Harrisburg to host Fourth of July festival, kick off free summer music series next week

June 28, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams announced the July Fourth Food Truck Festival and the July Music Series on Friday, outside city hall.

With the beginning of July next week comes several summer events celebrating the upcoming holiday and the musical talent of the region.

On Friday, Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams and other officials announced the city’s July Fourth Food Truck Festival, as well as the July Music Series at Reservoir Park, both of which offer locals free summer festivities.

The annual Fourth of July celebration will take place on Thursday, July 4 on N. Front Street, from Forster to Market streets and include over 50 food trucks, music and fireworks.

The festival will run from 1 to 9 p.m., with a fireworks show over the Susquehanna River beginning at 9:15 p.m.

“Our fireworks show is the best around,” Williams said. “The fourth of July is when Harrisburg shines.”

Musical acts will perform throughout the afternoon at a stage near State Street. There will also be a beer and wine garden for adults and family fun activities, including puppet shows, baby goat cuddling and a bubble magic show.

Food trucks will offer a wide range of cuisines including everything from burgers to Indian food to sushi. There will also be gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

Street parking will be free for the holiday and there will be $5 parking on City Island and $10 parking from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Market Square Garage, courtesy of Park Harrisburg.

Also kicking off next week is the July Music Series at Reservoir Park, presented by the city and local nonprofit Pop’s House.

The music series will feature six “mini festivals” throughout the month, according to organizers, showcasing gospel, jazz, Afrosoul Caribbean, Latin and music by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

On one of the nights, area youth will take to the stage for Williams’ Rising Star Youth Showcase.

“There’s something for everyone in July at the bandshell,” Williams said. “Very few things bring a community together quite like music.”

All of the concerts are free to the public. Food will be available for purchase from onsite food trucks and vendors.

The full schedule is as follows:

July 5: Scarlet Rose, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and Dred Perky Scott—6:30 to 9 p.m.
July 7: Mayor Williams’ Rising Star Youth Showcase—6 to 8:30 p.m.
July 14: Gospel Night with Anton Milton and Glorified—6 to 8:30 p.m.
July 20: Jazz Under the Stars with Diane Wilson-Bedford, Gerald Albright and Secret Society Band—5 to 10 p.m.
July 27: Afrosoul Caribbean Vibez Festival with Plunky & Oneness, Joey Costar, Dwennimmen, Yazmine Dance and Mawuena Dance Steps—5 to 10 p.m.
July 28: Latin Night with Adrian Anthony’s Grupo Hipnosis, DJ Pol, Gigi & Jeremy and Carlos Nazario—6 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about the July Fourth Food Truck Festival, visit the city’s website. For more information about the July Music Series, visit their website.

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Harrisburg School District passes 2024-25 budget with no tax hike

June 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg School District’s Lincoln Administration Building

School property taxes will not increase for Harrisburg residents this year.

At a board meeting on Thursday, the Harrisburg School District passed its $211.7 million 2024-25 budget, a spending plan that does not include a tax increase.

Taxes will remain at 30.78 mills, as the school board voted to approve the tax structure. School property taxes are the only matter that the district’s board votes on while under receivership.

Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, noted that, while the rate will stay the same, Harrisburg taxpayers who qualify for the Homestead Exemption may actually see a decrease on their tax bill in the coming year. This is due to an expected increase in state tax relief funds for the district.

The largest expenditures in the budget include salaries and benefits for employees, debt payments, charter school tuition costs and renovations and HVAC replacements.

This year’s budget is lower than the previous year’s budget of $222.8 million, mostly due to fewer federal COVID-relief funds available to the district this year. The 2024-25 budget includes $8.5 million total in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, the last bit of that funding that the district has left.

Also on Thursday, receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a contract with North Carolina-based Cross Safe to provide crossing guard services for the upcoming school year at a cost of $31.78 per hour. This contract includes hiring 12 school crossing guards at an estimated cost of $33,750 per month for 10 months, or $337,503 total.

In August 2023, Suski approved entering into an agreement with Harrisburg to employ school crossing guards, with the city funding 40% of the cost of their salaries and the district supporting 60%. However, the city has not offered funding again this year, and the district has struggled to recruit and hire crossing guards, district officials explained.

Suski also shared that the district’s Chief Recovery Officer Travis Waters’ two-year term with the district ends this month and that Yvonne Hollins would take over the role. The part-time position is appointed by the Pennsylvania secretary of education and contracted by the Department of Education for a set period of time.

Hollins was a teacher and later principal in the Harrisburg School District for many years, and served as the assistant superintendent for secondary schools for the Central Dauphin School District, among other positions.

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

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Juneteenth 2024

June 27, 2024 | by TheBurg Editor

Juneteenth took place throughout Harrisburg last month, including at Harrisburg University, Club XL and WITF. The highlight was the Juneteenth Jubilee on City Island, which featured activities, vendors, entertainment and much more. ClubKng Photography was on hand to capture the weeklong event, and we’re delighted to show some of those images here.

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Dr. Kimeka Campbell at the Juneteenth Summit

Musical performance at Juneteenth press conference

Juneteenth concert at XL Live

Juneteenth Art Gallery at WITF. Artist: Reina “R76” Wooden

Angela Rye at the Forum

Gov. Josh Shapiro at the Juneteenth Jubilee on City Island

Area officials at Juneteenth press conference

Dance performance at the Juneteenth press conference

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

June 27, 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: Summer Vintage Fest at The Abbey Bar on Saturday. Worth noting: Our June SoMa Block Party is TONIGHT! Things on my agenda this weekend: Block Party, Budget widow status

For your weekend planning

June 27 | “Budget Bash” SoMa Block Party
Have you tried Crooks yet?
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are more options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

Are you on my email list?
You can now sponsor the Weekend Roundup! Ask me how!
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

Thursday

- SoMa Block Party Budget Bash! | June 2024
- SoMa Block Party Beer Run with Harrisburg Beer Runners
- Yoga in the Lavender Fields at Within You Farm with H2L Studio
- Farmers Market in Hershey & Summer Concert Series
- Pat Cusick at The Sturges Speakeasy
- Music on the Patio with Jessie Lynn at Midtown Cinema
- The Wallflowers with Lisa Bouchelle at American Music Theatre
- Adams-Ricci Farmers Market
- New Cumberland Food Truck & Restaurant Rally
- Burt & Me at Gretna Theatre

Friday

- Hootie & the Blowfish – Summer Camp with Trucks Tour at Hersheypark Stadium
- Sunset Music & Movie Series: Elly Cooke at Fort Hunter
- Decked Out Live with Honeypump at The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey
- HYP Fun, Fit, Friends! at Harrisburg Beach Club
- Firefly Night at Wildwood Park
- The Hershey Symphony Orchestra: An American Salute at Penn State Health
- TGIF: Cycle Express Theme Ride- Beyoncé at H2L Studio
- Raspberry Festival at SpringGate Vineyard
- Terrifier | Late Night Frights at Midtown Cinema
- INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage, produced by Theatre Harrisburg in partnership with Sankofa African American Theatre Company
- Burt & Me at Gretna Theatre
- Latin Fuzion Fridayz at Level 2

Saturday

- Fun Food Fest at Hampden Park
- Mud Day Celebration! at Paulus Farm Market
- Summer Vintage Fest at The Abbey Bar at ABC
- Vendors in the Vineyard at Broad Mountain Winery
- Live Music on the Lawn at Waltz Vineyards
- Pennsylvania Lavender Festival
- Megan and Dave at Hook and Flask Still Works
- Crippled But Free – Harrisburg Beach Club
- Black Panther | Free Summer Outdoor Film at Midtown Cinema
- Raspberry Festival at SpringGate Vineyard
- The Beach Boys at American Music Theatre
- PRIDE Shimmer & Shine: A Fundraiser For Lancaster Pride at Mickey’s Black Box
- New Cumberland Farmers’ Market on 4th
- INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage, produced by Theatre Harrisburg in partnership with Sankofa African American Theatre Company
- Ciroc Saturdays at Level 2
- Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walk-a-Bout!
- Brewery Tours: York City Walking Tour
- Brewery Tours: Cruise York County
- Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walking Tour
- Burt & Me at Gretna Theatre

Sunday

- Yoga in the Park at Adams-Ricci Park
- East Shore Trail Hike at Wildwood Park
- Pennsylvania Lavender Festival
- Raspberry Festival at SpringGate Vineyard
- Gretna Music presents Women Composers with Ulysses Quartet
- Summer Sip Series with Tribe Fitness at The Englewood
- Vidjam’s Filmmaking Weekend 2024 Screening & Awards at Midtown Cinema
- INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage, produced by Theatre Harrisburg in partnership with Sankofa African American Theatre Company
- Burt & Me at Gretna Theatre

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Backyard Battlefield: In the Harrisburg area, people are taking the climate fight into their own lands

June 27, 2024 | by M. Diane McCormick

Jess Myers

The robins are squawking insistently in Jess Myers’ backyard. Myers doesn’t know why they’ve been feuding, but it’s just nature doing its thing in the habitat cultivated around her Susquehanna Township home.

“I love my yard,” she said. “It doesn’t look like professional, fancy landscaping, but there are plants that have lots of flowers and lots of benefits for wildlife. They help out all of the pollinators, which we need so we can have food, but they also help out all of the other things that live in our ecosystem.”

In and around Harrisburg, homeowners are turning their lawns and sidewalks into battlegrounds in the fight against climate change. Like Myers’ tidy but boisterous space, these intentionally designed, eco-friendly havens are feeding pollinators and sheltering wildlife.

Myers moved into her home in the Montrose neighborhood in August 2018. Since then, she has populated the front and back yards with mostly native plants. Several types of coreopsis make birds, bees and butterflies happy. The roses are non-native, but the bees like them. Plantings bloom at different times of the year for constant snacking, and the coneflower and milkweeds sprout autumn seeds for birdie feasts.

“The whole thing with the wildlife habitat is that you provide shelter, you provide water, and there are food sources,” Myers said.

Myers’ Merlin app—Cornell University’s addictive bird-identification tool—has picked up the songs of typical suburban dwellers, such as robins and cardinals, but also tufted titmice, chimney swifts and vireos. Red-wing blackbirds and bluebirds apparently extend their territory from nearby Wildwood Park on their way to Susquehanna River islands.

“They clearly come because there’s something here for them,” she said. “When they can have a place to stop, even if it’s a layover to get out to McCormick Island, I’m like, ‘This is fun.’”

Sidewalk Forest

Even in 2007, Jen Hirt knew that too much concrete in the world was bad for the environment. She and her partner, Paul, had just bought a row home in Midtown Harrisburg. Pulling up the sidewalk wasn’t practical—pedestrians, utilities—so she resolved to greenify.

“I wanted to have that area completely filled with plants in a layered sort of way,” she said.

With a horticultural background from her family’s greenhouse business, Hirt set out to plant a dense, English-style container garden. Her first plant was an indigo, she recalled.

Today, the front of her home is packed with native and non-native plants. An elderberry thrives, courtesy of a Pasa Sustainability Initiative tree giveaway. Forget-me-nots and culver’s roots attract butterflies. Bugs and beetles entice a neighborhood skunk “to come in and wiggle around.”

And there is the fully grown, potted Siberian elm, a non-native Midtown staple. Hirt couldn’t bear to pull up her “volunteer tree” when it was a seedling, so she just keeps replanting it in ever-larger pots.

“The tree’s incredible,” Hirt said. “It attracts a lot of birds. The Carolina wrens. The cardinals. The catbirds. That’s what I wanted to do. It’s not just about aesthetics or nice-looking pots. It’s actually a habitat. I found a baby praying mantis out there yesterday.”

Hirt uses no pesticides or chemicals. Water comes from a hose attached to a backyard rain barrel. Even in a home without a traditional yard, planting anything matters, she said. “It’s terrible to say that, but we’re in such a dire situation with the climate and the planet. It’s amazing how quickly the beneficial insects and critters find the area.”

To her eyes, “it’s way more beautiful to look at a chaotic garden than a careful suburban kind of garden. It’s more interesting. You can look at it and constantly see different things going on.”

Pushing back against centuries of cultivation that didn’t account for the feeding, sheltering and reproductive needs of wildlife takes planning. Like Hirt, Myers rethought an overlooked space and transformed it into a sanctuary. It’s behind the back fence, along an alley—a three-row extravaganza of lavenders, day lilies, and butterfly weed varietals that are catnip for egg-laying monarch butterflies.

Going forward, Myers hopes to introduce plants that offer seeds for longer spans. Her yard constantly offers new discoveries, such as the cardinals that arrive as couples every spring.

“One of the groups of Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, Mrs. Cardinal sits on the fence while Mr. Cardinal goes and checks out new things,” she said. “It’s just been fun, and it makes me feel like I’m living with what’s around me, not trying to change what’s around me. I feel like living with nature isn’t a bad thing.”

Roots of Greening

Myers admits that her untreated lawn is “not as nice as a golf course lawn,” but it’s not poisonous to wildlife, either. Violets purpling up the lawn feed early-spring pollinators. Clover planted in the backyard is migrating to the front, encouraged by a regimen of mowing the backyard in the morning dew, letting the clover stick to the blades before mowing the front.

In Midtown Harrisburg, Patrick Wright wants people to know that “grass is not a natural thing.”

“You don’t find a manicured lawn out in the middle of the woods,” he said.

Over 15 or 20 years, Wright converted the lawn of his former Camp Hill home to native perennials. When he moved to Midtown last year, he brought along some of them. Today, they spill out in pots from the entrance of his Green Street home.

And there are herbs. Lemon thyme. Oregano. Tarragon. Basil. Chives. Cilantro. Chocolate mint and regular mint.

“When you cook with herbs, things taste better,” Wright said. “One of my favorite things to do, I go out in the morning—oh, rosemary, too—and I get some fresh rosemary and chives and make an omelet.”

Wright’s wife, Stevie Wright, often uses the lavender in dishes she crafts as executive chef of Note, the Midtown restaurant.

Wright is learning that pots need to be watered regularly. His rooftop tomato garden lost its appeal when he found himself climbing out a window twice a day to keep up with the heat. Otherwise, maintenance is simple, and a bistro table amid the sidewalk greenery adds an inviting touch.

“All of a sudden, you have four or five people out there chatting, just because you decided to sit out there for a couple of minutes,” he said.

A few doors up from Wright, Kristyn Nichols has been on a mission since moving to Midtown from Colorado in December 2021.

“Since the 1970s, we’ve lost 3 billion birds in the world,” she said. “I’m on my own personal quest to make life more habitable for them with trees and native plants.”

In front of her Green Street home, a cottage garden combines annuals and perennials to attract birds while also “creating a little oasis in the city,” Nichols said. “Temperatures are rising, and it’s important for the city to be cooler. There’s too much asphalt and not enough trees.”

Her yard and bird feeders are devoted to “basic stuff” that attracts and sustains typical urban birds—robins, gray catbirds, a beloved downy woodpecker. Mountain mint is a “fantastic native plant for bees, but it was taking over, so now he’s in a pot.” The hostas that were a disaster in dry Colorado love the Pennsylvania humidity.

“A lot of it is trying things out,” she said. “Sometimes, they work even though you don’t think they’re going to, or you think this is definitely going to work, but no, and then it dies. They’re not always that cooperative.”

Greening is contagious, Wright said. He has watched neighbors step up their gardening games.

“Even across the street, people are starting to put plants and flowers out,” he said. “It’s really made a difference. You can walk down the street and have a nice experience.”

Nichols agrees. As a volunteer city Tree Tender, she has convinced two people to have trees planted in front of their homes.

“I’m trying to get Green Street to be a little more green,” she said.

But in the face of overwhelming odds, can one person make a dent in climate change?

“I don’t know,” Nichols said, “but I’m gonna try.”

Stories on environmental subjects are proudly sponsored by LCSMWA.

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Chew on This: Reflections, a year after the Broad Street Market fire

June 27, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

I thought hard about whether I should write another column about the Broad Street Market.

After all, my last piece was just two months ago, and I’ve served up several others over the past year.

However, this month marks a year since the devastating early-morning fire that ripped through the historic brick market building, closing the 150-year-old structure and displacing about two-dozen vendors and thousands of customers.

If you’ll bear with me, I believe that I have one more column in me as we mark this sorrowful anniversary. So, where have we been?

The morning following the fire, Gov. Josh Shapiro, along with other officials, gathered in front of the market and made a big show of promising to marshal government resources to quickly restore and rebuild the market.

“This market matters; it’s mattered for more than a century,” Shapiro said before a circle of TV cameras. “You’re going to see government at all levels now work together. We are all now going to come together and do what’s necessary to support the rebuild.”

We wanted to believe him. We wanted to believe that he’d pull a Harrisburg version of the I-95 bridge overpass, which was fixed in 12 days, to great acclaim.

But it wasn’t to be. As I write this, work hasn’t even begun on the restoration, the building sitting as a sad, burned-out ruin for a year and counting.

And when the city said that the temporary market would be open in weeks, by Labor Day, we wanted to believe that, too.

But that also wasn’t to be. As it turned out, the city had the wrong summer holiday in mind, as the temporary market finally opened 10½ months after the fire, the following Memorial Day weekend.

Both major parts of the project languished. Displaced vendors lost hope and left. The public fumed.

I realize that hindsight is 20/20, and, if I had been in charge, maybe I wouldn’t have done any better. But, given a year’s worth of hard lessons, we should be able to soberly assess the situation. Perhaps it’ll prove valuable for the next major city disaster, which, God willing, won’t happen in my lifetime.

Owner/Advocate
Major projects need an empowered, organized individual who can make things happen. That person needs to be responsible for shepherding the complex undertaking from day one, as a primary part of their job. They also must have the ear of decision-makers, be able to cut through the red tape, herd the cats and crack the heads. They must understand all the moving parts and play the role of passionate, tenacious advocate. The Broad Street Market didn’t have such a person, despite yeoman’s work by some city staff whose plates were already full. Despite Shapiro’s pledge, the project often was treated in the same slow, business-as-usual way of plodding, distracted government, instead of as the profound emergency it was and still is.

Unified Effort
Since I’ve been in Harrisburg, one thing’s been constant—the unending feud between the administration and City Council. It’s the same story, year in and year out, no matter the mayor, no matter the council. You’d think that an unmitigated disaster like the market fire would bring our elected officials together for a common cause—and you’d be wrong. Official Harrisburg never united behind this effort, which became an increasing problem as all parts of government needed to communicate and cooperate. For its part, council seemed mostly to want to ignore the whole thing, even after the market sank into insolvency and had to pass around the hat, relying on private donations to pay its bills. Then, when forced to act, council immediately reverted to its default divisiveness.

Board Quality
Many nonprofits creep along with substandard boards of directors: political hacks, résumé builders, no shows. Over the years, the Broad Street Market board has had all of these, along with some quality members. The board, though, was caught flat-footed when disaster struck. What’s that old saying—this isn’t what we signed up for? Several members left, as did the market’s over-his-head director. Fortunately, a few capable, concerned residents stepped up, repopulating the board, thinking creatively and making key decisions to keep the market functioning.

I’ve given a lot of thought to what’s transpired over the past year. One through-line, I believe, is that many Harrisburg officials didn’t—and maybe still don’t—understand and appreciate the market’s importance to the community.

Sure, the market is a major source of fresh food, one of the few in the city, which, alone, should have focused minds (and didn’t). But it’s so much more.

The Broad Street Market is a wonderful, wacky, loud place where people of all races, classes and cultures mix, mingle, shop and dine. Walking in, you may see people talking, laughing, fighting, flirting, sleeping, eating, playing, plotting.

It’s where a biker sits next to a businessman, where kids chat with retirees, where folks from every neighborhood wait together for a sandwich, where the Amish brush up against the barflies.

Harrisburg tends to be a transient place, one without a deep sense of shared roots or fate. But, if there’s a center of city life here, it is, without question, the Broad Street Market.

Lawrance Binda is publisher/editor of TheBurg.

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July News Digest

June 27, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Names New Officials

Harrisburg has two new top officials, replacing recently departed city employees.

Gloria Martin-Roberts, a former City Council president, last month became the interim director of the Building and Housing Development and Economic Development Department, following the departure of former Director Dennise Hill.

Additionally, Harrisburg recently hired Joel Seiders as the city engineer, filling a position that was left vacant when former engineer Dan Snow departed in March.

Martin-Roberts will retain the interim position until Harrisburg hires a new director, she said. In her role, she will help administer federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for affordable housing projects, as well as federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

She previously served as a Harrisburg council member for eight years and as council president for two years. She has also held positions as the director of prevention in the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the director of preventative health programs in the state’s Department of Health, the chief operating officer at Hamilton Health Center and as a workforce development and drug and alcohol consultant.

“Building and housing and economic development are things I’ve been consistently involved in,” Martin-Roberts told TheBurg. “These were major priorities for me.”

Seiders, a Perry County native, began as city engineer on May 20. He previously worked as a PA bridge manager for Camp Hill-based Volkert, Inc., as a civil engineer consultant for the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and as a civil engineer consultant for PennDOT, among other positions.

Seiders said that he took the position to help make a difference in the city and to bring together his various engineering experience and skills into one role. His priority is to continue ongoing road projects and promote additional safety improvements, he said.

Hill, the former housing department head, became the most recent Harrisburg official to resign in recent months, following the departure of Snow and of city Business Administrator Dan Hartman.

School District Seeks Superintendent

The Harrisburg School District last month named a temporary superintendent while it searches for a new top official.

Receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, as acting superintendent, following former superintendent Eric Turman’s resignation.

Turman announced in May that he would step down and take a position as superintendent of Central Dauphin School District.

Stokes will fill in as acting superintendent starting July 1, until the district finds someone to fill the role.

The district shared that it will accept applications through July 8, expecting to appoint a new superintendent in August.

According to a statement, the district is looking for a candidate who has an aptitude for working in a culturally diverse environment and has skills in school finance and budgeting.

“Harrisburg School District appreciates Eric Turman’s leadership during his tenure with the district,” Suski said, in a statement. “We look forward to beginning our search for a well-rounded candidate who will work collaboratively with the receiver, elected school board and community and keep our students’ academic success at the forefront of their work.”

New Bicycles, Stations in Harrisburg

Harrisburg has some shiny new bikes, providing an inexpensive, accessible and healthy way to get around the city.

SusqueCycle, Harrisburg’s bike share program, announced that it has upgraded its bike inventory, replacing 60 bicycles with brand new ones and donating its old bikes to local nonprofit, Recycle Bicycle.

SusqueCycle, which is operated by Tandem Mobility and administered by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, is in its second season, with 10 stations in Harrisburg and one in Hummelstown.

“The idea is to give people in and around Harrisburg an inexpensive and healthy way to get around,” said Steve Deck, executive director of the commission.

The organization recently upgraded bicycles to newer models with more comfortable seating and sleeker designs for a better, easier ride, Deck said.

SusqueCycle is also adding new stations, including one at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets, with another one set to be installed near the state Capitol at Commonwealth and North streets.

Additionally, the new bikes include a GPS system that tracks riders’ routes to gain data for future planning and to see where bike lanes and bike facilities are most needed.

Recycle Bicycle will donate the old bikes that are in good condition to residents in need and use parts of the more worn bikes to build new ones.

“Harrisburg is a great biking city,” Recycle Bicycle founder Ross Willard said. “And a lot of people can’t afford a car, so we help them get an affordable, sustainable basic transportation method.”

Home Sales, Prices Higher

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both popped higher in May, according to the latest report on the market for previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, 616 houses sold compared to 533 in May 2023, as the median sales price increased to $284,950 from $264,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 300 houses sold in May versus 258 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price jumped to $265,000 from $234,200, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 275 home sales, up from 240 a year ago, as the median price rose to $314,900 from $299,950, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 33 houses sold, an increase of two homes compared to the prior May, as the median price increased to $285,000 from $217,841, GHAR said.

The pace of home sales was steady in May, as “average days on market” held at 25 days year-over-year, GHAR stated.

So Noted

Harrisburg has hired city-based Alexander Building Construction Co. to serve as construction manager for the rebuilding of the Broad Street Market’s brick building, which was partially destroyed in a fire last July. City Council narrowly reversed a prior vote in a move to support Alexander for the position.

Harristown Enterprises last month completed a streetscaping project for the SoMa (South of Market) district, the location of new retail shops and summer block parties. These improvements include permanent brick pavers, bike racks, planters, bollards, logos and, as a centerpiece, a massive, lighted “Welcome to SoMa” sign.

Imaginary Friends has debuted as the newest attraction in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. Two shows will run throughout the summer, thanks to owner and production designer Bill Kassay and a troupe of puppeteers and performers.

Julia Mallory last month cut the ribbon on her new studio, Ten Oh! Six, located at 1006 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. Her new studio will showcase some of her art and the apparel and paper goods that she creates and sells, as well as serve as a creative meeting place for the community, she said.

Karen Roland last month was named senior vice president of marketing for Members 1^st Federal Credit Union. Most recently, Roland served as an associate executive vice president with State Employees Credit Union (SECU) in North Carolina and, before that, held executive roles with both Members 1^st and PSECU.

Lidl last month debuted its newest area store, located at 5125 Jonestown Rd. in Lower Paxton Township. Lidl, which began as a small grocery store in Germany in the 1970s, now has around 12,000 stores in over 30 countries, including locations in York, Lancaster and Reading.

TheBurg won 26 total awards, including the Sweepstakes award, in the 2024 Keystone Media Awards, an annual contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. TheBurg won awards in many categories, including for reporting, column writing, illustration, page design and photography. Assistant Editor Maddie Gittens won the special Distinguished Writing Award, a single, statewide award that honors high achievement in the craft of news writing.

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) last month moved its offices to the third floor of Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. For the past 40 years, TCRPC was located in the Veterans Memorial Building on the first block of Market Street. The move was required due to the sale of that building and plans for its conversion into apartments.

Veterans Outreach of Central Pennsylvania has cut the ribbon on its tiny home village, which will house homeless veterans in a riverfront location in south Harrisburg. Veteran’s Grove includes 15 tiny homes and a community center and will function as a transitional living community for men and women who are homeless and in need of assistance.

Winding Hill Park North in Upper Allen Township last month unveiled a Celebration of Nature—a new sensory garden that contains a variety of plants, each targeting a specific sense. The site features different kinds of flowers, plants and shrubs, as well as berry plants and fruit trees, among other elements.

Changing Hands

Bailey St., 1237: C. Peralta to A. Griggs, $95,000

Barkley Lane, 2519: T. Truong & K. Ngo to Richmond & Richmond LLC, $126,000

Bellevue Rd., 1902: D&L Development Group Inc. to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000

Bellevue Rd., 2007: SPG Capital LLC to R. Suriel, $170,000

Benton St., 516: P. Goodman to N. Eras and M. & E. Ordonez, $175,000

Boas St., 257: R. Lowery to M. & J. Rivino, $200,000

Briggs St., 1912: C. Shomper to B. & V. Doan, $102,000

Brookwood St., 2462: R. Kumar to J. Dodson, $124,000

Chestnut St., 2045: Q. & C. Hazelton to R. Bravo, $169,900

Emerald St., 520: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $100,000

Evergreen St., 11: Meridian Realty Holdings LLC to Golden Triangle Investment LLC, $80,000

Evergreen St., 32: D&L Development Group Inc. to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000

Forster St., 412: D&D LLC to A&N LLC, $260,000

Green St., 1930: I. Bailey to T. Lewis, $280,000

Green St., 2138: Round Rock Investments LLC, SHG Investment Fund & Chad Gallagher LLC to G. Weaver, $230,000

Herr St., 1625: A. Tumer to C. Smith, $158,000

Hummel St., 240: Tri County HDC Ltd. to L. Roth, $124,900

Hummel St., 242: Tri County HDC Ltd. to T. Adekola, $124,900

Hummel St., 244: Tri County HDC Ltd. to S. Nahomy, $124,900

Hummel St., 341: G. & B. Hoerner to M. Bonetti, $77,320

Kelker St., 638: Buonarroti Trust to B. Jarkow & R. Reuveni, $90,885

Lenox St., 1901: B. Bentz to Cheema Ranvir LLC, $325,000

Logan St., 1933: V. Pillich & G. Cruz to RKE Investments LLC, $55,000

Logan St., 2431: J. & J. Austin to G&W Rentals LLC, $65,000

Maclay St., 249: R. & D. Requa to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $215,000

Market St., 305: L. & D. D’Antuono to 305 Market Pizza LLC, $280,000

Muench St., 202: PD Estate Properties LLC to D. Leaman, $133,000

Mulberry St., 1924: J. Dukes & R. Sumpter to M. Abapoli, $139,900

Nagle St., 106: J. O’Handly to T. Edwards, $80,000

North St., 1934: O. Blanco to Cofield Group LLC, $110,400

North St., 1942A: B. Wargo to J. Pavana, $63,000

N. 2nd St., 1631: J. & K. Morgret to Green Street Properties Ltd., $170,000

N. 2nd St., 1801: S. Basore to A. Danks, $250,000

N. 2nd St., 2321: Central PA Buyers LLC to Elite Remodeling Realty LLC, $117,000

N. 3rd St., 3028: C. Jones to L. Reapsome & A. Labs, $205,000

N. 4th St., 1418: A. Manana & S. Morel to A&W Homes LLC, $117,000

N. 4th St., 2144: Saheeb & Inez Affordable Homes LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $71,000

N. 4th St., 2215: K. Torres to Prime Realty Solutions 4U LLC, $76,000

N. 5th St., 1600: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to C&C Homes LLC, $110,000

N. 5th St., 2524: B. Debeljak to A. Louis, $175,000

N. 5th St., 2705: M. Suriel to F. Zaman, $210,000

N. 5th St., 3118: Willowscott Investments LLC to J. Millard, $145,000

N. 6th St., 3103: K. Malinoski to A. Couch, $164,000

N. 6th St., 3129: E. Ewing to MS AM Properties Inc., $135,000

N. 6th St., 3140: M. Kennedy to TKO Rental LLC, $95,000

N. 7th St., 1010: Pennsylvania State University to Harrisburg School District, $3,100,000

N. 12th St., 47: E&K Homes LLC to Wright Restoration Properties LLC, $91,000

N. 13th St., 126: S. Samuel & K. Lucas to C. Teel, $125,000

N. 15th St., 517: J. Sherman to Golden Triangle Investment LLC, $65,000

N. 15th St., 1521: R. & L. Ravenel to D. Baylor, $50,000

N. 16th St., 1004: C. & S. Orellana to K. de Estevez, $169,000

N. 17th St., 53: L. Malik to J&V Investment LLC, $150,000

N. 18th St., 47: T. Paul to Cooper Hawk LLC, $76,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 401: A. Witte to C. Wood, $230,000

N. Front St., 2743: Alternative Rehabilitation Communities Inc. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $250,000

N. Summit St., 116: T. Johnson to M. Sacasari, $80,000

Park St., 1822: 1822 Park LLC to J. Bailey & M. Wright, $58,300

Penn St., 2132: M. & W. Eisenstein to E. & A. Ho, $84,000

Pennwood Rd., 3208: L. Harris to S. Morris, $180,000

Reel St., 2468: D. Boyle to F. Solorin, $60,000

Revere St., 1618: A. & R. Burgos to E. Mejia, $140,000

Rolleston St., 1243: V. & J. Athens to Equitable Builds LLC, $90,000

S. 12th St., 1516: D. Dhahir to P. Diaz & J. Sanchez, $155,000

S. 13th St., 36: 513 South Shippen Street to NM Penn Group LLC, $270,000

S. 16th St., 564: M. Dones to S. Arzuaga & D. Ware, $90,000

S. 16th St., 922: R. Haines & D. Siegel to Landaff Enterprises LLC, $150,000

S. 17th St., 600: South Seventeenth LLC to 791 Flory Mill Road LLC, $3,556,000

S. 18th St., 8: Kabir Holdings Inc. to T. & H. Hoto, $165,000

S. 24th St., 628: A. & M. Medina to Central PA Buyers LLC, $117,000

S. Cameron St., 425: Queen Street LLP & H. Sugarman to D. Tran, $150,000

State St., 1915: Sego Realty LLC to C. Anderson, $275,000

State St., 1924: CLR Holdings LLC to H&K Rental Properties LLC, $645,000

Susquehanna St., 1737: L. Reapsome to H. Pham, $182,900

Vernon St., 1433: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $51,000

Vernon St., 1435: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $51,000

Vernon St., 1513: J. & C. Peters to C. Monje & E. Shirk, $130,000

Walnut St., 1804: Tender Loving Care Health Care Services LLC to Briony Spaces LLC, $151,000

Wiconisco St., 505: Divine Nest LLC to A. & S. Glick, $410,000

Woodbine St., 237: Penn Properties LLC to J. & J. Amway, $250,000

Woodbine St., 344: PA Deals LLC to C. Risser, $130,000

Zarker St., 1913: Bedrock Capital Management Inc. to C. Foltz, $52,000

Harrisburg property sales, May 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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July Publisher’s Note

June 27, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Sometimes, I overdo it. Take this month, for instance.

Each July, we have a special “pet section,” which means that we publish a number of extra stories on our furry friends, with the occasional farm animal tossed into the mix.

So, I bank story ideas all year long, ready to, um, unleash them in the heat of mid-summer.

This year, I went a little—well, hog wild.

I assigned so many dog and cat stories that I needed to hold a few for future issues. So, please, enjoy our (very) pet-heavy issue—and expect a few more stragglers over the coming months.

July also is the month when we collectively celebrate America’s birthday.

If you live in the Harrisburg area, you surely already know the story of our cover model: Lady Liberty of the Susquehanna.

Back in 1986, a couple of crazy kids decided to erect a replica of the Statue of Liberty on an abandoned bridge pier in the middle of the Susquehanna River at Dauphin Narrows. The original toppled over after a few years, but was eventually replaced with the current, sturdier model.

Carlisle artist Kathy Maxwell captured Lady Liberty on canvas, and we made that painting our featured cover art for this month of independence.

On that note, I’ll end this introduction with two quick tidbits from deep within TheBurg trivia vault.

First, this is actually Lady Liberty’s second appearance on our cover. Fourteen years ago, in 2010, we featured a photograph of the statue, also in July, making this image a rare repeat.

Secondly, Kathy Maxwell is not only a gifted painter, but a member of our team. She and husband Lance have one of the most important jobs at TheBurg—distributing our cherished monthly magazine to a location near you.

Kathy and Lance deliver to most of our west shore spots. So, if you see them out and about, hauling in piles of Burgs to places like Cornerstone Coffeehouse and Wegman’s, please stop for a sec to meet our cover artist.

And, if you like her work, you can see (and purchase) more on her website and at Village Artisan’s Gallery in Boiling Springs.

It’s July, the month of sparkling fireworks, long, hot days and beach vacations. Stay cool, everyone!

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

Click here to read the digital version of our July issue.

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

The Milkman Cometh: Free Milk Sunday assists those who are “in between”

June 27, 2024 | by Susan Ryder

Over the past few years, you may have seen photos of long lines of plastic grocery bags hanging on fences around central Pa.

These bags hold milk, bread and other essentials, free for the taking thanks to an initiative called Free Milk Sunday, Inc.

Gary Grant—aka “The Community Milkman”—started this outreach at the beginning of the pandemic.

“I saw these pictures of fruits and vegetables hanging on the fence in a community in Germany,” he said. “I said, ‘This would be a really good idea.’”

He hung the first bags in his neighborhood near Memorial Park in Carlisle.

“It was easy to get to,” he said. “People could drive or walk.”

At first, Grant worked alone, all of the milk and bread funded by Relax and Ride Carlisle, the shuttle service he owns. And, he admits, back then, it was both about helping people and about keeping his COVID-impacted business in the community eye.

Eventually, he began getting donations from local grocery stores and food banks and wanted to expand to other sites. He needed more help, and it came from some folks who were on the receiving end of those little bags of blessings.

Kathy Topper responded after she saw a Facebook post requesting volunteers, but she also needed milk.

“I was like, ‘I could really use it,’” she said. “I don’t get paid until next week.”

Sherry Wileman found herself in a similar situation. She also was able to benefit from the service,

“It was awesome because I don’t qualify for any kind of help,” Wileman said.

Now, Grant calls both Topper and Wileman his foot soldiers.

“They get all the credit,” he said. “Without them, this doesn’t go anywhere.”

Grant has two other dedicated volunteers who distribute bread to six different locations, four in Harrisburg, one in Carlisle and one in Newville. The Harrisburg and Newville locations get a delivery about once a month and Carlisle twice a month, costing about $300 per site.

One of those locations is Downey Elementary School in Harrisburg.

There, Angela Gillis picked up her bread, milk and the unexpected eggs.

“There’s eggs? Hallelujah!” she exclaimed.

She said that the food helps her budget. She and her neighbors were very excited when the bags first showed up and are happy that they continue to arrive on the fence.

“Tell the Community Milkman, ‘thank you,’” she said.

A Blessing

Recipients often express gratitude for the food. In fact, the bags have created a community themselves.

“It’s nice to meet different people,” Wileman said.

They received cards at Christmastime, and one woman knitted stockings for the group. She also provided knitted hats that they placed on the fences for folks. Wileman said that one community member told them her husband was ill.

“So, we scrambled to get baby food and soft stuff,” Wileman said. “We would make a special bag for him. He’s passed, but we were also a support for her.”

Grant said that the groceries assist those who make too much money for assistance, but not enough to always meet their needs. They’re categorized by the United Way as ALICE—”Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”

“It’s hard to ask for help,” Wileman said.

Grant likes the idea that people don’t have to fill out forms or present an ID to get help. They just walk up to the fence and help themselves.

“There’s a lot of people who are in between,” Topper said. “So, you pay your bills, milk and bread is $3. That $3 can go in my gas tank.”

Free Milk Sunday’s core groceries include milk, bread, eggs and cereal. When available through food bank donations, bags may offer peanut butter or other food. He added that his organization recently received 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

“We have plans,” he said.

Gary Grant

His goal is to provide bags for all six locations every week. He wants to be smart about it and grow incrementally.

“We’re going to do it methodically,” he said. “Just financially, we want to make sure we’re doing it the right way.”

Right now, they distribute about 30 bags per site a week. In its four years, Free Milk Sunday has distributed over 15,000 half gallons of milk and an equal amount of bread.

Grant is looking for businesses and individuals to participate in the cause by providing monetary or in-kind donations.

“We would love companies to sponsor a Sunday,” Grant said.

So, out of COVID came an unexpected community resource and vocation.

“I won’t ever stop doing this in my business because I feel like we are really making an impact on the community,” Grant said.

He’s spreading the gospel of Free Milk Sunday through his business, as well. Each of his drivers will have fliers about the organization.

“In life, everything is a blessing,” Grant said. “I’ve been blessed every single day in my business. So, I want to bless the people.”

For more information on Free Milk Sunday, visit the Facebook page: Community Milkman.

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Belong, Together: Pride Festival of Central PA brings back parade after years off, celebrates LGBTQ community

June 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Pride Festival attendees, 2023.

It’s been over a decade since the last Pride parade filled Harrisburg streets with rainbow flags, balloons, music and colorful floats.

This year, it will return.

The Pride Festival of Central PA had already been dreaming up a way to bring back the popular event, which was last held in 2012, when Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams threw in her support. With the city behind them, organizers knew it was time to get the marching route ready.

“A lot of bigger cities have Pride parades, and everybody wanted to see that return to Harrisburg,” said Dr. Eric Selvey, president of the Pride Fest board of directors.

Williams too said that she’d observed Pride parades in other cities and was happy when the festival board approached her about bringing the parade back to Harrisburg for 2024.

“We have a St. Patty’s Day parade […] all types of parades, so why don’t we have this parade?” she said. “We want to send a message that the City of Harrisburg is a unified city.”

The parade will kick off the 32nd annual Pride Festival of Central PA on July 27, which takes place at Soldier’s Grove Park behind the state Capitol building. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and march around the Capitol complex before returning to the park at noon for the festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year, Selvey is especially excited about the amount of community support for the festival, as more and more companies, organizations, churches and businesses are participating as vendors and sponsors.

Pride Festival attendees, 2023.

The festival has come a long way in getting the community to recognize the importance of the day. When the event started in the late 1980s, it was called “Open Air,” to leave any mention of the LGBTQ community out of the name. At the time, organizers thought people may be unwilling to attend something labeled as a Pride event in a generally more conservative region, Selvey explained.

However, this year, he expects around 7,000 people to join the celebration, coming from all over the region and even from surrounding states.

“It’s a day of just celebration, a day of being ourselves,” he said.

Feeling that Lasts

The Brownstone Lounge in Harrisburg has participated in the Pride Festival for years and, this year, owner Kimberly Stekovich is looking forward to interacting with the community.

She is working on creating a float to represent her business in the parade, and while she wants to keep the design a surprise, it will feature an Alice in Wonderland theme.

“It gives us a chance to come out and show our pride,” Stekovich said.

Selvey explained that the theme of the parade is “Lead with Love,” and encouraged anyone who wants to get involved to participate, whether they’re part of the LGBTQ community or an ally.

Following the parade, the festival will welcome visitors at the Capitol, which Selvey said is a notable location, as he believes the Central PA festival is the only Pride Fest to happen on state grounds.

In the park, two stages will offer live entertainment from musical groups and drag performers. Taking the spotlight this year will be pop artist and “American Idol” finalist David Archuleta, who will also hold a meet-and-greet with fans.

Vendors will be set up around the festival grounds, as well as food trucks and kids’ activities.

The family-friendly atmosphere of the event is something that’s important to board secretary Joelle Liller, who started volunteering with the festival a few years ago. Liller was happy to get involved with the event, having a child who is part of the LGBTQ community.

“We make it so families can come because that’s how kids learn,” Liller said. “That’s our goal: to have everybody feel welcomed.”

And while Selvey said that the LGBTQ community has seen progress in terms of acceptance and equality, there is still work to be done.

Two days before the festival, on July 25, the organization will host a Pride Candlelight Vigil at Italian Lake to remember those the community has lost.

To foster a safe environment for attendees on the day of the festival, there will be “silent witnesses,” volunteers who stand around the perimeter of the area to deter potential protesters and encourage safety.

Drag performer Betty Whitecastle interacts with an audience member.

However, Selvey is hopeful for a smooth day, with plenty of hugging, smiles and unity.

The feeling that Selvey gets from attending Pride each year is like no other, and he looks forward to sharing those feelings of pride, joy and inspiration with everyone who attends.

“It’s sad that it’s only one day, but that feeling you get from the one day lasts a long time,” Selvey said. “Pride is a celebration of oneself, our community and those who support our community.”

For more information about the Pride Festival of Central PA, visit www.centralpapride.org.
Photos courtesy of Emmitt Dwight McKell.

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