Harrisburg, PA. – The Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) appointed Valerie A. Grigg as the new Director of its Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC) effective July 28, 1998. Ms. Grigg, who has a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, had most recently held the position of Senior Urban Planner for the City of Harrisburg.

Ms. Grigg has been very involved in "grass roots" economic development activities. As a member of Mayor Reed’s administration, Valerie was directly responsible for the Midtown Market District Main Street Program and the South Allison Hill Neighborhood Action Strategy. She has also provided business coaching for several individuals and businesses.

She now brings her extensive local economic development experience to the Entrepreneurial Development Center, which will officially celebrate its first year in operation at a press conference and reception scheduled for 11am, Wednesday, October 7. The Center is located on the corner of 18th and State Streets in Harrisburg. Clients from throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry Counties, bring their business ideas to the EDC everyday. The Center provides services to its clients free of charge.

While the October 7 event marks the EDC first anniversary, it will also, signify the beginning of an important new partnership. The Harrisburg Area Community College has entered into a partnership with CREDC to support the operation of the EDC.

On-site seminars on topics related to entrepreneurship will be presented at the Center, and HACC will also promote both credit and non-credit courses that could be of interest to clients. Finally, HACC will provide opportunities for the Center’s clients to interact with successful entrepreneurs.

Following the press conference, guests are invited to attend a reception being provided by the HACC Culinary Arts program. And, of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without a birthday cake!

Harrisburg, PA. – The Allied Arts Fund’s Board of Directors and the 1998 Campaign leadership announced the successful completion of the Fund’s 1998 Campaign – a campaign which has surpassed it goal of $1,020,000.

Carlisle, PA. – Dickinson College’s Community Studies Center has received a three year grant of $150,000 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to further develop its "American Mosaic Program," a new curricular model for studies in American cultural diversity through hands-on work.

The Hewlett grant will aid in the extension of the Mosaic program by engaging more faculty in the curriculum and supporting the creation of three additional semester immersion experiences for students. Dickinson College President, A. Lee Fritschler, says that this grant, "will extend the impact beyond the classroom, and help Dickinson to fully explore and develop this exciting new curricular model, one that can have a significant impact on the learning environment at Dickinson and can serve as a model for other schools who are striving to teach cultural diversity."

Harrisburg, PA. – Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced the award of more than $177,000 to five local homeless shelters and assistance agencies as part of the City’s continuing efforts to assist area homeless persons. The City of Harrisburg is the only municipal government entity to support the shelter providers with direct cash assistance, even though homeless persons hail from communities across the Capital Region and the state.

Harrisburg, PA. – Citizens who provide information on the whereabouts of chronic absentee slumlords will receive a $250 reward under a new city code’s enforcement program known as "Code Busters," Mayor Stephen R. Reed reported. The reward program is similar to the city’s Trashbusters program which grants cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of illegal dumpers.

Harrisburg, PA. – WITF-TV has begun transmission tests preliminary to launching digital television service later this fall. WITF-DT, channel 36 sent the first digital broadcast signal in Pennsylvania at 2pm on August 26th, and is currently sending digital tests signals in preparation for transmission of PBS demonstration programming later this month.

Washington, D.C. – Seeking to promote the development, education, and resources available to the nation’s powerful small business sector, the Padgett Business Services Foundation began operation July 1, 1998 with 30-year Department of Treasury veteran and former NSA executive Leslie S. Shapiro as its president.

Harrisburg, PA. – PinnacleHealth Hospitals provide a Medical Explorers Scout Post Program in conjunction with the Keystone Area Scout Council. Meeting the second Wednesday of each month, October through April, the program explores career choices in Physical and Occupational Therapy, Bio-Medical Engineering, Food Service, Nutritional Services, Laboratory Technology, and Emergency Services.

Medical Explorer Post #750 will meet Wednesday, October 14, 7pm-8:45pm at PinnacleHealth at Polyclinic Hospital in the Landis Building, Brass Rail Café, Dining Room B.

Elizabethtown, PA. – Jan Schlichtmann will be on campus Wednesday, October 21, 7:30pm. Nationally known for his representation of eight Woburn, Massachussettes families against W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods, featured in The New York Times national Best Seller A Civil Affair, Schlichtmann will discuss the complexity of a civil litigation including product and toxic tort litigation. Having worked on a variety of personal injury cases, he offers an insightful look at civil litigation and how it applies to you. A public reception will follow.

On Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30pm and Wednesday, November 11 at 10am, join Jamling Tenzing Norgay, a native of the Himalayas, as he takes the audience through his adventures climbing Mount Everest. Norgay is widely known as the alpine guide featured in the blockbuster IMAX film Everest. He is the son of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the first to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary. A public reception will follow.

Harrisburg, PA. – Dorothy "Lollie" Simmons is watching her dream of home ownership come true board by board. Construction of the home in the 1600 block of Chestnut Street has nearly reached the half-way mark. Since the official kick-off in June, the home’s first and second floors have been framed, the roof is in place, and the interior work is underway. Lollie Simmons and Jose Rivera should move into the home early next summer.

This house is unique for the Harrisburg affiliate of Habitat for Humanity; it is the first home being built for someone with a disability. Funded by the Keystone Cares program from Keystone Financial, the house will include ramps, wide hallways, a specialized kitchen, and other features that make it handicap accessible for Simmons, who uses a wheelchair.

Hershey, PA. - Noting how the World Wide Web is revolutionizing the way Americans do business, Gov. Tom Ridge announced his intentions to make Pennsylvania a world leader in the rapidly growing area of electronic commerce. "Pennsylvania simply cannot afford to fall behind when it comes to E-Commerce," Gov. Ridge told members of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry as he accepted its Government Leader of the Year award – the first time the Chamber has bestowed the award since 1993. "In fact, we must ensure that Pennsylvania is the most E-commerce friendly state in the nation."

As evidence of Pennsylvania’s commitment to technology leadership,

Gov. Ridge announced at the dinner that Pennsylvania’s World Wide Web site has been ranked No. 1 in the United States. "Three years ago, we didn’t even have a website," Gov. Ridge said.

Gov. Ridge said that next month he will make a major announcement highlighting the use of E-commerce and technology to promote Pennsylvania-made products.

Harrisburg, PA. – The South Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is pleased to announce that Harris Savings Bank will sponsor the Eleventh Annual Taste of South Central Pennsylvania on October 25, 1998. The Taste will be held in Strawberry Square and be hosted by Charles and Virginia Pearson.

The Taste is produced in cooperation with the Central Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, and each year its culinary delights draw 2500 Central Pennsylvania residents. The event raised significant operating funds for the food bank to feed more than 194,000 hungry Pennsylvanians in 17 counties last year.

The Taste features the specialties of over 50 of the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, and beverage purveyors. Popular entertainers from the region will provide a musical backdrop for the event, ranging from classical to contemporary. All Taste participants will donate 100% of their time and resources to this important community fundraiser.

Harrisburg, PA. – The Nationally famous Heisman Fine Arts Gallery, in conjunction with Hospice of Central PA and the Harrisburg Singers, will present a local art show and auction on October 24, 1998 at The West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill.

The auction is being held to benefit Hospice of Central PA and the Harrisburg Singers. The $15 admission price includes complementary hors d’ oeuvres and a cash bar. This is a truly delightful way to see and buy art at below gallery prices.

There will be an opportunity to preview the art and to hear The Harrisburg Singers from 7pm to 8pm. The auction will begin at 8pm. The West Shore Country Club does not permit blue jeans and men are required to wear a jacket.

Harrisburg, PA. – The United Way of the Capital Region announced a fundraising goal of $6,250,000 for the 1998 community campaign. The announcement was made at the organization’s Day of Caring kickoff event. The goal represents a 2.4% increase over the $6,105,272 raised in 1997.

In addition, for the fourth year in a row, Sutliff Chevrolet is donating a vehicle to one lucky contributor — a 1999 Monte Carlo or Chevrolet S-10 pick-up truck. The drawing takes place at the organization’s Celebration of Caring event. Eligibility requires a donation of at least $104 to the United Way Campaign.

The money raised by United Way is used to support 47 local health and human service agencies providing 164 programs and services to the residents of Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry Counties. While the United Way believes an unrestricted gift helps most people in the community, contributors do have the option of designating one or more specific agencies to receive their money. Contributors can also choose to target their money for the Community Health Campaign or the United Negro College Fund through the United Way campaign.

Harrisburg, PA. – The diversity by which law enforcement officers operate in the field was again expanded as Mayor Stephen R. Reed inducted three new Police Special Harley-Davidson motorcycles for use by the city’s Police Bureau.

Reed said the units are the first motorcycles in use by city police in twenty years. The city already uses horses, bicycles, trucks, vans, and cars in the field, as well as the oldest form of getting around — walking the beat. The Mayor said the motorcycles will be used primarily in the city’s community policing operations. Reed said the motorcycles will also be used on regular patrol duty throughout the city and as additional service for traffic control, special events, and other specialized duty. The units complement the Police Bureau’s existing 75 vehicle fleet.

Harrisburg, PA. – The Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania (PFCP), organizers of the yearly gay, lesbian, and bisexual event held at the end of July, have announced a block party to be held on Saturday, October 10. Proceeds from the party will benefit the PFCP, who in turn distributes money to local charitable organizations.

The block party, called "Gaytoberfest," will be held at the intersection of Third and North Streets in downtown Harrisburg from 12 noon until 6pm. A DJ will playing music for the event, there will be dancing, and local bars will have special tie-in events. There will be no admission charge. The bars will donate proceeds from their beer sales.

The chairperson of the board of directors of the PFCP, Jason Derr, said, "Beginning this year, the pride Festival has redefined its mission to include making donations from our yearly proceeds to organizations that help people in the Central Pennsylvania region. We have specifically stated that we will make these donations not only to groups that work just with the lesbigay community, but to groups that benefit our area as a whole."

The decision to make donations to a wide range of organizers was spurred by awareness of the fact that all groups are a part of a larger community. "When a group focuses only on helping itself, it cannot expect the community at large to give it respect," says Derr. "Any organization that, without prejudice, helps the Central Pennsylvania community is helping both the straight member of the community and the lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in the area. We can best show our pride in ourselves by giving something back to the community."

The PFCP has decided that one event per year simply does not raise enough money to make a meaningful contribution to all of the causes which they wish to support. The result of that decision is Harrisburg’s first ever block party to raise money for a lesbian, gay, and bisexual organization.