Harrisburg, PA – The Monday Club of Central Pennsylvania will hold a 20th Anniversary Gala Celebration on Sunday, March 1, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers. On the first day of Women’s History Month, friends, and the general public are invited to celebrate, with past and present Monday Club members, the history Monday Club women have made in Central PA.

The formal program begins at 3:00 p.m., with Valerie Pritchett, News Anchor at WHTM-TV, as Program Announcer. The keynote speaker will be Kathleen Smarilli, Area Executive Officer for Core States Bank, N.A. and the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce’s 1997 Athena Award recipient. She will address “Celebrating Our History as Women.”

The Monday Club was founded in 1978 by seven women, dubbed the Founding Mothers, as a networking organization for women, at a time when the men’s professional network, The Tuesday Club, would not admit women.

National Developer Purchases City Towers Complex

Harrisburg, PA – Plans for the $9 million revitalization of the former City Towers Complex were unveiled on January 27, by Mayor Stephen Reed and Jon A. Cummins, Senior Vice President of Amerimar Enterprises, a national real estate developer and manager, headquartered in Philadelphia.

The Mayor said the real estate investment and management firm, in a partnership with Angelo, Gordon and Company of New York, has formed the Susquehanna Chestnut Partnership to purchase the structure from the city’s earlier-designated developer Triple Crown Corp.

The Mayor and Cummins reported that the 25-story structure, which will be renamed Pennsylvania Place, will undergo complete renovations and will return to service as a distinctive market-rate residential and commercial landmark.

Harrisburg, PA – Over 500 citizens from throughout Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties attended the Envision Capital Region Stakeholders’ Summit held on January 22, at Cumberland Valley High School.

Participants in the Summit worked in focus groups to discuss and then select ten issues they world like included in the Capital Region’s Vision Plan. The focus groups reconvened in the high school auditorium to report their recommendations.

“The willingness of the community to participate in the process and the open discussions which took place in the focus groups made this Summit a success,” said David Schankweiler, Chair of the Community Visioning Steering Committee.

Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed, and officials from Harrisburg Community and Economic Affairs and Susquehanna Housing Initiatives, announced on January 6, that demolition has begun on six abandoned properties in the 1200 block of Market Street. This is in preparation for the construction of twelve new rental units that will be offered to low and moderate income residents.

The Mayor said the new housing project will be called Market Court and eventually will realize a 14, 815 square foot building containing twelve rental units, on-site parking and community space. Some of the apartment units will contain as many as four bedrooms to serve larger families and several of the units will incorporate full accessibility features for persons with disabilities or special needs.

Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Reed conducted grand opening activities for the new Mercato D’Italiano, or Italian Market, at 1012 N. Third Street, in Midtown Harrisburg on January 7. The new café and market joins a growing Midtown District retinue of specialty shops and eateries that have infused new life into the specially targeted Capital Corridor project area.

Mercato D’Italiano features European-styling and seats up to 25 patrons, in addition to providing take-out and deli services. A wide array of Italian foods, including pastas, sauces, meats and cheeses are available for sit-down dining and deli-style purchases.

The café and market are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., with in-store dining from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Harrisburg, PA – Looking for something fulfilling to do with your time? The State Museum has a way for you to learn about many of its exhibits and enrich the experience of school children at the same time. The Museum is recruiting volunteers for the “Stop and Learn Program” which begins February 23rd and runs through June 1st. This program offers the opportunity to work with school students, which make up the Museum’s largest audience during the spring.

Harrisburg, PA – One of Harrisburg’s most distinctive culinary locations returned to service January 23, as Mayor Stephen R. Reed conducted the ribbon cutting for the Firehouse Restaurant, located at 604 N. Second Street, site of the former Hope Station Restaurant.

Reed said the new venture is themed upon the site’s historical legacy as a former city fire station, dating to the mid-1800s. A special feature of the building’s new décor is photographs of all the fire equipment ever housed in the station. Special menu items recognizing the building’s former use have also been introduced.

Donald Brown, Jr., owner, has made a six-figure investment in the property’s rehabilitation, including expanding the bar and other interior enhancements. Brown is also the successful operator of the popular Zephyr Express on North Second and Locust Streets just two blocks away.

Harrisburg, PA – HELP Ministries, of Christian Churches United, is seeking participants to raise money for ongoing emergency services, including: food, shelter, medical prescriptions for the uninsured, home heating fuel, and other services for needy residents of Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties. The Let’s Do Lunch portion of HELP Ministries $100,000 annual campaign seeks to raise $20,000.

Summerdale, PA – Central Pennsylvania Business School’s Office Administration and Communications students will be presenting their portfolios in the school’s Multipurpose Room and at Strawberry Square. On Thursday, March 5th, the students will display their portfolios in the Multipurpose Room from noon until 8 p.m. for faculty, staff, parents, area employers, and the public. Then on Tuesday, March 10th, they will take their portfolios to Strawberry Square from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Central Penn will also be holding its Sixth Annual Career Expo, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. Admission and parking are free. To have a successful experience, attendants should bring plenty of resumes, dress professionally, visit as many companies as possible, maintain a positive professional demeanor, obtain business cards and literature, and follow-up immediately with leads.

Harrisburg, PA – The 31st Annual Art of the State Juried Exhibition will be held July 12 to September 13, 1998. Pennsylvania artists and craftsmen are invited to submit their entries to the upcoming Art of the State: PA ’98 by February 21, 1998. This competition offers prizes to Pennsylvania artists in the categories of painting, sculpture, works on paper, crafts, and photography. All interested PA artists should contact The Greater Harrisburg Arts Council at 238-5180 for an entry form.

Harrisburg, PA – Stuck on what to do for you sweetie this Valentine’s Day? Here’s an idea they’re sure to love. The Greater Harrisburg Chorus, Sweet Adelines, has their singing quartets on stand-by for both February 13th and 14th.

For $30 you can surprise your significant other with a two-song serenade by the Sweet Adelines, and a long stem silk rose. The quartets are ready to travel to Harrisburg, Lancaster, Camp Hill, Carlisle, and Hershey to deliver your message.

Camp Hill, PA – United Cerebral Palsy of the Capital Area will be holding its Eighth Annual MagicNite event, a black-tie optional dinner dance, on Saturday, February 28. The event will be held at the West Shore Country Club.

This mysterious evening will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction, which will include pieces from local artists and many other wonderful items from local merchants. The highlight of the evening will be the live auction of a sapphire and diamond pendant, courtesy Facets Purveyors of Fine Jewelry, a framed lithograph autographed by the 500 Home Rum Club, and a PGA West Nicklaus Course #4, LaQuinta, CA framed print signed by Woods, Norman, Kite and others.

Harrisburg, PA - Goodwill Industries and Hemlock Girl Scout Council have teamed up for their third joint Be Your Best service project taking place until February 28. The organizations hope to collect 10,000 bags of clothes this winter.

Each Girl Scout is being asked to collect three or more bags of clothing for local Goodwill Stores. They will also challenge others within the community to “Be Their Best” by participating in the service project.

Harrisburg, PA – The Allied Arts Fund has announced the date of Thursday, March 5 for the official kickoffs its 1998 Campaign. The event takes place in the Atrium of Strawberry Square. Harrisburg from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and will involve representatives from Central Pennsylvania’s business and cultural communities.

The Fund has established a goal of $1,020,000 for its 1998 Campaign. Dollars raised will be used to help support the operating budgets of the region’s 26 leading arts and cultural organizations.

For additional information, and to learn how to play a part in this year’s campaign, contact the Fund’s office at 233-1694.