February2024 ISSUU

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 1

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IN THIS ISSUE ...

VOLUME 30 NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2024 5

INTROSPECTION

6

HISTORY OF CANDY MAKING

10

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

14

FINANCE HOUND

16

BY THE BOOK

18

FOOTNOTES ON STYLE

20

FOR THE LOVE OF PETS

25

STB 2024 CATEGORIES

30

WHAT'S COOKING?

31

BARTENDER'S CHOICE

36

CINEMATIC RAMBLINGS

38

NOURISHING BITES

ON THE COVER Nothing says love like assorted chocolates by the Hershey Company.

Read about the history of candy making in Central PA. Photo submitted.

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40 FOODIES FOR THOUGHT

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4 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

MANAGING EDITOR Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patti Boccassini-Hill Imogene Gross David Morrison CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Imogene Gross Paul Vasiliades

Introspection

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.”

– Plato You could say that February is a month for “heart”-felt memories. Mine go the whole way back to elementary school when, as a quiet, keep-to-himself kid, I nevertheless participated in the annual ritual of exchanging cheap paper Valentine’s cards with a roomful of other kids, albeit reluctantly. You wouldn’t have been wrong in classifying the majority of my classmates as more outgoing than me; but that didn’t mean that their hearts were any more desirous of hearing a heart “whisper” back than mine. In fact, I would argue that my heart was a little lonelier than theirs in those days. Maybe a lot more. Not to get too philosophical or sentimental on ya, but if there are any lessons to share from my schoolboy days it’s probably this: try to be a whisperer – or better yet, a singer – of love for as many people as possible. Little kids and adults alike appreciate getting a message of appreciation this time of year, even if it’s just one of those cheap, silly paper Valentine’s cards.

So, it’s with a song in our collective hearts that we bring you a February issue that’s chock full of features that will surely make your heart do much more than whisper!

Patti Boccassini-Hill’s chronicle of

how the American Heart Association has been “Making an Impact in Heart Health” for the past 100 years is something near and dear to our publication’s heart. Harrisburg Magazine was involved in the Go Red for Women movement from the beginning, helping launch the program regionally with its February 2004 issue, with local celebrities decked out in red (of course) in a red Mercedes convertible courtesy of Sun Motors. So, it’s rather fitting for Patti (one of my predecessors as editor here) to be the one to contribute a very important piece about a very important and vital organization.

… in this month’s What’s Cooking section, there is plenty to satisfy all tastebuds. In our Foodies for Thought, the editorial team is treated to some “super-fast, super fresh, and super wholesome” poke bowls at Freshido’s newest location in Mechanicsburg.

And then, our Bartender’s Choice feature not only profiles skilled O’Reilly’s Tap Room and Kitchen bartender (and devoted father) Jared Reed, but also includes a shout-out to two of his employer’s most popular and delectable dishes: an old-fashioned Pot Roast and some very meaty and tantalizing wings.

Do you know what else has been of vital importance to Central PA, as part of Valentine’s Day history, of course, but also year-round? The local candy making industry, both large and smallscale. I mean, what would February 14th be without some chocolates from Matangos in Harrisburg, or Exquisite Chocolates in Carlisle, or the dozens of other manufacturers of handmade sweets in Central PA? You’re guaranteed to have a sweet tooth for David Morrison’s article about the history of candy making in Harrisburg/Hershey.

As usual, we’ve got columns galore, including one by Sam Cornelius, the new book buyer at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, who will now be in rotation with our other two By the Book columnists, Michelle Haring and Le Hinton; plus an insightful and important For the Love of Pets by Kristen Zellner focusing on pet obesity prevention.

Moving from the sweet to the savory (not to mention some potent potables)

RG

Don’t be afraid to let your heart whisper some sweet nothings to someone this month. Because a “nothing” can really mean something!

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Candy Making is King in Central Pennsylvania Story by David J. Morrison Photos submitted

ennsylvania has the distinction of consuming more candy per capita than any other state.

So says Janet Richey, longtime proprietor of a successful candy store in Newburyport, MA who, until her recent retirement, annually attended a national trade show in Philadelphia which laid claim to that superlative.

This makes sense in several ways.

Pennsylvania has long been deemed the “Snack Food Capital of America” for its many producers of salty as well as sweet snacks. Chocolate making became dominant in Central Pennsylvania because of its thriving dairy industry noted for its sweet-tasting milk (which Milton Hershey discovered turned bitter-tasting pure chocolate into the tasty milk chocolate that is universally enjoyed today). And, in addition to Mr. Hershey, there were numerous other Pennsylvanians who successfully experimented, invented, manufactured, and marketed a bountiful array of unique, popular, and enduring candy products.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we naturally focus on candy (which has crowded store shelves since the day after Christmas), and indeed this story focuses on Central Pennsylvania candy-making. But first, an obligatory history lesson: This candy-centric February 14 holiday and its October 31 rival, Halloween, are both rooted in religious history. Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century bishop in the Roman

P

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Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians, for which he was ultimately executed by Emperor Claudius on February 14, 269 AD. It is said that that the daughter of the judge who imprisoned him had a secret crush on him, and as he was led to his execution, he sent her a note “from your Valentine,” an expression of love that endures today via the greeting card industry.

Whitman’s Samplers Candy-making in America can be traced to colonial times. As an industry, it dates to the pre-Civil-War era.

One of the earliest – and still popular – brands is Whitman’s Chocolates, founded in Philadelphia in 1842 by Stephen F. Whitman, who at age 19 got his start selling sugar plums to sailors on the Delaware River water-

front. In 1877, relocated to Philadelphia’s retail epicenter at 12th & Market Streets, he began marketing assorted chocolates, initially in tin boxes. With advances in cardboard box-making in the early 20th century, in 1912 he introduced the iconic “Whitman’s Sampler,” whose distinctive yellow box evokes antique Pennsylvania Dutch needlework samplers.

The Whitman’s Chocolate brand today is owned by its former archrival, Kansas City-based Russell Stover.

Nevertheless, the Sampler lives on, albeit in a much-simplified yellow box. A bright red heart-shaped version of Whitman’s Sampler appears on shelves each year in advance of Valentine’s Day. Another venerable Pennsylvania brand, Wilbur Chocolate Company, founded in Philadelphia by Henry

Matangos Candies is renowned for its handmade chocolate Easter Bunnies, a Harrisburg favorite for more than 60 years.

continued in Lititz until 2016 when the century-old factory was replaced by modern facilThe Finest Belgian ities in Elizabethtown, Chocolates Mt. Joy, and Hazleton, 35 S Hanover Street, as well as Milwaukee Carlisle • 717-220-7081 ExquisiteChocolates.com and Ontario, whence the Wilbur brand continues to thrive. In 2018, the old factory was converted to condominiums. To the delight of Wilbur aficionados (and the Chamber of Commerce), the relocated Wilbur Chocolate Retail Store, across the late to a nationwide market. street at 45 N. Broad Street, remains a tourist 70 million Hershey’s Kisses per day! draw, with an array of gift The famous Hershey’s Kiss, which items as well as displays debuted in 1906, was initially handof the vast collection of wrapped in small foil sheets. In 1921, Chocolate King Milton S. Hershey in 1910. antique chocolate-making with the commencement of machine Oscar Wilbur in 1865, has strong Cen- memorabilia amassed by Mrs. Penny Buzzard, wife of a former Wilbur pres- wrapping, it allowed for the addition tral Pennsylvania connections. After ident. Visitors may still observe “girls of a small paper ribbon to protrude prospering and expanding in various from the wrapper. The protruding Philadelphia factories, the Wilbur fam- at work making chocolate through ribbon, indicating that this was a true the window,” a longstanding Wilbur ily in 1891 built a new plant in Lititz, Hershey product, became so symbolic attraction.

Lancaster County, which, as not only that today’s streetlamps lining ChocoAlthough Milton Hershey’s a major employer but also a popular late Avenue alternate between brown tourist destination, greatly contributed now-global enterprise is indelibly unwrapped Kiss shapes, and silver associated with the Dauphin County to the town’s prosperity. wrapped Kisses with protruding steel town that bears his name, his earliest ventures in candy Wilbur Buds making were in PhiladelWilbur’s most popular product, phia, Lancaster, Chicago, Wilbur Buds, debuted in 1893, a full and New York, where local 14 years before the similar-shaped residents formed his customHershey’s Kiss. The two products are er base. After 20 years of frequently compared, due to the 20risk-taking and experimentmile proximity of their manufacturers ing, his biggest gamble of as well as their shape. Wilbur Buds are not individually wrapped, and they all would arise in the dairy farmlands of Derry Townhave the word WILBUR stamped on ship, where in 1896 he built the bottom of the bud. Chocolate connoisseurs have been known to conduct a milk processing plant, taste comparisons as serious as a wine followed by a chocolate plant in 1903. Both were tasting. built adjacent to the Reading M&Ms, produced by Mars, are named for Forrest Mars Acquired by food conglomerate and partner Bruce Murrie, whose Hershey connections Railroad line; Mr. Hershey Cargill in 1992, Wilbur operations intended to sell milk choco- initially enabled the use of Hershey Chocolate.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 7

Whitman’s Sampler switches each year from its familiar yellow rectangular box to a red heart-shaped Valentine gift.

ribbons.

Over the decades, Hershey added such enduring products as Mr. Goodbar in 1925 and Krackel in 1938. Rolo and Kit Kat are produced under a licensing agreement with the British owner of those brands. Today, 70 million Kisses are produced each day in Hershey and elsewhere, requiring the daily milk output of 65,000 cows. As part of their commitment to sustainability, Hershey’s keeps tens of thousands of pounds of chocolate waste (including imperfect Kisses) out of landfills every year by transforming it into a nutrition-packed “candy meal” to help feed cows, pigs and other animals!

In the 1930s, M&M candy-coated chocolate debuted through an unusual partnership of Forrest Mars and Bruce 8 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

Murrie, son of longtime Hershey’s President William Murrie. M&M stood for Mars and Murrie. They sourced Hershey’s chocolate until 1948 when Mars bought out Murrie and grew to become one of Hershey’s biggest competitors.

The Hershey-Mars archrivalry is chronicled in the 1999 book, “The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars.”

Mars, founded in 1911 in Tacoma WA, and now headquartered in McLean, VA, and still owned by the Mars family, is the fourth largest privately owned company in the U.S. The maker of Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, M&Ms, and many others, has 22 U.S. factories including one in Elizabethtown PA.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Another unique example of corporate interrelations in the candy industry is that of Hershey’s and Reese’s. Harry B. Reese, a Hershey dairy manager (Farm 28-A) who was struggling to raise 16 children, around 1920 began making candy in his basement to supplement his income. His boxed chocolate assortment included a peanut butter cup that soon became so popular that he eventually focused on that one product. With Milton Hershey’s blessing and with chocolate from the Hershey plant, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was an unqualified success. In 1957 he built the plant still standing on Chocolate Avenue, subsequently run by his six sons. In 1963, the business was sold to Hershey. Later product diversification included “Reese’s Pieces,” candy - and chocolate-coated peanut butter buttons looking suspiciously like Mars M&Ms, but with a totally Reese’s taste.

In 1940, Henry Kessler, a York, PA ice cream cone manufacturer, decided to enter the candy business, favoring a chocolate and mint themed candy. His York Peppermint Pattie has changed very little over the decades, even after its acquisition by Peter Paul (maker of Mounds and Almond Joy), and later Cadbury, and, in 1988, by Hershey’s.

York Peppermint Pattie, introduced by York entrepreneur Henry Kessler, is now produced by Hershey’s.

Variations have included sugar-free Patties, boxed York Peppermint Bites, and seasonal shapes: hearts for Valentine’s Day, eggs for Easter, pumpkins for Halloween, and snowflakes for Christmas.

Peeps, Hot Tamales, Venetian Mints and more!

Other local candy makers of various sizes include: Just Born, based in Bethlehem PA, maker of marshmallow Peeps, Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike, Teenee Beanee jellybeans, and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews (acquired in 2003 from the Goldenberg family of Philadelphia).

Sam Born, a Russian Immigrant in 1909, moved to San Francisco in 1916 where he invented the “Born Sucker Machine” that mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops. Moving to

Brooklyn and ultimately to Bethlehem, Born’s other inventions included the chocolate sprinkles known as “Jimmies” and the mechanical process for forming Peeps.

Matangos Quality Candies, headquartered at 1501 Catherine Street in Harrisburg. It was founded in 1947 by Christoforos “Pop” Matangos, a Greek immigrant who came to America by jumping ship in New York Harbor in 1914. After candy ventures in Allentown and Scranton, he moved “to the larger Capital City of Harrisburg,” according to a company history, “where he began working in the candy kitchen of Harrisburg’s then very popular Pomeroy’s department store” before launching his business in his home at 15th & Catherine, where it is still located and run by 3rd-generation Matangos. The enterprise at one time had

seven Harrisburg-area retail outlets, including the Second Street location of today’s Stock’s restaurant. Matangos’ famous specialties include “Venetian Mints,” boxed Figaro multi-striped chocolates, and hand-made chocolate Easter rabbits.

Today, Central Pennsylvania’s venerable and thriving candy industry reflects the area’s strong dairy farming tradition, its strategic access for shipping to major markets, and its reputation for entrepreneurial risk-taking and innovation. In addition, perhaps it’s safe to say that our collective sweet tooth is sweeter than average.

David J. Morrison is executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association. He is a frequent contributor to Harrisburg Magazine.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 9

American Heart Association: Making an Impact in Heart Health Story by Patti Boccassini-Hill Photos submitted by American Heart Association

T

he month of February is known as the “month of love.”

It’s also famous for Phil the groundhog’s weather prediction, Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and every four years we tag on an extra day to the month.

It is also American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has a rich history that dates to 1924 when a group of six cardiologists founded it as the Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease. These physicians were concerned about the lack of research and information regarding heart diseases.

Initially, their focus was on sharing information among professionals and educating the public about heart health. Over time, they expanded their efforts to include fundraising for research and advocating for legislative policies that promote heart health.

In the 1940s, the AHA initiated the creation of community programs to educate people about heart disease and encourage healthier lifestyles. They began to fund research grants and studies to better understand heart diseases and develop effective treatments.

The AHA became more widely recognized in the 1950s due to their involvement in groundbreaking research that linked smoking to heart disease. They also began promoting CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training, which has

10 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

since become a crucial life-saving skill taught worldwide.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, the association continued to expand its reach and impact. They have been instrumental in creating guidelines for the treatment and prevention of heartrelated conditions, supporting research advancements, and advocating for public policies that promote heart health.

The AHA is divided into five regions across the country, with each region having local divisions, governed by a board of directors. The boards are a diverse balance of men and women, healthcare experts, as well as business and community leaders.

(l-r) South Central PA Board members Alicia Luciani and Patti Hill; volunteer Lynne Ritter; and Marsha Jackson, executive director, wear red in support of Go Red for Women.

Go Red for Women Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the No. 1 killer of women – claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined.

Celebrating 20 years of raising awareness in 2024, Go Red for Women is the AHA’s signature women’s initiative, dedicated to educating and empowering women to take action to protect themselves from the threat of cardiovascular disease and helping all women reduce their risk by removing the barriers they face to better health and well-being.

Today, Go Red for Women continues to have a profound impact on women’s health through research, mental well-being, and maternal health.

Additional programs such as Woman of Impact, Capital Region Heart Walk,

Field Day, Heart of the Capital Region & Heart Ball, and Leaders of Impact are in full swing around the year.

These programs assist in fundraising efforts which provide critical funds for community initiatives, education, and research. Woman of Impact is an initiative where local women are nominated to participate in a nineweek blind competition raising funds and awareness for the Go Red for Women movement. These incredible women build teams and will have a true impact on the Capital Region from February 2nd – April 5th. The AHA staff is always willing and able to help in the volunteers’ endeavors.

The staff members also will provide CPR demonstrations, counsel on wellness programs, and more to companies in our region. Becoming a volunteer is an easy process. The AHA would be glad to have you and they would be glad to hear from you.

You can show support as well on February 2 by wearing red. National Wear Red Day is a day when many people wear red to show their support for the awareness of heart disease.

This year, in its 100th anniversary year, the American Heart Association remains a leading force focusing on cardiovascular health, uniting more than 35 million volunteers and supporters and more than 2,900 employees. Bold moves, and dedicated researchers and volunteers, have resulted in significant medical advancements over 100 years: the first artificial heart valve, implantable pacemakers, cholesterol-lowering medications, techniques for CPR and much more. Working as a global force, the Association is transforming the way the world understands, treats, and prevents cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

More than $5.7 billion invested in cardiovascular medical research makes the American Heart

Association the leading nonprofit funding heart and stroke research – second only to the U.S. government.

The Association has funded over 49,000 projects, leading to significant breakthroughs in cardiovascular and stroke discovery, translation, and clinical application.

Although the Association is focused on its future, it is important to learn from and understand the places it has been to inform the way ahead.

Throughout the last century, the American Heart Association has moved health and well-being forward in important and critical ways by helping lower the nation’s blood pressure, increasing CPR certification, combating nutrition insecurity, and fighting tobacco use. These are only the beginning of the steps that have been taken to make heart disease and stroke stories of the past and not of the future.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 11

“Moving into its next century, the American Heart Association will continue to be a bold force in creating a world of equitable health. Though scientific research has improved lives significantly, these gains have not been experienced equitably among Black, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ + people,” states Larissa Bedrick, marketing communications director for AHA’s Central PA region.

She continues, “This is also the case in historically under-resourced communities all over the country.

The Association pledges to work relentlessly to eliminate heart disease and stroke, optimize brain health and ensure equitable health in every community across the country. Through its local initiatives, the American Heart Association strives to create a world that provides more tomorrows with our loved ones by identifying what is needed in individual communities and addressing critical concerns to equitably improve the lives of every person in every community.”

The AHA’s efforts span education, research, advocacy, and community programs, all aimed at reducing the impact of cardiovascular diseases and improving the overall health of individuals and communities.

Kathryn Santiago and her son, Isaiah, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, take part in the Capital Region Heart Walk.

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FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 13

The Finance Hound/Bryson Roof

All About Trusts

T

he subject of trusts typically elicits two opposite reactions: individuals either feel they don’t have enough money to warrant a trust or seek a trust as a silver bullet to solve all their estate planning needs. The first myth is that individuals need to be ultra-wealthy to develop a trust; that’s simply not true. Let’s look at when it may make sense to use a trust.

What is a Trust?

When I started my career as a financial advisor, I met a young attorney specializing in estate planning. He shared a thought that sticks with me today. He informed me that a Last Will and Testament directs who will receive specific assets, while a trust can outline how an individual receives the assets. It’s important to note that a trust isn’t a magic bullet and doesn’t replace your typical estate planning documents; it is simply a piece of the estate planning puzzle.

Common Myths about Trusts: Many feel that because they have a trust they don’t need a Last Will and Testament. A trust can help with asset transfer when you die; however, the trust can only transfer assets that have been placed into the trust.

Assets not titled within the trust will transfer based upon beneficiary designation or as outlined in the Last Will and Testament stipulations.

Intestate is the legal vernacular 14 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

for dying without a Last Will and Testament. The Commonwealth has intestate laws governing who will receive your assets at your death if you pass without a Last Will and Testament. The intestate laws may not reflect your desires. For this reason, I ask clients to implement the Big Three: Financial Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney/ Advanced Medical Directive, and a Last Will and Testament. Having these documents in place and a trust helps ensure that your desires are met.

Another common myth regarding trusts is that you do not have enough assets to have a trust. Let’s look at when a trust may be beneficial, even if you don’t have multiple businesses, three yachts, and two beach homes.

When to use a Trust

I will leave you with this parting thought: determine the goal first.

Then reach out to an experienced financial planner and estate planning professional to determine if a trust can help you increase creditor protection, protect assets from a nursing home, reduce tax obligations or have more control over the assets you are gifting.

Bryson Roof, CEP, is a financial advisor at Fort Pitt Capitol Group in Harrisburg, and has been quoted nationally in various finance publications including CNBC, U.S. News & World Report, and Barron’s.

A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to place stipulations on the inherited funds. This can be useful for parents of minor children to establish a Testamentary Trust for the future benefit of their children. If a parent died unexpectedly, they could put stipulations that the assets may be used for higher education, starting a business, or funding a down payment for a first home. By establishing time intervals where a portion of the balance becomes available at various times (for example, releasing onethird of the assets from the trust on a 25th birthday), it keeps children from foolishly spending an inheritance.

I could write for days about trust strategies that can result in creditor protection, maximizing tax efficiency, and adding fund stipulations. Since the Finance Hound was created as a quick-read financial column FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 15

By the Book/Sam Cornelius

“So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.” -Vincent van Gogh

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On February 16th at 7PM, the Midtown Scholar Bookstore will host an evening with Allen C. Guelzo, a prominent Lincoln scholar. His book, Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment, takes an indepth look at Abraham Lincoln’s views on democracy as he faced secession, war, and reconstruction. While democratic theory has been expounded on by philosophers like Rousseau, founding fathers Jefferson and Madison, and historians like Jon Meacham, research into Lincoln’s idea of democracy prior to the centennial of our founding and at a moment of crisis for our country seems like a novel subject. Check out midtownscholar. com for details of the event or come in after the event to pick up a signed copy.

Internationally renowned poet Kaveh Akbar released his debut novel, Martyr!, in January. This literary fiction novel focusing on death, balances cynicism with grace and humor.

Akbar’s main character, Cyrus Shams, an Iranian born alcoholic and poet, meets a woman dying in a Brooklyn museum. Martyr! is beautifully written, haunting, and hilarious. You can pick up your signed copy of Martyr! at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore while stock remains.

Francis Spufford’s Cahokia Jazz is a noir-crime-thriller set in the roaring 20’s that uses a framework of

speculative fiction. Spufford’s American Midwest is a sovereign nation controlled by America’s indigenous population who stopped the expansion of colonizers through war and commerce, and later, trains. Cahokia Jazz is a thrilling mystery, and the setting creates a fresh perspective for looking at race, industry, religion, and corruption. You can pick up Cahokia Jazz when it releases February 6.

Bianca Bosker launched herself into the art world of New York City in Get the Picture, also releasing on February 6. I love Bosker’s voice: a harried NYC journalist, moonlighting as a gallerist, studio assistant, and museum security guard. If you’re looking for a journalist who will spill the beans about the ugliness of the art industry, or one who slowly learns to develop an eye for art and in return shares an appreciation of craft, presentation and beauty, Bianca Bosker’s Get the Picture is for you.

Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (just released in paperback) tells the story of gladiators, but not Roman gladiators or a TV show from the 90’s. These gladiators are incarcerated men and women who fight in death-matches for the benefit of the for-profit prison system and the media. Clearly not speculative fiction or a dystopian action-thriller, Chain Gang All-Stars (more akin to Orwell’s 1984) is a literary satire giving us a scathing look at the future of for-profit prisons, while shining a light on questions of race, capitalism, and mass incarceration. Signed copies are available at Midtown Scholar Bookstore while supplies last.

Just as Vincent Van Gogh is cheered by bookshops, local bookstores are one of the few thriving “third places,” a place separate from work and home, where you can gather and share refreshments and ideas. But books are ultimately why we are here, whether for knowledge or entertainment, philosophy or fantasy. I hope you find time this winter to visit your local bookstores to be “cheered… and reminded… that there are good things in the world”.

Sam Cornelius has been a bookseller since 2005 and a dad since 2009. He is a bookstore sales and merchandising specialist. Sam relishes reading fantasy and literary fiction and seeking memorable and witty passages in any book. He is currently a new book buyer at Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

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Footnotes on Style: Pro Fashion Tips from the Ground Up/Carla Irvin

Step up Your Game with Fashionable and Comfortable Work Shoes

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our office footwear speaks volumes about your professionalism and style. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or making your mark in the business world, the right pair of professional shoes can make all the difference.

Let’s explore the world of fashionable work shoes, including comfortable heels, ankle boots, loafers, and sneakers. These professional and business casual footwear choices will keep you looking polished and confident.

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18 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

Let’s start with a game-changer in the world of office footwear – comfortable heels. For years, women have endured painful pumps in the name of fashion.

But now, thanks to innovative designs and materials, you can have both style and comfort. Invest in heels with cushioned insoles, arch support, and padded heels.

European fashion and comfort brands have perfected the art of blending elegance with ergonomic features. Block heels provide stability and comfort without compromising style. They pair beautifully with wide legged pants or midi skirts. You don’t have to rule out a pointed toe if it’s designed well.

Look for styles with adequate room in the toe box and additional padding at the forefoot to make this classic style easily wearable. Nothing looks better with a power suit than a feminine pointed-toe pump.

Classic Loafers and Flats When it comes to classic professional

shoe styles, you can’t go wrong with loafers and flats. These are the foundation of any work wardrobe.

Loafers are a versatile choice, bridging the gap between formal and business casual. Look for loafers with chic details like tassels or metal accents.

Pointed-toe flats are an excellent alternative to heels. They provide a polished look while ensuring all-day comfort.

Business Casual Footwear As workplaces embrace more relaxed dress codes, business casual footwear has gained popularity. These shoes offer a blend of style and comfort, allowing you to express your personality while maintaining professionalism.

Versatile and stylish, ankle boots are perfect for pairing with dresses, skirts, or slacks. Choose a pair with moderate heels for a touch of elegance. In an even more relaxed work environment, athleisure sneakers offer comfort with fresh style. A great choice for business casual outfits, look for chunky, colorful designs for a modern twist.

Versatile Color Choices When building your collection of fashionable work shoes, consider versatile color choices that can seamlessly match your outfits. While black is a timeless classic, don’t shy away from experimenting with other neutral tones like navy or taupe. These colors are easy to mix and match, ensuring you always have the right pair for any occasion.

The world of office footwear has evolved to prioritize both style and

comfort. Whether you’re looking for comfortable heels, or business casual options, there are fashionable choices that will keep you looking polished and professional. Invest in quality shoes that not only enhance your outfit but also your confidence. Your feet will thank you, and you’ll stride into the workplace with elegance and grace. Step up your game with the perfect pair of work shoes and conquer the corporate world in style!

CarlaCarla is the co-owner Bottom,a local a local fashion is the co-ownerofofPlum Plum Bottom, fashion gracedHarrisburg Harrisburg &&Camp HillHill --and havenhaven thatthat hashas graced Camp --and recently online--for over over 46 moremore recently online--for 46years. years.Specializing Specializing in shoes, Carla's keen eye for style and quality has in shoes, Carla's keen eye for style and quality has made Plum Bottom a go-to destination for fashion madeenthusiasts.

Plum Bottom destination for fashion Beyondathego-to glitz and glamour of footwear, enthusiasts.

Beyond the glitz of footwear, Carla's soul finds balance as aand yogaglamour teacher since 2010, imbuing her life and business withteacher mindfulness Carla's soul finds balance as a yoga sinceand 2010, grace.her A loving mother to two energetic teenage sons, and imbuing life and business with mindfulness Carla seamlessly blends her roles as a fashion maven, grace.wellness A loving mother to two energetic teenage sons, advocate, and dedicated mom, crafting a life Carlaasseamlessly blends her as roles as a she fashion maven, vibrant and multifaceted the shoes curates. wellness advocate, and dedicated mom, crafting a life as vibrant and multifaceted as the shoes she curates.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 19

For the Love of Pets/Kristen Zellner

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I

Time To Get Your Canine Moving

n 2022, The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported that 59% of dogs and 61% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese. In their Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey, nearly one third of dog owners with overweight dogs actually considered their dog’s weight to be normal.

It’s no secret that overweight pets are at higher risk for arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and poorer quality of life. Contributing factors to pet obesity include lack of exercise, poor diet, genetics, spay/neuter status, age, medical conditions, and medications. The only factors we can actually control on this list are diet and exercise.

Being told our dog is too heavy is embarrassing, so our brains gear up to make a quick change, setting us (and them) up for failure. Often, dog owners first look for food that will help their furry family member lose weight. Unfortunately, most weight management foods contain less meat, which is replaced with carbohydrate fillers like rice or potatoes. Yes, calories from a carbohydrate dense diet burn faster but there isn’t enough quality protein to build and maintain muscle mass. So, in essence, you wind up with a very hungry dog who loses weight in muscle mass.

Losing weight through diet alone isn’t healthy. Dogs need to move, and I don’t mean just walking. They need to run, or at least trot for an hour or more per day.

Movement provides mental stimulation, improves circulation and heart health, supports the musculoskeletal system, and aids in digestion. In addition, an exercise regimen will likely improve or eliminate behavioral problems that stem from boredom and pent-up energy. The amount of exercise dogs need varies depending on their breeds and ages. For instance, herding or hunting dogs need more activity than a chihuahua or a bulldog and older dogs will require less than younger dogs.

In response to the canine obesity epidemic, some dog loving entrepreneurs may have found a solution. Mobile dog gyms are popping up across the United States and dog owners are really getting on board. Climate controlled vans equipped with treadmills have been getting less active dogs moving, while the trainer monitors their progress.

Last year, the mobile dog gym, Out 2 Run Fitness, hit the streets of Central PA, offering canine exercise programs right outside your door! There has been a lot of buzz around this new veteran-owned business, as the owner, Ty Meik, is wellknown in the community. Sergeant Meik is a Harrisburg City Canine officer and head trainer. His partner, K9 Zeke, became a local hero when he survived being shot in the line of duty in 2013.

With this new tool, there aren’t too many excuses for not getting your dog moving. A mobile dog gym provides a workout for your dog no matter the weather. Out 2 Run offers package deals, memberships, operates seven days a week and gives a 10% discount to military personnel and first responders. If you want to get your pooch started on a fitness program, contact out2runfitness.com.

You will be pleasantly surprised with this life-changing and valuable service.

Kristen Zellner owns Abrams & Weakley General Store for Animals, est. 1986, Central PA’s first health food store for pets. She helps customers keep their pets healthy through better nutrition.

WE DIDN’T CHOOSE to have

A HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY, but we did choose UPMC. - Cassandra and Dalton S. Central, Pa.

Cassandra and Dalton were thrilled to learn they were expecting twin girls, but the pregnancy took a scary turn at 16 weeks. One baby’s amniotic fluid was low, putting both babies in jeopardy. The couple was referred to UPMC Magee-Womens in Central Pa., a member of the state’s largest network of top-rated maternity care, where they received advanced care for the remainder of the pregnancy. Today, both girls are thriving. “The team of experts cared for our girls even before they were born,” Cassandra said. For more information about advanced care, visit UPMC.com/ChooseCPA.

UPMC Harrisburg has been recognized as a 2024 High Performing Hospital for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 21

Valentine’s Day Hasn’t Always Looked Like It Does Today Although no country recognizes it as an official public holiday, Valentine’s Day has grown into a widely recognized holiday since its origins in being the feast day for the martyr Saint Valentine.

And as it turns out, there isn’t one single Saint Valentine originally honored by the day. Saint Valentine of Rome and Saint Valentine of Terni, both martyred in the 200s, share the honor on February 14th. Guess Valentine was a popular name at the time.

Although today the observance of Valentine’s Day is associated with romantic love, originally it was observed more as the beginning of spring. In our climate it’s usually hard to see the middle of February as “spring,” but nonetheless, various folk traditions bear little resemblance to the modern, mainstream celebration of Valentine’s Day. For example: In Norfolk, U.K., a character known as “Jack Valentine,” or occasionally “Mother” or “Father” Valentine, has been part of the Valentine’s tradition for centuries. On the morning of the day, the figure knocks on the door and disappears, leaving treats for children on the doorstep. In one variation, the figure can be a trickster: “Snatch Valentine” brings the gifts, but with a twist. Hiding in a nearby bush, he attaches a string to the present, and when the child reaches for it, he yanks it away. This repeats several times, pushing the child to the point of exasperation, until finally the gift is left and not pulled away. The tradition of Jack Valentine and such characters is less common in Norfolk today, but some families reportedly still practice it. At one time, it is said that Valentine’s and Valentine’s Eve were almost bigger than Christmas in that region.

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With Love, Your Valentine Before Valentine’s Day became the day to celebrate love, the day of love in the calendar of saints was typically either Saint Gregory’s (March 12) or Saint Vincent’s (February 22).

Interestingly, the patron saint of love is neither these nor Saint Valentine, but rather Saint Anthony, whose day is observed on June 13.

Little is known about the lives of the two historical Saint Valentines, but various legends have been attributed in the years since. The better attested of the two, Saint Valentine of Terni, holds a legend which, although apocryphal, is credited with the origins of a Valentine’s tradition. Saint Valentine was imprisoned, it is said, by the Roman emperor, during one of the Roman persecutions of Christians.

When he refused conversion, he was sentenced to death. After a challenge to his faith, he laid hands on the blind daughter of his jailer and restored her sight. According to legend, in his final letter, he wrote to her, signing it “From Your Valentine.”

However it happened exactly, over time, use of the word “Valentine” developed to be synonymous with “romantic partner.” By the Middle Ages, the holiday developed a distinctly romantic character. English writer Geoffrey Chaucer made the first recorded association of the day with romance, in a 1382 poem about birds gathering on the 14th of February to choose their mates. Indeed, this supposed ritual of birds features in a lot of early folklore surrounding the holiday. In observance of the budding holiday, young women and men would play courtship games, and Valentine’s poetry to demonstrate one’s desire began developing as a genre in its own right.

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Valentine's Goes Commercial By 1797, Valentine’s poetry for one’s lover had become so expected that a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine’s Writer, containing a plethora of romantic verses for the young lover to copy to their own Valentine’s note. One supposes they did not inform the objects of their affections of the true source of their poems. Soon, printers were producing “mechanical Valentines,” cheaper, factory-produced Valentine cards that made the tradition more accessible to more people. Sending mail became cheaper in the mid1800s, and soon Britain’s Valentines factories employed over 3,000 women. Valentine’s Day exploded in popularity among the Victorians.

In 1868, British chocolate company Cadbury released Fancy Boxes, the first heart-shaped boxes of chocolate that would become a Valentine’s staple. Of course, these Valentine traditions quickly spread to the U.S. and elsewhere, leading to the traditions we know and love today.

Galentine's Day Today, some have responded to the primarily romantic focus of Valentine’s Day with celebrations of other kinds of love. A relatively new celebration, Galentine’s Day, was imagined into existence by the writers of the show Parks and Recreation. Celebrated on February 13 (or anytime from February 1 to February 14), the holiday is a celebration of friendship, particularly women’s friendships. Friend groups might celebrate with a party, a meal, or drinks at a restaurant, a spa day, or even a trip together. Even though it hasn’t reached the status of the holiday it responds to, some venues have started to offer special Galentine’s packages and Galentine’s-themed merchandise.

The Key To Your Heart In Padua, Italy, Valentine’s Day is observed with the giving of a distinctive gift. Saint Valentine’s Key is the name for a metal, key-shaped charm which is given as a gift every year on Valentine’s Day. It is given to children with the belief that it will ward off epilepsy. Epilepsy? Yes, that’s right. At some point, in that region of Europe, epilepsy came to be known as “Saint Valentine’s Malady.”

Exactly why is up for debate, but it likely had something to do with Saint Valentine’s association with healing the conditions of children. The Saint Valentine’s Key is also given to lovers as a romantic symbol, representing the “key” to one’s heart, and is sometimes given as a wedding gift.

24 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

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What's Cooking?

IN LOCAL FOOD AND FUN

A Berry Merry Month for Amore!

I

t’s a month for showering your loved one with special treats! Like a Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini (pictured) as mixed up by February’s bartender, Jared Reed at O’Reilly’s Tap Room and Kitchen, located in the Best Western Premier Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg. Check out all the delicious drink and food items here: https://thecentralhotelharrisburg.com

30 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

Or, for something convenient and fresh, your sweetheart will thank you for a healthy poke bowl from Freshido. Read more in Imogene Gross’ Foodies for Thought.

Love film? Hear about the latest and greatest in our Cinematic Ramblings column.

Bartender’s Choice/O’Reilly’s Tap Room and Kitchen

Full Time Hotel Bartender/ Full Time Dad Makes Harrisburg a Destination

T

ucked away near Union Deposit Road, part of the Best Western Premier Central Hotel & Conference Center, you might not expect O’Reilly’s Tap Room and Kitchen to boast such an elegant and warm interior. One thing that becomes evident from a visit is that Harrisburg sees its fair share of travelers passing through. Although as locals we may not see Harrisburg as a tourist destination, we have a lot of nearby attractions that motivate visitors, from annual events to Hersheypark. But it’s not just these attractions themselves that keep Harrisburg as a destination in their hearts: it’s the whole experience they get at O’Reilly’s and the Central Hotel that keeps them coming back.

Jared Reed, who has worked as a bartender since 2009 and for O’Reilly’s since 2013, is no doubt a big part

of that. He notes the unique “sells” of working for a hotel bar rather than a standalone establishment. “We get guests from all over the world, different times of year, different shows going on – the Farm Show – bring in people from all over,” he elaborates. Although the bar gets plenty of local regulars, it’s one of the few in the area that can say that it has out-of-town regulars – who visit on an annual schedule. As Mike Dickey, Food and Beverage Manager, explains: “Every season, every month, is something different, and the guests that are here for that same event each year, they keep coming back to this hotel to see our staff.” The regulars develop their own unique relationships with the long-term hotel and restaurant staff. Reed agrees, “They travel each year, they try to come back to this hotel, because of the experience we give.”

Through his job, he’s gotten to hear stories from people from all walks of life – like Korean War pilots that now run commercial flights, for instance.

The hotel is a popular spot not just for eventgoers and vacationers but for airlines staff.

Besides the friendly service, the food, and drinks, of course, must be another enticement for returning patrons.

“When you’ve worked in a restaurant for a while, you get tired of the food, you want to eat somewhere else, but, like, I could eat here every day – I do eat here every day,” Reed praises. The wings, which are smoked daily, flashfried to order, and prepared with a variety of sauces or dry rubs are one of their most popular menu items. Some members of our team sampled them and understood why they’ve made their FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 31

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place in the local wing scene: cooked just right, tender, and bursting with flavor. Another best-seller is their pot roast, something you don’t often see on a local restaurant menu. This was also generously given to us to sample, and team members enthused that it was just like old-fashioned home cooking.

least from my experience: you can’t teach somebody to be social, you can’t teach them how to interact and be themself and be genuine. You can teach them a cocktail, but can you sell yourself?” Reed focuses on the customer experience – on making something he

But of course, this being a Bartender’s Choice article, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the drinks. Twice a year, Reed and his colleague, Christine Rivera, carefully curate a drink specials list for the Spring/Summer and Fall/ Winter. “Jared and Christine know what new drinks are up-and-coming and what our guests are drinking, and they go at it,” Mike Dickey explains.

Some highlights include, as you’ve probably already seen in this article’s header photo, and might see recipes for at the end of this piece, the popular Lavender Lemonade with Thistle Finch Lavender Vodka, the romantic and decadent Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini, and a classic with a twist, the Caramelized Old Fashioned. Reed honed his intuition for inventing hit cocktails on the job. When asked if he attended bartending school, he replied, “I think that’s a big misconception, at FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 33

would be proud to serve himself. “My philosophy is, if I’m going to make this drink, I’m going to drink this drink,” he affirms.

When he’s home from work, Reed has another full-time job: being a father to his 2-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. Indeed, these days, most of his free time is spent with his family. “’Sundays are for the boys’ – not anymore, Sundays are for crying and fighting – yep – going to Costco,” he jokes. He still enjoys following sports, especially football, collecting sports cards and retro video games, and playing softball in a men’s league during the summer, but his focus is being a dad. If he gets off early enough from a shift, he can put the kids to bed, and on his two days off, he’s spending time with them at home. “My kids are both crazy, too,” he admits, good-naturedly.

“My son’s a belly-yeller, like, from his stomach, a raspy belly-yeller. It’s awesome, though. The best thing I ever did was become a parent. It’s a fight every day, but it’s well worth it.”

Reed’s Dossier Words of advice to home mixologists: When creating cocktails or drinks at 34 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

home my best piece of advice would be don’t sell yourself short by buying the cheapest alcohol and thinking it will taste the same as a place you may have tried earlier. There are plenty of affordable spirits that will do the trick, just do a little research. Also, trial and error when making drinks to make sure a drink isn’t too sweet or too boozy.

Inspirations: Well, the biggest inspiration for me right now would have to be my family.

I have a 3-year-old daughter named Willow and a 2-year-old son named Jared “Junie” Jr. Becoming a parent was the biggest accomplishment I could have achieved, but anyone who is a parent knows that there are also many obstacles to overcome as well. I strive to be better for them, to give them a better life than I had, and for them to be better than I am. Also, taking care of guests and giving service the way you would want it when dining out is a major key. Providing great service along with great drinks and hearing about it from the guests makes it all worthwhile as well.

Recommendations of two or three spirits to try.

Teremana Brand Tequilas - Offer good flavor and lasting impression for an affordable price.

Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond - A newer bourbon in the PA Region, gives you a well-balanced profile and also doesn’t break the bank.

Botanist Gin - One of my favorite spirits. Heavy floral presence and small notes of peat, being from Scotland.

Smooth and great on the rocks or in a gin fizz or with tonic.

Recipe for favorite cocktail: Caramelized Old Fashioned 5-6 dashes aromatic bitters 2 teaspoons sugar 2 oz of bourbon Splash of seltzer Splash of simple syrup Build in snifter or rocks glass. Add bitters and sugar to glass, swirl around until layered with sugar completely.

Use a torch to caramelize the sugar onto the glass and then cool off for a minute. Add ice or whiskey cube. Add bourbon, seltzer, and simple syrup.

Garnish with an orange rind and a cherry.

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Most commonly ordered drinks at your bar: Although we offer 24 different draft beers, the spirits typically take the driver’s seat.

Old Fashioneds, Martinis, Margaritas, and Manhattans are frequent flyers at O’Reilly’s.

Philosophy on drinks: Make it like you drink it.

Thoughts about your cocktails: Not everyone wants a strong cocktail so finding a balance to appeal to the general mass is the goal. Not too sweet, not too strong, but just right. Measure accurately and always be generous with ice!

What days/times do you typically work at the bar: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, all nights 4 – close.

Recipe for February drink: Chocolate Covered Raspberry (Martini) 1.5 oz Stoli Raspberry .5 oz Chambord/Razzmatazz 1 oz creme de cacao 1 oz half and half or cream Build in shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into martini glass. Add chocolate shavings/raspberry garnish.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 35

Cinematic Ramblings/Kevyn Knox

Films to look forward to in 2024

S

o, last month I gave you my favorite movies of 2023. Now it’s time to move onto 2024, and those films I am most looking forward to. Maybe you are, too. Let’s see …

Drive-Away Dolls Opening in February, this solo directorial debut from Ethan Coen looks a lot more like your typical Coen Bros. movie than brother Joel’s The Tragedy of Macbeth solo debut. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing though. Joel’s Macbeth was actually quite fantastic. This crime caper stars Margaret Qualley, who’s always great, is co-written by Coen’s wife Tricia Cooke, and looks like it’s gonna be a

whole lotta fun.

Mickey 17 This is Bong Joon-ho’s first film since his Oscar-winning Parasite (2019). It’s based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 sci-fi novel about a man who is sent into space to colonize another planet, and who keeps getting regenerated as a clone as each iteration dies off. Robert Pattinson stars, which makes this film all that more tantalizing. The film was meant to open in March, but WB has pushed the premier back to an undisclosed later date. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.

Civil War Alex Garland wowed me with his first three directorial outings, Ex Machina, Annihilation, & Men. Now we get a movie about the US breaking off into warring factions – and he does it in a presidential election year to boot. So how far removed is this film from the realms of possibility? Scary stuff indeed. I know I’m looking forward to this movie a hell of a lot more than I am the results of this year’s election. It all seems like a no-win situation.

The Shrouds David Cronenberg is back with what insiders are calling the director’s most visceral and intense vision yet. I don’t think my mind can wrap itself around just exactly what that would entail from a man such as Cronenberg – but my interest is piqued for sure. The film stars Diane Kruger, Vincent Cassel, & Guy Pearce.

36 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

Joker: Folie à Deux A sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker, a dark & twisted Scorsese-esque retooling away from the typicality of superhero movies, seems a bit reductive in my opinion, but when you turn it into a musical and have Lady Gaga join Joaquin Phoenix’s titular psychopath as Harley Freakin’ Quinn… well that probably makes it seem even more reductive – but it also excites the bejeezus outta me.

Nosferatu Robert Eggers gave us The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman.

Now we eagerly await his retelling of the classic vampire tale. A remake of one of the greatest silent films ever made, Eggers will bring his own brand of cinema to the tale to make F.W. Murnau’s 1922 original (and/or Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake) his own. Expect dark, ornate, gothic, and probably quite sexy – in a rather disturbing way, of course.

There are a ton more, but I’ve run out of space and time. That’s it, gang. See ya at the movies!

Kevyn Knox is a Writer, Artist, Pop Photographer, Film & TV Historian, Pez Collector, and Pop Culturist. He has written film reviews for FilmSpeak, Central PA Voice, and The Burg. His reviews & other ramblings can be found on his blog, www.allthingskevyn.com.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 37

Nourishing Bites/Dr. Sumathi Suppiah

Cholesterol Both Good and Bad for Heart Health

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holesterol is a naturally occurring waxy substance within our blood. It helps the body build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones. Too much cholesterol in the body is a risk factor for heart disease. High cholesterol is a condition in which you have too many lipids (fats) in your blood.

It’s also called hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia.

Your body needs just the right amount of lipids to function. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries forming plaque or fatty deposits, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. This plaque might not cause any problems for years, but over time, the plaque silently gets bigger and bigger within your arteries. As this occurs, the arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked which can lead to chest pain or a heart attack.

Managing Cholesterol The main goal in treating high cholesterol is to lower your LDL levels and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your healthcare provider determines your “goals” for lowering LDL based on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

Lifestyle changes play an important role in controlling cholesterol. If 38 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

you’re diagnosed with high cholesterol, your provider might recommend lifestyle changes before prescribing medicine. These changes might include: •

Eating a heart-healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.

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Getting regular physical activity.

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Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.

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Quitting smoking (smoking is also linked to atherosclerosis).

Cholesterol Levels Your cholesterol level is the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Your total cholesterol level is made up of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides.

•

High density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, is known as “good” cholesterol, so a higher number is better. HDL helps remove some of the “bad” cholesterol from your blood. HDLs carry cholesterol to your liver, which keeps your cholesterol levels balanced. It makes enough cholesterol to support your body’s needs and gets rid of the rest.

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Low density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, is known as “bad” cholesterol, so a lower number is better. LDL is a leading contributor to plaque and fatty deposit build-up in the blood.

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Triglycerides are a type of fat, so a lower number is better, because, similar to LDL, triglycerides are also linked to the buildup of plaque in your blood vessels.

The only way to know your cholesterol level is to stay current with regular testing. Your results will fall into one of the following categories: •

200 mg/dL or lower = normal

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200 – 239 mg/dL = borderline high

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240 mg/dL or higher = high

Be sure to follow the treatment plan your provider recommends, including taking any prescribed medicine. Even when you’re taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, lifestyle changes help to lower your risk.

Sumathi Suppiah, MD, DABOM, is the medical director of medical weight management for the UPMC Central PA Weight Management Center. She is passionate about helping her patients achieve optimal health through good diet and nutrition, regular exercise, and mental health support. To learn more about medical weight management at UPMC in Central Pa., call 717-591-5638 or visit UPMC.com/ CentralPaWeightLoss.

FEBRUARY 2024 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE 39

Foodies For Thought/Freshido

Convenient Meets Fresh at Freshido!

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Story and photos by Imogene Gross, imogene@harrisburgmagazine.com

t Harrisburg Magazine, many of us were already familiar with the ever-stylish poke bowl.

For those who aren’t familiar, a poke bowl is a dish, originally inspired by Hawaiian cuisine, consisting of a base of rice or occasionally some other grain, and/or, sometimes, salad greens, and accompanied by a cornucopia of pan-Asian-inspired toppings, including fresh raw or cooked fish or other proteins, vegetables and/or fruit, crispy snacks like wonton chips, and various sauces, arranged artfully, made-to-order. Highly customizable and super-healthy, it’s no wonder this convenient lunch or dinner option has taken the Harrisburg area.

Freshido, a local restaurant chain serving Harrisburg, Hershey, and Mechanicsburg, serves their own take on the poke bowl, offering a huge selection of fresh bowl ingredients for endless possibilities of custom orders, as well as a curated menu of set bowls, which can still be modified as desired.

For your beverage, they have a selection of juices, coconut waters, sparkling waters, and sodas. And yes, they have boba!

After appreciating the stylish, eclectically modern interior of the new Mechanicsburg location, we approached the counter, where a team of friendly faces were ready to take our orders and prepare our bowls exactly how we wanted them. Although we opted for set items on the menu, the staff were incredibly attentive and made sure that at every step, as they dished out delicious components from the salad-bar style counter, that we were in control of what we were getting.

The bowls we sampled were the Wasabi Shrimp & Scallop (shrimp, scallop, hijiki seaweed, edamame, cucumber, seaweed salad, crab salad, scallion, ses40 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2024

The Wasabi Shrimp & Scallop Bowl.

The stylish, eclectically modern interior of Freshido in Mechanicsburg.

ame seed, and wasabi aioli), the Smoky Beef (bulgogi beef, romaine heart, tomato, sweet onion, corn, pickled red pepper, scallion, sesame seed, and smoky lava sauce), and the Sesame Tofu (tofu, cucumber, romaine heart, edamame, cilantro, tomato, seaweed salad, sesame seed, and sesame dressing). One thing we noticed right away was how fresh every single ingredient was. The sesame tofu, which I had, was the best bowl of this type that I’ve ever tried. I wasn’t sure about the tomato in there initially, but it worked beautifully. They didn’t skimp on the sauce so that the tofu could take on flavor.

Their sauces are all house-made, and delicious.

The Mechanicsburg location is open for business, but new features are currently in the works and should be completed at press time. By the end of January, they will have added additional menu items, sit-downservice, and upgrades to the dining atmosphere and interior. The new menu items will include offerings also served at their Hershey Fresh Market location, which specializes in wok-fired modern Asian appetizers and entrees – think classics like Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. Also, Freshido is opening a new location on Linglestown Road, which will be a new concept from their other restaurants. This location will offer dine-in service, a variety of modern Asian cuisines, and even an in-house bar. Stay tuned for updates and news on that and all other locations from Freshido’s pages.

With convenience, you often have to sacrifice health (think most fast food chains, or processed instant entrees from the grocery store.) But Freshido is super-fast, super fresh, and super wholesome, so you don’t have to compromise. We felt good after eating our meals, and we think you will, too.

Stay up to date at www.Freshido.com.

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