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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Harrisburg-area home sales, prices rose in July, says report

August 12, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

A house for sale in Harrisburg

Home sales and prices both jumped in the Harrisburg area in July, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

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, stated the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, sales rose to 293 homes from 245 in the year-ago period, as the median price grew to $280,000 from $235,000, GHAR said.

Cumberland County tallied 281 home sales, an increase from 236 in July 2023, as the median sales price rose to $295,000 from $292,000, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 32 homes sold, an increase of two, as the median sales price rose to $275,000 from $267,500 last year, GHAR said.

The pace of sales slowed a bit, as “average days on market” increased to 22 days compared to 19 days in July 2023, GHAR stated.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 9, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Cultural Fest will return this month. Photo from 2023.

It has been quite a stormy day here in Harrisburg—perfect for staying in and catching up on reading. All of our local reporting from this week, as well as some stories from our August magazine, are featured below. Stay dry!

Arts writer Bob travels to Mount Gretna to explore the art, cultural and small business scenes. The Mt. Gretna Art Show also takes place this month on the Aug. 17-18.

Dauphin County’s Cultural Fest will return to Harrisburg on Aug. 17, our online story reported. The event will take place at Riverfront Park and include musical performances and food trucks.

Defense for suspended Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight is seeking to get charges dropped against her for allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend, our online story reported. Her attorney argued that the prosecution didn’t have enough evidence to support their case.

Harrisburg artist Reina “R76” Wooden,” along with a group of local artists, will present a showcase for Harrisburg’s Kipona festival, our online story reported. The show will give creators an accessible and affordable way to display their work.

Harrisburg’s city hall closed on Thursday following an IT malfunction, our online story reported. Staff discovered smoking hardware in the building the night before and closed the building for safety reasons.

Lindgren Craft Brewery opened in May in a former bank building on Duncannon Square in Perry County, our magazine story reported. A father/son duo spent year transforming the building, which now offers a selection of beer that will please anyone.

Linglestown boasts a range of favorite haunts and hidden gems. Our writer took a day trip to the town to visit coffee shops, bookstores, art studios and more.

Midtown Cinema suffered water damage from Friday’s storm, our online story reported. The theater will temporarily close while restoration work is completed.

The Penguin Project’s Theatre Harrisburg chapter gives children and young adults with special needs a chance to perform in Broadway-style shows, our online story reported. Participants are paired with peer mentors and get to practice performance and social skills.

Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup features a list of all of this weekend’s best events happening in the Harrisburg area.

Treasure Trove Toy Store in downtown Harrisburg has become a hub for helping the unhoused in the city, our online story reported. Owner Jennifer Draisey-Crocezi has assisted several people to find housing and resources.

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Midtown Cinema suffers water damage from storm, closes for restoration

August 9, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Midtown Cinema (file photo)

Harrisburg arthouse patrons will need to take an extended intermission, as Midtown Cinema has closed temporarily due to flooding.

The remnants of Hurricane Debby swept through the Harrisburg area overnight and early this morning, causing widespread flooding and downed trees.

The cinema, located on Reily Street, suffered water damage inside the building, according to Rachel Landon, the cinema’s general manager.

“I woke up this morning to some incredibly difficult news,” Landon said, in an email. “It turns out Hurricane Debby gifted the cinema by flooding our facility overnight, and the damage in significant enough that we will have to temporarily close our doors for restoration.”

Water damage occurred “throughout the facility,” according to a cinema press release.

“The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that substantial restoration efforts will be required to return Midtown Cinema to working order,” the release stated.

Landon estimated that the restoration “may take several weeks, meaning that all future programming is cancelled.”

“This is an incredibly challenging time for us, especially after over two decades of serving the Harrisburg community,” said John Tierney, co-owner of LIFT Development and Midtown Cinema. “Midtown Cinema has been a fixture in the city’s cultural scene, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to restore the cinema and continue our mission.”

The cinema stated that employees will contact patrons who purchased tickets for cancelled shows.

Going forward, the cinema plans to keep members, patrons and the community updated on the restoration process through its website and social media channels.

“As we work through this difficult period, we look forward to reopening our doors and continuing to enrich, connect, and inspire our community through the art of film,” Landon said.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

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Defense for suspended Harrisburg judge accused of shooting boyfriend attempts to get case dismissed

August 8, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Sonya McKnight. File photo from 2018.

The defense for suspended Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight is seeking to get charges dropped against her for allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend.

At a habeas corpus hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse on Thursday, defense attorney Cory Leshner told reporters that he believed the prosecution’s evidence was “simply not enough” to bring the case to trial.

On Feb. 15, McKnight was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of Michael McCoy, her ex-boyfriend, on Feb. 10. While sleeping in his home in Susquehanna Township, McCoy was shot in the head and is blind in one eye as a result. McKnight has pled not guilty to the charges.

At a preliminary hearing in March, the case was moved forward to trial by retired Chester County Magisterial District Judge William Kraut, who said that the case made by the Cumberland County District Attorney’s office was “weak,” based on the evidence. At the time, District Attorney Sean McCormack said that his office used the bare minimum of evidence required of them for the preliminary hearing.

McCormack made the case that McKnight was the only person in the house with McCoy on the night he was shot and that McKnight was the owner of the gun used to shoot the victim. McCoy also testified that he did not shoot himself.

At the hearing on Thursday, Cumberland County District Attorney’s First Assistant Cortney Hair LaRue called lead detective on the case, Lee Tarasi of the Susquehanna Township Police Department, to the stand. Hair LaRue asked Tarasi about the gunshot residue tests done on McKnight and McCoy, which Tarasi said were both positive for gunshot residue. Tarasi also testified that McKnight told her that she did not believe McCoy showed any signs of depression or suicidal behavior prior to the shooting. Tarasi also stated that McKnight said only she and McCoy were present in the house at the time of the shooting.

Leshner cross-examined Tarasi, asking if she had reviewed the findings report from the gunshot residue testing. Tarasi said she did not, but was told it was positive. Leshner also asked why Tarasi stated in a case report that she found McKnight’s interview to be “deceptive.”

Tarasi did not specifically say why she believed McKnight was lying, but said that based on her years of experience in law enforcement, she felt the interview was deceptive.

Following the hearing, Leshner said that a case cannot be based on “tenuous influence.”

“It’s my belief that there’s not enough evidence for this to continue,” Leshner told reporters.

Both the prosecution and defense will submit letter briefs to the court within 30 days, upon which the judge will rule on whether or not the case will move forward.

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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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