Author Archives: Maddie Conley

Harrisburg judge Sonya McKnight found guilty of shooting ex-boyfriend while he slept

April 9, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack spoke to reporters outside of the Dauphin County Courthouse following the guilty verdict on Wednesday.

Suspended Harrisburg judge Sonya McKnight has been convicted of attempted homicide.

On Wednesday, a jury found McKnight guilty of shooting and attempting to murder her ex-boyfriend Michael McCoy while he slept in his Susquehanna Township home last year.

McKnight was convicted on one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault, decided after less than two hours of deliberation in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas by an out-of-area jury from Delaware County.

McKnight is slated to receive her sentence from the judge on May 28 at 9 a.m.

Sonya McKnight. File photo from 2018.

Following the verdict, McKnight was taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs to prison. Her bail was previously set at $300,000, but was increased to $3 million, by Judge Howard Knisley.

“The family is very, very pleased with the outcome,” Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack, the prosecutor on the case, said. “We are very thankful that the jury heard us and heard Mike in that courtroom and we’re very pleased with the verdict.”

The Cumberland County DA’s office took over the case instead of Dauphin County, due to McKnight being a judge in Dauphin County.

In February 2024, McKnight was arrested, accused of shooting McCoy in the head. McCoy has suffered permanent vision loss, even partial blindness in one eye, as a result of his injuries.

McKnight served as a magisterial district judge for the 12-2-04 district, a portion of Harrisburg. In November 2023, McKnight was suspended from her job for the second time without pay. She was suspended based on misconduct allegations from the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.

She was also previously in court for a case in which she was accused of shooting her estranged husband in 2019. She claimed it was self-defense and was eventually cleared of those charges.

McKnight was found guilty after two days of trial during which over 20 witnesses testified, and the prosecution and defense made their pleas to the jury. The jury heard from Susquehanna Township police officers, forensic scientists, medical professionals and friends and neighbors of McCoy.

On Tuesday, McCoy took the stand, asserting that he didn’t shoot himself and has never been suicidal. He said that he did not know who shot him on Feb. 10 because he was asleep and then woke up without any eyesight, but said that McKnight was the only other person in the house when he went to sleep.

McKnight opted not to testify.

In his closing arguments to the jury, McKnight’s attorney Cory Leshner honed in on the concept of “reasonable doubt,” urging members of the jury to identify their hesitation when deliberating and using that as grounds for a not-guilty verdict. He argued that the Cumberland County district attorney’s office did not provide sufficient evidence to put the gun in McKnight’s hands.

However, McCormack said that the circumstantial evidence in the case was enough to convict McKnight, meaning that there was enough indirect evidence to make inferences and connect the dots. If the jury believed McCoy’s testimony that he didn’t shoot himself, then McKnight was the only other person in the house.

McCormack also worked to establish motive by saying that McKnight was a jealous girlfriend and that McCoy had tried to end the relationship and repeatedly asked her to leave his home every day for a week before she shot him.

Leshner also focused on gunshot residue collected from both McKnight’s and McCoy’s hands. McCoy’s hands tested positive for significantly more residue than McKnight’s, which he said could be attributed to him being the one firing the gun.

However, gun expert witnesses testified that, when a gun is fired, most gunshot residue usually projects onto the target. McCormack also highlighted the fact that McKnight had been allowed to wash her hands following the shooting and had dropped a piece of her clothing that was being collected for testing into a toilet.

Following the verdict, Leshner made a motion, his second, for the judge to acquit McKnight of the charges, maintaining that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof. The motion was denied.

Leshner later told reporters outside of the courthouse that he would be appealing the case.

“I cannot state with any more emphasis that I disagree with the judgment that they made,” he said. “Miss McKnight will absolutely be appealing this. She did not attempt to kill Mr. McCoy.”

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Ex-boyfriend of suspended Harrisburg judge testifies in shooting case; trial moves toward jury verdict

April 8, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Courthouse

The man who was shot while sleeping in his home last year, allegedly by his ex-girlfriend, a local judge, testified before a jury on Tuesday.

During the second day of the trial, Michael McCoy asserted that he didn’t shoot himself. Suspended Harrisburg magisterial district Judge Sonya McKnight is accused of attempting to murder McCoy as he slept in his Susquehanna Township home.

Later on Tuesday, the prosecution and defense made their final arguments to the jury, which is expected to deliberate and potentially reach a verdict tomorrow.

On Feb. 15, 2024, McKnight was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of McCoy, who was shot in the head.

On Monday the trial began in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas before an out-of-county jury from Delaware County. The prosecution brought in over 20 witnesses over the course of the two days, including Susquehanna Township police officers, medical professionals, forensic scientists and neighbors.

McCoy, 55, took the stand on Tuesday, saying that he did not shoot himself, but that he cannot say who shot him on Feb. 10 because he was blind when he woke up and in excruciating pain. But he did say that, when he went to sleep that night, there was only one other person in his house—McKnight.

He also stated that, when asked by EMTs whether or not he would like them to perform life-saving measures if he stopped breathing, he said, “Please save me.” The responding EMTs also confirmed that during yesterday’s hearing.

“I never had a suicidal thought in my life,” McCoy said during his testimony.

McCoy is partially blind in one eye and had vision loss in the other as a result of the gunshot. The gun found at the scene is registered to McKnight.

McKnight on Tuesday opted not to take the stand and testify.

Her attorney, Cory Leshner, also made a motion for acquittal of the case. He claimed that the prosecution provided insufficient evidence that McKnight was the shooter, leaving two equally plausible possibilities—either McKnight shot McCoy or he shot himself. However, the judge denied the acquittal, stating that there could be enough evidence to convict.

In their closing arguments, both Leshner and the prosecutor, Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack, discussed the gunshot residue collected from the scene of the crime—a topic that came up repeatedly over the two days of testimony.

On Monday, testimony revealed that a small amount of residue was found on McKnight’s hands and clothing and a much greater amount was found on McCoy’s hands.

Leshner said that the trace amounts on McKnight’s hands may have been transferred from McCoy’s when she helped lead him to the bathroom after he was shot.

Leshner showed captured bodycam footage of an interview with the lead detective on the case, Lee Tarasi, during which McCoy asked if gunshot residue was found on his hands. At that time, Tarasi said that she didn’t know yet, but didn’t believe there would be. Leshner said that, based on McCoy response in the video, he seemed relieved.

However, residue was found on McCoy’s hands, and Leshner emphasized to the jury that it was a significant amount. He suggested that the high amounts, especially on the backs of his hands, could be because he may have fired the gun.

A forensic scientist called as a witness during the trial said that residue comes out of the front of a gun when shot, as well as through other cracks and crevices in the firearm as a “plume” that is distributed onto surrounding surfaces.

The one and only witness that the defense called to the stand, an independent contractor who consults on shooting investigations, said that residue can come out of the area of the gun where the bullet shell is ejected and onto the hand holding the gun. However, he said that the majority of the residue goes toward the target that the gun is fired at.

McCormack, in his closing argument, pointed that out—that McCoy was the target of the shooting, meaning that, of course, he would have the majority of the gunshot residue on him. He also noted that McCoy had held his hands to his head after the shooting, which would have transferred residue to his hands.

Also, if McCoy had shot himself, as the defense suggested, McCormack questioned why McCoy had gunshot residue on the back of his left hand, as he would’ve been holding the gun with his right to aim at his right side of the face, not both hands.

McCormack also mentioned that McKnight was allowed by officers, after the shooting, to wash her hands after using the bathroom, which he said she shouldn’t have been allowed to do, but could explain the minimal amount of residue found on her hands. McKnight was also instructed to remove her clothing in the police station bathroom for testing. Tarasi said that McKnight told her she dropped her shirt in the toilet.

But in the end, McCormack said that the gunshot residue didn’t matter all that much.

“If you believe his testimony [McCoy’s] that he didn’t shoot himself, there were only two people in that house. That’s all the evidence you need,” he said.

He said that the circumstantial evidence, meaning indirect evidence based on inference to connect the dots, in this case was strong, and asked the jury to lean into common sense reasoning.

However, Leshner said that circumstantial evidence was not enough and that the prosecution did not prove that McKnight fired the gun. He repeatedly implored the jury to recognize that any hesitation that they have about the facts of the case is “reasonable doubt,” which should cause them to issue a not-guilty verdict.

Leshner said that the sole burden of proof in the case was on the prosecution, and they didn’t meet that burden. He also accused the detectives on the case of ignoring evidence, such as not testing McCoy’s clothing for gunshot residue and making mistakes, such as missing pieces of evidence during the initial collection at the crime scene and dropping a piece of evidence on the ground when transporting it.

McCormack, in his argument, also pointed out several actions of McKnight’s before and after the shooting that showed motive and demonstrated that she delayed assisting McCoy after he was shot.

Witnesses at the trial, including McCoy, testified that McKnight showed signs of jealousy and distrust in the relationship. McCoy said that he intended to end his relationship with McKnight and asked her to leave his home, where she had been residing, every day for a week. She continually ignored his requests, he said. On the night before the shooting, he repeated his request to which she responded, “Oh, you’re serious.”

McCormack also brought up the facts to the jury that, following the shooting, McCoy had to ask McKnight to call an ambulance, and that she led him to the further of two second-floor bathrooms in the house.

Ultimately, a guilty or not-guilty verdict hinges on the decision of the jury.

The court recessed the case shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday at 9 a.m. At that time, the judge will instruct the jury on its responsibility and then dismiss them for deliberation.

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Gunshot residue revealed, crime scene established as trial for suspended Harrisburg judge begins

April 7, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Courthouse

Suspended Harrisburg Judge Sonya McKnight on Monday faced a jury for the first time since her arrest following a shooting last year.

McKnight is accused of attempting to murder her ex-boyfriend by shooting him in the head while he slept in their Susquehanna Township home in February 2024. The trial began today in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.

Monday’s testimony focused on establishing the details surrounding the scene of the shooting and the timeline of the night of the incident. Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack called over a dozen witnesses to the stand, including Susquehanna Township police officers who responded to the incident, forensic analysts and neighbors.

McKnight was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault on Feb. 15, 2024 in relation to the shooting of her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCoy. McCoy survived, but is now blind in one eye.

The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office is handling the case at the request of Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, who said that his office had a conflict of interest because McKnight is a magisterial district judge in the county.

McCormack introduced the case to the out-of-county jury from Delaware County, explaining that McKnight and her boyfriend at the time were having relationship issues. He said that McCoy unsuccessfully asked McKnight to move out of his home several times, due to trust issues, before he awoke one night with extreme pain and blood gushing from his head.

The prosecutor said that suicide “plays no role in this case,” and that McCoy has repeatedly denied shooting himself, and that only he and McKnight were in the home the night of the incident.

However, in his opening remarks, McKnight’s attorney Cory Leshner said that the fact that only two people were in the house and that McCoy says he didn’t shoot himself is not proof. So far, there has been no actual evidence to prove McKnight shot McCoy, he said.

McCoy has stated previously that he does not know who shot him because he was asleep and had vision trouble when he woke up. McCoy said that, after he woke up, McKnight was in the room repeatedly asking him, “What did you do to yourself?” McKnight made the initial 9-1-1 call, telling dispatchers that her boyfriend was hemorrhaging blood, officers testified.

Several Susquehanna Township police officers testified on Monday that McCoy told them he didn’t shoot himself. McCoy has also stated that he didn’t even realize he was shot until officers arrived at the scene and told him.

Much of the testimony on Monday revolved around the gunshot residue taken from the scene of the incident.

According to forensic scientist Ashley Stein of RJ Lee Group, a forensics consultant, a small amount of gunshot residue was found on McKnight’s hands and certain articles of clothing. However, significantly more gunshot residue was found on McCoy’s hands—more than was collected from any other surface, Leshner said.

Stein said that gunshot residue may be found on someone if they discharged a gun, were in close range to a discharged gun or were in contact with a person who had residue on them. Stein also testified that residue can be washed off with water.

Susquehanna Township police officer Jamie Sitler testified that she was at the crime scene the night of the incident and observed McKnight going to the bathroom and washing her hands. The lead detective on the case, Lee Tarasi, also said that, while McKnight was removing her clothing at the police station, to be taken as evidence and tested for gunshot residue, she told Tarasi that she dropped her shirt in the toilet.

While the gun was registered to McKnight, Leshner said that McCoy had access to it. A firearm examiner who tested the gun said that he did not have conclusive evidence that the bullet found at the scene of the crime came from the gun found at the scene.

McCormack also called two witnesses to the stand who said that they received calls from McCoy’s phone the night before he was shot, but that it was a woman’s voice on the phone. McCormack said that McKnight had taken McCoy’s phone and called women from his contact list. He characterized her as often being jealous and asking McCoy about other women.

The trial recessed for the day soon after 5 p.m. on Monday and will resume at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 4, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

The former Polyclinic Hospital building may become apartments.

Here’s to hoping all the April showers bring some beautiful May flowers around Harrisburg, after all this rain we’re getting. Stay dry while you catch up on our news from this week, below.

An apartment development may be coming to the former Polyclinic Hospital building in Uptown Harrisburg, our online story reported. A developer met with community members this week to discuss his proposal for housing and commercial space.

Bob’s Art Blog previewed Wildwood Park’s “Art in the Wild” exhibit, which opens to the public this month. Read here, to find out more about the artists behind the natural displays.

TheBurg won big in the annual advertising contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation, our story reported. We won 22 awards in total, as well as a “Sweepstakes” award for best performance in our category.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is losing funding and resources due to a federal decision to cut the Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. In our online story, find out how this will affect Harrisburg pantries.

Community Corner has all of this month’s special events. In our Happenings column, you’ll find an even longer list of April events.

Denim Coffee opened a second Harrisburg location this week, our online story reported. They now have a shop inside Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg.

Election season is upon us in Harrisburg. Our publisher shares several criteria that he uses when heading to the polls, in his column.

HACC approved its 2025-26 budget this week, our reporting found. The tuition for most students will rise to $288.50 per credit, an increase of $22 per credit.

Musical Notes shares all of the great local musical acts headed to the Harrisburg area in April, here.

PennDOT announced that Cameron Street, between Paxton and Sycamore streets, will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, starting this weekend, our online story reported. Work on this corridor is part of the I-83 expansion.

Sara Bozich details this weekend’s happenings in her Weekend Roundup.

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Harrisburg area businesses ponder impact of tariffs, which are likely to raise costs, spark tough decisions

April 4, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Paper Moon Flowers

Valentine’s Day is always one of the busiest times of year for Paper Moon Flowers in Harrisburg—but this one posed an additional challenge.

Roses—the staple of the holiday—were the most expensive they’ve been.

And with Easter on the horizon, prices of lilies, daffodils and tulips are similarly high.

“Flower prices are going up through the roof because 90% of the world’s flowers go through Holland,” Paper Moon Flowers owner Shawn Durborow-Bowersox said. “The prices are just insane, doubled or tripled.”

And it’s not just the flowers Everything down to the glass jars that candles are made in, tissue paper and vases are costlier. Even the tape he uses has more than tripled in price.

While President Donald Trump just officially announced this week that he would introduce 10% tariffs on all imported goods, plus additional tariffs for many countries, the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Due to the federal discourse on the issue for the last several months, Paper Moon has already seen prices hiked by an industry preparing for what seemed inevitable.

“They weren’t even in effect yet, and prices started going up,” Durborow-Bowersox said. “It scared everyone, and people just started raising their prices because they can.”

Now that the tariffs are official, Durborow-Bowersox is worried that prices will only continue to climb. And he’s concerned about what that will mean for the business, for his product and for customers.

The anxiety and uncertainty are common feelings right now among small business owners in the Harrisburg area. The reality is that most everyone will be touched by the tariffs in some way. How things will play out long term—no one knows yet.

There may be no other industry that comes to mind as quickly as coffee when it comes to imported goods.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters prides itself on delivering high-quality blends, sourced from around the world, to Harrisburg.

According to Little Amps CEO Peter Leonard, the tariffs come at a time when the coffee world has already been reeling from steep prices due to coffee shortages in typically high-producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam.

“There’s already a supply issue, and there’s still a demand,” Leonard said. “We were already prepared for much higher costs. Now adding tariffs, it’s going to get crazy.”

However, like at Paper Moon, Little Amps refuses to sacrifice on quality. So, they will just have to pay for it.

In the flower business, pre-ordering, which happens several months in advance, can be a “blindfolded gamble,” when you don’t always know what prices will be when it comes time to pay, Durborow-Bowersox explained.

So Paper Moon is making some small adjustments to help manage.

Instead of buckets of flowers for customers to peruse when purchasing a bouquet, he’s started offering more pre-made, grab-and-go bouquets because they’re more affordable to purchase.

At Little Black Dress boutique in Camp Hill, there may also be some changes in the future. About 90% of the clothing and accessories that they sell come from overseas. Owner Lisa DeCavalcante is weighing possibilities like scaling back her product offerings, knowing that costs are bound to rise.

Lisa DeCavalcante

However, possibly the biggest change that customers will notice will be increased prices on their flowers, coffee beans and sweaters. As much as local business owners don’t want to burden shoppers with higher price tags, they have to stay afloat.

“That’s my last last last resort,” DeCavalcante said. “I will cut other things. I’ve already reduced my payroll. I’ll reduce the extraneous things that aren’t clothing before I’ll raise prices.”

A hot cup of coffee at one of Little Amps’ city shops likely won’t cost too much more, but Leonard fully expects that their bags of beans, like their signature “Friend Blend,” and wholesale products will cost more.

“It’s super stressful,” he said. “It’s a lot of watching costs very closely. If you’re noticing price increases this year at your local spots, assume that they have to do it.”

Leonard said that Little Amps prices will likely begin to rise late spring or early summer.

“Prices will be going up this year, and there’s not a whole lot we can do,” he said. “Hopefully our customers can roll with it, and I’m assuming they’ll have to because every type of coffee will be up [in price].”

At Little Black Dress, DeCavalcante said that she probably wouldn’t have to begin markups until the fall or winter, as most of her products for the next several months have already made their way to the U.S. But raising prices isn’t something she wants to do when she’s trying to offer her community affordable prices.

DeCavalcante is mostly just uncertain and left wondering what will happen long-term and what it will mean for her business.

“It hits small businesses probably the most because we don’t have a huge corporation behind us,” she said. “For the most part, I’m just me, trying to support myself, trying to keep a couple of people employed, trying to keep food on the table and the lights on.”

Durborow-Bowersox feels the same way about increasing costs for his custom arrangements, gifts and décor. He’s already had to do it, but, at the end of the day, most of the burden then falls back onto the business.

“I’m really really trying to raise them not too much,” he said. “I’m taking a bigger cut on my end with profit. I don’t want to lose my customers.”

For Harrisburg-based businesses, many are already struggling with less foot traffic and tougher economic conditions.

Durborow-Bowersox said that part of the reason he chose to open his storefront where he did was because of the proximity to the state Capitol complex. But since the pandemic, few state workers have been in the office regularly; most work remotely still. He also has seen less traffic coming from the Broad Street Market, which has struggled since a devastating fire in 2023.

High parking prices in the city contribute to many businesses’ frustrations, as well.

But for Durborow-Bowersox and many others, they love their community and say they’ll continue to push through.

“I’ll continue to adapt; you have to adapt,” he said. “You have to just keep plugging along. I’m not driven by money. I’m not driven by a dollar; I’m not. I’m driven by happiness and making someone else happy. At the same time, I want to be successful. I don’t want to think about the what ifs.”

Paper Moon Flowers is located at 916 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Little Amps is located at 133 State St. and 1836 Green St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

Little Black Dress is located at 1801 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Local food bank, pantries brace for impact of federal food assistance funding cuts

April 2, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry

Eleven truckloads of food once destined for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank have been cancelled.

Food bank Executive Director Joe Arthur recently got word that these spring and summer shipments of food for families in need would not be coming.

This is just the latest dilemma for the food bank following funding cuts to federal programs that the organization relies on in order to feed families during what Arthur called “a hunger crisis.”

In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cancelled $13 million in funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program in Pennsylvania, which pays local farmers to supply fresh food to food banks. The federal government also cut funds for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides shipments of food, 11 of which were scheduled to head to the Central PA Food Bank from April through August, Arthur explained.

Arthur expects that the program cuts will result in the food bank losing nearly $1.9 million, impacting the amount of fresh meat, dairy and produce that it can provide to the 250,000 people served each month in 27 counties across central PA.

“We won’t be able to provide as much of that homegrown, nutritious food as we usually do,” Arthur said.

Each month, the food bank receives around $120,000 from the LFPA program for products like dairy, meat, butter, eggs, fruits and veggies. Now, the food bank won’t receive this assistance, through the upcoming fiscal year. The additional truckloads of food shipments through the Emergency Food Assistance Program were considered a “bonus” initiative, but in the midst of a hunger crisis, Arthur said they became crucial.

“This additional bonus product has been a really, really helpful piece,” he said.

The Harrisburg Area Food Pantry in the Camp Curtin YMCA likes to give its clients choices when shopping, stocking a few types of protein, produce and dairy.

However, for those families in need, options may soon be limited.

The pantry relies on the Central PA Food Bank for about 70% of its stock of food that goes to thousands of Harrisburg area residents each month.

Executive Director Deidre Lenker said that their food pantry is one of the only ones in the area open five days a week, requiring constantly refreshed shelves. Just in March, the pantry served 4,672 clients.

Now, they’re bracing for the effects of the federal funding cuts and potentially less food sourced from the food bank.

Lenker said that they expect that they’ll have to limit the amount of food that they can give families and rely more on non-perishable items. And if they can’t get enough from the food bank, the alternative is to purchase food at retail prices, which would be much more costly.

“Frankly, we don’t have the resources to run around to stores and buy cases of milk,” she said.

According to Arthur, the funding cuts are hitting at a time of crisis for the food assistance programs. The food bank is seeing more people needing help with food than they were even at the peak of the pandemic. Currently, they’re experiencing 20 to 25% more demand for food assistance than in 2021, he said.

Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that his administration was appealing the USDA’s termination of the program, and Arthur said that he hopes the effort is successful. Shapiro has also requested additional funding for the state’s Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System program, which would help the food bank.

In the meantime, to make up for the loss of federal money, Arthur said they’ll need additional donor support. However, he thinks it’s unrealistic that they’ll be able to make up for the total amount that’s been lost. Still, he is grateful for any extra help they can get.

“We are starting to see people respond,” he said. “They’re reading the news and they’re worried.”

For more information about the Central PA Food Bank, visit their website. To find out more about the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry, visit their website.

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Developer proposes apartments, retail for former Polyclinic Hospital at community meeting

April 1, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Aerial view of the three buildings purchased by Pennmark, which formerly housed the Polyclinic Hospital. The building furthest to the left is proposed to become apartments, the middle may be office buildings, and the building on the right would be apartments and retail. Photo courtesy of Pennmark.

A former Harrisburg hospital complex may be adaptively reused for apartments, according to a newly released proposal.

At a community meeting on Tuesday, a developer announced plans to construct housing and retail at the former Polyclinic Hospital in Uptown Harrisburg.

In March 2024, Pennmark Harrisburg Holdings, an affiliate of Montgomery County-based Pennmark Management Company, purchased the sprawling campus, located on N. 3^rd Street. The property stretches over six acres from Polyclinic Avenue to Wiconisco Street and consists of three buildings totaling over 271,000 square feet.

Originally home to the Polyclinic Hospital, the property sold in 2004 to Penn Center Harrisburg, which utilized it as office space until selling it to Pennmark two decades later.

Now, Pennmark is proposing a $45 million project that would include renovating all three buildings and constructing 250 to 300 apartment units and retail shops.

“We saw this as a really good opportunity,” said Greg Hallquist, director of Pennmark. “We love the city of Harrisburg.”

At the community meeting, held in the largest of the three buildings of the campus, Hallquist shared that the project would work in three phases. First, developers would renovate the building closest to Wiconisco Street, which historically housed nurses’ residences, to create about 100 apartments. Currently, that building is vacant.

In a second phase, the company would renovate the former hospital building closest to Polyclinic Avenue, creating another 150 apartments, along with retail and amenities, such as a gym, for tenants. Hallquist proposed commercial space along N. 4^th Street, including a grocery store, coffee shop and restaurant. Currently, the building still houses a few offices, such as the state Department of Drug and Alcohol.

In the third phase, Pennmark would renovate the middle building, formerly office spaces, as offices for staff.

All apartments would be market-rate and include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, Hallquist said.

The front of the former Polyclinic Hospital building.

At the meeting, a handful of neighbors shared concerns about parking issues and the traffic that they believed would likely come with hundreds of new residents in the neighborhood.

“We live here because we like the quietness,” said resident Shannon Wade, who has lived in the neighborhood for 50 years. “I feel like it’s bringing too much activity to our neighborhood.”

Wade said that, while the hospital and offices brought a lot of people into the neighborhood, they would leave at the end of the day, whereas this project would bring lots of new residents.

Others were concerned that patrons of the proposed retail spaces would make on-street parking more limited for residents.

Another long-time resident, Julia Mallory, shared many of the same concerns, but said that she needed more information before forming an opinion.

Developers said that they would hold several additional community meetings in the near future.

“We do listen and we want to address the concerns as best as we can,” Hallquist said. “Our goal is to have a magnificent development that’s complementary to the neighborhood.”

Pennmark is slated to go before the Harrisburg Planning Commission on Wednesday evening in an effort to re-zone and subdivide the property, the first steps in the city approval process.

The historic integrity of the exterior of the buildings will be maintained, Hallquist said, and there will be no change to the footprint of the buildings.

Hallquist hopes to break ground on the project in the fall and said that he expects phase one to take around a year and phase two to take 18 months to complete.

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Denim Coffee to open second Harrisburg location, at Strawberry Square kiosk

April 1, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Denim Coffee’s Strawberry Square kiosk

A local coffee shop is offering patrons another Harrisburg location to get their daily cup.

Denim Coffee Company will celebrate its grand opening on Friday inside Strawberry Square, making that two downtown shops for the business, the square’s officials announced on Tuesday.

The shop will open in the kiosk inside the atrium of Strawberry Square, previously occupied by Little Amps Coffee Roasters, which closed that location in December.

“Strawberry Square has been a pillar of the downtown Harrisburg community for decades, and we’re excited for the opportunity to expand our offerings in this unique space,” said Tony Diehl, co-owner of Denim Coffee.

Denim, which has seven locations throughout the region, opened its first Harrisburg location at N. 4^th and Walnut streets in April 2021.

The shop offers coffee drinks, tea and other beverages, as well as baked goods.

To celebrate the grand opening of their newest location, Denim will host a ribbon cutting at the Strawberry Square kiosk on Friday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m.

“We are very excited to have Denim Coffee joining us in Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president of Strawberry Square Development Corp. “They have established an authentic and high-quality brand throughout the region, and it’s a perfect match for the Square and our patrons seeking a great cup of coffee!”

In addition, Denim shared in August 2024 that it signed a lease for a shop space on the first floor of the Menaker apartment building in Market Square at 17 S. 2^nd St. According to Jones, the opening of that shop has been delayed, but is expected to be completed this summer. Once opened, that would be Denim’s third downtown Harrisburg location.

For more information about Demin Coffee Company, visit their website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: April Jewels Day

April 1, 2025 | by Bob MacGinnes

I know…today is April 1, the day reserved for foolish pranks and such. Replace the ‘F’ in Fools with a ‘J’ for Jewels and read on for a few of April’s art gems. And April 2 is reserved for our beautiful daughter’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Aubrey “Mc”! Just one of the artists for “Art in the Wild,” Aubrey and family provide the perfect segue for…

Art in the Wild’s Lucky #13 (How a “Space Oddity,” Oz, Mother Nature, and Avian Sky Walkers all landed in Wildwood Park).

What started as a cool idea, and a revolutionary one at that, from Elizabeth Johnson and the original group of “Friends of Wildwood” 13 years ago has certainly proven “Art in the Wild” is here to stay. Initially an effort to bring more visitors to Wildwood Park from spring through fall by installing unique land art throughout its 3.1-mile trail, “Art in the Wild” gets better every year.

“Our Thoughts Can Change the World” by Craig S. Bomberger. Photo by Jana MacGinnes.

For 2025, the field of 19 installations will test the limits of the theme “Pathways,” with both literal and figurative interpretations of what the word entails. The commitment landscape artists make first and foremost is a love of nature and beauty. Couple that with imagination and innovation and the picture comes into focus. For 13 installations, veterans from previous years step forward to lead the way for six new entrants, three of whom are students and one of whom is a group of guildsmen. Step by step, this core of creators begins with a proposal, an outline or sketch and site selection to build out their concept. Starting the process in January, the actual groundbreaking begins March 2, and by March 31, installations must be complete as it opens to the public on April 6. That day is reserved to showcase the new art and for the public to meet the artists from 12 to 3 p.m.

New to AITW, with a reputation for hand-painted silk scarves and paintings poised positively palpable, is artist Craig S. Bomberger. He takes “Pathways” literally as his installation “explores the neurological pathways to our brain and how visually they appear to be trees and tree branches,” according to the artist. The end result is more than thought-provoking as “Our Thoughts Can Change the World.”

“Mother Nature on the Run” by Jill Lippert and Mark Cummins. Photo by Jana MacGinnes.

There are new students like Wil King blazing “Freedoms Path” while Brooke Hamilton is “Untangling Choices.” Courtney Djane twirls in ‘The Dance of Pollination.” Brian Kenny proceeds nicely, “Following on the Pathway.” Rebecca Schultz must be well-versed in geometry for her “Tranversal(s).” The final new entrant finds the Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the Pa. Guild of Craftsmen (say that five times as fast as you can) proves that the sum total is greater than its parts. I wonder if they “whistle while they work?” After all, “Snow White” is resurfacing as you read this, will this new edition “dwarf” the original? Will the craftsmen gild the lily? Their take: “Our Pathway Through the Arts” may answer all. The “Guild” lays the groundwork for the seven dwarfs with colorful ceramic tiles and mushrooms along the path. No wonder ‘Sleepy’ was a little late.

Among the returnees are The Trek Crew, holdovers from the “Star Trek” series, whose sequel is “Trek Your Trail.” Copy that, Captain Kirk. Steven Reinhart adds to his ‘stick’ repertoire from years past by adding “A Few More Sticks.” Emma McDowell Best throws a school of psychology into the mix with her “Gestalt Barriers.”

Veteran, multi-dimensional artist, Carol Reed, known for natural dyeing in indigo and eucalyptus, brings her vision full cycle in “Journeys.” In her words, Carol revealed, “Pathways is the sense of movement or journey inherent in the word. I want to provide a network to be traveled. One with many options for direction and interesting stops along the way to meet fellow journeyers and create something together.” Much like Craig stated earlier, Carol feels the “Network created can be regarded as ‘neural pathways,’ roads or lines on a page.” Beyond that, “The landscape and the wildlife in Wildwood Park are an inspiration and a joy to interact with while planning, installing and viewing the art.”

“The Yellow Brick Road” by Chip Hitz. Photo by Jana MacGinnes.

Richard and Maria Joel take a break from stage design and gardening to ponder “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in their latest offering. Jill Lippert and Mark Cummins as a team strike ‘a fine balance.’ Together they present an indelible interpretation, 100% naturally organic “Mother Nature on the Run,” complete with bow and arrow. Stalwart veteran Chip Hitz’s “Wizard of Oz” homage brings to life Dorothy’s companions for her journey on “The Yellow Brick Road.” The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are all present to protect her and Toto along the way. Cindy Mindy, indeed, returns with a three-parter. The name of her piece is “Triad Tee Trail: Heaven, Man and Earth.” You may be over the moon when you see it.

More repeaters find Tracie Houston coming back to “Let It Bring Hope.” Fingers crossed, Tracie! Lorayn McPoyle walks the runway or the water with her “Elegance Afloat.” Sabrina Lay circles back for this round and is “Walking the Walk.” If one were to put birds of a feather on stilts, high above the treetops, festooned with seashell shoes, you may be envisioning Sabrina’s latest installation for AITW. Her avian Sky Walkers not only Walk the Walk, they squawk the talk. What a group of artists, but where is woodsman extraordinaire, Ray Curanzy, a fixture over the years at AITW? At this point, I needed to make a call to Richelle Corty, the educational director for Wildwood Park. All it took was me posing the query, “Where is Ray Curanzy?” Without missing a beat, Richelle answered, “Marrying me in May!” You can’t make that up. Question answered and best wishes to the double RCs, Ray and Richelle! They won’t even have to change the initials on their towels.

“Walking the Walk” by Sabrina Lay. Photo by Jana MacGinnes.

Somehow, I almost forgot the all-time participant of AITW’s 13 years and someone quite familiar…my son Beau MacGinnes and my wife, Jana and daughter Aubrey, plus Debbie Reihart. But first, let’s go back a few decades. It was the summer of 1969, and I had just graduated from high school and the United States would land men on the moon in July. David Bowie had just released his huge hit, “Space Oddity,” the week before and “Major Tom” was somewhere floating out in space desperately searching to find a lonely planet. The MacGinnes’s vision for “Pathways” takes place in outer space thousands of light-years away. Their installation finds them exploring a new galaxy as their title reflects a “Lost in Space” (remember that relic of a TV show) sort of feel? Their unique art is called “The Lonely Rolling Planet” and does not borrow from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” but writes a new chapter as this go-round marks their lucky 13 AITW iteration. “Time to conquer a new solar system,” shared Beau MacGinnes with his art partner and mother, Jana. Sister Aubrey McNaughton donned her space helmet and was on board immediately. Debbie Riehart was outside the spaceship putting final touches in place for their mission. “Imagine if you will a sphere of tangled branches and limbs, gnarly and twisted grapevine hurtling through space, breaking the speed of sound, gathering the detritus of space particles packed potently in a ball of beguiling bounty growing bigger and bigger by the minute, obliterating everything in its path. KA-POW!”

“The Lonely Rolling Planet” by Beau MacGinnes, Jana MacGinnes, Aubrey McNaughton and Debbie Reihart. Photo by Jana MacGinnes.

As “The Rolling Lonely Planet” bursts through the Earth’s atmosphere, its forward momentum found it stopping at Wildwood Park just in time for the April 6 opening day. “The Lonely Rolling Planet” is protected by a force shield forming pathways from a meteor shower. “This is ground control to Major Beau; you’ve really made the grade.” It will be on view through Sept. 30. Watch it visually change through the three seasons ahead and marvel at how nature holds the ace up its sleeve, always a surprise, no matter what time of year.

Operating behind the scenes for “Art in the Wild” are Chris Rebert, Wildwood Park manager, another long-time fixture responsible for so much of the well-cared-for and cultivated beauty of Wildwood Park. Chris always credits the volunteers for their vital role in the park’s maintenance. As mentioned previously, Richelle Corty is the environmental educator and the go-to guru for AITW, coordinating so many aspects of the event. Shawn Williams, professor of the Fine Arts Department of HACC, will be the guest interpreter this year for the installations and artists. Critiquing the works in a ‘no judgment zone’ has only heightened the camaraderie among the group. Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA) new Film and Media Arts teacher is Alexander Zemaitis, a 2017 alumnus of the school, who will be guiding students in capturing AITW on film. Alexander is the creative design director of Moonrise Candle Co. with his dad, CEO Paul Zemaitis.

In conclusion, our lives take us on many “Pathways” at each stage of our journey. Some lead to nowhere while others inspire to everywhere. At times anywhere may do, yet the most meaningful is somewhere… to the road less traveled. Life is a series of labyrinth-like twists and turns. One leads to this while another leads to that, but they all point to finding your own way.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 28, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harmony Towers on N. 2nd Street in Harrisburg

Happy Friday, Burg readers! Our April issue of the magazine just dropped, so make sure you grab a copy. In the meantime, stay up-to-date with our recent news reporting, below.

April’s issue of the magazine features stories of spring—growth, gardening and new beginnings. In his publisher’s note, Lawrance Binda encourages readers to make the most of the warm weather, get out in the city and shop local.

Acting classes allow youth to build confidence, make friends and learn new skills. In our magazine story, learn about several local theaters’ class offerings.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA’s “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” is one of its biggest fundraisers each year. In our magazine story, read about the importance of the event and the impact that the work of BBBS has on area youth.

Eden Village can now begin construction on its tiny home village for the unhoused, our online story reported. Harrisburg City Council this week approved the project planned for South Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg chapter of the national nonprofit, USA Dance, has offered lessons to the community for decades. In our magazine story, read about the organization’s offerings and the benefits of dance.

Harmony Towers in Harrisburg has dealt with hot water issues for the past several months, the city said this week, our online story reported. Harrisburg officials said that they would ramp up code enforcement at the property to try to address the problems.

Open Stage’s production of “I’m Proud of You” tells the beloved story of “Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood.” The show touches on themes of building friendships and sharing feelings, says our reviewer.

Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup includes ways to eat, shop and have fun around Harrisburg this weekend.

Sieta Achampong, Harrisburg High School-SciTech Campus principal, was removed from her post by the school district, our online story reported. District officials said that she was removed because her certifications were not active. Achampong shared her thoughts on the news, as well.

“Walk with a Doc” allows community members to learn from and chat with local healthcare professionals, our magazine story reported. The program is part of Dauphin County Parks & Rec’s “Parks Rx” series.

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