Harrisburg Magazine September 2020

Navigating the

‘ N ew Normal’ at Home

Buying and Selling a Home Window Treatments and Decor Doorbell Surveillance Equipment Home Offices Plus...

Taste This!

Bartender’s Best

CONTENTS SE PT E MBE R 2020

b enchmark Media, LLC.

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September 2020 • Volume 26 No. 8

PRESIDENT/CEO Darwin Oordt Ext. 1001 doordt@benchmarkmediallc.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Christina Heintzelman cheintzelman@benchmarkmediallc.com EDITOR Jacqueline G. Goodwin, Ed.D. jgoodwin@harrisburgmagazine.com

INSIDE

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ON THE COVER

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DING, DONG! BUYING AND SELLING A HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC RAISING THE CURTAIN ON THE LATEST BLINDS AND SHADES WORKING FROM HOME ITALIAN LAKE HOMEFRONT TASTES OF DISTINCTION TASTE THIS BARTENDER'S BEST

CORRECTION Simply the Best 2020 Issue Page 44 Address Correction Simply the Best Home Instead Senior Care 15 North 12th Street Lemoyne, PA 17043 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE'S "SIMPLY THE BEST" 2019 CORPORATE SPONSORS:

The Homefront Issue 1

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Reich Ext. 1006 lreich@benchmarkmediallc.com DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Chris Aloia Ext. 1003 caloia@benchmarkmediallc.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Ross Burnett rburnett@harrisburgmagazine.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jurosky mjurosky@harrisburgmagazine.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jo Ann Shover Ext. 1004 jshover@benchmarkmediallc.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlie Wohlrab Diane White McNaughton Jeff Falk COVER DESIGN Laura Reich

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 ©2020, Harrisburg Magazine, Inc. Printed by Freeport Press, Freeport, Oh.

2 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

If you want a perfect smile that's guaranteed for life, look no further than ISOIMPLANTS™.

Why Implants?

Implants are the safest and most effective treatment for missing or broken teeth, with a 96% thirty year survival rate. In the past, providers tried to do everything possible to try and save a compromised tooth.

But, more times than not, this approach means weakening other teeth requiring additional treatments or procedures in later years. In today’s world, that is just not necessary. Technology has led us to better, stronger and safer solutions. With implants, we can keep a one tooth problem – a one tooth solution.

What is an implant system?

Every implant is comprised of three parts; the fixture, the abutment and the crown. The fixture and the abutment are the most critical. The fixture is the anchor that is embedded in the jawbone; the new root if you will. The abutment screws into the fixture and creates the base for the crown to be attached. The abutment holds the crown in place.

The crown is the most visible part of an implant but endures the least amount of stress among the three components. The fixture and the abutment take on the most force and that is why it is so important that these components are made by the same manufacturers so the fit and stability can be assured and guaranteed for life.

Are there different types of implants?

Yes - 90% of dental implants done today restore the tooth using parts that may not work well together and cause problems down the road. That is why the ISOIMPLANT™ quality assurance certification process is so valuable. ISOIMPLANT™ certified implants are guaranteed for life because the components are milled to the highest standards. This certification provides quality and assurance and puts the PATIENT FIRST. ISOIMPLANT™ dental implants are manufactured by two of the most respected and largest implant manufacturers in the world: Noble Biocare and Astra Tech.

What happens if my provider uses knock-off components for my implant surgery?

Unfortunately, there are many knock-off implants and components on the market today. These implants are less safe, less durable and can lead to significant issues including bone damage, fractures and 4 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

infections. The ISOIMPLANT™ quality assurance certification was created by professionals who had treated hundreds of patients whose implants were failing and needed to be replaced. No patient should have to endure the discomfort and the financial cost of a second surgery due to faulty parts.

Is implant surgery more expensive than other options, such as bridge work or a root canal?

No. In fact, over a patient’s life, implant surgery is much more cost effective. It is important to note that insurance plans and options vary, but the bottom line is that an ISOIMPLANT™ is the most cost-effective option available. A single ISOIMPLANT™ solution; implant, abutment, and crown that is guaranteed for life, can cost about $3,000 while a bridge can cost anywhere from $2,400 to $3,000 and a root canal with crown build up and crown on a single tooth can cost as much as $2,700.

Crowns and bridges will also require additional treatments in future years and additional costs. A bridge, for instance, typically lasts on average 7.2 years.

How can I determine if my provider is ISOIMPLANT™ approved?

Check www.ISOIMPLANTS.com to see who is ISOIMPLANT™ approved in your area. Make sure they guarantee that they use an ISOIMPLANT™ certified lab – where your implant will be designed – as well as an ISOIMPLANT™ implant manufacturer. This way you will be guaranteeing your investment in your oral health.

About ISOIMPLANTS™?

Dr. Robert Myers pioneered the ISOIMPLANT™ in early 2018 from his practice, Wood & Myers OMS, in Central Pennsylvania.

The ISOIMPLANT™ trumps other dental implants that are less durable and that create underlying issues such as bone damage, fractures and infections.

ISOIMPLANT™ certification guarantees the dental implant and restoration for life, because all our partners, including the manufacturers, your dentist and other providers and the dental labs have earned the ISOIMPLANT™ approval.

With ISOIMPLANT™ dental implants, all the parts are guaranteed to work together for flawless, durable performance.

When you use ISO-certified implants, everybody becomes part of the warranty equation – patient, surgical specialist, and dental lab Quite simply, ISOIMPLANTS™ provide the best quality and value in dental implants today.

When problems arise, secure your smile by insisting on an ISOIMPLANT™ and an ISOIMPLANT™ certified professional.

WWW.ISOIMPLANTS.COM.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 5

Ding, Dong!

‘Who’s there?’

‘Doorbell Surveillance System.’

‘Doorbell Surveillance System who?’

By Jeff Falk • Photos Courtesy Of Honeywell

T

oday’s Doorbell Surveillance Systems are not your grandfather’s doorbell. Like a lot of the other current technological stuff, they’ve come a long way in a short period of time.

It used to be that doorbells were a modern step up from the oldfashioned bare-knuckle knock on the door. But now we’ve evolved to the point where doorbells can almost answer the door themselves.

Almost.

Doorbell surveillance systems are so much more than the latest fad or trend. They’re not going anywhere soon, and in fact, they may just be a predecessor in a world where a vast majority of our movements – public and private – are caught on video.

For now, doorbell surveillance systems represent a measure of security, a modern-day convenience and a technological bargain.

“I think it’s going to continue to grow,” says Wesley Michael, general manager of Knight Security Systems in Linglestown. “I think it’s something people are going to take for granted. With the price point and how easy they are to install, there’s no reason not to have one.

You can have it installed or you can do it yourself if you’re Ok with working with electricity. I don’t see it going away. I don’t think it’s a fad. I could see it come to the point where it’s included with new home construction. That’s the way it’s going to be over the next five years.”

“It’s more than just a surveillance system. It’s a convenience,” says Robert Candiello, owner of Wireteks in Lemoyne. “It can open my door when I’m not home. It allows me to monitor what goes on at my house, and I don’t have to be home.”

Want to track the evolving popularity of doorbell surveillance systems? Simply follow the money.

Locally, the front door systems, for both residential and commercial applications, are a value, or a lot of technology for a reasonable amount of money.

Doorbell surveillance systems can be purchased for as low as $100, or up to a couple hundred bucks for installed systems that can be monitored from your mobile device. Of course, those costs could extend into the thousands of dollars, when integrated into larger surveillance and security systems.

“For as little as a hundred dollars, you can get something halfway 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

decent,” says Candiello. “Some of those systems work off a single battery that needs to replaced every six months or a year. Or you can utilize the existing two wires to your doorbell, and you’re in business. For the average home user, it can be as expensive as $500. So, it becomes, why not? You can get a good system at a very reasonable price.”

“The costs depend on the features, and there are a lot of variables involved,” says Michael. “I’m not sure whether or not the systems have become more improved, or they’ve just become more easily done. We can install systems for thousands of dollars. But it has become a part of more integrated systems. People also want more cameras involved.

The cost has made people more and more interested. But you get what you pay for.”

The popularity of doorbell surveillance systems is a fairly recent phenomenon, one that has unfolded over the last three to five years.

Over that time, we as a society have certainly become more safety conscious, whether that perception is founded in reality or not.

“Looking at sales, video doorbells really started becoming a thing about two years ago,” says Michael.

“It’s pretty much gone on from there. It’s part of a lot of conversations.

I think a lot of it is that it has become popular on TV. It’s just one of the things you see. On TV shows, it’s like ‘we caught this on a doorbell camera.’

I think that’s a large part of it. Plus, costs have come down considerably. It used to be a luxury, and now people are saying, ‘I need that.’”

“We’re all scared of each other,” says Candiello. “We’re our own worst enemies. In England, there are cameras everywhere. It’s where we’re headed. We’re fighting it because we have more freedoms. But cameras follow the money. Cameras are cheap and everybody wants them.”

All of which raises an interesting and relevant point. Sure, doorbell surveillance systems are a great way to add an extra layer of security for homes and businesses, but they may not always capture – both visually and vocally – the people they are intended to.

Can they present invasion of privacy concerns?

“In Pennsylvania, we have a two-party consent law for audio,” says Candiello. “But the law is different for video. It’s relevant because some doorbell surveillance units record audio and video. Some systems have gone beyond that to allow police to use them. It’s one of those things

where there are positives and negatives to it. It’s a service that can be abused. Someone could hack into a system.”

“I don’t believe it’s really a concern,” says Michael. “But I’m going to leave that to the lawyers. For the average person walking down the street, you see them and then they’re gone. Motion detectors are designed to look at specific zones. You actually have to go up to the door and stand there for three seconds. Most of the systems are set up to detect motion.”

Doorbell surveillance systems are meant to enhance a home or business’ security, but they are not a cure-all. Depending upon their levels of technology and the strength of the camera lenses being employed, things like face recognition and the clarity of a car’s license plate number may or may not be part of the video being captured.

“We always tell folks, ‘Understand what you want this camera to do,’” says Michael.

“If you want to watch butterflies, fine.

Understand the limitations of the camera.

Another thing we see is a false sense of security. We recommend integrating cameras with security systems. If I’m approaching your residence with an illegal intent and I see a doorbell camera in the front of your house, I’m going to go to a different part of the property.”

“From the camera at my front door, I can see 100 feet,” says Candiello. “It’s like my eye. But the farther I go out, the less clear it becomes. It pretty much goes by motion, when someone is not ringing my doorbell. It more than adequately covers the area it needs to cover.”

As the desire for doorbell surveillance systems slowly morphs into a need, their demand will likely remain steady. While it’s better to be safe

"The popularity of doorbell surveillance systems is a fairly recent phenomenon, one that has unfolded over the last three to five years. Over that time, we as a society have certainly become more safety conscious, whether that perception is founded in reality or not." than sorry, there certainly are some identifiable trade-offs.

“It is absolutely worth the money,” says Michael. “But it is not an alarm system. It’s not going to notify the police. What it’s going to do is see activity at your front door. This is a notification. It’s a means for home owners or business owners to be notified. It’s not a means to secure it.”

“You’re never paranoid enough,” says Candiello. “The problem is that we’ve become too paranoid.

They’re very useful. We need to embrace the thinking that ‘Yeah, they’re security cameras, but I want my privacy too.’ We need to protect both ends of it. We need to be focused on the other end of it, because technology keeps advancing. Your data has value, and you should be aware of it.”

A matter of priorities and perspective. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 7

Buying and Selling a Home During the Pandemic

By Jeff Falk

W

e continue to learn new things about the Coronavirus, nearly every day.

Here’s what we have come to know about COVID-19’s effect on the local economy: Activity is essential to businesses’ wellbeing, and one of the ways to slow the spread of the virus is inactivity and mitigation.

The same is true of the local housing market, to a degree. The Coronavirus has slowed – but not crippled – the central Pennsylvania and Harrisburg real estate markets, creating a need for homes, lowering interest rates and dashing consumer confidence. In effect, it has created a cautious, or wait-and-see approach.

Pete Weigher, owner and president of TeamPete Realty Services, and Joy Daniels, owner of Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, are two of Harrisburg’s top real estate agents and experts on the local housing market in central Pennsylvania.

“The COVID crisis created an environment that no one had ever encountered before,” says Daniels. “We had tremendous restrictions placed on our industry that prevented in-person activity, but buyers and sellers still had a need to move. This required great adaptation by brokers and clients, as to how we were going to reach their goals.

The underlying reasons for sellers needing to sell and buyers needing to buy were not changed by the pandemic. Although the uncertainty created by the pandemic did cause people to delay their plans.

“Once the restrictions on real estate activities and the public were lessened, our industry was able to resume many activities,” adds Daniels. “In essence, the normal spring market was delayed by several weeks and now all that activity has shifted to the summer and fall.

We encountered a great jump in activity once the agents were able to resume in-person activities and the consumer confidence in safety measures increased. Buyers who had been stymied are now ready to 8 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

buy, but many sellers are still afraid and not ready to put their homes on the market.”

“There are great opportunities out there,” says Weigher. “It’s a matter of understanding your expectations and the forces of supply and demand. The supply is lower in some price ranges. It’s a matter of taking a look at it. Right now, interest rates are less than three percent.

In many cases, it can be the perfect storm.”

From Jan. 1 of this year to Aug. 1, 2020, in Dauphin and Cumberland counties, there were 576 fewer real-estate closings compared to the same period last year. In 2019, the number of closings in the two counties, between January and August, stood at 4,174, and in 2018, they were numbered at 4,133.

This year, there have been 3,598 real-estate closings in Dauphin and Cumberland counties.

“What COVID-19 has done to the market is lower the inventory and made the demand higher,” says Weigher. “You’re seeing more competing offers. There has been a rebound over the last three months, and the market has been very active. I think there was some pent-up demand. That, along with the interest rates, makes it a great time to explore real-estate options.”

“I would characterize the market as a very strong sellers’ market at this time,” says Daniels. “We’re seeing large volumes of homes being sold. The demand is high because the supply is low, limiting the number of homes on the market, which has created a very competitive market for buyers.”

We are now seven months into this Coronavirus crisis, and it seems that the local housing market is beginning to loosen, in conjuction with many of the societal restrictions. In the first two months of 2020, before the full impact of COVID-19 was understood, it was shaping up to be a fairly typical real estate year.

“Honestly, things are better now than they were a month ago, whether you’re a buyer or a seller.”

“In the first two months of the year, the market was very active,” says Weigher. “There was a shortage of inventory. But again, it’s specific to price range, location and product. Therefore, it could be the perfect storm. It depends on your circumstances.”

“Our markets prior to March were very similar to their current state,” says Daniels. “We were going into the spring of 2020 with good economic markers, and our market was set up to be strong. The inventory was low and demand was high going into spring, but we had the belief, based on previous spring seasons, that many sellers would be putting their homes on the market to meet the demand. Everybody always says that spring is the best time to buy or sell a home.”

While the combination of all those economic factors have – and will continue to – affect the central Pennsylvania housing market, not one of them is stronger than the element of ife circumstances. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, life happens, and it goes on.

“Finding out ‘the why’ for a client is always a top priority for any real estate agent,” says Daniels. “The motivation for buying or selling can involve any major, or even minor, life change in a person’s life. The common reasons for moving include job status, marriage or divorce, birth or death, downsizing or upsizing. When we as real estate agents weren’t deemed ‘essential’, that was surprising to me. Those things are big changes in people’s lives.”

“It’s not always about the market place,” says Weigher. “It can be a life situation like retirement. Selling because the demand is low can get a great return on your investment. Buying people are trying to take advantage of low interest rates.”

Despite the presence of past indicators, the future is always difficult to predict. But there are signs of a bright future, and a return to some sort of normalcy in the local real estate market.

Consumer confidence may very well be the key.

“Honestly, things are better now than they were a month ago, 10 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

whether you’re a buyer or a seller,” says Daniels. “But our climate could change rapidly, with a sudden increase in interest rates or a return to lockdown measures, if the pandemic were to flare up in our state. This would not suppress the demand, but could limit the supply of homes even further and put the brakes on our market. Also, we are moving into the fourth quarter and a November in an election year, and the result could affect the economy.”

“Time will tell,” says Weigher. “At this point, things are very active.

We’re seeing many, multiple products. Will we continue at this pace? It depends. Maybe or maybe not. If you’re a buyer, you may be competing against other buyers. Right now, you can get a little more money for your home. But the rebound has been very, very strong.”

Not unlike their clients, local real estate agents like Weigher and Daniels are very much at the mercy of the current market. By employing a proactive approach, they seek to embrace the things they can’t control, to identify the things they can control, all the while serving with a personal, people-first touch.

“The market changes all the time,” says Daniels. “We as realtors have always been responding to the data, and our job is to share that with our clients. Our job is to keep them informed of the current market. That’s what the real-estate profession is all about. We can’t change the market. We can only listen and respond. Realtors live to be adaptable. But COVID-19 has challenged us with things we’ve never experienced before. I’m really proud of what our profession has accomplished, really fast.”

“It’s a great time to explore your options,” says Weigher. “You need to ask yourself what’s your current place in today’s market. It’s a very unique time. It’s a matter of being patient and setting proper realestate expectations. If you have the slightest interest in selling, it’s really essential to explore the marketplace. If you’re a buyer, the key is to hang in there.” 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 11

Raising the Curtain on the Latest Blinds and Shades

By Diane White McNaughton

I

t seems to be curtains for your grandmother’s heavy fabric draperies and sheers. Designers are also throwing shade at your grandmother’s old crooked shades and yellowed mini-blinds.

Today’s window fashions are cleaner, more convenient, and more high-tech than ever. Just the thing to shine a light on your lockdown life when COVID-19 has made homeowners searching for the sanitary and weary of their four walls.

Many quarantining midstaters are craving beauty, sunlight, smart technology, ultra-cleanliness and control. Fashionably dressed windows are an easy, economical way to help lift spirits and lower exposure to germs.

“We have been extremely busy. We’ve been open for years, and this is the busiest we’ve ever been,” says Nicole Criswell, Showroom Manager for L & L Window Fashions in Swatara Township, which sells Hunter Douglas products exclusively.

Mark and Beth Toto, a husband-and-wife team operating Budget Blinds of the Susquehanna Valley, in Lower Paxton Township have also witnessed an unprecedented uptick in interest in new window décor, along with home re-decorating overall.

Mark says many homeowners right now are craving new surroundings.

They want blinds with an anti-static finish so they don’t collect dust, and Micro-ban so they don’t collect mold, spores and other allergens. That vacation budget has been re-purposed to redecorating costs.

COVID-19 has “given many people the motivation to refresh and renew their window treatments,” Mark says --“start fresh and clean.”

Mark, who calls himself the “Chief Encouragement Officer” for his wife Beth, says when they bought the franchise, they were told that homeowners change their window coverings about every five years.

While they suspected that that prediction may be overly optimistic, it has turned out to be true. In fact, COVID-19 has accelerated that timetable.

Beth views window fashions much like she does the preparations for an elegant formal affair. You buy the gown and the heels, you take pains with your hair and make-up. The crowning touch: jewelry to bling up your look.

Blinds and shades are today’s primary choice of window jewelry: it gives the rooms a "'clean, streamlined look,” Criswell agrees.

According to reports from Blinds.com, shutters are the fastestgrowing category in blind products. Curtains or drapes can soften the look of shutters. Two-inch wood blinds can achieve the shutter look 12 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

without the hefty price tag.

In more traditional homes, pinch pleat, box pleat and pencil pleat curtains may still be the best decor options.

But now, roller and solar shades are all the rage, especially cordless shades and shades made from natural woven fibers, such as bamboo.

The natural, neutral color of the shades paired with a white curtain are perfect for the modern farmhouse look. Blinds are also available in a variety of materials and styles, such as the wood, faux wood with embossed colors that look like real wood, and vinyl. Blinds can also be horizontal or vertical and corded, cordless, or motorized.

The faux wood blind is currently very popular, with homeowners often choosing a color to match the trim on the window, often white, Criswell says. Many customers also match their countertops.

Another new trend: motorized products. When hightech, remote-controlled products first debuted on the market, some people avoided it for fear it would just be another thing that could break in the home, the Totos says. But now, the science has been perfected.

Homeowners can connect their blinds to their Wifi, which can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet. Criswell says you can tie your blinds in to Alexa or your Google device and issue voice commands for your shades.

Many shades now have lithium rechargeable batteries. When they are charged, they are good for a year, Mark says.

You never have to charge them again if you have a solar charger.

“They are economical and incredible,” Mark says. “You can tell Siri or Alexa to put your shades down.”

Phone-driven apps can set the scenes, in keeping with today’s Smarthome technology. For example, you may want the shades in your kids’ bedrooms to go up at 6:30 am on school days, but not on Saturday so they can sleep in.

They are not only flexible, convenient, and energy-efficient; they can help ensure safety. A potential burglar may think you are home if the blinds are going up and down.

The industry changed a few years ago, the Totos say when the

Window Council of America and manufacturers self-policed and made safer cords, which were not only unsightly, but a choking hazard for children and pets.

The Exact lift, for example, is a cordless honeycomb shade. If it is up, if stays up. You don’t have to keep tugging.

Honeycomb shades come in a range of fabrics, colors and textures and can reduce the loss of heat through windows by up to 40 percent in the winter. In the summer, they can reduce unwanted solar heat through the window by up to 80 percent.

Hunter Douglas also has a line of environmentally responsible blinds, made from recycled ocean plastic. The company is part of a program that has already reclaimed more than 30 tons of plastic waste that has washed ashore.

The GreenScreen Sea-Tex screen shade fabric provides privacy, UV protection, glare control, and view-through, all while filtering sunlight.

Color schemes are changing in synch with these styles, too.

Criswell and Beth Toto both says gray has been a popular color for the past few years, but its popularity is waning. Taupe, in shades like linen, parchment, ecru, eggshell, and alabaster, is also in high demand right now.

She says Hunter Douglas’s spring launch was delayed to summer, but many of those fabrics are sporting brown tones.

Pantone’s Color of the Year was Classic Blue, and Toto says she has been seeing some blue, but in the end, it’s all what the client wants.

“Usually my recommendation is to complement the décor that is already there.”

“I like to jazz it up, but it’s all about the client’s taste,” says Beth, whose company sells Hunter Douglas and 11 other manufacturers.

Many clients choose neutrals because five years down the road, they don’t want to buy new furniture or repaint based on their window shades.

Criswell says her business is split evenly between blinds and shades.

“It’s a clean look. People want simple operation, simple cleaning,” Criswell says. “They are very easy to care for.”

Prices for blinds and shades vary widely. “Everything we sell is custom,” Criswell says. Prices may range from $200 to $2,000 a window.

“Like cars, you can do a lot of add-ons,” she says.

While L & L will come onsite to your home or business, they encourage buyers to come into the showroom first. Then expert staff will visit your home.

“We measure everything before we order, and finalize fabric choice and colors,” she says.

The turnaround time for blinds has been extended slightly due to the strong demand driven by COVID-19. Scheduling an in-home appointment may take two to three weeks, followed by a four- to fiveweek manufacturing time, along with shipping times.

These days, they are decorating many rooms that were converted literally overnight to home office space or an online classroom. When selecting blinds and shades, the glare on the computer monitor is always a consideration. Because offices usually opt for a more contemporary décor, roller shades or screen shades are extremely popular in home office areas, Crisswell says.

“Shades and blinds themselves add decoration to a room and give you privacy, light control and security at night. They look good and also have function,” says Crisswell.

With roller shades, you can just run a Swiffer over them or lint rollers, and they are clean.

Shades can have different levels of opacity: light-filtering, room darkening, or sheer.

Many different top treatments are also available, including cassettes, valances, and board-mounted tops. Interested buyers can go to their website at www.budgetblinds.com, their Facebook page or showroom.

Roller shades’ popularity is driven, in part, by the fact that you can use high-resolution photography to put rich, deep, color on them. The color is sharp and can be added cost-effectively. It no longer has to be just white or gray Beth notes that they’ve got colors, shapes, circles, logos and more to put on shades.

Two customers with memorable shades come to mind.

One creative homeowner crafted a Mexican cantina room, installing white semi-opaque roller shades with a print of orange sunbursts in a sunbelt texture.

The other homeowner had a husband who worked in China, so she re-created an Asian look.

“It was the most challenging and most rewarding job I’ve done in years. We did 25 or 30 motorized shades in house, controlled with their cell phone,” Beth says.

Other popular products include indoor shutters. These feature wider slats, but it’s all about the view-through, the Totos says. They may have 3 ½ inch or 4 ½ inch louvers.

“It is a classic look,” says Beth. “It can be contemporary or traditional.”

For a home office, the Totos recommend energy-efficient roller shades or shutters. Besides considering the glare on the computer screen, they suggest that you look into the room to see what your coworkers and clients will see on Zoom calls: window treatments, fridge, coffee maker on the counter, a pile of old bills.

If you are an attorney working from home, your window treatments should represent your industry. You may be able to press a button and drop a beautiful shade that sets the theme for your clients.

Mark says, “The options are limitless, including printing right on the screen.”

They have even printed company and organization logos on screens.

Mark says, “With a roller shade, you can create any façade you are looking for.”

You can drop a blind and do dual roller shades. One shade can be black; the other can be a scenic panorama. When in school, you can black out the room with darkening shades.

Multiple shades can even be motorized to work independently.

The size of the window doesn’t matter, the experts says. Everything is scalable and custom-made, whether you have one window or a giant wall of windows.

The Totos have not only dressed up the windows of homes, but law offices, schools, corporate conference rooms, country clubs, and more.

Beth likened shades to an old pair of shoes. You don’t know you need new ones until you see what else is out there. You get comfortable in those shoes and don’t realize you’ve had your shades for 10 or 20 years.

So she encourages you to shop.

As COVID-19 lingers on, now is your window of opportunity. 7 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 13

Working From Home: Know Thyself Be True

By Diane White McNaughton

O

nce upon a time, you sat in a cramped cubicle, surrounded by a mouse maze of other cubicles, in a spacious corporate office, dressed in your best suit and serious shoes. You shared a coffeepot, a state-of-the-art copier and the latest episode of “The Office.”

Fast forward a week. At the hands of an unprecedented pandemic, you’re working home alone in your college sweatpants, on your Big Comfy Couch, laptop glued to your legs. No co-workers, no commercialgrade office equipment, no standard-issue desks.

What just happened?!

When the governor encouraged tele-working and issued stay-athome orders in mid-March in response to the coronavirus, the need to pivot from congregate commercial office space to a private home office popped up faster than a Taylor Swift ballad after a bad break-up.

Countless workers had to cobble together a home office overnight, or convert an office “for display purposes only” to a “real” office. With only a day or two to prepare, many home office set-ups ranged from a dining room table and laptop, to a full-fledged office straight out of “The Crown.”

Work as we know it is changed forever, business and commercial real estate experts say, with many companies now able to expand without the need for brick-and-mortar office buildings. Thanks for the memories, COVID-19.

Stir-crazy central Pennsylvanians in search of something completely different are now pushing furniture sales through the stratosphere.

Wayfair, the online home mega-store for furniture, décor, outdoors and more, saw the number of active customers increasing 28.6 percent in one year. Wayfair stock is up 14.4 percent over the past year, while the overall S & P index was down almost two percent for the period.

According to interior designer Laurie Foster at David’s Furniture, with stores in Mechanicsburg and Lower Paxton Township, most desks cost anywhere between $200 and $2,000. But you can go for office uber-extravagance. Just days before Christmas, David’s Furniture sold 14 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

a $17,000 handmade desk that had to be lifted by crane into a historic residence in Hershey.

Foster says she is seeing more customers than ever looking for desks, cabinets, chairs and other pieces for a pandemic-induced home office.

Planning is where you start, Foster says. Think: What would you need to be happy in that space?

“Anymore, home offices are about productivity, not just the business of life,” she says, so homeowners should think about how much workspace and storage they need.

In pre-pandemic days, if a homeowner needed to furnish a room off the entryway, homeowners often bought a weighty executive desk, a credenza and a bookcase, Foster says. They now need to swap out fashion for function.

As One Door Closes

Foster offers one simple feature to achieve that elusive “work-life balance:” a door. When the door is closed, the worker is in. That desk and door must be in a quiet place, away from the droning TV and the inquiring kids.

Foster says a walk-in closet may even suffice for your office. It has privacy, peace, and that all-important door.

Lighting is also important for any home office. A dark office can have a sedating effect. And a Zoom call with you in shadowy darkness can make you look more like a lover of the paranormal than an industrious team member.

Planning starts with examining your work flow for surface area and workspace requirements. Consider the frequency of meetings, days worked. and what will work for you, Foster encourages.

In some cases, a few good pieces of office furniture may not supply the working office environment you need. Though it may not be what you want to hear, you may just have to move if you are in an open-floor-plan house and both of you (mom and dad) with kids are working from home.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 15

Many people even cobble together a card table for their desk, she says, which is workable. Just invest in a good, ergonomic chair.

If you don’t want to sit all day, you can invest in an economical desk that adjusts from sitting to standing. A two-tier sit and stand desk can be purchased in white from Wayfair for only $100.

Her advice on color: “For God’s sake, don’t paint it gray!” Harrisburg has so many rainy days anyway, and if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder especially, gray can be a giant Decorating Downer, she warned.

She says some home-workers are using their basement. In this case, they need bright colors that energize, along with good lighting. If that basement is without windows, she advises against CFCs or fluorescent lights.

But remember to check for an echo in Zoom meetings, Foster advises. And basement or not, note the background in Zoo, Skype or Teams in meetings. Will your teenager walk by in a towel? Or is there an old Grateful Dead poster from college on the wall?

Even if you don’t have added space, Foster says you can add file cabinets that are more writing desks. Matching faux cabinets can act as end tables. Today’s best writing desks come in all sustainable woods like mango and acacia. Many have three shallow drawers across the front.

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Popular desks come in L-shape or rectangular. They can be contemporary chic, in steel, or more traditional, in wood. Most workers use desks that are white, black, silver, or walnut. Chairs can come in all colors, including Barbie pink and peacock blue.

Dining room tables also make for a great desk, as they are usually the right height. A kitchen table or dining room table leaves can transition from workspace to eating space.

Foster highly recommends a Stressless chair from Norway.

It moves with you and is the height of ergonomic design.

“It has ruined me for other chairs,” Foster says.

She says they also make office chairs with a pneumatic lift, and, for core-strengthening, you can even sit on a medicine ball on occasion.

She says most home-workers want writing tables, such as farmhouse industrial and L-shaped set-ups, which are highly functional. Some have half-hutches as an option.

Foster suggests that office workers consider “staggering lighting levels,” and using color, art, and fans for a dash of panache.

If you have a task light, have it come from your left so it won’t cast a shadow if you are right-handed.

If you work in the basement, she says to avoid fluorescent lights and CFC, and never leave an unsightly bulb exposed.

If cords are running on the floor, tape them down or place a fun throw rug over them.

A Home Office that Works

Rose Zettlemoyer, a marketing manager at the Harrisburg-based customer call center, Dasher, has been working from home in her Middletown Cape Cod since March 16. Fortunately, she already had a desk in her house because she is the President of the school’s booster

association. Her boss provided her with a laptop, and the printer was already there.

She first set up her work station in the dining room. With her 16- year-old cheerleader-daughter and 17-year-old football player-son home, and a steady parade of people in and out, she needed a more private area. That became even more vital because she often deals with confidential information.

She moved upstairs to the extra bedroom.

They had to move the Wifi box to her son’s room—right below where her office is.

She also realized that, “Eight hours in a dining room chair wasn’t working.” She bought a regular office chair.

The hardest part for her has been separating work and home. Her husband is an essential worker so he is not working from home. She has to ensure that her kids are doing their school work while she is getting her work done. They have to be quiet on her conference calls, and she on their Zoom classes.

The one big upgrade they had to make: she had an older cell phone, and the latest apps were not compatible with her older phone.

For sanity breaks, she takes her phone with her and walks with her neighbor, who is also working from home.

Her plastic alien “Hermy” hangs above her desk for comic and stress relief. She also set up paintings done by daughter.

“I just made it my own,” Zettlemoyer says.

Foster from David’s salutes her choices: “Create as cheerful of a space as possible.”

“You have to know yourself.”

“David’s has over 100 vendors so we can truly do everything: flooring, lighting, window coverings, we do it all.” She even created a cave-like work space for a radiologist working from home. No job is too unorthodox.

“We can make it look any way you want.

We respect people’s budget,” Foster says.

Beauty aside, the office must function first.

Foster thinks about carpal tunnel syndrome often.

If your desk is about 30 inches high, your chair should be, from the top of your chair to the underside, about 8 to 10 inches away.

Your wrists should not be higher than your elbows.

To test out a desk-and chair combination, Foster jokes, “Assume the position.”

Set up your work station and see how high you sit. Can you reach your printer easily?

Your phone charger? Your files?

Foster is prepared for your toughest design challenges.

“If I don’t get hugs and tears at the end, I feel like I failed,” Foster says.

Thanks to area designers like her and office supply companies, home-workers are finding success at home sweet home. 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 17

Italian Lake: A Much Needed Respite With A Long History

By Jeff Falk • Photos Courtesy Of Harrisburg Parks Foundation

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Urban and rural.

Natural and man-made.

City and country.

Too often, we limit our perspectives with labels and distinctions. But there is a special kind of beauty to be discovered within contrasts and combinations.

Harrisburg’s Italian Lake Park is the perfect example of what can be created when nature peacefully co-exists with an urban setting. In another way, Italian Lake Park represents Harrisburg’s geographical standing in central Pennsylvania, a thriving, breathing metropolis surrounded by mountains, waterways and Penn’s woods.

But given its history, its place in the community and its ability to provide an instant respite during the Pandemic, Italian Lake Park is much, much more.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” says Jeb Stuart, a preservation advisor for the Historic Harrisburg Association. “The park has been well-maintained over the years, and it’s very picturesque. It’s part of a comprehensive plan, and it went hand-in-hand with the construction of William Penn High School. The original thought was that it would make properties in the area more valuable. As far as Harrisburg is concerned, to have a lake uptown is quite special.

“It’s a gem, not just for Harrisburg, but for the region as a whole,” continues Stuart. “I don’t know of any lake in a metropolitan area that is so nice and so well-designed. It represents the evolution of the city’s park system. It really is a sanctuary.”

Italian Lake Park is situated on 9.5 acres of land at Third and Division Streets in the city, not far from the Susquehanna River. It is one of eight primary parks owned and maintained by the city, and some say Harrisburg’s most beautiful.

“I think what’s cool about Italian Lake is that you can stand on the street and you can see the lakes, and the statues, and then you see the mountains in the background,” says Stuart. “You can’t believe you’re in uptown Harrisburg. Some would say Riverfront Park is the most beautiful park in Harrisburg. Some would say Reservoir Park is. But they’re all different. That’s what’s so cool about Harrisburg.

“Parks are important because they create open space,” adds Stuart.

“Parks are there for people to use. They’re important places for congregation and to hold events. These parks have different components to them, and Italian Lake is relatively stagnant – and I’m glad it is. It’s pretty much the way it is when it was first established.”

Italian Lake Park is actually laid out around a pair of man-made lakes, a southern lake and a northern lake joined by an ornamental Japanese bridge. It features the well-known ‘Dance of Eternal Springs’ fountain that symbolizes the relationship between music, dance and art, a formal garden maintained in an Italian Renaissance style and a new pavilion dedicated last year.

While the park is heavily used by Harrisburg residents, it is also a must-see for visitors to the city.

“The lakes are certainly the center pieces of the park,” says Stuart. “It was all swampy land at one time. The streams were dammed up and it created the lakes. It’s the whole reason for the park. In the early years, it was known as ‘Italian Park’, until the lakes were created. The ornamental bridge is iconic, and beyond that, the park and lakes have been well maintained.

“I don’t know the demographics of the people who use the park,” Stuart continues. “It might be local, but it may not be. There’s a lot that goes on there. There are band concerts. There are weddings. There are performances. I know there are a number of groups who use it.”

The history of Italian Lake Park dates back to the turn of the 20th century, and even earlier. The park’s origin was part of the so-called ‘City Beautiful Movement’ of 1901.

It is truly a monument to a group of people’s vision for what the city of Harrisburg could become.

“We like to think of it as being a beauty,” says Stuart, a native of Harrisburg.

“I think the two lakes make it quite stirring. In 1901 to 1903, Warren Manning

surveyed the city and he knew the city was going to expand, from a residential standpoint. He saw the need for a park. It was noted that we had a spring that fed the swamp. So the seeds of it were planted as early as 1905.

“It goes back to an Italian who used to conduct Monte Carlo card games there in the 1860s,” says Stuart.

“Harrisburg residents would go to the park for amusement.

But who knows? It’s really a mystery how the park got that name. It may have come from a hotel nearby that was owned by an Italian, and the people associated the park with the man."

“Then the powers to be saw it was the only natural, next step,” Stuart adds. “It was known that there needed to be a new high school. William Penn High School was built in the mid 1920s, and the park was developed at the same time. There was knowledge that the park could be a resource. When it comes to the catalyst for the park, they were kind of it. There were also land owners who donated land for the park. It took a number of years to be developed, but it all went hand-in-hand.”

How the picturesque park at Third and Division Streets became to be known as “Italian Park” is a story in and of itself. One version is that it was so named because of its proximity to a lodge on North Front Street known as “The Italian Hotel”, owned and operated by local entrepreneur Patricio Russ.

“It goes back to an Italian who used to conduct Monte Carlo card games there in the 1860s,” says Stuart. “Harrisburg residents would go to the park for amusement. But who knows? It’s really a mystery how the park got that name. It may have come from a hotel nearby that was owned by an Italian, and the people associated the park with the man.

“But over the years, the park really hasn’t

changed all that much,” continues Stuart. “It used to be a great place for ice skating. But unfortunately, there were liability issues and the winters just haven’t been as cold as they used to be.”

In 1990, the city spent $200,000 on repairs and improvements to the lakes and the park itself. But the beauty of Italian Lake Park is tied to nature, as well as staying true to its storied past.

“There were things that were improved over the years,” says Stuart. “The cobblestone walkways and the boulevard lighting were adds, and it’s really been enhanced by the statues. But with respect to the evolution of nature, it really hasn’t changed all that much. I feel the park just has to be properly maintained, and aggressively maintained.

“I don’t know if the city has any long range plans for it,” concludes Stuart. “This is not a big park. It’s 9.5 acres, most of which is the lakes. I’d just like to see it maintained and used more. But to my knowledge, there’s nothing in the offing for Italian Lake Park.”

Beacuase there are some aspects of natural beauty that can't be improved upon, 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 19

The Homefront During this pandemic our homes have become our refuge—the place to work, to study and to retreat. Our homes have brought us pleasure and joy in these uncertain times, and in many ways have allowed us the time to think about what is essential and what we need to live.

Nearly every industry has been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic and those offering products and services for the home are no exception. However, in spite of it all, the following local businesses have managed to persevere. It is Harrisburg Magazine’s pleasure to highlight the story behind the sense of optimism these businesses continue to display. They have proven that while the pandemic has been tough, they will get through it. And by supporting and buying local we can do our part to see that they do. 7

Runners and walkers, friends, family and your dog, too!

Please join Homeland for an uplifting “live” event while supporting benevolent services provided to our hospice patients and their families. Homeland Hospice is a non-profit outreach program of Homeland Center, providing more than 10 years of service to our community. Much of our enhanced care—massage, music and pet therapy, extra in-home relief hours, and more—is dependent on the generosity of folks like you.

Whether you are a serious runner or participate to commemorate the memory of a loved one, ALL are welcome! Join us individually or with a team. And … there is a special opportunity for you to honor the memory of someone you loved by adding his/her name to this year’s t-shirts.

This year’s 5K is a flat course at the Rossmoyne Business Center, while The Memory Walk is a shorter distance along a portion of the same course. Medals and $100 will be presented to the 5K Overall Male and Female Champions; plus, ribbons will be presented to the top three M/F finishers in eight age brackets as well as additional fun awards for the largest team, most adorable dog and best decorated stroller.

Please join us on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 8:30 AM at the Rossmoyne Business Center, 5000 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg. There is plenty of free parking.

Rest assured Homeland Hospice will be following all CDC guidelines to ensure a safe and fun experience for all who attend.

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Home Outlet coming to Harrisburg; Grand Opening set for Sept. 10-12 Home Outlet is a building materials retailer offering quality cabinetry, flooring, baths, windows, doors and more at the guaranteed lowest price.

Home Outlet is a retail chain, with 99 stores across 17 states, that is part of the E.C. Barton and Company family of brands and is 100 percent employee owned. That means every employee you meet in the store or at the corporate office has ownership in the company.

The impressive selection at Home Outlet consists of all new, quality products at a range of price points to meet any budget. Home Outlet is located next to Burlington in Harrisburg at 4247 Union Deposit Road.

Best-selling product categories are flooring and cabinetry. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) are trending products right now because they offer the look of hardwood at a fraction of the cost. They also offer many other benefits such as durability, longevity, and less maintenance.

White and brown cabinets are the classics, depending on personal style. Colored cabinets are too trending right now, and the deep blues are our top-sellers.

The store is a great resource for landlords, contractors, restoration professionals, house flippers, property managers, and anyone else looking to find the best prices on flooring, cabinetry, windows and doors.

We understand the needs of our business customers and offer a great solution for them in both the products and the pricing. Landlords can sign up for our everyday 3 percent savings program. We also honor our service men and women with a 10 percent every day military discount.

As many home building material retailers can attest, COVID-19 has affected the business in a good way.

The pandemic has caused an increase in the number of homeowners starting DIY or home renovation projects. We are fortunate to continue serving our communities during this time. Our low prices and excellent customer service help our customers feel confident in their decision

to undergo home projects at this time. We also serve many professional customers who need these products as they continue to operate their businesses.

The health of our store representatives and our customers is extremely important. While we have remained open, we are also focused on creating a safe and comfortable shopping environment for those who wish to come in the store. For our customers who prefer to shop online at homeoutlet.com, they will find that we offer free design services online and free curbside pickup of their product at the store.

We will be offering 20 percent off the entire purchase during the grand opening of the Harrisburg store to be held from Sept. 10-12.

We are also giving away several store gift cards, a flat screen TV, a cordless drill set and a $1000 cash prize. To reduce contact, customers can register for the prizes online at homeoutlet. com/grand opening through September 26.

No purchase necessary.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 21

For 40 years, Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has been in the business of ‘people’ providing peace of mind Forty years ago, Earnie Zimmerman began his business in downtown Mechanicsburg as a one-man operation building his client base on trust and integrity. It started as a plumbing company and has grown over the years to encompass HVAC, electrical, and more.

“We strive to be a complete home services solution because our homes and systems within them all work together,” says Zimmerman.

“As a family-owned business and as homeowners ourselves, we at Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning understand how important your home is and how important it is that your plumbing and HVAC systems are in top working order at all times.

Your home provides protection and safety for you and your family year ‘round in all kinds of weather, and our clients rely on that protection 24 hours a day – 365 days a year,” says Zimmerman.

“Many new customers don’t realize the breadth of our service offering. Obviously plumbing, heating, and cooling are the core of our business, but we also provide services such as residential electrical and attic insulation. It’s just as important that we stand behind everything we do, we have a staffed office to handle everything from incoming calls to ensuring warranties are properly submitted,” he adds.

This year marks the companies 40th anniversary and was expected to be a year celebrating the milestone. However, the business has been greatly affected by COVID-19.

“We have been massively impacted by the pandemic. Despite being an essential business, we elected to temporarily halt our operation and handle only emergency appointments. During the shut-down we paid close attention to CDC guidelines, trained on best practices, and procured PPE and other materials to keep employees and clients safe,” says Zimmerman.

“The residual effects of halting our operation resulted in over 1000 rescheduled appointments, which we plan to honor to the best of our ability.

We have increased safety protocols – we have always protected homes with floor and shoe coverings, as well as leaving areas cleaner than when we found them. Our technicians continue to be equipped with eye protection and gloves, now, we have face masks, additional sanitizers and cleaners. We even have bags for air filters that are then disposed of at the clients home instead of traveling with our technicians,” explains Zimmerman.

“We communicate with our clients; every home and person are different. We don’t shake hands and we ask that distance is kept as best as possible. Doors are left open, and phone calls can be made between the technician and the homeowner if no contact is desired.”

Zimmerman also says, “We continue to rely on existing resources for communication between each other and our clients. And while new technology will continue to emerge to help us improve on our day to day as well as safety, we don’t want to lose sight of the personal relationships we have with our clients.”

“We have a large number of older clients; we know it’s important to be respectful and show care towards them and their home. We continue to use best practices on every appointment.”

When asked, ‘What is your best-selling item or service?

Zimmerman says, “Many of our clients are a part of our Planned Maintenance Agreement program. These maintenance plans provide mechanical systems in homes to operate at peak efficiency and safety – whether its HVAC, plumbing or electrical. These are 22 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

our core clients, they receive priority service 24/7, discounted service work, and a slew of other benefits. This is an agreement between us and a customer that provides the peace of mind to a homeowner that we will be there when they need us most.

“Regarding COVID-19, there has been an increased interest and concern with a homes’ indoor air quality. We do provide many solutions that provide a home with cleaner/safer air for indoor environments.”

Zimmerman says, “We’re in the people business and our focus is on the relationships we have with them. We serve with professionalism, integrity, and provide value that is often unmatched. We stand by our work and are dedicating to our clients and staff.”

Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is located at 110 East Allen Street, Mechanicsburg. For additional information go to www.ezimmerman.com or call 717-697-3528.

‘No job too big or too small’ for Handyworx LLC Handyworx LLC, a residential and commercial facility repair and construction business is composed of a team of professionals who are ready to perform any large projects, small jobs, or anything in between you may have.

“Hire us for as long as you need to get those pesky jobs completed, or have us handle that big project you’ve been meaning to get around to from start to finish,” says Danielle Nagle, owner.

“Our business is really varied and each job is unique. This year, we have done quite a bit of painting, both exterior and interior jobs.”

She adds, “We have also performed some kitchen remodels and front porch replacements for our clients. Helping home sellers with their home inspection report remediation also has been a popular job.

“We are very flexible. There is no job too big or too small.

“We can do jobs as small as replacing a sink faucet to a large one where we rehab an entire house to prep it for sale” says Nagle.”

Income producing property owners that need repair services rely on Handyworx for timely and efficient maintenance even during the pandemic.

“Other than following the CDC guidelines for personal interactions with our clients, nothing has really changed since the pandemic began,” says Nagle. “In fact, our business is growing.”

Nagle says, “Our crews wear masks, carry hand sanitizer and alcohol spray bottles. We are committed to keeping our clients and our employees safe.”

She adds, “And as we are adjusting to the new normal as a result of COVID-19, our usage of alcohol has increased dramatically; that is, for cleaning purposes.”

Handyworx offers free consultations with no customer commitment.

Located at Wormleysburg, PA you can get additional information by calling 717-480-4279 or at contact@thehandyworx.com.

Alliance Business Technologies says its services are in high demand Alliance Business Technologies has been Harrisburg and Central PA’s primary source for IT service and sales since 2001 when it was established by Dale Nagle.

“From our humble beginnings as a tiny storefront in Wormleysburg, we have grown to two locations throughout the region with a fleet of service vehicles to bring our award-winning service right to your door,” says Chad Nagle, president.

“Our store locations are 5520 Derry Street in Harrisburg and 1201 Market Street in Lemoyne,” Nagle explains.

“Alliance Business Technologies provides managed IT services, VOIP phone services, website design and credit card processing for businesses,” says Nagle. “ We also sell and service desktop PCs, laptops, and monitors as well as accessories.”

A family owned and operated business, “We service residential customers in central Pennsylvania and multi-state business customers nationwide,” adds Nagle.

Nagle says Alliance Computers has adjusted very well to the new normal as a result of COVID-19 and its services are in high demand.

“As more of the workforce is now working from home and with schools operating remotely, our help desk services have seen an increase in demand,” says Nagle. “And our managed IT services have enabled our business customers an increased flexibility in their work processes.”

Nagle adds, “As people are using their computers to work from home, our computer repair service is in high demand. And with the limited availability of new products and the uncertainty of the future economic climate, it is more important than ever to keep computing equipment operating and data backed up.

“We maintain a safe environment and we have instituted policies to protect our customers and staff. We wear masks, provide bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the two stores and we regularly wipe surfaces with alcohol. Our employees check their temperature and oxygen levels daily before the beginning and at the end of their shift.”

For more information go to www.alliancecomp.com or call 717-920-0300 (Harrisburg store) and 717-763-7020 (Lemoyne store).

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 23

Swartz Kitchens & Baths talks colorful cabinetry: A hot interior design trend At Swartz Kitchens & Baths, when it comes to cabinetry, we love the classics: whites, wood tones, and neutrals. But, we also love those bold and adventurous homeowners who decide to inject a little color into their spaces with green, blue, red, orange, yellow – or any other colorful cabinets.

When remodeling a kitchen or bath, there’s no better way to create impact than by adding a boost of color. It can take a space from cookiecutter ho-hum to high-style huzzah. The magical properties of color will transform a dark room into an inviting and cheery space, make a room feel more expansive, or add instant drama.

Since cabinetry accounts for about 60 percent of your kitchen’s surfaces, installing colorful cabinets is a great way to make a design statement. Don’t want to commit to that much color? Then, consider pairing your neutral cabinets with a colorful kitchen island. Or, go the opposite route, and blend colorful cabinetry with a neutral island.

Merillat Masterpiece® Collection did exactly that with this kitchen featuring Sawyer Maple cabinets that were color-matched to SherwinWilliams® Isle of Pines green.

Scroll Instagram or browse Pinterest, and you’ll see that all of the trending kitchens feature some variation of green cabinetry. From the palest shade of mint to saturated tones like Medallion Cabinetry’s Cypress Green, this cool color is currently a very hot trend.

When it comes to colorful options, green cabinets are only bested by blue cabinets right now. White still reigns supreme as the color of choice for most home owners. Houzz.com reports that 45 percent of homeowners who remodel their kitchens opt for white, but for the past few years, blue cabinets in all hues have emerged as very popular choice.

From Merillat Cabinetry’s soft, pale Lakeside Blue to Shiloh Cabinetry’s more saturated Oceanside finish, blue cabinets add elegance and visual interest while pairing well with white, wood, metal or other neutrals.

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And remember, colorful cabinets aren’t just for the kitchen. Blue cabinets, in particular, are extremely popular for bathrooms and powder rooms. They evoke a clean, contemporary and nautical feel.

Furthermore, dark, saturated blues pair beautifully with chrome or champagne gold fixtures — another hot trend in interior design.

Although green and blue cabinets have the entire kitchen and bath industry abuzz these days, it’s possible to order cabinetry in any color.

Legacy Cabinets offers ColorSplash, a program which allows you to put any color from the entire Sherwin–Williams® paint spectrum on your cabinetry. Likewise, Merillat Cabinetry’s Merillat Masterpiece® Collection offers ColorMatch™, matching a vast selection of colors from Benjamin Moore®, Sherwin-Williams®, Behr® and Valspar.® You can update your white, wood or natural cabinetry with a pop of green or blue. You can incorporate a colorful kitchen island into any neutral space. Or, you can anchor your white or natural wood upper cabinets with lower cabinets in eye-popping color. No matter how you want to incorporate color into your space, Swartz Kitchens & Baths is here to help. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our designers.

With five showroom locations throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania, Swartz Kitchens & Baths is a premier design resource for kitchen cabinetry, countertops, sinks, showers, toilets, tubs, hardware, plumbing fixtures and more. Family-owned and operated for four generations, Swartz Kitchens & Baths has been serving customers throughout Pennsylvania for over 85 years. President Scott Swartz says: “Our business focus is on kitchens, baths — and customers. Our philosophy is 100 percent customer-centric.”

To learn more visit the company website at www.swartzkitchens.com.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 25

Now open, Bella Donnas implements procedures to keep clients safe Bella Donnas means “beautiful ladies” in Italian so if a hair salon has this name you know you’ll look your best when you exit. Such is the case of Bella Donnas Hair Studios located at 404 N. Enola Dr., Enola and 116 Lincoln St., Marysville.

Making you feel great in the process is owners and sisters, Rachel Minsker and Jessica Weldon’s (Mathieu), ultimate main purpose.

“It was our childhood goal to do hair and run a salon,” says Minsker. “And in January of 2009 our goal to open a salon became a reality.

We were just 20 and 23 years old when we first opened.”

The pair’s first salon was located in Marysville, but after four years “our books were full and we couldn’t accept new clients,” explains Minsker. “We decided to upgrade into a larger salon in Enola and we hired several stylists. After five years we decided to expand again and reopen our Marysville salon. Now we have two salons that cater to our clients’ needs.”

The Bella Donnas’ team currently consists of seven stylists, one barber and two nail technicians.

“We enjoy all aspects of what we do but color is our specialty,” says

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Weldon. “All of our stylists really enjoy doing color services,” she adds.

“We keep up with all the current trends with continued education through Paul Mitchell. This is important because things are always changing in our industry.”

Weldon admits that the pandemic has been very difficult for all small businesses and Bella Donnas is no different.

She explains that amid the health and safety concerns, our salon appointments are still in high demand. "The minute the governor announced that we could open our phone started ringing off the hook," says Weldon.

“We have worked hard to ensure that our clients can return to our salon in a safe manner,” adds Weldon. “We are following all of the guidelines required by the state in order for us to continue working. Masks are required to be worn, except for clients with health conditions. We practice social distancing, and we provide extra sanitation in between client appointments. The safety of our clients in very important to us.”

Minsker says she and her sister take pride in their loyal and supportive clientele.

“Giving affordable, quality services along with some wine to help our clients unwind is our mission,” Minsker says. “When you have clients who keep coming back that speaks volumes about a business.”

We are extremely proud to have been voted Harrisburg Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Best Hair Salon five times in the last 5-7 years, earning us the magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

That means a lot.”

To book online go to www.belladonnashairstudio.com. Text HAIRCUT to 38470 for 20 percent off any service at your first visit.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 27

Meet the face behind Renewal by Andersen If you meet her on the street, with or without a mask, you’ll definitely know you’ve met her before. That’s because Linda Johnston has lent her smiling friendly face to countless TV and radio spots, magazine and newspaper ads and other direct marketing materials touting the benefits of products by Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania for many years.

And chances are good that she’ll greet you with that same friendly smile in person, making you feel as though you’ve known her for years and are on her best friends’ list.

That’s because, Johnston, the General Manager of Renewal

by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania, loves what she does.

“Find something you love to do...you'll never work a day in your life!” Johnston states on her LinkedIn page.

Employed by the company for 30 plus years, she’s worked her way up from a part time employee to being at the helm.

“I started with the company just out of Bishop McDevitt High School,” she says. “I was a call center representative when I first began.

“And I’ve loved every step of my journey with this company,” she says.

Johnston says back in the days call center representatives made sale calls basically using a telephone directory as a place to begin and to find phone numbers for potential customers. “ We’d work from neighborhood phone lists and just pick up the phone and call, she explains. “ I definitely made a lot of dials before I got a ‘yes,’” she adds.

Johnston says that the company’s marketing plan has morphed over the years from cold call dialing to specific leads generated from television, radio, magazine and direct mail advertisements.

“It’s been a huge shift for our business,” Johnston says. “Now customers come to us after they’ve seen our ads and direct marketing materials. “It’s been very good.”

“While Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania is the start to finish replacement window division of Andersen Windows we do more than sell windows,” says Johnston. “Our goal with every customer is to create the best customer service experience. Our team strives to wow every customer throughout the entire process of their project.”

Johnston has 160 employees working as call center representatives, designers, showroom sales representatives and installers at two different locations to manage. Besides the Mechanicsburg location, the company has another location in Duncansville, Pennsylvania close to Altoona. The company has been consistently named in the Top 50 Places to Work.

“It’s easy to talk about a product that I care about and about a team who I believe in,” says Johnston. “I’ve loved to watch employees work their way up in the company as I did. And I especially love to watch them as they advance, buy their first car, and their first house,” she says. “Watching our employees grow is very rewarding.

“In addition to taking care of our customers, we also focus on taking care of our employees. We believe: Happy Employees equal Happier Customers!”

Johnston says the health and safety of both our customers and our employees will always be the company’s top priority.

“We continue to monitor COVID-19 and the health concerns facing our community,” says Johnston. “We have taken numerous actions to do our part in helping limit the spread of the virus, while still providing our customers with the exceptional products and services that they’ve come to expect from Renewal by Andersen.”

Johnston says even though the pandemic has been trying at times, the company has seized the opportunity to reinvent itself.

“We have followed CDC guidelines for businesses, including increased cleaning at our offices and facilities. For our employees, we have enacted new leave policies that allow employees to stay home 28 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

and self-quarantine if warranted. This includes our in-home design consultants, as well as our neighborhood marketing, installation, and service teams.

“When it comes down to it, it is our customers who have the final say in how we work. Their comfort level is paramount. We offer appointments at home as well as using the Zoom app for those who are unwilling to invite us into their homes. We fit our customers’ needs and wants to ensure the safest possible outcomes for our homeowners and team members.”

Johnston, the single mother of a 14 year-old son who is starting his freshman year at Bishop McDevitt, says, “COVID-19 has affected nearly every aspect of our daily lives, and left those in need at even higher risk of not receiving the nutrition they need.”

As a result, to do their part, Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania is collecting food items for New Hope Ministries, St. Francis of Assisi Food Bank, and Bethesda Mission.

“When COVID-19 became a reality and folks starting losing their jobs or were furloughed, my team and I met and asked ourselves, ‘How can we help the community?’”

Johnston says the company decided to pair up with Scott Karns, owner of Karns Foods, to collect can goods and other food products to donate to the local food banks.

“We set up tables outside of two local Karns’ stores each weekend in August. To date, we’ve donated over 35,000 pounds of food,” says Johnston.

“We will continue to do so. It’s our way of giving back to the community,” she says. “And the people of Central Pennsylvania have been very generous in donating and that’s very encouraging.”

Johnston says giving back is Renewal by Andersen’s core philosophy. To this end, the company has also held blood drives in their Mechanicsburg store, and over the summer, donated funds to Highspire Diner so they could continue serving lunches to students who might not have the ways or means of getting fed.

“Our monetary donation helped Highspire Diner provide over 3,000 lunches,” says Johnston.

“This definitely made everyone at Renewal by Andersen feel great.”

Greenawalt Roofing is committed to great service during COVID-19 Greenawalt Roofing Company has been proudly serving Lancaster, York, Dauphin, and Berks counties since 2004. The company remains family-owned and operated by Travis Greenawalt and his wife, Connie, and has quickly established a regional reputation as an honest and reliable roofing and home exterior company that offers exterior services including siding, windows, gutters and doors.

“We’re a one-call solution for all reliable and high-quality exterior needs,” says Travis Greenawalt.

“We celebrated our 15th year of being in business in 2019, which included a corporate relocation to 3530 Marietta Avenue in West Hempfield Township,” adds Travis. “The new 2530 square foot location, which I renovated, features office space, a supply warehouse, and showroom that offers a space for customers to come in, speak with a representative on-site and choose the color of their shingles, siding and gutters.”

However, Travis is quick to point out that due to COVID-19, his team has had to adapt and make adjustments as to how they do business, making sure that keeping customers and employee safety a top concern.

According to Travis, his roofing company is considered an essential business, so it’s been allowed to remain open for emergency calls and no-contact inspections and estimates.

“From our office staff to our workers on job sites, the company has pivoted in ways that we’d never knew we’d need to,” says Travis. But we’ve come out a stronger and more versatile company for it. We’re fully operational through our virtual system and still encourage everyone to call for any needs.

“All of our office employees are expected to work from home utilizing our cloud-based software applications. For our appointments, we are moving all of our estimates and inspections to no-contact.”

Travis says that company employees have not be with the customer while on their properties. “As soon as we are done on the roof, we call

them from our vehicle to discuss options/findings. We also email them no later than the next day and all contracts are signed digitally,” says Travis.

“Any of our teams going out to install have been kept to the minimum number of installers as possible to get the project completed in a timely manner, while adhering to the government recommendations.

“Our hope and prayers are for the safety and good health of everyone.

Your home is where you should always feel the safest. Greenawalt Roofing Company will go to great lengths to ensure your safety.”

In 2019, Greenawalt Roofing obtained 5-Star SELECT Shingle Master™ status from international building materials manufacturer, CertainTeed Corporation. “This is a hard-earned designation only 2 percent of all contractors in North America attain,” says Travis, who adds, “We are currently offering customers $150 off services of $1,500 or more during this pandemic.” For more information about Greenawalt Roofing go to www.greenawaltroofing.com.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 29

30 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

Key Painting & Decorating seeks to keep homes, businesses fresh

For over 32 years, the Gutter Guys has served over 400,000 satisfied customers

“We are a professional painting company with over 43 years of experience,” says Darin Klinger. Klinger, who along with Bryan Daniels owns Key Painting & Decorating adds, “Our business is equipped to handle any size interior and exterior painting project throughout Central Pennsylvania.”

While Klinger admits that COVID-19 has affected the painting business, he adds, “The virus has slowed down the commercial end of Key Painting & Decorating, but our residential work has picked up considerably.”

Klinger says, “We are taking every precaution to ensure our customers and teams are safe by following Pennsylvania standards and guidelines.”

Klinger says these safety measures allow Key Painting & Decorating to continue operating and providing the exemplary customer service that their homeowners and commercial clients are accustomed to receiving.

“Our clients can rest assured that we are still here and ready to serve your needs at normal capacity,” Klinger adds.

“We are family owned and we serve our customers in areas of commercial/ industrial painting, wall covering, epoxy coatings, residential painting, and pressure washing,” says Klinger.

“Here at Key Painting & Decorating, our team can take even the most worn-out exterior and bring it back to life with a fresh coat of high-quality exterior paint, applied using professional tools and experienced techniques to ensure a quality finish each and every time.

“We provide a range of custom interior painting services, allowing for a smooth, seamless experience and exceptional results in every home.”

Klinger says Key Painting & Decorating LLC is equipped to handle any size interior and exterior painting project throughout Central Pennsylvania.

“We maintain the highest safety standards and are fully insured during every job. Our PA Home Improvement Contractor Number is 149802.”

Key Painting & Decorating LLC is located at 100 W 2nd Street, Suite 100 Hummelstown, PA 17036 and can be reached at 717-566-0280.

“We are the largest full-service specialty gutter franchise,” says Michael Barton, owner of the Gutter Guys, located at 953 Peiffers Lane, Harrisburg, right off of Union Deposit Road which has been in business since 1988.

“Our service and performance has never skipped a beat since COVID-19 became a reality,” says Barton. “We’ve gotten more business with everyone getting last-minute home remodeling projects during the pandemic. We’ve added another truck to our fleet and expanded our staff to accommodate the newly growing demand.”

Barton says that the company is committed to safe practices during COVID-19.

“We have modified our practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 by offering contactless free quotes,” explains Barton. “Our employees wear masks and practice safe environmental cleaning practices to all trucks. We also run a medical screening each day.”

Barton says, “If your rain gutters have already suffered too much damage, don’t despair. The Gutter Guys make seamless gutters that are custom fit and colored to perfectly compliment your home. We also offer all of our customers a lifetime materials guarantee in the unlikely case that you may require any gutter replacement in the future.

“Our best selling product is our own patented GutterGard System with the lifetime ‘No Clog Guarantee.’ No more getting on ladders and handling complicated cleaning maintenance,” adds Barton. “GutterGard does the work for you so you can stay safe.”

Barton says for a short period of time Gutter Guys is offering special financing options for customers with larger needs over $1,000.

For additional information about Gutter Guys, go to www.thegutterguys. com/harrisburg or call 717-561-1027.

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 31

Harvest Seasonal Grill continues to work closely with local farmers to source the freshest ingredients possible “Harvest Seasonal Grill was founded on the principle concept of ‘know your farmer, know your food,’” says Dave Magrogan. Prior to owning restaurants, Magrogan was a chiropractor and focused on nutritional health.

“Harvest has allowed me to create a concept with great food, while also benefiting our guest health while at the same time, supporting local farmers,” adds Magrogan.

“We work closely with local farmers to source the freshest and highest quality ingredients possible. While other establishments have only recently begun to embrace organic menu additions, Harvest was built from the ground up with a no compromise attitude towards using local, all-natural ingredients in all of our offerings.

“Our best selling items vary since our menus change every season, but for the current summer menu our Cedar Plank Salmon is a year round favorite, as well as our summer Crab Cakes, and Teriyaki Vegetable Bowl.”

Magrogan says that COVD-19 overall has destroyed the restaurant industry.

“When the pandemic initially hit we attempted to stay open for takeout and delivery, but could not afford to pay our bill and our teams. Once indoor dining was reopened with restrictions, we reopened for limited indoor/outdoor dining, curbside pickup and delivery through third party platforms. We’ve brought back about 60 percent of our team and would like to bring back the rest. However, with the current restrictions on capacity mandated by our governor, we cannot,” says Magrogan.

“Initially we closed every one of our locations and laid off almost our entire company because takeout and delivery were not sustainable.

We have slowly been reopening our locations as government mandates reach a level that makes opening our business more viable.”

Magrogan says the business has adjusted to the new normal by

“Limiting our dining hours, menus, and teams significantly. We have enhanced our takeout and delivery options by focusing on menu items that can travel well. “ He adds, “Since reopening we have made health and sanitization even more of a priority than it already was before COVID-19 hit. We have daily health checks with our teams, sanitizer stations throughout the restaurant, limited seating capacity, social distancing, our teams and guests must wear masks (as per government mandate), frequent hand washing by our teams, and enhanced filtering through our A/C systems.

“We are committed to providing the highest quality ingredients, healthy farm-to-table dining, while upholding the highest standards in COVID safety protocols,” says Magrogan.

“We are offering special deals throughout our customer loyalty emails including, but not limited to, 20 percent curbside pickup on certain days, as well as other offers.”

Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar is located at The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace, 2625 Brindle Dr., Harrisburg, PA 17110.

For additional information go to www.harvestseasonalgrill.com.

Reiki by Rickie offers clients love, compassion and service Rickie Freedman is a Reiki Master/Teacher and a Physical Therapist. Her focus is the integration of complementary healing with traditional healthcare and her specialty is “Reiki by Rickie – Gentle Touch, Deep Healing.”

“I am a Certified Holistic Life Coach and my coaching program, “Balance Your Energy, Balance Your Life” supports my Reiki as well as my current Mentorship Program, “Follow Your Heart AND Do it Smart!”

Freedman says, “I created Harrisburg’s first Reiki Center “Reiki

by Rickie ~ ReikiSpace & Learning Place” on April 1, 2013.” She adds, “ ReikiSpace is managed according to the principles of Reiki – Love, Compassion and Service.

“Reiki is a gentle and deeply relaxing hands-on healing for stress management and inner peace,” explains Freedman. “ It helps to balance your energy so that you can deal with life’s challenges from a calm and centered place.”

Located at 2793 Old Post Rd., Suite 10, off of Linglestown Road, ReikiSpace was closed during the pandemic’s “Red” Phase which necessitated Freedman to explore other ways to reach her clients.

“I branched out virtually with Facebook Live, sharing virtual workshops and classes. I finished my first book, and completed training to become a Certified Holistic Life Coach. When our area turned “Yellow,” I was able to begin sharing “Socially Distanced Reiki Sessions,” says Freedman. “I set up a Reiki table in our classroom and shared Reiki from 6 feet away in every direction. The client and I wore masks. I am now sharing normal Reiki Sessions, and almost all of my clients have returned.”

When asked, How has your business been dealing with the pandemic? Freedman states, “We are staying optimistic and 32 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

continuing to share positive energy with our thoughts, words and intentions. Reiki is helping clients manage their stress and anxiety, and return to their place of inner peace.”

Freedman adds, “Everyone washes hands and their temperature is checked with a no-touch thermometer. We wear masks. The Reiki tables are covered with disposable protectors, and we have HEPA air filtration. The space is cleaned and sanitized frequently. Many events are now virtual. We are providing a safe experience, that is also nurturing.”

Freedman says she is offering complimentary “Lavender Light” Infused hand sanitizer sprays to clients. “Lavender Light” is the ReikiSpace Signature Essential Oil Blend.

“We also offer matching masks and eye pillows at a discount,” says Freedman.

“Reiki Sessions are what we are best known for, and the Peaceful Healing energy of Reiki Space is what keeps us unique.”

Freedman says, “In addition to sharing Reiki Classes, I also teach Reiki for Healthcare Professionals, and ReikiKids. I have now created “Reiki Rickie Shares ‘ReikiKids’” Coloring Activity Manual.

This is the manual to my ReikiKids class and shares about Reiki in an interactive way with kid-friendly language.

“My vision is to share it with Reiki teachers world-wide so they can use it to share Reiki with kids. This will allow our children to learn how to manage their energy, self-heal, and share loving kindness with the world.”

For more information go to www.reickibyrickie.com

When we hired Starlin ‘Star’ Colon to launch his legal career in the private practice of law on January 2, 2020, none of us imagined how 2020 would unfold.

Star is a hardworking and energetic individual who embraces challenges in a big way. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Star was recognized early for his baseball abilities. As he acclimated to life in Central Pennsylvania, his facility with English accelerated his academic opportunities. While an undergraduate at Penn State, he juggled his studies alongside his commitments to the baseball team as its captain and to the Student Athletic Board as its President.

Following his Penn State graduation, he set his sights on two new goals, a Juris Doctorate and an MBA. In 2019, he accomplished both, the J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law and the MBA from Penn State.

Star enjoys spending time with his family, his parents, siblings, a niece and nephews, especially if it is a baseball outing! He recently became engaged on City Island to his girlfriend of 4 years, Shaivya Singh (see photo). Shaivya is entering her final year of law school at Dickinson School of Law. To date, Star’s law practice focuses on business and litigation. He also assists our Spanish speaking clients in other areas of the law as well. On the phone, socially distant or coming to you by Zoom, Star seems more than equal to the challenges that 2020 has presented to us all.

Starlin Colon

Smigel, Anderson & Sacks, LLP Contact him at scolon@sasllp.com

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TASTE THIS! It’s Friday. What’s for lunch?

As usual Harrisburg Magazine staffers can’t wait for Fridays since they know that lunchtime will be special. It’s the time they can relax and put their editorial taste buds to work by sampling items from local restaurants and offering their candid reviews in return. As we’ve stated, when “Taste This!” was launched in March, the idea was simple: a local eatery would provide lunch and in return get a food review, both in print and online. We thought it would be a win-win situation for all and it was. The first three local eateries to respond were declared charter members and they included Soul House Café, Hong Kong Ruby and Market Street Deli. For the record, we’re still practicing social distancing and wearing our masks, and we’re just as hungry as ever. On Fridays, we can’t wait to sample what’s out there and look forward to accurately conveying the taste, texture, smell and presentation of the food items before us on for our readers.

At present, eleven local eateries have provided the delicious lunches and desserts that we looked forward to tasting. We would like to thank all eleven for allowing us to sample real food instead of relying on our brown bag lunches from home.

If your eatery would like to be featured in Harrisburg Magazine then reach out to us.

Contact your sales representative directly, call the main office at 717-233-0109, or contact Editor Jackie Goodwin, at jgoodwin@harrisburgmagazine.com.

FLINCHY’S

Flinchy’s is the place to go if you want a casual comfortable atmosphere along with great food. Home of the hot rock, Flinchy’s takes dining out to a whole new level. And when items from Flinchy’s menu are delivered to your office there’s no better feeling: you can’t wait to dig in. Flinchy's menu consists of succulent, savory and spicy options, as well as, time honored favorites such as steaks, pasta, wings, and burgers. Check Flinchy’s website for scheduled live music in the Biergarten and other events.

1833 Hummel Ave., Camp Hill, PA 17011 · (717) 761-9000 www.flinchys.com

HERE’S WHAT WE SAY ABOUT FLINCHY’S

“To the entire Flainchy’s team thank you so much. What an incredible spread. All of the food was absolutely delicious. The wraps, wings, salads, chips and dips were superb.”

—Chris Aloia, Director of Sales and Marketing “I really loved the Twisted Turkey sandwich. It was so tasty.”

—JoAnn Shover, Account Executive The Philly Cheesesteak was delicious. I also loved the Twisted Turkey sandwich. The nacho chips were great, too.”

—Darwin Oordt, President/CEO “The Philly Cheesesteak was great. The role was fresh and the steak and cheese cooked to perfection. I loved the Asian wings. What a mouthful of flavor.”

—Mike Jurosky, Account Executive “I loved the Insalata Caprese Panini. What a great sandwich. I also loved the chips.

Fantastic lunch.”

—Jackie Goodwin, Editor 36 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

JUST BAKED CAKE AND PIES

Just Baked Cakes & Pies brands itself as offering desserts that remind you of Grandma and it doesn’t disappoint. With so many choices to put into our thankful mouths it is sure ecstasy. Sugar fiends never had it so good at Just Baked Cakes & Pies. The shop offers crowd favorites like cupcakes (seven types) to specialized individual desserts such as banana pudding just like your Mother used to make but better (sorry, Mom) to cobblers, cheesecakes, pound cakes and cakes like peanut butter chocolate cake, red velvet cake and carrot cake. You can also order 6,” 8” and 10” inch cakes for special occasions or just to end a family meal.

270 Verbeke Street, Harrisburg PA 17102 Just Baked Cakes & Pies can be accessed directly from the side entrance of Midtown Scholar Bookstore (717) 236-3636

HERE’S WHAT WE SAY ABOUT JUST BAKED CAKES & PIES “These desserts were amazing! Oh my goodness. They were all so good.

The Lemon Burst Cheesecake was definitely my favorite, but the Nutella was a close second, all really delicious.”

--Laura Reich, Graphic Designer “The Strawberry Ripple, Lemon Burst Cheesecake and the Banana Pudding were fantastic.”

--JoAnn Shover, Account Executive “I loved all of the desserts. They were fantastic.”

--Darwin Oordt, President/CEO “The Banana Pudding was very creamy. It was not too sweet. It was perfect. Loved it!”

--Mike Jurosky, Account Executive “Best desserts I’ve had in a very long time. Thank you, Tammy.”

--Ross Burnett, Account Executive “All of the desserts were delicious, especially the Lemon Burst Cheesecake.

Yummy!”

--Jackie Goodwin, Editor

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 37

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

Texas Roadhouse is America’s favorite steak house chain and a close inspection of their full menu shows why they hold this distinction. With an extensive menu that focuses on handcut steaks which are never frozen, the restaurant also offers ribs chicken and seafood, in addition to burgers, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Entrees are made from scratch, all at an affordable price. It is a fact. Texas Roadhouse’s fall-off-the bone ribs, made from scratch sides, and fresh baked bread are legendary.

3529 Union Deposit Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17109 (717) 565-1194 www.texasroadhouse.com

HERE’S WHAT WE SAY ABOUT TEXAS ROADHOUSE

“The steak was so tender and the catfish seasoned to perfection. Definitely a 5-star lunch!”

--JoAnn Shover, Account Executive “What a perfect lunch. All items were delicious. Thank you !”

--Darwin Oordt, President/CEO “Love, love, love, Texas Roadhouse! It is definitely one of my favorite places to eat. All food items were delicious. I love Texas Roadhouse’s rolls! I could basically live off of them.”

--Laura Reich, Graphic Designer “I loved that Texas Roadhouse sent different samples of their menu items for us to taste.

Everything was delicious.”

--Mike Jurosky, Account Executive “I can’t get enough of Texas Roadhouse. It’s the best.”

--Ross Burnett, Account Executive “I loved the steak tenderloin. It was so tasty. I also loved all of the fixings that accompanied the main entrée items.”

--Jackie Goodwin, Editor

GABRIEL’S PIZZA

Everyone in the neighborhood knows the pizza at Gabriel’s is pretty darn delicious and worth checking out if you’re not familiar with the area. Nothing fancy inside Gabriel’s but the food is super delicious. If you want to try something different than pizza this is where Gabriel’s Pizza soars above the rest. Gabriel’s Pizza offers crispy and soft tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos and tamales with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream on the side. That’s not to say you can’t order favorites such subs, salads, dinners and appetizers, it’s just that, unlike typical pizza places, Gabriel’s takes its menu a step above the rest with its authentic Mexican selections, something you’ll not find at most pizza joints.

3914 N 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17011 Menu available at places.singleplatform.com Order at www.ubereats.com (717) 234-8482

HERE’S WHAT WE SAY ABOUT GABRIEL’S PIZZA

“I liked all of the selections. The taco salad was great and the tacos very tasty.”

--Darwin Oordt, President/CEO

“The steak soft taco and the chicken soft taco were delicious. I also really enjoyed the taco salad. I give them 5-stars.”

--JoAnn Shover, Account Executive

“The soft steak taco was very tasty. With the fresh cilantro, tender steak and nice seasoning it was a perfect lunch. The Italian hoagie was delicious. The role was fresh and the dressing tasty.”

--Mike Jurosky, Account Executive

“The tacos were simply the best.”

--Chris Aloia, Director of Sales and Marketing

38 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

OD’S FISH HOUSE

Bringing fresh and flavorful Southern-style seafood and sides to Harrisburg residents, Od’s Fish House is a city staple that has won the hearts—and stomachs of—locals. Over the years, Od’s Fish House has garnered a passionate following who flock to the place with mouths wide open especially for the fried catfish sandwich. Other seafood selections are also available. So what are you waiting for? Visit Od’s Fish House during your next seafood craving. It’s off the hook.

1500 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17103 (717) 233-6870

HERE’S WHAT WE SAY ABOUT OD’S FISH HOUSE “The fried catfish had a great coating. It was a very good sandwich.”

--JoAnn Shover, Account Executive “Great fish sandwich! The catfish was well done and delicious.”

--Laura Reich, Graphic Designer “While I usually do not eat fish, I tried the fired catfish. Minutes later I was on my second sandwich. It was very good.”

--Ross Burnett, Account Executive “The catfish was fried just like it’s done down south. Very tasty sandwich.”

--Jackie Goodwin, Editor 7

HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 39

14.5 to 16 ounces so this drink will look “short.” You could increase the recipe, but that would add more alcohol to the drink. I try to keep cocktails at 1 and ½ to 2 ounces of liquor. Roughly, 1 and ½ ounces of distilled spirits alcohol equivalent is 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer. This is especially important in fruity, sweet drinks as you can’t taste the liquor.

So, how to use that “Souvenir Glass” in the back of the shelf you picked up on vacation? Begin with crushed ice, make the cocktail as above but half fill the large glass with crushed ice before adding the cocktail from the shaker glass. Alternatively, you could use a 12 ounce glass, but how often do you get to use that “Souvenir Glass?”

And, if you add the pineapple wedge, cherry and cocktail umbrella, you have a fantastic presentation.

Sweet and Sour mix is easy enough to make. Just combine: • ½ cup lime juice • ½ cup lemon juice • ½ cup sugar • ½ cup water Purists might insist on fresh lemon and fresh lime juice but that is rather tedious (and messy), so I use the bottled kind. Once you have them in your bar ‘fridge you will find them quite handy (and easy).

Bartender’s Best

By Charlie Wohlrab

I

f you were a fan of HBO’s “Mad Men,” chances are you can remember Don Draper sipping a blue cocktail on Waikiki Beach.

That drink was probably a Blue Hawaii cocktail, a drink created at a hotel bar in Hawaii. Apparently, a representative of Bols Liquor wanted a drink to feature their Blue Curacao, and the Blue Hawaii was created. Incidentally, cocktail history has the drink created before the movie of the same name was released.

There’s nothing like sipping a tropical cocktail on a beach in Hawaii or on any beach for that matter, as the warm sun beats overhead and the noise of the crashing waves serves as a background. And if you’re a lover of colorful cocktails and don’t have the luxury of traveling to an exotic island during this pandemic, you can rest assured that you create a Blue Hawaii Cocktail and a Blue Hawaiian Cocktail at home.

Blue Hawaii Cocktail • ¾ ounce light rum • ¾ ounce vodka • ½ ounce Blue Curacao • 3 ounces pineapple juice • 1 ounce sweet and sour mix • 1 pineapple wedge and 1 cherry for garnish Directions Fill a cocktail shaker glass with ice, add the ingredients and shake. Pour into a Hurricane Glass (including ice) and garnish with the pineapple wedge and cherry. If you want to go over the top and impress, get some cocktail umbrellas to add the finishing touch.

This recipe will make a 12 ounce cocktail (including ice). If you want to use a Hurricane Glass, which is how you typically see it served, you have to make adjustments. The typical Hurricane Glass is 40 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

Blue Hawaiian Cocktail The exact history of this cocktail is unknown, but it was probably created in the late ‘50s early 60s when Americans were fascinated with all things Polynesian. Another theory is that perhaps Bols Liquor wanted another blue cocktail for its Blue Curacao.

• 1 ounce light rum • 1 ounce Blue Curacao • 2 ounces pineapple juice • 1 ounce Cream of Coconut Directions Put some ice in a blender, add the ingredients and blend away at a high speed. The amount of ice is a personal choice; the more ice, the thicker the cocktail. Warning: this drink can definitely give you a case of “Brain Freeze.” Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry and top with a cocktail umbrella.

The Cream of Coconut may be a little difficult to find but it’s well worth the effort. Some of the larger liquor stores carry it and it is essential to make a Pina Colada, which is simply a Blue Hawaiian sans the Blue Curacao. On a recent trip to the grocery store I found small cans of pineapple coconut juice which I used in place of the pineapple juice with a nice result. We are in a pandemic and you might not find the small cans of pineapple juice so adjustments must be made.

Be Safe. Stay Home. Enjoy a Cocktail!

Charlie Wohlrab is a mixologist whose motto, “Drinking. . .more than a hobby” has been topmost in his mind since he first started tending bar while getting his Pharmacy degree. Now retired, when he’s not restoring his older home in New Jersey, he’s made it his goal to elevate the experience of having a daily cocktail from something mundane to something more exciting. He is now Harrisburg Magazine’s official bartender in residence.

My recipes are like my opinions,” says Wohlrab. “They continue to be refined as I try new products and work with old standbys.” Currently working on a book about cocktails, Wolhrab welcomes comments from his readers. He can be contacted at jgoodwin@harrisburgmagazine.com. 7