Community Corner: Notable February Events

January 30, 2025 | by Missy Smith

February Community Corner

HBG Flea
Feb. 1: Explore the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses and patrons together. www.hbgflea.com

Beef and Brew
Feb. 1: Join Puchog’s Beef and Brew at Chambers Hill Fire Co., 6400 Chambers Hill Rd., Harrisburg, 6 to 10 p.m., to enjoy food from Mission BBQ, live music and drinks. Tickets are $35 in advance, with a limited quantity available at the door for $45. Proceeds benefit the PUCHOG hockey program. www.puchog.org

Orchid Show
Feb. 1-2: Susquehanna Orchid Society presents its 41st annual Orchid Show & Sale at the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. View more than 1,000 orchids, attend tours and shop with vendors. Members can enjoy a preview on Jan. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. www.hersheygardens.org

Book Sales
Feb. 1, 15: Friends of New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts pre-owned book sales on the first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Foundation House, across the shared parking lot. Find books, vintage items, jewelry, music, puzzles, kids’ books, vinyl records and more. www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Scavenger Hunt
Feb. 1-28: Kids ages 0-12 are invited to New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, for a month-long scavenger hunt to locate classic children’s books hiding inside the library for Library Lovers Month throughout February. Find all the scavenger hunt items around the children’s room and win a prize. www.newcumberlandpa.org

Game Day
Feb. 2: Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, invites the community to a board game day for people of all ages and skill levels, 1 to 4:30 p.m. The library will have games available to play, but feel free to bring your own. All ages welcome; kids 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Kids Discover
Feb. 2, 15: Kids are invited to make exciting discoveries at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. Kids ages 5 to 10 will learn about groundhogs on Feb. 2 and about animals’ eyes on Feb. 15. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Roots & Shoots
Feb. 3: Children ages 5 to 8 can participate in “Roots & Shoots,” a youth service program developed by Jane Goodall, at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 6 to 7 p.m. Kids will learn how to foster respect and compassion for all living things and promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Calm the Mind
Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27: Learn short, easy 15-minute calming meditations on Thursdays, 12 to 12:30 p.m., at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. Led by Buddhist nun Kelsang Chonzdin, a teacher and practitioner of almost 20 years, the meditations are suitable for people of any religion. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Birds & Coffee
Feb. 8: Stop by the Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa, 10 to 11 a.m. Join a naturalist and Appalachian Audubon to observe and count common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Cupid 5K
Feb. 8: Join the Cupid’s Chase 5K on City Island, 25 Station Rd., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in support of Community Options, Inc., which serves individuals with disabilities. The race will be held rain or shine. All participants receive a Cupid’s Chase T-shirt, finisher medal, drawstring bag and keepsake bib. cli.re/89077-cupids-chase-5k

Drop-In Art
Feb. 8: Families are invited to Perry County Council of the Arts’ Drop-In Art, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Newport Public Library, 316 N. 4th St. Create Valentine and Easter-themed crafts. Best suited for kids ages 3 to 12. www.perrycountyarts.org

Networking Mixer
Feb. 11: Socialize with local business professionals at High Associates & Isaac’s during an afternoon mixer, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 5000 Ritter Rd., Suite 101, Mechanicsburg. The event is free and open to West Shore Chamber members. www.wschamber.org

Live Music
Feb. 11: Enjoy a concert with the Barron Ryan Trio at Penn State Harrisburg’s Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, 7:30 p.m. With piano, cello and violin, Barron shares a journey of struggle, discovery and triumph through classical works and an original piece honoring the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. www.harrisburg.psu.edu

Lecture Series
Feb. 11, 25: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for its “Winter Lecture Series,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn about permaculture on Feb. 11 and about composting on Feb. 25. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Workshops
Feb. 12: Penn State Extension offers agronomic pesticide update workshops, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Presentations will not be repeated during the two sessions. Registration is $10. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins accepted. www.extension.psu.edu

Art & Beer
Feb. 12: Take a date or friends to Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, for a creative evening out at the “Art and Beer Crawl,” 6 to 9 p.m. Sample beer, make art to take home and enjoy a tasting from Millworks chefs in various spaces throughout the building. www.millworksharrisburg

Journaling Workshop
Feb. 13, 27: Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts “Journaling for Life,” 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Practice methods of capturing thoughts, feelings and experiences to track personal growth, cultivate gratitude, set goals, manage stress and develop your style. Bring a journal; art and decorative supplies provided. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Film Friday
Feb. 14: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, will show “The Treasure” from Romania, starting at 2 p.m. Watch the film at the library and stay for a moderated discussion. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Truffles for Couples
Feb. 14, 15: Enjoy a sweet date at Hershey Story’s Chocolate Lab, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., with an evening of truffle-making for Valentine’s Day, 5:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Guests can enjoy drinking chocolates from around the world and making hand-rolled ganache. Tickets are $65 per person. www.hersheystory.org

Love of Art
Feb. 14-16: Hershey Art Association presents “For the Love of Art” exhibit of paintings in various mediums, photography, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more in the conservatory at Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd. The show is included with admission and free for members. www.hersheyareaartassociation.com

Curiosity Kids
Feb. 14, 28: Families and kids ages 3 to 6 are invited to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, at 11:30 a.m. to learn about Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 and engineering on Feb. 28. Curiosity Kids events are included with museum general admission, but space is limited. www.statemuseumpa.org

Neurodiverse Group
Feb. 15: The Neurodiverse Network hosts a Neurodivergent Adult Support Group (autism, ADHD, ADD), 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, to give neurodiverse people opportunities to discuss relevant topics, share resources and think of ways to support each other. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Dance Night
Feb. 16: Dance enthusiasts are invited to join Harrisburg USA Dance Chapter #3009 for a nightclub 2-step lesson and social dancing at PA DanceSport, 585 E. Main St., Hummelstown, 2 to 6 p.m. All levels welcome. Admission is $15, $10 for members and $5 for students. Facebook: USA Dance Chapter #3009 – Harrisburg Area PA

Lincoln Presentation
Feb. 17: National Civil War Museum presents James Hayney as President Lincoln in the program, “Lincoln’s Battle with Slavery: An In-Depth Review of the Issues Culminating in the 13th Amendment.” The free program takes place, 1 to 2 p.m., at the museum, 1 Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg. www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Wild Winter Treats
Feb. 18: Learn how to create shagbark hickory syrup and winter teas from your backyard at Wildwood Park, 1451 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Workshop cost is $10 and space is limited; students encouraged to preregister. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

History Talk
Feb. 21: Join the Harrisburg Civil War Roundtable to honor Black History Month with a special lecture at 5 p.m. with author Fergus M. Bordewich, who will discuss his latest book, “Klan War—Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction.” The lecture is free to attend and a dinner prior to the event is available for $32. www.harrisburgcwrt.org

3rd in The Burg
Feb. 21: Explore the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event, where you can visit and enjoy galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Black History & Arts
Feb. 21: Civic Club of Harrisburg presents “Black History and the Arts,” highlighting the cultural heritage and contributions of African Americans to the arts. The free event includes speakers, a panel discussion, live performances and more, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Civic Club, 612 N. Front St., Harrisburg. www.civicclubofharrisburg.com

Library Cinema
Feb. 21: Escape the winter chill and enjoy a free movie at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, 7 to 9 p.m. Enjoy popcorn, snacks and the film, “The Conjuring.” Register on the library’s website; space is limited. www.dcls.org

Black Makers
Feb. 22: Celebrate Black culture and innovation at the Black Makers Fair at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event features a variety of Black makers, artists and vendors. Learn about Black history and culture, support Black-owned businesses and connect with others. www.dcls.org

Spring Symposium
Feb. 24: Penn State Master Gardeners hosts the 2025 Spring Symposium at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., to explore the aesthetic and ecological importance of native species. Learn about spring ephemerals, the relationship between monarchs and milkweed and more. Admission is $20. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Home + Garden Show
Feb. 27-March 2: Experience gardens and outdoor living displays, designer rooms, expert and celebrity presentations, special events, plant and specialty markets and more at the 2025 PA Home + Garden Show at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. www.pahomeshow.com

Peaceful Poses
Feb. 28: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts Peaceful Poses Yoga for adults, 9:15 to 10 a.m., to explore yoga poses, breathing techniques and ways to deal with stress and anxiety. From 10 to 10:45 a.m., kids ages 2 to 5 can participate in mindful movement and deep breaths. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Murder Mystery
Feb. 28: Solve an ‘80s-style murder mystery at Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center’s Whodunit Dinner at The Event Cafe, 206 3rd St., New Cumberland, 6 to 9 p.m. Dress in ‘80s flair, enjoy dinner and help solve a crime. Tickets are $75, which includes the show, dinner and two drinks. Proceeds benefit HCPAC Youth. www.thehcpac.org

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Saint Margaret Mary School To Host Open House on February 2

January 29, 2025 | by Admin

St. Margaret Mary Catholic School invites the public to attend their open house on Sunday, Feb. 2 from 11:30am-1:30pm.

The Pre-K- 8th grade elementary school, located at 2826 Herr Street, Harrisburg PA 17103, recently celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Featuring full day kindergarten and before and after school care, the school’s three pillars focus on spirituality, scholarship and service. Certified faculty teach a classical education program that allows students to grow and mature into critical thinkers.

Some highlights of the school include:
 Guided reading and math grouping in grades K-3.
 Advanced language arts and math grades 7-8
 STEM room
 CAIU math, reading and counseling support services
 Smart Technology
 Student-organized Mass
 Service Opportunities for students to learn how to give back to their community
 Extracurricular activities such as band, choir, CYO basketball, track and field, Quiz Bowl
and Science Explorers

When you enroll your child at St. Margaret Mary, you become part of a community of parents,
faculty and students that will help your child learn and grow. If you cannot attend the open
house, we encourage interested families to contact the school at 717-232-3771 to set up a tour
at your convenience.

St Margaret Mary Catholic School
2826 Herr Street
Harrisburg, PA 17103
717-232-3771
[email protected]

School website: https://stmmparishschool.org/
School Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/St.MargaretMarySchoolHarrisburg

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Eric Hagarty, former state official, named as chief clerk for Dauphin County

January 29, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

Eric Hagarty

Dauphin County has a new chief clerk, as a former top state official has been named to the post.

Eric Hagarty, the acting secretary of education from 2022 to 2023, will step into the role on Feb. 3, according to an announcement from the county. The chief clerk acts as chief of staff for the three-person board of commissioners.

Locally, Hagarty, of Harrisburg, has served for the past year as chair of the Broad Street Market Alliance, the nonprofit that oversees the day-to-day operations of the city’s historic farmers market.

“Eric’s experience, leadership, and dedication to public service make him an outstanding choice for this role,” said board Chairman Justin Douglas, in a statement. “His work at the state and local levels has demonstrated his ability to build partnerships and drive meaningful progress.”

Hagarty has also served as chief of staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and as deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Tom Wolf. Most recently, he was a managing director for Mercury Public Affairs, a government relations firm. He also serves a board member for the Harrisburg Housing Authority and is a former board member of the HACC Foundation.

Hagarty replaces acting Chief Clerk Vince Paese, who will return to his role of deputy chief clerk.

“Mr. Hagarty brings a high level of experience, professionalism and extensive governmental knowledge to the county team,” said Commissioner Mike Pries.

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Dan Miller, Harrisburg treasurer, announces bid for mayor

January 29, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

Dan Miller

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller has announced that he intends to run for city mayor.

In a brief press release, Miller said that he would enter the growing field of candidates.

“Harrisburg has tremendous potential,” Miller said, in a statement. “New, competent, enthusiastic leadership can make tremendous strides towards a thriving Harrisburg.”

Miller plans to hold a press conference on Thursday on his candidacy.

Incumbent Mayor Wanda Williams has said previously that she plans to run for a second term, though she has not yet formally announced her candidacy. City Council member Lamont Jones has said that he will pursue the office, as well.

Miller, 68, previously ran for mayor in 2013, losing to former Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

In addition to treasurer, Miller has served on Harrisburg City Council and as city controller.

The primary election is slated for May 20.

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New shoe, clothing retailer headed to downtown Harrisburg

January 28, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

Strawberry Square

A new retailer soon will set up shop in downtown Harrisburg.

On Tuesday, Harristown Enterprises announced that Soles4Me, which sells new and pre-owned sneakers and designer clothes, will open at 9 N. 3^rd St., adjacent to the 3^rd Street entrance to Strawberry Square.

The store will have a soft opening this Friday, Jan. 31, with a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Feb. 7.

“We’re super excited to be back in the Pennsylvania area,” said co-owner Cam Peroni. “We have so many great clients there already.”

Soles4Me will offer a large selection of new and previously owned sneakers and designer clothes for sale or trade. This is their second brick-and-mortar location, the first opening in Buford, Ga., in 2023.

“We are excited to build a genuine connection with the Harrisburg community,” said co-owner Danny Flores.

The store will be open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.

“We are happy to welcome Soles4Me to downtown Harrisburg,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown, which owns Strawberry Square. “This shop will help bring vitality to the shops along N. 3^rd Street.”

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Historic preservation priorities announced for 2025, Broad Street Market tops list

January 28, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s historic farmers market tops a list of “preservation priorities,” as an area historic preservation group has released its annual list.

On Monday, Historic Harrisburg Association (HHA) presented its list of endangered historic structures in the Harrisburg area.

“This is how we alert the entire community and potential buyers and developers of their opportunities for preserving these buildings,” said David Morrison, HHA’s executive director. “And that has proven to be very effective.”

HHA named the Broad Street Market as its top preservation priority for 2025, following a devastating fire that gutted and shuttered the 1870s-era brick building. Since the July 2023 blaze, the city has cleared out the brick market house, but doesn’t expect the rebuilding and restoration process to begin until later this year.

“It’s very important that whatever is done to the brick building is done in kind, so that both its roof structure, its window structure, the building envelope is the way it was before the fire occurred and it’s restored as such,” said Jeb Stuart, president of HHA’s board of directors.

The Broad Street Market’s gutted brick building (file photo)

In his presentation, Stuart added that improvements also need to be made to the second market house, the 1860s-era stone building, which was untouched by the fire and remains open. For instance, that building needs a new roof and upgraded HVAC system.

The remaining “top five” preservation priorities for 2025 are:

William Penn High School, a shuttered, century-old school building near Italian Lake
Balsley House, a dilapidated, Federal-style building in downtown Harrisburg
Lochiel Hotel, a former school, restaurant and club in south Harrisburg off of the Capital Area Greenbelt
Riverside and Paxton firehouses, which are two vacant, city-owned former fire stations

Last year, HHA named William Penn as its top preservation priority, as the Harrisburg School District had proposed demolishing the school. The district later reversed course, but the future of the building remains unclear.

Moreover, HHA placed almost two-dozen buildings and structures on its “watch list,” meaning they’re historic properties of concern. These are:

Mira Lloyd Dock House, Front and Reily streets
Former Chisuk Emuna Synagogue, 423 Division St.
Central Publishing House, 100 N. 13^th St.
DeVout Mansion, 208 Hummel St.
Harrisburg State Hospital
Prospect Hill Cemetery Gatehouse, 25^th and Market streets
Camp Curtin Church, 2221 N. 6^th St.
Old State Police HQ/American Dream Diner at 2100 Herr St. (Susquehanna Township)
Market Street Bridge
19^th Street Armory, 1313 S. 19^th St.
Cumberland County Railroad Bridge
Historic Peace Church (Hampden Township)
Donald Cameron Mansion, Front and State streets
Nauman Mansion, 315 N. Front St.
Meyers Mansion, 213 Front St.
Bishop Bridge, Cumberland and York counties
First United Methodist Church, Boas Street
Former St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Vine Street
Former Bishop McDevitt High School
Atlas Building, 6^th and Maclay streets
Walnut Street Bridge
Grace United Methodist Church, State Street
Former German Jackson residence (now an empty lot)

Stuart also identified the former Bucks Tavern in West Hanover Township as a preservation “loss” over the past year, as the building was demolished. On the positive side, he listed two recent preservation “successes”—Zembo Shrine Center in Uptown Harrisburg and the former Coca-Cola Bottling Works on Allison Hill.

HHA’s 2025 “Preservation Priorities” was drafted by the organization’s preservation committee and now must be approved by the full board.

Both Morrison and Stuart emphasized that they believe it’s important for HHA to release its preservation priorities annually so the public is aware of these structures and may even be able to help preserve them.

Click here for more information on Historic Harrisburg’s Preservation Priorities, including the presentation.

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Burg Review: Theatre Harrisburg hits the right notes with the fast-paced musical, “The Lightning Thief”

January 25, 2025 | by Gina Napoli

“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” will take you to Hades and back – via Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses.

Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, where we meet the sons and daughters of gods, follow those demigods on a magical round-trip journey to Hades, plus meet a dizzying number of other mythological creatures along Percy Jackson’s hero quest.

Directed by Theatre Harrisburg’s Amanda Nowell and Music Director Beth Darowish, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is a coming-of-age epic musical action comedy, with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, book by Joe Tracz, and original book by Rick Riordan. A young misfit named Percy Jackson (Carter Anstine) uncovers long-held family secrets that reveal who he is, wields his brand-new magical powers, and finally finds his tribe on his journey of self-discovery.

This off-Broadway musical is different from the book series, is different from the movie series, is different from your imagination. This musical rendition stands out with its fast and funny lyrics delivered by Theatre Harrisburg’s talented vocalists. Its lyrics contain quality wordplay, with musicians playing notes purposefully discordant at times to correspond with the crazy storyline.

This cast contains almost 40 characters, almost all of which are performed by five cast members who are unbelievably skilled in quick-change costume artistry (costumes by Matt Spencer). Kudos to Drew Patti, Aaron Ayala, Alison Whipple, Taye Olivia, and Jonathan Walker-VanKuren for showcasing their flexibility and range.

We meet protagonist Percy singing “The Day I Got Expelled,” a self-explanatory prologue immediately revealing his identity within the show’s mythical premise. Although we don’t see the inciting incident, Percy’s neurodivergent learning differences somehow cause overreactions from his teachers, including Mrs. Dodds (Olivia) turning into a demon who tries to kill him on a field trip to The Met. (Buckle up. The plot is going to sound like a first-grader repeatedly answering the question, “And then what happened?”) Anstine shows his character’s anguish in “Good Kid” and “The Weirdest Dream,” and he strikes excellent harmonic notes in his duet with Ayala in the wistful “The Last Day of Summer.”

To console Percy, his mother, Sally Jackson (Alison Whipple), reassures him, “The things that make you different are the things that make you strong.” She also overshares his conception story in their beautifully delivered duet “Strong.” Whipple’s powerful voice cuts through the fog machine in her roles, especially standing out as The Oracle in the song of the same name, and as Charon in the sequined disco lounge act “D.O.A.”

When Percy battles a minotaur, opening the portal to Camp Half-Blood, the disgruntled camp director, Mr. D (Dionysus, Patti) sings the hilarious “Another Terrible Day,” emphasizing how much he hates children. (Patti also performs a memorably sad ballad about regrets and failure in “The Tree on the Hill” as Grover.) At Camp Half-Blood, Percy meets friends and fellow demigods Luke (Ayala) and Annabeth (Kaitlin Riley), the latter warrior joining Percy on his quest to Hades. Zeus wants his lightning back, and he’s convinced Percy stole it. This ignites Percy’s hero’s quest to Hades.

Riley pours her badass energy into Annabeth, who has something to prove as Athena’s daughter. Riley matches sparring warrior prowess and pipes in her duet with Clarisse (Olivia) in “Put You in Your Place.” Riley also delivered my favorite song of the show “My Grand Plan,” revealing her character’s resentment about being tough and smart, but still feeling inadequate.

The entire company combine vocal stylings for the all-sings “Campfire Song,” with everyone taking a slyly humorous verse to tell their origin stories. The energetic songs “Killer Quest!” and “Son of Poseidon,” and the hopeful “Bring on the Monsters” hit all the right notes, propelling the action forward until the exciting end.

The music has a fabulous feel – mostly bluesy rock beats with a forgivable amount of country twang. I also must shout out to the percussionist (Sara Benson), who pulled out every bizarre instrument from the top shelf of the closet and struck each at least once.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the show’s convincing stage combat (Benny Benamati, Stage Manager & Fight Director), and Walker-VanKuren as the most slithery monster portrayal of Medusa.

The pacing in this action-packed play moves like a lightning bolt to earth, with little time in between to let discoveries wash over you like vast ocean waves. Maybe it’s the difference between Percy’s neurodivergent brain and my overly structured one, but I didn’t find it easy to bond with the ultra-resilience of Percy’s personality. I could feel some of his anguish and confusion, but I posit the quick pacing didn’t give him enough time to reflect, or for me to feel his emotions along with him. I felt like a spectator on Percy’s hero’s journey, but I would have preferred to bond with him a little more, riding alongside him as a passenger.

To help yourself keep up with the plot as it’s brilliantly hurled at you like toilet paper whooshing from a leaf blower (Props Designer, Spencer), I recommend taking a few minutes before the play and again at intermission to absorb the program’s study guide, which outlines descriptions of the gods, a map of the characters’ itinerary, and a hero’s journey of the plot points and characters they meet along the way. Unless your tribe suffers from sensory sensitivity issues, there are no parental warnings that would prevent you from bringing your whole tribe to Hades and back.

“The Lightning Thief” runs through Feb. 9 at the Krevsky Center, 513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg. For more information on show times and tickets, visit https://theatreharrisburg.com/shows/the-lightning-thief/ .

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 24, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

The proposed site of an affordable housing development at 1001 N. 18th St., Harrisburg.

We hope you’ve survived the cold this week, Harrisburg. While you thaw out, catch up on all of our recent news reporting.

The Broad Street Market’s brick building rebuild is Harrisburg’s priority, city officials reassured the public this week. In our online story find out more about the restoration plans for the building.

The Capital City Islanders will bring soccer back to City Island in Harrisburg, our online story reported. The new professional team plans to start its season at the Skyline Sports Complex in the spring.

City Council weighed a proposal from a developer to construct affordable housing for seniors at 1001 N. 18th St. in Harrisburg, our online story reported. Developers explained that they made changes to their original project design following feedback from neighbors.

Dauphin County Prothonotary Matt Krupp announced that he would run for a third, four-year term, our online story reported. He will compete in the Republican primary on May 20.

Doulas offer clients additional support during the birthing process, our magazine story reported. The service has been rising in popularity and new providers have popped up around the Harrisburg area.

Gather the Guitars was rescheduled for this weekend at the Abbey Bar, our online story reported. The musical event will raise money for Gather the Spirit for Justice, a Harrisburg nonprofit centered on community building.

Girls’ empowerment is the focus of many local organizations that provide education and mentorship opportunities. In our magazine story, learn about Harrisburg area groups like Girls on the Run and Young Women’s Empowerment Academy and the impact they strive to make on young girls.

Harrisburg hired Robert Kennick as its finance director, filling a post that was vacant since last year, our online story reported. Kennick will oversee the fiscal management of the city.

Hot yoga can reduce stress, relieve pain and improve flexibility. Our writer tried the practice for the first time and shared her experience, as well as recommendations of local places that offer hot yoga, here.

Sara Bozich has found this weekend’s events happening in the Harrisburg area and compiled them all, here.

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Harrisburg reassures public that Broad Street Market’s brick building rebuild is its priority

January 23, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of the proposed Broad Street Market project.

Harrisburg officials on Thursday assured the community that the Broad Street Market rebuild is of top importance.

At a press conference, Mayor Wanda Williams said that restoring the market’s fire-damaged brick building is still the focus of the city, even as they weigh the possibility of building a new structure in the market’s courtyard.

Williams explained that she wanted to clear up confusion about the city’s priorities for the project, following her announcement that she would like to expand the market. Earlier this month, she said that she proposed building a connector building in the market courtyard to join the two existing buildings and provide covered space for vendors.

However, city officials said that they have heard concern from residents and market officials and vendors about the direction and wanted to assure everyone that the brick building restoration is first on the to-do list.

“Although we do have the entire campus of the project in our thoughts […] our focus is on the brick building itself where we did have a total loss,” said Dave Baker, director of facilities and special projects. “We are focusing on that first. We are not letting anything else slow us down.”

According to Rebecca McCormick, architect with Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, which is designing the project, the historic exterior of the brick building will remain. The masonry is in good shape, she said, and will be restored. The inside of the building, however, will likely be completely modernized, with a new look and layout. The architects are also hopeful that, with the new interior design, more vendors will be able to fit inside the building.

Additionally, they are considering a mezzanine with seating for the public.

Baker expects that, by June, architectural drawings will be completed and selected for the project, with the bidding process taking place shortly after. The city aims to start construction on the brick building by Sept. 1.

“We have been working on this. There is not one day that goes by that we are not working on the Broad Street Market,” Baker said.

As part of the market project, Harrisburg officials said they plan to modernize the stone building as well, replacing the roof, adding heating and cooling and making it ADA-accessible. Both buildings will have fire suppression infrastructure.

The possible connector building that the city has proposed constructing in the courtyard would take the last priority and would require the city to secure additional funding. Plans for that structure are in the “rough draft” stage, Baker said. However, he noted that any planning for that building does not take away from work on the brick building plans as the architectural firm has a team of people who are evaluating all aspects of the market.

Additionally, Baker and Williams said that they have recently met with Broad Street Market officials and vendors to discuss plans, something that they had not done before proposing the new connector building.

Williams said that the city will begin holding monthly press briefings to provide updates on the Broad Street Market progress.

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Half of Parents Are ‘Completely Overwhelmed,’ but Help Is Out There

January 23, 2025 | by Capital Blue Cross

Hilary Baude and her daughters

Saying that Hilary Baude has a few things going on is like calling Times Square sort of crowded.

Baude is a 42-year-old mother of 11- and 5-year-old girls. She’s a full-time kindergarten teacher, an Ironman athlete and marathon runner, a kidney donor, and a doctoral candidate in her dissertation year.

“Every single moment of my day is occupied with the demands of a full-time job plus the typical motherhood routines, coupled with the requirements of my personal endeavors,” Baude said, adding that her stress “often manifests itself in ways that make me not present in the moment with my children.”

“For example,” she says, “I read to my daughter every night before bed, and being a kindergarten teacher, I can read pretty much any children’s book with expression and engagement. However, I have found myself not even remembering what I had just read to her because I was thinking about the several other things I needed to do before the morning.”

Stressors and Stats

Baude’s jammed-packed life may be exceptional, but her parental stress level is not.

According to a recent advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, 48% of parents rate their daily stress levels as completely overwhelming.

“Parental stress is both an enormously significant and under-addressed issue,” said Jen Carricato, Senior Health Education Consultant at Capital Blue Cross. “Millions of American moms and dads deal with multiple challenges every day, and it can sometimes simply be too much.

“Yet as common as it is, there has been too little in the way of organized approaches to cope with this problem on either personal or societal levels, and we need to change that.”

According to the surgeon general’s 2023 data, parents are 65% more likely to say they’ve faced high stress levels in the past month than other adults.

The main stressors cited in the advisory are:

Financial strain, economic instability, and poverty.
Time demands.
Children’s health and safety.
Parental isolation and loneliness.
Technology and social media.
Cultural pressures and children’s futures.

Remedies

If you’re a stressed-out parent or caregiver, remember that caring for yourself is critical to caring for your family. Advocate for the care that helps you cope.

Consider these tips:

Nurture connections with other parents and caregivers. For example, join or create an Employee Resource Group at work that provides specific support for parents and caregivers.
Recognize how mental health challenges manifest and seek help when needed. Explore comprehensive, affordable healthcare plans that include quality mental health coverage. Capital Blue Cross, for instance, offers a VirtualCare telehealth option and can connect members to behavioral health professionals online or by calling 866.322.1657. Some companies, including Capital, offer employee assistance programs that make it easy for employees to access mental health professionals for any issue.
Take advantage of helpful resources. Members covered by many Capital employer plans enjoy access to the insurer’s parenting-support app, which include comprehensive maternity and family health programs that include guidance and health coaching. The app also guides employers and employees through resources such as parental-leave and return-to-work frameworks, a supporting-families checklist, and other family planning information.

Taking Steps to De-stress

What’s most important, Capital’s Carricato said, is that parents acknowledge their stress and its potential perils, and take steps to address it.

“Not only for their own sake, but also for their children’s well-being,” she said. “Because there is an obvious trickle-down – if a parent is struggling badly with stress to the point of being perpetually overwhelmed, that will inevitably carry over to the kids.”

Which brings us back to Hilary Baude, the multi-tasking, athletic, goal-oriented – and sometimes overwhelmed – supermom of two, who says that a reliable set of coping techniques and supportive resources are “key for parents as they try to navigate this chaotic, overwhelming, and stressful period of life.”

“There is no time to go searching for these supports on my own,” she says, “so having a go-to list is essential for reminding me that I am not alone in this fog of motherhood, and that my stress is normal and expected considering the demands of daily life with children.”

For more resources and stories that can help you on your health and wellness journey, visit Capital Journal by Capital Blue Cross.

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