News Clues: October 26, 2000

News Clues
Just Enough News To Keep You Wondering

Fire Bug May Get Caught: Community Called
"It is more than disbelief that we view such crimes… it is with anger," Mayor Stephen R. Reed said in an October 13 address to a somber gathering at the Temple Ohev Shalom, which was a victim of theft and arson on Monday, October 9. Reed’s anger should infuse us all. Even if it had just involved theft and arson. But, having occurred on Yom Kippur, this crime may very well have been driven by hatred. If that’s so, we must all speak out. Now. In a reaction to hate crimes, the public, the criminals, and, worst of all, the victims will interpret silence as tolerance.

Mayor Reed has issued a release of the stolen inventory to all the surrounding counties in order to enlighten as many community members as possible with the facts to aid the police in solving this crime. The stolen tools are contractor-grade and many are marked with any of the following letters or names: OAN BBEC, OAN NO BBEC, NO, DM, EGC, or Edgewood General Contractors. Being a good citizen does not mean keeping to oneself. It means keeping true to oneself. Please keep an eye out for these tools at area auctions, flea markets, yard sales, classified ads or pawnshops, door-to-door sales, and even online selling sites. If spotted, citizens should take note of the who, what, where of the seller, item, and place. Call the Harrisburg Police at 255-3131 or your local police station and provide the appropriate information. Reed reiterates that $15,000 will be rewarded to information that leads to an arrest in this unsolved case.

United Way Hits the Highway
Citing "housing needs," Joseph M. Capita, President and CEO, United Way of the Capital Region, has decided to list the former headquarters at One United Way in the classifieds and look for a new home. "After five years of reviewing all options for our future, we had hoped to remain at our current location in a more efficient headquarters building," said Capita. "Unfortunately, …ongoing concern about the historical significance of the existing building will continue to postpone a lasting solution…" Translation: We wanted to knock the nice, old building down for a cool, new one, but were told to move out if we didn’t like it.

Capita said that all fundraising activity is still on schedule in some cases, well ahead of schedule. "Our annual campaign, which supports a network of 45 health and human service agencies is progressing extremely well," stated Capita.

20% of PA Trash Hauling Trucks Had Violations
Last week, Pennsylvania enforcement officials joined other Mid-Atlantic States’ coordinated "surprise" inspection stops of trash hauling trucks. Twenty percent of the trucks in Pennsylvania were found to have safety and/or environmental violations. Pennsylvania State Police inspected 411 trucks and 96 were out of service for safety violations. Nineteen drivers were also taken "out of service". There were 92 citations issued for overweight truckloads, faulty brakes, faulty steering and unsecured loads.

Landis Valley Museum To Auction Movie Props
Props from the movie Beloved will be auctioned off at 5pm on Saturday, October 28, at the Village of Lampeter Community Building, Lancaster, located behind the Lampeter Firehouse. Auction items may be previewed from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, October 27, at the Lampeter Community Building.

Movie items to be sold include the "Lady Jones" house, a church building, an outhouse, and an assortment of set pieces and props from the 1998 film based on the novel by Toni Morrison. Other props to be auctioned include large signs representing fictitious town businesses, general store merchandise, domestic items, and several antiques. All proceeds from the sale will benefit educational programs at the Landis Valley Museum.

The museum served as the 19th century town of Walnut Hills, Ohio, the film’s setting. The Landis Valley Museum is an outdoor museum and farm site that interprets the daily life of rural Pennsylvania Germans from the Colonial period to the end of the 19th century. It is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For more information, contact auctioneers, Jessica Shaub at 786-8919 or Larry Whyte at 286-7666.

Midtown Cinema Benefit October 28
Harrisburg’s Midtown Cinema, near the corner of Third and Reily streets, will hold a benefit Saturday, October 28 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Stone Building of the city’s Broad Street Market, Third Street. Organizers will serve food from the movie Soul Food and screen the popular film. The also includes a greeting from Mayor Stephen Reed, door prizes, and a strolling fashion show.

The event will raise money for the Midtown Cinema currently under construction in the Reily Center. The movie house will open in late November.

Tickets are $25 per person and are available by calling Michael Grabauskas at 236-3890 or by e-mailing movimike@webtv.net.

Executive Director Leaving Susquehanna Art Museum
Marion C. Alexander, President of the Board of the Susquehanna Art Museum, has recently announced that Jonathan VanDyke, Executive Director of the Museum, will be resigning from his position as of December of this year. In addition to working as an independent curator, critic, and artist, VanDyke will continue to serve the Museum in a curatorial capacity in 2001.

As Executive Director since April 1997, VanDyke managed the incorporation of the Doshi Center for Contemporary Art into the museum’s operations, and oversaw such things as the museum’s tenth anniversary celebration and the development and dedication of a new VanGo! Museum on wheels. VanDyke also served as the Museum’s head curator, having curated 14 exhibitions during his tenure.

In a statement, VanDyke had this to say about his decision: "I have been incredibly fortunate to lead one of our city’s most dynamic and promising cultural organizations. While I will be moving on to curatorial projects both nationally and internationally, I look forward to continued involvement with the museum in a curatorial capacity."

Wildcats Name New GM
The Hershey Wildcats have announced that Matthew Ford as the General Manager of the soccer club, replacing Todd Smith. Smith recently accepted the position of General Manager of the New England Revolution, a Major League Soccer franchise.

A native of England, Ford has been the Wildcats’ Director of Team Operations since February 1998. He also played with the team during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, leading the Wildcats this with a total of six assists.

Said Todd Pagilarulo, Vice-President of Sports and Entertainment for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, "…[Ford] is an effective leader with the charge to elevate the Wildcats and increase their visibility in the soccer community and evolve the Wildcats’ brand into a continuing viable family entertainment option."

In his new position, Ford will oversee the direct day-to-day operations of the franchise, including player personnel and business management.

Heading into their fifth season, the Hershey Wildcats are in the United Soccer League A-League. The Wildcats were the A-League Atlantic Division Champions in 1997 and 1999 and Eastern Conference Finalists in 1998 and 1999.