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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Harrisburg IT malfunction closes city hall Thursday for safety reasons

August 8, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center

Harrisburg’s city hall is closed on Thursday, following an IT malfunction.

According to Director of Facilities Dave Baker, the MLK City Government Center is closed today due to smoking hardware discovered in the city’s IT server room last evening.

Baker said the building is closed to ensure the safety of staff and the public.

Earlier this week, the city experienced another system outage, which knocked out all power in the building, closing city hall for the day. While the two issues were separate, both were caused by old and outdated systems failing, Baker explained. In his tenure with the city, he said he’s never seen power outages such as this, calling it “an unfortunate chain of events.”

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau responded to smoke coming from the server room in city hall at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday evening, Baker said. One of the servers, which dates back to the 1980s, overheated and started to smoke, he explained.

The servers essentially operate as the “gateway” for all connectivity in city hall, including powering all city computer systems, Baker said. Although back-up server systems quickly restored connectivity and power to city hall, which was shortly interrupted, Baker said that city staff are working to troubleshoot the issue today.

Some of the outdated hardware will be replaced in the near future, Baker said.

City hall is slated to reopen on Friday.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

August 8, 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: Rain! Worth noting: CPFJ & Gretna Music present jazz legend Charles McPherson on Friday Things on my agenda this weekend: bye bye bye

For your weekend planning

Grab tickets now for Brothers Osborne on Aug. 18 in Riverfront Park
Enter to WIN tickets to see TopHouse at the Abbey Bar
It’s National Produce Month at Market on Market
Traveling this summer? 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

Girls Night Out for 3rd in the Burg in SoMa – Aug. 16
Aug. 29 SoMa Block Party – check out the lineup
We just added the SoMa Christmas Market to the event calendar
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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Harrisburg artist to promote local talent at art showcase during city’s Kipona Festival

August 7, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

Local artists expo at the Civic Club of Harrisburg at Artsfest 2024. Photo by Larry Lenzz.

A Harrisburg artist’s passion for spotlighting local talent inspired an upcoming event.

Artist Reina “R76″ Wooden, along with a group of local artists, will present a showcase for Harrisburg’s Kipona festival on Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 2, giving creators an accessible and affordable way to display their work.

“My mantra has been ‘artists, unite.’ No matter where I go in the city, I look to establish relationships with fellow artists,” Wooden said. “I realized over the years that many of these festivals were not showcasing local talent and that the fees were excessive.”

The group, which will set up in the Civic Club of Harrisburg, will consist of around 30 local art vendors, including LensWorthy Imagery, Prittify, Art by Elliot, Elle x Olyn Baking Co., WhyKnot and Drew’s Wish for a Cure.

Three years ago, Wooden reached out to the Civic Club of Harrisburg, a women’s community organization, to request the use of their garden, first floor and ballroom to host a local art market. Now, she regularly partners with them for events, bringing rising artists together to participate in the city’s festivals such as Artsfest and Kipona, charging artists only $25 for vendor space.

“The idea is for artists to learn how to sell their work and feel comfortable selling it and having different types of art,” Wooden said. “Many of them have not gone to art school, but it’s just natural talent.”

Wooden is also one of the founders of the Civic Club Presents Art Unites the World, a new gallery at the Civic Club showcasing the diversity and creativity of both local and global artists. A grand opening and ribbon cutting will take place at the Civic Club on Aug. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Reina is a giver,” said Civic Club President Contrena Baltimore. “She is connected to the artists in the community, especially the unsung ones who don’t normally have an opportunity to be showcased. She finds a way to get them out there. It’s really important as an artist to have someone that cares enough that she finds the time and space to help you be recognized in the community.”

To see R76’s work, visit Studio 318 at Millworks or visit her Instagram,@reina76artist. To learn more about the Civic Club of Harrisburg, visit their website. To learn more about Kipona Festival, visit the City of Harrisburg’s website.

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Dauphin County’s Cultural Fest to return to Riverfront Park, celebrating diversity

August 5, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

Dauphin County Cultural Fest 2023

Harrisburg residents will have an opportunity to celebrate the region’s diversity through good food and music.

On Saturday, Aug. 17, Dauphin County’s 16th annual Cultural Fest will return to Riverfront Park from 3 to 10 p.m., showcasing and celebrating the variety of cultures in the community.

The free event, hosted by the county and sponsored by Capital Blue Cross, includes vendors, food trucks and free entertainment from various musical performers, including headliner Rakim. Other performances include acts from the McGinley School of Irish Dance, the Dweinnimmenn African Dance Community, the Chinese Cultural & Arts Institute and the YaZmine Dance Studio.

The event is aimed at showcasing ethnic diversity in the Harrisburg area to increase cultural competency, according to county Commissioner George Hartwick.

“We celebrate our differences and view that as our greatest strength,” he said. “This allows us to understand the people that we work with and the folks we work for, which is the community that we serve. The level of cultural competence and representation from the county should be a direct reflection of the people we serve.”

In addition to the fun activities, Dauphin County Human Services will promote local resources throughout the event. These include health resources, mental and behavioral health services, information on housing, educational and recreational program resources and job opportunities.

“A big part of Cultural Fest is to be able to connect with the community in a free event that brings us all together for family purposes, but also to be able to connect people with the help they need in a non-clinical or government setting,” Hartwick said.

Additionally, a children’s corner with kid-friendly, Olympic-themed games and crafts will be available from 3 to 7 p.m.

Free event parking will be offered on City Island and attendees can use the ParkMobile app code “LUVHBG” for four hours of free downtown street parking on the day of the festival.

Large bags and umbrellas are prohibited at the event, with exceptions for medical equipment and parenting bags which must be screened upon entry.

To learn more about Cultural Fest, please visit the county’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 2, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Volunteers put red sand in sidewalk cracks at the Capitol to recognize victims of human trafficking who often “slip through the cracks.”

Our August magazine dropped this week, with a special focus on youth and schools. Grab a copy at one of our many distribution locations or read online. But first, catch up on this week’s news, below.

“Back 2 School Drive 4 Success,” run by Renewal by Andersen and Harrisburg-based All You Can Inc., is currently accepting donations of school supplies for students in need. Read our online story to find out how to give.

TheBurg has what’s called a “high-class problem”—we can’t seem to print enough copies to meet the huge demand for our monthly magazine. Our publisher shares some tips for how to secure a copy, here.

Community Corner has all of August’s special events happening in the Harrisburg area. For a full, comprehensive list of music, art and cultural events this month, read our Happenings section.

Jones’ Resources, Harrisburg City Council and the city will host the first annual Destry “Des” Mangus Classic Basketball Tournament on Aug. 10 and 11 at Reservoir Park, our online story reported. The event honors a longtime coach and volunteer in the community.

Live music is hot, hot, hot this month in Harrisburg. Our concert reviewer shares her must-see shows.

National Night Out will return to Harrisburg next week with games, food and music on City Island, our online story reported. The event will give community members a chance to interact with city first responders.

Orville Peck performed in Riverfront Park as part of HU Presents’ summer concerts series this past weekend. According to our reviewer, “Peck gave concertgoers a night full of unbridled energy and authenticity.”

Our publisher shares the results of a community listening tour that TheBurg has been on. We have asked residents about the community and about TheBurg, and what they had to say has been interesting.

The Red Sand Project came to the state Capitol steps this week, with volunteers filling cracks in the sidewalk with red sand to raise awareness for human trafficking victims who have been overlooked, or “slipped through the cracks.” In our online story, find out more about the event, hosted by Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania.

Roads near the PA Farm Show Complex closed on Wednesday for a rally held by former President Donald Trump, we reported.

Sara Bozich has concert, restaurant and event recommendations for this weekend in Harrisburg, here.

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg released its Harrisburg Arts District app, which allows visitors and locals to more easily find arts-related venues and events in the city. In our online story, find out how it works.

Watson’s Wish financially helps pet owners when they need life-saving care for their furry friends, our magazine story reported. Jessica Beninsky launched the nonprofit in 2022 and has since helped dogs in central and northeastern Pa.

Whitaker Center’s “Girls in STEAM” program received a $35,000 grant from Comcast to help the program continue its career exploration opportunities for youth, our online story reported. “Girls in STEAM” promotes digital literacy and skill-building.

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Facts to Weigh: Five things you should know about using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss

August 1, 2024 | by Capital Blue Cross

You’ve likely heard about medications like Ozempic, Trulicity, or Wegovy as “new” ways to lose weight. What you might not know is these types of drugs – technically known as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, or simply GLP-1 drugs – have been around for years for treating diabetes.

Five facts you should know about GLP-1 drugs

The recent popularity of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has fueled a surge in demand. But if you’re thinking about using these injectable medications, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind:

GLP-1 drugs do not work alone. While the drugs can be effective in managing blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss, they generally are not considered a standalone treatment for Type 2 diabetes or obesity. These conditions require comprehensive treatment strategies and management, including lifestyle and dietary changes that should be monitored by a healthcare professional.
They can have risky side effects. Some of the more common side effects of GLP-1 drugs include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but there also have been reports of issues such as sagging and wrinkling of skin. The FDA continues to investigate more serious side effects, such as suicide ideation.
GLP-1 drugs can be costly. The typical cost for these drugs is more than $1,000 a month, and a recent survey found more than half of those who have taken GLP-1 drugs say it was difficult to afford the cost, even with insurance. Your doctor may have suggestions on more affordable, effective ways to manage weight.
Your health plan might not cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. A growing number of employers and insurers won’t cover GLP-1s for weight loss, citing concerns about effectiveness, side effects, and cost. Individual healthcare coverage purchased through state or federal exchanges rarely covers GLP-1 drugs for weight management, and Medicare doesn’t cover GLP-1s for weight loss, either.
Many find it hard to stay on GLP-1 drugs. Whether it’s due to high cost, unwanted side effects, or both, the majority of people who start using GLP-1 drugs stop taking them before they see any meaningful health benefit. And those who stop taking them typically regain two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year.

If you have diabetes or simply want to lose weight, talk with your healthcare provider about all treatment options. Capital Blue Cross, for instance, offers digital diabetes tools and a care management team that can help you identify options for better nutrition and wellness for you to consider and discuss with your healthcare provider. Many employers also offer incentive-based wellness programs that can give you financial rewards for pursuing a healthier lifestyle.

Remember, managing your weight is not just about the pounds you lose – it’s about the health you can gain.

For more health and wellness news and information that can benefit your business and employees, visit thinkcapitalbluecross.com.
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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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