy and soulful, Ibidunni nails every song she sings. Also debuting with TH are Josh Glacken and Sara Burke, as the Mayor and Mayor’s Wife, respectively, with over-the-top performances that are both wacky and wackier. As Mayzie, the irresponsible bird, Alison Whipple delivers songs that are both throaty and seasoned. My favorite troublemakers, the hilarious Wickersham Brothers (Joel Colvin, Kyle Hallam, Francis Dy) give off a funky ‘70’s vibe. This is, incidentally, when I began studying Seuss’s works, diapered scholar that I was.) Colvin double-duties as the General, standing out with his lilting voice.

Not a troublemaker, but an intentionally warbley soprano songbird, Gertrude (Becky Mease) plays the equivalent of an aviary underdog in love with Horton. She is identifiably awkward, yet graceful when the more primped “mean girl” birds pick on her. When Gertrude grows her tail down to there, Mease hits the high notes with flare.

Just one note from my critiquer’s box, where I wear sloppy socks and sit with my fox… Although the costumes and set were beautifully feathered and brightly colored, some of the costumes and props were more representative than literal, so a few animals (figuratively) flew over my head when I tried to identify what was what and who was who in Seuss’s zoo. But even when we couldn’t pinpoint thing one or thing two, we still thought this play was brilliant. How about you?

To everyone in the audience, this play brings positive messages designed to uplift, especially the younger Whos. Anything is possible. A person is a person, no matter how small. My personal favorite is “Tell yourself how lucky you are,” even after your life turns to hot glunker stew on your way to Solla Sollew.

No one is safe from audience participation in the theater, with antics surrounding you, and zany surprises from all around. I won’t spoil the surprises, but it will be amazing all the thinks the cast can think

Oh, the places you’ll go! … Actually, you don’t have to go very far. You could go by foot, or go by car to:

Whitaker Center for Science and Arts, 222 Market Street, Harrisburg. “Seussical” runs through May 12. For more information on show times and tickets, https://theatreharrisburg.com.

I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. I enjoyed this play, 100 percent.

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Classical Era: The Wednesday Club is one of the oldest musical organizations in the country

February 28, 2024 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

It may be 142 years old, but the Wednesday Club for the Performing Arts is as energetic as ever.

Just ask Norma Swain, the nonprofit musical performance organization’s executive director.

“We present concerts by classical musicians, but since all are so talented and multifaceted musicians, we almost always have another genre of music in our concerts,” said Swain of Camp Hill. “Show tunes, ragtime, folk, etc. We’ve even presented Irish step dancers on one of our concerts and have had jazz bands from area high schools participate.”

The group is scheduled to continue its 2023-24 concert series this month with a performance at the Art Association of Harrisburg on March 10.

“This provides the community a chance to see some wonderful performers,” said Frank Rapisarda, the club’s new president. “I enjoy getting together with other people who enjoy classical music. I’m also totally impressed when I see young people perform in the art.”

David Morrison, Historic Harrisburg Association’s executive director, has been involved with the Wednesday Club for about 40 years, once serving on its board of directors. His involvement with the club came about in a roundabout way through a job assignment at the Forum while employed by the state Department of General Services.

“Next thing I knew, I was on the Wednesday Club’s board of directors and doing fundraising,” he recounted with a laugh.

Morrison’s interest in the Wednesday Club is fueled not only by a love of music but by the group’s “tie into history,” he noted.

“The Wednesday Club goes back to the 1800s,” he said. “It was founded by a lot of our community’s leaders of that century and has lots of rich history. That was as much of an interest to me as the music.”

Growing Club

The Wednesday Club actually didn’t originate from music. It began as a 19th-century ladies’ group sharing the fruits of their kitchen skills, according to the club’s printed history, “Wednesday Club Hi-Notes.”

The history states that around 15 “prominent young women of the Harrisburg area” pooled their talents into forming a cooking club, the Hungry Lunch Belles. The group soon tired of cooking, however, and began to perform music together.

The music club’s first regular performance took place on May 17, 1882, at a member’s Front Street home. Performances that day kicked off with a piano recital of Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.” Following that, the initial 25-member club met every other Wednesday.

In 1915, the growing club was incorporated exclusively for “charitable and educational purposes” and expanded to include men. In 1931, the club held the Forum’s first-ever public event, the Don Cossacks Russian Orchestra. In 1939, the organization presented groundbreaking Black contralto Marian Anderson at the Forum immediately prior to her historic performance for 75,000 in Washington, D.C.

“Marian Anderson was treated to a tea at the (Harrisburg) Civic Club before her concert at the Forum,” Swain said. “We have always been about music and promoting classical music without discrimination.”

The Wednesday Club was also “instrumental in the vision of a performing arts center in Harrisburg,” according to Swain, which eventually led to the opening of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in 1999. The club remained a resident company there for 13 years.

Today, the nonprofit organization stands as one of the world’s oldest continuously operating music clubs and still abides by its original mission, “to stimulate interest in classical music and to develop and promote the musical talents of its performing members through concerts and educational activities.”

“We no longer present concerts on Wednesdays,” Swain said. “Since I’ve been involved these many years, we moved from Tuesday evenings to weekends. We now only present concerts on Saturdays, or mostly on Sunday afternoons, avoiding all the other presenters in the region.”

The club is supported through grants, member dues, community donations, program ads and various foundations.

The organization currently offers around 10 concerts per season, featuring performances by members and guest musicians from throughout the region. Auditioned performance categories include Resident Professional Concert Artist, Collegiate Concert Artist, Young Concert Artist and Ensemble Concert Artist. Performers range from elementary-level students to adult professionals.

“I love classical music,” Rapisarda said. “My mission as board president is to get the word out about our organization to (performing) students and professionals.”

For more information on the Wednesday Club for the Performing Arts, visit www.wednesdayclub.org, or their Facebook page or call 717-571-5189.

Catch a Show
The Wednesday Club has numerous performances in the coming months. These include:

March 10, 3 p.m., Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Young Pianists in Concert
April 14, 4 p.m., Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 509 Hummel Ave., Lemoyne. Dr. Elizabeth Etnoyer, pianist, and other featured artists
May 5, 4 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 15 S. 4th St., Harrisburg. Daniel Stokes, organist, and instrumental and vocal ensembles
May 25 to 27, Artsfest Five-concert series at Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
June to August. Three-concert summer series, to be announced.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

November 24, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams announced the city’s score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, at a press conference.

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying the long holiday weekend. While you recover from yesterday’s feast and festivities, catch up on the news from this week in Harrisburg, below.

Buying local is great, but buying locally made is even better. In our magazine story, read about several Harrisburg area businesses dedicated to crafting unique pieces and how to support them this holiday shopping season.

Capital Region Water approved new water, sewer and stormwater rates for 2024, our online story reported. The average Harrisburg customer’s bill is set to increase by about 5.2%.

Dauphin County proposed a 2024 general budget of about $222 million, which includes no property tax increase, our online story reported. This would mark the 19^th year for the county without a tax hike.

Gamut Theatre is offering visitors a night of Gilbert & Sullivan with its production of “H.M.S. Pinafore.” The production runs through Dec. 3 and is a “jolly good show,” according to our theater reviewer.

Harrisburg received one of the highest scores in the state for its LGBTQ inclusivity, our online story reported. The city shared that it garnered a total of 109 points on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI).

Pumpkin pasta is on the menu for our food columnist Rosemary this month. Click here for the recipe, which is perfect for fall.

Sara Bozich has a long list of activities for your holiday weekend, starting off with ways to spend Thanksgiving-eve and suggestions to carry you through to Sunday. Find them, here.

“Under the Skin” takes viewers on a “spine-chilling, disturbing and erotic journey,” says our movie reviewer. The show is playing at Midtown Cinema as part of its “Out-of-this-World November” alien movie series.

Whitaker Center is hosting one of the largest exhibits in its 24-year history, “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience,” through the end of the year. In our magazine story, read more about the videos, artifacts and interactive experiences included in the exhibit.

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