Harrisburg Named Tree City U.S.A.

For the thirteenth year in a row, the City of Harrisburg has been named as a Tree City U.S.A. This makes the city one of only two municipalities in the midstate to receive this high national honor for excellence in forestry and conservation practices for as many times.

"Trees cool our streets and buildings, reduce airborne pollution, conserve energy, give off oxygen, beautify open space and give wildlife a home. They are one of the best, low-cost, long-term investments we have," said Mayor Stephen R. Reed. According to Reed, the city’s nomination for the award was endorsed by the state Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry.

In order to be named as a Tree City U.S.A., there are multiple national standards that a community must meet. The Mayor’s Parks Improvement Program, which has seen to the upgrading and beautification of more than 48 parks, playground sites and open spaces, coupled with multiple neighborhood and business development projects, has resulted in the planting of many additional trees. Further, the city has a full-time tree maintenance staff, a shade tree ordinance governing planting, maintenance and preservation of trees, and an annual Arbor Day commemoration.

New Look For Central Penn College, Atmosphere To Remain the Same

In April of 1999, Central Pennsylvania Business School made a change; it was a business school no longer, but rather a college, awarding associate degrees in science and applied science. Now, one year later, Central Penn continues to change in order to meet the career education needs of a growing student body.

The Central Pennsylvania College campus will take on a new look in the future as plans are translated into action to create a dramatically improved living, learning, and working environment. The first step of the multi-phase Master Facilities Plan has already begun with the construction of the child development center, Kids on Campus, which is now open.

"We plan to take on the look of a traditional college for the future, while at the same time maintain the professional business environment that has made our institution both unique and successful in the past," said College President Todd A. Milano.

Future plans include a 50,000 square-foot academic building, which will include classrooms, office space, a new Multi-Purpose Room, and a new and improved student-run restaurant. Additional student residences will be built as the student body grows. A pedestrian bridge will extend from the new academic building across the stream that runs through the campus to the existing Bollinger Hall. A student "Walk of Fame" and a small amphitheater will be built there as well.

Central Pennsylvania College, located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, offers nineteen career programs in the healthcare, legal, and business fields. Central Penn is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and awards associate in science and applied science degrees.

Art Association Announces 
72nd Annual Exhibition

The Art Association of Harrisburg will premiere its 72nd Annual Juried Exhibition on Saturday, May 20, with a public reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the historic Governor Findlay Mansion at 21 North Front Street. The exhibition will run through June 22. Included in this year’s show are paintings, drawings, graphics, photos, sculptures, ceramics, and mixed media works from 26 states, two Canadian provinces, and Bangladesh. First Union Bank is the show’s Corporate Sponsor.

Juror for the exhibition was Elizabeth Levine, Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Ms. Levine holds her BA in art history and history from Wellesley College, and has attended graduate programs in art history at Williams College (from which she received her MA), the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, and the Graduate Centre of the City University of New York.

Prizes for the exhibition have been contributed by: Harsco Corp., PNC Bank, Alan Hostetler Insurance, Mellon Bank, The Patriot News, Mrs. Meade Detweiler, Harrisburg Steam Works, Joseph John Dudding, and Kathleen Piunti.

Gallery hours for the exhibit, after the reception on May 20, will be 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, and 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission charge. Call 236-1432 for more information.

2nd Annual HYP Home Tour & Block Party

Midtown residents are gearing up for the Harrisburg Young Professional’s (HYP’s) 2nd Annual Tour of city homes. Held in conjunction with Nick’s 1014 Café’s Block Party, the May 20 Home Tour will highlight the beautiful homes in Harrisburg, visiting a wide variety of dwellings in the Midtown section of the City, including the only row of Tudor houses in the City, all of which are located on Boas Street.

The Home Tour will be open from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Nick’s Block Party will run from 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Live entertainment, featuring music by Full Impact and Nine Below Zero, will begin at 7 p.m.

An inclusive admission ticket for both the Home Tour and the Block Party is $7 in advance and $10 on the day of the event. Tickets are available at Nick’s 1014 Café, the Capitol Heights Sales Office, and at HYP sponsored events.

Over 300 visitors toured the homes featured on the 1999 Tour and nearly 1,000 revelers celebrated at the Block Party. By all indications, this year’s event, which is sponsored by PNC Bank, should top those numbers.

Proceeds from the 2nd Annual Home Tour will benefit the Midtown Market District for the development and operation of the Midtown Center. Last year, HYP donated more than $4,000 in Home Tour proceeds to City beautification projects that included the purchase of the trees and shrubs that line Forster Street.

For more information on the 2nd Annual HYP Home Tour & Block Party, visit the HYP website at hyp.org.

McNaughton Announces
Two Growing Greener Grants

Mark McNaughton has announced that Dauphin County will receive two grants as part of the Growing Greener program.

"These are exactly the type of projects that Growing Greener was designed for," said McNaughton. "I am pleased that Dauphin County will benefit from this program."

A grant of $50,000 will be awarded to Susquehanna Township to incorporate several watershed restoration, protection and education components for Asylum Run into the Capital Area Greenbelt around Harrisburg, as well as a $33,700 grant to the Dauphin County Conservation District to start a watershed planning and management project for Powells and Armstrong Creeks.

Growing Greener is Pennsylvania’s most substantial investment ever in protecting natural resources. The five-year, $646 million initiative will help clean up watersheds; rehabilitate state parks and forest lands; provide grants for water, storm water and sewer infrastructure projects; and preserve farmland and open space.

New Outdoor Concert Series 
to be Launched in Perry County

Don Failor, owner of the Transportation Alley used car dealership, and former owner of Stratford Realty, both in Shermandsdale, has announced that the Hired Guns will be the first featured artists to play a new outdoor stage at the Free Spirit Rec Center, the campground in Kennedy’s Valley, just off McCabe Road in Landisburg, that he’s been hard at work renovating. Friday, May 27, Hired Guns will take the stage at 7 p.m. in the inaugural concert of what will be a country music series including many local and nationally known acts throughout the summer. Failor is currently working on the line-up with area booking agent John Harris; the final list is yet to be announced.

The stage is Failor’s latest addition to the campground, which already includes a heated, in-ground, 22 x 42 foot pool, fishing, trails, and will soon offer log cabins for overnighters. "I plan to upgrade the entire campground to the resort level," Failor said.

In addition, Failor and Nick’s 1014’s Tony Ricci have plans to open a steakhouse adjacent to the campground sometime
next spring.

Whereas the 2000 series will focus on country music, Failor has plans to broaden the music series next summer to include folk and rock and roll acts.

For information on the first concert and directions to the campground, call: 582-4443.

York Has High Tourism 
Expectations for 2000

After having a successful tourism year in 1999, the City of York is aiming to increase their Downtown Visitor Center numbers in 2000. The Center had 15,000 visitors in the two months after it opened last August.

According to York’s economic development director, Eric Menzer, "This will be the first tourism season with sufficient products, services, and the marketing and organizational products we need in place."

In 2000, York visitors will find many new restaurants, a world-class art exhibit, a new biking trail, downtown bike tracks, two-way travel on George Street (the main road through downtown), and special signs highlighting specific historical sites.

Also included in the marketing strategy to clean up and develop the White Rose City is an effort to have York included in the Pennsylvania Visitor’s Guide, which has a circulation of 750,000. The inside cover of Baltimore Magazine’s April 2000 issue held an advertisement for tourism in York.

One of the more lavish attractions coming to York is the County Heritage Trust art exhibit "Treasures for the Trust." The exhibit features 19th and 20th century American art and quilts from the collection of the Mellon Financial Corporation.

You Say "Po-ta-to", I Say "Po-tot-o"

Fast-food chains have alerted Monsanto Co. that consumers aren’t interested in eating their genetically modified potatoes used in French fries. Apparently, the company’s modified spud is being sliced up in a backlash over bio-engineered food.

Press reports indicate that McDonald’s is quietly telling their French-fry suppliers to stop using Monsanto potatoes, the only firm so far to commercially offer a genetically modified potato. Consumers have indicated in surveys that they want labels on groceries containing genetically altered ingredients. Frito-Lay, owned by PepsiCo., has informed farmers not to grow genetically modified potatoes this year for its popular Lay’s and Ruffles brands.

Burger King, according to the business wire, has been assured by their suppliers that they are not using modified potatoes. Hardee’s hasn’t asked its suppliers to stop using the potatoes, but is considering a possible change in its French-fry policy.