THE CERCUS CARTOON

the Best machine? Mainly, something akin to what the Dalai Lama once said. For our Simply the Best and Readers’ Choice honorees aren’t recognized merely as people and businesses who are better than others; but rather are the best versions of themselves, constantly aspiring to improve upon their relationships with the Greater Harrisburg region. I know for a fact that Harrisburg Magazine has helped me to work more on my relationship with the local community – and hence, I feel like a better, more-rounded person myself. To everyone who participated in the 2022 version of Simply the Best – including those who may have narrowly missed out on their own laurels – I say, “job well done!”

In these pages our readers will, of course, find our annual list of those who earned the esteemed distinction of Simply the Best – 471 honorees in approximately 200 categories! But, in our continuing efforts to improve our magazine, you’ll find plenty of other “cream of the crop” features and articles.

For starters, there are our first-ever Simply the Art honorees, local talents in both the visual and performing arts arenas who were recognized last month at a special gathering at the Smith Gallery and Fine Custom Framing in New Cumberland. With any luck, and with the able assistance of my newly promoted assistant, Arts & Entertainment Editor Christina Heintzelman (who was the driving force behind this year’s Simply the Art), the plan will be to further expand the boundaries of the awards in 2023.

Christina’s Artful Inspirations feature this month focuses on the works of an artist whose paintings not only are among the best the region has to offer but will figure prominently in this year’s Simply the Best Gala, scheduled for September 1st at the Penn Harris Hotel Harrisburg. Stuart Leask’s “State Street Reflections,” a beautiful nighttime rendition of State Street looking east to the State Capitol, will be the centerpiece of our fundraising efforts for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society the night of the event.

An additional piece by Christina profiles a woman who could easily top “best of” lists in the fields of nursing, education – and humanitarianism. “A Life Well Lived” is exactly that, the tale of Darlene Oordt Dykema, who definitely holds a top spot on her brother (and magazine owner) Darwin Oordt’s pedestal.

In this month’s Influencer, freelancer Paul Hood examines the lofty and quite noble mission of ex-NFL player Garry Gilliam, Jr., a Milton Hershey School grad and Founder and CEO of The Bridge, a “for-purpose” real estate development company looking to turn the old Bishop McDevitt High School grounds into a self-sustainable eco-village.

One of the best mixologists you’re likely to find in Central Pennsylvania is this month’s Bartender’s Choice bartender Lauren Hench, anointed a “mad scientist” behind the bar at Old Trail Tavern in Liverpool by co-workers who marvel at the multiple versions of new potent potables she creates on a regular basis.

Harrisburg Magazine also strives to bring you some of the best literature and humor we can gather, and hopefully this month’s contributions won’t disappoint. Julia Tilley’s “Friday Night at the Drive-In” is a poetic snapshot in time for summertime outdoor movie aficionados; fiction writer Roni Fogelman makes her print premiere with “Fifteen,” a tale that’s both nostalgic and tragic; The Cercus cartoonist Brad Maurer decides to “stray” away from insects for a moment for some laughs about cats; and, as always, satirist Bill Roddey will “bite” you with some acerbic – and quite topical - one-liners.

And don’t forget our columns! Alex Brubaker’s By the Book previews the annual Harrisburg Book Festival; in Postcards From … author Steven G. Williams discusses how to mitigate the effects of “overtourism”; Barbara Trainin Blank previews Narcisse Theatre Company’s production of Antigone at Italian Lake in Theatre Thoughts; Andrea Reed suggests foods that are good sources of prebiotics in Nourishing Bites; Kristen Zellner evaluates the nutritional plusses and minuses of name brand pet foods in For the Love of Pets; Film & TV historian Kevyn Knox sings the praises of the little-seen gem “Johnny Guitar” in Cinematic Ramblings; in The Finance Hound, Bryson Roof answers the question “what happens to our money when we die?”; and finally, HACC’s Robert Stakem takes aim at home gun safety in Tailboard Talk. 7

Keep striving to be “Simply Your Best!”

RG

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