Harrisburg Magazine July 2022

18

38

PRESIDENT/CEO Darwin Oordt doordt@harrisburgmagazine.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Christina Heintzelman cheintzelman@harrisburgmagazine.com Darcy Oordt darcy@harrisburgmagazine.com

44

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING / SIMPLY THE BEST Chris Aloia caloia@harrisburgmagazine.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Robert Baranow rbaranow@harrisburgmagazine.com Jo Ann Shover jshover@harrisburgmagazine.com

IN THIS ISSUE ...

4 5 6 10 10 11 12 12

INTROSPECTION THE CERCUS CARTOON BARTENDER’S OR BARISTA’S CHOICE

BY THE BOOK NOURISHING BITES THE FINANCE HOUND THEATRE THOUGHTS TAILBOARD TALK

14 14 16 17 18 24 26 30 34 38 44

VOLUME 28 NO. 7 JULY 2022

FOR THE LOVE OF PETS CINEMATIC RAMBLINGS POSTCARDS FROM… POEM #HBGMAG INFLUENCER SHORT STORY GLOWING, GLOWING, NOT GONE! SILVERSNEAKERS PROGRAM HARRISBURG STATE HOSPITAL LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS ARTFUL INSPIRATIONS

EDITOR Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Reich lreich@harrisburgmagazine.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Richard Eppinger reppinger@harrisburgmagazine.com WRITING & PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN Markeshia Wolfe CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christina Heintzelman Le Hinton Pam Lozar Stephanie Kalina-Metzger David Morrison Ed Robinson Bill Roddey CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Brad Maurer Emily White CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Will Masters Paul Vasiliades SALES OFFICE 717.233.0109 4309 Linglestown Road, Suite 115 Harrisburg, PA 17112

ON THE COVER

The Cercus Cartoon See another cartoon on page 5.

HARRISBURGMAGAZINE.COM @HARRISBURGMAGAZINE 2 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Harrisburg Magazine® is published monthly at 4309 Linglestown Road, Suite 115, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Phone: 717.233.0109; harrisburgmagazine.com. Subscriptions available. Send change of address forms to Benchmark Group Media, 4309 Linglestown Road, Suite 115, Harrisburg, PA 17112. This issue or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Harrisburg Magazine®, Inc. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, photographs and disks if they are to be returned, and no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. All rights in letters sent to Harrisburg Magazine® will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as such are subject to a right to edit and comment editorially. Name and contents ©2022, Harrisburg Magazine, Inc. Printed by Freeport Press, Freeport, Ohio.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 3

Introspection

“Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

T

eddy Roosevelt’s words were on target.

And so is the humor behind Brad Maurer’s latest The Cercus cartoon, which we’re proud to have gracing our cover this month. As humans we go through a lot of different stages, but to ensure that we make it to our final stage – senior citizen status – it is important to take proper steps for maintaining health and wellness. So, even though our theme for July is Senior Health & Wellness, the focus is inherently broader than that. After all, with any luck, we’ll all be old one day.

Our Influencer of the month, Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic, took a long journey – approximately 2,224 miles – to her current position as Medical Policy Research Analyst and Chief Medical Officer for Highmark, Inc., but along the way she’s made plenty of stops to help those in vulnerable communities, including seniors. Those efforts, combined with programs to assist members of Pennsylvania’s Hispanic community, including statewide COVID testing and vaccination outreach, have earned her many accolades.

Along those same lines, George Fernandez, Founder & CEO of Latino Connection, contributes an Op-Ed on solving obesity in minority and senior populations; and Dr. Ken Baker, owner of Baker Chiropractic and Spine Clinic, writes about the use of chiropractic care for increasing mobility and decreasing falls among seniors.

On the lighter side of Senior Health & Wellness, Stephanie Kalina-Metzger visits Five Bridges Health and Fitness to compile a brief history of the popular SilverSneakers exercise program; and Pam Lazor seeks to help young and old alike maintain that healthy glow with an article about skin care treatments and products.

4 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

PHOTO BY WILL MASTERS Farm Show Farmer’s Market

Christina Heintzelman profiles the Matriarchs of Art – Jo Alexander, Cathie Conrad MacArthur, Donna Berk Barlup, and Vivi StersteBrandler – four vibrant women whose art is aging as gracefully as they are; and photographer Will Masters provides a colorful – and healthful – montage of the best sights, sounds, and flavors of local farmers’ markets, from East to West Shore.

This month’s Barista’s Choice profiles David Kern, Retail Operations Manager (and leader of a team of “bookistas”) at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café; and the Historic Harrisburg Association’s David Morrison returns with another insightful step back in time, chronicling the development, closure – and possible repurposing - of the long-defunct Harrisburg State Hospital.

Speaking of hospitals, this month’s fiction by Ed Robinson is a surreally humorous story titled “On Performing Surgery.” For more laughs, Brad Maurer contributes not one, but two The Cercus cartoons (you’ve already seen the first one on the cover and the other one is below); and look for more acerbic Off the Cuff one-liners from satirist Bill Roddey (who also contributes a poem, “A Midsummer’s Eve on the Island”). Our monthly commissioned poem, “Genealogy of the Unwelcomed,” (a fitting piece for Independence Day), comes from widely published Lancaster poet Le Hinton.

And don’t forget our columns! Michelle Haring, owner of Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, who now joins our regular rotation of By the

Book reviewers, highlights the writings of local author Lucy Score; Film & TV historian Kevyn Knox reveals the origins of Summer Blockbuster Season in Cinematic Ramblings; in Nourishing Bites, Andrea Reed lists the “Five Foods to Fight Forgetfulness”; HACC’s Robert Stakem tells seniors how to reduce the risk of home falls in Tailboard Talk; in Postcards From … author Steven G. Williams interviews – and gets advice from – senior travelers Paddy and Karen; Kristen Zellner points out the benefits of owning senior pets in For the Love of Pets; in The Finance Hound, Bryson Roof weighs the various ins and outs of home and auto insurance; and, finally, Barbara Trainin Blank previews the 2022-2023 Season Schedules for three more local theatres in Theatre Thoughts.

I’ll leave you with lyrics that only Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, could have sung: And if you should survive to a hundred and five Look at all you’ll derive out of bein’ alive And here is the best part, you have a head start If you are among the very young at heart. 7 RG

Thank you for voting!

Stay tuned for the August Issue of Harrisburg Magazine to see the winners of Simply the Best 2022!

The Cercus reserves all reproduction rights, including the right to claim statutory copyright, in the above published Work. The Work may not be photographed, sketched, painted, or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express, written consent of The Cercus.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 5

Bartender’s or Barista’s Choice

Midtown Scholar’s Coffee-Forward Traditionalist Leads a Team of “Bookistas” Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

Photos By Paul Vasiliades “I settled opposite him in my favorite chair, low enough that my feet can touch the floor, wide enough to curl up inside, with a little table beside it just big enough to hold a book and a coffee cup.” Charlaine Harris, author, The Southern Vampire Mysteries It takes no more than a few seconds inside its expansive interior to realize that authors and readers alike will find all the pleasures they seek – and then some - at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café. And, for the past two years it’s rested firmly upon the shoulders of David Kern, Retail Operations Manager, to help make sure all who enter the Midtown can enjoy “curling up” both with a good book to read and a delicious hot (or cold) cup of coffee.

The reading part …

Not only is the Midtown Scholar Bookstore home to just over 250,000 books – 90 percent of them used – but “we just bought a book barn that has over 250,000 books,” exclaims Kern.

“So, we bought an entire store!” Additionally, Midtown Scholar has 3 warehouses in the city with a combined inventory of over 3.5 million books. So, bibliophiles will not be wanting for anything, at least not in the foreseeable future.

And then there’s the able-bodied, knowledgeable staff who are eager to help with suggestions. “Overall, we’re all big book readers,” says Kern. “And we all have our strong points. One person is really big into Art. One person is really big into Music. One person is really into Fiction and Sci-Fi. It’s a great eclectic mix of people coming together to create an experience.”

Traditional Macchiato & Blended Latte 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

The coffee part …

Some days, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kern wished he could clone himself. As head of Operations, he needs to regularly attend to everything related to property management.

As head of the Café, he not only has to fill in as barista whenever needed, but he also trains everyone. “I’m the one who selects all the

Barista David Kern - Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe

coffees that we do,” he says, “I select all the drinks that we do, I create all the recipes that we do. Everything and anything that happens with the café stems from what I think is the best for our traditionalist bar.”

For Kern, “traditionalist” is the key word when it comes to the coffee he serves: “One of my mantra when it comes to coffee is ‘always coffee forward.’ Always think about what it is going to taste like, and how is the taste going to affect the coffee. Because that is the main ingredient that you put into all these drinks.

So, I always want something that’s going to have that coffee flavor forward.”

Additionally, the Café menu is small and simple, with no multiple sizes for things like cappuccinos and lattes. Plus, “we never over-sweeten things,” Kern explains with pride. “When we look at doing drinks like a vanilla latte, we don’t do 3 ounces of syrup in it. We do like an ounce of syrup, so you just get that lovely hint of flavor. A lot of times people don’t understand that coffee itself, depending on the bean and where it

comes from, can have an amazing sweetness all to itself.”

Kern strives to pass his “traditionalist” mantra on to the seven-plus baristas on his team. Or make that Bookistas. It’s a title ownership came up with when deciding the staff should be trained to not only work in the café, but also spend half their day listing books.

The “and then some” part …

In addition to what is perhaps the biggest selection of books in the Midstate, and some of the best coffee anywhere served by a delightful team of Bookistas, the Midtown Scholar is also home to award-winning inhouse bakers Just Baked Cakes & Pies, from whom the Café gets 95% of its baked goods.

So, when you’re ready to sit down in that comfy chair with a good book and a delicious “coffee forward” beverage, you can enjoy a sweet confection at the same time. Kern himself recommends the Chocolate Peanut

DRINK OF THE MONTH

A Touch of the Island Coffee 1 ounce (1 pump) of Monin Pineapple Puree 8 ounces of Cold Brew 6 ounces of Organic Oat Milk (Unflavored)* Ice In a 16-ounce glass filled halfway with ice, pour about 8 ounces of cold brew coffee, add 1 ounce of Monin Pineapple Puree, and stir until incorporated. Then top off with about 6 ounces of Organic Oat Milk.

This light blend of tropical sweetness and cold brew gives a refreshing twist to your Summer. *Note, only use non-dairy milks for this recipe!

See Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe on Page 8

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 7

Barista David Kern - Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe, continued from Page 7

Butter Cupcake or (though only available directly from the bakers) the Strawberry Cupcake filled with strawberry compote with a light cream cheese icing. For a coffee to go along with that cupcake, you can’t go wrong with one of the two drinks Kern mixed up for us during the interview: a Blended Latte with chocolate sauce drizzled on top, or a 3-ounce Traditional Macchiato (“not the huge, overly-sweetened latte served at that chain coffee place,” says Kern).

The “and then some” part for Kern and his staff is just as sweet, but without all the calories: “our owners are really supportive of endeavors their employees are wanting to take on. Eric and Cathy are like ‘go ahead, go for your passion.’”

Kern’s passion is becoming a Drug & Alcohol Therapist, which is why, in addition to his full-time job duties, he is also attending Penn State full-time.

A clone must be sounding better and better these days. 7

8 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

David’s Dossier Words of advice to home coffee brewers.

My main key advice for the home coffee brewer is first, invest in a decent home bean grinder with multiple settings. This will be extremely helpful when you are experimenting with different extraction processes. Whether its drip pot, pour over, or French press you will have the correct grind for extraction. The second piece of advice I would give would be to make sure that you purchase beans from independent roasters and ones that work with Fair Trade coffee practices. It is important to not only support local roasters, but also to take the time to work with plantations that pay their workers fairly.

Is there anything – or anyone – who inspires you as a Barista?

One of my biggest inspirations out there is the local roaster and owner of Elementary Coffee Co, Andrea Grove. Her passion for coffee and for social justice is inspiring. Grove’s business model of working locally with other independent companies as well as supporting her employees is what I think that people in the coffee industry should live up to.

Favorite coffee or blend of coffee.

My favorite coffee is from Counter Culture Coffee that we use at Midtown Scholar. This independent roaster from Durham, NC, has a seasonal coffee called Kabewya Natural Sundried. This bean comes from the fertile soils of Mount Elgon, Uganda and is naturally sundried. The coffee it produces has notes of strawberry, grape, and nut, along with a smooth creamy body. With just a touch of half and half it tastes like strawberries and cream.

Recommendations of two or three kinds of coffee to try.

My recommendations for coffee to try would be Counter Culture Coffee’s Field Trip Blend, Kabewya Natural Sundried, which just came into season, and Hologram which has notes of dark chocolate and stoned fruit. Hologram is the blend we use for our espresso at Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

Favorite coffee-fusion drink to mix.

When it comes to coffee, I am very focused on the coffee so most of the time you can see me drinking pure coffee or iced coffee. So, if you find me drinking anything other than

pure coffee, I would be drinking one of my signature-created lattes called Butter Beer Latte. It is a blend of butterscotch, brown butter and brown butter toffee with cold brew and milk.

Most commonly ordered drinks during your shift(s).

Over the year, one of our most commonly ordered drinks is either our original lattes or Butter Beer Latte.

Philosophy on coffee brewing and/or the enjoyment of coffee.

My philosophy about coffee is very simple, which is to keep it simple. In a world of overly syruped drinks, we lose out on the beautiful flavors that coffee can naturally create. Take the time to just enjoy what the earth has created in that tiny bean.

Is Barista your day job? If not, what else do you do for a living?

I am currently the Retail Operations Manager at Midtown Scholar, which means I am in charge of the day-to-day retail operations and the café. I have been with Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Café for just over 10 years in several different roles, but I always love being

PHOTO SUBMITTED

behind the bar crafting a drink for a customer.

During a typical week, what days/shifts can you be found at Midtown Scholar?

You can find me all day Wednesday through Saturday at the café, either working to the side or behind the bar. Our café is open WedFriday 10am-6pm, Saturdays 9am-7pm, and Sunday 10am-6pm. 7 Editor’s note: because coffee has become as –

if not more - popular than alcoholic beverages, Harrisburg Magazine decided several months ago to accept nominations for both worthy bartenders and baristas.

NOMINATE A BARTENDER OR BARISTA! harrisburgmagazine.com /submissions

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 9

By the Book/Michelle Haring

Independent Bookstores and Independent Authors Go Hand in Hand

I

n my twenty-four years as a bookseller and owner of Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, I’ve seen changes and opportunities in the world of books. In the twentieth century, self-published books did not receive their due respect because the large publishing houses and agents served as gatekeepers. That attitude is changing.

Many wonderful authors have emerged as bestsellers through independent publishing.

One bestselling independent author from Central Pennsylvania is local sensation, Lucy Score. She has found amazing success with nine stand alone romance novels and six different series with romantic elements. Her first traditionally published book, Maggie Moves On, released at the end of June. Her independently published books have made the Wall Street Journal Bestseller List and the USA Today Bestseller list.

Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series is set in Central Pennsylvania. The fantastic characters solve crimes and get into mischief at familiar landmarks from the Market Street Bridge to the Capitol Fountain. Riley is a reluctant psychic who becomes involved with a private investigator, Nick. According to the front cover, these books are romantic comedies, but they contain hallmarks of cozy mysteries including Riley as an amateur detective with a fascinating group of friends and family who help and hinder in the investigations. This series currently contains three books: Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door, Riley Thorn and the Corpse in the Closet, and Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past.

The settings of several of Lucy Score’s other books are small towns. Lancaster County is the home of the characters in Rock Bottom Girl, a lovely romance about starting

over and thriving in a place the heroine never expected. The Blue Moon series contains eight books about a quirky small town where a band of merry matchmakers facilitate “happily ever afters” for the single people in their sphere.

Things We Never Got Over is a delightful story about a woman who arrives in a small Virginia town to assist her estranged identical twin.

She discovers people and situations that change her life forever. Lucy Score released Things We Never Got Over in January 2022, and the book continues to rise on top ten lists. The April Lucy Score signing at Cupboard Maker Books was an amazing success. We continue to carry all of Lucy Score’s books including several books signed by Lucy.

Independent authors and independent bookstores have a great deal to offer each other. One way Cupboard Maker Books fosters relationships with independent authors is by book signings, including quarterly local author days and themed book signings like Bookstore Romance Day. The bookstore also offers a space for several local independent authors to meet periodically and write. Jen Bonds, Carrie Jacobs and Briana Michaels all write subgenres of romance and never mind when fans interrupt their creative time. These independent authors illustrate that Central Pennsylvania has a plethora of talent. The symbiotic relationship between independent authors and independent bookstores creates an environment where everyone can prosper. 7 Michelle Haring is the owner of Cupboard Maker Books, a 6,500 square foot store with ample parking on Routes 11/15 in Enola. The store is across the river from Harrisburg and contains over 120,000 curated, unique, previously loved paperback and hardback titles including Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Children’s, History, Art, Religion, and many other genres.

The bookstore cats and foster cats from Castaway Critters roam freely and love visitors. Cupboard Maker Books holds book signings, monthly book clubs, and carries thousands of new titles including fiction and nonfiction by local traditionally published and independent authors.

Nourishing Bites/Andrea Reed

G

Five Foods to Fight Forgetfulness

ood nutrition is important for everyone, no matter what age.

A healthy diet not only helps protect against chronic diseases but can help protect against memory decline as we become older adults. No amount of nutrient-rich foods is going to help us remember where we left our keys but eating the right combination of nutrients may help protect our memories. These five foods are just a few of the different foods that have been found to have associations with improved memory and concentration.

1. Fatty Fish: Salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows our brains use omega-3s to make brain and nerve cells. Maintaining these brain and nerve cells can help preserve cognitive function. Aim for two 4-ounce servings each week of a fatty fish. If you don’t enjoy seafood, opt for a small handful 10 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

of walnuts which are also a good source of Omega-3s.

2. Berries: Berries are rich in flavonoid antioxidants including anthocyanin, the colorful pigment we associate with the various berries. Berries not only help reduce inflammation but protect against oxidative stress which can contribute to brain aging. A serving of berries is approximately 1 cup. Aim for 1 ½ to 2 cups of a variety of different fruits per day.

3. Broccoli: As a cruciferous vegetable, broccoli contains antioxidants and B vitamins. Antioxidants help neutralize

free radicals to prevent cellular damage. Vitamin B6, B9, and B12 have been linked to healthy brain development and the production of neurotransmitters that help the body and brain communicate. One serving of broccoli is about one cup of chopped florets. We should be aiming for 2 to 3 ½ cups of different vegetables each day. Avoid boiling your broccoli as the water-soluble B vitamins can be lost in cooking.

Instead, try snacking on it raw or steaming it in the microwave.

4. Tomatoes: The pigment that gives tomatoes their red color is called lycopene. Lycopene is another antioxidant that can have neuroprotective effects. Reducing oxidative stress in the brain helps maintain our cognitive health. One large tomato or 1 cup of chopped tomatoes is equivalent to one serving of vegetables.

5. Dark Chocolate: Chocolate labeled with 70% or greater cacao is considered dark chocolate. Some studies have shown that consumption of dark chocolate helps improve concentration and memory. Dark

chocolate contains flavonoids that have been shown to help improve blood flow to the brain. While this doesn’t mean we should ditch our vegetables, it does mean that both our brains and our taste buds can enjoy a sweet treat on occasion.

Our brains require certain nutrients to perform their best. By including a variety of nutritious foods, we have the potential to lower our risk of cognitive decline. Aim to include these brain-boosting foods as a part of your healthy eating pattern. Remember to make half your plate fruit and vegetables and include adequate amounts of protein for optimal health. Your body and your brain will thank you. 7 Andrea Reed, MPS, RDN, LDN, is a freelance dietitian with a background in agricultural sciences. Growing up in the outdoors of Pennsylvania inspired her to include agricultural education in her nutrition counseling and is the focus of her writing. To find out more about Reed Nutrition visit https://reedrdn.com.

Personal Finance/Bryson Roof

Will my home and auto insurance protect me

W

hen’s the last time you reviewed your homeowner insurance policy or your car insurance? Handing proof of insurance at a state inspection doesn’t count! I’ll go out on a limb and guess that the last time you reviewed your insurance policy was when you purchased a new car or a new home.

Don’t focus on the premiums – focus on the coverage!

The truth is insurance isn’t a glamorous topic. It’s a necessary evil.

And for many of us, our first introduction to insurance is when we buy our first car. The Commonwealth requires car insurance. But since most 16-year-old teenagers don’t have a hefty income, it’s common to rush the process and focus efforts on finding the cheapest premium possible. This often results in less coverage and a higher likelihood that claims will not be covered – which is why many individuals do not like insurance companies.

Trust me. I get it. I try to save money whenever possible. I do all the maintenance on our vehicles, plumbing and electrical at our house, and we heat our home with firewood. However, when I am shopping for insurance, I first focus on the coverage and then discuss making concessions to my coverage so that my premiums fit my insurance budget.

The most overlooked insurance policy It has been my experience that umbrella policies are often overlooked, yet an umbrella policy provides coverage beyond auto and homeowners liability insurance limits. Many insurance companies offer $1 million of insurance coverage for a few hundred dollars a year. This additional policy can provide significant coverage while not significantly impacting your insurance budget.

Many of my friends are getting married and starting families. They agree that increasing liability coverage on home and auto insurance makes sense for successful couples wanting to protect their assets.

But they question whether they need to increase policy coverage when

they do not have a lot of assets. I often hear you cannot squeeze blood from a turnip. As an example, maybe they have a small retirement account, and they just purchased their first house, and they naively think they are not at risk for a lawsuit. Unfortunately, in my career, I have witnessed lawsuits from car accidents and court-ordered liens on properties and assets. Having liability insurance in place for an unforeseen accident can go a long way in settling a lawsuit.

Insurance is designed to reduce risk I rank paying insurance premiums very close to paying taxes – I joke about this with my insurance agent as he is one of my closest friends and fellow beagler. While not glamorous, insurance is designed to reduce your risk. I sit down with my agent annually to outline my potential risks and create a risk management plan to limit any potential exposures I may have. Did you know that homeowners’ insurance covers a lot more than just your home? For example, the homeowners’ policy covers liabilities of pet owners such as my beagles.

Call your insurance agent and hold a discussion on your coverage.

Make sure to do your independent research and understand what the policy covers. For example, when I purchased an engagement ring, I was surprised to find out that many insurance policies stipulate what jewelers may be used for repairs. I elected to purchase a policy so that I could use my preferred jeweler. As with any financial decision, do not sign on the dotted line until you feel confident that you understand what you agree to. 7 Bryson J. Roof, CFP®, is a financial advisor at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Harrisburg, and has been quoted nationally in various finance publications including CNBC, U.S. News & World Report, and Barron’s.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 11

Theatre Thoughts/Barbara Trainin Blank

A look ahead to next season – and the current one – at local theatres Next Season at Gamut Theatre Group: 2022: I Don’t Speak Spanish, by David Ramon Zayas, September 24-October 9; Innocent Merriment; Or, An Evening with Gilbert & Sullivan!, November 5-27; 2023: Voices of the Eighth Chronicles II: Stories from Harrisburg’s Old Eighth Ward, Partnership production with Sankofa African American Theatre Company, by Sharia Benn, February 3-12; Thistle & Salt; The Ireland of J. M. Synge, in partnership with Narcisse Theater Company, March 4-19; Jungle Book, a Rudyard Kipling classic, by Sean Adams, in partnership with Rasika School of Dance, March 31-April 2; Shakespeare’s Macbeth, public run, directed

by Melissa Nicholson, April 14-16; Shakespeare’s Richard III, Free Shakespeare in the Park production, June 2-17. Popcorn Hat Players: Rapunzel, September 14-October 8; The Elves & The Shoemaker, December 3-22; Rollicking Ripsnorters, April 26-May 13; The Three Little Pigs, July 12-August 19. TMI Improv, 2022: September 16, October 28, November 17, December 31. 2023: February 17, March 25, May 5. www.gamuttheatre.org.

Next Season at Carlisle Theatre Players on High: 2022: The Secret Garden: The Musical. June 17-26; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, October 13-23; A Steampunk Christmas Carol, December 9-18. 2023: You Can’t Take It With You, a comedy

by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, March 24-April 2; and Urinetown: The Musical, a satirical comedy musical, June 16-25. www.carlisletheatre.org.

Next Season at Oyster Mill Playhouse: 2023: Verdict, by Agatha Christie, January 13-29; The Savannah Sipping Society, March 10-26: Lady Windermere’s Fan, May 5-21; Deathtrap, July 7-23; Nunsense: The Musical, September 8-24; Run for Your Wife, November 3-19. www.oystermill.com.

This season: The Wizard of Oz, a musical based on the 1939 Judy Garland film, is in turn based on L Frank Baum’s novel. Added to the film’s Harold

Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs are new songs and additional music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Keystone Theatrics.

July 22-August 7. www.keystonetheatrics.com.

At Totem Pole Playhouse: Beehive: The Musical. From Aretha Franklin to Janis Joplin, it’s a tribute to the women who left their mark on ‘60s music; July 8-24. Also: Footloose: The Musical, from a film starring Kevin Bacon. A young man and his mother move to a small farm town that bans dancing. July 29-August 14. www. totempoleplayhouse.org.

Hershey Theatre presents Anastasia, based on the 1997 animated musical film of the same name, which adapts the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who might have escaped the execution of her family; July 26-31. www.hersheytheatre.com.

The Little Mermaid became a Disney movie and then a musical about the mermaid who longs for human form and love. Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre; July 1-August 6. www.dutchapple.com.

The SpongeBob Musical, Ephrata Performing Arts Center, July 28-August 13. www.epactheatre.org.

Dreamwrights Center presents Avenue Q, a laugh-out-loud musical about a recent college grad in quest of jobs, dates, and purpose in New York. This show contains mature content. July 15-24. www.dreamwrights.org.

Murder on West Moon Street, a dark comedy about an engaged man told he’ll commit a murder. Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, July 1-17. ltmpa.com.

Little Shop of Horrors: The Musical, Oyster Mill Playhouse, July 22-August 7. www.oystermill.com. 7 Barbara Trainin Blank is a freelance journalist, book author, editor, and playwright. She grew up in New York City in a house rich in the arts, which are a major focus of her writing. She lived in Harrisburg for 24 years and continues to contribute to regional publications.

Tailboard Talk/Robert Stakem

Health and Wellness Through the Years Editor’s note: Public safety professionals often hold informal discussions on the back bumper or tailboard of an ambulance or fire truck. Hence, the column’s tagline, “Tailboard Talk.” egular visits to the doctor, taking medications as prescribed, eating healthy and getting regular exercise can promote one’s overall health and wellness at any age. Preventing injuries in the

R

12 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

home adds another layer that contributes to continued overall health.

Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable to home injuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year nearly 36 million falls by those 65 years of age or older are reported. Unfortunately, one in five falls result in injuries that account for nearly 3 million emergency room visits each year. These injuries

Poem/Bill Roddey

can range from simple cuts and bruises to life-threatening emergencies, such as broken bones and head injuries.

Injuries from falls in the home are commonly caused by: • Loose or bunched up carpets or mats • Tripping hazards around stairs or walking areas, such as shoes, books or cords • Excessive oxygen tubing throughout the home • Loose or inappropriate footwear • Poor lighting • Absence of appropriate handrails • Uneven surfaces • Stairs and steps not properly lit or marked Consider the following recommendations to reduce the risk of falls in and around the home.

• Ensure all carpeting and mats are stretched and secured to the underlying floor.

• Keep stairs and walking paths free from objects.

• Ensure your home is well lit, with extra lighting available.

• Keep items within reach or stored in appropriate cabinets to alleviate the need for step stools or reaching.

• Ensure all handrails are properly secured with grab rails installed in bathrooms near the toilet and in the shower.

• Utilize non-slip coatings or mats in your shower and bath.

• Keep a cell phone or alert device close at all times to quickly summon help if the need arises.

A few minutes to evaluate one’s home for safety and making changes to prevent falls may avoid weeks, months – or even years – of rehabilitation. 7 Robert Stakem is executive director of the Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

A MIDSUMMER’S EVE ON THE ISLAND

By Bill Roddey

Dusk descends like a drawn shade over City Island.

A quarter cantaloupe moon curves high in the sky.

The fiery Fulton Bank sign stands branded into the night.

Sirens serenade from the city, wailing and whirling red.

Rollerbladers glide over hills and slopes like dragonflies.

Joggers and strollers circle the Island in a strand of people pearls.

Bare legged ladies swing their sandals in their hands, as bare feet bounce on the brick walkway.

Hairy chested men, with shirts slung over their shoulders, saunter by.

The Senators’ stadium stands silent as a salute in tribute to the team.

A balmy breeze caresses and curls as it wafts over the water.

Boats skim across its surface like skipping stones.

Gold bars of reflected bridge lights sway in the undulating river.

Silhouetted shadow children splash at the lapping shore.

Like a shimmering sapphire, in mid-stream, City Island gives a glow to the summer that lays in your mind like a first love.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 13

For The Love of Pets/Kristen Zellner

Finding a Best Friend in a Senior Pet

“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old pet.” — Sidney Jeanne Seward

Recently, I had to say goodbye to my beloved chihuahua, Koko. She was seventeen and I adopted her from a shelter in Cleveland when she was one year-old. Koko went to work with me every day. She was my trusty sidekick, my constant, my therapy, and my heart. I spent more time with her than any person or animal. As I saw Koko age, I was scared of the inevitable, but I fell even deeper in love with the tiny, brown, gray-muzzled, and, sometimes, sassy senior.

What I found most enjoyable about Koko’s senior years was her calm presence. She lost some of her hearing and vision, so she became less reactive. Aside from occasional aches and pains, she was still happy, playful, and comfortable. Koko slept more but loved attention from her adoring humans. She may have slowed down, but her spunky personality was still there.

Watching pets enter their senior years is difficult because we understand that our time with them is limited. But, after experiencing the senior years of Koko and my other three senior pets, I realize that the love and joy they bring into my life far outweighs my fear of losing them.

There is a misconception that caring for older pets is more difficult, costly, and time consuming. It isn’t surprising that when senior and geriatric pets wind up in shelters, it is difficult to place them into adoptive homes. Even animals with disabilities are adopted faster. As a result, senior pets are euthanized at a much higher rate.

Being a senior pet isn’t a death sentence. If well cared for, mature pets still have about a third of their lives to live after reaching their

senior years. Small breed dogs are considered seniors at around 10-12 years of age. Medium sized dogs reach seniorhood at around 8 yearsold and giant breeds at 6 years-old. Cats reach senior status between 11 and 14 years of age and can live well into their teens.

Some rescue groups have come up with creative ways to assist senior pets in finding homes. Locally, the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area has a Senior-to-Senior adoption program. Anyone over the age of 60 who adopts a senior pet gets a very affordable rate. They even have a package that includes all the accessories needed to start caring for a new pet. All adoptable animals are fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered and examined by a veterinarian. Programs like this are a win-win. Older adults who want the companionship of an animal but not the energy or high maintenance of a young pet can find all the joy they are looking for in an older animal without the stress of training and housebreaking.

Like us, senior pets have a lot of life to live - and love to give - for many years to come. They just need to be given a second chance by caring humans who understand the value of a pet that has already lived a good bit of her life. 7 Kristen Zellner owns Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, est. 1986, Central PA’s first health food store for pets. She helps customers keep their pets healthy through better nutrition.

Cinematic Ramblings/Kevyn Knox

I

The Origins of Summer Blockbuster Season

t’s July and that means we are smack dab in the middle of the Summer Blockbuster Season. Today, this season is categorized by huge amusement park style movies. Anything from the MCU. Anything Star Wars related. Anything Disney, basically. Harry Potter’s extended family. Nonsensical animated sequels. Pretty much the biggest and bloated of a Hollywood factory farm that pushes out tentpole after tentpole. Now don’t get me wrong. Some of these movies are good. Some are very good even. I don’t think I would call any of them great though. They are what Martin Scorsese called them: theme park movies. Fun, but nothing of any real substance. Movies bent more on the bottom dollar and merchandising rights than any actual artistic merit.

So, let’s go back to the beginnings of the Summer Blockbuster 14 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Season. Back to those halcyon days where movies were made for more than just the worldwide profits. Okay, I’m not that naïve. Studios have always wanted their movies to make money.

It’s always been about that when it came to them. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the artistic process. Or perhaps lack of artistic process is a better phrase.

Anyhoo, let’s travel back to the Summer of 1975.

The movie was Jaws. The director was Steven Spielberg. Spielberg was just twenty-eight years old at the time and had just two films under his belt: a small made

for TV movie called Duel and a moderately successful crime drama called Sugarland Express. He was part of a group of young filmmakers, nicknamed the Young Turks, who were making a splash in the newly director-driven Hollywood of the 1970’s.

Francis Ford Coppola. Martin Scorsese.

Michael Cimino. Hal Ashby. George Lucas.

Peter Bogdanovich. William Friedkin. These guys were turning cinema on its head. It’s ironic that one of these directors would make a movie that would start the idea of the summer blockbuster. An idea that would eventually kill the director-driven golden days of cinema. But I digress.

Jaws, a monster movie that was also an homage to Alfred Hitchcock, Spielberg’s idol, was a smash hit when it was released in June of ’75. It quickly became the top grossing movie of all-time - taking over the spot held

by The Exorcist for two years. This movie, one of my all-time favorites by the way, gave the studio ideas that they could just manufacture movies and people would go see them. Jaws 2, Jaws 3D, and Jaws: The Revenge were all proof that you still needed something other than mere formula. At least back in those days. Now, well, formula may be all you need.

Just take the Fast & Furious franchise as an example. But again, I digress.

Two years after Jaws broke all the box office records, another of Spielberg’s gang of Young Turks would release a space opera that everyone said would fail. It did not. But that’s another story for another day.

See ya at the movies! 7 Kevyn Knox is a Writer, Artist, Pop Photographer, Film & TV Historian, Pez Collector, and Pop Culturist. He has written film reviews for FilmSpeak, Central PA Voice, and The Burg. His reviews & other ramblings can be found on his blog, www.allthingskevyn.com.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 15

Postcards From…/Steven G. Williams

Postcards From…

I

Paddy and Karen

n 2016, my brother and I visited Thailand. It was our first trip to Asia and our first time being in transit for nearly 20 hours. We spent half of our trip in Bangkok and the other half in Krabi. It was en route to Krabi that we met Paddy and Karen, a South African couple who, in my opinion, are the pinnacle of #travelgoals. I kept in touch with Paddy and Karen and I’m so glad I did. They are inspirational.

1. Tell me about yourselves and your travels.

Karen and I are in our late 60’s and retired. We have five children and four grandkids who live in London, which gives us many reasons to visit. We have always wanted to travel but retirement allowed us to do so with greater frequency due to time and money. We are inspired by the pleasure and reward that comes with seeing new sights, meeting new people, and learning through practical situations about the world. Travelling is a wonderful educator.

2. What sort of trips do you take?

We like to travel in a relaxed manner where we don’t feel the need to rush and attempt to see every sight. We enjoy getting to know the place and seeing what the locals do and what it might be like living there. We like the independence of having a rental car and the flexibility of travelling slowly – and we prefer to travel on our own rather than with an organized tour. We visit what interests us. We also found that engaging other travelers has led to some of the more

interesting things to do and see.

3. What experiences and places linger with you?

Every time we travel and come back, we are appreciative of what we have and where we live. To be retired, healthy and able to travel is a blessing. Other takeaways are that most people are kind, easy to get along with and like to talk about their experiences. From the places we have visited, we found Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, etc.) to be colorful, with wonderful food and nice people. We also really liked Portugal, Spain, and Europe in general.

We enjoy going places we have not been to since the newness is inspiring.

4. What is the best travel advice you’d give?

Be open to new ideas, places, and food. Be adventurous and don’t let the issues that come up put you off. Try not to have a fixed itinerary and be flexible to change. Also travel as lightly as you can - not too much baggage.

Besides medical coverage all you need is a valid passport, a credit card, a smartphone/tablet, and internet access. If any plans fall through or items are lost, having those items will get you by.

5. Where to next?

We have one confirmed trip coming up for two weeks in Mexico (San Miguel Allende) and several others that we are considering. 7 Steven Williams is an avid traveler, amateur cook, and fantasy author. He serves on the Harrisburg School Board and is the Associate Director for the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network.

He is a graduate of Northwestern University and lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his wife Danielle.

16 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Poem/Le Hinton

Genealogy of the Unwelcomed

By Le Hinton

We wear this American body, an accidental occupant in variegated skin.

A charm of chromosomes from Mali, a flamboyance of genes from Scotland.

All inside this frame. Still, we are citizens, unwanted with our accents, invisible in our work.

We toast with Irish whiskey; waken to coffee from Ghana. We labor our days and sweeten our nights.

Hold close our dying mother, then kiss our newborn son.

We wear this American body, accidental citizens, unwanted with our accents, invisible in our work.

Yet, we still love this peculiar land. Still feed our family frybread and biscuits, taboon bread and naan.

This is our communion. This is our kinship.

This is our American home.

Le Hinton is the author of six poetry collections including, most recently, Sing Silence (Iris G. Press, 2018). His work has been widely published and can be found in The Best American Poetry 2014, The Progressive, The Baltimore Review, The Pittsburgh Review, Little Patuxent Review, the Skinny Poetry Journal, and outside Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, incorporated into Derek Parker’s sculpture, Common Thread.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 17

#hbgmag Influencer

Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic: “The stroke of a pen is powerful!”

Highmark’s Chief Medical Officer gets high marks for helping the most vulnerable Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

Photos By Paul Vasiliades “I didn’t knock.”

When the doors of opportunity loomed on the horizon, presumably out of reach, Oralia Garcia Dominic reacted both with strength and perseverance.

“I pounded.”

The youngest of 16 children, Oralia enjoyed growing up. “I knew who I was for my identity, I knew the values of hard work, a good life, and good love,” she says, “and just everything that makes you smile. But” she continues, “at the same time you had to deal with real issues.”

“And it was repeatedly.”

Life skills were important in Oralia’s family – whether they came from car washes or lemonade stands - because they could be translatable to 18 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

future jobs. So, it’s a given that she and her siblings weren’t afraid of hard work. In fact, Oralia was earning tuition money cleaning on the day when someone lent an extra fist for knocking.

“Back then, we didn’t have the internet like we do now,” recalls Dominic. “Back then, it was who you knew that saw that potential that would say ‘I have a student that I think they could even run my lab.’

Those mechanisms still exist, but if it weren’t for mentors, I would probably be your statistic. If it weren’t for someone saying ‘I will open that door, but only because you knocked on it …’”

This is the story of how that first door opened for Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic, our selected Influencer of the month – and how she has, in turn, opened doors to good health for thousands of vulnerable citizens in our communities.

Op-Ed/George Fernandez

Big dreams in Texas You know the old saying … everything’s bigger in Texas. As a young girl in San Antonio, Oralia’s dreams for the future were definitely bigger.

As part of a bigger than average family, she says “I was able to hear more of everything that was going on in life, based on the conversations that took place in the kitchen, where I was always at.” Her mother, a homemaker, was of course in that kitchen and was “one of these women that was teaching you how not just to be at home, but what you accomplish at home you can also accomplish in any Fortune 500 company.” And when her father retired from the local Air Force base and started his own construction business, Oralia found herself spending a lot of time around the construction sites. “So, I knew how to clean, and how to do a ‘make-ready,’” she says. Her evolving work ethic would instill a strong attention to details and good quality assurance skills.

“There’s one thing for you to grow up and have a normal childhood, which I did,” she says, “but there’s another thing where life hits you fast.

And, when it does, you take life a little more seriously, you take it more as ‘I’ve gotta stay focused.’”

For Oralia, her focus became resolute, yet 100 percent unselfish. “I knew early on what my goal was, and that goal was to keep people safe and healthy. Period. How I was gonna do that was beyond me. (she laughs) But that is translatable, I think, to everything I’ve done in life.”

Even though life would throw her a painful curveball – both parents would die prematurely, her mother from diabetes, her father from respiratory failure, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia – she wasn’t about to “swing and miss” when opportunity came knocking. Especially when that opportunity would ultimately steer her in the direction of preventing or postponing the kinds of diseases that took her parents from her.

Fittingly, Oralia was an undergrad cleaning houses at a construction site in a San Antonio suburb when the biggest door yet opened. Oralia recalls the sequence of events thusly: “I mentioned to you that I started earning extra money, because they pay you 100 dollars for those walk-throughs … and the bookkeeper would see me and one day, she said, ‘what do you wanna do when you grow up?’

And I said, ‘I want to keep people safe and healthy, and I’m gonna go into healthcare.’ She said, ‘oh and then what do you wanna do?’ And I said ‘I wanna find the gene.’ And she goes ‘what gene?’ And I said, ‘the one that causes diabetes.’ And she looked at me and said “well, they have a UT Health Sciences center. They have a big physiology lab and I think they do that.’ And I said ‘yes, I know … I’ve been knocking on that door for a long time. But there’s no applications.’ She said ‘really? That’s where you want to be? How bad do you want it?’ And I said, ‘I’d die for it!’ So, she says, ‘hold on,’ and she dials, and she gets a number, and she says [into the phone] ‘yes, I have someone that I think you should open the door of opportunity for.’ And ‘yep, the UT Health Science Center,’ and ‘yep, the Physiology Department,’ and ‘yep, in your lab.’ And he says [on the other end of the line] ‘send her to me,’ and she says “oh, she’s right here.’ She gives me the phone, and I said ‘hello?’ ‘So, you’re interested in research, I’m told?’ ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘what for?’ And I say, ‘so we could help to keep people safe and healthy and stop people from dying like my mother did.’

And he says, ‘all right, can you get here in 15 minutes?’ And I said ‘sure, but whom am I speaking to and where am I headed?’ He says, ‘this is Dr. Gary Green, and you’re going to my lab.’ And I said, ‘okay sir, is that tomorrow? Did you say tomorrow?’ ‘No, I said 15 minutes.’ I said, ‘traffic time, it might be 45 minutes.’ He goes ‘you get the picture … I’ll wait for you. Bye.’ And I looked at her and I said ‘Robin?’ She says, “that’s my exhusband.’ I went ‘no way!’ So, I had been cleaning houses and banging See Dominic on Page 20

Solution to Better Minority Health is Under Our Feet Story By George Fernandez, Founder & CEO of Latino Connection

F

or more than two years, discussions regarding our most chronic and deadly diseases have been pushed aside due to COVID-19.

Especially for our minority and senior populations, preventative care was halted, and the stress, fear, and isolation that occurred as a result of COVID-19 led to poor lifestyle choices that only perpetuated health problems. As a result, our most vulnerable populations are facing illnesses that are far more deadly than coronavirus. I’m talking specifically about obesity.

Obesity is a national pandemic that has been exasperated by the global pandemic. And Latino populations are among the most at-risk.

According to the U.S. Office of Minority Health, Latinos are 1.2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites. Among Latino women, nearly 80 percent are overweight or obese, as compared to 64 percent of non-Hispanic white women. And this is not limited to adults. Latino children were nearly two times more likely to be obese as compared to non-Latino white children.

We know that obesity leads to a host of health problems and chronic conditions. People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and LDL cholesterol which are all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Fortunately, healthy lifestyle changes are simple, though it’s not always easy or culturally supported. That’s where we, as a community, have to make a change.

And it all begins with consistent decisions that create a movement. In fact, one of the most powerful ways to combat obesity is movement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physical activity, such as walking, can help improve health even without weight loss. People who are physically active live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers. Adults need at least 150 minutes (twoand-a-half hours) of physical activity a week.

Here’s the challenge: In order to motivate high-risk individuals to increase their physical activity, we must ensure there is adequate education, resources, and incentive to do so. This includes creating safe and convenient spaces to walk and forming initiatives that equip people with information that is free, accessible, and easy to follow. All of this can help people, especially senior and minority populations, commit to being more physically active.

In June, Highmark Wholecare, a leading Pennsylvania-based managed care organization, in collaboration with Harrisburg Housing Authority and Latino Connection, launched a 12-week Healthy Steps Walking Program where participants agreed to commit to healthy lifestyle choices for the next three months, including increased physical activity.

This program encourages everyone, especially our senior population, to be intentional See Better Minority Health on Page 20 JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 19

Better Minority Health, continued from Page 19

about improving their habits to live a healthy lifestyle during the summer months by taking a daily walk, making smart eating choices, and addressing health issues promptly. As part of the program, Highmark Wholecare will host seven engagement events at various locations within the Harrisburg Housing Authority that will include giveaways, education, healthy eating demonstrations, and healthy living tips.

This initiative is one powerful and intentional step toward bridging the gap that exists in addressing social determinants of health in our minority and high-risk populations. Social determinants of health are factors such as food and housing insecurity, transportation, employment, and social support, that impact up to 80 percent of a person’s health. Prevention requires education, and education requires engagement. The Healthy Steps Walking Program is a step forward and one that we hope will lead to another and another – not just from a community partnership perspective but from the collective steps of individuals who join in this initiative to take back their health. It’s time we get back to being proactive not reactive to matters of health – and the time to get moving is now. 7 George Fernandez is the Founder and CEO of Latino Connection, a national leader in community education, health outreach, and wellness programming focused on reaching low-income, uninsured communities.

Impact of Chiropractic Care for Increased Mobility and Fall Prevention in Seniors

A

Story By Dr. Ken Baker, Doctor of Chiropractic at Baker Chiropractic Sport and Spine Clinic

s we age, our bodies become more prone to accidents and injuries related to falls. Before you cast this off as a cost of getting older, it’s important to know that there are things you can do right now to increase mobility and prevent falls, especially for our senior community. Often it is a lack of mobility and decreased balance that leads to fall-related injuries and the root of the problem is joint stiffness. Though this issue is most seen in older adults, it can have an early onset as well, making activities you once enjoyed a painful, even impossible endeavor.

The good news is that chiropractic care has proven to be very effective for increased mobility and fall prevention for seniors. With regular maintenance combined with stretches and good health habits you can practice right at home, you can live life with ample mobility and virtually pain-free well into your golden years.

Addressing Joint Stiffness Joint stiffness, like what you might experience when getting out of bed in the morning or going from sitting to standing, often leads to poor mobility. Through specific adjustments performed to the spine and extremities, as well as passive and active therapies, chiropractic helps improve joint flexibility and range of motion allowing for improved gait to decrease falls. Often, fall prevention exercises are given to be performed at home to train balance and decrease the likelihood of a fall. For seniors that are suffering from weakness See Chiropractic Care on Page 22 20 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Dominic, continued from Page 19

on doors all by myself, knowing it would be impossible to be in a worldrenowned lab, and all it took was just for her to ask me.”

2,224 miles to success After working in a world-renowned lab, it was only a matter of time before Oralia would find further success in her field. In her case, the path would take her some 2,224 miles, from Texas to Pennsylvania.

“I was recruited by Penn State, and I became a Post-Doc Fellow, an NIH Fellow,” she recalls, “and I did what we called a Post-Doc in Epidemiology at Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine, and then the 2nd was in Health Services Research. So, my first job was as a Post-Doc, because I got paid, right (laughs), and then my official job is when they continued to recruit me as full-time faculty, and to enjoy all the benefits that faculty are afforded there, and I did make history: I was the first Hispanic to ever hold a full-time position in the College of Medicine and the Department of Public Health Sciences.”

“I wanted to follow the science,” she says, putting things plain and simply. Ultimately, “the science” would land her at Highmark, Inc., and her current position as Medical Policy Research Analyst and Chief Medical Officer, where she would wind up on the cutting edge of policy and new medical technology.

“In 2013, Highmark invited the community leaders that were increasing screenings that were under-utilized for certain conditions … diabetes, cancer … and at that time I was leading the efforts for increasing colorectal cancer screenings. And they invited me, and they brought in everyone … Estamos Unidos de PA founders Esmeralda Hetrick and Dr. Hector Ortiz, Mauricio Conde, Cancer Coalition CATAYLST Founder RN Barbara E. Jackson, David Botero, America Aviles, to name a few. I was just a little pea in the pod at Penn State that was brought to speak about health, and when I walked out, I was approached to say, ‘can you help inform our health disparity work here?’”

PHOTO SUBMITTED With Kimi Raikkonen, Formula 1 Grand Prix Driver

She continues: “I became a consultant for Highmark. And I published two papers, and we did interventions out in the community, faithbased, and showed that we could close the gaps.

Then, there was an opening, and they said, ‘can you come and join our team and lead these efforts.’ And so, I joined Highmark, and became an Adjunct Faculty at Penn State. And I worked here for three years.”

In 2016, Oralia would depart Highmark, See Dominic on Page 22 JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 21

Chiropractic Care, continued from Page 20

in their legs, especially those suffering from spinal stenosis or sciatica, chiropractic treatment can help to improve strength in the lower extremities.

One of the best ways to increase mobility is to stay active to keep the body conditioned to daily movement. Simple activities such as walking daily, stretching, or doing light bodyweight strength training can greatly improve mobility in seniors. Staying hydrated is important as well because properly hydrated body tissues are more pliable and flexible than when we are dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water or adding electrolytes to your water will help increase hydration. Aqua aerobics or other poolbased exercise is extremely beneficial for seniors or those suffering from osteoarthritis as it allows the individual to exercise under less weight, allowing the individual to exercise with a greater range of motion.

Focusing on Balance In addition to focusing on mobility, seniors can reduce their risk of fall-related injuries through preventative exercises. Simple at-home balance training exercises, such as the single-leg stance, are a great easy way to reduce the risk of falls in seniors by training and improving your body’s balance system when performed daily. Daily at-home bodyweight exercises help to improve strength and reduce fall risk.

Building balance in your later years is one of the best ways to stay mobile and strong. Balance is utilized in nearly every part of our day, from getting out of bed and getting dressed, to daily tasks like cooking and driving. A strong core and the ability to use your arms and legs freely and fully has a huge impact on your quality of life.

Take Action Early It’s important to address concerns over injuries as soon as possible with a healthcare professional because injuries that go untreated over time often become worse or turn into more severe injuries. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet high in fruits and vegetables helps relieve pain by reducing pain-causing inflammation. Chiropractic treatments help improve nerve function by removing nerve interference allowing the body to heal itself faster and more completely.

Like every area of our health, taking proactive measures is key to reducing the risk of future accident and injury. Seeing a chiropractor regularly for maintenance care is a great way to keep stress off your joints and prevent all types of musculoskeletal complaints. If an issue does arise, this ensures it can be addressed at the onset, preventing worsening pain and damage that can lead to greater problems. Simply put, health is an investment. We can choose to invest early and reap the reward of a high-quality of life with good mobility and a reduced risk of injury. Otherwise, there will still be an investment, but it will be in the form of rehabilitation and pain management after a health issue has resulted from a lack of preventative care. Individuals who choose to invest in their health early, never regret it in their later years. 7 About the Author: Dr. Ken Baker is the owner of Baker Chiropractic Sport and Spine Clinic located on Cumberland Parkway in Mechanicsburg.

His mission is to serve the community by empowering people to lead healthier, pain-free, and fulfilled lives. He has practiced chiropractic medicine for more than 12 years and his specialty is in strength and conditioning. Learn more at https://chirobaker.com.

22 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Dominic, continued from Page 21

returning to the world of research. But only briefly. When Highmark got back in touch to say, ‘we need someone to be our Research Analyst,” the ability to write policy that would affect millions of people (Highmark is the third largest – and soon to be the second largest - Blue Cross Blue Shield plan) was too tempting to resist.

“That stroke of the pen is very powerful … every decision you make,” she says. “Because that’s a person’s life. And, for some individuals it’s a number. But I think for those of us who lost our parents at such a young age, guess what, we know death. We know what that means when it impacts. And so, every decision that I make I also know that I’m going to be held accountable.”

One of the most accountable policies Oralia would become involved with would be CATE, a statewide COVID-19 testing and vaccination program for PA’s most vulnerable communities – including Pennsylvania’s Hispanic communities.

A strong sense of community “Without the sense of community, then we’re just muscles, sweat, spittle, and skin, per se.”

Those words sum up Oralia’s strong sense of community best. And at no time was there more of a need to appeal to the needs of her community than during the pandemic.

“I think everyone was impacted by COVID, on all fronts,” she says, “and for Hispanics, in particular, we learned four things: We’re resilient, we know how to flatten a curve, we know how to listen, and we learned how to persevere. Those were lessons learned. Because it started as like ‘no one’s gonna wear a mask, no one’s gonna stay home, no one’s gonna listen … we’re not gonna flatten this curve!’ The strategy that we used for our COVID mitigations worked. And it is one that other plans followed. It was one that other states followed. And it was one that was embraced by the Department of Health as well.”

Often, her outreach efforts have also included the needs of senior citizens in her community. “I am responsible for the entire life cycle for Medical Policy, so I have to know the issues from age zero to 103,” she says. “And I do interact with them based on the volunteer organizations that I either serve on the boards for or go and help programs for, and

Old age is like the wheel of misfortune where stairs or a shower can kill you.

What the world needs now is a voice activated martini.

School is the place to go to learn who to avoid in life.

The world needs an App to upload a nap- a nap App. Just use the app and it turns your smart phone into a pillow.

I tried to rise to the occasion once and threw my back out. From then on I recline to the occasion.

The latest Marvel superhero grew an aqualung just to go snorkeling, rolled back time like a stack of dimes to find his car keys, brought back the bop in the bop shoo bop shoo bop, hip hopped his way to Australia like a kangaroo, found the meaning of life in a sunset, tips like a lobbyist bribing a politician and brings flowers and chocolates to a barbecue.

more importantly the policies.”

Not only have Oralia’s efforts to support “community responsibility through increased access to health care” earned her the status of one of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s 2022 Women of Excellence, but her commendable outreach work has brought many additional honors, including induction into the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Women’s Hall of Fame in 2015, and Central Penn Business Journal’s Community Outreach and Education Hero in 2021.

Like yeast I tried to rise to the occasion and got a yeast infection.

Rest & relaxation for the weary With so many vulnerable populations to assist – and millions of policy holders to maintain quality healthcare access for – it must be difficult at times to enjoy a little R&R. So, what does Dr. Oralia Garcia Dominic do for fun when she is able to get away from the office?

High on her list is “eating at every farmers’ market.” She also loves movies – especially documentaries – and is an avid traveler (“I’ve been to 35 countries,” she says with pride). Her late father would also be happy to hear that she partakes of the occasional do-it-yourself project. But on par with all those activities is the passion for Formula 1 Grand Prix racing that she shares with her husband.

“I know most of the circuits,” she says, “and I’ve met many of the drivers. And one in particular is Kimi Raikkonen, known as The Iceman … And my first race, I saw him race – and that was 20 years ago. But I just love the cars and the atmosphere.” 7 JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 23

Short Story/On Performing Surgery

On Performing Surgery Story by Ed Robinson Illustration by Emily White

I

It’s perhaps not the career I originally chose but it is now the one that is my duty to perform.

t’s a Saturday, or perhaps a Wednesday - I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I’m walking through the foyer on my way to visit a relative who is perhaps dying or perhaps convalescing or, maybe worse, has yet to make up their mind. Either way, it’s a hospital - that part’s important. I’m in a hospital.

I’m looking at a wall of cards which seem to oppress the senses with overwhelming pink and purple. Cards for new boys and new girls, get well soon cards, cards of condolence and Valentine’s Day cards because, well, I suppose they have to cover all their bases.

There’s a young orderly running frantically across the marble foyer.

I look at him and our eyes lock. He tells me I look like quite a learned type, and I say with all the false humility I can that yes, indeed I believe I am. He grabs my hand and emphatically begs that I attend his direction, my assistance is surely needed. I oblige of course as what callous a mind would not, and I follow him back across the hall to the source of all this calamity: an operating theatre. Dear me, this just got a touch more serious than I was expecting.

The nurses attend me in a flash, taking my hands in theirs and thrusting them into a trough for sanitizing. It feels good I think, but no that’s trivial and I have to remain stern and tacit; this is no time to lose my mystique.

I’m led in, robed up and looking quite good I think but have yet to confirm so in a mirror. There’s a body … right. It’s becoming clear, this

24 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

is surgery, surgery is about to happen. This room, the room in which I stand is a room designated for the purposes of surgery. Oh dear. Am I the surgeon? I think I am. Should I ask someone? No, they might want to ask for my autograph and then I’d have to clean my hands again. Or, worse yet, they might suppose that, being a surgeon, I’m well off in a manner austral of the norm and ask me to co-sign a bank loan … no, it’s for the best I stay quiet. This is adult life. It’s perhaps not the career I originally chose but it is now the one that is my duty to perform. So be it.

The nurse hands me my first instrument. Yes, this looks familiar.

For some form of cutting, I believe; sounds right. It’s certainly sharp enough. I’ll give that a try. If it turns out to be wrong, I can always just blame it on the nurse. “Damn it, Wilma!” that’s what I’ll say. Yes … that’ll sound good.

Ok, cutting. Cutting now. Time to cut the body. Cut this human body that is lying in front of me. Are we sure he’s unconscious?

Perhaps I’ll just give him the tiniest prick first to confirm … yes, he’s unconscious. The nurse is looking at me strangely. I rub my chin to make it look like I was testing the waters. I say something along the lines of “Yes, interesting - good to know.” That ought to fool her. She’s very judgmental, this Wilma bitch.

Ok, incision, I’m cutting the body; it seems to work. The muscles tighten and constrict around the scalpel. The nurse asks me if I’d like

some Curare. I answer “yes, with some mineral water and ice.” She looks at me again. Keep your eyes to yourself, I think.

I say, “what I’d really like is some morphine, but I think it might affect my performance.” I roar with laughter. No one else does. They’ll get it later.

There’s a distinct smell, a smell equal parts familiar and frustratingly distant. I dig further into the body. I’m sure there’s supposed to be something I’m looking for, some abject malady that’s probably black and oozing with pus and feculent bacteria. What fun. Surgery’s so incredibly primitive, I think, so prehistoric. There’s something inside of you making you feel askew, so you hire a man with a knife to cut you open and tear it out. Earnestly it seems like only a very minor improvement from the ancient days of the tribal witchdoctor dancing some orgiastic choreography around the patient in the hopes of bringing healing from one of their manifold deities. I’m not doing much better really.

Some, but not a lot.

Courvoisier, that’s the smell.

I decide that this is a rare opportunity to indulge my often overlooked but no less ever-present spirit of exploration. Why not exploit the opportunity to look upon this intricate and rarely seen wonderland so few will themselves witness? I’m like Pizarro in the new world, only maybe with a little bit less murdering.

It’s impossible to wrap my head around the fact that each seemingly disgusting lump of pulsating beeves is in some way vital to this man’s life. He’s ugly. I just looked at his face; that sort of ruined the majesty of it. Oh well.

I’ve found it, I believe, some anomalous cystic growth which is

either of critical importance or detrimental incongruity. Either way, it’s coming out.

I hold out my hand for the appropriate tool, assuming that the nurse will be adept at deciding which that is to be. After a moment’s pause, she slaps a firm piece of pitiless metal into my hand - indeed an apparatus apt for the task of withdrawing my opponent.

With a few twists and slices of my formidable contraption, each of which I’m now sure is causing untold amounts of silent pain to my patient, I’m able to withdraw the globulous heap and deposit it gracefully into a waiting kidney dish.

Wilma, who I now find I trust implicitly, asks if I’m ready to close the incision. Now feeling certain that my patient’s chance of departing has been reduced to a miniature, I happily declare that I indeed am.

She hands me what I believe I recognize as a crochet needle and a spool of silk sutures which I look on with distaste as I’ve never had much of an aptitude for sewing, particularly not on leather. She asks me if I’d prefer rather to staple up the incision. I am happy as this sounds much easier.

She hands me the instrument. It looks nothing like the staplers with which I’m familiar. I am sad. 7 Ed Robinson is a Writer and Voice Over Actor originally from Sydney, Australia. His writing can be seen on television via The Hallmark Channel in the US, and his voice can be heard on over 250 commercials and TV Series worldwide.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 25

Glowing, Glowing, Not Gone!

Story By Pam Lazor

W

ith a lifestyle of discipline, routine and a positive, happy outlook, our skin can look and feel healthy and wonderful! It’s all about the attitude.

As a skincare and beauty junkie, I’ve rounded up a few respected experts as well as some carefully tested (experienced) products that make a lot of sense in the skincare arena. Although I’m not yet of quoted “senior” age, it is not long down the road, and I am definitely paying attention to what is on the horizon.

The ever-elusive Fountain of Youth along with everyday respect for our bodies and skin—the body’s largest organ—can surely be a job on its own. Does your skin glow? How does it feel? And, how do YOU feel?

As we age, our bodies feel and look different. We tend to pay more attention to ourselves and our health as we age. The days of frivolous encounters with the beach and sun, once seeming to be de rigueur before an important date (with the guy or girl you probably didn’t end up marrying, but you looked darned fabulous 26 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

that month!), is now possibly a scar of poor judgment, affecting you in your older years. Sunlamps, double record album covers swathed in tin foil, in addition to indoor tanning beds/booths, can take quite a toll on the body and skin, along with other skin issues that come with age.

Let’s take a spin to explore what is new, as well as topics that remain genuine concerns in the skincare and wellness arena.

I had a long and interesting conversation with Stephen Schleicher, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist and medical director of DermDox Dermatology Centers, PC, a multi-office practice and author of SKIN SENSE!: A Dermatologist’s Guide to Skin and Facial Care.

Dr. Schleicher says that skin cancers are one of the primary concerns of his senior patients, noting that “skin cancer is an epidemic in the United States with over 2 million new cases diagnosed each year.” Some cases of skin cancer begin as scaly patches called solar or actinic keratoses. These are linked to long term sun

exposure, and thus persons who spend time outdoors should apply sunscreen to exposed areas. Higher SPF numbers afford greater protection. Dr. Schleicher recommends an SPF of 30 or greater and prefers sunscreens containing either zinc or titanium. Water resistant sunscreen is recommended for those who swim. Indoor tanning is directly linked to skin cancer and should be avoided at any age.

As for frequency of dermatologist examination, it depends. If an individual has a history of skin cancer or precancerous lesions, at least one yearly examination is prudent. Individuals diagnosed with the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma, require a shorter time between visits. “Given the millions of new skin cancers diagnosed each year in the US, seniors would do best to have their skin evaluated by a dermatologist or dermatologist-trained physician extender on a yearly basis.” The sooner a skin cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better.

Not all skin lesions are cancerous; indeed, the majority are benign. Many older individuals accumulate darkened growths called seborrheic keratoses, also referred to as the “barnacles of life.” Cosmetically unappealing, these can be easily removed in a dermatologist’s office. Advanced age is often accompanied by dry skin, and he recommends over-the-counter moisturizers to many of his patients. Which moisturizer to use depends on personal preference.

I also asked Dr. Schleicher about the hair issues of seniors: “As people get older, their hair starts to thin, and we’re now seeing more females concerned about thinning hair.” He recommends topical preparations containing minoxidil (such as Rogaine) to many patients, both male and female. Certain medications can lead to hair thinning including beta blockers (for females) and chemotherapy.

For crepey skin and dry skin in general, or for just maintaining healthy skin, Dr, Schleicher says “hydrofacials have become very popular as well as microneedling and microdermabrasion. They can be preventative to help with tone and texture.

Hydrofacials are like a power wash for your skin. They take about half an hour to perform. Most people enjoy them—they can be very relaxing. They are very deep See Glowing, Glowing, Not Gone! on Page 28 JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 27

Glowing, Glowing, Not Gone!, continued from Page 27

PHOTO SUBMITTED Stephen Schleicher, MD

PHOTO SUBMITTED 28 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

cleaning, removing clogged pores and dead skin and can plump up the skin. We can add moisture with a serum. The results with this treatment are immediate and can last weeks or a month.” Sign me up!

In the world of skincare products, many have been tried-and-true and there have been several that have incorporated new scientific applications, but one that is fresh to the arena, using findings never before seen, has entered with a new and proven approach to topicals.

Xi Huang, PhD, with master’s degrees in Toxicology as well as Applied Pharmacology, has focused much of his career on studying the negative impacts of too much iron in the body. i-On, the skincare line he recently created and launched to major applause (it recently won a “Best Product Launch” award from Allure magazine) is a very different product. To put it simply, this is the science behind the product: Younger

women shed iron, an essential mineral, on a monthly basis; as they hit pre- and post-menopause, their bodies accumulate too much iron, which in turn, accumulates on the skin’s surface, by as much as 42%. This leads to the production of free radicals that increase oxidative damage and accelerate the visible aging process.

“The skin is rusting,” explains Dr. Huang, after noting that “nobody has heard of this concept.” I-On literally absorbs that excess, unneeded iron from the body and a marked improvement and change is seen in the skin.

The scientific study performed before the product entered the market proved - with 100% positive skin improvement results - it was a huge success, after the women in the 42-day study had brighter skin, fewer wrinkles and fine lines, an increased appearance of firmness and elasticity, a more even skin tone, plumpness and skin that hydrated more rapidly. When women (and men) lament that “nothing is going to work for me,” Dr. Huang has changed quite a few minds with his product. “The efficacy [of the product] is so pronounced with mature skin. It’s not too late!” And, yes, after using the product on my own face for several weeks, it’s all true.

Acupuncture has been around for approximately 3,000 years, first described as an organized system of diagnosis and treatment in ancient Chinese medicine. It is a widely recognized multi-use therapy that is definitely here to stay.

Traditional Acupuncture “looks at a person in entirety–mind, body, and spirit–you cannot put physical symptoms in a box. Each domain affects the other,” notes Rosalie Baker Lambeth, a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist with a master’s in Classical Acupuncture, which has been her main focus of practice for nearly 20 years.

“Acupuncture is beneficial for any age of skin. The skin is a very large organ–it will reflect the condition of the exterior and interior, the radiance shines from within.

A body that is at ease, strengthening resilience. By living this, a person reflects ‘Shen’: the person of who you are, from inner to outer.’ If we have internal issues, they can be manifested externally as a way that the body attempts to manage and correct it.” She notes that “acupuncture can act, too, to stimulate circulation,

detoxify and improve the nourishment of the skin, which leads to an appearance of vitality and freshness. Skin is a barometer–the manifestation of well-being, an individual expression of our lives.”

Some products to let you love your skin even more!

• Mad Hippie Microdermabrasion Facial - A twice weekly home treatment full of natural ingredients to help your skin glow! www.madhippie.com • i-On Age Disrupting Skin Cream - A fantastic product that does what it says. www.ionskincare.com • Glo Restorative Cream - A moisturizer developed for dry skin that has a lovely, hydrating feel and a list of skin-boosting natural ingredients. www.gloskinbeauty.com • Glo Barrier Balm - A multi-use balm that can be used anywhere on the body for extremely dry or chapped skin. I have been using it on my lips and love it! www.gloskinbeauty.com • Wander Double Booked - Lip cream and conditioner on one end and a hint of tinted moisturizing cream on the other. Use one or use both together! www.wanderbeauty.com • Melach 33 Nourishing Eye Cream - A plant-oil rich formula to nourish and protect delicate eye skin. www.melach33.com • Wander Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks - Individual eye masks

that sooth and replenish dull, tired-looking skin. www.wanderbeauty.com • i-On Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream - A formula that targets dark circles and wrinkles while helping the skin around the eyes appear brighter, smoother, and more evenly toned. www.ionskincare.com • Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Broad Spectrum SPF 30 No greasy-feeling skin after applying this protective layer before going in the sun. www.neutrogena.com 7 ------------------------Dr. Stephen Schleicher - www.dermdoxcenters.com Rosalie Baker Lambeth & Associates - www.acupunctureharrisburg.com

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 29

SilverSneakers Program Is Like Money in the Bank Story and Photos By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Y

our health is your wealth. This old adage is new again as seniors seek out options to retain their mobility as they age. The SilverSneakers program enables elders to take advantage of fitness classes and state-of-the-art equipment at Five Bridges Health and Fitness at the Oakhurst Shopping Center near Linglestown, all free of charge. Personal trainers are thrilled that older people are shunning rocking chairs and other trappings of old age. “We are urging seniors to dispel those preconceived notions that gyms are only for the younger set,” said SilverSneakers National Trainer Julie Logue.

The History of SilverSneakers According to Logue, the SilverSneakers program was founded by Mary Swanson, whose father served as an inspiration for the nationally recognized fitness program. “After Mary’s father survived a heart attack at age 51, he vowed to improve his health and quality of life with regular physical activity,” said Logue, who goes on to say that Mary recognized the need for a formalized exercise class designed specifically for older adults and, in 1992, the first class launched in Arizona.

Logue said that many seniors are eligible for the program. “If they are 65 or older and a member of a participating Medicare Advantage Plan, they qualify,” said Logue, adding that more than 18 million Americans have access to the flexible program. “Eligible members can work out at a 30 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

variety of fitness locations nationwide, or through virtual offerings, so if they’re traveling, or prefer activities at more than one location, they have options,” she said.

It Does a Body Good It’s been said that motion is lotion for the body and becomes particularly important as we age, according to Jan Capen, trainer at Five Bridges Health and Fitness. Capen has been training at Five Bridges Health and Fitness for a total of 10 years now. The 70-year-old, who appears younger than her years, said that it helps her stay in shape as she assists others. One can also speculate that her age helps her relate to the issues that the elderly face, which is most certainly a plus when it comes to attracting seniors who might otherwise be intimidated by a younger person. “We have a huge senior population at Five Bridges, ranging from age 65-95,” said Capen.

Those who are interested are invited to visit Five Bridges Health and Fitness to learn more about what is included in the SilverSneakers program. “We’ll let them know what their plan includes and assist them in choosing equipment and classes that are right for them,” said Capen, adding that classes are intended to help the older folks do the things they do in their everyday lives. “We mimic activities in class, like getting in and out of a chair, picking up grandchildren, preventing

PHOTO PROVIDED BY 5 BRIDGES HEALTH & FITNESS

falls, working on mobility and flexibility, and working on coordination, to name just a few,” she said.

Jesse Swoyer is another trainer who is a big proponent of SilverSneakers. Swoyer works with executives, the disabled, and the aging population in their homes. Swoyer also teaches a community class at Highmark Direct Care Stores in Harrisburg, along with virtual classes through SilverSneakers. He says they’ve been popular, and Logue agrees. “Seniors have adapted to virtual solutions more readily than some may have expected and in a recent member survey, we found that many participants in our virtual program—about 35 percent—are engaging with SilverSneakers for the first time,” said Logue. What Swoyer likes about SilverSneakers is that the program costs nothing to individuals wanting to dip their toe in the water when it comes to an exercise routine. “It gives older folks a broad array of options, community classes and gyms and allows them to tailor what they think is best See SilverSneakers on Page 32 JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 31

PHOTO PROVIDED BY 5 BRIDGES HEALTH & FITNESS

SilverSneakers, continued from Page 31

PHOTO PROVIDED BY 5 BRIDGES HEALTH & FITNESS

32 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

for their individual needs,” said Swoyer.

Kate Quimby is just one example of a 75-year-old who feels 20 years younger, thanks, in part, to SilverSneakers. What Quimby likes about the SilverSneakers program is that many classes are free; getting to meet Capen was an extra added benefit. “I have scoliosis and neuropathy in my feet, which makes life challenging,” said Quimby, adding that she decided to pay extra to work with Capen three times a week, one on one. “She critiques my form and if I have aches and pains, she knows how to fix them. She’s not very big, but she’s worth her weight in gold,” said Quimby who mentioned the expense to her daughter, stating that she might be able to afford some pretty nice trips if she quit training.

Quimby’s daughter responded by saying, “Mom, if you quit training, you wouldn’t be able to travel at all.” Quimby couldn’t help but concur and credits Capen for the help and motivation she’s received over the past seven years. “I use machines, weights, ropes and pulleys—so many different things that it’s never dull and boring,” Quimby said.

And it’s not all sweat and exertion—there’s a socialization aspect to the program as well. Five Bridges encourages socialization through trips, luncheons, walks and community projects. Logue asserts that adopting a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically before and while ageing, is vitally important to longevity. Capen concurs. “We establish personal relationships and can provide a lifeline for seniors’ emotional and mental health, as well as their physical health,” said

It’s so hot that the Good Humor Man killed the Jolly Time Popcorn Guy for his Kool Aid at a child’s birthday party.

It’s so hot that instead of grass in my backyard there’s a lava flow.

It’s so hot that the kernels in a popcorn bag popped themselves.

It’s so hot that a guy with a hot temper spontaneously combusted.

Hot to trot is running barefoot down a bubbling macadam road in July.

It’s so hot that a hot dog grilled itself.

It’s so hot that a cup of Kool Aid burst into flames.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY 5 BRIDGES HEALTH & FITNESS

Capen, adding that part of her job is to keep in contact with the members. “That’s really important as we age too,” said Capen.

For Quimby, the journey has been well worth it. “I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I now view it as an investment in myself,” she said with a smile. 7

I asked the clerk at the supermarket if he could hurry because I had a very anxious dog waiting in the car. He then told me that I could get some CBD from the vet to calm her down.

Then I said “No, I don’t want the dog smoking in the back seat.”

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 33

Harrisburg State Hospital Pioneered State Care of the Mentally Ill; Historic Campus to be “Carefully Developed” by Dauphin County Story By David J. Morrison Photos Submitted

T

he words “insane” and “asylum,” especially when used together, have come to be deemed offensive and politically incorrect terms, possibly due to exaggerated depictions of “insane asylums” in Hollywood horror movies of the mid20th century. Earlier terminology was perhaps even more distasteful.

Nineteenth-century institutions, invariably established by humanitarians, reformers, and civic do-gooders with the noblest of intentions, nevertheless bore harsh names and labels.

Thus, there were “homes for the friendless,” “homes for incurables,” “schools for the feebleminded,” and “poor houses,” to name a few.

Pennsylvania’s first state-operated institution for the mentally ill, when it was established in 1845, was officially titled “The Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital and Union Asylum for the Insane.” (The term “lunatic” has its origins in ancient Latin when mental disorders were believed to be caused by phases of the moon. Such a person was said to be “moonstruck.”)

At the time, the notion that the care of persons with mental illness should be handled by state governments was revolutionary. Pennsylvania had been a forerunner in having private hospitals for the mentally ill as early as 1817, when the Friends’ Asylum was established in Philadelphia. The growing call for state responsibility was led by the noted social reformer Dorothea Dix, whose lobbying 34 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

The Administration Building in 1893 replaced the earlier “Kirkbride Plan” monolithic hospital building, shifting the campus to a decentralized “cottage plan.”

efforts convinced Pennsylvania to create and build the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital on the outskirts of Harrisburg.

In 1922, its name was changed to “Harrisburg State Hospital,” putting more emphasis on geography than function.

Although it was Pennsylvania’s only state mental hospital in its early years, by the 1920s there were 25 such institutions across the state. This did not include the state facilities for the mentally disabled

which were called “Centers.” At that time, there also were ten state-run general hospitals, especially in coal mining regions, where diseases and mining accidents were common, but medical care was scarce or non-existent. These were called “State General Hospitals.” The vast majority of all of these have been closed, repurposed, or transitioned to local ownership.

The main campus of Harrisburg State Hospital, on a wooded hilltop across Cameron

Street from the Farm Show Complex, although used as a location for Hollywood films such as “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), looks more like an Ivy League college campus.

Its collection of Victorian and Colonial Revival brick buildings is scattered amid an arboretum of mature trees, meandering roadways, broad lawns, and scenic views. An elaborate system of underground tunnels connects most of the buildings, enabling food carts, laundry, wheelchairs, and other traffic to travel the campus securely and protected from the weather.

This layout of campus buildings is an example of the “cottage plan,” a concept recognizing that architecture influenced human conduct. Cottages were to be arranged in villages reflecting the Belgian town of Gheel, where for centuries citizens took in and cared for mentally ill persons who journeyed there to worship at the shrine of St. Dymphna, the patron saint of mental illness, who in the 7th century treated and cured afflicted persons who sought her care.

The cottage plan was the exact opposite of “the Kirkbride Plan,” a monolithic concept developed by Dr. Thomas Kirkbride of Philadelphia in which the entire facility was one continuous building, with one wing for females and the other for males.

The alignment of the wings was staggered, allowing for more air and light, deemed an important part of care and treatment. The wings furthest from the center housed the most “excitable” patients; an improving patient advanced toward the center; patients with worsening conditions were moved in the opposite direction. Although some “Kirkbride plan” facilities, such as Danville State Hospital (Pennsylvania’s third), are still in use, many have been demolished or repurposed.

The original facility at Harrisburg, completed in 1851, followed the Kirkbride Plan, serving just 42 years until it was demolished to make way for the cottage plan that remains today. Notable early milestones included the role the hospital played during the Civil War, furnishing farm crops and livestock to nearby Camp Curtin, the Union’s largest training camp.

It was common for institutions such as mental hospitals and prisons to be entirely self-sufficient. In addition to See Harrisburg State Hospital on Page 36

One of two Italianate style buildings built in 1851 to flank the original hospital building, this later housed the Dorothea Dix Library and Museum, a repository for archives and memorabilia tracing the history of Harrisburg State Hospital.

Semi-subterranean tunnels traverse the State Hospital Campus, allowing for secure, all-weather movement and transport throughout the campus. They are topped by elevated walkways.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 35

Harrisburg State Hospital, continued from Page 35

This building is leased to Gaudenzia which operates its “Project 90” drug treatment program here. Beneath its front porch runs one of the many tunnels that connect the State Hospital buildings.

The Capital Area Greenbelt runs through a tree-shaded ravine of on the hospital campus, adjacent to “Asylum Run,” a tributary of the Paxton Creek.

36 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

raising crops, milking cows, slaughtering pigs and chickens, with residents literally working from farm to table, they worked in laundries, made furniture, bed linens, clothing, and shoes, shoveled snow, and maintained the grounds. This not only kept costs down, but as “occupational therapy,” it provided exercise, fresh air, and a sense of purpose.

In the 1960s and 70s, a series of legal cases and court decisions around the country made it illegal for institutionalized patients to work. Farmland, which had become a valuable asset, was sold (at Harrisburg, some farmlands are leased to farmers, other tracts along Elmerton Avenue today house the headquarters of state agencies such as the State Police and the Game Commission).

Also, the 1960s and subsequent decades saw a steady decline in hospital population at Harrisburg and elsewhere nationally, after it had peaked in the 1940s. This decline of the institutionalized population was attributed to the development of drug treatments and the increasing preference for de-institutionalization with the movement of patients’ care to community centers and homes. By the early 1990s, of the estimated 250,000 Americans with serious mental illness, fewer than 70,000 were receiving hospital care, and the majority of these were mostly well-to-do patients in private psychiatric hospitals.

Another factor was the growing ability to discharge patients whose mental illness was “manageable” through drug treatment.

Accordingly, the average stay was reduced to six months, whereas, a century earlier, most patients were incarcerated for life.

By 1992, Harrisburg State Hospital’s population had shrunk to 450 (from a peak of 2441 in 1947), and a growing number of its buildings were being repurposed for other government uses.

In 2006, the decision was made to close the state hospital function at Harrisburg altogether. By then, one of the larger buildings was being leased by Gaudenzia, a substance abuse treatment organization with locations throughout Pennsylvania and adjacent states. Other buildings housed state offices, computer centers and mail facilities, with the campus functioning as a satellite of the

nearby Capitol Complex managed by the Department of General Services.

In July 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted Act 100 authorizing the Department of General Services (DGS) to survey the grounds of the Harrisburg State Hospital and develop a plan for the sale or divestiture of the property. Concern that such a valuable and unique property risked inappropriate development if sold to “the highest bidder” immediately brought together a coalition of interests, including historic preservation, land conservation, and recreation groups (the 20-mile Capital Area Greenbelt passes through the hospital grounds.)

These interests merged as the “Committee for the Future of Harrisburg State Hospital” and began meeting monthly, eventually issuing a comprehensive white paper recommending that DGS, in surveying and subdividing the site, be guided by the conservation, recreational and historic values of the state hospital grounds.

Appropriate preservation and future use posed “a once in a lifetime opportunity,” the white paper stated.

Recognizing that a balanced set of recommendations had a better chance for serious consideration, the white paper included a colorcoded map identifying the conservation and development opportunities on the property and the core area of historic buildings and landscape. Thus, the map depicted: • Conservation Area (Green): This parcel includes: the Capital Area Greenbelt, a bicycle and pedestrian trail that has been reclaimed by hundreds of volunteers for the benefit of thousands of citizens from near and far; the wooded steep slopes and the grassy flood plains which protect the water quality of Asylum Run, Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River; and a recreational field that serves thousands of the region’s residents.

• Historic Area (Red): This is the core of the historic

state hospital campus, a landmark in social history and a collection of distinctive architectural masterpieces, which offers attractive Federal tax credits for appropriate historic preservation and adaptive reuse (possible institutional use, market-rate residential, mixed use, etc.).

The historic area also boasts an arboretum of outstanding “heritage” trees.

The Committee, in its white paper, stated: “We are committed to working closely with the General Assembly, interested state agencies, and affected local governments.

The committee recognizes the need to repurpose the property, but we assert that this can be done in a way that offers an opportunity to take advantage of the multiple values on the site for today and for future generations.”

The white paper and the Committee’s efforts garnered a positive response from state and local officials and the news media. By 2017, an agreement in principle was reached between the State and the Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority naming the authority as the “preferred

buyer,” a move that was positively received by stakeholders and others.

A key player in this aspect of the process was Frank Lynch, a member of the authority and chair of the Board of Commissioners of Susquehanna Township, in which the vast majority of the 295-acre property is located. Lynch at the time called it an “exciting prospect to be able to carefully guide development of this jewel of a property in Central Pennsylvania.”

The transfer is slated to occur in 2023 when relocation of state employees and functions is completed. Many of these were moved to Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, while others have been moving to a newly completed privately owned office building at 2525 N. Seventh Street, the former site of D&H Distributing. 7 Historic preservationist David J. Morrison co-chaired “the Committee for the Future of Harrisburg State Hospital.”

Outdoor history marker, placed in 1999, describes the development and evolution of Harrisburg State Hospital from 1851 onward.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 37

Local Farmers’ Markets Photos By Will Masters

Adams Ricci Farmer’s Market

38 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Broad St Market & 3rd In The Burg

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 39

Farm Show Farmers’ Market

40 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

West Shore Farmers’ Market

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 41

Hershey Farmers’ Market

42 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Why does candy come in fun sizes? Can we have entertaining sword fights with a Three Musketeers Bar? How many Snickers in a dirty movie? Is M&M a fun rapper? It’s no fun Twix a rock and a hard place. Is a Baby Ruth fun to tickle?

Who does the measurements for fun size candy? It sure isn’t Dr. Diabetes.

Maybe it’s a Jolly Rancher.

Why is Lefty a cool nickname but Righty isn’t?

The riddle of my life is why can I sprout hair in my ears like weeds yet remain bald and shiny as a melon on my head?

You know you’re in trouble when the only friends you have are the cyber dealers in online casinos.

Being on Jeopardy and in jeopardy are two different things. Just saying.

Trying to talk to people who just won’t shut up is like watching TV with the radio on.

JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 43

Artful Inspirations

Matriarchs of Art Story By Christina Heintzelman cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com

Group Photo By Jeb Boyd Art Photos Submitted By The Artists

W

e are strong, we are unapologetic and secure in who we are and what we do, we are fierce, we are creative, we are wise, and we are invincible– we are ‘woman of a certain age’.

The world is full of strong, creative, vibrant women and, in this story, you will meet four energetic, resourceful, resilient, inspiring artists who between them have close to 250 years of combined artistic talents, beginning as children making their own paper dolls complete with costumes, sewing, oil painting, creating greeting cards for family, and even designing a girl scout award patch.

A Brief Introduction to the Matriarchs Although Jo Alexander has a background in pastels, charcoals, acrylics, and oils she concentrates mostly on her mosaic pieces.

Remembrances figure deeply into Jo’s work such as a scissors to cut away hurtful moments or a thimble to protect one from hurt; the remembrance of parents and loved ones and of the passage of time in one’s own life. She uses stained glass and broken pieces of ceramics, pottery, glass from her findings or personal collection.

Cathie Conrad MacArthur has worked in oil, acrylics, and sculpting but now chooses pastels as her artistic home. Cathie is inspired by the beauty of the Susquehanna River, our vivid skyscapes, and sunsets. She feels a strong pull from Georgia O’Keeffe’s sultry blend of hues drawn across a landscape.

As a teacher for thirty-six years, Donna Berk Barlup had to become facile in all types of artistic media but now concentrates almost strictly on watercolor. Donna loves painting images from her past and from everyday life. Her goal is to capture something from everyday life but to present it in a way that allows the viewer to see it differently than they may have in the past, such as a beautiful bowl of cherries (as seen in one of her pieces) but with the focus now on the waterdrops hanging onto the fruit.

Vivi Sterste-Brandler is known as a ceramic artist to many of us, but her talents take in a bit of every art medium one can imagine and she will work in whichever strikes her mood at any given moment.

Vivi’s ceramic art is often inspired by our Susquehanna River, using glazes of blues, greens, and browns to capture the ever-changing ebb and flow of our beautiful waterway.

Sit back, relax, and find out why these women have earned the title Matriarchs of Art: What they have given to the community, how they act as guideposts for younger artists and mostly how they have changed and grown into the self-assured artists who call the Harrisburg area their home.

The following conversation took place on a lovely May evening at the oblong table located in Vivi on Verbeke Studio. As you read their 44 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

BR: Jo Alexander, Vivi Sterste Brandler FR: Connie Conrad MacArthur, Donna Berk Barlup

words you may feel the roar of these strong women.

Christina: What is it at this point in your life that you find inspires you in your creation of art?

Donna: Now that I am retired from teaching, I have more time to put toward my painting and to look back on how my work has changed.

Networking! I can now network with so many varied artists, especially through various artistic groups. I continue to have the need and the drive to create.

I had shoulder surgery during Covid and began painting with my left hand and realized I could do it and I sold two of those pieces. You can train your brain to do any number of things.

Cathie: As an example, I find myself at times moving further away from my earlier work in realism and wondering what path or style my next painting will take. I now have time to look at what I’m doing now as opposed to what I did earlier in my life. My art creates me as much as I create my art. Your work takes you on a path– you just go along for the ride. Earlier in my career, if I could have seen what I would be creating now I would have said, “No way!” It is wonderful to see your work grow.

I broke my wrist and took the time to begin sketching with my left hand which opened new possibilities for me. As we get older our work becomes more concentrated, more intense.

Jo: I just cannot not make art. It is therapy for me, it is my space of meditation and I go into a very altered and spiritual place. It is a mantra of meditation, it guides me. I am aware of so much more – I can sort it out into different piles for examination. I’ve learned so much about myself and have grown exponentially. Brainstorming with others helps my creative process.

Vivi: I totally agree with everything already said and I love it. Each of these answers ties into the next person.

I notice that I have a much deeper skill set and discipline and can delve much deeper into my art. I’ve put in the time and the work to get to this place. I’m always pushing myself to higher places – doing the work all the time. We all have the need and the drive to continue our artistic work and allow it to take us to new and higher places. All of us here have that need and that drive.

SUBMITTED BY JO ALEXANDER

Christina: Do you find that social media has been helpful to you?

Donna: It is a marketing tool, and a mentoring tool as I have people who I have worked with in the past come back and ask me questions about their work by contacting me through social media. Social media becomes a learning experience – forever!

Cathie: Yes, it is a mentoring tool as there are so many new artists showing up on the Creative Harrisburg Area Facebook page who are willing to put their work out there and ask for guidance and ideas – feedback – they appreciate this so much as often they are not sure if they want to post their work. It is also a great way to work with others and bypass some of the trial-and-error time. YouTube has amazing videos that are created by other artists who are willing to share things that they have tried and succeeded with. That is how I learned to paint large rocks. It was right there on YouTube. I was able to take my own skills and adapt them to learn a new method. It got me over the hump of not knowing how I could handle this.

Vivi (Creator of Creative Harrisburg Area Facebook page): The page grows weekly – daily with so many new artists willing to put their work out there for feedback. They appreciate this feedback. And all of us here also look for that feedback from others.

Jo: Now that I work in mosaics I often felt as though that field wasn’t recognized as an art form, but now I am able to meet via social media other mosaic artists. I realize the attributes of this medium and its recognition as a fine art. It has been an amazing learning experience.

I started by making stepping- stones for my garden and my mosaic artwork grew from there.

SUBMITTED BY JO ALEXANDER

Christina: All of you attended schools for the arts but my question to you is do you think you learned more from your schooling or more through your own trial and error and experimentation?

Donna: I never did watercolors in school – I did everything else to get my degree for art education so that I could teach. My schooling did teach me the foundations that I needed for further explorations, but once I retired, I moved to watercolors, because I had limited space, and have been doing that ever since.

Cathie: I studied sculpture and oil painting. But didn’t really try to work in pastels until later while on a trip to Maine, I met an artist and asked if I could work with her for just two hours and she agreed.

She gave me the keys I needed for this – paper, fixatives … she pulled that pastel across the paper like butter. It totally changed my art and attitude.

Jo: I went to a Catholic high school and was in the college prep See Matriarchs on Page 46

SUBMITTED BY JO ALEXANDER JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 45

Matriarchs, continued from Page 45

class and it practically took a dispensation from the Pope to be allowed take one semester of art in my senior year- I had to give up Calculus II to do this! After high school, my parents asked me where I wanted to go for college, and I said MICA – my dad then asked who I thought was going to pay for me to go there so I had to go to U of Maryland, and I graduated from there with a degree in English. A few years later I met a painter, teaching privately, who had gone to MICA and was willing to work with me and assist me with my art.

I worked with him for many years to get an art background and get the tools I needed.

Vivi: For me prep school was the arts, I was almost pushed in that direction. At one point my dad told me I needed to switch and get a background in teaching, which I did and worked toward my degree in art and education. But what I’ve found is that if I want to do something different now, I can go to social media, to YouTube and search for a topic and find out everything I need to know. Everyone shares, everything is out there- everything! It is continuing ed.

SUBMITTED BY CATHIE CONRAD MACARTHUR

SUBMITTED BY CATHIE CONRAD MACARTHUR

SUBMITTED BY CATHIE CONRAD MACARTHUR

SUBMITTED BY CATHIE CONRAD MACARTHUR 46 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

Christina: What type of advice would you have for a young person who is trying to break into art – who is trying to make it and is really frustrated and struggling? How do you do it?

Donna: Right now, I’m mentoring a student, and I often send him information on potential grants, where shows and exhibits are happening that he could apply to get into. He asks me for opinions on art he has done, and I often suggest other types of art that he may want to try. First you must please yourself with your art.

Vivi: Attitude. For me it must be about creating not about monetizing.

Jo: I need to understand what you mean by making it in art. I have other degrees, but art is what I always protected. It was what was nearest to me, it was my sanity. I painted as an artist because it was about me, my spiritual well-being, not about money.

Cathie: Gain confidence, accept critiques and learn to rise above what others say while remembering that it is all a learning experience.

Jo: During one time of my art study, I was also going through a lot of personal trauma and just couldn’t focus on painting. My teacher suggested charcoal and I said no but he insisted and what I learned from working with the charcoal and laying down dark spaces and erasing them out to light was that I was creating through erasure, and this was a huge lesson. I burst into tears realizing that I could create my life with this simple art lesson.

Vivi: Again – it is about attitude, no matter what other job you need to have to make ends meet, do it! Do it and keep working on your art.

Do what you need to do to get where you want to be with your art.

Making it as a business should not be the end goal as you must be true to your art, your style, yourself.

Jo: Courage, belief, and confidence! Make it your own!

Donna: I entered a lot of competitions and have been turned down, but you can’t let that get you down, continue moving forward.

And respect the boundaries between making a business and making your art.

No matter how difficult, always carve out the time for your creative pursuits.

Christina: So, it sounds like what all of you are saying is that ultimately this is about pleasing yourself with your art.

Vivi: Yes, I’ve done commercial pottery for the masses, and it isn’t creatively sustaining for me.

Donna: It can’t be your goal to please others. We live in a male

dominated society so as women we must continue pushing for women to be acknowledge within the art world.

And we must stop this urge to keep our kids from being creative. Do not tell them they can’t, give encouragement to them, give encouragement to yourself. Remember that we are harder on ourselves than anyone else is.

Jo: The theologian, Matthew Fox, paraphrased something from Meister Eckhart when he said, “The greatest thing the potter makes is not the pot but the potter.” This is what art means – this is what art does.

Cathie: Build your confidence and be courageous.

Do it your way! As kids we were told we must color within the lines but then as adults we must think outside the box.

Vivi: It has been a long voyage of sacrifice, rearrangement of life, but you must do that. You must do SUBMITTED BY DONNA BERK BARLUP this to grow. Express yourself and be seen! Many of the things we are saying here aren’t circumnavigating the question but rather getting to the core of what we are all talking about.

Jo: As women we have often been thought to be secondary to men in arts and to the degree that many of the things women do such as textiles and weaving were not thought of as art. Things are changing but we must keep working on this.

Christina: OK, where do we go from here? When did you feel the change within yourself, within your art? Was there a time when art wasn’t your friend?

Vivi: My art and my life changed after the death of my son. I knew I had to use my time wisely, time was no longer infinite – I had to just do it – go for it! Try it. Art has always been my friend, in fact my best friend. Art has often been cathartic for me. I create through my pain.

Cathie: We’ve all gone through life altering losses and those things will change your path. I became hands off for a while after the death of my parents and a divorce because I was afraid of where my art might go. I had to work through that.

Jo: During my divorce I painted a copy of a Caravaggio – Judith Beheading Holofernes, I then slashed it to ribbons and burned it! Talk about catharsis and change – that was it.

Cathie: Art feeds you, it makes you whole.

Donna: Art is always there. It is a dance, and we are all dancing artists. We need to look at all things as a part of artistic creation. You can’t do it wrong – it is always right because it is your expression.

Cathie: Often there is a wall built by society or by your peers but all of us here have broken through that and grown in our creative ability.

Donna: Art may be the only place in school where you are allowed to express creative thinking rather than studying for a test and answering questions by rote. Creative thinking solves more problems than just those that exist in the art world.

Jo: I wrote a paper about art as prayerful meditation. Your art becomes larger than you, your art becomes numinous.

Cathie: Yes, the process of being ‘in the moment’ - your work just flows off your brush … it is the process of intuition. I joke that everyone who gets one of my paintings has my DNA all over it because I use my fingers to blend colors.

Vivi: I’m sure we all have had those moments of epiphanies – the growth during the learning process. I’ve totally changed the way I work and even the neatness or configuration of my studio space.

When I get to the edge of the cliff and worry about marketing and See Matriarchs on Page 48

SUBMITTED BY DONNA BERK BARLUP

SUBMITTED BY DONNA BERK BARLUP

SUBMITTED BY DONNA BERK BARLUP JULY 2022 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 47

Matriarchs, continued from Page 47

sales, I can now realize that it isn’t about those things, it is about the making of the art. Sure it is fun to sell stuff, but it doesn’t come close to the creating.

Christina: Do you ever feel the pressure to have to create something better to survive in the art world?

Vivi: Maybe in my forties but no, not now … I am confident in my growth as an artist. I don’t feel depressed during a downtime, I move on to the next thing.

Donna: My art becomes different, not necessarily better and that is because I have gained confidence in my work. Motivation is out there in everything.

Jo: I am always amazed at the colors I see in nature – I’m paying attention but not paying attention at the same time. I allow myself to take in everything and experience it and then I can recall it during my work. It isn’t about pressure.

Cathie: We have had the life that now allows us to sit back, take it in and create. This is something that can only come with age. I would not be any other age – I’d not want to go back.

SUBMITTED BY VIVI STERSTE-BRANDLER

And the conversation continued into the evening, but ultimately the matriarchs all stated that they are pleased with their lives and how they have grown and the bonds they have created with their work and with the people around them. Not one of them has the desire to go back in life as they are all looking forward to their next artistic endeavor and the future growth that awaits them.

For more information on these women, you can check out the Creative Harrisburg Area (CHA) Facebook page to which all these artists belong. Visit Vivi on Verbeke studio at 258 Verbeke St. Jo’s Facebook: @grandmother-moon-mosaics, Vivi’s Facebook: @258verbeke, Donna’s Facebook: @donna.barlup and also her website donnaberkbarlupfineart. com, Cathie’s Facebook: @cathie.macarthur. 7

SUBMITTED BY VIVI STERSTE-BRANDLER

SUBMITTED BY VIVI STERSTE-BRANDLER 48 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JULY 2022

SUBMITTED BY VIVI STERSTE-BRANDLER

SUBMITTED BY VIVI STERSTE-BRANDLER