Harrisburg seeks volunteers to clean up tornado damage

August 21, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Storm damage in Bellevue Park.

Harrisburg is calling on volunteers to help clean up damage caused by Hurricane Debby earlier this month.

The city’s Public Works Department and workers with Disaster Aid USA are asking for assistance removing downed trees and debris in the Bellevue Park neighborhood, which saw significant damage from an Aug. 9 tornado touchdown.

Community members can volunteer on the following days:

Thursday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cleanup will take place in the area where Briarcliff Road, Chestnut Street and Parkhill Lane meet. Volunteers will help move downed tree limbs and shrubbery to the curb and public works crews will use heavy equipment trucks to grab debris, cut up tree limbs and run logs through wood chippers.

Volunteer parking is available at The Bridge Eco-Village (former Bishop McDevitt High School).

People interested in helping should wear closed-toed shoes, pants and long-sleeve shirts. Gloves and hats are also advised. The city asks that they bring rakes and loppers if available. Water, porta-potties and a shade tent will be provided by the city.

During the cleanup, through traffic will be closed to non-emergency vehicles between the intersections of Briarcliff and Market streets and Chestnut Street and Pentwater Road.

“We are calling on Harrisburg residents to help our own in their time of need,” said Public Works Director Dave West, in a statement. “This tornado has massively devastated our community, and we are using every possible asset that we can to try and clean up this entire area so we can make the city better for our children, and all of our residents.”

City residents can also contact West directly at [email protected]. Public Works will pick up any debris left curbside. The city will also come onto residents’ property to remove debris, with written consent via email.

For more information, visit the city’s website.

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Harrisburg section of I-83 to close overnight this weekend as overhead bridge demolished

August 21, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

PennDOT I-83 detour map

A portion of I-83 in Harrisburg will close briefly this weekend due to construction.

PennDOT announced that on Saturday, Aug. 24, the highway between Exit 44B (19^th Street) and Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) will temporarily close as the 29^th Street bridge is demolished.

The bridge demo is part of PennDOT’s I-83 Capital Beltway Project, which includes widening and reconstructing portions of the highway and overhead bridges at 29th and 19th streets, along with other work.

Due to the work, PennDOT will implement lane restrictions in both directions of I-83 between Exit 44B and Exit 45 at 7 p.m. on Saturday. A full closure of the interstate in this area will take place at 11 p.m.

The highway will reopen to traffic at 8 a.m. on Sunday

A detour will be in place, directing southbound I-83 traffic to take Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) to Paxton Street, then proceed west on Paxton Street to 17^th Street and the ramp to southbound I-83. Northbound traffic will exit at 19^th Street, then take 19^th Street south to Paxton Street, then Paxton Street east to Eisenhower Boulevard north to the ramp to northbound I-83.

For more information about the I-83 Capital Beltway Project, click here.

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Denim Coffee Co. to open second location in downtown Harrisburg, with meeting space, food options

August 21, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

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

A central Pa.-based coffee company plans to open a second Harrisburg location, in the heart of downtown.

Denim Coffee Co. has signed a lease for 2,500 square feet of space on the first floor of the Menaker apartment building, located at Market Square at 17 S. 2^nd St., according to building owner Harristown Enterprises.

“This is going to be a tremendous location for Denim on Market Square in downtown Harrisburg with access to a growing residential population and customers from the downtown hotels and the growing UPMC Harrisburg campus,” said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO. “We are particularly excited for our apartment tenants to have onsite access to this fantastic new coﬀee shop.”

In 2021, following a lengthy delay caused by the COVID pandemic, Denim opened its first Harrisburg shop in snug space at 401 Walnut St. It will retain that location, in addition to its new café, according to Denim.

“While our first Harrisburg location is fantastic, we have limited window bar seating, and we see a need in Harrisburg for meeting space,” said co-owner Matt Ramsay.

Harristown stated that it expects to begin building out the space next month, with a planned opening by the end of the year.

In addition to its two Harrisburg shops, Denim has locations in Chambersburg, Carlisle, Dickinson College and Mechanicsburg, with a new shop opening soon in Lancaster.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Harristown to bring our second Harrisburg café to Menaker featuring our standard espresso menu along with breakfast sandwiches and plenty of seating for guests and meetings,” Ramsay said. “If you like coﬀee and meeting space, you’re going to love this shop.”

The Menaker is a 28-unit apartment building, converted from a circa-1906 office building, that opened in 2022. It includes first-floor retail space, which Denim now will occupy.

For more information on Denim Coffee Co., visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 16, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg worked to clean up fallen trees and debris following a storm last weekend.

We’ve made it through another week here in Harrisburg and, as always, we’ve covered all the happenings. We reported on several stories about the Broad Street Market, as well as the aftermath of an intense weekend storm. If you missed any of it, don’t worry, as all of our stories are linked below.

August’s Adventure Together column has several ways to soak in the last bit of summer with your family. Read here, to find our writer’s recommendations.

Bob’s Art Blog reviews a current exhibit at the Susquehanna Art Museum while giving a huge kudos to the city’s summer art program for youth in collaboration with the Art Association of Harrisburg. Click here to read.

The Broad Street Market Alliance announced it is seeking community members to fill two vacant, at-large seats on its board. In our online story, learn how to apply.

Felony charges against the former Broad Street Market manager were filed in Dauphin County, our online story reported. The market’s board confirmed that the charges stem from alleged stealing from the market.

Good Ground Coffee Company recently opened in Camp Hill as a passion project for two former Messiah University students, our magazine story reported. The shop employs survivors of human trafficking, helping to give them a hand up.

Home sales and prices both jumped in the Harrisburg area in July, our online story reported. For the three-county region, 608 homes sold versus 517 in July 2023, as the median sales price rose to $286,000 from $264,900.

Interior demolition began on the Broad Street Market this week, our online story reported. Harrisburg began demo inside the market’s fire-damaged brick building, with the city declaring the market situation an official emergency.

Kappa Omega, a Harrisburg fraternity, started a “Fatherhood and Mentoring Program,” welcoming young men into their State Street facility for education and relationship building, our magazine story reported. Kappa Omega men will host sessions on gun violence prevention, financial growth and career planning, among other topics.

Luca Savarino, a local young musician, has always tried to find the hardest thing to do, and then do it. In our magazine story, read about the Harrisburg Academy grad who recently won a national YoungArts award.

Sara Bozich has rounded up all of the best events happening in and around Harrisburg this weekend, here.

A tornado caused by remnants of Hurricane Debby touched down in Harrisburg on Friday, damaging 111 properties, our online story reported. The city is offering cleanup assistance to residents and seeking to secure state funding to help cover the costs.

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Former Broad Street Market manager charged with theft

August 15, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

The former manager of the Broad Street Market has been charged with theft.

Felony charges against former market manager Tanis Monroy were filed in Dauphin County on Thursday, the market’s board confirming that the charges stem from alleged stealing from the market.

Monroy resigned his position in February, at the time, stating his decision was due to health complications. He began his role in October 2022.

Prior to his departure, in January, new market board members began reviewing the organization’s finances and “immediately identified several concerning and unauthorized transactions,” a release from the board stated.

Tanis Monroy

After Monroy left, the board retained legal counsel provided by One Law, alerted the Harrisburg Police Bureau and Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, and has since cooperated with their investigation, said the statement.

“We appreciate the city and District Attorney for conducting a thorough investigation,” the release stated.

Monroy could not be reached for comment.

Before his resignation, Monroy received criticism from market vendors and community members for his proposal to nearly double vendor rents to close a budget gap following the brick building fire last year. At packed board meetings, some people even called for Monroy’s resignation, asking for more transparency and better communication.

Since February, board members have volunteered their time to oversee market operations, along with donated assistance from Midtown Property Management.

The market is now working with Members 1st Federal Credit Union, has instituted dual signatory requirements for checks, opened board meetings to the public and has publicly posted online every financial transaction on a monthly basis, the board stated.

“These precedents of transparency will empower the public to hold the market accountable to the financial stewardship of this essential community asset,” according to the release.

Additionally, at the market’s last board meeting, members voted in favor of working with Midtown Property Management, which helps provide day-to-day oversight of the market. A Midtown Property Management staff member will operate as the market manager on a part-time basis, until the market gets to a financial position where it can hire a full-time manager, Board Chair Eric Hagarty told TheBurg.

According to the market, the best way for people to support is to shop and dine in the stone building and temporary tent.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has pitched in to ensure the market’s continued operation over the previous six months despite the enormous financial strain we have faced,” the statement read. “We are in a much stronger position now than we were six months ago and are confident that the market’s brightest days are ahead.”

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

August 15, 2024 | by 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: Garden Soiree at The Willows at Ashcombe Mansion Saturday; HBG Flea Summer in SoMa on Sunday Worth noting: Final HU Summer Concert on Sunday with Brothers Osborne Things on my agenda this weekend: Brothers Osborne on Aug. 18 in Riverfront Park

For your weekend planning

Friday: Girls Night Out for 3rd in the Burg in SoMa
Sunday: HU Presents Brothers Osborne in Riverfront Park
End-of-summer travel? Check out my go-to for pet boarding
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are more options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

Aug. 29: SoMa Block Party – check out the lineup
Exclusive promo code for the Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival
You can now sponsor the Weekend Roundup! Ask me how!
Are you on my email list?
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

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Bob’s Art Blog: Harrisburg Artists Trailblaze Summer

August 13, 2024 | by Bob MacGinnes

“Gather and Release” by Elaine Elledge

Elaine Elledge in the Margins @ SAM

There is no greater force at work in an artist than the need to create. There are times when, due to circumstances far beyond control, that need gets sidelined even though the desire burns bright.

Altoona-born, Harrisburg-based artist Elaine Elledge faced such a daunting challenge, due to a serious health concern combined with the test of new motherhood. Those demands, physical and emotional, left the artist with depleted strength, as she looked for time to see her project through to the end. The fervent desire to push onward against odds and obstacles won out. Her remarkable reward is on view in the main lobby at the Susquehanna Art Museum through Oct. 6. At the halfway point in its run at SAM, it is the golden ticket for this Friday’s 3rd in the Burg.

Finding beauty in impermanence is the hallmark foundation of the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi. Chasing the ever-allusive entity of beauty is what kept Elaine afloat, navigating the flotsam and jetsam of life’s sometimes difficult waters. Utilizing fragmentary moments during the baby’s naps and when health provided strength, she carved out crucial windows of time. Mounting an astounding solo show, “Margins and the Height of the Sun” at SAM proved to be Elaine’s raison d’etre, realizing the tangible goal of seeing her work completed.

Elaine Elledge

The Millworks artist-in-residence can take heart with a great sense of accomplishment, knowing all the hard work was well worth the balancing act it took. Incorporating paper, cheese cloth, fabric and the fine arts of printmaking and sewing combined to create a rich and full experience with a tactile tableau that weaves both the medical and domestic materials of life into a tapestry of triumphant tenacity.

“Margins”…could refer to those slivers of sacrifice when Elaine’s strength ebbed, yet her need to push through superseded any shards of discomfort, shining a light at the end of the tunnel. The artist divulged, “between moves, babies and illness, making art is not done out of abundance but exhaustion and weakness. It is necessary. It is beautiful. It is hard.”

Elaine found deeper meaning in achieving her goal through a will of spirit. Her journey, cathartic in nature, is shared from a physical, philosophical and personal perspective with every stitch and thread detailing the road to resilience and resurgence.

Contact the artist: [email protected]

susquehannaartmuseum.org

Hometown Heroes of the AAH

Allison Juliana and Carrie Feid

“Yay we go way back where we started from. We were hometown heroes high enough for everyone. Oh, we used to say, ‘it’s one for all and all for one.’”

So go the beginning lines from the effervescently catchy song, “Hometown Heroes” by Moon Taxi from a few years back. Viewing the big picture at a vantage point high on the hill at Reservoir Park, summer art instructors of the AAH, Carrie Feidt and Allison Juliana, had home field advantage and 20/20 vision in their game plan for the entire summer. Teaching art and the love for it is second nature to these two, just doing what comes naturally. Translating that to active city youth, every day, the routine of creative endeavors could pose a challenge, but these two art adventurers are so skilled that their target group was unaware they were learning a new skill set. It was all just like having a group hug daily with fun at the center.

Young artists at work

All seated at the picnic tables by the pavilion, the group of young artists were only too eager to put books aside just for a few weeks and pick up paints, brushes and other tools of the trade. The best part—it exercises the right side of the brain, the one that stimulates thinking outside the box, the creative cortex.

Carrie and Allison were wowed by the group’s output and even. at times, a competitive nature was all in good fun for lifting spirits. The art classes were part of Harrisburg’s Summer Enrichment Program, free to city residents age 6 to 14. The camps just ended on Aug. 9, running five days a week with a free lunch for all participants. Beyond the site at Reservoir, the program was offered at seven other city parks. The camps included yoga, pool trips and art but not all at once. The campers can’t wait until next summer, keeping their brushes at the ready. Judging by the art map, just about every city quadrant had a camp close by. A big thanks to Mayor Wanda Williams for such a great summer initiative and to Carrie Wissler-Thomas at the Art Association of Harrisburg for providing the program with the art instructors, one of its many community-wide art outreach programs. Hometown Heroes ends this celebration of its summer chapter with art campers singing, “one for all and all for one.”

Contact: artassocofhbg.com

harrisburgpa.gov+summer

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Harrisburg works to clean up storm damage, secure state disaster assistance

August 12, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Fallen trees and debris are piled up in Bellevue Park following a tornado touchdown in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg will seek state funding to help cover costs incurred from the cleanup of damage from Friday’s severe storm.

According to the city, a tornado caused by remnants of Hurricane Debby touched down in Harrisburg on Friday, damaging 111 properties. The storm wreaked havoc on businesses and residences, with the Bellevue Park neighborhood in Allison Hill sustaining the most significant damage.

The National Weather Service later confirmed that an EF-1 tornado, with wind speeds up to 105 mph, tore a 3.5-mile path of destruction from Swatara Township through Harrisburg to Susquehanna Township early Friday morning.

Since Friday, the city’s Public Works Department has been working in the area, from around Derry Street to Penbrook, to clean up fallen trees and debris.

City Communications Director Matt Maisel said that Harrisburg is submitting estimates of the total cost to the city of labor and resources used for the cleanup, in hopes of getting the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to issue a disaster declaration. If a declaration is in place, the city will be eligible for state financial assistance.

Harrisburg Fire Bureau Chief Brian Enterline estimated the cost of storm cleanup at about $417,000 total, with debris removal at about $150,000, road repairs at $100,000 and utility repairs, including 34 damaged street lights, at $167,000.

These are costs solely incurred by the city, not costs of damage to property owners, city officials explained.

Roots of a fallen tree, due to a tornado spawned from the remnants of Hurricane Debby, damaged a sidewalk in Bellevue Park.

The city will submit its estimates to Dauphin County, which will then go to the governor’s office and to PEMA to make a decision. Enterline said that PEMA typically covers about 75% of the total cost of the city’s expenses in these cases.

The city estimates that cleanup work may be finished by the end of the week.

Public Works will dispose of any debris that property owners affected by the storm place outside for pickup and will assist with removing debris on residents’ property, with written permission. Community members in need of assistance can contact Public Works Director Dave West directly at [email protected].

Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD) and Crisis Cleanup have also set up a call center to streamline assistance. By calling 844-965-1386, people can register to receive cleanup assistance from volunteers with local, regional and statewide PAVOAD organizations. Volunteers can help with muck-out operations, tree removal and debris cleanup.

The city is also keeping all collected wood to offer to city residents in the near future. More information will be forthcoming.

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Broad Street Market Alliance seeks community members to fill board seats

August 12, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

The Broad Street Market is looking for a few good people.

On Monday, the Broad Street Market Alliance announced it was seeking community members to fill two vacant, at large seats on its board.

“By joining the Broad Street Market Alliance Board, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our community and help us continue our post-fire recovery,” said Eric Hagarty, board chair. “We seek individuals who are passionate, dedicated, and ready to contribute their time and talents to support the market’s growth and success.”

According to the market, board members are expected to actively participate in monthly board meetings, serve on at least one committee, support fundraising efforts, and occasionally volunteer at the market. They are not financially compensated.

The deadline to submit an application is Friday, Aug. 30, after which the board’s nominating committee will review applicants and make recommendations to the full board, according to the market.

Those interested in serving can apply online at https://tinyurl.com/broadstreetmarket.

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Harrisburg to begin demo inside fire-damaged Broad Street Market building, declares emergency

August 12, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market brick building

Interior demolition will begin on the Broad Street Market this week.

Harrisburg will begin demolition inside the market’s fire-damaged brick building on Tuesday, with the city declaring the market situation an official emergency, according to Matt Maisel, communications director.

Maisel said that the city decided to declare an emergency on July 23, over a year after the initial market fire, having been alerted by a community member that rats were in the building and determining the situation was a health and safety risk.

Harrisburg-based TLC Construction and Renovations, LLC will complete the demolition work at a cost of $136,460 to the city.

Maisel said that the demo will begin on the half of the brick building nearest the courtyard, which was significantly less damaged by the fire. The work will include essentially gutting the building. All shelving, counters and stands will be removed, wall coverings will be stripped to expose the brick. Carpet, flooring and insulation will be removed, as well as light fixtures, bathrooms, signs and all debris. Most all of the debris and interior structures and items will be trashed, Maisel said.

Vendors have been allowed to mark anything they have in the building that is worth saving, Maisel said. TLC Construction will salvage all items marked for saving.

The emergency declaration, Maisel said, allows the city to bypass “red tape.” Originally, City Council would have been required to vote on the contractor, but the declaration gets around that.

“The good thing was that the mayor was able to put out an emergency declaration, which was able to bypass a lot of the red tape that usually takes place in this, for some of these smaller inside jobs,” Maisel said.

Maisel said that work is just now beginning on the market due to limited city resources and staff. The opening of the temporary tent was the first priority, he said.

“We are doing the best that we can, as fast as we can, with the limited resources that we have,” he said. “Our facilities team is not large. We can really only handle one job at a time.”

The declaration also covers demo work on the opposite side of the brick building, which suffered significant fire damage. That will be completed by Lancaster County-based VERSAPRO at a cost of $91,200. Additionally, the city has selected York County-based CB Construction Services Inc. to do framing and carpentry on the courtyard-facing side of the building at a cost of $55,856. The same company will also do plumbing work to take out pipes and cap lines in the same side of the building at a cost of $19,895. CB will also do shoring work, such as covering holes and preventing structure collapse in the more damaged portion of the building for $52,407. Lead window abatement will be handled by Camp Hill-based PCS, at a cost of $35,345.

According to Maisel, for each job, the city interviewed interested companies. The city reached out to some, while others contacted the city themselves, submitting a letter of interest. Harrisburg put out a request for interest, which opened on July 23 and closed July 29.

Harrisburg’s request for proposals for an architect was issued prior to the emergency declaration, and will follow standard procedure. Bids are due Aug. 14. Maisel said that they hope to hire an architect by mid-fall and have a building design prepared by the spring of 2025. Reconstruction of the brick building is expected to be complete by winter 2026 or spring 2027, Maisel said.

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

What you’ll find ⤵️

For your weekend planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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