Harrisburg Magazine October Issue

CONTENTS

b enchmark Media, LLC.

O C TO B E R 2 02 1

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32 October 2021 • Volume 27 No. 9

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

INSIDE

40

4 INTROSPECTION 6

BARTENDER’S OR BARISTA’S CHOICE

8

BY THE BOOK

8

NOURISHING BITES

9

THE FINANCE HOUND

10 THEATRE THOUGHTS 10 TAILBOARD TALK 12 #HBGMAG INFLUENCERS 19 SIMPLY THE BEST

ALL-STAR TRIBUTES

ON THE COVER

23 MUSICIANS ON THE

RISE: JOEY DALTO 27 ARTFUL INSPIRATIONS:

MUSICAL MUSES 30 SHORT STORY 32 RECYCLING THROUGH RESALE 36 PINK HANDS OF HOPE THRIFT SHOP

EDITOR Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Reich lreich@benchmarkmediallc.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Matthew Gross mgross@harrisburgmagazine.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jo Ann Shover jshover@harrisburgmagazine.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Richard Eppinger reppinger@harrisburgmagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dimitri John Diekewicz Christina Heintzelman Stephanie Kalina-Metzger CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rick Snizik

Visit us online at: HarrisburgMagazine.com

40 HIDDEN GEM: THE LOCHIEL HOTEL 43 GHOUL PLACES 45 SWEET TREATS FOR NON-TRICK OR-TREATERS 47 TASTE THIS PHOTO BY RICK SNIZIK Clark and Melissa Nicholson, see page 12.

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.

2 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 3

Introspection

PHOTOS BY RICK SNIZIK

Gamet Theatre

A light at the end of the performing arts tunnel All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances …

William Shakespeare It’s been a very rough past 18 months for anyone who is passionate about – and more importantly, makes their living – being on a stage. In March of 2020, those who normally would be making their entrance on a theatre or concert stage were forced by Covid to exit instead. That exit would become an extended absence for many and, sadly, permanent for a few.

Fortunately, even though Delta variants of the virus have meant a return to safety precautions for a lot of venues, there is a sense that the “light at the end of the tunnel” truly is good and bright, and not an illusion. This month, Harrisburg magazine shines a spotlight on some of the “players” who have not only survived the past year-and-ahalf but are once again thriving – some of them true performing arts veterans, others, up-and-comers.

The first time I met Clark Nicholson was in the early 2000’s, when I had just formed my fledgling radio theatre comedy troupe, The Not Ready for Drive Time Players. We were doing – and still do – shows for the pure fun of it, and also to raise money and food for local charities.

Appalachian Brewing Company on Cameron Street had graciously 4 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

donated their huge 2nd floor space for our first show but, absent a stage, we were concerned that many spectators wouldn’t be able to see us. When I mentioned the situation to Clark, he didn’t hesitate: “we have some portable wooden risers, and you’re welcome to stop by and borrow them.” That’s the kind of guy Clark is, and continues to be, and over the years, he and his wife, Melissa, who together co-founded The Popcorn Hat Players and Gamut Theatre, have both generously given of themselves over and over again. Anyone who knows them won’t be surprised that we’ve named them this month’s “Influencers.”

Sticking with the local theatre scene, we also profile Frank Henley, founder of Narcisse Theatre Company, who, as we go to press, is thrilled to have attained 501(c)(3) status for his talented troupe of thespians – who performed “Rashomon” to capacity-crowds at Harrisburg’s Italian Lake last month; and we also introduce Theatre Thoughts, a new column written by veteran journalist – and playwright – Barbara Trainin Blank.

To quote our friend Bill Shakespeare again, “If music be the food of love, play on” – and local musicians are indeed finally having a chance to “play on” at various venues. Singer-songwriter Joey Dalto, who was forced by the pandemic to delay the release party for his first album, “All for You,” talks about the moments in his career that made the hairs on his arm stand up. And our own Christina Heintzelman interviews four Central PA muses – Suzi Brown, Erica Lyn Everest,

Madison Ryan, and Amy Simpson – who, like their mythological counterparts, are serving up healthy portions of music as “the food of love” to their local fans.

On the literary side, we also present the publication of our first short story, The Siren of the Susquehanna, by Christian W. Thiede, a tale of two brothers and the fearsome hurricane which waylays their river adventure. Speaking of fearsome, since October is the month for scares, Dimitri John Diekewicz treats you to some of the best “Ghoul Places” to visit – and get scared out of your wits – in the Greater Harrisburg region.

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger takes you on a tour of Harrisburg’s oldest hotel, the Lochiel Hotel, which owner Brian Douglas (who, ready to retire, has recently put the beautiful property on the market) says “may be haunted by friendly ghosts.” Or, if you prefer treats over tricks, our “Sweet Treats for Non-Trickor-Treaters” allows you to feast your eyes on some of the most tempting seasonal sweets being stirred up at the area’s candy stores.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Christina Heintzelman highlights the noteworthy work being done by the Pink Hands of Hope Thrift Shop, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Mechanicsburg; and, as a sidepiece, her “Recycling through Resale” article compares the benefits of shopping at Thrift, Consignment, and Vintage clothing stores in the area.

This month’s Bartender’s Choice (now expanded to include your suggestions for favorite local Baristas) focuses on Nathan Cook at Sturges Speakeasy in midtown Harrisburg, where locals can mosey on up to the bar this month to try the featured drink, Bourbon Maple Apple Cider; and Taste This Friday will definitely appeal to all our carnivores, because the Harrisburg Magazine staff samples the mouth-watering BBQ meats served at Redd’s Smokehouse BBQ. Finally, on our regular column pages, Nourishing Bite’s guest writer Andrea Reed helps you to eat for your immune system; Bryson Roof’s Finance Hound addresses “The 7 Deadly Sins of Financial Planning”; Stefan Hawkins focuses on new releases for the fall season - and racial justice reform - in By the Book; and, in another new monthly addition from our friends at HACC, Robert Stakem provides fire safety tips in a column aptly titled Tailboard Talk.

Oh, and please keep those original short story submissions coming. Guidelines for how to submit are included next to this month’s featured story. And, if you have any comments or suggestions you’d like us to print in a future issue, feel free to send me your Letter to the Editor. I always welcome feedback!

Have a wonderful month! Play on! 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 5

Bartender’s or Barista’s Choice

“Speaking” becomes more than easy thanks to collaborative staff …

Story By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

I

Photos By Rick Snizik

n the 1920s, a “speakeasy” was a place where people could congregate, often until the wee hours of the morning, whispering (or, speaking “easy”) so as to not draw attention to the fact that they were engaging in the illicit activity of [gasp] drinking alcohol.

The Sturges Speakeasy, established as an American restaurant and tavern in June of 2012 at 400 Forster Street in Harrisburg, still is in the practice of serving “adult” beverages, but of course nowadays nobody must whisper as they imbibe. In fact, countless numbers have obviously been lifting their voices in song instead - as in singing praises! Why else would The Sturges have been voted “Simply the Best” Place for Happy Hour in our August issue?

Sure, The Sturges has a variety of craft brews on 16 ever-rotating taps. And customers can order from a menu of over 200 classic and contemporary cocktails and seasonal drinks.

But by and large it’s the staff of six bartenders, led by bartender/manager Nathan Cook, who keep people coming back for that authentic neighborhood bar experience – whether it’s during Happy Hour, or the wee hours (The Sturges is open until 2 am every day!)

Nathan has been bartending at The Sturges for the past 4 years and prides himself on leading a collaborative effort when creating each month or season’s special drink. And this month’s drink, clearly no exception to that group effort, is also exceptional!

The Bourbon Maple Apple Cider can serve as both a refreshing Indian Summer thirst-quencher, and, when heated up, a comforting Autumn evening drink. And, since it’s still Fall harvest season, when you order this special drink at The Sturges this month you’re sure to be benefitting from some great local cider. Want to stir up a batch of Bourbon Maple Apple Ciders for your Halloween party? Check out the recipe (next page).

Drinks like the Bourbon Maple Apple Cider and (Nate’s other favorites to mix) the Old Fashioned or a Manhattan all can help untie people’s tongues – and yes, have them speaking more than just easy – but Nate realizes it requires more than good spirits to make good customers. “Definitely, our food is a draw,” he says, “that and the neighborhood vibe. If they’re coming in here, they all know each other … or they get to meet new friends. That’s what makes them feel comfortable.”

And Nathan himself obviously feels comfortable – both with The Sturges and his occupation. “I fell into bartending,” he says, “and didn’t realize I’d like it as much as I do. I worked at Capital Blue Cross for about 8 years, right out of high school, and I just didn’t feel comfortable doing that type of work anymore. And then just fell into this. It was a total opposite.”

To paraphrase an old proverb: what was one business’s loss was another neighborhood bar’s gain. 7 Bartender Nathan Cook 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Cook’s drink for October Bourbon Maple Apple Cider Perfect for serving warm or cold Makes 2 6 ounces Bourbon 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 4-6 teaspoons pure maple syrup to taste 1 cup spiced apple cider apple slices for garnish ice Directions: 1. Fill glasses and a cocktail shaker with ice.

To shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider; shake vigorously.

2. Strain into glasses and garnish each with a slice of apple. Enjoy!

Cook’s Dossier Words of advice to home mixologists: Know what spirits and ingredients you like and have fun.

Inspirations: “The Curious Bartender - An Odyssey of Malt, Bourbon & Rye Whiskies,”

by Tristan Stephenson.

Favorite spirit straight: Oban 14 year, or Macallan 18 year.

Recommendations of two or three spirits to try: Explore the world of Scotch. It’s my favorite whiskey. I prefer mine straight with one cube.

Favorite spirits to mix: Negroni, Old Fashioned, Manhattan.

Most commonly ordered drinks at your bar: Manhattan, Bulleit Rye Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini.

Philosophy on drinks: A drink can be as simple as you want. Drink what you enjoy, but don’t be afraid to try something different.

Thoughts about your cocktails: I don’t claim to be a mixologist, so most of my drinks are the classics.

Your day job: Bartender/manager at The Sturges Speakeasy.

When Cook works at the bar: Monday and Friday nights. 7 Editor’s note: because coffee has become as – if not more - popular than alcoholic beverages, we want to also start honoring the men and women who work their magic at the region’s coffee shops.

Please continue to nominate worthy bartenders, but starting with next month’s issue, we are also seeking nominations of exceptional baristas.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 7

By The Book/Stefan Hawkins

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Books, Pumpkin Spice, and Reform

s summer came to a close, the autumn leaves began to fall, and you could smell a subtle hint of pumpkin spice in the air. We’re entering that time of the year, when more people are inclined to sit in the house and cuddle up with a nice book, a great cup of coffee or hot chocolate and allow the fall and winter months to pass them by as they read. There couldn’t be any better time to purchase some books than the month of October, or a better place to buy those books than a local bookstore. They’re open and willing to provide and secure any book that you may be searching for before the end of the year.

Following are a few titles that we’re recommending to our readers for the month of October, in hopes that they’ll pick up a book from an author that they never heard of before, and give that author a chance to win them over: ~ The Invention of the White Race by Theodore W. Allen (Oct. 5th) ~ Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert (Oct 5th) ~ Say Their Names: How Black Lives Came to Matter in America by Curtis Bunn, Michael H. Cottman, Patrice Gaines, Nick Charles, Keith Harriston (Oct 5th) ~ Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South by Wade Hudson (Oct. 12th) ~ The Strong Black Woman: How A Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women by Marita Golden (Oct. 12th) ~ Toufah: The Woman Who Inspired an African #METOO Movement by Toufah Jallow (Oct. 12th) ~ Monster In the Middle by Tiphanie Yanique (Oct. 19th) ~ Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi (Oct. 19th) ~ As The Wicked Watch: The First Jordan Manning Novel by Tamron Hall (Oct. 26th) As the fall settles in, and the sweaters, crewnecks, and hoodies make more of an appearance, I find myself getting reacquainted with a book on my shelf that I thought I’d give everyone a chance to get acquainted with themselves: The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead. I was drawn to this book so much because it was based off a true story that took place in Florida not too many years ago. I think about the climate our

society is still in, coming off the heinous George Floyd homicide, and I wonder if the call for change publicly is dying down. We should wonder if the call for reform in the workplace, schools, prisons, justice system and on the streets of every city will continue into the new year. A lot of times we see books by African American authors that focus on the fight for equality and change throughout the years, but what Whitehead did was tell a story within a story. The Nickel Boys focuses on two Black boys that were imprisoned at a children’s/youth adult detention center in the 1960’s, where they were physically and mentally abused. Some boys who didn’t follow every direction wound up dead (or as they said, taken out back, never to be seen or heard from again. - a forever resting place in Boot Hills!) Most of the boys killed were of African American descent, and all the detention home staff were white. It made for a great story, one that made me dive deeper into why prison reform is needed in modern times, and how we as American citizens must continue to fight against our country’s racist justice system.

We cannot allow the changing of government to confuse us into thinking that everything will be okay, and that our country is taking a turn for the better. We still have a lot of work to do in our neighborhoods, our states and country. The fight is never over to end racism and unjust treatment.

If 2020-2021 has taught you anything, it’s to be more honest with yourself, and recognize the times for what they are. Be willing to allow your guard down to experience new things, and open your mind to every possibility, because you may never know when another world-wide pandemic will shut our country down. Try your best to live life to the fullest, with a book in one hand, some coffee in the other. 7 Stefan Hawkins was born and raised in Harrisburg. He opened Good Brotha’s Book Cafe in January and has been leading a Good Brothas Can’t Read Book Club since last summer.

Nourishing Bites/Andrea Reed

Eating for your immune system: antioxidants and fiber for a healthy immune system

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all may be synonymous with changing leaves, pumpkin spice, and hot apple cider for many, but it also signals the end of an abundance of garden-fresh vegetables and fruits. Eating a diet filled with vegetables and fruits may be challenging in the upcoming winter months, but the extra effort is worth it to help support your immune system. By keeping your immune system ready for battle, you will be able to fight off colds better and recover quicker if you do become ill. Fortunately, fall offers some cool weather produce filled with powerful nutrients to support your immune system.

Vegetables and fruits contain antioxidants that help your immune system when it fights off invading pathogens, such as cold and flu viruses. The three main antioxidants that will prepare your body to fight are Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and Vitamin E. If you think of colorful vegetables and fruits, you are on the right track to finding antioxidantrich foods! The cooler fall weather already may have you thinking about pumpkins and sweet potatoes. These traditional fall and winter flavors are not just nostalgic but prepare your immune system to help you 8 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

stay healthy all winter long. These orange-hued vegetables are high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene and can be paired with other nutrientpacked vegetables such as beets or brussels sprouts. Strive for variety and look for different colored varieties of your favorites since different colors provide a different mixture of antioxidants. Different parts of the same vegetable or fruit may also provide different nutrients. While beets may provide you vitamin C, the beet greens, like other dark leafy green vegetables, can provide you a valuable source of Vitamin E. Save those seeds when you are carving pumpkins. Pumpkin seeds, like almonds and sunflower seeds, are a great source of Vitamin E that you can eat as a snack, roast with your vegetables, or toss on a salad. Wintertime does not mean that there is no seasonally available fruit!

Citrus fruits, such as oranges or grapefruit, pomegranates, cranberries, pears, and apples are also rich in antioxidants and become readily available in the cooler months. These fruits help you and are a tasty addition to many dishes or as a snack.

Fiber often lets antioxidants take all the credit when it comes to immune health, but a healthy gut is important for a healthy immune system. A large part of our immune system is located in our gut which is filled with living bacteria that, like us, need food to survive. Vegetables and fruits contain fibers that we cannot digest. They travel through our digestive tract and feed the bacteria that support our immune systems! The same foods that provide us with antioxidants, such as sweet potatoes, apples, and nuts, also provide the fiber we need for a healthy gut to support our immune systems.

By making half your plate vegetables and fruit at each meal, varying your vegetables, and focusing on whole fruits, you will be providing

your body the antioxidants and fiber it needs to mount a strong defense against illness. Aim for including 2 ½ cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit each day. While there are plenty of good vegetables and fruits to choose from in the cooler months, fresh is not your only option. For more variety or to always be prepared with some produce on hand, choose frozen at the store or freeze some of your favorites!

A robust immune system means a strong defense which will be your best offense against invading viruses! But your immune system cannot do it alone! By choosing vegetables and fruits this fall and winter, you can keep your immune system ready to jump into action. 7 Andrea Reed, MPS, RDN 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

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Be a winner, not a sinner, when it comes to your financial future n honor of October’s National Financial Planning Month, I wanted to address the 7 deadly sins of financial planning!

way to “live on less than you make and save early” is to pay yourself first, then any leftover money can be used for bills and entertainment.

Anger: Dang Insurance Premiums No one likes paying their home or auto insurance premiums. I have friends who shop insurance annually to get the lowest monthly premium. Remember, “you get what you pay for.” Cheap insurance premiums tend to mean low coverage limits. After a car accident, you don’t want to learn your policy doesn’t cover the total repair bill, or worse, your insurance policy limits will not cover your total legal liability. Continue to seek reasonable insurance rates but make certain your policy coverage and liability limits meet your needs.

Lust: Inherited Stock Positions I spent my childhood on the banks of Pinchot State Park and the Susquehanna River, fishing with my Pappy. As a parting gift, he left all the grandchildren individual stocks. It’s hard to part with a legacy stock, the last gift provided by a loved one. But holding a position based on emotions rather than analyzing the concentration risk or appropriateness of the investment given your unique personal circumstances defeats the gift. Using this last parting gift to meet your financial goals often results in reallocating the investments to meet your objectives.

Greed: Chasing Performance The golden rule of investing is to “buy low, sell high!” But human emotion tends to interrupt this thought process. Buying low often entails buying investments when the stock market is declining or there is poor economic news. Instead, many investors purchase while the market is hot, for the fear of missing out. Try to avoid the hype and the next hot trend.

Stick to your investment plan, remain committed to the long-term plan.

Gluttony: If it sounds too good to be true…

It often is too good to be true. Be mindful of get-rich-quick schemes.

There are plenty of financial scammers, including those notorious Nigerian Princes willing to send you millions of dollars in exchange for wiring an initial sum of money. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

Sloth: Set it and Forget it!

Everyone remembers Ron Popeil’s late-night infomercials. “Set it and forget it!” may be a successful strategy for cooking a rotisserie chicken, but life throws us too many curve balls to “set it and forget it” with our financial lives. It’s easy to procrastinate but making updates to your plan as life evolves is a much less daunting task than making a complete overhaul 20 years down the road. Use life events such as marriage, the birth of a child, a career change or even raises to revisit your financial plan. Small changes over time tend to reduce anxiety and the propensity for procrastination.

Envy: Keeping Up with the Joneses Everyone’s heard the phrase, “live on less than you make and save early!” Unfortunately, societal pressures sometimes get the best of us.

Your coworker recently purchased the F-150 that you’ve always wanted.

Do you really want to park your old Ford Ranger next to him every day?

Your best friend just built a pool for their children. Now your children are asking when they’re getting a pool. Life pulls us in many directions, but resist comparing yourself to others and prioritize your goals. The easiest

Pride: Fear of Asking Questions My passion is beagles. If you listen to me speaking with fellow beaglers, we use a specific lingo that may confuse outsiders. Commands like “Tally Ho” and “Hark In” or comments like “finding a check.” Every hobby and profession have jargon unique to that industry. Many new investors will avoid asking for clarifications for the fear of sounding out of place. The only way to learn is by asking questions. If a professional isn’t willing to answer your questions and help educate you, then you should be seeking another attorney, accountant, or advisor.

Of all the 7 Deadly Sins of Financial Planning, avoid being too prideful to ask for clarifications. If you still don’t understand, it’s perfectly acceptable to halt any decision until you can complete your own research, so you understand your own finances. 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 OCTOBER 2021 9

Theatre Thoughts/Barbara Trainin Blank

Mirroring Broadway, East Shore & West Shore theatres making a comeback

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hen my husband and I, native New Yorkers, arrived in Harrisburg, we expected to “commute” to fulfill our theater cravings. Were we mistaken!

One venue we discovered early on was Open Stage of Harrisburg, the capital city’s oldest professional regional theater. Established by Anne Alsedek, Donald Alsedek, and Marianne Fischer, the nonprofit has been located in the Walnut Street Garage since 1992.

Known for musicals and contemporary dramas with “transcendent issues” it presents in its main stage, OS has two other venues: Studio Theater presents online streaming comedy or variety shows, while the Court Street Cabaret features live performances by musicians and singers.

“It’s wonderful to be performing in person again, following a season of 14 virtual shows,” said Stuart Landon, producing artistic director.

“With the Delta variant, not everyone is returning. But a lot of people are itching to do things, and full audiences are slowly coming back.”

Three one-person shows launched OS’s return to live theater. Next up is White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (October 1-24), a play with mature themes, no sets, costumes, or predetermined script, and a different cast member each performance; and (November 12-13) Violet Oakley Unveiled (by local playwright Cindy Rock Dlugolecki) about the first female artist to receive a commission to decorate a public building in Pennsylvania. The large-cast A Christmas Carol, an Open Stage staple, runs December-4-23.

The region is rich in community theaters. One is Oyster Mill Playhouse, originally Metropolitan Repertory Company, Inc. (Met Rep). A 501(c)(3) all-volunteer- run nonprofit, OMP was founded

by Sharon Hillegas, Michael Hillegas, Anita Shultz, Gary Bloom, and Dorothy Kovalchik in 1976.

“Initially, we performed where we could find a space and an audience,” said Aliza Bardfield, current board member and production manager. “Beginning in 1978, we rented the Fellowship Hall in the Faith United Church of Christ in New Cumberland for nearly all our productions, which highlighted new shows, old shows, controversial shows, and classic shows.”

After ten years at the church, the Met Rep board of directors purchased the mill as a permanent home, opening its 1988-1989 season with Barefoot in the Park. Current productions tend to “mix those popular shows with those that might be a little darker or might introduce patrons to a fabulous show they hadn't been aware of,” said Bardfield.

OMP was less than a week away from opening a production of

Barefoot in the Park when the pandemic struck. The entire cast and director are returning to stage it now, November 5-21. The 2022 season begins January 21 with Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced.

A theater that has remained in the same location but is reopening after (a non-Covid) hiatus is Allenberry Playhouse, housed at the popular Boiling Springs resort. Charles A. B. Heinze built the historic playhouse in1949, but it was dormant for a while before the purchase of Allenberry in 2015 by Katie and Mike Kennedy.

Meanwhile, Dustin LeBlanc, long-time artistic director of Carlisle Theatre, was exploring new opportunities. “I met with the new owners in late 2016, and we thought there was enough of an audience base and familiarity,” he said. “The playhouse reopened in 2017, after extensive renovations made it stage-ready again.”

LeBlanc oversees Allenberry’s theater and entertainment productions as executive artistic director of Keystone Theatrics. The nonprofit, a taxexempt charitable organization, provides programming at the Playhouse itself as well as around the property.

At one time largely summer stock, Allenberry now runs year-round, with several MainStage productions as well as youth and family shows.

Allenberry’s next MainStage production is Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (October 15-24).

“There’s no shortage of talent or audience coming,” LeBlanc said. “We’re playing on the positive memories people have about the Playhouse, to honor these memories and make new ones.”

For Covid-related safety protocols, contact each individual theater.

Late-breaking theatre news: effective October 4th, Lorien Reese Mahay has assumed the role of Theatre Harrisburg’s new Executive Director. Mahay spent the past five years as Associate Director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and has also served as Associate Director of Development at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York, and Program Director at the Watermill Center.

Welcome to Harrisburg, Lorien! 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

Fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility 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.”

E

very year during the second week of October, many Americans recognize Fire Prevention Week to raise awareness of fire safety and ensure the safety of our homes and families.

According to the United States Fire Administration, there were 134 fatalities in 2020 from house fires in Pennsylvania. Already in 2021, there have been 97 reported fatalities – just in Pennsylvania!

Each year, HACC’s Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center 10 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

provides public safety training to thousands of firefighters and other first responders, who are ready at a moment’s notice to respond to emergencies. We are grateful for their service, but individuals and families should exercise safety too.

Please review the following recommendations for protecting your home against the threat of a fire.

Install and Replace Smoke Detectors Three out of five deaths from home fires happen in properties without working smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be placed on every level of your home, in each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. The

batteries should be checked every month and replaced each year. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, or sooner if recommended by the manufacturer. If you are unsure about the age of your smoke detectors, purchase new ones and consider investing in detectors that connect with one another – that way, if one goes off, they all go off.

Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas generated from the incomplete combustion of fuels such as gasoline, wood, propane and charcoal. Inhaling too much carbon monoxide can lead to serious illness or death. If your home has any fuel-burning appliances or heaters, an attached garage or a fireplace, install carbon monoxide alarms on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Be sure to keep the alarms away from the fireplace or ovens to avoid false readings. Although fireplaces and ovens produce small amounts of carbon monoxide, those levels quickly dissipate into the air. Carbon monoxide alarms should be tested each week and cleaned monthly.

Just like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarm batteries should be replaced each year, and the alarm should be replaced every 10 years, or sooner if recommended by the manufacturer.

Develop an Escape Plan In addition to installing and maintaining alarms, members of the same household should develop and practice an escape plan. In case of a fire, you could have less than two minutes to evacuate your home. When developing your plan, draw a map of each floor of your home, marking every window and door. Ensure there are two routes of escape from each area of the home and

designate a meeting place where everyone will meet. It is important to practice this plan each year.

Purchase Fire Extinguishers Fire extinguishers are an essential tool for each home. Fire extinguishers come in many different types, but the best option for home use is a class ABC fire extinguisher. These types of extinguishers cover combustible materials, gas, liquid and electrical fires. Keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of your home, including basements and attics, and close to sources of fire, such as fireplaces. Because the majority of residential house fires happen in the kitchen, a fire extinguisher should also be kept in or near the kitchen.

When using a fire extinguisher, remember to “PASS”: • Pull the pin • Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire • Squeeze the handle • Sweep the nozzle side to side Remember that fire extinguishers should never be used on grease fires on the stove or in the oven. In the event of a grease fire, cover the flames with a lid or cookie sheet, turn off the fuel source and smother the fire with baking soda or salt. Do not use water to extinguish the fire or try to move the fire outdoors, as the spilled grease may cause the fire to spread.

Call 911 During an Emergency During a fire emergency, be sure to call 911. Although we are very fortunate in Central Pennsylvania to have well-trained and wellequipped volunteer and career fire departments, it is important that you take steps to prevent fires and ensure the safety of your loved ones. 7 Robert Stakem is executive director of the Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 11

#hbgmag Influencers

Gamut Theatre

Together, they shared “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” turned reality …

Story By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

Photos By Rick Snizik “If there is sainthood among the crazy, creative, very down-to-earth world of theatre, then there probably is a place for two people who are incredibly talented but use that talent almost entirely to serve others – Clark and Melissa Nicholson.” - David and Katherine Newhouse, from their presentation speech at the 2006 Awards for Distinguished Service to the Arts in the Capital Region

A

sk theatre folk to compile a list of the top movers and shakers in the greater-Harrisburg stage scene and names like Jay and Nancy Krevsky and Don and Anne Alsedek would most likely rise to the top. But if the Krevskys and Alsedeks essentially “built” local theater, then it’s safe to say that the next names on that list – Clark and Melissa Nicholson, founders of Gamut Theatre – are responsible for reshaping or perhaps even rebuilding performing arts in the mid-state.

The road to success for the Nicholsons can almost be looked upon as resulting from two combined principles: a Field of Dreams “if you build it, they will come” – or in this case, “make theater accessible, and they will come” - sense of immediacy, and a Life as a House “rebuild this house and wind up rebuilding the community around us” gradual revitalization. Those two separate yet equally valuable visions - and the impact they’ve had in both subtle and earth-shaking ways – are why Clark and Melissa are being recognized as this month’s “Influencers.”

Strong roots, beautiful leaves Long before they met and married, Clark Nicholson and Melissa Himmelreich were endowed with some very strong, working-class 12 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

roots. Born and raised in Saluda, South Carolina, Clark started working at the age of 14, toiling at the same place where most of his family worked, the cotton mills. Melissa, meanwhile, hails from the Pennsylvania German town of Millersburg, where the bulk of her family worked from dusk till dawn plowing the fertile Central PA farmlands. The two of them would go on to work a variety of other jobs, Clark inside his father’s sign shop, Melissa waiting tables at restaurants; and later, as husband-and-wife, even peeling potatoes for a local French fry business. These formative years not only instilled an enduring work ethic, but also served as an impetus to do more with their lives than hard labor.

“That’s not where I wanted to be,” says Clark. “So, if I was going to get out of it, I would have to do something to get out of it.” Choosing to “get out of it” by embarking on a career in the theatre, wouldn’t be the easiest thing for others to accept – but what’s discouragement to some people can be a motivating factor for others.

“I think coming from that rural background with not a lot of access and not a lot of encouragement, ironically, was the thing that made me go ‘if this is going to happen, I have to make it happen,’” remembers Clark. “One of the great motivators was people saying people from here [South Carolina] can’t do what you’re saying you want to do. It wasn’t like they were against it. They were just like I might as well have said that ‘I want to go and colonize Jupiter.’”

Adds Melissa, “when we started Popcorn Hat Players [their children’s theater and precursor to Gamut], we didn’t want to wait tables and work on a French fry truck, we wanted to do theater.

In The Spotlight/Frank Henley & Narcisse Theatre Company

Frank Henley

Because happy endings are for Disney movies …

Story & Photo By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

So, it was a great motivator to try to make money - at theater.”

Though there are a ton of similarities between Clark and Melissa’s upbringings, when it comes to their visions for building a business together – and the kind of business that bears beautiful leaves - they also possess dissimilarities. “She [Melissa] talks about being from good German stock,” explains Clark, “and so her thing is long haul commitments and ‘here’s how we do this,’ and that works for building an institution that goes over a long period of time. I’m much more project-oriented.

Like, I’ll go, ‘what do we need to work on for the next 2 or 3 months,’ and then we’re gonna do it.”

But, along the way, there was one goal that their two separate visions always shared: accessibility.

“Because neither of us came from money, and money influenced both of us growing up, we always wanted to make sure we were affordable,” says Melissa.

“And yes … accessible.”

Because theatre isn't only about theatre Some people whose lives are spent on the stage are consumed by it. Which isn’t bad in and of itself. But when Clark and Melissa first met at The Lost Colony Theatre in North Carolina and began to share their dreams for the future, they not only didn’t want the stage to be an end-all See Nicholson on Page 14

Narcissus : a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who pines away for love of his own mirrored reflection and is then turned into the narcissus flower Narcisse : an “underground” theatre arts group that believes in the Brechtian principle “art is not a mirror to be held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it”

F

or Harrisburg native Frank Henley, theater has always been about two things: “creating a thing of beauty and evoking an emotional response out of the audience.” He didn’t always plan on having his own theatre company, but once he did, he strove to separate Narcisse from the area’s more mainstream companies by ensuring that he’d always get that audience reaction. And he’s figured out the best way to do that is with the veritable Bertolt Brecht hammer.

“We don’t do happy endings,” he says with a degree of pride. “I mean, I don’t like doing endings period, good or bad. But what I really want to do is cause our audience some kind of psychological distress.”

A quick review of the Narcisse Theatre Company resume confirms Henley’s artistic taste: Jean-Paul Sartre’s “No Exit,” Suzan-Lori Parks’ “Top Dog/Underdog,” Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” and local playwright Paul Hood’s “The Itch of Gloria Fitch” – all emotional exercises in existentialism or absurdism (or both).

“I want our audience to walk away with more questions,” adds Henley. “They will not get any answers from us.”

On a recent cool September evening at Harrisburg’s Italian Lake, there was plenty of food for thought. Henley’s decision to choose “Rashomon,” a play by Fay and Michael Kanin, based on Ryonsuke Akatagawa’s stories, certainly was no surprise to anyone, considering its interplay between light and darkness, truth and misperception, and Narcisse’s inaugural production at one of the city’s most beautiful – yet underused – venues didn’t disappoint, serving up a healthy helping of the maxim “eat bitter, taste sweet.” With stark Kabukistyle makeup and costumes, a shadowy, monochromatic set design by company member Gary Duston, assistance with choreography and proper kimono technique from Yuko Hamada of New York’s Japan Performing Arts, Inc., and original music composed and played live by local musician Jonathan Frazier, the visually and aurally stunning performance adeptly balanced bitterness with the sweet, while raising many questions from the appreciative audience.

And one question in particular: “when can we see more shows like this?”

“This was our first annual,” explains Henley, “but we want to do a free show every year at The Lake. Every end of summer, every Labor Day. I wanna do for the Lake what Gamut Theatre has done for Reservoir Park.”

Those who can’t wait another whole year for a Narcisse Theatre Company production can find comfort in Henley’s plans for his “people’s See Henley on Page 15 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 13

Nicholson, continued from Page 13

experience, they wanted to stretch and expand the reaches of the stage to be open and receptive to all. And, even more than receptive – also reflective.

“I like theatre,” says Clark, “I appreciate it, I like the history of it, but if I’m only interested in my own medium, then I’m not doing what Shakespeare said of holding the mirror up to nature. I’m just holding the mirror up to the mirror. I think that sometimes, people get into disciplines and they get tunnel vision and they can’t see outside of their particular mode or medium … and there’s a giant world out there.”

Opening that world for all was to become the Nicholsons’ passion, and the route they chose to get there actually became two roads, one planned, the other kind of unexpected – but both ultimately intertwined.

Let's start with the unexpected ...

In the beginning, though they didn’t have much of it, Clark and Melissa weren’t necessarily looking to make a lot of money. It was the early 90’s, they were living on the 2nd floor of Melissa’s childhood home in Millersburg (a town that Clark likens to Thornton Wilder’s Grover’s Corners, or Frank Capra’s Bedford Falls), and they merely wanted to earn enough to get a permanent space for their fledgling two-person (soon to be 3-person) touring children’s theatre company. They were – and perhaps still are – selfdescribed “hippies of the 80s,” and so the Nicholsons hadn’t lost their free-loving vibe of – as Melissa puts it – “when we do theater, it will be theater for the people!”

Then, a succession of events occurred that would be earth-shattering, both for Clark and Melissa, and the local theater community.

First, there was the phone call, on January 20, 1993.

Prior to that fateful day, the Nicholsons had driven the forty minutes to Harrisburg in search of the Harrisburg Arts Council and

had trouble in finding it. But, once they did, they were thrilled when the lone person on duty – longtime local artist and Arts Council director Janice Radocha – said she was willing to call Mary Roth, director of Tenant Relations and Special Events at Strawberry Square, on their behalf. Janice happily passed on Mary’s response of “send us a proposal,” and Clark and Melissa did just that. Then, they waited with somewhat bated breath.

In a matter of days, the Nicholsons received a phone call from Mary Roth herself, asking if they wanted to “come down and pick out your space?” Of course, they did, but having initially been told the suggested performing space would be the Atrium area, in front of the huge, whirring, whizzing, mechanical clock (and anyone who’s been to Strawberry Square would understand their reservations) Clark and Melissa were hoping for a more acoustically friendly area. As it turned out, not only was Ms. Roth open to the idea of a space apart from the Atrium, she was willing to offer the Nicholsons their space for just a percentage of their ticket sales.

That crazy “little” thing called shakespeare It was never truly part of the plan. Clark and Melissa both loved The Bard, but they had minimal acting – and no directing – experience with Shakespeare’s works. And they had only been operating out of Strawberry Square for about a year when the unexpected request came: The Harrisburg Parks Partnership wanted them to come to the newly restored mansion at Reservoir Park to discuss possible usages for the newly refurbished Ralph Feldser Memorial Bandshell, a 1939 structure built as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) project.

Shakespeare certainly wasn’t even on anyone’s radar when the Nicholsons gathered that day with representatives from The Harrisburg Opera Company, Harrisburg Community Theater (now Theater Harrisburg), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Harrisburg Art Association, and the founders of the soon-to-be

Praise for Clark & Melissa …

“They are an outstanding couple who have impacted considerably on the arts community.

I love the work they do and the plays they choose … they’ve been wonderful to work with.

I don’t know what else I could tell you … I could only speak in superlatives.”

– Jay Krevsky 14 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

“They came to town and became the place to go for children’s theatre – The Popcorn Hat Players, developed by them. They have made a tremendous impact, not just on children’s theatre, but theatre as a whole.”

– Lois Lehrman Grass

“Clark and Melissa are passionate visionaries with a can-do spirit that has provided residents opportunities to enjoy a diverse range of history and theater. They bring our community together with open hearts and a creativity that inspires us all.”

– Dauphin County Board of Commissioners

Henley, continued from Page 13

African American Family Festival. It soon became apparent that most of those in attendance had no real use for the venue (the concrete floors were too hard for dancing, the space was too big for musicians, and visual artists … well, the huge “Bugs Bunny Bandshell,” as Clark likes to call it, didn’t really fit with their vision). So, when it came time for Clark and Melissa to speak, their novel suggestion for putting together a stripped down, seven-actor version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – as a single production - was very well-received.

Minimal? Single production? Shakespeare would say “I do not like this fooling!” And Clark and Melissa would discover that their small show with a small cast and even smaller budget (just $500) was something quite other than a fool’s errand. Especially after their friend Tommy Hensel, then in residence at The Shakespeare Theater in D.C., was called upon to direct the show. Apparently, Tommy had bigger, more grandiose ideas.

Fast forward and suddenly A Midsummer Night’s Dream grew into a full, uncut, nondouble-cast production with 20 named characters, and Clark found himself not only playing the role of Puck (for the 2nd time in his life), but also designing an innovative dual-stage setting, using a troublesome black curtain to conceal the play’s primary setting. Only, in what was to become a regular element of future Gamut Theatre productions, a contemporary, “stage-stretching” version of the primary setting: a junk yard instead of a forest.

It’s said that, when the curtain went up for the first time there were audible gasps from the crowd – still the largest audience ever gathered for a Harrisburg Shakespeare in the Park – followed by a rare show-in-progress standing ovation.

See Nicholson on Page 16

theater company,” which includes taking his core company to new heights in the 20212022 season. Those plans include National Poetry Month shows next April, featuring collaborations with Pittsburgh’s Aneesa Neibauer (“Black and Unknown Poets” on YouTube) and Harrisburg Poet Laureate Rick Kearns. Also in the works, something nearand-dear to Henley’s heart, is an expansion of Narcisse’s arts education efforts.

“What we would like to do is establish Adult and Youth Acting Classes, and Adult and Youth Writing Workshops,” he says, “and in the process we’ll create both our own core company of actors and a core company of writers.” By educating and mentoring local writers, not only will Henley have an easier time of sticking to his goal of producing fifty percent original plays every year, but he’ll in effect, be paying back the Harrisburg community for mentoring him when he was young.

church – “Hear the Voice, Be the Verse” – at Gamut Theatre (“what a class organization,” he says) that he got really addicted to being at the helm. “Acting is great,” he maintains, “but with directing you get to play all the roles!”

For Henley, the decision to devote himself 100 percent to directing greatly intensified during last year’s Covid lockdown. Like many artists, he was working a full-time job while doing theatre on the side, but after the virus had shut everything down for months he thought “why did we go through all that, just to go back to this [working a job]. So, this is how I want to spend the rest of my life: working on this company and creating art.”

So, what’s the next step for Narcisse Theatre Company? In addition to expanding upon his promise of never charging more than 15 dollars for a ticket and making every Sunday show an “any size donation gets you in” performance (“we don’t want money to come between us and our audience,” he says) Henley

“I wanna do for the Lake what Gamut Theatre has done for Reservoir Park.”

“It wasn’t until I was like 12, 13 or 14 that I really got into theatre, and into acting,” Henley recalls, pointing out that his initial foray into stage work came through the Baptist church where his father served as minister. “Being the pastor’s son, I was given a lot of leeway,” he muses. “Leeway in the sense that, if I came up with an idea, I had a good chance of pulling it off.”

It was when Henley attended a retreat as part of the annual Pennsylvania State Baptist Conference that his interest really was piqued.

“I was in this one class, and it was about First Kings, Second Kings, First Samuel, Second Samuel … and at the end of the week, they wanted to do a play. For the entire Congress, and for like 6 or 7 hundred people. I wrote it, and I directed it… and I was like ‘I really enjoyed it …maybe this is something I could really do.’”

Turns out, that’s all the motivation Henley would need. Within a few short years, he would find himself enrolled in the Harrisburg Arts Magnet School. “Which was transformative,” he says.

“Because it was like Harrisburg School District proper – under their jurisdiction - half of the students had to come from Harrisburg School District. All the rest of my classmates were from Mechanicsburg, CV, Hershey, Elizabethtown, everywhere,” he says, hinting at the benefits of such a diverse grouping of students. “And Anne Alsedek [of Open Stage fame] was my teacher – an incredible teacher – and Jay Krevsky [Theatre Harrisburg founder] was our principal. A local legend … a great guy.”

Henley’s acting roles would be plentiful over the decades that followed, but it wasn’t until he directed his first play outside of

also wants to expand his company. “My goal,” he asserts, “is to get large enough so that I can bring somebody else on. So that I don’t have to do all the managing director stuff. I don’t want to do that anymore. I just want to stick with the art.” Also in the works: 501 (c) (3) status for Narcisse, plus their very own performance space. In addition to performing outside at Italian Lake, the company makes use of an underground – literally – stage that Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center kindly permitted them to construct in their basement.

Oh, and don’t forget the Shadow Puppetry.

“Over the lockdown, I became enamored with the concept of Shadow Puppetry,” Henley says.

“So, we are designing, hopefully, for the 202223 season, the Wise Ol’ Crow’s Shadow Puppet Show. We’re putting together a team now.”

Calling it “the oldest form of animation in the world,” Henley points to the translatability of Shadow Puppetry as one of the main reasons for venturing into the oldas-cavemen art form.

“It’s all based on the concept of folk tales,” he explains, “and the thing about folk tales, it’s all about collective unconsciousness, all about these shared human values, and all throughout the world these stories are translatable. It’s like, ‘hey listen, these people might not look like you, but their stories are your stories.”

And making every story “your story” is very much a part of Henley’s own personal mission statement – something that you’ll immediately “get” upon seeing one of Narcisse’s shows: specifically, “to tear down the walls that divide us and build bridges across communities.” 7 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 15

Nicholson, continued from Page 15

The rest wasn’t just history. For local theater, it was history in the making.

Clark and Melissa Nicholson

The planned path It only goes to figure that Melissa Nicholson’s longtime – and some might say primary passion for outreach to and inclusion of children – only grew stronger as the free Shakespeare in the Park program prospered. Because, even though there have always overwhelmingly been more adult roles than children’s in the Reservoir Park productions, the kids were still a huge part of things – especially during that very first Shakespeare in the Park.

“I remember the neighborhood kids watching our rehearsals and wanting to know what we were doing,” she recalls. “By opening, they had the whole show memorized, knew the story of Midsummer, and could ‘magic clap’ along with Puck. And each year we’ve had a new crew of kids we’ve adopted.”

Melissa credits those kids with being the inspiration for starting an education program at Lincoln School, which led to Ben Franklin School, and then to Camp Curtin School, and from there an established partnership with the Harrisburg School District. Gamut’s children’s theater group, The Popcorn Hat Players (its name gleaned from a Carl Sandburg story read to Clark by his Grandma Thelma) regularly does biannual touring shows for daycare, school, and private party audiences; plus, the popular Gamut Theatre Academy has been empowering local kids – thespians and non-thespians alike – to be “seen, heard, and understood” for more than two decades.

“We’re not trying to make the next Meryl Streep or Olivier,” beams Melissa. “If that happens, that’s awesome. You know, if someone goes on from our company to be a great actor, I love that. But for us, it was more about just giving students the confidence to be able to speak and communicate with each other. We always talk about ‘there are no stars in the play. We all work together like a team!’”

In addition to the various educational and outreach programs that Melissa, Clark, and the Gamut team have been coordinating, they also recently launched a new fund called “Lily’s Legacy,” named for Lily

Praise for Clark & Melissa …

“Gamut is like family to me. I love Clark & Melissa. I’ve been doing shows with them for the past 25 years. They are the god parents of Narcisse Theatre Company! The impact that they have created, not just in the theatre space, but in the arts space, in Central Pennsylvania cannot be over-stated.”

– Frank Henley “Back in 2008, I was an actor in Detroit, looking for other jobs anywhere in the country.

I auditioned for a bunch of theatre contracts at once at a conference in Memphis, and Clark was there looking for actors. A few months later I moved to central PA, a place I had never been, and started working for the Nicholsons.

My now-husband moved out here, too, and we both ended up loving this place. Two guys from Michigan have careers and a home here now simply because the Nicholsons believed in us, welcomed us into their family, and showed us that home is people.”

– Jeff Luttermoser "As a new immigrant to the USA in 2004, I was lucky enough to land a job acting in the Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival, and I am 16 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

not exaggerating when I say the experience changed my life. I was given the opportunity to compose music for the production, which set me on a brand-new career path; after joining Gamut's core company for a year, I left to go back to school for music, eventually getting a Ph.D. in music composition at the University of Pennsylvania. I'm now a professional composer, all because the Nicholsons took a chance on me all those years ago.”

– Melissa Dunphy “Growing up, I was largely unaware of the theatre life. However, in 2005 I began to dabble and saw that Gamut Theatre was holding auditions for free Shakespeare in the Park. So, I readied an underwhelming monologue and went on my first professional audition. Clark and Melissa gave me my first professional gig … AND THEN they hired me full time right out of college!! I adore these two and consider them my creative parents of sorts. Clark is a veritable encyclopedia of all things pop culture and historical … and Melissa is honestly the other half of the brain.”

– Ian Potter

“Working at Gamut Theatre provided a foundation for the rest of my career. Now, almost 20 years after I walked in the doors, I'm still proud to be a part of the Gamut community and my daughter has found her own place there. I will always be grateful to Clark and Melissa for trusting me in those early years, and for helping me grow as a performer and a person.”

– Alexis Dow Campbell “Clark and Melissa are trailblazers in the Harrisburg theater community. Their dedication to making Shakespearean and Classic theatre accessible to students and the community at large is unsurpassed. I first worked with this dynamic duo as an actor when I was relatively new to the Harrisburg area. That was almost ten years ago and today I am appreciative to now be a collaborative partner with Clark and Melissa through Sankofa African American Theatre Company. Their support and generosity to Sankofa has been instrumental in the growth of our organization and our mission to diversify the stories being told on the stages in the Capital region.”

– Sharia Benn

Jordan, a wheelchair-bound student who sadly passed away in September of 2020.

Also, soon to bear Lily’s name: an elevator that was installed as part of the second renovation of Gamut’s 4th-street facility, which allowed the building to become ADA accessible. According to Melissa, Lily’s parents will always remember that elevator as their daughter’s “magic portal,” because both the elevator ride and its destination – the Gamut stage – never failed to “elevate” Lily’s spirits.

To donate to “Lily’s Legacy,” contact Gamut Theatre; or look for a link in the future at the Gamut website.

Setting an example Gamut Theatre hasn’t just been setting examples for kids lately. Last year, during the height of the pandemic, Clark and Melissa decided to “pull back and just think about everything” before doing art just for the sake of doing it. They put their actors in company housing, which gave them a safe Covid bubble. That, combined with a large space and a small staff, plus a coherent set of pandemic rules written by Melissa, made it so that everyone could work safely together.

And work, they did.

“We created some digital pieces, that we were able to share with schools and libraries,” says Melissa, “and we created a really cool Julius Caesar digital piece that a lot of schools used as a Shakespeare curriculum … so I was really proud of what we did do.”

“Plus,” adds Clark, “theaters all over the country, because we belong to some international organizations, used her [Melissa’s] stuff as a template for their own theaters.”

Due to Melissa’s swift and precise Covid actions, Gamut Theatre was also able to produce several plays over the past year.

Their socially distanced space transformed from a 230-seat hall to a 50-seat hall, and people could buy a single ticket, two tickets, or three tickets together. Everyone also had to be masked, and temperatures were taken.

Now, with virus case numbers rising again, Gamut has joined with Harrisburg’s Open Stage for what Melissa describes as “a unified ‘this is what we’re doing’ policy” that will include restrictions such as either showing your vaccination card or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of the performance.

Building(s) for the future There are still a lot of shows to put on. Many “mirrors” to hold up. For Clark and Melissa Nicholson, the ongoing mission is for those shows and mirrors to continue to reflect diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. As part of See Nicholson on Page 18 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 17

Nicholson, continued from Page 17

that mission, the Nicholsons are ecstatic at being chosen as hosts for the next Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) International Conference, to take place in January 2022. Representatives from theater groups from around the globe will be coming to Harrisburg for various workshops, including one taught by Clark on improvisational techniques (an ongoing passion of his), but even more important to the local community will be a five-night series of classic works called Classics Fest, to be produced “with an emphasis on inclusion and diversity” and as a way to highlight organizations and individuals Gamut is partnering with who may not be well-known in the area yet.

“We’ll have a different play every night, and pretty much we’re going to make these available to the public for a five-dollar ticket,” says Melissa. “Two shows here at Gamut, but all the rest are at Whitaker

Center, so we can fit as many people who want to come.” More information is available here: www.gamuttheatre.org/classicsfest.

Clark and Melissa are only too happy to continue to fit as many people from the local community – whether they must continue to social distance, or not – into their 4th street theatre. That space, a former church just across the street from Strawberry Square that they moved into in 2015, was renovated in two stages. And, on a parallel plane, Clark continues to renovate his and Melissa’s Victorian home in Millersburg. Which begs a revised connection to the movie Life as a House: as not just one, but two, structures continue to get spruced up, so does the Central Pennsylvania performing arts community.

With that said, one can only hope that the Nicholsons never run out of repairs. 7

Praise for Clark & Melissa …

"Clark and Melissa have created a beautiful family of artists at Gamut. And an important arts institution in the city. Inventive and thoughtful and full of heart, the Nicholsons are pillars of the central PA arts scene."

- Stuart Landon, Producing Artistic Director, Open Stage “Clark and Melissa's dedication to their community is so inspiring. They are the hardest working people you'll ever meet, and they do it all for their love of this community and the art they bring to it. Their enthusiasm and

18 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

integrity attract more and more fantastic artists to Harrisburg every year, and continue to provide a fulfilling, inclusive, exciting arena for Central PA's talent to flourish. For any Harrisburg Magazine readers who haven't yet visited the historic building Gamut Theatre calls home, I hope you are able to experience the magic of live theatre with them this year.”

– Michelle Kay Smith “I came to Gamut Theatre in the summer of 2007, at a pretty significant turning point in my life. I was feeling a bit vulnerable and

alone, and the Nicholsons IMMEDIATELY made me not only feel like I was welcome, but that I was a part of their family. Over my three years there, I saw the theater continue to grow, and was thrilled to be a part of the evolution that has brought them to where they are today. I will never be able to thank Clark and Melissa enough for the trust and faith that they put in me during my time there.”

– Jeremy Garrett

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.

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Local Singer-Songwriter Joey Dalto

How 4 “hair standing up on arm” moments & 3 ½ minutes with Fuel shaped a singer-songwriter

By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

T

here are those rare, splendid moments in life that can cause the hairs on your arm to stand up. For some, it may be the first passionate kiss. For others, seeing a newborn son or daughter for the first time.

For local singer-songwriter Joey Dalto, a Cumberland Valley graduate, there are four goosebump moments during his formative years that shaped him most – and all of them fueled by “the power of music.”

To begin with, there was Layla. No, that isn’t the name of Joey’s first crush, or the girl who gave him his first kiss. Layla as in the song by Derek and the Dominos. It was one of the cuts on “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,” an album that was part of the collection of LPs owned by his dad and stored in the Dalto family basement. Sure, the senior Dalto, a radio DJ, had played that song – and others – for his son on many an occasion, and hence was already a big influence on young Joey. But it was on a day when no one was paying attention that Joey snuck where he shouldn’t have snuck, placed the needle where

it shouldn’t have been placed and … be-uhliddle-liddle-lay, that classic Eric Clapton guitar riff began to play. Up close, at full volume, from the speakers of his father’s massive stereo system.

Then, there was the time he saw grown men swinging in mid-air. Okay, not in person. It was during the MTV decade, and in a music video starring the members of Bon Jovi, Jon and the boys in the band were having such a blast performing at a concert, harnessed and suspended in the air while singing the hit “Livin’ on a Prayer,” that Joey had his first “that could be me up on stage” vision. One could say the stage was being set.

The third of his four goosebump moments: another concert setting. Only this time a live one. Joey was only 11 or 12, and a real estate agent-friend of his mother was taking her daughters to the Aerosmith show in Hershey and had invited Joey along. Being a huge fan of the band, Joey broke away from his adult escort before the music even started and was mere feet away from the stage in the general

admission pit when the “religious” experience happened. “They opened up with Eat the Rich,” he recalls, “and this giant cow-print curtain is draped up in this cone-esque shape over the drum riser. And every time the drums hit – bum-bump, bum-bump – they flash these lights … and the entire band is standing on the drum riser, and it lights this shadow on the cow-print, and these guys look like they’re 50 feet tall.”

See Dalto on Page 24 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 23

Has the Greater Harrisburg music scene reached its destination of “normal”?

By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

I

t’s been a rough year-and-a-half for anyone who makes their full, or even partial, living by being on a stage. And no one’s been through more pain with no gain than Central PA’s musicians. With venues finally opening their doors again, we asked local performers as well as the places they perform to tell us how they’ve survived Covid, and how hopeful they are that the current rising tide of “normalcy” won’t become a low tide again.

"Nobody thought when Whitaker Center closed in March of 2020 that it would be 18 months until live music returned. We missed the entertainers and welcoming guests who enjoy live entertainment. The industry is slowly coming back, and we are cautiously optimistic on its continued return. Seeing the excitement from guests has been exhilarating. There is an indescribable energy that consumes the theater during live performances. Whitaker Center follows CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines, as well as increased cleaning procedures, to make every effort in keeping our guests safe. We believe keeping guests safe is key to their continued enjoyment of live entertainment. It is our top priority." - Meghan Clark, COO/CFO Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts “We opened during the pandemic (7/20/2020), and it was a wild ride from the get-go, to say the least. But we stayed flexible and ready for change at all times. We held brainstorms to come up with new ways to connect with people. We held free, socially distant afternoon shows on Fridays, offered takeout, added canvas walls and heaters to our patio so that we could welcome guests to the space safely outdoors, maximized what we could do with private events within the guidelines from the state, the list goes on. Music is a thread of creativity in our lives, so it will definitely come back to its full experience again. The frisson and emotion that comes with a live show is something we can never lose.” – Ang Moramarco, Marketing & Creative Director, The Englewood "The pandemic was hard on everyone, obviously, but thanks to loans & grants, H-MAC was able to survive to see another day. Now that the world is back to a so-called sense of normalcy, people want to see live music again, and that is what H-MAC is giving them. We have a ton of big shows coming up and we keep getting bigger & bigger crowds for these shows. People want to go back to normal, and music venues can help them with that." - Kevyn Knox, General Manger, H-MAC “XL Live’s ability to ‘survive’ the months-long COVID shutdown rested solely on the shoulders of our owner, Phil Dobson. His ability to continue to keep his primary business ventures thriving prevented XL from being left in financial ruin. As far as live music coming back, it’s already here.

It’s definitely different. Some nights it feels like ‘old times,’ others… Not so much. But we adjust, we self-correct and focus all of our energies on providing the best possible experience for our patrons.”

- Chris Conduit, Venue Manager, XL Live “Covid was tough musically. I was only able to play about 20 shows last year. Fortunately, my day job didn't have any disruptions. I was actually glad I had left being a full-time musician in 2017. Otherwise, financially, it would have been devastating. I was able to spend more time playing and writing music, because I worked from home. So, there was an upside. I am hopeful that most venues will make it back. Although I am worried about this fall and winter. I have noticed some venues have stopped booking shows and/or even canceling shows due to Covid D.” - Rhyne McCormick, singer-songwriter “I, like many other musicians, got a "real" job to support the loss of gigs. I also realized that with everyone stuck in the house and getting tired of watching Netflix, we as musicians had a large audience of people to play for right on the other side of the webcam. I immediately placed a small home studio in my house and performed weekly live streams to people all over the world. I helped the people get through with a few hours of interactive musical escape, and they helped buy my groceries for the week. The music scene is coming back in a huge way right now, partially fueled by the new appreciation of live music post-lockdowns. All of us musicians have had time to practice, write, adapt, and perfect our craft as well.” - Dave Gates, singer-songwriter 24 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Dalto, continued from Page 23

Finally, came the insomnia-fueled night.

Or, rather, a Fuel-fired night of insomnia?

Regardless, it all started with watching Insomniac Music Theater on VH1, popular among discophiles for its eclectic playlist, and although Joey wasn’t stricken with insomnia, he was stricken with raised arm hairs upon seeing the video for Fuel’s “Shimmer.” Before you knew it, Joey was headed to Circuit City to purchase Fuel’s album, “Sunburn,” and within hours the disc became the very first one that Joey would listen to from start-tofinish – in one sitting.

Like four cornerstones laid at the base of a building, those four goosebump moments in Joey Dalto’s life had already begun setting him up for a future that would be, in one or more ways, filled with music. But there would be many more moments – and people – who would have an impact on his quest to become a performing singer and songwriter.

There were the guitar lessons, and, perhaps even more impactful, the vocal lessons … “My dad played guitar, and we had instruments laying around the house,” remembers Joey, “and while he wasn’t a trained music professional, he knew enough to get around a couple of song books and would have his buddies over once in a while to jam in the living room.” It was that social component of music that eventually led Joey to ask his dad to “teach me to play guitar … right now!” His father would end up showing him his first basic chords before putting him in front of a Beatles songbook, inspiring Joey to continuing teaching himself – before briefly seeking lessons from an instructor in Lemoyne. But not music theory; particular songs.

“It was the 90’s, and I was into grunge music, and I was like ‘I wanna learn Bush … Machinehead,’” muses Joey. And, of course, if he wanted to play grunge, he also

wanted to be able to sing grunge. Just on the horizon, but not in plain view just yet, would be vocal lessons from Steve Whiteman of “Kix,” which would be “a game-changer,” he says. “He was a guy who sang with grit. I still, to this day, use my vocal lessons from him.”

There was the first experience auditioning for a band … “I had a buddy named Jeremy George, and we were driving around in my ’94 Chevy Lumina, jamming out to Fuel,” recalls Joey, “and he turns to me and says, ‘have you ever thought about being in a band?’”

As it turns out, his friend knew a band that needed a singer. After several failed attempts to contact the band’s drummer, Quinn Book, Joey ran into Quinn at Penndot while taking his point examination test (“I guess I had acquired one too many speeding tickets,” he laments), leading to an invitation to audition at the next Sunday’s rehearsal.

When he arrived for his audition – hearing music when he entered the house that “sounded like it was a record playing … it just sounded so good” – he happily discovered that Quinn and all his bandmates were also serious Fuel fans. Three songs later – “Bittersweet,” “Shimmer,” and “Sunburn” – Quinn and his band, Syphen, were inviting Joey to future rehearsals.

“I’m in band, I’m in a band,” was the refrain in Joey’s car as he drove home that day.

There was the audition for his favorite band, Fuel … That’s right, the Fuel. In 2006, lead singer Brett Scallions decided to part company with the band, and the other members surprised a lot of people by launching a national competition for a replacement.

When the contest period opened, Joey was fortunate enough to have a previous recording of his cover of “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” ready for entry – and he was subsequently called out to Los Angeles for an in-person audition. One of only twenty finalists!

See Dalto on Page 26 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 25

“The song, ‘Worried Man Blues,’ I think sums it up. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, I’m worried now but I won’t be worried long ... But my worries are small. Yeah, during the pandemic I did a lot of Zoom and Internet stuff on Facebook etc. and stayed close to the people and kept the beautiful music alive.” – John Catalano, musician and private instructor “The music stopped for us in April of 2020, and we lost 34 booked dates quickly. Then we were offered some opportunities to play outside venues over the summer and we took advantage of that. We survived by learning new music and making our band better in the down time. Not much money, but steadfast till things opened in 2021. I am optimistic, as we have over 30 dates booked this year. Concerts are happening again, and Live Nation is in full gear. I'm a little concerned about heading back in doors and how these new variants are affecting people’s decisions about going out to hear live music. Many live music venues are trying to hold on and do the very best job they can under these crazy circumstances.” – Rit Casey, singer-guitarist, Honeypump “I think what’s been most important is making the right decisions...being responsible, keeping a safe distance, taking breaks backstage when you would socialize. When we were locked down, I started to create art pieces and create something new... I still think music venues are slowly getting back to some sort of normalcy but it’s going to be quite an adjustment.” – Amy Simpson, singer “During the pandemic, the gigs really dropped off. There were a few small opportunities, such as playing outdoors during the warmer weather, and making music videos for a corporate client which they used in-house to spread good cheer. That said, the work really dropped off. Even now, many of the places that had regular music don't appear ready to bring it back any time soon, if ever. In my case, I've managed (after considerable effort) to break into some bars that I've never played at before.

So, I'm managing to get work, but the places are different from where I was playing previously.

It sort of feels like starting all over again.” Jonathan Frazier, performing musician “I do a lot of studio work, so I was able to work on many projects from home via email. I also dug more into the mixing and mastering side. That helped some. I also did livestreams regularly (with a tip jar), which I continued even after I went back to playing live. Most places in my orbit seemed to have weathered the storm pretty well. It depends where you go. The winter will be a big test. Some audiences act like the pandemic is completely over.

Some are more cautious. From my vantage point, a pretty large contingency is still not comfortable going to an indoor show. We will see. I think things have changed profoundly for venues, artists, etc.

It will take several years to play out. It may be a good thing for artists in the long run.” - Bret Alexander, singer-songwriter-producer 7 26 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Dalto, continued from Page 25

Though he ultimately didn’t get the gig, the experience was still to become one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” memories. “I was nervous, I was worn out,” he says “and I was kind of in awe. But there I am, on this little sound stage – Jeff Abercrombie to my left, Carl Bell to my right. It was not the greatest performance of my life, but for 3 ½ minutes I was in Fuel! It was a phenomenal experience, and I don’t think I’d change it for anything in the world.”

There was – and still is – the experience of playing in two popular local cover bands … The Famous, known for playing 70’s and early 80’s rock and roll, and The Swisher Sweets, which plays hits from the 70’s thru today, have both been showcasing Joey’s talents for several years now, and performing regularly with both bands helped him to stay focused – and have the confidence – to begin writing songs for what would become his 2020 debut album, “All For You.” Though, it also hasn’t hurt having a regular day job to take care of paying the bills.

As Southwest Sales Manager for electronics manufacturer Z-Band Technologies, Joey has no qualms with his occupation, and in fact seems quite comfortable with it. But, like most musicians and artists, he has loftier aspirations. “In my heart of hearts, in my dream of dreams, yeah, the dream is to make a living playing music … and the record has been a passion project for me – 20 years in the making,” he says, recalling that the reason he left his previous band, Echoburn, was because of their reluctance to produce original music.

Of course, achieving the goal of full-time musician became even more difficult once Covid hit – and postponed the release party for “All For You.” “It was hard on all of us,” he says, “you have no idea how much you miss something until it’s gone.”

“When The Famous had our first rehearsal back, it just felt really good. And, when we had some people approach us about playing some gigs again, it felt like the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Things are slowly starting to return to “normal” – and looking up. In addition to a new date being planned for the release party, Joey’s band, The Swisher Sweets, had the recent honor of leading off for rock icon’s the Gin Blossoms, August 28th at the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey.

For a relatively young man, Joey has experienced a lot of goosebump moments.

Definitely more than one passionate kiss. And yes, fatherhood, too: Joey’s first child was born in June. Says an exuberant Joey, “the Mrs. likes to say, now it’s like Christmas every day.” And, if feeling like you’re celebrating a magical holiday 24/7 doesn’t make the hairs stand up on your arm, nothing will.

To search for and listen to tracks from “All For You,” or to purchase a copy of the CD, visit www.joeydalto.com. 7

Artful Inspirations Around Us

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Madison Ryan

Musical Muses Story by Christina Heintzelman

cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com

I

n Greek Mythology, Euterpe is the Muse of Music and was called ‘the giver of delight’ by ancient poets. Here in the Harrisburg area, we have quite a few musical muses giving delight to all and adding to the creative and artistic scene through their beautiful voices, personal lyrics, and instrumental talents. The list of local muses is a long one but only a few can be showcased in this article.

Amy Simpson is a Harrisburg native who joined a road band right out of high school at the age of 18. “The band, Triple Exposure, had a Latino vibe to it – think Gloria Estefan,” Simpson said. The band played mostly for the upscale hotel circuit but also did gigs abroad. “I’ve sung in Helsinki, Finland; Estonia; and even a cruise ship out of Sweden named The Sally Albatross,” Simpson added.

Simpson came from a military family and lived all over the world, which has done wonders for her musical versatility and her ability to express many different vocal styles. “The world is my stage,” she says. You can pick up the 90’s rock, blues, jazz, world music, and contemporary vibes in her style as a professional vocalist and songwriter.

After being out on the road for several years, Simpson decided to return to Harrisburg. “I wanted to come home, have a normal life, have a dog, and not live out of a suitcase.”

After landing back home, it did not take long until she was contacted by the local band, Blitz Dynette, who are well known for their R&B sounds and doing original music and covers with their own twist. The band began in the 80’s and hit their stride in the 90’s by adding a horn section. Blitz Dynette has put out 3 studio albums and is still popular, playing local gigs that have now begun to open after the shutdown caused by the pandemic. One of these local appearances will be on October 28 at The Englewood in Hershey. The Englewood is a restored

historic bank barn that has been converted into a state-of-the-art listening room/concert venue which includes custom lights and audio.

Simpson also has her own 5-piece band aptly named Amy Simpson Band and consisting of keyboards, bass, drum, guitar, and Simpson on vocals. In 2017 the band put out their first CD entitled “Lipstick Blues” – engineered and produced by Michael Giblin and co-produced by Dan Kibler.

Simpson says, “Live music has been changed by the pandemic and we are all waiting for a sense of return to normal – whatever that means.”

She then added, “I’ve been playing in the area for 27 years and what makes me the happiest is being in the mode of creating and expressing myself.” Her hope is to keep moving, creating, and helping other people feel positive by touching them with her music. “How many times have you heard a song from your past and within moments you are taken right back there – music can do that. It creates a space to feel free.”

When Covid hit the live music performance arena, Simpson was able to stay busy and creative by creating a company with Denise Nickey called Zeta Ascending, which specializes in customized art prints created by the two owners. They work in encaustic and cold wax and acrylic and the work is in high demand by various business owners. The company has also formed an alliance with OMG Music to provide guitar strap art for global customers. “My goal has been to remain positive in my own light by expressing my creative abilities and re-inventing what I am doing on the fly.” “Next up may be a creative endeavor of creating an emulsion of total immersion by combining art with music in various ways,” Simpson adds.

Amy Simpson, vocalist, can be contacted through Facebook and Instagram as Amy Simpson, and you can check out the band Blitz See Muses on Page 28 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 27

Muses, continued from Page 27

Dynette on the website blitzdynette.com.

Zeta Ascending can be contacted on FB as Zeta Ascending and, on the website, zetaascending.com.

Suzi Brown was born in Camp Hill and moved briefly to Montana in her 20’s. From there she travelled to Australia to study music theory, performance, and guitar.

Although she is a classically trained pianist her first love is guitar. “I picked one up at the age of 9 and taught myself how to play.

I figured out chord progressions by looking up information on the internet.” She adds, “Guitar is definitely my first love for making music. I have accompanied other performers by playing piano, but it is never my choice for my own projects.”

Brown’s style is eclectic, mixing folk pop alternative with 90’s pop and some Motown. Her styles and melodic riffs are informed by her travels and performances PHOTO SUBMITTED PHOTO SUBMITTED in other countries and her ethnomusicology Amy Simpson Suzi Brown background. This has been key in her creation of sound versatility. market for viability in releasing another album. Her next performance During a band tour with Elior in Australia, she played lead electric stop will be relatively close to home. guitar and alternating rhythm guitar. Elior then went to Thailand and Brown can be reached through her website suzibrown.net or on in between performances Brown was able to do humanitarian work as Facebook as @SuziBrownMusic. Her schedules for live performances are a volunteer assisting sex trafficking victims. “I would walk into brothels always posted on social media. and pull young girls out saying they were late for their English lessons; At the age of 6, Linglestown resident Erica Lyn Everest gave her then I’d take them to a shelter to assist them in escaping the bonds first live performance by singing the national anthem at the Farm Show tying them to their victimized life.”

Building for the Harrisburg Heat, the local professional indoor soccer “I played guitar with another band in a tour of China doing American team. She hasn’t stopped singing since and has entertained various Pop music – cover after cover every single night.” She laughingly says. government and civic organizations with her voice. She has performed As a band, the group also participated in teaching English as a second at local musical theatre events and has been a solo presence on several language at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China. recordings. “I have been given a gift from God, and I am thankful to be Brown writes most of her own music and lyrics and after her road able to be doing what I love. Music is my soul and inspiration,” she says. trips abroad she released her In her teen years, she was a first full-length CD, “Siren Song,” student of Chris Purcell - founder while living and performing in of Anevon Music Productions “At the end of the day, I Philadelphia. “I came back to and worked on many projects with find my peace in striving to the Harrisburg area in 2014 her, including a solo recording of and used the release of Siren always come from a place an award-winning title song in Song as a means of getting gigs the musical production “Great of love and light, now more in a lot of different venues.”

Expectations,” which won a than ever. Times are tough The CD allowed her to land Proclaim Award for Purcell. for everybody, and I find it shows nationally and get coEverest auditioned to become billings with many well-known a student at University of the important in my life to spread musicians including 2-time Arts Philadelphia to study as a love and kindness, and to Grammy winner Timothy jazz vocalist. “I didn’t make the always keep the faith.”

Bloom, Indigo Girls, Muriel PHOTO SUBMITTED cut because I couldn’t pass the Anderson, and George Clinton. Erica Lyn Everest part of the audition that dealt In addition, she has performed with reading music, as I have at World Café Live, Kent Stage, Lincoln Theatre, Greenwich Odeum severe dyslexia.” She then made the decision to go to HACC and study Theatre, and many other various musical arenas. photography, but she kept right on singing. After 2 years of study at Right before the pandemic shut down live music, Brown bought a HACC she realized that she could only put 110% of herself into one art weighted keyboard and decided to learn music from Steven Sondheim or the other, and music won out. musicals. “I did this for the learning experience because Sondheim The Erica Lyn Everest Band has been playing together professionally defies a lot of musical theory, and his musical narrative is very for 11 ½ years in many local venues. She also works many gigs with her eye opening. It was a great opportunity for me to explore others’ guitarist, Ken Geist, when she is not performing with the entire band. compositional work.” She then adds, “I am in the process of redefining “We read the room in order to discover what our play list will be – if we who I am and what I am doing by shifting my business model to college see that the audience is game, we will go into a set of down-and-dirty and private event performances as all we musicians work through the blues,” Everest says with a laugh. difficulties brought on during Covid.”

In September of 2019, Everest worked one of her most memorable Brown is currently working on new material and persistently getting performances – singing at the “Downton Abbey” movie premiere in better at what she already does so beautifully. She is exploring the Philadelphia. “I landed this performance through BRP Entertainment 28 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Erica Lyn Everest

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Madison Ryan

Booking Agency and being there with stars of the movie such as Allen Leech, writer Julian Fellowes, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, and Michelle Dockery, being on the red carpet was the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” she states.

Everest has also been nominated in two separate years for either best female vocalist and/or best female jazz and blues vocalist through the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2019.

CPMHOF is a non-profit organization that is devoted to recognizing, supporting, and growing the music scene of Central Pennsylvania. In addition to these nominations, in 2014 she was awarded Best Female Vocalist by 717 Magazine.

Everest is also employed as a videographer and video editor, creating videos that are based on implementing ways to stay physically healthy in the sports arena for Occupational Athletics, Inc, which is a family business. Her family also was responsible for the opening of Mellow Minded Café in Linglestown, and Everest worked there for a short time.

The list is long when asked about her favorite things to do when she is not singing: dance parties in the kitchen accompanied by Grateful Dead music, spending time with her dogs, riding around town on PHOTO SUBMITTED her electric bike, hopping on a Madison Ryan cheap flight and heading to the beach, spending time with her family, and going out to support the local arts and music scene.

“My grandfather was a huge influence in my life, he inspired me to sing and perform and I still have songs on my set list that he picked out for me.” She then adds, “Oh and vinyl – my grandfather introduced me to vinyl records – 45’s and albums- we would listen to them for hours and now I have my own collection which I add to as often as I can.”

Her parting comment was, “At the end of the day, I find my peace in striving to always come from a place of love and light, now more than ever. Times are tough for everybody, and I find it important in my life to spread love and kindness, and to always keep the faith.”

Everest can be contacted on Facebook @Ericalyneverest and on Instagram ericalyneverestmusic.

Madison Ryan is an alternative pop artist and lifetime resident of Harrisburg. She started professional musical performances in 2015, although you could say that she started as early as 2013 when she recorded herself singing “Make You Feel My Love” after hearing Adele’s cover of this song.

“My dad has performed with a lot of bands, so I was exposed to music all my life. I just wasn’t sure if I could do it,” Ryan states. “I was a competitive figure skater with Central Pennsylvania Figure Skating Club as a young girl, and I love performing.

I trained at Twin Ponds, and I travelled the east coast a lot for competition,” she adds.

Her competitive training in figure skating prepared her for what was to come a little later in her life.

Ryan studied acting at CASA but, being around other musical artists, she soon realized how much she enjoyed music and writing lyrics. “I started going to hear some of my CASA friends perform and they would often invite me onto the stage to do some songs with them and I was hooked!”

Ryan’s early influence was Taylor Swift. “She is such an amazing songwriter and performer, her lyrics have so much depth – she is the best storyteller. Billie Eilish has become more important to me at this point in my life because of her work in experimental pop, alt pop, and indie pop.” Ryan says that experimentation in music is what keeps it going.

Her first EP, “Primary” – produced by Matt Malpass and Matt Holmes - was released to rave reviews in 2018, making its way onto the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. In the same year she was playing at SummerFest in Milwaukee as part of their 2018 Emerging Artist Series.

In 2020, Ryan was nominated and subsequently won the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame award for best pop artist/band. Her song “Avant Garden” was also nominated for song of the year.

In January 2021, Ryan was the cover artist for Pennsylvania Musician Magazine and an article also appeared entitled “Madison Ryan: Coming Out of The Dark.” Her single “Dark,” recorded by Brandon Shoop and Matt Holmes, was released in January to much acclaim.

“Dark” describes the battle of finding the way to bring yourself out of the dark places caused by depression. You can find the visualizer video of this single, produced by Josh Nesmith, on YouTube Ryan works with producers in New York and Philadelphia. She writes lyrics and melody, creates a demo, and sends it out to them for their final work in creating a single that can be heard on Spotify and Apple Music. She is hoping to release more music in 2022 and is keeping herself motivated by writing additional lyrics and creating more music.

Ryan can be reached through her website madisonryanmusic.com and you can listen to her music on Apple, Spotify, and Pandora, and watch her visualizers on YouTube. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 29

Short Story/The Siren of the Susquehanna

The Siren of the Susquehanna

“That would be a foolish endeavor.”

We already are fools, I think …

Story By Christian W. Thiede • Illustration By David Sponseller

H

urricane Milana roars like a hungry lioness and claws at our house.

"Want to do something fun?," my older brother Beck asks and arches his left eyebrow. Whenever he does that, I know mischief is soon to ensue. "Let's kayak out to Lady Liberty."

Lady Liberty is a twenty-five foot Statue-of-Liberty replica in the middle of the Susquehanna River just north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; she’s a pearly ghost and sits on top of a thirty-foot pier that used to support the old Marysville Railroad Bridge in the Dauphin Narrows. We grew up fishing, swimming, and paddling the Susquehanna's vast murky sprawl. No doubt, we are bonded tight to its call. Normally, this wouldn’t be much of a challenge, but with a hurricane brewing, there is nothing normal about today except the typical heat of August: ninety-two degrees Fahrenheit and humid. I don’t say anything.

"Come on, let's get our gear together, so we can launch when the eye is over us." Beck elbows me. "I double-dare you!"

He knows I cannot resist a dare, especially from him. My ultracompetitive juices start to flow. Adventure runs in the family, and with that, a bunch of crazy, too.

"Let's roll," I say. My name is Moby White and I'm twenty years old.

I'm six-foot three-inches tall and weigh two-hundred pounds. Beck is six-foot even and about the same weight. We both have hazel eyes and brown wavy hair.

At noon, Beck and I cast off a mile up river from Lady Liberty. The river is running fast and high. We cannot beach on the rocky outcrop since the water has covered it and more than half the pier. As we arrive, we split up: me on the western side and Beck on the eastern.

I take the climbing rope I had slung over my shoulder and heave one end up and over the pier in order to form a loop around the statue's base.

The toss only had to clear ten feet, so it wasn't that difficult.

Besides, I had planned ahead by tying a weight to the end of the rope. Beck has the hard part—grabbing the rope— but he manages. The rope catches, then bites into my gloved hands and strains my shoulders and elbows—all those chin-ups at the gym pay off. Hand-over-hand, I work 30 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

my way back to the pier. Beck does, too, hooting and hollering. Beck tethers his magenta kayak to my indigo one and hoists himself up to the top. Next, he ties my kayak line to Lady’s base. I ascend the column.

It's pretty narrow up here, but plenty of room to sit and even lie down, albeit carefully. We take off our backpacks and immediately rip out all the poison ivy. The rain and wind are picking up again, angling from the southeast. We make a primitive shelter with some tarps, tying them down as best we can; fortunately, upriver faces northwest. I unfold my waterproof camping chair and sit down to watch the river come towards me. Our cover is thrashed loudly.

"Looks like the devil has swallowed all the water upstream and spit it out in a fury," I say. All kinds of debris are floating by: trees, branches, garbage cans, dolls--even doll houses, wrecked boats, a dead dog and a bloated cow. "This is one hell of a hurricane. I don't think I've ever seen the river so high."

"Agnes was worse," Beck says. "Just ask gramps." My grandfather Herman drowned in the 1972 flood hurricane Agnes had created, trying to save his motorboat. He disappeared behind a wall of water; a construction crew found his body near Three Mile Island.

"Sucks that we never met him," I say. "The Susquehanna has been mighty rough on our family; mashed Mom's head, too." My mother slipped and fell removing ice bergs that had piled up against our house in that weird winter flood of 1996; her brains have been scrambled eggs ever since.

"You almost bought the farm that time your foot got stuck."

"I thought I was a goner."

Once, I was walking across the river when it was low and got my foot wedged in a crevice. But I was lucky. I had strong legs and twisted, and twisted, until my shoe came off and was freed.

"Felt like it was locked in a vise and a fat elephant was leaning on me." We both laughed.

"Love her and hate him!"

Beck yells.

My brother is referring to the Susquehanna River. A river's gender is defined by its nature, and the Susquehanna is a bipolar beast; she can be a gentle, caressing delight, or he can be a dangerous, crushing killer.

"You love both of them."

Sometimes, I feel my blood is made of that brown-dirt water.

Around 6 p.m., the water is close to running over the pier.

We are packing up our stuff to

leave when a large tree smacks the pier, scrapes around it and, like a killer whale, eats our kayaks as if they were baby seals.

“Suck-a-banana!” I say. “We are screwed.” Suck-a-banana is our sound play on Sus-que-hanna.

“Maybe we should dive into the river and swim for it,” Beck says.

“That would be a foolish endeavor.” We already are fools, I think.

“Let’s climb the statue and wedge ourselves between her head and upraised arm.”

“There’s really only room for one,” Beck says, “comfortably.”

“Good thing we are brothers.”

“I’m gonna sit on the tablet.”

I throw my rope, but the wind blows it away. I try again and it bounces off Liberty’s head. The next time her arm. Finally, I get it between her head and arm. Thank God for that weight I had attached. I scrabble up to my destination; true, it isn’t very comfortable, and the surface is abrasive. Beck hauls himself up to the tablet which is about four or five feet below me. I hang our backpacks on the spikes of her crown. The storm is intensifying. My hi-tech raincoat offers little protection from what feels like the sting of a whip. This is a slow, methodical torture.

Three hours later, the blackness of night descends with its cloak of dread. The water is midway up the statue. Beck is standing on the tablet.

“This has to be the worst flood ever,” I say. “Get up here.”

I extend my hand. At that exact moment, a bolt of lightning strikes the adjacent pier. Rock explodes and a thunderous boom sounds. Beck stumbles, but grabs my leg. I reach down and clutch his arm. I am surprised at how tired I am—the storm has sapped my strength—my arms feel like lead. I start to lose my grip on Liberty’s arm—it is slick. I slip a little more. Beck sees this. Intensity charges from his eyes.

“Save yourself.” Beck releases his hold and disappears into the roiling river. And darkness.

“No!” I cry.

I want to let go and follow him, but I strap myself to Liberty's arm instead, heeding his request. I tell myself, it’s not up to me; it’s up to the gods. Despair and all its heaviness jumps on my back. Atlas had to have felt this way: the burden of holding the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. Ayn Rand told him to shrug and be free of it. But I won’t be able to shrug my brother off. I’m sure I will be more like Sisyphus and keep pushing the memory-of-my-brother rock up the hill day after day. Fatigue overtakes me.

I awaken—water licks my feet. I stand up on Liberty’s shoulder and lash myself to her slimy arm like a sailor to an oily mast. Odysseus would have been proud. Hurricane Milana is a howler monkey; I bellow with her—my mouth, a sour metal taste.

Morning has broken. The winds have died down; the river is lower; the rain unsteady; the air thick as a sauna. A moldy, dank odor emanates. Something is caught in the tablet: a green-tailed mermaid raft. I unshackle myself. I mount the raft and shove off.

“Good-bye, Liberty,” I say.

A high-water muddy mark smears the Susquehanna’s banks. I’m mired in remorse and imperfect thoughts, thick ones that muck up my brain and try to throttle me: what could I have done differently?; why didn’t I do it?; and the worst, why was I too weak? I wish I could wash them away like the carried-off houses and cars. I want to be Jonah and swallowed up by a whale and spit out, with a clean slate and fresh reflections.

I hug the raft thinking of my brother Beck, praying he is still alive, and ride it back towards town. I don’t know if I will stop. 7 Christian W. Thiede earned a M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College. His work can be found in the Pitkin Review, Aquila Review, Bent Pin Quarterly, Fledgling Rag, and numerous other publications. He has authored four books of poetry and one of fiction.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 31

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY REE CREATION

Ree Creation

Recycling through Resale Story & Photos By Christina Heintzelman

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cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com

ccording to Forbes and Fortune Magazine, the clothing resale market is growing at a rapid pace and may double in size within the next five years. The clothing resale industry exists in several markets with online businesses springing up such as Poshmark, Etsy, and thredUP leading the market share.

Clothing resale serves many purposes, from the more serious issue of decreasing the carbon and water footprint to the fun that can be found scouring local stores for the best buys in thrift, consignment, and vintage items, not to mention the joy of finding upcycled and repurposed articles. Most of these items are one of a kind and a great way to add to a wardrobe while having fun finding a fantastic deal. In addition, we can leave online shopping behind and have fun right here in our own backyard as we score our fabulous finds.

CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING Wears Like New is a consignment store with clothing and accessories for women, men, and children. Brittany Rudy, current owner, began working for Lauri Fitzpatrick, the original owner, in

Wears Like New 32 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

2009. At that time, Wears Like New was in the West Shore Plaza and Rudy, then 21 years old, was hired to work for an offshoot of Wears Like New, called ReVAMP. ReVAMP was all about junior sizes and cutting-edge fashion trends. Second-hand clothing items were bought outright and then resold. After a year and a half, ReVAMP was folded into the existing Wears Like New store and Rudy continued her employment.

In 2018 Rudy was able to buy the existing business, located in its current space of 1207 Market St, Lemoyne, from Fitzpatrick. She continues the consignment model and has developed a knack for choosing and pricing fashions in a way that can compete quite well with online resale stores. Plus, she has the advantage of customers being able to try on various items in her well-arranged and spacious store, complete with private dressing rooms.

“We have an instore consigner database of approximately 11,000 people with about 1,000 currently active suppliers for consigned items.” Rudy states. “I’ve become practiced in the art of pricing items – usually around one-third of the retail price but up to one-half if the item is new with price tags. There are online databases for pricing many brand-names and thredUP and Poshmark are also good resources for finding price ranges for many items. The internet is my friendly research assistant.”

Rudy has a written policy for the purchase of consignment items.

Since Covid, sellers must make an appointment for their items to be reviewed and no more than fifty items may be brought in at one time.

Items are kept in a storage area away from items for sale for a timeperiod of 2 days. All items must be cleaned and gently used if they are not new.

A seller is offered 40% of the selling price, up to 60 days after dropping off their items, once the item is sold. If an item does not sell within 60 days, the seller may come into the store and reclaim their

Wears Like New

consigned item. After 60 days, the unsold item becomes the property of the store. Items that are not sold are often donated to Community Aid and to a private individual who passes the clothing out to homeless people in the Harrisburg area, thus keeping items in – and assisting the local community.

The knack of finding a terrific item in Wears Like New is to look closely at the tag on an item. A price will appear with the date when it was first put out for sale. Below that will be another date, usually 10 days past the original pricing date, and a new price with a 20% discount. Then, a month after the first markdown, the selling price will be reduced 50%. The last markdown will appear in another month which will be approximately a 75% reduction from the original ticketed price. But beware! Most items move very quickly and taking a risk of waiting an additional month to get an even better deal may mean you will miss that amazing designer label dress you had your eye on.

“In shopping the deal, our store has ‘Fast Cash Friday’ every week where you receive 20% off your total purchase if you shop with cash”, Rudy tells us. This Friday special also keeps items flying out of the store at a quick pace. “Active wear and jeans are the fastest moving items since Covid”, Rudy says.

Rudy loves styling her customers and finds that this is a muchvalued service, especially for women who come in to shop alone. All available women’s sizes are fast sellers, but men’s styles tend to sell more slowly, and the trend seems to be men’s clothing is sold mostly to mothers of teenaged boys who don’t like to shop for themselves.

Rudy is assisted in her store by her sister and her grandmother, who volunteer their services for a few hours per week to share in the interactions with customers and to check out new styles that come in daily. “My grandmother dusts the toppers and shops the racks every time she comes in to work,” Rudy laughingly says.

An interesting fact that Rudy shared is that, according to studies, one used item which is purchased for re-use reduces the water and carbon footprint for that item by 82%.

Wears Like New is located at 1207 Market St in Lemoyne, and the phone number is 717-761-6767. The store hours are Tuesday – Friday 11 AM – 6PM and Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM. The website is wearslikenew. com and on Facebook you can find them at Wears Like New Lemoyne.

Wears Like New won Harrisburg Magazine’s 2021 Simply The Best Award for Consignment and Thrift Stores and Readers’ Choice Award for Clothing Boutique.

Carriage House Boutique in the State Street Plaza, Lemoyne, is a high-end consignment store owned and operated by Paola Kostelac. The store has been in business almost 9 years and in its current location for

Carriage House Boutique

approximately 8 years. Carriage House Boutique has a large collection of women’s clothing and accessories ranging in clothing sizes from 0 to 22 and beyond, and a full range of shoe sizes.

Kostelac was a corporate salesperson for 40 years, working for big name companies such as Pitney Bowes and Kodak. “When I retired, I wanted to do something fun and what could be more fun than operating your own boutique,” she says. “I have met so many wonderful customers who have become friends and I even met most of my neighbors by them coming into my store. Before, I was constantly on the road for my job, and I never got to meet the people in my neighborhood. Now they come into the store, and I see them again in my neighborhood. It is exactly the fun and camaraderie I was looking for.”

Kostelac is very selective in the purchase of items and often buys directly from stores, which means many of the items still have original tags on them. “I would say that at least half of the merchandise in my boutique is new”, she adds. Items that are brought in for consignment must be seasonally appropriate, cleaned, and on hangers. “I have a database of about 1,500 people who have consigned with me and right now I have a very good stock of merchandise for my store.”

Items often fly out of the store as soon as they are priced and displayed – this is because Carriage House Boutique uses Facebook and Instagram daily to let customers know exactly what has arrived that day. “I often have messages waiting for me on my Facebook or Instagram page or on my business phone asking for the pictured item to be held until the buyer can come in later in the day to try it on.

Business has been booming both in purchasing consignment items for the store and in reselling them to women wanting to finally get

Carriage House Boutique HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 33

Italian Girls. Judi is a retired art teacher and a talented designer. They specialize in up-tothe-minute home décor and local art.

Carriage House Boutique is located at State Street Plaza Suite 2005, Lemoyne.

Store hours are Tuesday – Friday 10 AM-6 PM and Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM. Store phone is 717-737-7177. The Facebook page is @carriagehouseboutique, and Instagram is carriagehouse_Lemoyne.

Vintage Shopping

Stash and The Midtown Dandy

Stash and The Midtown Dandy

dressed up after a long year of Covid-related time at home. “I am busier than ever,” she states.

Kostelac also offers the services of a personal stylist for women who would like assistance in choosing just the right outfit and accessories.

If a person wishes to consign items, it is necessary to call first before bringing items into the store. Kostelac uses online search engines for consistency in pricing items fairly and competitively. Kostelac uses the 50/50 formula for reimbursing her consigners by paying them 50% of the price at which she sells the items. “Prices remain the same throughout their time in the store, unless I have an end of season sale, but the consigner always gets 50% of the selling price.”

If items do not sell at the end of the season, they are either put in storage for the following year’s season or donated to various service agencies, including Goodwill and Salvation Army.

A unique feature of Carriage House is the shoe and boot room.

Yes, there is an entire room filled with beautiful gently worn and new shoes arranged by size and style. This is a must-see area of the store and certainly a way to find the perfect shoes for your new fashion look.

Kostelac and her friend, Judi Treffinger, have begun a new venture in the Antique Market Place [Booth E55], Lemoyne, named Two 34 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Stash and The Midtown Dandy sell one-ofa-kind vintage clothing for men and women.

The store, 11 S. Third St, located in the area of Harrisburg known as SOMA, is owned by Anela Selkowitz, who specializes in women’s clothing, and Andy Kintzi, who oversees the men’s collection. They are two separate businesses sharing space. All merchandise is separate and online sales are separate. They do events together from time to time to advertise the shop, as well as doing pop-ups. They share working shop hours and collaborate on shop related things such as store layout, part-time help, and décor.

Along with two other women, Selkowitz opened Stash originally in 2013 on North St. “By 2017 I was the last woman standing and moved to an online presence only until early 2019”, she said. Kintzi adds, “I saw there was really no good vintage for men in the area and in 2014 I was able to add a rack of men’s styles to the Stash Collective that had then moved from North St to Walnut St. I also started doing pop-ups at Harrisburg Flea in 2015 when it was located on Third St outside of HMAC.” In late 2018 they began a conversation to discuss logistics of using the same store front, and in 2019 they jointly moved to the current location. Almost immediately Covid struck, and their business was closed for 3 months by the lockdown that affected almost all businesses.

“This could have ruined us but Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises Inc, who is our landlord, did everything possible to assist us in keeping our rental property expenses up to date by providing help through the federal programs available because of the pandemic,” Selkowitz said. “We can’t say enough good things about Harristown and their role in assisting renters during this critical time.” The store maintained an online presence during those months of closure.

Kintzi follows men’s fashion trends very closely, especially in hip hop, sports, and street wear styles because so many young males want to emulate that style. Recently, he was able to offer a tee-shirt that was almost an exact replica of one Travis Scott wore. He says, “Because these are vintage items, they are almost always one-of-akind and because of our work in following fashion trends we now say, ‘it is one of a kind just for you.’” He works tirelessly to stay on top of men’s fashions and prides himself in his knowledge of the fashion industry. He adds that his Facebook and Instagram pages all link to his online presence through Etsy, eBay, Grailed.com and BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, a brick-and-mortar building with varied vendor’s booths located in Lancaster, PA. Kintzi and Selkowitz both find their clothing through private sellers, often from someone looking to sell entire collections from estate sales. They often find clothing by chance during road-trips and travelling. Kintzi adds, “I often find items at swap meets, which are similar to flea markets – vendors bring their wares and are often willing to trade with other vendors if there is something one of them have been looking for.”

Clientele range from teenagers to seniors who are looking for that special item that is not available anywhere else. Often teenagers will

Ree Creation Boutique

want to emulate the styles of music and sports stars. Adults may be influenced more by nostalgia.

Selkowitz has a small studio on Second Street, where she stores items from her online and Etsy shopping sites. She also uses this site for photographing her online sales items and private shopping for people looking to sell their entire vintage collection. If someone wants to buy items from her Etsy line and they live close by she will offer tryons in this space.

With vintage clothing, small amounts of wear or distressing are acceptable because of the age of the item, which should be 40 years old to be considered vintage. Selkowitz says, “We try to cut off what we buy as vintage to the end of the 90’s – the only exception is for something that is heavily vintage-inspired. Or,” she laughingly adds, “if some sort of Grunge gold mine suddenly appears.” Repairs and alterations are offered in Stash and The Midtown Dandy with alteration deposits being required. If an alteration is complicated the client is sent directly to the seamstress.

Visit their store Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.; Contact through their website, stashhbg.com, or themidtowndandy.com; The Midtown Dandy on Facebook and Instagram, Etsy and eBay; or link to any of the Midtown Dandy sites through the Facebook page.

StashHBG on Etsy, stashhbg on Instagram.

Upcycling/Repurposing Ree Creation Boutique is an online and festival business that is owned by Sharee Nicole Fleming-DeCosta. You can find her at many local festivals which allow vendors to set up booths, or in her case mini mobile trailers, to sell products.

Fleming-DeCosta is originally from Harrisburg and says, “I was born here as were my parents and we lived in town until I was 17 when my mom’s new job sent us packing to California. It was a tough transition for my senior year.” She then came back east to attend college at Marietta College in Ohio, where she majored in theatre.

“I love costumes and costume designing and this is what moved me toward designing and repurposing clothing for every day. My theatre background also assisted me in learning how to be able to make things quickly and respond to last minute changes,” she says. She now lives in Baltimore but travels with her merchandise all along the east coast.

Ree Creation Boutique

She obtains her supplies from many different sources – “Sometimes friends bring me cast off items, or I buy articles from thrift stores, but my favorite source is buying bulk items which are sold by the pound as this is the last place they are sold before they end up in the landfill.”

Once she has found her items, she takes them home to be cleaned and separated and categorized by potential. “I try to work seasonally to create a line for the upcoming season. Once I do this, I figure out which pieces will be the easiest to convert and I begin cutting things up, often using patterns I have created, and during this process I must also consider what is or will be trending for next season.”

At this point, many different processes take place. Repatterning is the term used for turning one item into another, such as turning a jacket into a cape or turning a dress into a jumpsuit. Embroidery and appliqueing are often used – each of these methods are beautiful ways to conceal a fabric hole and build texture. FlemingDeCosta may also hand embroider onto scraps of fabric, which will be later appliqued onto an item. Beading and rhinestones may also be used in this process, as well as pulling trim from one item to add it to another.

“Resist dying is one of my favorite processes to use as I upcycle my items.” She mentions that cellulose or natural fabrics are best at retaining the new dye and they are also fabrics that are better for your skin. “I only use cold water dyes that are absolutely safe for our ecosystem and our skin.”

She explains that resist dyeing is a style of dyeing that only allows colors to penetrate to certain areas of the cloth. Tie dye, batik, and ikat are examples of this type of technique, as is stenciling.

She sometimes produces items made totally from scratch by using cotton and bamboo. “Both of these items are sustainable, and bamboo is also antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial”, she adds. Because of her varied processes, every item is truly one of a kind.

“In the future I would like to find a way to inspire people to do what I am doing to reduce our carbon footprint.” Once she has a larger space where she can give classes this dream will be able to become a reality.

Fleming-DeCosta can be reached through her website reecreationboutique. com or Facebook and Instagram at Ree Creation Boutique. 7 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 35

PHOTO BY BRIAN GAUGHAN

Pink Hands of Hope wall

Pink Hands of Hope Thrift Shop Dedicated to helping cancer patients’ journeys become a bit easier…one person at a time Story & Photos By Christina Heintzelman, in honor of Michele Kornegay

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cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com

his story began as one that was going to be the thrift store portion of the article Recycling Through Reselling, but it became clear that Pink Hands of Hope (PHOH) is a story deserving to be told in full, especially since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

PHOH began in 2009 after Laurie Gaughan’s 2008 breast cancer diagnosis. She and her husband Brian Gaughan realized that they wanted to do something for women going through this life crisis. They owned a building located at 5325 East Trindle Rd. Mechanicsburg, and Brian knew this would be the perfect place for the founding of PHOH.

36 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

“At the time of Laurie’s diagnosis, there was an advertising company in the building, but within eight months they had moved out and I knew what I wanted to do with the building. I got PHOH up and running within five weeks,” Gaughan states. Although Brian and Laurie are the co-founders, Brian believes someone else was involved in this: “I truly believe that God assisted me in coming up with this idea and helped in the implementation of our plan as we could never have done this on our own.” To this date, over 3,500 women have been assisted through this non-profit.

PHOH started as a non-profit with a 501 (c) (3) status thrift store to create funding for women with breast cancer. Shortly thereafter, another room was added which is filled with items often necessary for cancer patients: wigs, hats, turbans, prosthetics, bras for prosthetics, chemo shawls, and port/seat belt pillows. Women undergoing treatment are eligible for no-cost items from this room, as well as 2 free wigs and 3 months of clothing – because with chemo treatment it is not uncommon for weight to increase and decrease on a continuing cycle. Brian Gaughan adds, “This is the most important room as far as I am concerned because we are giving women everything they need in order to assist them in fighting this disease”.

Soon thereafter, another program began named Adopt-APatient, which is an ongoing program. Donated funds are collected and deposited into an earmarked account to assist patients who are experiencing overwhelming out-of-pocket medical expenses.

As funds are available and applications are approved the Board of Directors “adopts” a patient and pays up to $1,000 in unpaid medical bills.

Debra Donadee, the new Executive Director, began her career with PHOH in 2014. “I was a marketing vendor for PHOH operating through my business, “That Marketing Chick,” she explains. “I knew I had found a special niche here and a year later came into the business as a parttime employee providing administrative and marketing duties.” This year she became the Executive Director and will continue working more hours as Brian Gaughan slowly transitions to retirement in December. He will remain on the Board of Directors.

PHOH is 95% volunteer driven and at any time there can be as many as 20 volunteers assisting. About 50% work in the store and the rest help by writing thank-you notes, doing data entry, and working at various functions. “We are always looking for more volunteers to assist in supporting our mission”, Donadee states.

PHOH has 2 floors of merchandise for sale. Second-hand furniture, in good condition, is a large money maker for PHOH, and is accepted via a donation which can be picked up from your home. There is a room which is set up as a library where you can buy books, CDs, and DVDs – and the books are wonderfully displayed in alphabetical order by author! As in most thrift stores, clothing in all sizes abounds, as do shoes and a fantastic display of jewelry. Clothing is displayed seasonally and is always clean and gently used.

In addition to the Adopt-A-Patient program, PHOH has quite a few other ongoing programs to assist women and their families during this difficult time.

“Our organization is so fortunate to have the backing of other organizations who step in to assist with fundraising, and 20 different salons who give of their services”, Donadee states.

A perfect example of this type of community help and involvement is the Patient Makeover program in which each month a woman who is in treatment is HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 37

chosen for a day of pampering which includes chauffeuring service in the PHOH limousine; clothing and accessories which will have been chosen in advance of this day; hair, wig, makeup, and nail indulgence supplied by one of the contributing salons; and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Also, gift cards provided by local restaurants will be given for a nice meal after the woman has been treated to her day of royalty.

“We are hoping to re-start our ever popular ‘I’m Bald and Beautiful Fashion Show’, an October event, which had to be cancelled for 2 years because of Covid,” Donadee says. This fashion show is sponsored by a host of businesses and individuals. It is a day of celebration, fun, desserts, raffle prizes and a silent auction along with a runway presentation of clothing from PHOH worn by women who are cancer survivors or current patients.

Brian Gaughan adds, “Originally this didn’t start as a fashion show but as a way for women to walk a runway and be beautiful no matter what.”

The Gifts of Hope program provides gift cards for patients who cannot afford gifts for their children or grandchildren for holidays and other special days in the children’s lives. PHOH collects money throughout the year for the purchase of gift cards and works closely with local oncology groups to help identify families in need.

“My wife and I realized how important this is because, around Christmas time, with Laurie’s diagnosis and treatments, we were faced with $26,000.00 in co-pays for treatment costs and had no idea how we would buy presents for the kids. Laurie’s coworkers stepped in with gifts and donations and we are eternally grateful and want to give back.”

Mark your calendars right now for a fun day at The Pink Holiday Shoppe. This will take place on Nov. 20th from 8 am – 2 pm at Church of God in Mechanicsburg [201 E. Green St, Mechanicsburg]. There will be 30 – 40 vendors selling all types of gift-giving, home, and personal items. Food will be available along with Christmas music played by 2 high school students, and a children’s choir may also perform. A raffle and a silent auction will also be held with items being donated by the vendors and other businesses.

Gaughan said that along the outer wall of the building PHOH has created the Wall of Hope. There are 500 blocks and each one includes a painted pink hand to signify hope for all those identified in the past, present, and future. “The goal is to fill each block with a breast cancer survivor’s name, date of diagnosis, and hometown,” he adds.

PHOH is located at 5325 East Trindle Rd. Mechanicsburg. Phone is 717-620-8264 Hours are Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sat 11:00 am – 3 pm. Website is pinkhandsofhope.org and Facebook page is Pink Hands of Hope. 7

How You Can Help

• Donate items to the store • Shop in the store and tell your friends and family • Do a fund-raiser to benefit PHOH • Give a monetary donation • Consider becoming a corporate sponsor for the fashion show • Consider becoming a corporate sponsor for PHOH’s operation • Consider volunteering your time to help in the thrift store • Refer someone in the fight to PHOH 38 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS? Okay, we won’t actually pay you. But we would love to receive your comments and suggestions! (And those are worth their weight in gold to us!)

Send your ‘Letters to the Editor’ to: Rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com Letter to the Editor Guidelines: • Letters must be written to the magazine, not as an open letter to someone else.

• Letters over 350 words in length may be edited for fit.

• Letters are printed on a spaceavailable basis.

• All letters must include your name, address, and phone number for verification.

While Harrisburg Magazine encourages a diversity of voices and views, we will not accept solicitations, petitions, libelous letters, or any material espousing hatred or intolerance toward others.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 39

The Lochiel Hotel

Lochiel Hotel sale opens door for future memory making Story By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Photos By Rick Snizik

A

n historic Harrisburg hideaway is, once again, up for sale. The Lochiel Hotel, located at 901 Shanois Street in Harrisburg, is being listed by Brian Douglas, a retired United States Navy veteran who purchased the property approximately five years’ ago.

Brian and his wife Grace spent several years rehabbing the property, so giving it up now is bittersweet, according to Douglas. “We spent quite a bit of money in renovations over the years, from asbestos and lead remediation, to replacing the boiler and the plumbing, remodeling the basement and creating attic space, installing a lighted stage, and,

of course, painting,” said Douglas, who took the place from a dreary brown, to a cheery yellow. Attractive rooms downstairs include a bar and banquet area; upstairs is rented out to tenants.

The decision to put the place on the market didn’t come easy, but Douglas said it was time, mentioning health issues he’s been dealing with and the fact that he and his wife aren’t getting any younger. The old adage that if you love something, set it free, seems to fit when Douglas talks about letting it go. “It’s time to hand it off to someone who can uplift it— someone who has the resources to make it more vibrant,” he said.

A Rich History The 4,862 square-foot structure, located on a peaceful dead-end street near PennDot and the Capital Area Greenbelt, was originally built in the 1800s as a schoolhouse for the children of Hungarian and Italian immigrants who worked at nearby mills.

The hotel later made news as the site of a horrific train wreck. An article in the Harrisburg Telegraph, written in October of 1938, reads: “In 1903, the Pennsylvania Railroad had the most terrible wreck in its history. A long freight going by Lochiel burst an air hose, causing a car loaded with dynamite to be thrown out of the train and onto a passenger track. Before the freight crew had time to see what was wrong, Number 19, with 16 Pullman cars, plowed into it.” It goes on

40 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

to say that the subsequent explosion threw the engine and tender 200 feet into the Susquehanna, killing the engineer and fireman. The wreck also caused the gas tanks under the Pullman cars to blow up, destroying the cars and killing 67 passengers.

The Lochiel wouldn’t witness any more misfortune in the years that followed, unless you count a few liquor busts that occurred during Prohibition. An article that ran in the Harrisburg Evening News in May of 1928 reveals that the Lochiel was no stranger to illicit liquor and running afoul of the law. “Nick Kramorick was arrested at the Lochiel Hotel, Ninth and Shanois Streets, which has now been raided for a third time within a few months,” it reads. Thankfully, Prohibition ended five years’ later, easing the pressure on the Lochiel. In the years that followed, scads of ads ran in the local newspapers spreading the word about the latest bands that would appear at the gathering place and the specials that were offered there.

One that ran in the Harrisburg Telegraph in 1938 shares the news that people could “dine and dance in courtesy and comfort” and barbecued hot dogs and “Western steak sandwiches,” would be served. Another, which ran in 1939, shares that the “Melody Islanders” would be performing and that spaghetti and meatballs could be had for a mere 10 cents.

Those who are alive today seem to appreciate the long stretch of time when a man by the name of Dushan “Sonny” Mudrinich, Jr. ran the place. The Navy vet is described differently, depending on whom you consult. He could often be irascible, but always protective of his staff.

Depending on whom you ask, you may also discover that Sonny had a penchant for high-stakes poker games that were held at the Lochiel and were a well-kept secret.

The Lochiel was also known for live music that was performed there in the early days and continued when Douglas took the helm. Garry Harrington is a member of the group, “The Howlers” and helped form The Blues Society of Central Pennsylvania. “We jammed there for six, or seven years,” he said Those who drank and dined at the place look back with fondness on that special corner of the world. “It was one of those bars,” said Jay Delozier, who was a Shipoke denizen from 1974-1991. What stands out prominently in Delozier’s mind is when he was president of the Shipoke Neighborhood Association and rented a room there in 1978 for one of their events. “When the band started playing, Sonny doubled the price of all the drinks. I told him we paid for the band, but he didn’t care; he said when bands played, drinks doubled,” said Delozier, with a chuckle.

See Lochiel Hotel on Page 42

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 41

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Belinda Weiss has fond memories of the time when she used to work there with her mom, she behind the bar and her mother, Jane Beinhauer, in the kitchen. “The hotel was known for its crab cakes and my mom would get everything ready for Sonny’s sister Tootsie to come in and bread them.”

Weiss, who now lives in Liverpool, said that they would make a limited amount of them and they’d sell out.

Other menu favorites, according to Weiss, were the haddock sandwiches and the hamburgers. She laughs as she harkens back to the buns. “You could always see Sonny’s two fingerprints on them,” she said, adding that the place was also known for its French fries. “They were the best in town and we’d fry them in lard.”

According to Weiss, Sonny didn’t suffer fools and didn’t expect his staff to either. “My mom kept a crowbar behind the bar and if she got any guff from customers, she’d shake it at them. Sonny always told people to keep an eye on my mother because he didn’t want anyone to come in and hurt her,” said Weiss.

Douglas said that when he took over, the Lochiel became a hot spot for celebrations like weddings, parties, anniversaries and reunions and he hopes that the property will continue to bring happiness and joy to the community. In the meantime, the Historic Harrisburg Association is doing what it can to bring attention to the property. According to Executive Director David Morrison, the Association plans to add the Lochiel Hotel to its “outdoor history system” of more than 120 in-ground and sidewalk-mounted markers that identify historic sites and landmarks throughout the Harrisburg area.

“We have included the hotel on some of our tours and other activities and we believe its history makes a very interesting story,” said Morrison. 7 42 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Ghoul Places Behind the doors of Central PA's dens of doom

Story and Photos by Dimitri John Diekewicz

O

ctober in Pennsylvania, a time of harvest, apple cider and luminous views of foliage that masks the landscape. The amber air is cool and crisp, and burnt orange sunsets shape razor sharp shadows cast by dried cornstalks left standing on deserted fields. As night falls, stirring winds screech as they course through skeletal tree limbs bringing a chill to the calm. The only light that pierces the darkness stems from hollowed pumpkins bearing mischievous grins which flicker an ominous signal from burning candles. All these creepy ingredients mixed in a steaming cauldron serve up a thrilling scene and it howls…HALLOWEEN! Holidays throughout the year have their season featuring decorations, events, gatherings and places that heighten the seasonal experience for visitors in an atmosphere that sparks the imagination.

Halloween highlights these elements in eerily exceptional fashion and when it comes to locations that capture the spirits of the occasion, our region hosts several haunted attractions that offer ghosts, ghouls and goblins galore. These diabolical destinations have been presenting a macabre mix of shock and awe in their sinister settings for decades and annually attract huge audiences looking for a horrific good time. The popularity of these attractions is due in large part to the fact that the creators themselves are arguably the biggest fright fans and know what will make an indelible impression on those who are caught off guard. The passion for this craft, which often traces back to their childhood, can be seen, heard and felt in the attention to detail of every aspect of the performance. Kim Yates, creator of Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill, explains, “I’ve always been into horror comics and built monster models. When I was 9 years old I went to ‘The Haunted Mansion’ in Disney World with my family and that sealed my fate. Over time I was decorating our house for Halloween and people would come by to see my latest additions. I eventually needed more space for my full figure monsters so I began working with carpenters, electricians, prop makers and electricians (animatronics) and set up horror exhibits in places like shopping malls.”

The nuts and bolts of these operations have become more sophisticated over the years and appear in all forms utilizing the talents of highly skilled craftsmen and technicians. Patrick Konopelski, founder of Shocktoberfest, shares, “We started out in 1991 as a haunted hayride with monsters in masks. My family worked the event and it was a hit. People had no expectations. Now, in addition to actors and props, we use high end animatronics and PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controllers) throughout all the themed rooms. The technology is off the charts.”

With all the intricate automation and technological wizardry, it’s the actors who play the most pivotal role in making guests feel “uncomfortably” at home. Their up close and personal portrayals set the macabre mood and seal the deal in bestowing every visit with lasting impact. Kevin Prosser and Eric Adamson are the co-owners of Terror

Farm and, as Kevin describes, “We are an actor driven haunt that employs the talents of about 70 top notch actors. We have bit players and featured performers and we give people an opportunity to grow into roles of their choosing. There’s a place for everybody. We’re like a horror Renaissance event.”

The mass appeal of these institutes of terror and the grip they hold on their visiting victims can be found in the vision of these haunt makers. These “mad scientists” are constantly devising more devilish ways of startling the unsuspecting while preserving past techniques that continue to creep out their customers. Wherever you turn, someone OR something lurks. Kim Yates describes the approach: “We have our classic exhibits such as the ‘Electric Chair’ that has been very popular with fans over the years, but we add new rooms every season. We’re always coming See Ghoul Places on Page 44 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 43

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up with ideas and making them real. We actually have a horror theme event for every holiday through the year.” The ultimate success of these “experiments” on their subjects is measured audibly. Patrick explains, “We are first and foremost entertainers, in a dark way.

Our fans like to experience something scary and, often, seeing someone else being scared.

We’re not looking for applause, but screams.”

Fear Not! For the faint of heart and young treat seekers there are alternate routes one can travel which avoid eerier close encounters and shadowy surprises but are just as sensational.

“We’re long, scary and entertaining, but we know some people aren’t into scenes which are that intense. The possible appearance of clowns is a real concern with many people. So we like to have tours that are toned down and family friendly. Whatever their age, we have something for everyone.” said Kim. Like any other form of entertainment or recreation, safety is paramount and the creators approach this subject with surgical accuracy.

As former President of the Haunted Attracted Association, Patrick Konopelski illustrates the considerations when planning a haunt. “We go to extreme lengths to scare our guests without harm. We have no moving floors or slides that could cause injury. It is unique in that we’re 44 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

the only industry which must be super safe but present the illusion of injury or death.”

This fanatical attention to every safety detail is extended to guidelines prescribed by the CDC in combatting Covid-19. Protocols are strictly administered so to ensure these gruesome gatherings don’t become especially grim. These established guidelines can be viewed by visiting the website of the respective attraction.

With an ever-increasing number of people looking to have their panic buttons pushed, more and more dens of doom are creaking their doors open. Will this influx of new entries burst the boogeyman bubble? Kim affirms, “There’s room for everybody. I know people that hit an attraction every night during the season. Every haunt has its own twist. You don’t go to just one movie or one restaurant a year.”

Whether you’re seeking a more electrifying Halloween event or just looking out of morbid curiosity, once past the gates of these fright factories your dark journey will manufacture long lasting memories. Coming face to face with fear can be fun. See you in the shadows!

Here’s a Haunted Crypt List for your consideration: Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill https://kimskrypt.com Shocktoberfest https://www.shocktoberfest.com Terror Farm https://www.terrorfarm.com Jason’s Woods https://jasonswoods.com Field of Screams https://fieldofscreams.com The Haunt in Schaefferstown www.thehauntpa.com Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride https://thebatesmotel.com Additional attractions can be found at: https://www.haunts.com/pennsylvania 7

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Brittle Bark Co.

Halloween candy doesn’t have to be only for kids …

By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

Okay, so it’s been a few years since you were considered young enough to don a flimsy paper-thin costume and freeze your bon bons collecting candy door-to-door. Or maybe more like a few decades. But just because you can’t trick anyone into believing you’re treatworthy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge in some sweet treats yourself this month. In order to help you achieve the kind of sugar rush you remember having as a kid, without having to behave like a kid, here is a preview of some of the most spooktacularly-sinful confections being stirred up by your favorite local Candy Man or Woman.

SWEET 717 Broad Street Market, Harrisburg, PA Jess Kost, owner and operator Owner Jess Kost lives by the slogan “made by hands, not machines,” and her hands-on approach is producing some delectable Halloween treats that are as attractive to the eye as the tongue. Her Candy Corn Fudge is vanilla fudge dyed to resemble candy corn using vegetable dyes (no synthetics) and topped with actual candy corn! And her self-described “not-so-spooky” Skull Fluffs – handmade marshmallows with comical skeletal faces – are perfect fun for both the young and young-at-heart. www.sweet717.com

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Sweet 717

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BRITTLE BARK CO 50 W. Main St, Mechanicsburg, PA Diane Krulac, owner Fans of both her famous Brittle Bark and equally yummy Cocoa Creek Chocolates have been flocking to Diane’s downtown Mechanicsburg store for years, and now she’s ready to provide them with even more reasons to stop by. Start with Belgian white chocolate hollow ghosts filled with handmade peanut butter, and follow that with seasonal chocolate lollipops made with popular Wilbur Chocolate. Then, finish things off with your choice of two different truffle collections: Harvest Collection • Maple Cream • Hard Apple Cider caramel • Craft Beer • Smokey Ginger Halloween Collection PHOTO SUBMITTED • Blood Orange Brittle Bark Co • Pumpkin Spice • Deeply Creepy (73% super dark Haitian Chocolate) • Witches Bew (dark roast coffee with a hint of Kahlua) www.brittlebark.com

PHOTOS BY RANDY GROSS

Georgie Lou's Retro Candy

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Mister Ed's

MISTER ED’S ELEPHANT MUSEUM & CANDY EMPORIUM 6019 Chambersburg Rd, Orrtanna, PA Nicole L.C. Bucher, owner Elephants may never forget, but it’s you who will remember visiting Mister Ed’s and its more than 12,000 elephant figurines!

But that’s just a feast for your eyes. Tempt your tastebuds with a Poison Apple (a locally grown apple that is caramel-dipped, chocolate covered, then coated in black glitter); Monster Mash Fudge (chocolate fudge swirled with mint green fudge and purple vanilla fudge, topped with candy eyes and festive sprinkles), or a special Halloween-edition Hot Chocolate Bomb. And, for that costume party, ask co-owner Nicole about a Candy Charcuterie Board! https://mistereds.com

GEORGIE LOU’S RETRO CANDY 56 W. High St., Carlisle, PA Stephanie Patterson Gilbert, owner Some people think that Halloween is nothing more than bulk bags of miniatures purchased last- minute at a supermarket. Well, that is definitely not Georgie Lou’s, which not only features more than 1,000 kinds of nostalgic candy (including Zotz, owner Stephanie’s favorite retro treat), but also giant gourmet peanut butter cups, store-made fudge, and chocolate-covered graham crackers with marshmallow, peanut butter, or Nutella inside – all promising to be big-sellers this month. Be sure to check out their Harry Potter Wizarding World candy, too! https://georgielousretrocandy.com WILBUR CHOCOLATE RETAIL STORE 45 N. Broad St., Lititz, PA Amy Weik, Wilbur Chocolate Retail Director Called “an American Original since 1884,” Wilbur Chocolate is one of dozens of great reasons to visit loveable small-town Lititz.

And, this month, diehard devotees certainly shouldn’t forget Wilbur when it comes to their sweet tooth. Whether it’s the always-popular Wilbur Buds (in seasonal gift tins), peanut butter meltaways, or sea salt caramels, there are plenty of treats for everyone. But if you are in the trick-or-treat mood, Retail Director Amy says Wilbur Bud Pillow Packs (6 buds to a pack) are “Great to hand out!” www.wilburbuds.com 46 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

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Sweet! The Candy Store

SWEET! THE CANDY STORE 100 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA

Cindy Fox, co-owner

For nearly 10 years, Cindy and her husband Mark have been pushing the sugar-envelope in downtown Gettysburg – and this year is no exception! New, and just in time for Halloween, comes Freeze Dried Candy, including Taffy, Gummy Worms, and Haribo Roulettes! Plus, if you’re into specialty sodas, SWEET! carries over 400 kinds, including so-called “dare-youto-drink” flavors like Barf, Bacon, Ranch Dressing, and Grass. Not a risk-taker? Relax, they also carry tons of tried-and-true retro candies, from Marshmallow Cones and Candy Cigarettes to Wax Bottles and (Cindy’s favorite hand-out) Pixy Stix! www.sweeetgettysburg.com 7

Taste This/Redd’s BBQ

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Nick Mauldin and Brent Burger

Get sidetracked by the side dishes - then bowled over by the BBQ! Story By Randy Gross

rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

T

here are two good ways to judge a BBQ place: by the number of napkins you end up using, and by the care and attention that are given to the side dishes. That’s right, the side dishes.

Any BBQ joint worth its weight in homemade sauce is going to put a lot of work into its pride and joy – the meat. That’s a given. But, if you start out by tasting a few of the sides – and, don’t stop there, also the appetizers – it’ll give you a pretty good impression of what the rest of your meal is going to be like.

Redd’s BBQ started making a pretty good impression on local diners back in 2009, when Nick Mauldin and his parents, Marie and William “Redd” Mauldin, began serving their southern style BBQ take-out style from a wheeled white trailer on Hanover Street in Carlisle. As business increased, there became a need for tables and indoor seating – and hence, Redd’s initial brick-and-mortar restaurant opened at 109 Hanover Street in 2010. After the senior Mr. Mauldin passed, Nick took over managing the family business from kitchen to business office – only he wanted to focus solely on the former. Hence, he teamed up with his accountant, Brent Burger, and with their BBQ business booming, the co-owners decided to open a second, larger location in Mechanicsburg, where most of the sauce and dry-rub preparation would occur. Now, not only are customers being impressed by Redd’s huge 160-seat restaurant on the Carlisle Pike, but they can also take advantage of Redd’s increasingly-in-demand catering services.

What’s that? You’re eager to hear about Redd’s delicious food?

Well, like the average customer says when he’s been standing in a line outside Redd’s front door: “it’s worth the wait!”

Let’s start again with the “starters.” Redd’s appetizers are almost like meals in themselves, with their famed Bacon on a Stick leading the way. If you’re thinking your average supermarket vacuumpacked slice of bacon … think again! It’s thick with a capital T-HI-C-K, yet melt-in-your-mouth tender, and coated with a sauce that’s not too heavy, yet packed with flavor. The hearty Brunswick Stew, a family recipe, is chock full of corn, potatoes, okra, pulled pork, bacon, and smoked chicken breast. And the Loaded Potato?

The name sums things up pretty well: loaded with your choice of Redd’s yummy pulled pork, smoked chicken breast or beef brisket along with tons of other tasty ingredients. And it’s also available in a smoked potato version.

At Redd’s you’ll definitely want to get “sidetracked” by their sides. Their Baked Beans are “to die for” – the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Their fresh-cut fries – available in regular or sweet potato – are crispy, salty, and neither over nor under-fried.

And Redd’s Corn Bread – a must have for the true southern BBQ enthusiast – is super-moist with a hint of sweetness, making it the perfect accompaniment to Redd’s super-succulent line-up of meats. Be sure to sample the Homemade Mashed Potatoes, Collard See Redd's BBQ on Page 48 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 47

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Greens, Cole Slaw, and Apple Sauce, too!

Now that Redd’s has passed the “side dish test,” it’s on to the unquestionable stars of their menu: the meats. You really can’t go wrong with one of Redd’s Two-Meat or Three-Meat Samplers, with your choice of Quarter Rack of Ribs, Bacon on a Stick, Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Wings, Quarter Chicken, Smoked Chicken Breast, Smokehouse 50/50 Meatloaf, or (for the vegetarian in the family) Smoked Portabella, plus two sides and, of course, Corn Bread. No matter which Sampler you go with, get ready to have your mouth water even before you dip that first forkful of moist, tender deliciousness into one of Redd’s tangy homemade sauces, before shoving into your mouth.

Oh right, and that’s where the napkins come in. At the end of a recent office luncheon, several piles of white (or what used to be white) napkins were stacked mile-high at regular intervals along the edge of the table.

All tests passed, Redd’s. Well done, well done. 7

Redd’s Smokehouse BBQ

Website: www.reddssmokehousebbq.com Address, Phone. Hours: 109 N. Hanover St., Carlisle 717-254-6419 Monday & Tuesday: Closed Wednesday & Thursday: 4pm to 8pm Friday thru Sunday: 12pm to 8pm — 4890 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg 717-525-9198 Monday & Tuesday: Closed Wednesday thru Sunday: 11am to 8pm Takeout/Delivery Info: Online ordering offered for pickup only.

No delivery service.

Owners: Nick Mauldin, Brent Burger Best known for: Southern smoked BBQ Price range: $7 - $27

Harrisburg Magazine’s staff reviews Redd’s Smokehouse BBQ I heard of Redd’s multiple times and am glad I finally got to try it. I couldn’t believe how many meat options there were – and all of them were good. I don’t think there was one that I didn’t like. All cooked well and not dry like some meats tend to be.

And I love bacon, but the Bacon on a Stick was like the gooiest and thickest bacon I have ever had. It practically melted in your mouth! - Laura Reich, Graphic Designer I knew they had a location in Carlisle and that the reviews were fantastic, so I decided to eat at the Mechanicsburg location. Everything was 5 stars! The Pulled Pork was awesome, and the ketchup-based BBQ sauce added the perfect touch. All the food was cooked to perfection – even my side of Baked Beans!

- Jo Ann Shover, Account Executive Redd’s food is a mixture of comfort food and elevated casual dining – food that should be shared by a group of people who are set to enjoy each other’s company as much as they will enjoy the food. And there is plenty to enjoy: the Brisket was tender and delicious, with a slight tang to it (“what is that secret ingredient?), and the ribs had a delicious dry rub, barbecued to perfection while at the same time staying moist and tender. The moistest and tenderest I’ve tasted in a while! - Christina Heintzelman, Operations Director I’ve done a lot of traveling, to all parts of the U.S. Redd’s BBQ is about the tastiest barbecue – southern or otherwise – that I’ve ever sampled. Their serving portions are huge, too. You won’t go home hungry – or disappointed. - Darwin Oordt, President/CEO Bacon on a Stick? Oh my! Never had it before, but … you had me at bacon, and yours is like the Superhero of bacons. I will definitely order it when I visit Redd’s the next time. Loved the Brisket, too! Tender and, once dipped in the tangy BBQ sauce, bursting with flavor and just the right amount of heat. - Randy Gross, Editor 7

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