Harrisburg Magazine November Issue

CONTENTS

b enchmark Media, LLC.

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34 November 2021 • Volume 27 No. 10

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

INSIDE

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4 INTROSPECTION 6

BARTENDER’S OR BARISTA’S CHOICE

10 IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD 15 IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS 18 BY THE BOOK 18 NOURISHING BITES 19 THE FINANCE HOUND 20 THEATRE THOUGHTS 20 TAILBOARD TALK 21 FOR THE LOVE OF PETS

ON THE COVER

22 #HBGMAG INFLUENCER 27 SIMPLY THE BEST

ALL-STAR TRIBUTES 28 CITY VOICES FIND A HOME 30 SHORT STORY 32 CULTIVATING GRATITUDE 34 TALKIN’ TURKEY 38 HARRISBURG HISTORY/

DIXON UNIVERSITY CENTER 40 ARTFUL INSPIRATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY RICK SNIZIK Lancaster Farm Sanctuary resident Santosha (turkey), see page 34.

45 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 47 TASTE THIS

EDITOR Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Reich lreich@benchmarkmediallc.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Anthony Bui abui@harrisburgmagazine.com — Alyssa Ray aray@harrisburgmagazine.com — Jo Ann Shover jshover@harrisburgmagazine.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Richard Eppinger reppinger@harrisburgmagazine.com WRITING & PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN Markeshia Wolfe CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christina Heintzelman Paul Hood David Morrison Bill Roddey Andrea Minick Rudolph CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Lauren Gross Rick Snizik

Visit us online at: HarrisburgMagazine.com Harrisburg Magazine® is published monthly at 3400 N. Sixth St., Harrisburg, PA 17110. Phone: 717.233.0109; Fax: 717.232.6010; harrisburgmagazine.com. Subscriptions, $10.95 per year. Single copies, $3.75. Back Issues, $4.00 at office or $7.00 by mail (postage and handling included). Send change of address forms to Benchmark Group Media, 3400 N. Sixth St., Harrisburg, PA 17110. 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 ©2021, Harrisburg Magazine, Inc. Printed by Freeport Press, Freeport, Oh.

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Introspection

PHOTO BY KAREN COMMINGS

Take a break this month to be both thankful and mindful

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lot of people will be expressing their thankfulness this month, whether it’s for their families, their livelihoods, or merely just for the light they’re seeing at the end of the Covid tunnel. Yet, as we give thanks for all those things that have already transpired, for all the loved ones who have influenced our lives or provided creature comforts or even just friendship, it may behoove us to live in the present for the moment, take inventory, in a sense, of who we are right here and now, before obsessing over the future. By the time you’re perusing these pages, it’s likely you’ll have well over a month to overwhelm yourself with the December holidays … so think of our November issue as a bit of a respite before the storm. An exercise in mindfulness and thankfulness combined!

Our “Influencer” for November, Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Gadsden, is no stranger to thankfulness or mindfulness. However, when mentioning “thankfulness” and “Gadsden” in the same breath, the countless number of people who have had their lives touched by the long-time minister, community activist, poet, author – and mentor - are the ones who react by saying “thanks.” Gadsden has not only been an impactful voice for the voiceless and a morally centered booster of morale, but he has molded a generation of writers both young and old via his decadesold “workshop” group, The Writers Wordshop. He has a rich history in Harrisburg, and the city is genuinely richer for having had him as a resident for so long.

As already mentioned, Gadsden’s group, The Writers Wordshop, has 4 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

been hosting and “birthing” poets and poetry in the region for a long time (since 1977!), and contributing writer Markeshia “Markie” Wolfe looks behind the microphone at some of those poets, past and present.

And you can’t say the words microphone or Open Mic without also needing to visit Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, where the recentlylaunched “The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg” (a rebranding of the city’s famous Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel) gather every Thursday for a by-all-accounts raucous evening of versifying – and hence, that’s why contributing writer Paul Hood did just that.

Heading south, this month’s In the Neighborhood makes a firsttime trip to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a highly livable and oh-sowelcoming college town with an abundance of historical sites, a vibrant arts community, and thriving, often eclectic, downtown businesses. It’s also a hub for entertainment (say the words “car show” and everyone thinks of Carlisle Events at the Fairgrounds!) that’s grown and adapted to change over the centuries. Even the “gem of downtown,” the Carlisle Theatre, now does much more than show movies, with regular offerings of musical concerts, live musical theatre productions, and programming for children and families. A downtown Carlisle “don’t miss” in the coming months: the Ice Art Festival in February!

Heading east, Harrisburg Magazine “turkey trots” over to Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania to talk (and not eat!) turkey with Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi, owners of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, a safe haven

for rescued farm animals. While turkeys are the focus (and, in particular, a pair of feathered gals named Santosha and Tammy) the sanctuary is also home to pigs, sheep, horses, ducks, chickens, goats, and alpacas.

As the farm’s website states, the turkeys and their multiple farm-mates are all “loved, respected, and protected” – not just at Thanksgiving, but year-round.

And, speaking of Thanksgiving, we decided that an answer to the question “Did Ben Franklin really want the turkey to be our national symbol” might make for a lighthearted sidebar.

Returning to Central Pennsylvania (and our theme of mindfulness), Andrea Minick Rudolph, Founder and Executive Director of Oriyoki Zendo, a non-profit Zen Buddhist organization, and, by anyone’s estimate, an expert at “living in the present moment, writes about “Cultivating Gratitude”; David J. Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association, zooms in on the past, present, and exciting new future of the historic Dixon University Center; and our own Christina Heintzelman explores the “Stories Without Words” created by some of the area’s most talented photographic artists.

The magazine’s very first Barista’s Choice stops by Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill to profile artist-barista Georgia DuCharme; Taste This Friday finds the Harrisburg Mag staff sampling the awardwinning burgers, fries, and cheesesteaks at local culinary institution The Jackson House; and reclusive author Bart L.B. weaves a tale of radio tragedy turned triumph in “The Lick of Time.”

Don’t forget our regular columns: Andrea Reed offers healthy holiday eating tips in Nourishing Bites; Alex Brubaker’s By the Book reviews best-selling author Brené Brown’s latest, “Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience” and, in The Finance Hound, Bryson Roof writes about charitable gifting strategies ahead of Giving Tuesday.

Also, Barbara Trainin Blank previews Theatre Harrisburg’s production of “Spongebob: The Musical” in Theatre Thoughts; HACC’s Robert Stakem devotes his Tailboard Talk to fall driving safety tips; and, new to the magazine, Kristen Zellner, owner of Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, outlines tips for keeping pets safe during the holidays in For the Love of Pets. Also new this month: look for pithy Off the Cuff one-liners by humorist Bill Roddey throughout the magazine! 7 R.G.

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Bartender’s or Barista’s Choice

Barista-Artist is a walking encyclopedia on coffee Story By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

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Barista Georgia DuCharme – Cornerstone Coffeehouse

DuCharme’s art 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Photos By Rick Snizik

lot has changed in the coffee business since Cornerstone Coffeehouse owners Sue and Al Pera sold their first cups in 1999. “People have changed and so coffee has changed,” says general manager Nicole Miller, explaining how fair-trade coffee and organic coffee beans became the norm around 15 years ago. Additionally, Cornerstone’s food menu has expanded to include a full breakfast and lunch menu, rather than just pastries; cooking classes and private dinners were added in the early 2000s; and catering services became a regular thing in the 2010s.

Of course, Covid brought about some of the biggest, and often most consequential, changes at the Camp Hill fixture. “Laying off some of the best people I have met in my life was honestly heart-wrenching,” Miller recalls, adding that “Cornerstone was able to survive by immediately going into conservation mode.”

That meant cutting back hours significantly, imposing strict safety protocols, and also pivoting into “selling what people needed, not just what they wanted.”

Quart-sized caffeinated drinks for stocking up at home and easily reheatable ready-made meals were part of the equation, along with the installation of a large canopy over their outside deck.

“Coffee shops have to be adaptable,” says Miller. “But” she goes on, “the heart of the store is still the same: serve great coffee to great people.”

If the heart of the Cornerstone Coffeehouse is its coffee, then the lifeblood that makes everything flow like clockwork is the hard-working staff. And perhaps no one better represents the hard work – and creativity – so important to the Cornerstone team than barista Georgia DuCharme, a Cumberland Valley graduate who confesses “I grew up loving coffee.” Hence, why not practice your passion for the craft of coffee making at one of the area’s preeminent java joints (Cornerstone Coffeehouse has won “Simply the Best” Coffee honors multiple times), something which DuCharme has been doing for 2 ½ years.

DuCharme loves expressing her creativity, when she’s on the job at Cornerstone, and also at home working on her paintings and illustrations (she was the café’s featured artist for June). Her knowledge of coffee is broad (ask her how Cappuccino got its name!) and she’s always eager to learn more about “the beans, the different kinds of drinks, and different syrups, and how they can all work together.” As a result, she often is heavily involved with the creation and naming of new monthly coffee drinks.

November’s Drink Special is the Mustache Maple Mocha, flavored with both chocolate and maple syrup, then topped off with whipped cream.

For anyone who loves the taste of maple, stop by, and treat yourself! As a bonus, for every drink special purchased this month, $1 will go directly to Penn State Health and Mid Penn Bank for their 2021 No Shave November Campaign, which raises money for prostate cancer research.

And what does DuCharme like most about working at Cornerstone? Her response is quick and quite fitting for a coffee afficionado: “Any job that pays me in coffee is all right by me!” 7

DuCharme’s Dossier Words of advice to home coffee brewers: Match your brewing method to how many people are drinking your coffee or how you intend to consume it. If you are brewing for a lot of people, a regular drip machine is probably the way to go, whereas if you will only drink a cup or two, then a pour-over or French press is best. DEFINITELY buy a coffee grinder if you can, as freshly ground coffee makes a huge difference. It’s not all that expensive and you can find a good one online for 10-15 dollars. In addition, you can greatly maximize your home barista game by buying flavored coffee syrups online; even basic ones like vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel can last you a long time and make your morning cup more enjoyable.

Inspirations: I get inspired by lots of things. I’m always looking at other shops and baristas (especially easy now that we have all kinds of social media to connect us), thinking, “could I/we do that?”

As for flavors, I’m inspired by baking, candies, DuCharme’s art and bartending types of flavors, and I love the challenge of trying to recreate those flavors in new drink combinations. We love using our existing coffees, syrups, and teas in novel and innovative ways whenever possible.

Favorite coffee or blend of coffee: If I’m drinking just drip coffee, I like a medium roast, usually South or Central American. My favorite coffee of all time is a Guatemala Antigua, so I snatch that up wherever I can find one. Nowadays, my

favorite coffee drink is an oat milk latte with a bit of brown sugar. A lot of our baristas drink something similar on the daily. While I often like to experiment with one of our many flavored syrups, I can also get down with an iced coffee sweetened with a good old Splenda most days, as well.

Recommendations of two or three kinds of coffee to try: As for drip coffees, I would have never even considered trying a flavored coffee before I worked at Cornerstone, but I’ve discovered them to be quite good. It’s neat that the flavor is in the bean and not the syrup, so it’s not very sweet by itself. It also lends itself very well to being iced if you’re making it at home. My favorite of our flavored coffees are Winter Frost, (Chocolate) Nightmare on Elm Street (sort of a s’mores-like flavor we have around Halloween), and Autumn Spice. As for non-drip coffee drinks, I recommend a Vietnamese iced coffee (Café Sua Da) with condensed milk; a Dirty Chai, which is a chai latte with espresso (especially when made with our turmeric chai base); or an Affogato, which is ice cream topped with espresso shots.

There are tons of unique ways to take your coffee besides just a drip coffee or latte, and that’s what fascinates me about this job.

Favorite coffee-fusion drink to mix: When I have the time, I love to make any drink that has a meticulous element to it. Anything with layering or drizzling is very satisfying to me, and I love making something that I know will look good on an Instagram feed. My favorite drink of all time is the Shot Green Tea See DuCharme on Page 8

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 7

DuCharme, continued from Page 7

Latte, which is a matcha latte with shots of espresso, layered to have a layer of the green matcha on the bottom, a layer of white milk, and then a layer of brown espresso on the top.

Most commonly ordered drinks during your shift(s): Our most commonly ordered drinks are a drip-brewed coffee and Honey Vanilla Latte, which stays pretty standard throughout the seasons, and then the other most common ones change according to the season. Nowadays we are into the thick of pumpkin spice season, whereas in the summer people like to cool off with an iced tea or frappe.

Philosophy on coffee brewing and/or the enjoyment of coffee: Not all baristas agree with me, but I believe there’s a time and a place for ALL kinds of coffee. Some kinds are better suited to road trips or studying, some kinds are best enjoyed at home. I even think that there is a time and a place for horrible supermarket instant coffee. And in addition, you like what you like, and I don’t think any amount of my extolling the virtues of iced coffee will convert the “extra hot latte” people to the other side, or viceversa. But that’s okay. I think it’s okay to have a sweet coffee with lots of cream or a black coffee enjoyed plain. So, the only thing that’s bad is when you shame somebody for what they like. However, once more, make sure you match the method of consumption to the kind of coffee. If you want to have a cappuccino, cappuccinos are wonderful, but you have to be ready to drink it right away, or it will deflate. In the same way, if you have an iced coffee, if you let it sit out in the hot sun and wait a long time to enjoy it, it’ll be totally melted and diluted.

Barista Georgia DuCharme

DuCharme’s Signature Drink The Sagittarius

(makes 1 serving) 1 tsp Pineapple Hibiscus Lychee tea leaves 1 tsp Chamomile Lemon tea leaves 1 tsp Moroccan Mint green tea leaves 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp simple syrup ice lemon slice to garnish 1. Put all of the tea leaves into a looseDuCharme’s art leaf tea bag or tea ball in a mug or heatsafe cup 2. Put lemon juice and simple syrup into the mug and pour hot water over all, about 1 cup of hot water total 3. Steep it all in the mug for 5 minutes or more, until the whole mix is a nice dark red 4. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the tea mixture over the ice, slowly so that the glass doesn't break.

5. Optionally, garnish with a lemon wedge and straw and enjoy! (all teas can be found at Republic of Tea if you want to make this drink at home)

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

While barista is my day job, I’m also a professional illustrator and I teach art classes for kids at the Susquehanna Art Museum when I’m not at the cafe.

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

I work most days of the week including weekends, usually in the mornings to early afternoon.

Recipe for your signature (or favorite) coffee drink: I’ve helped to engineer many of the drink specials or drink themes over the past few years, so it’s actually quite difficult to pick a favorite or most distinctive drink that I’ve created. However, I think one of the best drinks I’ve made to date was “The Sagittarius,” from our series of Zodiac-themed drink specials earlier this year. It is an iced tea of equal parts of our Mediterranean mint tea, pineapple hibiscus lychee, and chamomile lemon, with a bit of simple syrup and a bit of lemon juice. It’s the perfect refreshing drink after a day of work, and only has the barest hint of caffeine so that I won’t have trouble sleeping later, when I’ve got to get up early for work. As for my signature coffee drink, these days it is “The Piledriver,” which is a latte with an extra shot, macadamia nut syrup, and ground nutmeg. 7

NOMINATE A BARTENDER OR BARISTA! harrisburgmagazine.com/submissions

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 9

In My Neighborhood/Carlisle

PHOTO BY LAUREN GROSS

Walkable, hospitable, and oh so livable … that’s Carlisle in a nutshell!

Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

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arlisle, Pennsylvania has received its share of high marks for livability. In fact, Livability.com ranked them #16 on its 100 Best Small Towns list, and #4 for Top 10 Cities for Veterans. In recent years, Forbes has rated the city as one of the cheapest places to live, as well as one of the best places to raise a family. No doubt, those are tremendous accolades for this sister town of Carlisle, England and seat of Cumberland County government. But to truly appreciate what it’s like to live and make a living in Carlisle, it would be wise to move beyond statistics and rankings, and instead discover what exactly makes the town “tick.” And, to do that, let’s go back more than a few “ticks,” to Carlisle’s founding.

George Washington slept here In this case, the real estate cliché is actually true. President Washington did stay over-night in Carlisle on his way to squelch the Whiskey Rebellion. And he also attended services at First Presbyterian Church, the oldest building in Carlisle, on October 5, 1794. But Washington’s visit was just the tip of the historical iceberg, because the development of Carlisle as a livable community relies on many more names and events.

Settled by Scots-Irish immigrants in 1751, Carlisle has hosted other notable figures, including Declaration of Independence signers James Smith and James Wilson, and is home of Revolutionary War legend Molly Pitcher. It is easy to see and understand the significance of such men and women – and the honored places they hold in the city’s growth - by taking a quick walking tour of downtown Carlisle.

Since the name Molly Pitcher has already been mentioned, start 10 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

at the Old Public Graveyard on Cemetery Ave., where she was interred in 1832. Remembered for her bravery in carrying pitchers of water to soldiers while under enemy fire, she embodies the kind of “help thy neighbor” character that’s ubiquitous in contemporary Carlisle. Alas she didn’t receive a recognizable headstone until 1876, or her statue till 1916.

The Centenary Building on High St. and Empire Hook & Ladder Co. on Pomfret St., share a resiliency and “rise from the ashes” destiny – the former, as a Methodist church and site for Dickinson College commencement services in the 1800’s that was ravaged by fire in 1999, and the latter, as both the home of the famous local fire company from 1859 to 2006 and the beloved team of horses known as Tom and Jerry. The Centenary was reborn as modern apartments and retail space (while maintaining its historic exterior) and Empire’s unique art deco space is now home to Carlisle Arts and Learning Center (CALC).

Another must stop: the Union Fire Company No. 1, the oldest continually-operating fire company in the entire state of Pennsylvania, which now has two floors dedicated to a fire museum.

Three of Carlisle’s “marquee” attractions can all be beheld while walking east-to-west on High Street. The Old Cumberland Prison’s castle-like façade can’t be missed when driving into town and is yet another “reclaimed” project, as the landmark now houses county offices. Carlisle Theatre, of course, features an actual marquee, as this “gem of downtown” has been entertaining locals with movies, musical concerts, and other cool “live” shows since 1939. (See the accompanying sidebar for more background on the theatre). Finally, the Bosler Library, with its striking Greek temple architecture,

was established in 1900 by the heirs of J.H. Bosler who wanted to “give the young men in town something to do.” Bosler has become one of the most visited libraries in Cumberland County.

Perhaps no site captures Carlisle’s “neversay-die” attitude better than Lincoln Cemetery. Many decades ago, Carlisle’s black community buried their loved ones in the segregated grounds, but in the 1960’s the land was converted to park space, and only one headstone – belonging to Fleta Mae Jordan – was left standing. In 2019, descendants of those once buried at Lincoln undertook restoration efforts, with the current entrance archway being gifted by that year’s U.S. Army War College’s graduating class. As a result of the community coming together, just last year, Carlisle passed a resolution apologizing for the removal of headstones and pledging to work toward a more equitable future.

Other notable historic gems to visit: Dickinson College, the first college established in the new United States of America, and Penn State Dickinson Law, one of the oldest law schools in the country; the Old Court House, which still retains damage sustained during the 1863 confederate shelling of Carlisle; the Carlisle Meat Market (now home to retailer Miss See Carlisle on Page 12

PHOTO BY LAUREN GROSS

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CARLISLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 11

PHOTOS BY LAUREN GROSS

Carlisle, continued from Page 11

Ruth’s Time Bomb), precursor to Giant Food Stores; and the Old Train Station, where giant steam locomotives stopped 24 times per day from 1838-1936.

Small businesses make for a larger-than-life community

The backbone of every city’s downtown area is its collective of small businesses, and it’s easy to see why Carlisle’s downtown isn’t just aliveand-kicking but thriving. All one must do is take a walking tour of the city’s business district – on this occasion, kindly provided by Jennifer Germain, Development & Marketing Director for the Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce – and you instantly discover that the “hustle and bustle” of these city sidewalks is real, as is the camaraderie between the assorted shops and restaurants.

Walking past American Artistry Gallery on North Hanover St., a building (once home to the Bon-Ton department store in the early 1900’s) showcasing works by nearly 90 different fine artists and craftspeople, owner Pam Fleck greets us with a smile and the words “we just had anniversary number 8, and we’re still going strong.”

It becomes quickly apparent that Carlisle is rich with artists and filled with an eclectic array of galleries, so the tour is at an excellent starting place.

“I think the great thing about Carlisle,” says Germain,” is that we have little things that you might not find other places. It’s kind of like a big-city find, but a small-town kind of feel.”

That small-town feel extends far beyond the three primary streets for Carlisle’s line-up of small businesses, but those streets – Hanover, High, and Pomfret – are must-visits for anyone desiring a delightful afternoon of shopping and dining.

Hanover Street

A must-stop for lovers of antiques and vintage items is the Carlisle Antique Mall. Built in 1918 as the iconic Montgomery Ward Department Store, the four-floor facility still features many different “departments” – everything from antiques (Victorian to primitives), to upcycled décor. And the Underground Marketplace area is filled with fashions and accessories suiting any age.

Speaking of fashions and accessories, Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb is “exploding” at the seams with a variety of vintage and retro clothing items for both women and men, and they also buy items.

And, if you’re in the gift-giving mood, be sure to stop by The Greatest Gift, where the mission is “to provide unique gifts and beautiful things” crafted by artisans. Shoppers will find a selection of bath & body products, candles, children’s gifts, clothing, handbags, jewelry – and more.

If shopping makes you hungry, Hanover Street has a number of enjoyable restaurants to dine – or wet your whistle – at. Market Cross Pub & Brewery, with its English pub fare and extensive beer list, has been deeply involved in the Carlisle community for See Carlisle on Page 14

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Carlisle, continued from Page 12

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CARLISLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

more than 20 years. Hook & Flask Still Works – owned by ex-firemen and the first distillery in Carlisle since Prohibition – has burgers, loaded waffle fries, and salads to go along with their own whiskey, moonshine, rum, vodka, and gin. And 1794 Whiskey Rebellion not only features juicy steaks and meats from Newville’s Eleven Oaks Farms but is housed in the city’s only downtown hotel – Comfort Suites – making it easy to nap after a delicious meal. For those craving a more pampered respite, continue south on Hanover St. to the Carlisle House Bed & Breakfast, a beautifully restored 1826 Civil War house.

High Street

PHOTOS BY LAUREN GROSS

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When it comes to food, High Street is like the “main” street of Carlisle. From West to East, there are variety of choices for dining, for all tastes and budgets!

Your tastebuds – and wallet – really can’t go wrong with a stop by Taqueria Laurita. The fact that it’s small reflects the owners’ original intention of opening a food truck; and it’s easy to miss when walking by. But miss at your own risk, because their tacos, burritos, and empanadas are exquisite. Another budgetfriendly option: the Hamilton Restaurant, whose Hot-Chee-Dog is so famous that the city recently recognized the cheese-chilimustard concoction with an historical marker outside the restaurant.

For a truly one-of-a-kind evening out, Grand Illusion Hard Cider is no illusion when it comes to a broad tap list of freshbrewed ciders ranging from Mystic Citra Pineapple to The DeCider: Presidential Peanut Butter. An assortment of soups, dips, salads, and flatbreads round out the short but satisfying food menu; and, true to its name, the restaurant hosts plenty of “magical” events, including their regular Family Friendly Table Magic on Monday evenings.

Further good libations can be had down the street at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company, very bright and modern with a tremendous tap list of its own – featuring a wide assortment of its handcrafted brews, from IPAs to its own hard seltzer. You can also play trivia on Sundays, and live music is gradually making its post-Covid return. Oh, and don’t forget the food: Burgers, crab cakes, IPA Braised Bacon Salad … bet your mouth is starting to water!

Have a sweet tooth? Helena’s Chocolate Café and Creperie is a popular choice (Jennifer Germain recalls a student saying “the whole reason I came to Dickinson College was for Helena’s!”); and Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream isn’t just a local institution, it’s ranked as one of the best ice cream stores in the U.S.!

Don’t leave High Street without browsing

the books, puzzles, and games at Whistlestop Bookshop, a fixture in downtown Carlisle for over 30 years!

Pomfret Street Last but certainly not least is Pomfret Street, whose first block of exclusive boutiques and eateries is affectionately known as the SO-HI Arts District. On a normal day, not only will you be exposed to unique art installations up and down the block (can you say “photo op!”), but you’ll also be pleased aesthetically - and, in some cases, culinarily - by these great local businesses.

Check out the handmade utilitarian pottery at K. Olsen Ceramics. Take a few steps and you’re at Pat Craig Studios, an award-winning custom-framing store that also has handcrafted jewelry, fine arts and prints, and other unique gifts. Right next door is Boutique on Pomfret, featuring elegant clothing for the mature woman; and around the corner, on Hanover St. (but still considered SO-HI) is Castlerigg Wine Shop, where you can buy fine Pennsylvania wines by the bottle, or taste some of them at their beautiful wine bar. Speaking of “tasting,” head further west and across the street on Pomfret and you’ll come to Spoons Café, a welcoming little restaurant situated in an historic home with a healthconscience, farm-to-table menu (don’t leave without trying their tasty homemade soups!). Then, if you’re a chocolate lover, head back east to Mummert Chocolates, a family-owned maker of gourmet Swiss chocolates and customized confections.

Make your own box or ask them about their gift baskets!

A hub for activities As a college town, it only goes to figure that Carlisle is host to more than its share of entertainment and activities. In addition to Farmers on the Square, a weekly (bi-weekly in Winter) farmers market featuring open air vendors on both sides of the square, there are a variety of seasonal events and offerings.

And, with a venue like the Carlisle Fairgrounds nearby (and planning for its 50th anniversary!) it also goes to figure that many of those events are car-themed! (Cue “vroom, vroom” SFX here).

Yes, Carlisle Events has so many car shows on tap at the fairgrounds every year, it’s hard to keep track. From Ford Nationals in June and Chrysler Nationals in July to Truck Nationals and Corvettes at Carlisle in July, and finally Fall Carlisle in October, the city is definitely a car enthusiast’s dream town.

This month (Nov. 27), Small Business Saturday will promote a special day of See Carlisle on Page 16

In My Neighborhood/Business

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY; CIRCA 1961

Carlisle Theatre: reborn like the Phoenix, and just as immortal!

Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

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nce upon a time, there was a movie theater in nearly every American city, big or small, smack dab in the middle of downtown. Gathering with the family to watch the latest bit of Hollywood magic was often the only entertainment in town. Hence, the movie theater was often regarded as “the hub” of the town.

Carlisle Theater was such a theater. And, in many ways, it still is. When a community like the one in Carlisle is so passionate about its downtown, they don’t give up on its institutions easily. And the people “working in the trenches” for Carlisle Theater over the past 82 years didn’t either.

Opened in 1939, the Carlisle Theater (originally called The Comerford) was actually

the historic building with its “razzledazzle modernistic marquee” and “streamlined moderne” interior PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY; CIRCA 1951 is still home to films – both contemporary and classic – but now also features regular musical concerts, live musical theatre productions, and programming for children and families.

How was the theater able to rise from the ashes of the cineplex era? Artistic Director Ashley Byerts says a combination of community spirit and re-invention are to be given the credit.

“The original group of people that banded together to revitalize the theater – people who cared about this space, who were in here working, hands-and-knees to get it to a place where we could continue to show movies PHOTOS BY RANDY & LAUREN GROSS

"What a lot of people don’t know is that films are only about one-third of what we do here.” - Ashley Byerts one of three movie palaces located within a block of one another - and, as an extra added attraction to families in summertime, the first air-conditioned building in town. During its early years, the theatre offered daily continuous shows from 2:30 until 11:30 p.m., and only charged 25 cents for matinees, 40 cents for evening shows. Unfortunately, with the advent of cineplexes in the 1970s, the theater started to see dwindling numbers, and closed in 1986.

Often endings start new beginnings, and that was the case when a group of citizens formed the Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center, Inc. in 1990. The group went on to not only raise enough funds to purchase the theatre, but also restore it to its 1930s Art Deco brilliance – in time for a grand reopening in 1993. Nowadays,

that people would want to come to,” she says, explaining those efforts led the theatre to find its niche once again. Secondly, she adds: “There was finding a way of making the people love this space. What makes this place special? What makes them want to continue coming back?”

She points to the theatre’s relationship with Dickinson College as one of the ways they’ve been able to spread the seeds of love.

Says Byerts, “we’re able to, thru different sponsorships and collaborations, bring a lot of unique foreign films or very important films about modern-day issues that we want people to know about.” Often, the theatre hosts topical lectures and panel discussions; plus discounts are offered to students.

See Carlisle Theatre on Page 17 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 15

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CARLISLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PHOTO BY LAUREN GROSS

Pam Fleck & Friend, John

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CARLISLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Carlisle, continued from Page 14

shopping and dining in support of neighbors, friends, and families who own Carlisle’s local businesses. On December 3rd, Santa comes to Veteran’s Square for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting plus photos. And old St. Nick will make another appearance Dec. 18th and 20th at the Carlisle Expo Center for the 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland, featuring food vendors and gift-shopping, galore (plus the event doubles as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army!)

Looking ahead to the New Year, button up your overcoats and check out the more than 50 sculptures at the 2021 UPMC Ice Art Festival, Feb. 5th thru 7th at various downtown sites; and all fingers are crossed that the annual Taste of Carlisle, Cumberland County’s premier tasting event featuring the best of the best from local restaurants, pubs, caterers, cafes, bakeries, and chocolatiers, will return.

Other fun activities within a short driving distance of downtown: the Carlisle Country Club & Golf Course; the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC), featuring a museum and enjoyable walking tour; the Carlisle Sports Emporium, billed as an “all-age family fun zone” with arcade games, go-karts, laser tag, and miniature golf; and, in nearby Boiling Springs, you can see a show, partake of a fine meal, and even stay overnight at the historic Allenberry Resort, which, because of its proximity to the Yellow Breeches, is also a popular choice for trout fishing and fly fishing. In the mood for other outdoor activities? Go hawk-watching at Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch, hiking along the Appalachian Trail or hiking and fishing at LeTort Nature Trail.

16 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

The Downtown Carlisle Association can help keep you abreast of upcoming Carlisle events and activities at www.lovecarlisle.com.

Also a hub for education For anyone contemplating a move to Carlisle, good educational opportunities are, of course, a priority if you have children. As already mentioned, the city is home to Dickinson College (ranked #50 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report), as well as Penn State Dickinson Law (ranked #60 in Best U.S. Law Schools), plus the renowned Army educational institution, U.S. Army War College. For K-12 education, families can take comfort in knowing that the city’s public schools are also well-graded: Carlisle Area School District (in the Top 50% in PA); Big Spring School District (Top 30%); South Middleton School District (Top 25%); and Cumberland Valley School District (Top 20%).

The area also has three highly regarded private schools: Carlisle Christian Academy, Saint Patrick School, and the Merakey Autism Center.

All of which brings us to our apt summation: you have to be pretty darn smart to know a good thing when you see it. And Carlisle is a good thing. 7

So when did the internet turn into your crazy Uncle Al who keeps getting abducted by aliens?

The ringing in my ears is drowning out the voices in my head. So now I don't know where to go for advice.

PHOTO BY LAUREN GROSS

"A drunk man who had been reported missing spent hours with a search party looking for himself."

Yes officer, he looks a lot like me. (Hick) I'm living the dream. That's why I'm always wearing pajamas to work.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Carlisle Theatre, continued from Page 15

However, the Carlisle Theater’s re-invention hasn’t just been about showcasing the right kinds of films. In the era of Netflix and Hulu – and especially coming out of Covid hibernation, when so many people turned to streaming sources for entertainment – the challenge is to try to get people with short attention spans to venture out of their homes again. “What a lot of people don’t know,” explains Byerts, “is that films are only about one-third of what we do here. We officially reopened in August of this year, and we’ve just worked really hard to stay relevant online, alerting people to who we are and why we’re here.”

Among the new ways the Carlisle Theatre has been reconnecting with demographic groups both old and new: tribute bands (like EagleMania: The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute on Nov. 20, and The British Invasion Years on Dec. 4); Players on High mainstage productions (including a staging of “Clue” that ran in October); theatre education programs for children, including a bullying-prevention play for schools (written by Byerts herself); plus, coming in February … (drumroll, please) a live performance by popular rock band Skid Row (ticket details TBA).

“It’s not just it’s history, it’s its future,” says Byerts, commenting on the theatre’s importance to the local Carlisle community.

“And I am most thankful for the camaraderie of that community – those who come in and really roll up their sleeves and do the work.

Plus, I am really grateful for the community spirit of knowing why the arts are important, and loving them enough to say ‘oh my gosh, my life would be so much worse if I didn’t have this theater here.’”

In a season of thankfulness, apt sentiments indeed. 7 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 17

By The Book/Alex Brubaker

The wit, storytelling, and honesty of Brené Brown “If we want to find the way back to ourselves and one another, we need language and the grounded confidence to both tell our stories and to be stewards of the stories that we hear. This is the framework for meaningful connection.”

These are words from renowned researcher, speaker, and author Brené Brown’s new book, “Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience,” which will be released this December. The author of five New York Times bestselling books, Brown’s works have been translated into 30 different languages worldwide. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views, and she’s one of the leading voices in the world on empathy, vulnerability, shame, resilience, and the power of owning our stories. So, when Brown comes out with a new book – the world takes notice. To celebrate the release of “Atlas of the Heart,” the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA, and Random House are teaming up with indie booksellers across the country to offer a one-night-only virtual book launch with Brown for a live discussion and Q&A. This event will take place via zoom on December 2nd at 8pm (ET), and tickets include a hardcover copy of the book plus an exclusive live-stream ticket for the talk.

Brown first came on to the scene with her groundbreaking new book on living an authentic life, “The Gifts of Imperfection,” which was released in 2010. Since publication, it has sold more than two million

copies worldwide, and Forbes magazine named it one of the "Five Books That Will Actually Change Your Outlook on Life." Brown has published four more books – all of them New York Times bestsellers – including “Daring Greatly,” “Dare to Lead,” “Braving the Wilderness,” and “Rising Strong.”

Now, in “Atlas of the Heart,” Brown takes readers on a “journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human.” Along the way, Brown touches on her notable topics of expertise such as courage, authenticity, adventure, and connection. In only the way Brown can, she delivers a heartfelt message that combines wit, storytelling, and raw honesty that devoted readers will know and love.

To purchase your live-stream ticket and copy of Atlas of the Heart, visit our website at www.midtownscholar.com/livestream-tickets/atlas-of-the-heart. 7 Alex Brubaker is the manager of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and director of the Harrisburg Book Festival. Previously, he was the editorial assistant at Rain Taxi Review of Books and the exhibit coordinator for the Twin Cities Book Festival. He is a graduate of Millersville University and now lives in Harrisburg.

Nourishing Bites/Andrea Reed

B

Holiday Happiness and Healthy Decisions

etween now and next year are a series of festivities filled with family, friends, and… food. It is easy to get caught up in the holiday season and end up feeling like we have overindulged by the time January comes around. Avoiding this feeling doesn’t have to mean skipping out on the social fun or holiday treats. But it does mean being a bit savvy when making decisions throughout the upcoming months. By following a few simple guidelines, you can take care of yourself and enjoy the festivities.

Start by making sure you eat before arriving at the event. This probably seems counterproductive, but arriving on an empty stomach can lead to overeating. When the destination might be filled with a multitude of tempting treats, start strong by having a healthy snack, like an apple and peanut butter or carrots and hummus before arriving. There is no way to control what others bring to the office party or family dinner, but bringing a healthy dish to share allows you take care of yourself and provides your loved ones with a healthy option. This does not mean you are limited to a cold veggie platter. Get creative and bring fresh fruit with a yogurt-based dip or a crockpot of your favorite veggie-based soup. Starting with vegetables and fruits at the celebration helps fill you up while providing your body with antioxidants and fiber.

However, plan to fit in your favorite dishes that you cannot get at any other time of year. Don’t skip out on grandma’s famous pumpkin pie if it is something you cherish, but maybe leave that store-bought scoop of ice cream for another day. It is okay to turn down something you aren’t excited to eat or ask for a smaller portion. Remember, our bodies fill up before our brain gets the message, which can lead to overeating.

No one likes to waste food, but take care of yourself and don’t worry about clearing your plate. Try to eat slower and savor each bite. Finding 18 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

a great spot to socialize away from the food table can help prevent mindless eating while chatting. Incorporating gentle movement can be as simple as taking a short walk around the neighborhood with a favorite uncle between dinner and dessert. By mindfully selecting and enjoying our favorites, we prevent ourselves from feeling deprived while preventing ourselves from overeating.

Choose beverages wisely. This does not mean you cannot indulge in a holiday cocktail, but one glass of eggnog can have more calories than a slice of pie. Choosing water helps us stay hydrated and reduces the number of calories we consume. Consider leaving the hot chocolate for the end of winter when the cold weather is still lingering and opt for a glass of water with meals or between alcoholic drinks during the holidays.

It is not all or nothing. If you do overeat the day before, don’t skip breakfast the next day or give up your health goals. Yesterday was just one day and you have 364 more days in the next year to make good choices. Remember, too, the holidays are for friends and family, not the food. No matter what holiday you are celebrating this season, notice what truly matters: your friends, your family, and your health. 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.

The Finance Hound/Bryson Roof

Charitable gifting strategies ahead of Giving Tuesday

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veryone knows that I am blessed by and thankful for the unconditional love of my beagles. During this time of Thanksgiving, I am reminded and grateful for my family placing such a high emphasis on giving back to the community. My family has a rich heritage of patriotically serving our Nation and my parents have focused on increasing access to food for those in need.

My passion for giving centers around land conservation. As we near Giving Tuesday – the nonprofit world’s Black Friday – let’s examine tax-efficient gifting strategies.

Something to remember when it comes to charitable giving is that tax laws are constantly changing. Given the higher standard deduction granted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it is prudent for you to confirm with your tax advisor that you qualify for these tax-saving strategies. So, what are a few of the options available to you this giving season?

Qualified Charitable Distributions: Suppose you have a tax-deferred retirement account, like an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). In that case, you are required to take Required Minimum Distributions at age 72 and distributions from your IRA are taxable. However, there is an exception: You can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution. I refer to these distributions as Charitable RMDs. The advantage of gifting from your IRA directly to a qualified charity is that you forgo the income tax on the distribution. However, you do not have to wait until your 72nd birthday. Based on the 2015 legislation Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH), you may make Qualified Charitable Distributions upon attaining the age of 70 ½.

Appreciated Stock Gifts: While there has been some price volatility revolving around Covid-19 and the debt ceiling debate, overall, various stock indices have recorded significant increases. Gifting appreciated investments to a qualified charity is one way to avoid capital gains tax on your donation. If you were planning to sell investments to make charitable contributions, you would likely lose between 15% to 20% due to long-term capital gains tax. By gifting appreciated stock, you can increase your financial gift by avoiding the long-term capital gains tax.

There is a second planning opportunity when it comes to appreciated stock gifts. In 2008, Congress passed legislation for custodians to provide cost-basis to the IRS upon the sale of the

investment. Starting in 2011, custodians began providing this reporting to the IRS. For the sales of investments purchased before 2011, custodians do not provide cost-basis information to the IRS, and in some situations, the investor may not know their cost-basis.

Selling positions without a known cost basis creates a challenge come tax time. Accountants and tax-preparers will ask for an acquisition date on the investment, which means digging through years of documentation to determine a purchased date. If you are already planning to donate to a cause important to you, gifting securities without a known cost basis helps you avoid headaches when you are filing your taxes. This does not shift the headache to the receiving institution, instead the gift eliminates the headache because there are no capital gains reporting for the qualified charity.

Giving Back to the Community on a Budget: Covid-19 has presented financial difficulties for many southcentral Pennsylvanians. If charitable contributions are not feasible, various forms of giving back to your community do not include financial gifting. During his commemorative speech at their 100th anniversary celebration, Tim Fatzinger, President and CEO of the United Way of the Capital Region, outlined that the organization has been able to serve the local region because of generous financial donations and volunteer partners. Local nonprofits and religious congregations are welcoming and typically in need of volunteers.

Volunteering time and skills is paramount to the mission of charities, nonprofits, and religious institutions. Because of this, donating time to charities near and dear to you can be just as impactful as donating money.

No matter your passion or budget level, there are always options to give this season. 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.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 19

Theatre Thoughts/Barbara Trainin Blank

Award-winning musical at Whitaker Center; Sankofa African American Theatre Company A Non-cartoonish SpongeBob When someone suggested that Theatre Harrisburg present The SpongeBob Musical, artistic director Kristin Ondo was a bit skeptical.

“A cartoon,” she asked.

But the idea began to grow on her. Ondo now considers the musical about SpongeBob Squarepants and his friends Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks who team to save their beloved home of Bikini Bottom from an impending volcanic eruption “more than a cartoon.”

And a well-honored show, to boot. The SpongeBob Musical was nominated for 12 Tony Awards; it won the 2018 Drama Desk Outstanding Musical, and Outer Critics Circle Award.

Part of SpongeBob’s unique appeal, Ondo added, is that it features music from a legendary line-up of Grammy Award winners, including: Yolanda Adams, David Bowie, Jonathan Coulton, The Flaming Lips, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and They Might Be Giants.

The musical also has a timeless message, Ondo added: “SpongeBob proves that when his world is thrown into chaos, he’s more than a simple sponge, and the world can be saved by a little bit of optimism.”

Not an inappropriate message for a production suspended last season because of the pandemic and revived this year.

The SpongeBob Musical takes place at the Sunoco Performance Theater of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. The final performances are Thursday-Saturday, November 4-6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 7, 2 p.m. For tickets and Covid-19 guidelines, visit: www. theatreharrisburg.com/2021-2022-shows/the-spongebob-musical.

Sankofa: illuminating storytelling When Sharia Benn, president and executive artistic director of Sankofa African American Theatre Company, was asked “Why do you need your own theater?,” she had a ready answer: “Who doesn’t? As long as we have enough stories.”

Of course, they do.

Sankofa AATC, an African American-led organization, is inclusive, while focused on the African American experience and perspective by African American playwrights. It produces theater that illuminates the history, culture, and life experiences of African Americans, and creates safe spaces for education, engagement, and empowerment.

Sankofa is also about partnering with other theaters, including Gamut Theatre Group and Open Stage of Harrisburg.

“We reach out,” said Benn. “We have stories to tell. Not only are they beautiful stories, but they connect audiences.”

One upcoming theatrical production is “Echoes of the Voices of the

Eighth,” an original play by Benn presented in partnership with Gamut and sponsor Dauphin County Commissioners from February 11-20. “Echoes’ is a heartwarming story connecting the young and old, past and present, and gone but not forgotten, to celebrate the history-making contributions of African Americans who lived in the Old Eighth Ward,” the playwright said.

In addition to theatrical productions, Sankofa offers educational programming through Sankofa Theatre and Poetry in Place, Monologues in Motion.

Benn is proud of Sankofa’s accomplishments. These have included 2018 productions of “Akeelah and the Bee” by Cheryl West (co-created with Open Stage of Harrisburg), and “Voices of F.E.W,” an original play

by Benn chronicling the life of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

In 2019, SAATC produced “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enough,” by Ntozake Shange. This was coproduced with Open Stage at its theater, with an all African-American cast, director, and stage manager. Also that year, Sankofa collaborated with Reclaim Artist Collective and the Capital Blue Cross Theatre at Central Penn College to present a new work entitled “Bridge (the Gap).”

“The play was inspired by a historical lynching event that occurred in the Midwest in 1911,” said Benn. “The project primarily targeted African American theater artists but was inclusive of all genders, races, and generations.”

In late 2015, members of Open Stage’s leadership and actors from the cast of several August Wilson productions began to carry on serious dialogue about the need for a theatrical venue in which actors of color could take ownership of telling their own stories.

This dialogue led to the formation of a founding strategic planning committee that worked for more than nine months on developing a strategic plan for the organization.

From this strategic planning exploration, Sankofa African American Theatre Company was incorporated on June 6, 2017, as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Sankofa receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the National Council on the Arts. 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

The beauty of fall brings additional driving concerns 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.”

A

s the fall season arrives, heat dissipates, and our focus moves from swimsuits to sweatshirts. Pennsylvania is well known for its beautiful countryside and autumn colors. However, with this beauty comes additional safety concerns – leaves and wildlife.

20 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Leaves on the Roadway Leaves on the roadway can cause unsafe driving conditions. Extra care should be taken by drivers due to this increased risk. Coupled with wet roadways and lower air temperatures, leaves decrease the friction between a vehicle’s tires and the roadway – which leads to more motor vehicle accidents.

Drivers should also use extra caution when going around turns where traction can be easily lost due to leaf accumulation. Even when roadways are dry, leaves cover other hazards such as potholes,

bumps, sticks and loose gravel – all of which can result in a loss of traction and control. Drivers must increase their following distances to accommodate for these concerns and allow enough space for the vehicle to come to a complete and safe stop.

Leaves on Vehicles Leaves left on the vehicle’s hood or windshield provide additional safety concerns. Leaves that get stuck under the windshield wipers negatively impact the efficiency of the wipers, leading to decreased visibility for the driver. Leaves left on the hood of the vehicle – much like snow that is not entirely scraped clear – can become a visibility hazard if they fly up and cover the windshield.

Accumulation of Leaves A pile of leaves may be an inviting place for a child to play, jump in or use for a game of hide and seek. These games – although seemingly innocent activities – can result in disaster when vehicles drive through them.

Leaves accumulated on the side of the roadway – even when not raked into piles – lead to increased incidents of fires when vehicles are parked on top of them. The fires result when the heated exhaust

system makes contact with the dried, dead leaves. To avoid this, drivers must avoid driving through or parking over accumulated leaves.

Wildlife Concerns With winter quickly approaching and the decrease in temperatures, wildlife will begin to move more frequently. In particular, the whitetail deer population will move more during the daylight hours.

The fall season poses an increased risk for deer and other wildlife on the roadways. Drivers should have an awareness of their surroundings, especially in the suburban and rural settings where deer populations are the highest.

By increasing our awareness and following additional steps of caution, we all can have a safer and more relaxing fall and truly enjoy the beauty of the season. 7 Robert Stakem is executive director of the Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

For The Love of Pets/Kristen Zellner

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Take extra measures to keep pets safe during the holidays

he holidays are just around the corner and delectable goodies will abound. Festive gatherings are perfect opportunities to stray from a pet’s regular diet. There are also more chances for pets to steal food or beg for goodies from relenting guests. Because pets are considered family members, it’s easy to understand why we can’t resist the longing stare from the family dog or the pitiful meows of a beloved feline. We occasionally give in and, if we aren’t careful, our pets can become very ill. Familiar scenarios in my home include cats on the counter, scarfing down anything edible, and the dogs under foot, waiting for morsels to drop while I’m cooking. If you haven’t had to wrestle a piece of onion from the mouth of a food-aggressive dog, consider yourself lucky.

My veterinarian, Dr. Lesly Hladtky, of Dillsburg Veterinary Center reports, “The most common canine ailment by far from November until January is gastrointestinal upset due to dietary indiscretion.”

Gurgling bellies, gas, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea are common signs of these indiscretions. A former veterinarian of mine dubbed the day after Thanksgiving “pancreatitis Friday.” Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed, which can be triggered by a fatty meal like turkey skins, bacon grease, cooked bones, or other rich foods. Symptoms of pancreatitis can include fever, vomiting, lack of energy and appetite, diarrhea, a hunched back from pain and labored breathing. Sometimes, pancreatitis can be fatal.

My dog, Sam, a twelve-pound terrier mix, had a keen nose for sweets, particularly chocolate. He ransacked unattended purses and dumped garbage cans in search of snacks. One Christmas, I hid a bag of gourmet, chocolate stocking stuffers on the inside doorknob of a closet.

At some point, the door was left ajar and Sam tore into the bottom of the bag. Colorful wrappers were mangled and strewn throughout the house after the feeding frenzy and three out of four dogs looked guilty.

After Calling the ASPCA Poison control number and inducing vomiting in three dogs, I never made that mistake again.

No matter how safe you make your home for the holidays, put in the extra effort to prevent pets from getting into trouble. Don’t leave

bowls of candy or unattended beverages within a pet’s reach. Chocolate, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners are toxic to pets. Chocolate poisoning affects the heart, central nervous system, and kidneys. Symptoms can include diarrhea, restlessness, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Xylitol, a sweetener found in candy and gum, can cause hypoglycemia, seizures, liver failure, or even death in dogs and cats.

Alcohol can result in the same.

Preventing pets from ingesting toxic substances takes some foresight. You can use the following ideas as you get ready for holiday cooking and entertaining. Feeding your pets before you sit down for a meal will leave them more satisfied and, in theory, less likely to beg and counter surf. Allow guests to give your pets some treats that are appropriate. Please don’t give anything to someone else’s pet until you get approval. Use a crate, baby gate, or spare room to keep animals safe and out of the dining area. Make sure garbage can lids are secure and take any food waste to an outdoor trash can. Give dogs a stuffed chew toy to occupy them while you eat. You can give cats a good play session and dogs an extra walk to wear them out. If they are tired, they will be more content and less likely to get into mischief.

Taking extra measures to ensure the safety of your pets can prevent emergencies. Veterinary offices are overwhelmed at the holidays, and you don’t want to put your pets in a situation where you can’t get them medical help. If you think your pet has eaten something that has made them sick, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

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.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 21

#hbgmag Influencer

Sharing a Journey (or Two) With the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Gadsden Story By Randy Gross

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rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

oetry is a very personal thing. Some people even consider it so personal that they never share it with anyone, which is a shame. But for Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Gadsden, poetry has been such a force in his life, it’s pervaded every aspect of that life – as a husband and father, as part of his ministry, and also in his everyday community outreach and activism. There truly is a rhyme and reason to Gadsden’s reason for living – and affecting how others live – and it is because of his passion for sharing his life’s journey so that others can learn from the path he’s already walked, that he has been chosen as this month’s Influencer.

PHOTO BY MARKESHIA WOLFE

Nathaniel Gadsden

What other local Poets Laureate have to say about Nate: “I am a Poet. I’ve been around the country on stages large and small, written chapbooks, hosted open mics, won Slams, and have served my city as Poet Laureate twice. I wouldn’t have done an inkling of work outside my personal journals and shabby worn notebooks if it hadn’t been for Nate Gadsden providing a safe space and gentle guidance to share my words with a willing public. Before I read my first poem aloud at The Writers Wordshop I nervously said “I’m not a poet, I just like writing my thoughts…” when I finished reading and looked up from the microphone, I will never forget Nate standing next to me. He was smiling that wonderful smile, holding a caramel-colored tee shirt and he said in that deep comforting voice “You are a poet.” I graciously accepted the shirt and embroidered on it were the words “I am a Poet.” His encouragement coupled with his absolute love for the written and spoken word has given many of us the courage to fly as writers. I am honored to call Nate my mentor and my friend.”

Iya Isoke, Poet Laureate of Harrisburg, 2006-2014 “I’ve known the amazing Rev. Nate Gadsden for about 30 years. But I first heard about him in the 1970’s, around the time he was on the radio in Harrisburg. One of my friends told me about this incredible poet who was reading his verse, accompanied

by Sterling Green on congas - on the radio - which made my head spin. Fast forward 20 years and I heard him read his fiery work at a series I helped run called The Paper Sword. I was blown away by his well-written and powerful indictments of racism in our country. Then I found out he was a well-respected leader and minister in the African American community. By then he had started the longest running reading series in the region, Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop. So many gifted, important writers got their start at the Wordshop. He has influenced me and many hundreds, if not thousands of writers. Nate Gadsden is a treasure. If people are looking for an appropriate figure for a statue, it would be Nate. I am honored to be his friend.”

- Rick Kearns, Poet/Freelance Writer/Teacher & Poet Laureate of Harrisburg, 2014 to present 22 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

THE (REAL) WONDER YEARS Anyone who’s watched any of the episodes of ABC’s new “The Wonder Years,” a coming-of-age story of a Black boy in the 1960s, may be able to get a vague idea of what the teenage Nate Gadsden’s life was like. Gadsden’s formative years were during the tumultuous 60s, a time when multiple assassinations and Civil Rights riots rocked the streets of America.

Gadsden admits that he was “very spiritual growing up, and very concerned about things,” but he also admits that he wasn’t much of a reader. And hence, not a writer either.

There were two school-related events that were about to change all of that. First, when he was at Camp Curtin School, he recalls: “I was in the 7th grade, and the assignment was to do a poem … and I wrote a poem called ‘God, Give Me Love.’ Everybody was like ‘that was a good poem,’ and I was like, ‘hey, that feels good.’” He consequently began thinking more about poetry and, already a fan of Ebony and Jet magazines, began to read more (he confesses, “I just couldn’t get enough of the news.”) The more he listened to and read other poetic voices – most notably, Sonia Sanchez, his mentor – the more he found himself “turned on by the poets.”

Then, in 1968, one of the stormiest years in American history, the “storm” hit Harrisburg – and very nearly struck Gadsden. After an AfricanAmerican was named homecoming queen at John Harris High School, a vote recount was ordered for no legitimate reason. A riot broke out and soon spread all the way to William Penn High, where Gadsden was a basketball player. “All of a sudden,” he recalls, “these guys are coming up banging on the doors

saying ‘school’s out … school’s out’! And William Penn went off the charts!” Roger Goodling, the basketball coach, cautioned his players, “I can’t tell you what to do, but keep your noses clean,” but the tense scene continued to play out, with windows broken and even appearances by members of the Black Panthers. But, at the end of the day, there was a calming voice: the Rev. Belgium Baxter, who, in addition to his ministerial duties, taught poetry in the Harrisburg School District (and would also go on to become the city’s first poet laureate). “He only stood about 5’ 3” or 5’ 4”,” remembers Gadsden, “but he came up on stage and started doing poetry, and everything he did was rhymed. He just rhymed. But he also told a back story first, which made it more interesting. And I was hooked.”

In Gadsden’s young mind, the connection between poetry and community activism was beginning to take root.

POETICS & INJUSTICE “Violence has always been with us.

That’s not the issue,” asserts Gadsden, not in a fiery voice, but with a distinct passion.

Echoing a meme he’s seen recently on Facebook, he adds “the problem is not the problem. Your response to the problem is the problem.” An adherent to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. doctrine of nonviolence to this day, he likes to remind people that police brutality existed back in his day, “but we didn’t have cell phones and all these instant ways of getting the word out. So people were being beaten, and imprisoned, and done wrong … but you didn’t know about it as much.”

“When I look at what’s happening today, it’s nothing new under the sun.”

In his poems and essays, in publications ranging from his book “All Things Considered …” to the local newspaper “Black Wall Street PA,” Gadsden focuses on topics ranging from oppression and poverty, to senseless shootings and mass incarceration. But he also speaks of peace and God’s love – both of which guided him through some radical (and yes, riskier) days as an activist/reporter for The National Alliance of Third World Journalists in the early 1980’s.

“It’s not so much being ‘at risk,’ and sometimes you’re just too dumb to know you’re at risk,” he maintains. “But, with Third World Journalists, that was the most risky stuff we did.”

Those risks included visits to: Cuba, where “The Committee for the Defense of the Revolution were watching you everywhere you go” (and who even briefly detained his photographer friend for taking photos of a Russian submarine); Granada, See Gadsden on Page 24

PHOTO BY MARKESHIA WOLFE

Pictured Left to Right: Keyontay Ricks, Nate Gadsden, Wendi Nnochrinye, and Roe Braddy

The Writers Wordshop: So Much More Than A Workshop

H

Story By Markeshia Wolfe

arrisburg has many historical treasures. However, not all city gems are landmarks or rivers.

Many are not seen but heard. Some are even hidden in the priceless poems and written pieces penned by Harrisburg natives, like Nathaniel Gadsden. In the fall of 1977, Mr. Gadsden founded The Writers Wordshop, a weekly open mic session, constructed to provide a judgment free platform where poets and orators can gather to share their pieces as well as their stories.

Nathaniel, then a grad student, met “People Place” and “Jump Street” founder Mim Warden. The building that is now Harrisburg City Hall was once the UGI building and safe space for five to six students/spoken word artists. Believing in the potential of the poets and in Gadsden’s program, Mim Warden and Jim Heckman wrote a grant for approximately $9k to fund it. A simple misspelling of the word “workshop” to “wordshop” on the grant is how the program was branded with such a catchy and clever name.

Since the birth of The Writers

Wordshop, many nationally renowned poets and authors have graced its airwaves and stages, such as Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sonia Sanchez, and James G. Spady, to name a few. E. Ethelbert Miller, one of the most recognized and highly decorated poets, has also shared profound pieces at Wordshop sessions. After years in the UGI facility and eight years in the United Methodist Neighborhood Center, Mayor Stephen Reed, impressed with Nate’s work, gave the organization a space for theatre and poetry. The Writers Wordshop was one of the first organizations to have residency at the Whitaker Center. In fact, Nate was commissioned to write the official poem titled “Homecoming”. That wasn’t the only time that he was commissioned as a poet. He went on to write two inaugural poems for Mayor Reed. In the first inauguration, Gadsden and Jane ToddCooper collaborated to create a piece which became the official inaugural See The Writers Wordshop on Page 25 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 23

PHOTO BY RANDY GROSS

Gadsden, continued from Page 23

where “within a month of after we left, all of the country blew up … and everyone we interviewed they literally lined up along the wall and blew their brains out”; and also Beirut, where a PLO hijacker – at the time, the only woman who had ever single-handedly hijacked a plane – asked about the photos Gadsden was taking of her, “what would you do with these pictures?,” before adding “I am very wanted and dangerous.”

Gadsden argues that the risks he took as a journalist far exceed more recent so-called “risky” endeavors, such as ministering to and mentoring incarcerated men. “I could do the prison thing,” he says.

“There was nothing dangerous about that environment. I mean, I know a lot of those guys. They grew up in Harrisburg.”

FINDING HIS CALLING Gadsden was already a minister when he met his future wife, Patricia, in 1992. Within a year of their marriage, they opened the Imani African Christian Church. “My aunt was my pastor … she was minister at Church of God in Christ, and I just felt like it was time for me to move on,” he explains. “We literally started a church in our own home at the time.”

From there, the Gadsdens moved quickly to The Neighborhood Center on 3rd St. (where, he recalls, “we had a small little chapel of seats, no more than 15 or 20 people”). As their congregation began to grow, they eventually moved to the old Coopers Funeral Home at 14th and Cumberland Streets, “Then, after 8 or 10 years,” says Nate, “our congregation went up, and then it kind of came down, but we never had the funding. So, when we let that go, we became a nomad church.” Currently, services are held at 3600 Vartan Way in the Living Springs Church, but “really, because of the pandemic,” he says, “we’re more of a TV ministry right now – on Facebook Live, every Sunday!” (After all, he adds, “a building has never been the church.”)

Through it all, his wife has always been by Nate’s side. “Pat and I are like the Yin and the Yang,” he muses. “We do everything pretty much

together. We have our differences … but it’s creative differences. We built a church together, and we travel together, and she’s a community activist in her own way.”

Pat’s activism would lead her and her husband into another great chapter in their lives: Life Esteem, Inc.

ESTEEM & MINDFULNESS “We tied our church into Life Esteem,” says Nate, commenting on the center – and brand – he and Patricia founded more than four decades ago. “So, our ministry is tied into all the work we do with families.”

That work includes education and mentorship, plus health and wellness services for the local community. Both Nate and Pat take pride in being what they like to call “life coaches,” encouraging people to develop spiritual, mental, and physical healing through holistic practices and classes ranging from “Celebrating Families” and “Smart Recovery Solutions” to “Meditation and Mindfulness.” Some of the center’s programs are funded through the Dauphin County Department of Drug & Alcohol. Located at 900 S. Arlington Ave. in Harrisburg, Life Esteem is also home to radio and TV programs hosted

by Nate, and speakers are often invited there to discuss their literary work, poetry, and spiritual perspectives.

Nate is not immune to giving credit where it’s due: his wife. “She’s built Life Esteem … that was all her baby.” He adds, “Pat created a curriculum called ‘8 Dimensions of Wellness,’ and now there’s a couple of other dimensions they’re going to add … and there are these experts that she’s identified, that will teach these classes, and it all circles around mindfulness. If you’re mindful of your health, if you’re mindful of your surroundings, your fears, your strengths … when you’re really in touch with that stuff, you can do something with it.”

Being both mindful – and thankful – have opened up many doors for Nate and the many people he has mentored over the years.

See Gadsden on Page 26

What other local Poets Laureate have to say about Nate: “I met Nate back when poetry was a rarely-spoken word round these parts. My personal mission was to develop a poetry playhouse, where poets could gather, present their work, and see & meet other poets. With the efforts of several other like-minded missionaries, we created quite a noise, provided an audience for nationally known poets and garnered lots of press. Into this chaos strode Nate, bringing with him several poets and a sense of dignity. He became a regular for a while and I found out he and his group had a home base of their own. We shared performers and events over the years and kept up two fronts against the ever-rising tide of blind consumerism engulfing our area. Nate's poetry and his message to his many students is, “If you've got something to say, say it!” Nate speaks clearly, calmly and with a voice that demands to be paid attention to.”

- Gene Hosey, Poet Laureate of Harrisburg, 1994-1998 24 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

The Writers Wordshop continued from Page 23

poem. Stephen Reed honored Mr. Gadsden by making him the official poet laureate for Harrisburg for 1998-2002. He was not the only poet from the Wordshop to receive such an honorable title. From 2002-2006 the reigning poet laureate was attorney Claude Lewis, followed by Iya Isoke who held the title from 20062014. Currently, the Wordshop has many consistent participants who are seasoned orators, such as Wendi Nnochrinye and novelist Roe Braddy, a 2021 Emma Award Winner for Hero/Heroine of the Year, Author of the Year and Best Historical Romance.

The Writers Wordshop is open to all ages and walks of life with a story to share, in whatever style they chose to share it. For 15 years the organization was contracted by the Harrisburg School District and tasked with encouraging students in elementary and middle school to express themselves through spoken word. Recently, one of their high school students took third place in a national competition.

Nathaniel Gadsden is also the founder and pastor of Imani Redeemed Christian Church of God. Because he is so passionate about poetry, he incorporates inspirational poetry and storytelling in his ministry.

During the pandemic, The Writers Wordshop was forced (as many programs were) to transition from in-person to online. Although it may have been a bit of an adjustment, Nate and his faithful friends made sure that the program was not delayed or neglected. In fact, Nate says that “zoom has opened up a national stage for them”. They now have listeners and participants from the west coast and even Israel!

The organization may be known as a platform to share poetry, but there are big plans for the business. Nathaniel dreams of writing plays, seeing more poets being published, incorporating choreographed poems, teaching, and promoting poetry, writing children’s books, and expanding the organization from local to national - and eventually internationally.

PHOTO BY MARKESHIA WOLFE

Roe Braddy

After 44 years, The Writers Wordshop continues to inspire and encourage. There are golden nuggets of wisdom dropped in every spoken word piece. There is a map that leads back to Harrisburg legends, left for one to navigate between the lines of the stories if you listen closely.

Nathaniel’s Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop is full of hope and history.

Join The Writer’s Wordshop every Friday at Facebook Live-The Voice 17104 Harrisburg, from 7-9pm. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 25

PHOTO BY RANDY GROSS

Nathaniel Gadsden Gadsden, continued from Page 24

LOVE & THANKFULNESS The Sun sets on you through your smile Smile more often You are the welcome mat to my happy day You are the morning From “A Love Poem for Patricia (My Wife/My Friend)” Much of the love that Nate Gadsden has helped to spread around Harrisburg has used the conduit of The Writers Wordshop, a poet and authors workshop he created in 1977 (see this month’s separate article by Markeshia Wolfe for more details about the group). A former Harrisburg Poet Laureate himself, Gadsden’s status as a respected poetry mentor led to two other Wordship poets being appointed poets laureate: attorney Claude J. Lewis, and former Heavyword Poetry Championship slam winner Iya Isoke. “When Mayor Reed was in office,” Gadsden remembers, “he would literally just call me up and say ‘Nate, who would you recommend.’”

His love of poetry and the written word has inspired many local writers to publish volumes of their works, and Nate recently published an anthology of Writers Wordshop poetry titled “Our Words, Our Voices.” Among his favorite poetry memories is coaxing a youth he was mentoring at Lutheran Social Services into accompanying him to see Sonia Sanchez at Gettysburg College – and how, though reluctant at first, the man was thrilled to discover that poetry isn’t just about “trees and bees.” Nate’s group is also beginning to venture into the realm of storytelling (on October 17th they hosted the International Storytelling Festival at the State Museum) and he hosts a regular Thursday night interview show on Chris Thomas’ The Voice 17104 (“we have 140 countries tuning in as of now,” he boasts, “including Ghana and Uganda!”) Plus, Nate’s soon-to-bereleased autobiographical collection, “In Search of Beloved Community,” isn’t “only about my writing and poetry,” he says, “it takes my whole life and puts it in a capsule.”

That encapsulated life also showcases Gadsden’s love for his community, and his gratefulness for the many experiences he’s had as both a pastor and a poet. “Meeting people who are on the same journey, and understanding that this IS a journey,” he says, describing how his shared journey is something that makes him most proud, and conveying a message to those who have journeyed with him: “Now that you’ve gone through all of this here, you’re now prepared to be empathetic to people who are in the same position.

So, all of that stuff you went through, it wasn’t for naught. Now turn your mess into a message.”

And Gadsden’s closing message: “I am most thankful for The Writers Wordshop, and my wife, and just good people making things happen …

I like people that are doers and get things done.”

Rev. Dr. Gadsden, by all appearances, has not only gotten an awful lot done, but is far from finished with his journey. 7

What other local Poets Laureate have to say about Nate: “As a former board member and guest host of Nathaniel Gadsden's Writers Wordshop I can say there isn't a poetry venue or live reading that gathers writers in the central PA region that doesn't owe tribute to Dr. Nate. Not only is his reading the longest running continuous venue in the area, but it has also provided a safe space for expression for at-risk youth, people who have been incarcerated and are reentering society, interfaith spiritual writers, LGBTQIA+ folks, and many others who at the time Dr. Nate welcomed them had few or no other designated welcoming spaces. In the years I worked alongside Dr. Nate and his amazing wife Pat, I saw poets stop by Harrisburg for a Friday night reading even after having moved across the country a decade before. They were greeted by name, with love and respect and enthusiasm. The Wordshop is not just a place to nurture and showcase talent, it is a family that countless people still call home.”

- The Rev. Carla Christopher Wilson, Poet Laureate of York, PA, 2011-2014

26 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

“Nate has used his gifts to influence the Harrisburg community and beyond through his pastoral endeavors, his creation of and devotion to The Writers Wordshop, a commitment to civil rights and numerous other efforts regarding the good of society. Prior to meeting Nate, I had written several poems, but I had never presented them in public and had not planned to pursue and improve on writing poetry as an avocation. He encouraged me to write more and provided a forum for the continued improvement of my writing and the writings of others. His ability to influence others in a variety of ways, while remaining humble, is inspirational.”

- Claude J. Lewis, Esq. – Poet Laureate of Harrisburg, 2002-2006

SIMPLY THE BEST ALL-STAR TRIBUTES

Being the best isn’t about being better at what you do for just one year. That’s why, as Harrisburg Magazine celebrates 25 Years of Excellence, we want to recognize your excellence - by awarding “All-Star” status to those who have been honored repeatedly as your Simply the Best favorites.

Looking for more STB All-Stars?

Harrisburg Magazine has launched an all new online directory at simplythebestharrisburg.com. This online directory lists all of the 2021 Simply the Best and Readers' Choice winners, along with Simply the Best winners from the past 10 years!

The online directory at simplythebestharrisburg.com is also searchable so you can quickly find winners of the Simply the Best Reader's Poll.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 27

CITY VOICES FIND A HOME

O

Story and Photos By Paul Hood

ften in life it takes a long time to find a place to call home. For a group of poets in Harrisburg - once known as The Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel - this rings truer than words floating across the space in which they eagerly (or not so eagerly) express themselves. Through many forms of spoken word, soliloquy, monologue and - on rare occasion - haiku, poets nestle together in the basement of Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC) delivering heartfelt diatribes to like-minded individuals, ready to share the inner workings of their hearts, minds, and souls.

Now known as The Blacklisted Poets, the weekly readings offer a popular safe space for local wordsmiths. From novice to professional, the range of thoughts and emotions once clamoring within the confines of several local establishments over the last decade (12 to be exact) has helped provide a literary outlet for many poets, one of them being Maria JamesThiaw, a graduate of Shippensburg University and former Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel favorite currently teaching Creative Writing at Capital Area School for the Arts in downtown Harrisburg. Armed with an MFA from Goddard College, James-Thiaw, whose published works from 2 Leaf Press, a publishing company that focuses on black/brown female authors, include “Talking White” and “Rising Waters,” reflects on her early experiences with Almost Uptown: “I first wandered into a reading in the early 2000’s and I just watched.” An advocate for diversity and taking pride in one’s cultural ethnicity, was immediately struck by the feeling of being appreciated for her talent, and it wasn’t until later in 2004 that a serendipitous encounter with other local poets cast in a production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” at Open Stage gave her the confidence to showcase her work. “I was invited to a Thursday night open reading. It brought me to life. It was my church,” says James-Thiaw. Keith Snow, a veteran of the local poetry scene during its early days, started attending the Almost Uptown Poetry readings in April of 1999. He recalls being captivated by the emotional response and energy from the audience in the room, saying “I witnessed the audience laughing and clapping and wanted them to laugh and clap for me!”

Amy Jeanette Trout

“I witnessed the audience laughing and clapping and wanted them to laugh and clap for me!”

- Keith Snow, a veteran of the local poetry scene Laughing and applause, finger-snaps and verbal encouragement sometimes followed by tears, are the norm as an energetic room filled with writers offering support - and urging poets to sign up for open readings.

Often thought provoking and revelatory, shared poems come in all forms examining issues along the lines of social and personal. “When part of a community you have the opportunity to practice and hone your craft,” says James-Thiaw. “We would have critique sessions and travel to other readings in York or Philadelphia.”

Even with the changes, a sense of community has remained strong within the poetry scene in Harrisburg, which weathered the Covid-19 28 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Jose Morales

Marty Esworthy

Pandemic only to return stronger and filled with new voices and a new location after moving from the famed Midtown Scholar Bookstore. At the helm is Amy Jeanette Trout - a local poet and integral part of the Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel since her early twenties. Recently Trout gained the responsibility of running The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg, taking the reins from Uptown Poetry Co-Founder Marty Esworthy, a veteran of PostModern Poetry, admired by poets young and old for his willingness to foster a new generation. Trout takes her new post seriously, making sure the weekly readings flow without interruption, a challenge due to HMAC’s busy live music schedule and logistics that often require last minute moves within the venue.

The new outlook and name are derivative of the nomadic life of poets in Harrisburg, a rebranding that presented itself over a conversation with Christine O’Leary Rockey and Jose Morales. “A couple of years ago we were kicking around a new name and came up with The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg,” said Trout, adding, “we gave it a shot and introduced it and it just didn’t work. Our first reading had about six people.” Trout goes on to amend, “part of the reason for the frequent need to relocate comes from establishments not profiting from poetry nights.”

But perseverance paid off and the name soon caught on. Diversity and women’s voices fill the night, upholding The Blacklisted Poets’ mission, which touts a night now solely run by female poets. Esworthy, in full support of the change along with Jose Morales, whose striking poems do away with fluff and cut deep into what drives his words, stand behind the new format. Morales appreciates the stability of Harrisburg’s poetry scene and stresses the importance of inclusion as well as respect for its female poets. “We were concerned with the lack of women poets,” says Trout.

“It was time to bring their voices to the forefront and find a permanent home to showcase the talented female poets in our city.” Christine O’Leary Rockey, also a veteran of the local poetry scene and fresh off a stint in Baltimore, Maryland, reminisces on days when the weekly readings felt like a men’s poetry meet-up: “When I was hearing these men reading, it was like a garden party. It was staid and quiet and filled with words that reminded me of poems by William Carlos Williams.”

Trout credits new HMAC owner Chris Werner with giving the nomadic poets a place for their Thursday night readings. “Chris is into supporting the arts in Harrisburg,” Trout adds. “It’s a win for both HMAC and our poets because he treats us like we’re a valued asset.”

Excising the old format that included a featured reader after an open reading, The Blacklisted Poets focus on filling their time with amateur poets, intent upon upholding the community feel that has boosted the weekly reading’s popularity. With candor, Trout talks about the benefits of remaining at HMAC, “They’re [HMAC] making money off us,” she explains, “unlike other places the poets stick around after shows and buy drinks instead of having to purchase an overpriced pastry or latte.”

The words and thoughts have finally found a home and the focus is clear.

Set on a new path forward, The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg have finally solidified their place in the city - joining other new establishments offering poetry, such as Good Brothas Book Café located at 1419 N. Third St. and, on occasion, La Cultura at 214 Verbeke St., a venue specializing in various events showcasing the diverse art scene in Harrisburg. 7 The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg gather every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC), 1110 N. Third St. in Harrisburg. On Facebook @The Blacklisted Poets of Harrisburg.

Christine O'Leary Rockey HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 29

Short Story/The Lick of Time

The Lick of Time Outside the truck, four contestants were hovering around a shiny red-apple Corvette …

Story By Bart L.B. • Illustration by Emily White

S

he was already half-a-stark mad when the circus came to Penbrook. Actually, one-tenth.

And the circus, Doctor Moribund’s One and Only Frozen Alive Spectacular, was nothing less than one-quarter of a traveling sideshow.

Before we get carried away with fractions, let’s make something pathologically clear. Rebecca was never scientifically proven to be ill. Not by anyone trained in fragmenting the mind. Co-workers cited her for her “excessive conversational skills,” but-“Look who’s talking,” she says.

The proof was there in bold Helvetica print: “Radio Star Agrees to be Human Popsicle.” She must have been crazy.

But let’s not give undue credit to the newspapers. I never do. I’m Ray Rachmaninoff; and that’s my radio name, of course. In case you don’t remember me, I’ll just clear my throat and …

This is your “Ray of Sunshine,” ready to melt away those early morning blues, here on LICK 92 … and for those of you on the road, I know what your question of the day is, because it’s the same every day. Are we there yet? Well, now you are, because you’ve arrived with Ray ...”

Memory still fuzzy? Well, I remember Becky’s story like it happened during yesterday’s drive time.

It was a cool spring day when Rebecca Berlitzer first stepped foot inside the station. She wasn’t exactly a kid fresh out of college, but she had the enthusiasm of one. That’s gotta be why our program director, Jorgy, gave her a part-time weekend shift. Once she got the voices out of her head and into the microphone, she was fabulous …

Becky Blitz, comin’ at you on a hot, hot July night. Wanna know how hot it is? I was just outside smoking a cigarette, and I don’t know if it was that last song, or the air conditioning, but boy are my nipples hard.

If she hadn’t been my co-worker I would have fallen in love with Becky on the spot. Judging by the phone calls, hundreds of men and teen-age boys already had. Which is probably why the GM chose her for the task …

“You say Wild Willie’s World of Used Cars is 100 percent behind the idea?”

“One hundred and twenty,” boasted Kylie, our promotions director.

“You can’t expect to subject one of our personalities to this,” Jorgy whined.

“Especially in the middle of winter.”

“November isn’t exactly winter,” said Mr. Boston, grinning.

“And besides, Becky isn’t exactly a personality … yet,” said Mr. Boston, grinning.

It was unseasonably warm when they strung up the LICK 92 banners that day at Wild Willie’s. Even so, it was frigid for Becky who, dressed 30 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

in a pink LICK 92 bikini, certainly didn’t see the whole picture.

Only the night before, Dr. Davis, her hypnotherapist, had told her to …

Picture yourself lying on a bed of marshmallow …

Becky had asked him then, and was still asking herself, what he meant. “Whole marshmallows? Or marshmallow crème?” The claustrophobia was already starting to hit her as she sank deeper.

Inside the refrigerated truck waited a cramped tube of a bed, an oblong block of ice, and a surveillance camera.

Outside the truck, four contestants were hovering around a shiny red-apple Corvette, each one eager to take a bite. Or, rather, a lick.

You see, LICK 92 was having a Lick the Car contest. Meaning whichever competitor could keep his or her tongue in contact with the Corvette the longest won a new set of wheels. With one caveat: they also had to outlast Becky.

As they lowered her into the belly of the insulated truck, Mr. Boston introduced the contestants: Mr. Reek, a middle-aged math schoolteacher and pocket protector model; seventeen-year-old Mandy, whose lip-piercing had just finished healing; long-haired Gene Simmons fanatic Ronald, in full make-up with an unnaturally long yet presumably natural tongue; and, finally, the man I had my money on, jean-jacketed, wavy-haired, twenty-something Cornelius Johansen Johnson, AKA C.J. But I am not a betting man. Rather, I never bet on people. After thirteen years in the business, I’ve discovered that they’ll pretty much

do anything to win a prize.

Poor Becky. I could see the sweat pooling on her forehead. Which was quite remarkable, considering the truck’s interior temperature.

Yet the sideshow continued. Mr. Reek practically had his tongue flat against the Corvette’s hood ornament. Ronald was doing as best he could to wave to female admirers and not lose contact.

By now, Becky’s upper lip was quivering.

Mandy was the first to be disqualified, after a rather grotesque spider crawled straight for her mouth.

Becky’s face was starting to take on the characteristics of a rubber Halloween mask …

The Gene Simmons lookalike was next.

Cause of disconnection: a leg cramp.

Becky’s mouth was now a wide, silent “O” …

Mr. Reek looked at C.J. They both looked at the video monitor. The crowd was cheering, three quarters of them urging the men to continue.

Let’s end this charade …

That’s what C.J. and Mr. Reek were saying to each other, at least with their eyes. And also what Becky must have been thinking.

On the count of three. One … two …

They were supposed to back away from

the Corvette simultaneously. But when C.J. raised finger number three and stepped back, Mr. Reek’s tongue remained affixed.

Like I said, I don’t bet on people.

As men garbed in white LICK 92 T-shirts pulled a frantic Becky Blitz from the truck, I could have sworn I heard the general manager exclaim that she was saved “just in the lick of time.”

Did C.J. assume the role of “knight in shining armor,” sweep Becky off her feet, and then lay her down in that quiet hospital bed for three weeks? Come on, that’s Hollywood talking.

I always was in love with Becky. Maybe it didn’t happen on the spot, but there’s no denying it. After three girls and a boy, she still looks good in a bikini.

Bart L. B. is a born-and-raised Central Pennsylvanian who now makes his home in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Though he has been writing fiction for many years, this is his first published work. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 31

On Mindfulness/ Cultivating Gratitude

Cultivating Gratitude

Finding gratitude resides in our ability to live in the present moment

A

By Andrea Minick Rudolph

s Thanksgiving approaches, most of us look forward to time with family, eating good food, and relaxing. But for many, in these trying times of Covid, political unrest, job loss, and altered lifestyles, the thought of any gathering can be stressful. We all feel the loss and change this pandemic has brought. It has produced various states of conflict, teeming with emotion, and has created great anxiety and fear, spiritually and emotionally paralyzing some people while freeing others. Social isolation has divided countless friends and families and brought others closer together. Every day we are informed of the glaring, terrible injustices in the world. People have lost loved ones without being able to see them or be there to hold their hand as they take their last breath. So, how do we cultivate gratitude in the swirling midst of these trying times?

Finding gratitude resides in our ability to live in the present moment, no matter what it brings. Our perceptions of life are what determine its beauty or drab unattractiveness. Look at your life and remember which experiences have made you wiser. Were they the difficult ones or the easy ones? During hard times, in the immediate aftermath of tragedy or even years later, we can mindfully use our experiences as opportunities for growth. With conscious effort, we can more easily explore, question, and accept with grace, the interplay of life and death in the changing and unpredictable nature of our existence. With that effort comes a greater ability to cultivate gratitude.

Our existence, our experiences are made more meaningful by understanding we will not always be here, in this place, in this life. Even as the life of a loved one fades, we can thank them for their journey and how their path, no matter how dark or enlightened, has guided us to the present. We can embrace change with the full range of human emotions, move through the grief of loss, and move forward.

The more we experience loss, the more we can be appreciative of each breath we take. Instead of fearing impermanence, we would be wise to embrace it as a friend with whom we share infinite space. Then we can give and receive love freely and live as fully as humanly possible.

There is much under our feet and around us we don’t fully notice and embrace. We take each day, each other, each breath 32 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

for granted. We take our senses for granted. Things may happen serendipitously, and we may feel we have times of good fortune and luck, but if we are not engaged and aware, they will sail by as just another day, hour, or minute on our way to something seemingly more important. We lose so many moments this way, moments we can never recover, and the pursuit of happiness becomes elusive as a will-o’-the-wisp. We forget what it is like to sit for a while in the grass and search for four-leaf clovers. Lost in our thoughts of the past or worrying about the future, we miss evenings of cricket song and fireflies, and looking up in amazement at the stars. Taking the time to listen, to observe, and find beauty in our surroundings affirms and nurtures our relationship, our interconnectedness with all things.

When we breathe deeply, slow down, engage our senses, and pay full attention to what is right in front of us, we are better able to respond to each moment with clarity.

I experience a deep sense of peace when I notice the menagerie of wildlife around the bird feeder that hangs in the pine tree just outside our living room window. Chickadees, house sparrows, English sparrows, brown thrashers, blue jays, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, yellow finches, cardinals, and doves, fly repeatedly in and away, scrabbling for seeds and nuts, some protecting and feeding their fledglings with vigilance and care. Chattering chipmunks and squirrels chase each other up and down the tree trunk, tails swishing, as a dove meanders on the ground, pecking here and there, seemingly unaffected by the chaos and cacophony.

Our perceptions affect how we conceive of life’s beauty or drab unattractiveness. When we move through sadness, grief, disappointment, and anger by identifying the thoughts and beliefs that create those feelings, we can change them. Working with the full spectrum of human emotions and experiences, it is possible to find the freedom to make wiser, more compassionate choices.

Our strongest common bond is our humanity in working together. There is astounding cooperation and effort among those who share in the goal of helping to relieve suffering.

When we respond to others with empathetic compassion and loving kindness, we practice equanimity, and we experience joy. We cultivate gratitude in understanding, sympathizing with, and caring for others, and in recognizing our own frailties.

Mizuta Masahide, the 17th century Japanese poet and philosopher wrote, “Since my house burned down, I now have a better view of the rising moon.” The practice of cultivating gratitude does not discount suffering, nor does it ignore the grief we feel with loss. It acknowledges grief as a part of our healing process throughout our journey as sentient beings. It gives us the courage to find the promise of a future while sitting in the midst of smoldering ruins.

We can mourn the loss of a house, and still find hope. It is easier to feel defeated, to blame, to become bitter and disillusioned.

But if we awaken to possibility, we find that within every challenge lies the opportunity to change our perspective.

Gratitude is inherent in the child who builds a sandcastle on the beach, and then knocks it down with gleeful abandon.

They immediately build another with no thought of how they built the last one, or how wonderful it was. They are living in a moment of pure happiness, of creative experience, a place of beauty, balance, and exploration. When we are not mired in the past, we open to what is possible. If we live in the acceptance and understanding that every moment, no matter what it brings, offers us a choice in how we respond, then we can view each day as a gift to unwrap and appreciate.

The meaning of life lies in just being here.

Savor each moment as if it is your first… and your last. Keep your loved ones close.

Appreciate the gifts you have. Live fully, with gratitude for what is right in front of you, for each breath you take, for the path ahead, for what is visible and what is yet to come.

Cultivating gratitude is an opportunity to embrace life with grace, humility, and wonder, in relationship to and with everything and everyone. It is awakening to all the voices within and around us and is the falling away of our perception of self as separate or isolated. And that is something for which we can be truly grateful.

Andrea Minick Rudolph is the Founder and Executive Director of Oryoki Zendo, a 501(c)(3), non-profit, Zen Buddhist organization dedicated to promoting mindfulness and meditation.

Director of Integrated Mindfulness Therapies and a cognitive behavioral-based therapist, Andrea is a professional member of The Pennsylvania Counseling Association, an ordained priest in the Zen Buddhist tradition, and a celebrant for weddings, blessing, and life transitions. 7

Once I hit the ground running, but I tripped and fell over my untied shoelaces.

I finally saw the writing on the wall and it was in crayon.

I got gored by a Red Bull. Lawsuit pending.

There seems to be more streaming services popping up lately than weeds in a vacant lot.

When someone says "I did my own research and concluded…" that just means they Googled it.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 33

Talkin’ turkey (and pigs, and goats, and chickens) Story By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

T

Owners Sarah and Jonina & Turkeys Santosha and Opal

34 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Photos By Rick Snizik

his is the story of Santosha and Tammy, just a couple of smalltown gals growing up on a farm in rural Lancaster County.

Wait, what’s that? Oh, right, Santosha and Tammy are actually turkeys. No, not as in duds or losers. These gals are really truly the feather-covered, snood-and-wattle adorned, “gobble-gobble” type of turkeys. And we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Before you hear the story of Santosha and Tammy, and the dozens of other animals residing at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, you need to hear about two other gals: Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi, former city kids who grew up to be therapists (Sarah, in the mental health realm, Jonina, in the physical) who would gradually – and quite unselfishly – donate more and more of their time to helping out the Humane Society before finally deciding they wanted to do more than just volunteer. So, Sarah gave up her practice, and Jonina sold the yoga studio part of her business, and the couple purchased a property in Elizabethtown that they converted into a haven for abandoned or abused farm animals.

Eventually, they would move to a larger property, just down the road in Mt. Joy, and their growing stable of hooved and beaked residents would soon be home to pigs, sheep, horses, alpacas, ducks, chickens, goats, and … right, turkeys.

Okay, okay, so you’re asking, “is now the time we get to hear about the turkeys?” Patience, please. It may be getting close to Thanksgiving, but Santosha and Tammy would prefer that you think of something other than turkeys for the time being. As in … the other animals being “loved, respected, and protected” on Sarah and Jonina’s farm.

How’s that song go? On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … nine Cornish hens, and a rooster on I-81? So what if it’s not Christmas quite yet. It must have strangely felt like it back on that fateful day in October of 2017 when those 10 birds in their crates fell off a truck along one of the busiest highways in Pennsylvania. You guessed it, those hens and that rooster became the first permanent residents at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, which means the 7-days-perweek work week that the two partners – and especially Sarah – would have to endure was just beginning. Soon, there would be phone calls from animal enforcement officers and maybe people who lived next to farms, and sometimes even from owners of animals themselves (think Easter time and the need to find homes for gifted baby chicks and ducklings!), all of them seeking safe refuge for animals who, for most of their existences, had just one future destination in their lives: a dinner table.

If Sarah and Jonina didn’t know before what they were getting themselves into, they did now – especially when so many of the neglected farm animals were either injured or in failing health.

Among the traumatized residents: piglet Jean Marie who, having fallen off a truck, could barely walk; and Joel, a goat so infected with parasites that he was given a slim-to-none chance at survival. Add it all up, and Sarah and Jonina barely have time to go out to dinner together – “And even if we do,” muses Sarah, “it’s always like ‘I miss the babies!’” She continues, “fortunately, we have a lot of volunteers, plus two full-time staff.” Jonina chimes in, “without volunteers we wouldn’t make it past a week.”

EAGLE

VS

TURKEY

Did Ben Franklin want the turkey to be our national bird?

Tammy the turkey

Story By Randy Gross

Now? Now is it time for the turkeys? All right, all right already. Santosha’s story intersects with Tammy’s so let’s begin with her …

It was the day before Thanksgiving in 2018, and one of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary’s volunteers was attending a vigil at a slaughterhouse while watching truck after truck full of baby turkeys drive by. On the way home, very much on a whim, she decided to drive to a factory farm, knock on the house door and ask, “can you spare a turkey … one that was left over or didn’t get sold?” The woman at the door was a little confused at first, but once she understood the request she surprisingly agreed to “donate” one bird to the sanctuary. However, when the volunteer went to the actual farm site, the workers were confused themselves (maybe even more so), saying things like “you have to pay 20 dollars,” “do you want the head chopped off?” and “why would you want a living bird?” Once the confusion was cleared up, one of the workers – carrying Santosha by her legs – tossed her not-sogingerly into the back of the car. End of story? Not quite. Once at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, there was a mandatory period of quarantine for Santosha (who sadly, as you might see in the photos, has a clipped beak and toes), but on the day she came out of quarantine – her first ever opportunity to walk on real grass – it was quite a memorable scene, as Jonina describes: “You can see Santosha, tiptoeing out of the barn, and then for the first time hearing Tammy [a likely refugee herself, discovered some time ago by a good Samaritan in Northern PA] while slowly making her way in that direction.” Continues Jonina See Talkin’ turkey on Page 36

T

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

hink for a moment: if Benjamin Franklin had gotten his way and the American Wild Turkey had become our national symbol, would turkey be the staple food - and number one dinner choice for Thanksgiving – that it is today? That might be a topic best saved for a future discussion, because first it appears necessary to settle once and for all whether ol’ Ben’s “wild turkey” dreams were actually that, just dreams.

When doing a Google search of “Did Ben Franklin want the turkey to be the national bird,” no less than 4 sources immediately surface disputing that claim and calling it a “myth.” The Franklin Institute, History.com, Smithsonian Magazine, and the Washington Post all published information to that effect – with Discover Magazine being the only source that printed information in support of the claim.

So, was Franklin merely being tongue-incheek when he wrote a letter to his daughter, Sarah, saying, among other things “I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country” and “In truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable bird,” or was he being serious?

We reached out to historian (and former Penn State Harrisburg professor) Dr. George W. Boudreau for insight.

“I have no idea where this idea came up from, that it was a myth,” argues Boudreau.

“I never heard that until you brought it up to me. It took me about one-and-a-half minutes, wearing an arm cast [suffering from a sprained wrist] to type this in the computer.”

Boudreau continues, “He [Franklin] was a light-hearted guy, and he never wrote to Congress saying ‘let’s adopt a turkey.’ But I think he’s really blunt about why he thinks the turkey should be the national bird. I think he’s really clear in there, and he’s very leery

of this idea that the United States is going to become another European nation. He talks in the letter about how ‘these guys want to become a crew of knights.’ For him, the move to independence was really personal.”

Even though Franklin’s famous letter wasn’t shown to anyone other than his grandsons at first, says Boudreau, “it seems to be something we’ve know about since at least the early 19th century. This has been something we’ve know about Franklin for a long time, so I don’t know where they get off calling it a myth.”

And how different might our Thanksgiving celebrations be if the so-called “turkey as a national symbol” myth had become reality?

Boudreau muses, “I’ve had students ask me, ‘if Franklin had had his way, would we eat eagle on Thanksgiving,’ and I’m like, ‘well, I don’t know if we’d be having Thanksgiving.”

Furthermore, he adds, “I’ve never had eagle. I imagine it’s a little gamey and a little stringy.”

Here’s the link for anyone who would like to read Franklin’s full letter to Sarah: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/ Franklin/01-41-02-0327 George W. Boudreau, PhD, is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania’s McNeil Center. As a 2020-21 Ezekiel Emanuel Fellow, he researched and taught an interdisciplinary course within the Medical School on “Benjamin Franklin’s World.” For several years, he was project director of the NEH Summer Seminar “A Rising People: Benjamin Franklin and the Americans” and is the former editor of Early American Studies, the journal of the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. He is the author of Independence: A Guide to Historic Philadelphia (Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishers, 2011) and many scholarly articles. 7 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 35

Talkin’ turkey, continued from Page 35

happily, “and so suddenly Tammy finally has a turkey friend, because she had only been around chickens. And Santosha is finally reunited with other turkeys.”

The two turkeys have been inseparable ever since, and currently are just two of the five turkeys calling the sanctuary home “And who knows,” says Sarah, “maybe a couple more before Thanksgiving?”

Sarah and Jonina – both vegans – will certainly be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday differently than a lot of people in Lancaster County, an area known for its contributions to PA’s meat and dairy industry. Which is why the couple continues to use their property for educational tours (which are announced in late February and sell out quickly) and yoga retreats. Plus, says Jonina, social media has been a good tool or allowing “people to connect with ideals, and for the animals to have their stories told.” Part of that story has been told through actual stories being read – to the animals! – and the plan is to resume the popular virtual “Bedtime Stories for Animals” this coming winter.

Though they haven’t officially tied the knot yet, Sarah and Jonina are very united in a common purpose – having love and compassion for all creatures – and that love and compassion may very well soon extend to an annual “Feeding of the Turkeys” Thanksgiving Day dinner for their resident turkeys (can you say pureed pumpkin and cranberries?) They agree that they are most thankful for their sanctuary and, says Jonina, “the multi-species family we get to have.” Plus, of course, adds Sarah, “our volunteers, and the people who support our work” And what are the couple’s goals heading into a new year? “Fundraising,” blurts Sarah instantly. “Oh … and getting people not to eat turkeys.”

To donate, or to become a sponsor of Santosha or Tammy, or any of the other rescued animals, visit: https:// lancasterfarmsanctuary.org. 7 36 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Owners Sarah and Jonina HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 37

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Completed in 1994, the Administration Building at Dixon University Center was made possible by a $1-million gift from Fitz Eugene Dixon, founding chair of the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors. It was designed in the “academic Gothic” style of the older Harrisburg Academy buildings that surround it. Underground parking was placed beneath the campus green, preserving this iconic aspect of the old “quad.”

Dixon University Center:

Historic campus to become new home for Jewish Federation of Harrisburg

By David J. Morrison

F

ronting the Susquehanna River some 30 blocks north of Center City Harrisburg lies one of the most scenic, historic, and bucolic pieces of real estate to be found anywhere in Central Pennsylvania.

In the early 20th Century, the Harrisburg Academy acquired the land, some 15 acres, with plans to build a boys’ boarding school campus to rival Mercersburg, Hill School, Lawrenceville, and the storied New England prep schools celebrated in generations of literature and cinema.

The Academy, which had been founded by John Harris in 1784 in the parlor of his Front Street mansion (now home of the Historical Society of Dauphin County), and from 1847 to 1908 occupied the larger Maclay Mansion (now home to the PA Bar Association), erected six “prep school Gothic” brick buildings – dormitories, classrooms, a gymnasium with indoor pool, and a “Headmaster’s House” — surrounding a spacious green “quad” that remains to this day.

Soon, this section of Harrisburg, much of it previously swampland, was transformed into the picturesque Academy Manor and Italian Lake neighborhoods, gaining such stupendous landmark neighbors as William Penn High School, Zembo Shrine, and Italian Lake itself, created by draining the swamp for good. Through the “Roaring Twenties,” Harrisburg, Harrisburg Academy and Academy Manor exemplified the prosperity that was sweeping America.

In 1942, the twin forces of the Great Depression and the advent of World War II prompted a significant downsizing of the Academy, first to the McCormick Mansion (305 N. Front) and then to the Wallower Mansion (2100 N. Front). The old Front Street families were downsizing, too! The old Academy campus was sold to the U.S. War Department for use as an intelligence officers’ training school. Its 38 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEB STUART

Harrisburg Academy’s first building at its North front Street campus, Hunter Hall, shown here circa 1929, was built in 1908. It housed a dining hall, library, and other facilities. It is the one historic building that was razed during the transformation to Dixon University Center in 1989. It was ultimately replaced by a structure of similar “academic Gothic” architecture.

students, who included sons of America’s most prominent families as well as Hollywood movie stars, were frequently entertained a few doors down the street in the mansion of legendary retailer Mary Sachs, known nationally as “Harrisburg’s Merchant Princess.”

Although the Department of Defense continues to own a small piece of the property to this day as a naval reserve facility, the postwar history of the campus depicts a tapestry of educational trends and initiatives for which the old “HA” complex repeatedly has found itself ideally suited.

Pennsylvania’s bounty of higher educational institutions, including several within 50 miles of Harrisburg, ironically rendered Harrisburg itself an educational desert. Penn State, founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, was located, not in the Capital City but in geographically central Centre County.

Suddenly, as the post-war era took off, with millions of returning veterans clamoring for the free educational benefits of the G.I. Bill, eligible providers, from technical schools to colleges and universities, operated around the clock to meet the demand. Americans were buying automobiles by the millions, gas and tires were no longer rationed, and highways were being built, resulting in a hot market for commuter students.

A number of Pennsylvania institutions of higher education saw the Capital City as an underserved market, and they moved in quickly. By 1950, at least half a dozen institutions offered courses in Harrisburg.

Within a year, they were merging the PASSHE Board of Governors their efforts, harmonizing their (and a major benefactor of schedules, and coordinating their Widener University, named for marketing, giving birth to what his grandfather), liked the new became “The College Center in plan so much he offered to kick Harrisburg.” For several years, in a million dollars. Soon, the this operated at night in William old campus was repurposed once Penn High School. again, with a new administration By 1960, and now incorporated building replacing the old as the “Harrisburg Area Center Academy commons and with the for Higher Education,” (HACHE) entire complex renamed Dixon they had outgrown the high University Center. school facilities and were seeking “I’ve been happy with Dixon a new home. The HACHE Facilities since it was completed and Committee, which included such have visited it many times for PHOTO COURTESY OF JEB STUART The Harrisburg Academy campus on North Front Street, circa 1929, has retained much of local businessmen as Wallace H. meetings and programs,” Burcat this historic appearance under subsequent ownership by the Federal government and the PA Alexander and Robert M. Mumma, System of Higher Education. recently said, adding: “I know that recommended the old HA campus, the neighbors are happy with the still owned but underutilized by the Department of Defense. Some saw facility, as well. It really is a plus for Harrisburg because it is one of the in this the evolution of HACHE into a stand-alone four-year college. first things you see when you are travelling into the city from the north.”

Meanwhile, as the national frenzy to expand educational capacity For the next quarter century, “DUC” oversaw the 23rd-largest in the Sixties in anticipation of the huge college-bound “baby boom” university system in the world, continued to host collegiate course generation, Harrisburg civic leaders Bruce Cooper and James Evans offerings from Pennsylvania institutions, and made itself an accessible were poised to create Pennsylvania’s first community college under facility for a wide range of community uses and functions. Alas, as a new provision signed into law by Governor William Scranton. systemwide enrollment declined (from nearly 120,000 in 2010 to Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) would open on September 95,000 in 2019), and as plans were formulated for consolidating 21, 1964, initially sharing space with HACHE at the Federally owned some of the 14 universities, in 2020 the decision was made to put HA campus.

DUC on the market.

Within two years, HACC had begun building and occupying its Noting that the future of the campus had been threatened before “Wildwood” Campus, and HACHE, with more universities than by commercial development, wary Academy Manor neighbors, colleges in its portfolio, had reincorporated as “The University Center at including Burcat and others, began having Zoom meetings with Harrisburg” (UCH). It would take some 20 years of real estate wrestling Historic Harrisburg Association’s Preservation Committee to discuss and operating under a “quit claim deed,” until October 10, 1985, when preservation advocacy strategies. But before the group had time to the Feds, acting through the Secretary of Education, transferred full formulate battle plans, battle plans became unnecessary. control and ownership of the remaining 6.7-acre campus to UCH. On October 8, 2021, The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg The next major evolutionary step occurred as a consequence of the announced, “It was with the complete support of the Alexander Grass formation of the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Foundation that we won a competitive bid for this property.” The which occurred July 1, 1983. Comprised of the 14 state-owned Federation’s new home will be called the Alexander Grass Campus colleges and universities, such as Millersville and Shippensburg, for Jewish Life, “acknowledging the Alexander Grass Foundation for the system’s central administration, previously a division of the its generous support and honoring a legacy of commitment to the PA Department of Education, was headquartered in leased office past, present, and future of Harrisburg’s Jewish community.” The space in downtown Harrisburg. As the expiration of the 10-year move will bring elements of the Federation from the current Jewish lease neared in the early 1990s, UCH board members Anton Hess, Community Center at Front and Vaughn Streets, as well as from Bernard Schmidt and Ralph Peters approached PASSHE founding satellite locations.

Chancellor James McCormick about the possibility of relocating to Federation Board Chair Abby Smith said she is inspired by the old HA campus. what is possible in the Harrisburg Jewish community, and that this campus “will be a vehicle for deeper collaboration and revitalization.” She noted the long tradition of participation by "Soon, this section of Harrisburg, much of it the community at large; for example, 70% of the senior citizen previously swampland, was transformed into program participants are non-Jewish.

Smith noted that the Federation was already exploring a move. “No the picturesque Academy Manor and Italian matter what, it was time to seek a new home,” she said. “The State has Lake neighborhoods …" accepted our offer to purchase, and we are hoping to close in January.

This is an exciting new chapter!”

At first, State officials proposed both a stark, governmental office The announcement was positively received by numerous building and a broad surface parking lot, elements that would have constituencies, including those involved in Federation programs as severely damaged the historic character of the campus. Academy well as those in Dixon’s Academy Manor neighborhood. It is expected Manor neighbors quickly intervened and voiced objections. that the move to the new campus will be completed in 2022. 7 According to one neighbor who led the effort, Joel Burcat, the David J. Morrison writes and lectures frequently about history and State was persuaded to correct both issues. The parking would be architecture. He is the executive director of the Historic Harrisburg Association. placed underground, beneath the historic grass quadrangle, and the proposed new office building was redesigned in the “academic Gothic” style of the historic campus.

Fitz E. Dixon, the Philadelphia tycoon who was the first chair of HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 39

Artful Inspirations Around Us

PHOTO BY GABRIEL SPANGLER

Stories Without Words Story by Christina Heintzelman

cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com

“The instrument is not the camera but the photographer.” photographers doing this that choosing only four of them to showcase - Eve Arnold was a nearly impossible task. Harrisburgers with Cameras, a local The first written account of a camera obscura [dark chamber] was Facebook page, is a great resource which showcases the works of many provided by a Chinese philosopher in 400 BC, but it wasn’t until 1826 that local photographers.

French scientist Joseph Nicephore Niepce set the stage for the world’s first photograph. He produced it by exposing a bitumen coated plate in a Good night, Harrisburg is Karen Commings newest project. She camera obscura for several hours. Voila! Photography is born and the first says, “Harrisburg is a beautiful city, and it spurs me on. This project is a photograph “View from the Window at Le Gras” is now a piece of history. greeting to the city, and it is not intended to have any deeper meaning History – a moment in time caught and preserved without words other than wishing the city a good night.” The developing series can be through photography. Photographers became the tellers of silent seen in its current totality on her website. The photos are a celebration historical stories through their art. So many famous photographers of the juxtaposition of ambient lighting and interior lighting with the could be mentioned here – Eugene Atget, a flaneur of Paris; Berenice darkness of night. An often time gritty yet beautiful view of our city Abbott capturing NYC in the time between the two World Wars; after the sun sets.

Henri Cartier-Bresson with his ‘decisive Even before her time at college as a fine art moment’; Man Ray, who experimented with major Commings was exploring photography.

"We are making photographs to understand Dada and Surrealism in his photographic She totally turned to that artistic path in what our lives mean to us." approach with rayographs; Dorothea Lange 2005 after buying her first digital camera - Ralph Hattersley photographing displaced farmers during and joining Harrisburg Camera Club. She has the Depression; Ansel Adams capturing the taken multiple workshops since that time American landscape and thereby becoming an environmentalist; Annie and for a fifth time she is part of Art of the State for 2021.

Liebovitz capturing famous and infamous persons the world over.

Commings’ work has been seen in galleries too numerous to mention But the list must end here and move on to our local photographic here – you can find the list on her website which is listed at the end of artists who pause time by freezing a particular moment revealing how her portion of the article. Because of her many gallery shows and her rich reality truly is. And again, as in history, there are so many local insightful talent, her work has been included in many of the gallery 40 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTOS BY KAREN COMMINGS

books that are produced as lasting mementos for these exhibits. She has taken part in many competitions but says what drives her is not the winning (although that does give her a goal) but that she does it for the pure love of photography.

Commings likes to work in street photography which she prefers to call cityscapes. “I tend to be a walker and I photograph as I walk. What draws me to a particular photo is the lighting – how does ambient lighting draw me into a scene or how does interior lighting give a scene warmth or how does the presence of multiple light sources make a scene sparkle? At other times, it may be a detail that looks different at night.

Very often I’ll intend to photograph a particular place but be stopped in my tracks by the lighting. And then there’s neon. I’ll photograph anything in neon – signs, motorcycles, buildings,” she states.

One of her long-lasting projects has been a six-year span photographing carnivals and carnies, mostly in B&W, although a few color shots are shown on her website. “After Covid, when the carnival world opened back up, it was different. The scene was much more subdued, almost as if the joy had been stripped from the event. It was at this time that I decided to begin my newest project Good night, Harrisburg. I had been hibernating and now I wanted to get back out and start doing more night photography.” She goes downtown two to four times a week and posts her shots every day to her Facebook page.

Commings views her photography as a meditation and says, “When you do that you notice things you would not have been aware of during the day. I clear my mind to drop the blinders.” She also notes the dichotomy between taking a shot in an instance but in other instances having to wait patiently for the shot to appear. She usually has in mind where she is going to go to shoot but sometimes this changes based on what she sees. She adds, “Turn around – do a 360 and all of a sudden you will see many things to photograph.”

“Photography is an immediate reaction; drawing is a meditation.”

- Henri Cartier-Bresson Commings’ camera of choice is the Fuji X-T1; she always uses an 1855 mm lens and periodically also uses a tripod. “I process my photos, but I do not do composites. I also don’t saturate my colors although I do work on contrast.”

You can see more of Commings’ work on her website karencommingsStreetwisephotography.com or on her Facebook page Karen Commings. Harrisburg Magazine often uses one of Commings photos as a lead for the Introspections column by our editor.

See Stories Without Words on Page 42 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 41

PHOTOS BY LARRY “LENZZ” WASHINGTON

then switch it up to the 7 Artisan Manual 35 mm f/0.95 lens for daytime A newcomer to Harrisburg’s photography scene is Larry “Lenzz” photography; or just stick with the kit lens, which is a 18-55 mm Canon.

Washington. Washington is a Coatesville native and permanently He prefers dialing in his own focusing as opposed to using an automatic moved to the Harrisburg area in 1993. setting so that he can learn what is really happening with a lens.

One of Washington’s first photos to garner attention was a shot he Washington will often pull out his new cell phone, the Galaxy Note20, took of local artist Reina 76, using his Samsung Galaxy 9x cell phone for a quick shot. “If you take the time to study what camera is available on camera. Reina says, “It was a cold March Friday afternoon and Larry and some of the better cellphones, you will be blown away at what quality can I wanted to do a fashion photo shoot that included parts of downtown be produced in your shots. Just take the time necessary to learn,” he says.

Harrisburg that rarely get noticed. We found a cobble stone alley near the Washington’s day job as a CDL driver gives him an opportunity to Amtrak train station and Alva Cafe. The intent was to portray a woman see places he may have never caught up with before, and he enjoys all dressed up to go sell art in New York City!” This photo, when posted taking a break to photograph what he is seeing. to Reina 76’s Facebook page, inspired Brad Maurer, local illustrator of “I go out as often as I can to take photos. I experiment with my camera cartoon insects for The Cercus, to create Reina as a Luna moth - and to and lens settings and learn from my errors. One of my favorite things to encourage Washington to get serious about his photography. Washington capture are stars and that has really opened me up to night shots.” then bought his first digital camera, a Washington goes out with the hopes Canon Rebel T6, DSLR (digital single lens of catching something rather than with "Photography takes an instant out of time, reflex) and began honing his skills. a particular shoot in mind. He says, “I altering life by holding it still."

When Covid hit and shutdowns started, shoot everything and then maybe find - Dorothea Lange Washington began reading books on 10 good ones out of the 100 I’ve taken. photography and watching YouTube That is how I learn.” videos to learn about various setups. And he practiced a lot to learn as A regular exhibitor at the Harrisburg Civic Club art events, much about his camera as possible. After much trial and error, Washington Washington sold all his photographs at the second one of these he decided to go with a mirrorless camera and chose the Canon M50 Mark 2. attended. He has work in Nyeusi Gallery in Harrisburg and shows his He enjoys switching lenses and, depending on his choice of photographic art at a few town businesses, including Elementary Coffee. subjects, he may choose the Canon 50mm for night photography but Washington’s work can be seen on www.larrywashington.smugmug.com Stories Without Words, continued from Page 41

42 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTOS BY GABRIEL SPANGLER

Film noir in photography is what photographer Gabriel Spangler aims for. “The films of Akira Kurosawa with the stark lighting are what have influenced me the most and I like to think of my work as an odd mixture between street photography and old film noir movies. I want to feel as if I’ve done a screen grab from the old movie,” he says and then adds, “Give me nighttime, fog, wet street, and harsh light and I am happy. Harsh lighting can be crazy and create a crazy look. I guess I go after what photography books say you shouldn’t do with light.”

Most of Spangler’s work is done in B&W and 90% of the time he has his screen set up to show B&W so he can watch the way the light is painting the scene. He will occasionally use color, especially if neon lighting is part of the scene.

Spangler was raised in an artistic family and was always surrounded by art. He studied music theory in college and had a stint as an abstract artist and as a cinematographer, but his main love is his photography and five years ago he got back into his game big time.

He still periodically shoots with film and has four or five functioning film cameras but mainly uses his Fuji X100V with a fixed focal length 35 mm equivalent lens and switches to a Lumix S5 mirrorless camera with a 40 mm F1.2 Voigtlander lens when he wants a full frame shot. “I am light handed in processing as I try to come as close as possible when taking the shot to what I want as a finished product.”

“For me, in my photography it is always about people – people fascinate me, so I need to work with what is happening in the moment and the lighting that exists in that moment, and I need to make it work,” he states and then adds, “Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of my favorite photographers because of his ‘decisive moment’. That’s what I am looking for and I know that I am capturing a moment that will never be created again; a child jumping over a puddle of water, a man lighting his cigarette – it is the feeling of the scene, and it is in the moment - it is here and then it’s gone.”

Another of Spangler’s favorite photographers is Walker Evans.

Evans once said that “color is vulgar” and believed that B&W was the

true medium of photography. Evans had the ability to see the present and to translate it into a visual history of the effects of the Depression on everyday people found in everyday locations. Spangler strives to create this same nuanced feeling in his 21st century photographic subjects and he succeeds, as his photographs show the breadth of humanity in B&W and all the various shades of grey.

“Garry Winogrand, an American street photographer, is another favorite of mine,” Spangler says. Winogrand was known for his spontaneous images of people in public settings and engaged in everyday life, particularly New Yorkers during the 1960s. “I want to capture life in the way that Winogrand did,” says Spangler.

Spangler’s work can be viewed on his website www.gabrielspangler. com and on Instagram at Gabriel_Spangler. Spangler is also available for wedding photography.

"A photograph is a moral decision taken in one-eighth of a second.”

- Salman Rushdie What does the restoration and preservation of British sports cars have to do with photography? Jeb Boyd answers this way: “I have found through my commitment to both activities that the skills and involvement I have had with both has afforded me different experiences, even adventures, that I would not have had were it not for these pursuits. People have shared their lives with me in such ways that would not have been afforded had I not had my camera or my British sports car history. So as others’ lives have been enriched by an event, mine has too because of my interaction with them.”

This dovetails perfectly with Boyd’s next comment, “It seems to me the more you involve yourself in your creative pursuits the more you get to know yourself, see what you are capable of doing, and over time even delight in the gifts that enable you to bring something special to life.”

See Stories Without Words on Page 44 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 43

PHOTOS BY JEB BOYD

Stories Without Words, continued from Page 43

Boyd views himself as a life photographer and enjoys being in the moment and creating photographic images of whatever appears in front of him. His love of photography comes from his mother, who was a talented amateur photographer. “I still keep her cameras on the stand beside my bed,” he states. He began photographing back in the time that schools often had dark rooms for processing film but soon realized that photo processing via film can get quite expensive. “I regained my love for photography back in 2006 when I bought my first digital camera and realized that I could create the image I saw in my mind’s eye and easily manipulate digital images.”

Boyd’s manipulation is not far fetched and may include cropping, removing unwanted wires or other items, or doing a selective saturation. Manipulating allows for the same photo to be cropped at different places for size and distance contrast; shown in color, B&W, sepia, or even perhaps otherworldly colors, thereby creating different feelings or stories based on the idea of colors or lack of colors.

His camera of choice is a Nikon D850, and he normally uses a 28-300 mm superzoom as his walk- around lens. He often uses a semi-automatic setting as his default. His photographic artistry has no genre as he prefers to shoot all things which he finds to be unique and interesting.

Boyd competes in the weekly DPChallenge, a digital photography online challenge website. It has been ongoing for years and he has won top prize in many different photographic categories.

44 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

One of Boyd’s favorite films is Kodachrome [directed

by Mark Raso and released in 2018]. It is loosely based on a 2010 article by A.G. Sulzberger entitled “For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Lab in Kansas.” In this film Ed Harris, as Benjamin Ryder, is talking to a group of young photojournalists as they descend on Parsons, Kansas, where the last lab is taking in the last few rolls of Kodachrome film to develop before the process is shut down forever. He (Ryder) says, “We’re all so frightened by time, the way it moves on and the way things disappear. That is why we’re photographers. We’re preservationists by nature. We take pictures to stop time, to commit moments to eternity. Human nature made tangible.” And then, as if realizing the import of what he’s just said, he wryly reflects, “About as good a definition of art as any, I guess.”

Boyd reflects on this by stating, “And so maybe the Ed Harris quote grabbed me because it gut-punched me, as I know exactly what he means about time and the way it has of making things disappear. And never in my life have I been more on fire than now, to grab every person I can in front of me, shake them by their shoulders a little, look them in the eye and remind them – WE get to be the ones who say that this moment stays.”

He reflects on the idea of committing moments to eternity and that it makes us eternal as well, becoming our legacy: “That vision, that exquisite moment captured, that permanent image. I will continue on my journey as long as I am alive to add more moments to my own eternity.”

Boyd’s work is available to view online at www.nikonjeb.format.com and his Facebook page, Jeb Boyd. His work is also available at Vivi on Verbeke in Midtown Harrisburg, an art gallery and working pottery studio co owned by him and his partner Vivian Sterste Brandler. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 45

I invest all my money into Little Debbie Bearer Bonds. The return isn't great, but they make a great late-night snack.

If you tell someone a secret about yourself sometimes it can be hard to know if they really care or they just want to gossip about you.

Either way they give you their undivided attention.

Words to live by: Leaving your mark on this world means more than sweat stains on a t-shirt. But for most of us that’s all we got.

I have a plan to become a millionaire by February. Just save $500,000 in December and January. So simple. Why didn't I think of this before?

I'm so sensitive I can hear the snickers behind my back when I eat a Snickerdoodle.

If I got a nickel for every time I stuck to a diet, I'd have to give the nickel back.

46 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

Taste This/The Jackson House

PHOTO BY MARKESHIA WOLFE

PHOTO BY MARKESHIA WOLFE

Dave Kegris & Staff

A sandwich is more than a sandwich at The Jackson House Story By Randy Gross

I

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

f a sandwich could be a metaphor, it would look very much like The Jackson House. Layer upon layer of delicious history so special that locals may hesitate sharing with anyone outside of Harrisburg.

The Jackson House’s story begins in the 1920’s, when Mr. & Mrs. German Jackson converted a leather and harness shop on 6th Street into the Jackson House Coffee Shop, serving up country breakfasts, sandwiches, and chicken dinners, while also operating a rooming house next door. Famous African-Americans, including Joe Louis, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey and Wilma Rudolph, were among the guests at The Jackson House before it closed its doors – and remained closed for 45 years, before current owner Dave Kegris ushered in a brand new “layer” of the Jackson House history in 1982.

Over nearly four decades since that day, The Jackson House has built a reputation as the “to-go” place for burgers & fries, old-school Italian hoagies, Philly cheesesteaks, New York deli style “overstuffed” sandwiches, and even Brooklyn and “Da Bronx” fresh “mootzarell” Heros. And they’ve captured layer-upon-layer of recognitions along the way, including multiple 1st Place and “Best of Harrisburg” honors for its burgers, and several awards for its renowned Mrs. Andreoli’s Old Italian Hoagie (sharp provolone, Freda Gabagool, Genoa salami).

One look at The Jackson House’s menu and you’ll be convinced it’s the real deal.

The Famous Jackson Burger comes with melted American cheese, crisp smoked bacon, fresh lettuce & tomato, and special Jackson House sauce. Or order up one of their world-class Cheeseburgers (with choice of lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle, and Dijon) and you can pick from 8 different kinds of cheese, from Cooper American to Sharp Provolone that, says owner Kegris proudly “we put in my cellar to age and get sharper.”

The specialty hoagies are not only amazing, but have amazing names – like Jimmy Pizzo’s Bada Bing (sharp provolone, Freda Gabagool, Genoa salami, coteghino, and prosciuttini) and the Goomba Italian (provolone, gabagool, coteghino, and pepper ham) all given that authentic taste and mouth feel by rolls baked in South Philadelphia that will have you saying “Bada Bang” (which, not surprisingly, is the name of another one of The Jackson House’s hoagies).

The Jackson House also takes pride in being able to say “we make a da mutz in house” – and if you’ve sampled any of their special heros – or visited their Facebook page, where you’ll observe “fresh mozz” updates on a daily basis – you’ll understand. These Brooklyn & Bronxinspired sandwiches, all made with “fresh mutz,” feature names that are as unforgettable as their mozzarella-infused flavor. For example, Dom’s “Fughettaboutit” brings together fresh basil, ripe tomato, olive oil, Genoa salami, coteghino, gabagool, pepper ham, roasted peppers and, of course, fresh mutz, for an unparalleled Italian hero experience.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021 47

“We make our fresh hand-pulled mozzarella on the premises,” says Kegris, adding that he updates his Facebook page with regularity because they rely on shipments of special curd. “I learned how to make the special mozzarella from several award-winning mozzarella makers in New York City and New Jersey.” When available, the “fresh mozz” can be added to any hoagie, sandwich, or burger on the menu, and is also sold by the pound.

Only open on weekdays from 10:30 till 2, The Jackson House does a robust lunch-time business. Orders are accepted starting at 8 a.m., and they don’t accept large walk-in or call-in orders when they are too busy. And to what does Kegris attribute his success? “We strive to offer quality products to our customers,” he says. “This includes fresh hand-patted, 8-ounce burgers, fresh cut and hand-trimmed steak for cheesesteaks, and fresh cut French fries daily.”

If that ain’t enough layers of flavor (or history) for ya … well, then ask Dave for some imported Italian balsamic glaze (yes, available on all those fresh “mootzarell” heros!) 7

The Jackson House

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ The-Jackson-House-101262194699/ Address & Phone: 1004 N. 6th Street (at Boas) Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-238-2730 Hours: Monday thru Friday: 10:30 am to 2 pm (grills close at 1:40) Closed most State & Federal holidays Takeout/Delivery Info: Free delivery $60.00 minimum local $75.00 minimum out-of-town CASH ONLY Large orders must be ordered the day before.

Owners: Dave Kegris Best known for: burgers, fries, hoagies, cheesesteaks

Harrisburg Magazine’s staff reviews The Jackson House The Jackson house has literally the best burgers, and my favorite is definitely the Jackson Burger.

It was a juicy burger patty cooked with just a hint of pink and the bun of the burger was the cherry on top. I had been to the Jackson house only once before and I have to say the second time was just as good as the first. Overall, delicious! The Jackson house is one of those places that could be a staple for weekday takeout. - Laura Reich, Graphic Designer The Jackson House is an amazing blend of New York and Philly. The sandwiches are huge and the rolls are amazing. The Goomba Italian sub was filled with delicious provolone and lunch meats and is by far the best sub in Harrisburg!

Those authentic Philadelphia rolls plus fresh ingredients and spices … 5 stars! - Jo Ann Shover, Account Executive I’ve gone to the Jackson House in the past for take-out and they’re always so busy … but they have a knack for keeping the line moving! The Club Hoagie was amazing, but I could only eat half of it. Bacon, and plenty of it, turkey, thickly-sliced, and thinly-sliced provolone along with lettuce and tomatoes on the best bun in town! If you want a quick, delicious lunch on-the-go, this is the place to go! - Christina Heintzelman, Operations Director I absolutely love sandwiches. Who doesn’t? They’re a staple of the American diet. So, there’s plenty to love when you dine at the Jackson House. The burgers, the hoagies, the cheesesteaks, even the salads – all huge, with huge flavor! So, if you have a huge appetite, the Jackson House is your place! - Darwin Oordt, President/CEO You could say I’m a stickler for cheese when it comes to burgers. If a burger doesn’t have that ooey-gooey cheese melted on top, I’ll take a rain check. Well, the Cooper American Cheeseburger at the Jackson House was a slam dunk combination of perfectly-cooked beef and cheese. I decided to try mine without the toppings provided on the side, because I wanted that true cheeseburger taste to shine through. The Cooper burger did not disappoint! Burgers and subs are a staple of the American diet, and The Jackson House’s food screams All-American. Which also means huge American portions! Plus, the rolls are so soft and fresh, with just the right amount of chew. If you grew up on burgers and fries, then The Jackson House is your place! Randy Gross, Editor 7

48 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021