Press Releases: February 03, 2000

For Immediate Release
February 03, 2000 Press Releases

North Third Street Restaurant Expands Hours
Harrisburg, PA – Garden Vietnamese Restaurant, located on the corner of North Third and Reily streets, has expanded its hours to include weekends. The popular family-operated restaurant is now open Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm in addition to Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Known throughout the region for its house specialty, Pho or beef soup, the menu reflects authentic Vietnamese recipes.

Arbitration Panel Awards Three Year Firefighter Contract In City
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed has reported that an arbitration panel has set forth a new three-year contract for city firefighters which, for a three-year period, will cost the city an additional $1,346,900.

The contract award is retroactive to January 1, 1999, with the previous contract expiring on December 31, 1998. City and union negotiators had been unable to come to a mutually agreeable contract by then, which, under state law, forces the matter before an independent arbitration panel, whose decision is final.

Lancaster and Dauphin County Libraries Join Forces
Harrisburg, PA – Eleven public libraries in Lancaster County have joined eleven libraries in Dauphin County to serve as community drop-off points for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s "Y Go 2 Waste" Food Drive.

The food drive, which will run through February 15, is intended to allow the community to donate any surplus food they may have purchased and stored in preparation for potential Y2K crises. The local food drive is a part of a nationwide effort by America’s Second Harvest Food Banks, of which the Central PA Food Bank is a member.

Anyone seeking more information about the "Y Go 2 Waste" Food Drive may call the Central PA Food Bank at 564-1700.

Casting Call
Cornwall, PA – The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, an Equal Opportunity Employer, will be holding auditions for all of its Y2K productions at Mount Hope Estate & Winery, Route 72 at PA Turnpike Exit 20, on Saturday and Sunday, February 19 and 20. Audition slots are available from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days and may be secured by contacting Julie at 665-7021 x120. The Faire is seeking persons age fourteen and above, all types, all races and ethnic backgrounds for roles in both the Professional and Semi-Professional acting companies for the Faire (August – October), Roaring 20s (May), Wild West (Memorial Day Weekend), Blast From The Past (June), and The Celtic Fling (July).

Those auditioning should prepare a one-to-two minute monologue, preferably classical (Shakespeare, Marlow, Moliere). They will also be asked to sing 6 – 8 bars of a song with which they are comfortable. Musicians and specialty acts should perform two to four minutes of their best work. Auditionees should bring a headshot or a close-up photograph, accompanied by a resume.

The Renaissance Faire operates Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday from mid-August through late October. Additionally, up to eight school performances are scheduled weekdays beginning mid-September. A complete list of performance dates will be available at the auditions so that conflicts may be noted.

Mayor Urges Residents to Invest in Flood Insurance
Harrisburg, PA – In a recent statement, Mayor Stephen R. Reed urged property owners and tenants located in any area that has been susceptible to flooding in the past thirty years to purchase flood insurance.

Regular homeowner’s or renter’s insurance does not cover flooding and a separate flood insurance policy has to be purchased to cover damage, losses, and dislocation caused by flood.

Reed said the insurance can be purchased from any licensed insurance agent. Harrisburg property owners and residents receive a 15% reduction in the base premium price because the city is the only municipality in Pennsylvania to have been upgraded in its community rating under the National Flood Insurance Program. In fact, Harrisburg has obtained three upgrades. A community’s rating determines the base premium that must be paid for anyone buying flood insurance. Today, Harrisburg is among the top three municipalities in the Nation in its community rating as a result of the city’s emergency management and hazard mitigation efforts over the past seven years.

Flood insurance is underwritten by the U.S. Government because the private insurance market cannot afford to provide the insurance without charging extremely high premiums that no one could afford to pay. Each community in the country has a rating based on criteria developed by the insurance and the Federal Government.

Leadership-Harrisburg Area Training March 11
Harrisburg, PA – Leadership-Harrisburg Area’s fourth annual nonprofit board and staff training seminar, titled Leadership Toolbox IV, will be held Saturday, March 11, at the Wildwood Conference Center on the campus of Harrisburg Area Community College. Advance registrations are required.

The daylong workshop is designed to provide skills training to prospective and current board members and staffs of non-profit organizations. The training is also helpful to government officials and community, business and philanthropic leaders.

The workshops begin at 8:45 a.m. and will conclude at 3:15 p.m. Seminar registration will begin at 7:45 a.m. The cost is $50 for the first registrant and $40 for subsequent registrants within the same organization. In addition to Toolbox seminar offerings, each paid registrant will receive breakfast, lunch, and resource materials.

To receive a Leadership Toolbox IV registration brochure, contact Leadership-Harrisburg Area at: LHA@SQ-Alliance.org, or phone 213-5022. The first three Toolbox sessions were sold out. Interested participants are encouraged to register early to ensure they receive their first workshop preferences.

HACC Wildwood Writers’ Conference March 23 and 24
Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Area Community College’s 21st annual Wildwood Writers’ Conference will be held on Thursday and Friday, March 23 and 24, in the C. Ted Lick Wildwood Conference Center on the Wildwood Campus in Harrisburg. Acclaimed poets, essayists, and journalists will lead the two-day conference in readings, panel discussions, workshops, and lectures.

MODE contributing editor Frank Pizzoli will speak at the conference.

For more information or to register for the writers’ conference, contact professor Terry Wallace at HACC, at 780-2487, or e-mail: thwallac@hacc.edu.

Hersheypark Announces Food For Fun Results
Hershey, PA – Guests to Hersheypark Christmas Candylane donated 2,330 pounds of canned and non-perishable food items during the annual Food For Fun Drive, held November 17 and 24, 1999. The 1998 Food For Fun Drive collected 1,988 pounds of food.

The donations were given to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which distributes food to more than 370 agencies in a 29 county area of Pennsylvania.

"The results of those Wednesday evenings make a significant impact in the lives of people who are hungry in our community," said Kendall Hanna, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

The Food For Fun program allows guests to receive a ride ticket to be used at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane in exchange for each food item donated.

Hersheypark will open for its 94th season on Saturday, May 13. For more information call 534-3900.

New Officers Elected by PA Public Relations Society
Harrisburg, PA – Mark D. Shull of Mechanicsburg, managing consultant with SSI Services, Inc., has been elected president of the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society, succeeding Juli C. McGreevy of Carlisle.

Joining Shull in directing the activities of the 150-member group of public relations professionals during 2000 is vice president Barry Ciccocioppo of Carlisle, deputy press secretary with the state Department of Labor and Industry; secretary Julie Ohlson Richards of Lancaster, communications director of the Pa. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee; and treasurer Eric S. Kiehl of Carlisle, public relations officer with PNC Bank.

A communications/journalism graduate of Shippensburg University, Shull has worked for the past 20 years in television news, public relations and marketing.

The Society was founded in 1950 to facilitate professional development and promote professional relations among PR practitioners in the area.

Citizens For The Arts In Pennsylvania Hires New President
Harrisburg, PA – Marilyn Coleman, chairman of the board of directors of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of Francine Feinerman as president and CEO.

A 30-plus year member of the Harrisburg community, Feinerman has worked to develop relationships and partnerships with and between the varied regional organizations with which she has been involved and has worked to enhance the image and programs of the organizations. According to Coleman, "Ms. Feinerman has demonstrated a deep commitment to the arts through her professional and personal life."

Prior to coming to CAP, Feinerman served as vice president for community relations and development for Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg where she successfully directed the major gifts corporate campaign; designed, and implemented marketing strategy; directed media relations, recruited, and trained volunteers; developed special events; and initiated outreach to cultural and community organizations. Following the completion of that campaign, she was a senior consultant for the Pennsylvania Partnership for Economic Education in Harrisburg, and was public relations consultant to the State Museum of Pennsylvania for the "aMAZE and BEYOND" exhibit. Feinerman’s past experience includes serving as program director for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Harrisburg where she developed and implemented adult programming; created and directed the KidsFest Performing Arts Series and the Jewish Film Festival.

Hersheypark Announces Promotions
Hershey, PA – Franklin R. Shearer, senior vice president and general manager of The Hersheypark Group, recently announced the promotions of Nancy Gates, Frank O’Connell, and Rick Stammel. Each of the three are Assistant General Managers of Hersheypark and report directly to Shearer.

Gates oversees the operations of Entertainment, Special Events, Sales, Marketing, and Corporate Partnerships. She also oversees the operation of ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park. In his new position, O’Connell oversees the operations of Finance, Information and Technology, Guest Services, Safety and Security, and Human Resources. Stammel has been employed with Hersheypark since 1983, most recently as Managing Director of Food and Beverage. He is treasurer of Share our Strength, chairperson of the Food and Beverage Committee of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, chairperson of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. Food and Beverage Task Force, and a committee member of The Kitchen School.

Marathoners Raise Money To Fight Leukemia
Harrisburg, PA – A team of runners for the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America participated in the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 9, 2000 to raise money for the Leukemia Society of America. The runners, including Alicia McClurkin, Trina Pierce, Jennifer Minnich, Amy Swiermik, Nancy Walborn, Bob Scutta, Nicole Fureman, Dan Grundon, and Florence Horst, ran the 26.2 miles, raised $45,000 for research and patient aid, and the money is still coming in.

The Team in Training program trains runners and walkers to complete a 26.2 mile course in exchange for fundraising for the Leukemia Society of America. The money raised from the running teams will stay in Central Pennsylvania. So far the Team in Training program that consists of 104 participants in various events has raised $145,285 since July 1, 1999. The goal is to raise $280,000 by July 1, 2000.

Team in Training is now accepting applicants for the spring and summer centuries. Upcoming century bike rides include America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe, California, and the Lancaster Dream Ride. Individuals interested in spring and summer events should call MaryAnn Kennedy at 652-6520.

Team in Training has a training program that helps get cyclists ready for centuries and runners and walkers ready for marathons. Team in Training is a great way to have fun, meet other athletes, get in shape, and support a worthy cause.

Zook Joins NetComm
Mechanicsburg, PA – NetComm Solutions, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Douglas Zook to its staff. Zook has 14 years of sales experience in the data processing industry and will be concentrating on education and federal government sales at NetComm Solutions, Inc. Zook has certifications in Compaq Sales and has extensive training in Cisco Products and Microsoft sales. NetComm Solutions, Inc., a computer consultant for Local and Wide Area Networks, is based in Mechanicsburg and has a branch office in Altoona.