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TheBurg is a free monthly newspaper that begins to tell the stories that, put together, describe the community of greater Harrisburg: the people who live, work and travel here; the families that make their home here; the businesses that sell here.

Current Issue

September 2010

Harrisburg, Arts Destination

Chisuk Emuna: Ashes to Triumph

The Daily Painters

Open Stage: 25 Years of Provocation

They're the Piano Men

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Past Issues

TheBurg began covering the Harrisburg area in January 2009. All of our past issues are available to read as PDF files.

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Harrisburg Area News

Expansion Planned for HACC's Public Safety Center

Sept. 1 -- Harrisburg Area Community College has plans to significantly expand the Shumaker Public Safety Center, including construction of a new Law Enforcement Center building and several outdoor facilities.

HACC presented its sketch plan tonight before the Harrisburg Planning Commission, a first step designed to unveil and explain major projects to commissioners.

The new, single-story, 47,000-square-foot center will contain classrooms, offices and an indoor firing range for law enforcement personnel, according to J. Marc Kurowski of Harrisburg-based K&W Engineers, who testified before the commission. Outdoor improvements will include a new driving track to teach emergency driving and a new drill field and physical training track.

Assuming the approval process goes smoothly, Kurowski expects the project to break ground in spring 2011, taking 12-18 months to complete.

HACC long has hosted the Sen. John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center, a 12-acre facility that helps train firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians and other public safety personnel. It is located just north of HACC's main campus in Harrisburg near N. Cameron Street and Route 81.

At the same meeting, the planning commission granted a variance to the Harrisburg Senators to construct a 490-square-foot illuminated roof sign atop the stadium on City Island. The sign, which will be visible from the city side of the river, will say "Metro Bank Park."

CAT Fare Increase on Deck

Sept. 1 -- Capital Area Transit, effective Oct. 1, will increase the base fare from $1.65 to $1.75, according to CAT.

CAT’s last upped fares in July 2008, when the increase was 5 cents. The student fare also will go up, from $1.15 to $1.25. The zone fare will increase by 20 cents to 60 cents. The transfer charge will remain at 25 cents. The downtown fare will increase a quarter to 75 cents.

The increases are based on a fare study sponsored by the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study. Some of the study’s recommendations will be implemented along with the fare increase.

These recommendations include realigning CAT’s current four zones into three zones, eliminating the 25-cent express surcharge and the 25 ride ticket, which will not be sold after Sept. 30 -- current tickets will be honored.

“The cost of providing quality public bus service continues to increase,” Jim Hoffer, CAT’s executive director said. “This modest increase in fares will assist CAT in continuing the service that our customers have become accustomed to. The zone changes will simplify using the CAT system.”

Prices of adult and student monthly passes also will increase. The Zone 1 pass will be $49, the Zone 2 pass will be $70 and the Zone 3 pass will be $87. The student pass for grades K to 12 with proper ID card will be $35. The Special Efforts Transportation and the People with Disabilities Program base fare will be $3.50.

City Solicitor: Selection of Financial Adviser Was Proper

Aug. 26 -- The Harrisburg City Solicitor today issued an opinion that the administration followed appropriate procedures in selecting Scott Balice Strategies as the city's financial adviser.

"The City Solicitor's examination of the process led to the conclusion that the procurement process not only strictly followed all applicable legal requirements for public bidding, but exceeded those requirements," said a statement from Mayor Linda Thompson.

The solicitor's office handles all legal matters for the city. The solicitor's opinion is not legally binding.

A majority of City Council members have stated that the selection of Scott Balice was improper because they were not included in the decision-making process, violating a recently passed resolution mandating council involvement. Thompson has said that the process was "fair and open," including a request for qualifications and a subsequent request for proposals that attracted multiple bidders. In addition, council President Gloria Martin-Roberts, considered a Thompson ally on the council, was on the selection committee.

New Commissioner for Dauphin County

Aug. 25 -- Mike Pries, a Derry Township supervisor, was named Wednesday to fill a Dauphin County Commissioner seat.

The 43-year-old Hershey resident was selected from a field of 29 candidates by 10 county judges. Pries has been the director of the county’s Department of Safety and Security.

The post became vacant when Commissioner Nick DiFrancesco resigned to take a job in the private sector.

Council Tables Harrisburg Authority Nominees

Aug. 24 -- The City Council tonight swatted down two more nominees to the Harrisburg Authority, as a council majority tried to keep pressure on Mayor Linda Thompson to nominate former authority board member Neil Grover.

Council members seemed generally impressed with the qualifications and presentations of the two nominees, former council member Reizdan Moore and lobbyist Westburn Majors. However, the nominations were tabled in 4-3 votes, continuing a months-long battle over the re-appointment of former authority members, particularly Grover.

"I would ask the administration to bring his name down, and I'll gladly move all three of them," said council member Susan Brown-Wilson.

The authority, which operates the city's water and waste utilities, has been without a quorum for three months, after the state Supreme Court nullified the existing board, taking the power of appointment away from the council and handing to the mayor, subject to council approval. In the interim, much of the work of the authority, such as the ability to pay vendors and enter into contracts, has ground to a halt.

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