“We have already received calls from volunteers wanting to sign up to provide this gift wrap service,” said Marie Ledger, UCP’s Development Associate, “and volunteers come back to help every year. They say that gift wrapping is fun and part of their holiday tradition.”

UCP’s Holiday Gift Wrap booth will be located near the middle of the Capital City Mall and will have a wide selection of wrapping paper styles. The booth has very few expenses, so all money donated goes to the programs and services offered by UCP.

Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) launched a pilot program for Mayor Stephen Reed and the City of Harrisburg’s “2000 Trees by the Year 2000” program on Saturday, October 10. The group planted trees and shrubbery in the median of Forster Street between Green and Second streets. This project is the first of a series of significant city beautification projects planned by HYP and the City of Harrisburg leading up to the turn of the millennium.

The City of Harrisburg’s Department of Parks and Recreation is providing equipment, mulch, and landscaping services. HYP is procuring and planting the trees and other plant material and has adopted the ongoing maintenance of the site as part of the PennDot’s “Adopt and Beautify Program.”

The Karpick red maple trees are being obtained from the Moon Nursery in Chesapeake City, Maryland. The Japanese Holly, Golden Juniper, and Barberry bushes are being obtained from Country Market Nursery in Mechanicsburg. Landscape design was provided by Joel Ramp of Quality Lawn Service.

Mayor Reed said, “The City of Harrisburg is planning a significant program that will address all the major gateways of the city with attractive signage and landscaping. We believe this entrance will be given new life through visual enhancement for many generations to come.”

J. Alex Hartzler, President of HYP, added, “The Harrisburg tree-planting project is just one of the efforts HYP has undertaken to revitalize our state capital. We’re focusing on the improvement of Harrisburg’s socioeconomic conditions as well as the aesthetic appeal of the city. HYP is proud to play a leadership role in the ongoing effort to attract and keep people in our city.”

Brad Jones, Coordinator of the HYP tree project, emphasized the remarkable coordination and private/public partnership that made the project possible. “The cooperation we received from the Mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation, PennDot, and the State Department of Conservation of Natural Resources has been tremendous. The fact that HYP, as a private grass roots organization, was able to take this public project from an idea on the drawing board to trees in the ground in a few short months is a real tribute to the responsiveness of the public officials who are working for the citizens of this city.”

Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg City Treasurer, Paul Wambach, reported that his office has selected Mellon Bank to be the city’s new Central Depository Bank for handling all city banking transactions. The change follows an extensive review of city banking procedures and responses to a Request for Proposals issued earlier this year.

Wambach said the selection of the Mellon Bank “will allow the city to stay competitive by ensuring that city accounts receive the best interest rates at the least cost, as well as benefiting from the latest computerized banking reporting practices. Mellon Bank clearly meets the city’s financial needs with sound cash management principles, competitive rates, and quality service.”

The City Treasurer’s office issued the Request for proposals in July, and has since carefully reviewed the responses from eight area banking institutions. The city has used First Union (previously Core States) as its Central Depository Bank since 1990.

“We were pleased with the quality and competitiveness of all eight proposals received. It gave the city some real choices to consider,” Wambach said, as he thanked all of the banks who responded.

Harrisburg, PA – Senator Arlen Specter’s office has informed Capitol Area Transit that the House/Senate Conferees have tentatively agreed to $1 million for the CORRIDOR one Commuter Rail Demonstration Project. Final approval is expected by Congress shortly and will then go to the President for his signature. In the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation was successful in authorizing $20 million over six years for the CORRIDOR one project.

“We are very happy,” said CAT Chairman Dick Miller. “This important appropriation permits CAT to begin the process of preliminary engineering and infrastructure assessment for the rail demonstration project. We now have a basis to begin discussions with Norfolk Southern officials regarding right of way.”

Harrisburg, PA – The Community Action Commission and Tri-County Housing Development Corporation will host the Annual Community Awards Banquet Monday, November 16, 1998, at the Holiday East (Lindle Road) beginning with a reception at 5:30pm, followed by dinner, an award ceremony, and a “Showcase of Youthful Talent.” The Reunion Jazz Ensemble will provide pre-dinner entertainment. Guests will be treated to post dinner performances from talented Harrisburg area Youth.

Danzante is a Latino arts and cultural organization in Harrisburg, which offers programs in dance, theater, visual arts, poetry/literature, and music throughout the school year and conducts an arts camp each summer. Danzante is also well known throughout Central Pennsylvania for its magnificent performance troupes such as its Flamenco Dance Company. Ongoing programs offer youth an opportunity to foster self-esteem and confidence through creative approaches in Latino culture, history, and the arts. During the post-dinner showcase, Danzante’s Percussion Ensemble will perform. The ensemble is composed of young performers, ages 6-16, who are “budding conga aficionados.”

The Coyle School of Dance is under the direction of Colleen Kelly, a Dublin-certified instructor in traditional Irish step dancing. The performance on November 16 will feature six accomplished dancers, ages 14-18, attired as “colleens” in velveteen costumes complemented by ringlet hairstyles. They will perform several renditions of Irish dance, concluding with the popular River Dance. As Ms. Kelly notes: “It is our intention and pleasure to share with and educate the community on traditional Irish step dancing!”

Crime Fighting Goes High-Tech in Harrisburg

Harrisburg, PA – Advanced wireless information technology unveiled today by Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Cellular One adds a formidable new crime deterrent to the Harrisburg Police Bureau’s arsenal. Cellular One’s advanced wireless data network allows police officers to retrieve critical information faaster than ever before — expediting the apprehension of criminals and increasing the time officers can spend patrolling city neighborhoods.

Cynthia De George, senior vice president and general manager of Cellular One’s Mid-Atlantic Central Region, said the wireless data network enables Harrisburg dispatchers to go online to direct police officers patrolling the streets to crime or accident scenes. Also, by using the mobile data terminals mounted to their vehicles, the officers can directly access databases to retrieve information such as vehicle registration, criminal records, warrants, and APBs.

Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced details of the Harrisburg Parks Partnership Limited Edition Print, a special fundraising project benefiting city parks improvements and special programming for city youth. The effort involves the silent auction of an original artwork produced by noted local artist Earl Blust and the sale of a limited edition number of prints of the original piece.

Reed said the painting depicts the city’s “Renaissance” sculpture located at Reservoir Park Fountain. Created by renowned Philadelphia sculptor Stuart Mark Feldman, “Renaissance” depicts two male and two female statues holding children who are reaching for the fountain, symbolizing the beauty and harmony of the Harrisburg’s future. The enchanting public artwork was unveiled in 1995 at a total cost of $300,000.

The Harrisburg Parks Partnership commissioned Blust, one of the midstate’s famous Seven Lively Artists, to create an original painting of the sculpture as a means to raise additional funds for the city parks and playground improvements. Mixing an exquisite sense of balance, delicate tones, and vibrant explosions of color, the painting enlightens the humanistic senses in a magnificent depiction of Harrisburg’s rebirth.

Harrisburg, PA – Everyday more than 1,000 senior citizens in Dauphin County enjoy a hot, nutritious meal delivered by a smiling, friendly volunteer. This smiling face is often the best contact homebound senior citizens have with the rest of the community. Now, thanks to a generous contribution by Alltel, Inc. (formerly 360° Communications), if a volunteer encounters an emergency, he/she can contact help with the touch of a few buttons.

Alltel has donated cellular telephones and free airtime to the Meals on Wheels program. Volunteers will take the phones with them when they deliver meals. If one of the seniors, or one of the volunteers, has a problem, help can be contacted immediately.

“Our volunteers are much more than meal deliverers-they are caregivers,” said Shirley Gallagher, Director of Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging. “The daily or weekly contact each volunteer has with his/her seniors is a lifeline to independence.

“By making use of cellular phones, volunteers can make a big difference if they run into a problem.”

Alltel’s contribution will help the hundreds of caring and dedicated volunteers delivering hot, nutritious meals to the homes of homebound seniors through the Meals on Wheels program everyday.

“Alltel is excited to be involved in the Meals on Wheels program in Dauphin County,” said Gary Williams, Vice President and General Manager for Alltel. “This donation will secure the safety of volunteers and the seniors citizens they deliver meals to everyday.”

“The strength Dauphin County’s Meals on Wheels program is in its volunteers,” said Shelly S. Klein, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “Dedicated community leaders such as Alltel have come together to provide a vital need.”

The Dauphin County Meals on Wheels program depends on over 1,200 individuals and groups who volunteer their time, their automobiles and their compassion to deliver meals to homebound seniors. However, there is always a need for new volunteers.

Mechanicsburg, PA – A Gingerbread House Contest is being held this year by the Art Center School & Galleries, and they are looking for participants. The contest is being sponsored by the Kitchen Shoppe & Cooking School, which is located on Shady Lane in Carlisle.

Over $200 in cash or gift certificates will be awarded for the best houses. Awards will be given for first, second, and third place as well as a special award for the most original design. All entries will be on display Sunday, November 29, through Saturday, December 5, 1998.

The contest is open to bakers of all ages. The primary rule is that the house must be edible.

Entries for the Gingerbread House Contest must be received no later than 12 noon on Sunday, November 29, 1998. Judging will take place on Sunday, November 29, at 2pm. The houses will be judged by Diane Povis and Jennifer Whitten-Woodling, who are both writers for the Patriot News. Diane Povis is also a teacher at the Kitchen Shoppe & Cooking School.

Winners will be announced the following Saturday, December 5, at the 1998 Holiday Fine Art & Craft Show being held at the Art Center. After the show, participants will be free to take home their sugary creations.

Bakers can register for the contest through Wednesday, November 25, by calling the Art Center School & Galleries at 697-2072. The Art Center is located at 18 Artcraft Drive, just off Trindle Road in Mechanicsburg.

Hershey, PA – The holidays are upon us. What better time than now to win $10,000 … or thousands of dollars worth of other great prizes?

It could happen to you.

The X unveiled it’s huge fall promotion, Expose The X, on the Howard Stern Show, encouraging X listeners to expose the radio station to the greatest number of people in the most creative way possible.

Participants must pick up registration materials at official Expose The X registration points. All entries must be accompanied by video or photo documentation, a registration form and contest release form.

Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed presented recognition commendations to the block captains who help lead and conduct the Adopt a Block and Adopt a Lot Programs throughout Harrisburg.

Reed said the year-round effort is aimed at cleaning up and beautifying specific blocks citywide. There has been a 49% increase in the number of participants and blocks being covered by the program in the last twelve months. Today, 149 city blocks have been adopted by neighborhood groups, civic organizations, churches, or individual citizens, along with 11 vacant lots.

The recognition ceremony was part of a picnic held on Harrisburg City Island for the volunteers today.

Persons and groups interested in signing up may do so by contracting Victoria Artis, program coordinator, in the city’s Dept. of Building and Housing Development at 255-6480. Volunteers agree to conduct at least four clean-ups per year, with one of them occurring during Earth Week in April. The city provides materials and supplies.

Harrisburg, PA – The Java House in Midtown: “Coffee, Books, and More,” a new coffeehouse and restaurant on the site of the former Sweet Passions coffeehouse in Midtown Harrisburg will open in mid-October under the direction of local restauratuers James Maturani and Michael DeFazio.

Maturani and DeFazio, owners of the North Street Café at 231 North Street, purchased Sweet Passions in late September. The pair started the North Street Café in 1993 and built it into a thriving downtown business, earning the city’s Business Rookie of the Year Award in 1994.

Maturani and DeFazio plan significant improvements to the new Java House in Midtown, located at 1006 North Third Street, including a separate smoking room, used bookstore, and revised menu. They anticipate other enhancements in the coming months.

“The North Street Café began with a very simple motto: ‘Meet some friends at North Street,’” Maturani says. “We’ll bring the same atmosphere of fun, friendliness, and high-quality food to the Java House in Midtown.”

While the North Street Café is a non-smoking establishment, The Java House in Midtown will welcome both smokers and non-smokers. The used bookstore will be an area of the store not currently in use. In addition to a wide selection of used books, the area will offer seating for food and drink and a relaxing environment for reading.

The menu at The Java House in Midtown will be similar to that of the North Street Café. It will feature a variety of distinctive sandwiches and salads, vegetarian items (hot and cold), and the comfort foods for which the North Street Café is known. The Java House in Midtown will open daily at 6 A.M.

Maturani and DeFazio will continue to expand their operations at the North Street Café, including their thriving catering business. They cater for virtually every occasion, be it an intimate party for two or a sit down dinner for 200. The café itself features an appealing dining room for up to 30 guests that also doubles as a fully functional art gallery.

New Cumberland, PA – New Cumberland Public Library is seeking yearbook donations from graduates of Cedar Cliff and Red Land High Schools.

In order to accumulate a full set of yearbooks for the library’s local history collection, the library needs donations of Cedar Cliff yearbooks from 1991 through 1998 and Red Land yearbooks from 1989 through 1998. The library also requests donations of 1984, 1986, and 1987 Red Land yearbooks.

Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg East Mall’s Santa will be surrounded by the largest constructed sand sculpture in the State of Pennsylvania. The sculpture, soaring 20 feet into the air, incorporates hundreds of colorful lights with 150 tons of sand.

In addition to a Center Court display, two other sculptures will be built throughout the mall — one in the Food Court and one near the Upper Level Lord & Taylor.

The Sand Sculpture Company out of Woodstock, Illinois, will make the sculptures entirely of sand and water. The company’s sculptors have set a total of six world records since 1989. The general public can view the sculpting of the castle from 8am - 6pm through November 8. Santa will occupy the castle from November 14 until December 24. The sculpture will remain on display until mid-January.

Sandcastle sponsors include The Harrisburg Howard Johnson, Brent Miles Landscaping and Property Maintenance, and Pennsy Supply.