Millworks owner to open neighborhood cocktail “dive bar” in Midtown Harrisburg

High Dive will open at 1400 N. 3rd St.

Harrisburgers soon can toast to a new life for a longtime neighborhood watering hole.

High Dive is slated to open in mid to late December on N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg, bringing a neighborhood dive/cocktail bar hybrid to the area.

“It’s kind of like a dive bar, but goes high on product,” said owner Josh Kesler, who also owns Millworks in Midtown and the Watershed Pub in Camp Hill. “You can get a cheap beer, but you can also get a cocktail that you might find in a major market.”

In July 2021, Kesler bought 1400 N. 3rd St., which most recently housed the Third Street Café, and several other bars before that. According to Kesler, the early 1900s building even once housed the Keystone Trust Company bank, which later moved across the street.

Kesler and Harrisburg contractor Dusty James worked to renovate the bar, while keeping its historic charm, noting that the pandemic delayed the project timeline.

The pair found inspiration for the vibe of the two-story bar and restaurant during a trip to Havana, Cuba, where they grew fond of the old architecture and historic style of the buildings. In High Dive, that style is reflected in the exposed brick walls and original tile flooring, among other features.

“I tried to keep the integrity of the historic vibe in it so you can kind of see the layers of the years. You can see all the layers of the multiple uses that were in there,” Kesler said. “I kind of see it as a little bit of a work of art.”

Kesler said that the menu will include beers and burgers, but also unique offerings and special cocktails by locally known “bartender extraordinaire,” Tom McGrath.

“It feels really comfortable for a neighborhood, daily pop-in, but also could be date night on a Saturday as well,” Kesler said.

The former Third Street Café, in addition to the neighboring bar at 1402 N. 3rd St., were once the target of former Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse who attempted to revoke their business licenses, saying they were “nuisance bars.”

When the bar closed in April 2021 and went up for sale, Kesler saw it as a chance to bring revitalization to the property and make it an asset for the street.

“My primary interest was trying to help lift the neighborhood,” he said. “I felt like it was an important piece on 3rd Street and Midtown in general.”

High Dive will be open Monday through Saturday.

For more information, visit their website, which will be updated soon, or Instagram page.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

 

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!


What you’ll find ⤵️

For something new: Karma’s Grand Opening on Saturday; Holiday Pop-Up Bar opens tonight in York for the season Worth noting: More Holiday Markets, including Camp Hill’s Candy Cane Walk on Sunday; Harrisburg Holiday Parade on Saturday Things on my agenda this weekend: C&J’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Candy Cane Walk

For your weekend planning

Below are more options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

  1. Add the SoMa Christmas Market on Dec. 1 to your calendar
  2. Historic Harrisburg Association’s Elegant Progressions is Dec. 8
  3. Do you have your wine advent calendar yet?
  4. Are you on my email list?
  5. Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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Harrisburg School District weighs hiring school police officers to address uptick in violence

Harrisburg High School-John Harris campus

The Harrisburg School District has proposed employing police officers in response to a growing safety issue.

At a school board meeting on Tuesday, the district shared a plan that would bring police officers into schools to address violence incidents, which officials said have been steadily on the rise.

“There has been a rise in violence and threats just nationwide,” said Dr. Marisol Craig, assistant superintendent. “It’s not just something that we ourselves in Harrisburg School District are dealing with.”

Under the proposal, the district would hire four police officers. The district has not employed its own officers in over two decades, although for several years it partnered with the Harrisburg Police Bureau to bring in school resource officers. From 2008 to 2022, the district employed no officers, but had a coordinator of safety, and from 2022 to today, the district has had a director of safety and security, along with other safety specialists and monitors.

According to Craig, so far this school year, there have been nearly 800 student incidents, as well as 16 expulsions, double the number in all of last year. The district makes daily calls to the police department due to incidents, she said.

Craig said that even students themselves are becoming concerned, as officials have held focus groups with students.

“We know that the current safety structure that we have in place is not effective,” she said.

While Craig said that they value the school’s current safety monitors, they are not trained or equipped to deal with more severe instances of violence.

Officers would help with high-level violent incidents such as drug use, weapons and physical violence, and could also patrol buildings, help with school arrival and dismissal, and visit classrooms to host educational programming.

Two officers would be stationed at Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus, one at Camp Curtin Middle School and one would float between the elementary buildings. Safety monitors would still be present at each school.

Craig said that officers employed by the district would be required to be certified officers or retired state police and would have to go through resource officer training and cultural training, etc.

District receiver Dr. Lori Suski also brought up the fact that the district has been weighing this idea for several years, even previously hosting town hall meetings with the public on the topic. One major concern of community members, she said, was that having officers in schools could create a “school-to-prison pipeline.”

“So my caveat is, I think it’s going to be critical to the success moving forward, if we move in this direction, that the administration is trained in what is a school discipline issue versus when to involve the police,” Suski said. “That is extremely important. School policing can be very effective, but it should not be used at all times. They’re in the building, but they’re not there to do the job of a principal or assistant principal.”

For example, she said police should not be doing locker searches unless there is strong evidence to believe that a student may have a weapon.

“So, we need to make sure that our principals are trained to ensure that we are not violating the rights of students and creating a school-to-prison pipeline that several in the community have expressed concerns about,” she said.

The district’s new Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry spoke up, assuring Suski and the board that they would make sure that is not the case, and are solely focused on keeping students safe.

“As a school district, one of our main responsibilities is safety, and we need to ensure that every kid that comes to our school every morning gets home safe every afternoon,” he said. “This is one of the systems that we need to be in place right now in order to make sure that our kids are safe.”

Craig said that the district will bring the matter to Suski for her approval at the next board meeting.

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Greenbelt officials propose new trail route as council weighs proposed veterans housing development

CAGA President Doug Hill spoke before City Council on Tuesday.

A portion of Harrisburg’s Greenbelt trail will likely be permanently rerouted due to new housing slated for a portion of the city’s riverfront.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) expressed support for the proposed housing development that was up for discussion at council, but shared that it would impact the Greenbelt’s future in south Harrisburg.

New York-based Tunnel to Towers has proposed building a 64-unit apartment building and 20 small “comfort homes” for veterans along the Susquehanna River, near the PennDOT building. Last week, council approved a lot subdivision for the project, and, at a work session on Tuesday, discussed the land development plan, which they may vote on next week.

According to CAGA President Doug Hill, the group is considering rerouting the Greenbelt to turn onto Sycamore Street from S. Front Street, just before the PennDOT building. The trail would follow Sycamore over the railroad tracks and veer right through one of two privately owned lots, before Cameron Street, and then connect with the current trail near Shanois Street. CAGA has not yet received land easements from the private property owners and is still in discussion with them.

“We think this will work,” Hill told TheBurg. “We think we can make it safe and attractive.”

Hill said that the re-route could include widening sidewalks on Sycamore Street to make it safer, as well. CAGA is working with an engineering firm to create a plan. Hill expects that the project to move the portion of the Greenbelt would take around three years and $3 million, which they hope grants will cover.

Historically, the trail continued straight on Front Street, behind PennDOT, cut through the proposed site of Tunnel to Towers, and traversed a small bridge over the railroad. Much of the Greenbelt’s path in the area, including the proposed project site, is on privately owned land. CAGA said that it never had formal easements from landowners to use the property, but had permission from them.

The future of this part of the Greenbelt has been uncertain since last year, when Veteran’s Outreach of Pennsylvania (VOPA) began its veteran’s tiny house project on a neighboring plot of land, closing off Greenbelt access in the area while construction took place. At the time, CAGA and the city set up a trail detour that remains in place. The detour takes trail users from Front to Sycamore to Cameron streets before reconnecting near Shanois Street.

At a Harrisburg Planning Commission meeting last month, commission members retained a city Planning Bureau condition that Tunnel to Towers allow the Greenbelt to remain on the southern border of the project site. The commission made its decision despite Hill stating that CAGA was not looking to route the path through the site anymore. CAGA, he said, was unable to reach an agreement with Tunnel to Towers, so was exploring alternate routes.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Tunnel to Towers representatives requested that council remove that condition, as CAGA has proposed the alternate route. Council can propose amendments to the resolution at its next legislative session.

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Harrisburg nonprofit cuts the ribbon on affordable housing for young adults

(From left) Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Trey DuPont, Thrive resident Bianca Marchino, Thrive Executive Director Dee Allen and Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick cut the ribbon on Thrive’s new affordable housing.

An apartment building in Harrisburg will now exclusively offer housing for homeless youth.

Thrive Housing Services on Monday cut the ribbon on its new affordable units for 18- to 24-year-olds in Allison Hill.

The Harrisburg-based nonprofit has provided housing and resources to unhoused young adults, especially those who have aged out of the foster care system, for the past 10 years.

The building, on the 200-block of S. 13th St., houses 16 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for individuals and single parents and their children. All units are furnished.

“Today, this ribbon cutting is more than just a ceremony, it is the beginning of a promise, a promise to young adults here in this community to provide safe and supportive housing, a place to live, grow and thrive,” said Dee Allen, executive director of Thrive.

According to Allen, this is the first building completely owned by Thrive providing permanent housing to youth. Currently, they own several other units in the community, and work with landlords to lease numerous apartments to young renters as well.

Inside one of Thrive’s apartment units

Through Thrive’s model, they also help tenants secure other supportive services, get jobs, and learn life skills.

“This program has completely changed my life,” said Bianca Marchino, a 19-year-old resident at Thrive. “Before Thrive, I was homeless with my one-year-old daughter and had nowhere to go. When I got here they welcomed me like family.”

Each tenant at Thrive will pay rent according to their income and has opportunities to receive financial assistance to cover rent for the first few months, Allen said.

Allen shared that her own experience with homelessness at a young age shaped her passion for helping youth find stability. While her family received help from extended family, not all youth have that same support, she said.

“Every kid, no matter what age they are, deserves a place that is safe, a place to live free from violence and a place that they can grow up and be a kid,” she said.

Thrive will also host a “Sleep Out” at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Nov. 22 to raise awareness of youth homelessness. The event will offer community members a chance to sleep outside in solidarity with those who don’t have a home. Additionally, on Dec. 3, Thrive will partner with Harrisburg-based Little Amps Coffee Co. to fundraise on Giving Tuesday.

For more information about Thrive Housing Services, visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

Owner Vanessa Somerset-Potter of Sevansa shared that she will soon open her first storefront in Harrisburg.

It seems like real fall weather has finally rolled into Harrisburg. Bundle up and cozy up with a copy of the magazine. Our November issue has lots of ways to enjoy the season.  In the meantime, check out all of our news stories from this week, below.

Affordable housing projects in Harrisburg are finishing up construction and cutting ribbons, our magazine story reported. Local developers find passion in providing a sorely needed resource for residents.

Bob’s Art Blog offers a survey of current exhibits, including three in Harrisburg and one in Lancaster. Find out what he had to say, here.

City Council has approved several affordable and market-rate housing development projects in Harrisburg. Find out which projects got the green light, here.

Gamut Theatre’s “The Pirates of Penzance” opened their 32nd season this month, our magazine story reported. Director Benjamin Krumreig took a classic play and brought his own modern vision to it.

Home sales and prices in the Harrisburg area generally rose last month, our online story reported. For the three-county region, 546 previously owned houses sold in October versus 514 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $275,000 from $267,000.

Off the Streets-Middletown chapter has helped the unhoused in Dauphin County since March 2023, our magazine story reported. The organization supports people with money for a rental security deposit, as well as with furniture.

Sara Bozich has found all of this weekend’s top happenings in the Harrisburg area. Find them, here.

Sevansa, which specializes in handmade and all-natural soap, plans to open a downtown storefront in December, our online story reported. The Harrisburg-based business will offer its body care products as well as other sustainable gifts.

Theatre Harrisburg’s “Into the Woods,” brings audiences a musical fairytale with plenty of twists and turns. Our review shares her thoughts on the show, which runs through Nov. 24, here.

A trial date was set for the case against suspended Harrisburg judge Sonya McKnight, who is accused of shooting her ex-boyfriend, our online story reported. McKnight is slated to face a jury in April.

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Capital Blue Cross Offers Proven Ways to Manage – and Even Reverse – Type 2 Diabetes

About one-third of Americans will develop diabetes sometime in their lifetime. This chronic disease can cause severe health problems, damage vital organs, and shorten life expectancy.

Capital Blue Cross offers a broad range of proven resources and support to help get diabetes under control and encourage healthier lifestyle choices that can prevent diabetes.

In 2021, Capital became the first Pennsylvania health insurer to offer a unique program that works to reverse type 2 diabetes through a well-formulated, ketogenic diet that helps the body use fat, rather than carbohydrates, as its primary fuel. Capital also offers a separate program that helps members reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and helps those with types 1 or 2 manage their disease.

Our efforts to fight the diabetes epidemic are paying off for members and employers:

  • Capital members using the diabetes control program have collectively lost more than 66,000 pounds since 2021.
  • Capital members using the diabetes reversal program saw their A1c levels drop by about one full point on average during their first year in the program. Higher A1c levels are linked to diabetes complications.
  • On average, Capital members were able to reduce prescription medications by about 46% in the first year of the diabetes reversal strategy.
  • Combined, the programs have helped Capital customers save about $20 million collectively since 2021.

In addition to these tools, Capital reaches out to high-risk members with diabetes to provide care management opportunities. And our Healthy Blue Rewards program offers members a highly personalized roadmap to healthier living, guiding them to the “next right thing” for their health and allowing them to take advantage of online tools and challenges to help stay motivated.

For those who want a more personalized healthcare experience or are unsure where to start on their journey to better health, consider a one-on-one consultation at one of the Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness centers.

For more health and wellness news and information visit Capital Journal by Capital Blue Cross.  

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Suds & Sustainability: Local all-natural soap business to open gift shop in Harrisburg

The future location of Sevansa in downtown Harrisburg.

A downtown storefront will get a clean start as a new business moves in.

Harrisburg-based Sevansa, which specializes in handmade and all-natural soap, plans to open its first brick-and-mortar shop at 210 Walnut St. on Dec. 19.

For the past year, owner Vanessa Somerset-Potter has sold her unique vegan bars at the PA Open Air Farmers Market at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg and online. As her customer base grew, she decided to open a place of her own.

“I really felt like I wanted to create a space where people could find natural products, but also natural homemade home goods,” she said. “I also wanted to showcase local artisans. I just wanted a way to uplift the Harrisburg community while promoting sustainability.”

Sevansa owner Vanessa Somerset-Potter at the PA Open Air Farmers Market.

At the store, customers will be able to find Sevansa’s botanical soap bars in scents like lavender and clary sage, lemongrass and grapefruit and patchouli and geranium. All of the bars are crafted to be gentle on the skin and don’t use tree nut oils, which can be allergens. Somerset-Potter also plans to sell new clean-burning candles that she’s been in the process of creating.

Additionally, the shop will feature sustainable goods from local makers, such as ceramics, food items and other gifts.

“I feel like Harrisburg can be a bit underrated and I’ve found some lovely hidden gems in the Harrisburg area. I would love for my shop to be one of them,” she said.

While Somerset-Potter, who also works as a nurse, began elevating her business to the next level in the past year, she’s been creating her soap bars for the past decade and began experimenting even as a teen.

“I just always loved making things. That was just the way I was,” she said. “I decided I’m going to try using some natural oils and butters and make some products at the age of 19 in my parents’ kitchen.”

Sevansa botanical soap bars

Coming from a Caribbean cultural background, using natural botanicals was always important to Somerset-Potter’s family and influenced her passion for all-natural products. Not only do her products fill a need she had for a soap that would be gentle on her sensitive skin, but her business also allows her to do her part in caring for the earth with the ingredients and products she chooses to use.

“I feel like we need to do our best to keep these natural spaces beautiful and clean,” she said.

Somerset-Potter said that she’s grateful for the loyal customer base she has built in the region and looks forward to meeting new neighbors as well.

“I just want it to be a friendly, welcoming, warm space, a comforting space where people can come and just shop for unique little gifts,” she said. “I hope they’re pleasantly surprised by the products offered.”

Sevansa will be located at 210 Walnut St., Harrisburg, and will be open from Thursday through Saturday, from 12 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit their website.

 

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!


What you’ll find ⤵️

For something new: Franklin Street Social Grand Opening – York County’s first food hall opens on Sunday Worth noting: 3rd in the Burg Friday! Christmas Candy Lane opens at Hersheypark. And it’s gala season, baby! Things on my agenda this weekend: Come see me for the next to last EVER SoMa Pop-Up on Friday! HOLLA Spirits and Chef Tony’s are in the house! Also, a tour of the State Hospital (who wants to rewatch Girl, Interrupted with me?)

For your weekend planning

Below are more options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

  1. Add the SoMa Christmas Market on Dec. 1 to your calendar
  2. Next Sunday is Camp Hill’s Candy Cane Walk
  3. Do you have your wine advent calendar yet?
  4. Are you on my email list?
  5. Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

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Spring trial scheduled for suspended Harrisburg judge accused of shooting boyfriend

Dauphin County Courthouse

The case against a suspended Harrisburg judge accused of shooting her boyfriend will move toward a spring trial date.

During a status meeting in the Dauphin County Courthouse on Wednesday, a trial date of April 7 was set for the case against Sonya McKnight, a suspended magisterial district judge.

In February, McKnight was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of Michael McCoy, her ex-boyfriend. McCoy was shot in the head while sleeping in his home in Susquehanna Township, and is blind in one eye as a result. McKnight has pled not guilty to the charges.

Sonya McKnight (file photo)

In August, the defense attempted to get McKnight’s charges dropped, claiming that the prosecution did not have enough evidence to bring the case to trial. However, the motion was unsuccessful.

McKnight’s attorney Cory Leshner also said on Wednesday that he planned to file a motion for a jury to be brought in from another county.

McKnight was suspended from her role as magisterial district judge last November, for the second time, based on allegations of misconduct from the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.

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