City Kindness in Disasters

admin June 4, 2012 Society Comments Off on City Kindness in Disasters

It was pretty dire when the tornado hit our city a few months ago.  Thankfully, although the boys and I heard the turmoil, we weren’t directly affected in any other way.  But I had work colleagues who lost their homes and our office took a pretty damaging hit as well, forcing all staff to work from home until the repairs were complete and the building declared safe-to-work in again.

But that’s old news.  I vaguely remember hearing at the time that there were a lot of individuals and groups banding together to try to help, with money and time.  But I pretty much figured that it would only last momentarily as these things usually do.  Once the initial shock and noise dies down, people usually get back to their day-to-day lives and those who are impacted by the disaster somehow need to work out how to get back to their lives too, although it’s usually nearly-impossible.

So that’s why I was so happy to learn that donations are still flowing in via various groups which are trying to help Harrisburg’s clean-up and recovery effort.  And thank G-d really, is what I say.  According to secretary of the Alton-Godfrey Kiwanis Club, Diane Horning, there are still “dozens upon dozens of homes with temporary tarp roofs.”  In addition, she is concerned that not all the homes which were totally destroyed will be rebuilt, at all.

But clearly Horning is doing her bit.  Her Kiwanis Club is one of around 20 of the groups which are raising funds to help put Harrisburg back together again.  But rather than just practical help (which of course is very much needed), what she’s doing now is really cute, and I think helps those people dealing with this kind of mass destruction, take their mind off it for a while.  Her Club planned a pancake breakfast, the proceeds of which will go towards the Harrisburg recovery project.  Now that’s cool.  And it’s thoughtful.  At least, this kind of news makes me proud to be a Harrisburg resident.  In the face of disaster, kindness is shown.

Cops N’ Community

admin May 1, 2012 Harrisburg Police Department Comments Off on Cops N’ Community

There’s a workshop taking place today I’m planning on attending. It’s a meeting between police and the lay individuals in our Harrisburg community.  The goal is for communication between community and the police (me and them in other words) to be strengthened.  It’s funny; I’ve never had much of an opinion about the police – positive or negative – I’ve always been quite neutral.  But now that I’ve got kids, and being a single dad, I feel that I should get involved in as many community happenings as possible.  So I was really pleased to find out about this workshop – “Cops N’ Community.”

Apparently we’re going to learn about law enforcement from their point of view and also how to potentially pinpoint obstacles that are detrimental to our relationships as well as how to increase safety in the neighborhood.  So it’s off to the Heinz-Maker Senior Center for me later on.  Hope it’s productive.

Freedom Seder in Harrisburg

admin April 8, 2012 Entertainment Comments Off on Freedom Seder in Harrisburg

This is really one of the things I actually enjoy about our city.  I mean, I know Harrisburg has crime and other such problems, but it seems like it also really tries to be all-inclusive vis-à-vis the different religions its citizens practice.  For example, I just learned about a pre-Passover “freedom seder” that is being organized by Penn State Harrisburg which aims to “celebrate the shared commitment of blacks and Jews to freedom from slavery and oppression.” 

I know that Passover is really celebrated by the Jewish people, but I think this freedom seder is a great way to increase tolerance and understanding of different religions.  While the actual festival for the Jews is a retelling of the story of how the Jews escaped slavery from Egypt, it seems all of us somehow have our own type of slavery that we must try and escape from.  No matter what it is – from alcoholism, to other addictive behavior – everyone should really be on a journey from slavery to freedom.

So I read a bit more about it and learned that the first one that was organized took place in 1969, marking the Jews’ festival as well as the first anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death.  This occurred in Washington DC.

Beating Crime in Harrisburg

admin April 1, 2012 Crime Comments Off on Beating Crime in Harrisburg

There’s definitely been too much crime in my city.  I really didn’t know about that before I moved in, but there again, it’s not exactly something I researched much.  I was just desperate to get far away from my ex.  But now that I keep hearing about all the crime, I’m seriously beginning to reconsider and look at the option of relocating.  It’s hardly the kind of place I want to be (part-time) bringing up my kids.  I mean, if people can go so low as beating up the elderly, what hope is there?

So, while I wouldn’t exactly say I was delighted to learn about the new measures our Mayor is implementing to try and beat this crime – I mean, I’d prefer we didn’t have the situation to begin with – learning about District Ed Marsico’s promise to provide the necessary funding to install cameras in the city as a deterrent, was good news overall.

Problem is though, I read recently that the Mayor isn’t too happy as this was meant to have happened already.  The money, it appears, just hasn’t come through.  Ms. Thompson thus plans on following up with him.  But apparently it might not just be Marsico’s fault.  He claims that it’s not just a case of putting cameras up – they need to be monitored. Oh politics, politics; it’s not my job, blah, blah.

Anyway the upshot is, I really don’t know what’s going to happen.  Tweeter JulieCBS21 recently pointed out that Harrisburg is ranked the 20th worst city for crime.    Of course, if you ask Ms. Thompson, she’ll claim the city is safe.  So I wonder what she would say to Heather Murphy’s claim on NeighborhoodScout.com that one’s “odds of being the victim of violent crime in Harrisburg are 1-in-62.”

Still, there are a lot of great things about the city.  The kids love coming; the restaurants are great and together with Thompson’s promises and Dauphin County’s generous donation of $25,000 to beat crime through various methods, I think things are going to look up.  At least, I hope they are.

New Park?

admin March 11, 2012 Entertainment Comments Off on New Park?

I just heard about the proposal to make a new park in the neighborhood. I wasn’t too excited about it initially as I figured, it’s not like my kids are small and need a park in the vicinity when they come to stay. But then I heard that the proposed Harrisburg Central Park as it is being dubbed is set to include all sorts of cool things like a swimming pool, band stand, skate park and more.  Now that really could be a lot of fun.

So I started to read a little bit more about it and how realistic the project is (i.e., if it’s going to be up and running in my lifetime!).  Run by the Harrisburg Days Foundation (which has been working on this for a staggering four years already! First I’ve heard of it…) they are arguing that given how much the population of Harrisburg has grown in recent times, such a park could potentially bring everyone together and develop a true sense of community.  With a cool park like this, it’s a reason for everyone to engage in activities together; something the city really is lacking.

So now I’m pretty psyched about this.  I just hope it really does go ahead.  I won’t say anything to the kids though yet; I want to make sure it’s really happening before I get them excited about it.

Harrisburg Organ Donation

admin February 15, 2012 Harrisburg Health Comments Off on Harrisburg Organ Donation

I like the idea of organ donation.  I even have a donor card; you know, one of those cards you carry around with you so that when your number’s up they can dissect you and take anything useful left inside of you, out, and give it to some deserving soul lying on an operating table somewhere.  Anyway, it thus made me happy to learn that Donate Life Pennsylvania is starting an organ donor campaign for this year to try and boost the amount of registered donors in Harrisburg, and ultimately, the rest of the country.  They made the announcement yesterday which apparently was National Organ Donor Day.

Anyway I hope it works because right now there are around 8,000 people in the state of Pennsylvania alone who are waiting for an organ transplant but only 45 percent of our licensed drivers have the card to say they would like to donate an organ, should they end up in a fatal car accident.

What’s particularly troubling about this is that nearly 20 years ago it was our city, Harrisburg that was the model for other states.  But now we’ve taken a somewhat large step down especially when compared to states like Alaska and Montana, almost eight out of ten donors are registered.

Getting Off Cheap!

admin February 14, 2012 Entertainment Comments Off on Getting Off Cheap!

Well, tonight is Valentine’s Day and I had been thinking long and hard about where to take Dani for our first milestone night together.  First, I thought of the Brewery as the wings were so delicious there on Super Bowl night.  But then a buddy of mine put me off the idea – saying it just wouldn’t go down well with a new girlfriend. 

So I was delighted when she asked me if she could make a suggestion!  And then when she told me what she wanted to do was free, I was even happier!  Tonight at The Forum, at 7pm is a free concert being performed by the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra for Education Week. 

Apparently the first group will be sixth to nine graders performing Bedrich Smetana’s “The Moldau” and others.  It’s going to be a combined effort of the Junior Youth String Orchestra with the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra. Later on the latter will be performing pieces by various artists, culminating in a bit of romance for the night with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.”

I’m glad I didn’t suggest the Brewery since this sounds like it will be quite nice…or at least a bit of cultural sophistication.

Kids’ Teeth

admin February 13, 2012 Harrisburg Health Comments Off on Kids’ Teeth

 

So I just found out that the reason there  has been such a focus on dental hygiene for kids recently is because February marks National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM). Apparently, the Pennsylvania Dental Association is sponsoring a poster content (something it does every year and all students in the area are being asked to participate.  Shame; that means my kids don’t get to join in which makes all the talks I’ve been having with them, somewhat redundant.

And even my kids got upset that they couldn’t join in when they heard about the $500 winning prize money and to have their poster reproduced as bookmarks which will be given to all libraries across the state; my oldest has always been somewhat of  performer and really loved this idea.  There are other prizes too – the teacher gets one and there are monetary prizes for second and third place as well.

So I can only hope that one day I’ll get to spend as much time as I want with my kids, and not have to constantly have this pit in my stomach feeling that I’m just missing out on way too much…which clearly I am. Oh well; I must focus on the positive.

Until tomorrow…

Kids Health in Harrisburg

admin February 12, 2012 Harrisburg Health Comments Off on Kids Health in Harrisburg

So there has been quite a lot of discussion on kids’ health in Harrisburg especially with the Wellness Challenge in the city.  My kids came for the weekend which was nice so I was trying to get them interested.  At the moment, there is a focus on dental hygiene and health.  And one way to ensure kids dental health is by focusing on the child’s diet apparently.  Thus, key to dental hygiene is regular dental visits and a good diet, with minimal sugar and acid.

The problem today, according to Children’s Dental Health Associates owner, Dr.  Eric Felix, is that kids are consuming huge amounts of fruit juices and candies that all attack enamel.  In other words, pure sugar is being put directly into their teeth.  What parents also have to be aware of is the amount of fruit snacks and gummy vitamins they are consuming since their sugar content in these is also extremely high.  Thus the advice being given to parents is to remember that fruit roll-ups are basically candy and should be treated as such – as an occasional treat, not as a “fruit.” 

That’s definitely something I didn’t know and will be trying to modify in my kids’ diets also.  But it’s really so hard since I see them so rarely all I want to do is spoil them; I guess I’ll have to find other ways to do this now, not with sweet treats as they won’t thank me for that in the end.

Feeling Under the Weather

admin February 9, 2012 Harrisburg Health Comments Off on Feeling Under the Weather

 

I know, I know, I should have gotten my flu shot.  But I just didn’t get around to it – what with being busy with work, and the new woman in my life and of course my kids – so now I’m sick and I need to see a doctor.  A while back I did sign up with a doctor though at the Community Medical Associates; his name is Dr. Donald Spigner and he’s been practicing for nearly 50 years!  He graduated from the University of California, San Francisco (although why I needed that information, I don’t know!) and he has a really great bedside manner.

So I went this morning; he told me it’s flu and to just rest up.  So that’s what I’ll be doing I guess.  Joanne was pretty good about it and said she had no problem having the kids this weekend (it was my weekend to have them) so I’m just planning on spending the weekend in bed to recuperate.  Nothing else to report; I guess the next thing on my to-do list is to get better so that’s what I’m planning on doing!