Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

Midtown Cinema announced a change of leadership this week.

As the summer transitions into the fall, changing leaves and temperatures are just around the corner. Many of this week’s stories fall under the theme of change, as well, whether it be around perspective, leadership or development in Harrisburg. Read all of our coverage, listed and linked, below.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights two art exhibits in Harrisburg with spiritual themes. St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery is showing “De-Colonizing Christ,” and artist Kelly Curran’s exhibit, entitled “Purify,” is on display at the Millworks.

Charlie DeBrunner, Harrisburg’s controller, said that the city should end the year with enough money in the bank to pay off its accumulated debt, our reporting found. Appearing before City Council this week, he told council members that his office projects a $34 million fund balance by year-end, which could be enough to pay off the city’s bonds, he said.

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities will celebrate its centennial this year by welcoming several awardees of a local scholarship back to Harrisburg to demonstrate musically how well they’ve used the money. They will put on a free concert this month, our magazine story reported.

“The Hand that Holds the Quill” is a play that puts the spotlight on Jacob Shallus, who penned the original copy of the U.S. Constitution. Our magazine article tells the story of how Mechanicsburg playwright Cindy Rock Dlugolecki found out that she is related to Shallus and decided to tell his story.

The Harrisburg Book Festival will return this year with in-person and virtual activities, our online story reported. From Oct. 6 to 10, Midtown Scholar Bookstore will host a discounted book sale, as well as virtual author events.

Harrisburg-area developers have proposed a five-story, mixed-use building for downtown Harrisburg, our online story reported. This would require demolition of two derelict structures now at 512-514 N. 2nd St.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse declared this week that he is running as a write-in candidate in the November general election, our online story reported. He stated that he decided to run for a third term, despite losing the Democratic primary in May, based on his track record of fiscal management and rebuilding the capacity of city government.

Harrisburg City Council passed a resolution that will begin the process of updating the city’s decades-old IT system, our reporting found. Over the next two years, Texas-based Tyler Technologies will phase in a new computer system.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area declined a bit in August, but prices increased considerably, our reporting found. Sales dropped to 810 housing units compared to 866 last year, but the median sales price rose by 9.3% to $235,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

Midtown Cinema has new oversight as former director Adam Porter has stepped down to focus on his business StartUp Harrisburg, our reporting found. Porter is replaced by Rachel Landon of Open Stage Theatre as the general manager and Stacey Werner as assistant manager.

Nyeusi Gallery opened this past weekend in Midtown Harrisburg. Our magazine article tells the story behind the gallery that seeks to showcase Black art.

Otto Banks, was named by Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse as the new economic development director, our online story reported. Banks, a former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official, ran for the Democratic nomination for mayor against Papenfuse in the primary election.

Sara Bozich released her Weekend Roundup that’s full of fall activities for those ready for the cooler season ahead.

Sprocket Mural Works recently finished creating a pocket park in Patrick Alley in Midtown Harrisburg. Our magazine story outlines this unique project, which included a bright, floral mural with an environmental message behind it.

Wanda Williams, Harrisburg’s Democratic nominee for mayor and City Council president, announced this week that she is gearing up her campaign for the election, our online story reported. Williams said she will re-initiate her campaign by “month’s end,” following a mourning period for her mother.

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