Welcome to mid-week.

The crunch of dry leaves underfoot and the low-angle November sun remind us: fall isn’t giving way quietly.

That brew of brisk air, a hint of pine, and the cozy glow of street lamps can actually work in our favor. Let’s hit a few highlights, plan ahead for your weekend, and give a shout-out to someone doing good in our local zone.

If you see something you like, hit the link and make that plan.

(Tip: If weather turns brisk, pick indoor or early evening options.)

When Michael Eskridge walked out of prison more than a decade ago, he was carrying more than a record, he was carrying a mission. He knew firsthand how difficult it is for returning citizens to find housing, jobs, and dignity. So in 2019, he turned that hard experience into action, founding The Reentry Support Project in Cumberland County.

What started as a small volunteer effort, one donated van, a few mentors, and a handful of participants, has grown into a network that helps dozens of men and women each year. The group connects people leaving incarceration with stable housing, counseling, mental-health care, transportation, and employment leads. It also partners with local landlords willing to take a chance on tenants who are rebuilding their lives.

Eskridge’s approach is deeply local. He meets with police chiefs, county judges, church leaders, and small business owners to explain that reentry isn’t just a social issue, it’s an economic one. Every person who finds stable work and housing reduces the strain on public services and increases neighborhood safety. “We’re not defined by the worst thing we ever did,” he often tells new participants. “We’re defined by what we do next.”

The Reentry Support Project runs on modest grants, donations, and volunteer time. Yet its impact has been recognized by Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections and several community colleges that now refer participants for job training and GED programs. Success stories include graduates who have become small-business owners, truck drivers, and counselors themselves.

Eskridge’s story matters to the 717 because it embodies the quiet resilience of Central Pennsylvania, neighbors helping neighbors rebuild, one second chance at a time. His message is simple but powerful: when a community opens its doors, it opens its future.

More Details here

Heads-up:

The weather’s shifting into true “coat-needed” territory this week. If you’ve got an outdoor plan (even walks or light errands), layer up.

Also, if you’re heading to Lancaster or Harrisburg for an evening event, plan extra time for parking. Some venues are tighter now with earlier sunsets.

Which situation would actually stress you out more?

A) Sending an email with “pubic” instead of “public.”
B) Waving back at someone who wasn’t waving at you.
C) Forgetting someone’s name right after they told you.
D) Realizing your Zoom mic wasn’t muted during a snack moment.

Pick one, and tell us if it already happened this week.

That’s it for today. Work’s humming, leaves are curling, and weekend possibilities are prime. Enjoy the rest of your week—and if you see someone sipping pumpkin-spiced coffee and wearing two scarves at once, it’s probably me doing “field research” for the 717. Stay warm, stay local.

Your friends at Our Local 717