Harrisburg proposes constructing entertainment pavilion in Riverfront Park

August 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

The proposed site of the pavilion in Riverfront Park.

Harrisburg may get a new entertainment pavilion in one of its main parks.

City officials shared that Harrisburg submitted a grant application to the state for funds to construct a pavilion in Riverfront Park to use for city festivals and events.

City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the ratification of the grant application submission to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for $117,228 for the construction of the structure.

The proposed multipurpose pavilion would be built in Riverfront Park, near the Civic Club of Harrisburg’s building near North Street. According to city Grants Director Rebecca Vollmer, the concrete bandshell would be similar to the pavilion in Italian Lake Park.

The stage would be used for city events such as Kipona, Artsfest, Fourth of July and other events, and could be rented out to the Civic Club and other organizations to bring revenue to the city, Vollmer said.

Vollmer said that the city currently pays around $17,000 to $21,000 for stages for festival entertainment each year.

If the grant is awarded, the city would be required to match 15% of the total project cost, about $18,000. Vollmer expects that the city would essentially make back that money in savings by not having to rent a stage, within a year.

City Council members asked questions about how security and upkeep of the structure would be handled. City officials said that those details would be arranged if and when the award is granted.

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Cultural Connections: Local group organizes Hispanic Heritage Month events to highlight creativity, community

August 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

A few of the Hispanic Heritage Month event organizers. (From left) Eliezer Rodriguez, owner of Koki Latin Cuisine, Vanessa Codorniu, owner of The Biz Bruja, Andrea Grove, owner of Elementary Coffee Co.

A series of Hispanic Heritage Month events will showcase the diversity and creativity within the Harrisburg area’s Latino population.

A group of local professionals have organized a month-long celebration including food, music and wellness activities, all with the goal of fostering a sense of community and exemplifying the ways Latinos express themselves.

The festival, running from Sept. 14 through Oct. 13, will offer events in Harrisburg and New Cumberland.

“We are creatives, we are entrepreneurs. We are so diverse,” said Eliezer Rodriguez, owner of Koki Latin Cuisine and one of the organizers. “I don’t think people really realize how diverse Latinos really are.”

The range of events was curated to display that diversity and creativity of the community, pushing back against stereotypes, organizers explained.

The opening event of the month, “Café con Pan,” will use coffee and food to bring people together at Elementary Coffee Co. in Harrisburg to share their cultural stories and experiences with coffee, an important part of Latino culture. Other events include a vendor market, happy hour with networking, a Latino improv group and dance and spiritual medicine workshops.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a unique opportunity for us who identify as Hispanic or Latinx to show off who we are and why we are so proud of our ethnicity,” said Leslie Avila, another organizer. “Being Latinx means so many different things to different people, so this is important to us, for us to express who we are.”

Several event organizers also shared how they hope the events allow members of the Latino community to form connections, something that can be challenging in a smaller city like Harrisburg.

“I’ve been here in Harrisburg almost 20 years at this point, but I feel like I’ve now found my people,” said Emil Rodriquez-Powell about connecting with the event team. “Even though I’m a Latino business owner and I’ve met so many people throughout the years, I am limited in my connection with other Latinos.”

Most events are free to the public, with a few charging a small fee. The group is also still looking for volunteers and sponsors for the month, as well as people who are willing to share their stories for the “Café con Pan” event.

Hispanic Heritage Month events include the following:

Café Con Pan (Part 1 and Part 2), Sept. 14 at Elementary Coffee Co. in Harrisburg and Oct. 13 at Source Creative Space in New Cumberland: A unique community gathering celebrating the tradition of “Café con Pan” in Latino culture. We will kick off the month-long celebration with live storytelling and a celebration of coffee with empanadas and a variety of breads from different Latino and Caribbean countries, and we will end the month with a Cafe Con Pan party where we will show the stories we recorded on September 14.
Latinx Night Market, Sept. 20 at Culture & Commerce Coworking Space in Harrisburg: Celebrate with Latino DJ artists, Hispanic vendors and artisans, and food tastings.
Happy Hour, Sept. 26 at Kuora Lounge: An evening of networking, food and drink, and dance hosted by Young Professionals of Color – Greater HBG.
“Latinx in Business: Meet The Team”, Oct. 4 at Source Creative Space in New Cumberland: Meet Latinx Creative Entrepreneurs behind the planning of this month-long celebration as they share their experiences, motivations and stories.
Bomba y Plena, Oct. 6 at Source Creative Space in New Cumberland: A cultural dance and traditional practice workshop and performance.
Ancestral Healing and Traditional Wellness, Oct. 6 at Source Creative Space in New Cumberland: Wellness experience highlighting cultural traditions of spiritual medicine, including healing ceremony, traditional meditation and yoga.
Latino Improv Group Inaugural Performance, Oct. 11 at the HIT Theatre in Harrisburg: Comedy and performance from Harrisburg’s first Latino Improv Group.

Ultimately, organizers want to express that there’s no right way to express Latino culture and to show other community members the rich diversity of Latinos.

“You are Latino your way. There’s not anything that you have to fit into,” said Vanessa Codorniu, an organizer and owner of The Biz Bruja, an ancestral healing and coaching business. “Just show up, and we are going to love you as you are.”

For more information or to become a sponsor or volunteer, contact Leslie Avila at [email protected].

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Triple P Fitness Presents Trainer Max Night

August 27, 2024 | by Admin

Triple P Fitness is excited to announce an exhilarating event: Trainer Max Night, happening on August 29th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at our state-of-the-art private personal training studio located at 2609 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Join us for an unforgettable evening where all five of our certified personal trainers will be showcasing their strength as they max out their squat, bench, and deadlift in front of clients, spectators, and fitness enthusiasts. This is a unique opportunity to witness top-tier athleticism and explore our brand-new facility.

Adding to the excitement, Jawns on Fire Sneaker Store will be present, offering exclusive sneaker selections straight from their Cybertruck and shoe store trailer. The event will also feature delicious catering by Burger Yum, ensuring you have plenty of energy to enjoy the festivities.

The event is free and open to the public. Expect a high-energy atmosphere with loud music and a vibrant crowd. Come through and experience the passion and commitment that makes Triple P Fitness the top choice for personal training in Harrisburg.

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Harrisburg School District selects new superintendent of schools

August 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Dr. Benjamin Henry. Photo courtesy of the Harrisburg School District.

The Harrisburg School District has selected a new top official.

Dr. Benjamin Henry will soon serve as the new superintendent of schools, following a summer-long search, the district announced on Monday evening.

Henry fills the post left vacant by previous superintendent Eric Turman, who resigned and took a job as the superintendent of Central Dauphin School District. Following his resignation, receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, as acting superintendent.

According to a press release from the district, Suski is slated to approve Henry’s appointment at a board meeting on Tuesday.

If approved, Henry’s four-year term would begin on Nov. 1, with Stokes continuing in the role in the meantime. The district has set Henry’s salary at $199,500.

Henry brings with him over two decades of experience in public schools, according to the district. He served as the regional assistant superintendent of Polk County Schools in Florida for the past four years, overseeing 29 schools. Before that, he held jobs as a special education teacher, a middle school math teacher and a principal. Henry was also appointed by the governor to serve on the state’s Education Ethics Committee.

Henry holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Alabama State University, a master’s degree in computer information systems and a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

“The Harrisburg School District is eager to welcome Dr. Ben Henry as its next superintendent of schools. Dr. Henry has the full support of the elected school board,” Suski said.

Suski also said that Henry presents as a “systems thinker with a passion for urban education, a strong communicator and relationship builder.” His experience in education will also be helpful this year as the district enters the last year under the current three-year cycle of state-mandated receivership.

The district partnered with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) on the hiring search, which included community surveys, recruitment, interviewing and additional processes. The search committee reviewed 21 applications, interviewed seven candidates and selected Henry from among three finalists, according to the district.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Sea Creatures, the Future Backward and Segue to September

August 27, 2024 | by Bob MacGinnes

Giant Puppet Parade

As the dog days of summer draw to a close, you can teach an old dog a new trick. Just ask the City of Harrisburg. On Aug. 31, Kipona (“on the sparkling water”) turns 108. That is how long this time-honored tradition has been around.

To celebrate the year, there will be a “Giant Puppet Parade.” This new addition will throw caution to the wind and hail the denizens of the deep blue sea—all puppets from sea urchins to crustaceans, jellyfish, amphibians, anemones, (not enemies), and even the “Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

Harrisburg invites you to join the parade and strut your stuff for Kipona’s second day, Sunday, Sept. 1, in a march that will go down in the annals and lore of our fair city. With a nod and a wink to Baltimore’s Kinetic Race Puppet Pageantry and Nola’s Giant Puppet Parade initiative, local creatives, led by Millworks artist P.D. Murray, brainstormed the idea. The city’s special events team then ran with the novel concept of a puppet parade featuring sea creatures via puppets for kids of all ages.

With Mayor Wanda Williams giving the green light, the city, in conjunction with a band of merrymakers, promise an afternoon festivity that will start the celebration in grand style. The parade jumps off at 4:15 p.m., with the vanguard forming at State and Front streets, led by a giant “River Monster” created by artist Jeff Semmerling of Co-Exist Gallery. They are sponsoring the event as well as Art Side Out Studio, both from Steelton. It’s a win-win for kids of all ages in costume or plying the puppets by plucking their strings and for all those onlookers watching the parade go by. Cash prizes in three categories will be awarded and presented by Co-Exist Gallery. The streets will teem within a dream, and you may scream with delight or fear, but better yet, send up a cheer!

Part II: The Future Backwards

Science fiction writer, William Gibson, wrote, “The Future is Already Here” In an election year to end all others, there may be two candidates who would love to see what Nov. 6 determines, from the day before.

The creative team at Carlisle Arts Learning Center, comprised of Cathy Stone, Abria Donato, Mo Geiger and Rachel O’Connor, recently unveiled an art installation dedicated to “the tense that is yet to be” but has already taken place. “Working Backwards,” the installation’s title, is an all-inclusive excursion traveling to the future, which takes us to the year 2124, complete with “artifacts, packages and paperwork.” All delineate events, ephemera and exculpatory evidence tied to the 100 years that lie before us, allowing mankind to, at the very least, examine life, as it may take from knowing what we know today, being able to change the future free from guilt or regret. We could easily be on the hook for future criminal acts such as ignoring the radical shift in climate change, the economy, public health, immigration and the list goes on. In viewing visual validations of all from the artist across categorical criteria, one can easily conclude history repeats itself time and again. Given a clear glimpse of a century forward, we can alter the trajectory of tried and true into one of tangible transformation.

A wall from the “Walking Backwards” exhibit

Artist and professor Mia Cinelli of Kentucky visited the Carlisle area, collecting objects and ideas in a mudlarking adventure by the Letort Creek before installing her digital exploration into working back to a timeline that mirrors present day. Coupled with satellite installments at the Cumberland County Historical Society and Bosler Library, the exhibits collectively entail “Working Backwards” on view through Sept.14. Based on the brilliant conceptualization and exacting execution of the complete presentation, this study is timely and thought-provoking with more than enough material to build a political platform so convincing a candidate could win election.

Part III: Sneak Peek for September’s First Week

Owner Debbie Smith of her eponymous gallery in New Cumberland is hosting an artist’s reception to kick off the fall art season on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 190 Reno Ave. Her headquarters and art gallery will feature the oil paintings of nature lover, Linda Williard. Be sure to look for detective Benoit Blanc milling around with the guests inspecting the art. Artist Williard paints with a pallet knife—Hollywood may be scouting for a new locale for “Knives Out: Part IV.” Debbie, are you ready to make a cameo appearance?

A painting by Donna Berk Barlup

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Mechanicsburg Art School and Center (The Red Barn) is hosting the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters in a “Paint Out” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the grounds at 18 Art Craft Drive. The artist reception will follow from 1 to 3 p.m. A paint out is the artist’s equivalent of a dance off at a nightclub. Come see for yourself and meet these talented artists. Look for local plein air luminaries Donna Berk Barlup, Lina Ferrara, Julie Riker, Susan Begnini-Landis, Kelly Charlesworth, Mary DePalma, Liz Dallucci, Karon Karhuff, Clare Klaum, Cate McKissick, Debbie Thompson and John Capowski. Repeat this five times real fast and then spin around and raise the mast.

Dates to Remember
Sunday, Sept. 8, the 36th Annual Gallery Walk, Harrisburg,12 to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14, the 42nd Annual Hummelstown Arts Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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The Salvation Army Harrisburg 13th Annual Shoe Strut

August 27, 2024 | by Admin

WIN Women INvolved, auxiliary to The Salvation Army Harrisburg, will be hosting its 13th annual Shoe Strut event on Friday, September 20th at 11:00 a.m. at the Hershey Lodge. Join us for Central PA’s largest networking lunch, silent and live auctions. This year there will be NEW fashion and contest elements in addition to the “Best shoes at the table” runway strut. Proceeds from the event provide funding for The Salvation Army Harrisburg’s programs and services to the local community. Also, each ticketed guest enables us to provide a shoe voucher to a local child in need. 700 guests are expected, so reserve your spot before the event sells out!

For sponsorship and ticket information, visit www.shoestrut.com or contact Cindy Minnich at 717-233-6755 ext. 119 or via email at [email protected].

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Stories, art from movement to shut down PA immigrant detention center coming to Harrisburg art museum

August 26, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

“Flores de Libertad” by artist Michelle Angela Ortiz

An upcoming exhibit in Harrisburg will serve as a celebration, a historical archive and a lesson in the power of community action.

“Queremos Justicia: How We Shut Down Berks” will come to the Susquehanna Art Museum in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing art and stories from the years-long movement to close an immigrant detention center in Berks County.

The exhibit, which runs from Aug. 31 to Nov. 3, incorporates paintings, posters, T-shirts, photography and a documentary created and used for advocacy during the Shut Down Berks Coalition’s eight-year fight to close the prison, which detained undocumented immigrant families.

The detention center was one of only three prisons for immigrant families in the United States and was known to have unsafe and abusive conditions, according to Jasmine Rivera, a co-founder of the coalition. Over the years, hundreds of volunteers and organizations partnered with the coalition. On Jan. 31, 2023, the detention center was shut down.

Art became a significant piece of the puzzle for organizers, as artists reached out to support the cause, many volunteering to create work to educate and inform the public on the issue, advocate to lawmakers and amplify the voices of the immigrants.

“I and many folks in the coalition would say, ‘I don’t want to be part of a movement without art,” Rivera said. “Art brings people together. It was calls to action and community building.”

One of those artists involved in the movement was Philadelphia-based Michelle Angela Ortiz, who created murals, billboards and bus stop ads as part of her “Familias Separadas” campaign. She spent months visiting women in the detention facility, listening to their stories and working with them to create art installations and her documentary “Las Madres de Berks.” Ortiz is also responsible for a permanent mural in Allison Hill featuring an image of an immigrant woman and her son.

“I was trying to find ways to focus on their strengths,” she said. “I was able to work with them—not ignoring the struggles they’ve been through—but really focusing on their strengths.”

At the SAM exhibit, which is the fourth stop for the traveling show, viewers will get to see Ortiz’s “Flores de Libertad” display, which incorporates over a thousand paper flowers with messages of freedom written on them by community members and the women who were detained at Berks. This is the first showing of the exhibit that will include this piece of art. Her documentary will also be shown as part of the show.

For Ortiz and Rivera, the exhibit functions as an archive of history and tells the story of the fight for freedom, but also serves as a celebration of successful activism.

“The significance of having this prison shut down is massive,” Ortiz said. “This moment is a shining example of community coming together and winning a fight.”

Rivera also hopes that the Shut Down Berks Coalition’s story and its use of art for its mission inspires viewers to realize that their skills and passions can make an impact.

“I hope folks can see that when fighting for change we need everybody,” Rivera said. “Everyone is capable and talented. We need the artists just like we need the organizers.”

For more information about “Queremos Justicia: How We Shut Down Berks,” visit the Susquehanna Art Museum’s website. To view Michelle Angela Ortiz’s work, visit her website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 23, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Denim Coffee Co. owners Tony Diehl and Matt Ramsay join Harristown CEO Brad Jones in front of their future location at the Menaker.

It’s been a mild, sunny week here in Harrisburg, giving us the first taste of fall weather on the horizon. Below, you’ll find all of our news coverage from this past week, so make sure you catch up before sliding into weekend plans.

The Broad Street Market was awarded $350,000 in a state grant, our online story reported. The funds will go towards upgrading and repairing the market’s stone building.

Denim Coffee Co. announced that it plans to open a second location in Harrisburg, our online story reported. The coffee shop signed a lease for space on the first floor of the Menaker apartment building downtown.

Harrisburg Area Road Runners is celebrating its 50^th anniversary, our magazine story reported. The group also recognized its inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Harrisburg called on volunteers to help clean up storm damage from Hurricane Debby in the Bellevue Park neighborhood. In our online story, find out how to get involved.

Hope Academy in Middletown is beginning its second year of offering bilingual STEAM education to preschoolers. In our magazine story, read about the benefits of learning a second language for a child.

Men in the Kitchen will bring its Cajun fusion cuisine to Harrisburg as owners plan to open in the former Firehouse Restaurant on N. 2^nd Street, our online story reported. The new restaurant will be the York-based business’ second location.

PennDOT shared that a portion of I-83 in Harrisburg would close overnight this weekend, our online story reported. The road will close as PennDOT demolishes the overhead 29^th Street bridge as part of its Capital Beltway project.

Taylor Chip, a cookie company based in Lancaster County, has expanded in its last decade of business to several locations in the area, including nationwide shipping. The company has recently set up shop in Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market, selling its uniquely large and dense cookies, our magazine story reported.

Volunteering is a great way for families to introduce children to service, our magazine story reported. Through spending time helping at local nonprofits and organizations, children can learn empathy and self-confidence.

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Broad Street Market receives state grant for stone building upgrades

August 23, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Rep. Patty Kim (D-103), along with other local and market officials, announces state grant for Broad Street Market at a press conference.

The Broad Street Market has announced that it was awarded a significant grant from the commonwealth.

At a Friday press conference, state Rep. Patty Kim (D-103) and Rep. Dave Madsen (D-104) shared that the market will receive $350,000 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

“During the budget negotiations, we worked hard to make sure this was included and was a priority,” Kim said.

The funds will support the market in making necessary upgrades to the stone building as well as helping with operational expenses. Specifically, the market will repair the roof, which frequently leaks, and consider HVAC upgrades in the building, according to the market’s board Chair Eric Hagarty. A needs assessment will also be completed to determine additional needed upgrades and repairs.

The news of the grant funding comes just over a week after the market shared that its former executive director, Tanis Monroy, has been charged with a felony for allegedly stealing from the market.

According to Hagarty, there will be audit and compliance requirements attached to the market’s spending of the grant money. Additionally, from now on, the market will require dual signatory requirements for expenses and is posting every bank account transaction publicly, he said.

“We have instituted a number of strong financial controls to make sure that something like this never happens again,” Hagarty said of the theft allegations.

While several months ago, the market was struggling with an operational deficit following the July 2023 fire, Hagarty said that the market has begun breaking even, allowing them to use the grant funding for needs beyond keeping the doors open.

“It’s going to be a game changer for us to be able to now improve the facility, make it a better experience for customers, and make it a better experience for the small businesses whose livelihoods depend on the market,” he said.

Harrisburg-based Midtown Property Management is providing services to the market, with staff member Ashlynn Buie serving as the acting market manager.

According to company owner Justin Heinly, the stone building upgrades will allow the market to match the new amenities that will be included in the brick building rebuild project.

The city is currently demolishing the interior of the brick building, which was heavily damaged by a July 2023 fire. Officials have shared that they expect the rebuild to be finished by winter 2026 or spring 2027.

For more information about the Broad Street Market, visit their website.

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On Fire: Cajun fusion restaurant to open in former firehouse restaurant in Harrisburg

August 22, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Men in the Kitchen plans to open in the former Firehouse Restaurant.

One of Harrisburg’s most unique restaurant venues has a new life ahead, with added spice.

Men in the Kitchen, a Cajun fusion restaurant in York, plans to bring the heat to Harrisburg, opening a second location in the former Firehouse Restaurant on N. 2^nd Street.

The restaurant will operate out of the historic Hope Fire Station, built in 1871, which has been a restaurant for over 20 years. The business was last operated by Atlanta-based owners, opening in 2020 and closing about a year later. The building has sat vacant since.

Men in the Kitchen co-owners Justin Coleman and Kyle Moore plan to keep the charm and unique features of the restaurant that people are familiar with, but will change the name and bring their own spin on the décor and menu.

“We were looking to expand into another market. We always had our eyes set on Harrisburg,” Coleman said. “We want to be seen as a go-to location in the Harrisburg area.”

Justin Coleman and Kyle Moore

Men in the Kitchen opened its restaurant and catering business in York in September 2023 and has since drawn a loyal following of customers, according to the owners.

Coleman, a former co-owner of Crawdaddy’s Restaurant in Harrisburg, and Moore became business partners, connecting over shared passions for cooking and customer service.

The restaurant serves fresh, house-made dishes such as Cajun pasta, “Sunken Crabcake”—crabcakes served in lobster bisque, and Cuban sandwiches.

Their Harrisburg menu will offer many of the same dishes and several new ones, as the new building provides them with a larger kitchen space. They will also offer drink pairings from the bar.

“We really pride ourselves on customer service, presentation and making sure that the food tastes good,” Coleman said. “We pay attention to the details.”

The owners plan to do renovations to the space, opening the first and second floors for dining and eventually utilizing the third floor for event space. They also hope to host live music in the restaurant and special events such as private dinners.

They expect to open the restaurant in early November.

Men in the Kitchen is slated to open at 606 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information about Men in the Kitchen, visit their website.

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