Touch, See, Taste: Winding Hill Park North unveils a new sensory garden

June 12, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

The ribbon cutting for the new garden

A new addition to Winding Hill Park North offers park-goers of all ages a chance to excite their five senses.

A Celebration of Nature—a sensory garden that contains a variety of plants, each targeting a specific sense—is now open to all after a short ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. The five sections are adjoined by winding pathways and labelled with signs describing the area.

“The touch area has plants that are fuzzy, and some are even a little rough,” Upper Allen Township (UAT) Parks Director Chad Krebs said. “The smell area has a couple of different fragrant plants.”

The sight area, he added, is full of different kinds of flowers that bloom at different times of the year, as well as plants and shrubs. Meanwhile, the taste area has edibles like blueberries, strawberries and fruit trees, while the sound area has place for songbirds, as well as rustling trees and grasses, Krebs said.

While working on other park improvements like parking and landscaping in 2023, Krebs said that the perfect space opened up to add the sensory garden—an idea that had been discussed often among the inclusivity-minded UAT Parks Department.

“It’s a nice way to create tranquility in the area, and it is accessible to folks of all ages and abilities. So, this really is an opportunity for everyone in the township to enjoy this park,” UAT Commissioner Ken Martin said.

The park received support during its creation from UAT parks and recreation board and the UAT board of commissioners, as well as from a day of volunteering from students at River Rock Academy in Carlisle.

Krebs said that he is looking forward to seeing how the garden will grow and evolve over time.

“It’s obviously very young right now, and we’re really excited in five years or so to see what it really looks like when all the trees mature,” he said.

Click here for more information about Winding Hill Park North.

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Lidl cuts the ribbon on Lower Paxton Township grocery store

June 12, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

Lidl and local officials cut the ribbon on the new store.

A long line of shoppers waited with their carts outside a new Lower Paxton Township grocery store for its opening day on Tuesday.

That morning, Lidl, a European discount grocery store, cut the ribbon on its location at 5125 Jonestown Rd. in the Paxton Towne Centre, officially opening the store to the public.

“We cannot wait to provide Harrisburg with fresh, high quality produce at affordable prices,” said Harrisburg Store Manager Shivani Halterman, before the ribbon cutting.

Lidl, which began as a small grocery store in Germany in the 1970s, now has around 12,000 stores in over 30 countries, providing quality food at affordable prices, according to the company’s website. Locally, Lidl has locations in York, Lancaster and Reading.

Lidl carries specialty items such as imported food, hard-to-find cheeses and cured meats. A majority of the store’s food selection includes private label products, featuring organic and gluten-free options.

Lidl customers line up outside the store.

Sen. John DiSanto, President and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber Ryan Unger, Lower Paxton Township Board Chairman Robin Lindsey and other officials attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and expressed their excitement about the store’s opening.

“It’s a great day in Harrisburg. We’re always excited when we see big brand names choose Harrisburg,” Unger said. “You couldn’t pick a better location, right here in the heart of a lot of growth areas. […] We’re excited that Lidl could be a part of it.”

Throughout opening weekend, Lidl will donate $1 to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank for each shopper who downloads the myLidl app and selects Harrisburg as their store.

Lidl is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit their website.

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Harrisburg School District appoints acting superintendent, begins search for top official

June 11, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Dr. Marcia Stokes. File photo.

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

Receiver Dr. Lori Suski, at a board meeting on Tuesday, 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 officially began the hiring search on Tuesday and will accept applications through July 8, with hopes to appoint a 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. The superintendent would be responsible for leading the implementation of the district’s Amended Recovery Plan.

“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.”

The community can provide input regarding the next superintendent in a survey, which is open until July 8.

The district will partner with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), which will offer help with surveying, advertising, recruitment and candidate screening during the process.

Candidates can click here for additional information and to apply. A cover letter, resume and application are required.

For more information, visit the district’s website.

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Home sales, prices head higher in May in Harrisburg area

June 11, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

This house in Harrisburg recently sold.

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both rose in May, according to the latest market report 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.

Harrisburg veterans housing project receives planning recommendation, board questions future of Greenbelt access

June 10, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of the Tunnel to Towers housing project. Photo courtesy of Tunnel to Towers.

A project to provide housing for veterans in Harrisburg is moving forward, despite lingering questions about future use of a portion of the Capital Area Greenbelt, which runs through the proposed project site.

On Monday, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation formally announced its proposal to build a “veterans village” in South Harrisburg for those who are experiencing homelessness, having received zoning approval from the Harrisburg Planning Commission last week. The zoning issues now move on to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board for consideration.

The organization, which has completed similar projects nationwide, shared its plans for Harrisburg on its website months ago, but has only recently begun working through the city approval process.

Tunnel to Towers would be one of three projects to address homelessness planned for S. Front Street, near the PennDOT building. In May, Veteran’s Outreach of Central PA cut the ribbon on “Veterans Grove,” a completed tiny house village, and Missouri-based Eden Village has also proposed a tiny home community for the unhoused.

Tunnel to Towers has proposed constructing a 64-unit apartment complex and 20 one-bedroom “Comfort Homes” on an 8.5-acre plot of land. The comfort homes will be 500 square feet and include a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, providing permanent housing for veterans and first responders.

There will also be support services for veterans, including job training, legal services, benefits assistance, education assistance, mental health support and counseling.

“No veteran should be homeless,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “They put everything on the line for us. Unfortunately, many veterans feel lost when they return after their service, and thousands become homeless. That is unacceptable.”

At a Harrisburg Planning Commission meeting on June 5, board members heard from the organization and asked questions about the future of the Capital Area Greenbelt, as the project would take place on the land that currently shares the trail.

While the land is private property, the Greenbelt Association has for years maintained written permission from the landowner to provide public access to the trail and has also provided maintenance to the area, according to Greenbelt Association President Doug Hill. Currently, access to the portion of the Greenbelt past PennDOT is restricted, and the city has provided an alternate route over the Sycamore Street bridge and down Cameron Street.

While the Tunnel to Towers officials shared that they have been meeting with the Capital Area Greenbelt Association, a conclusion has not been reached yet on the future use of the trail.

“This has always been private property, and the Greenbelt has been fortunate to use that. So, we want to see if we can continue that, compatible with the needs of the private property owners,” said Bruce Grossman, attorney for Tunnel to Towers.

Hill spoke at the planning meeting, sharing his proposal for a new route. Having seen Tunnel to Towers’ sketch plan for the project, he believes that the Greenbelt could continue on its current path, outside of the project’s proposed gated community, until reaching the parcel’s southern boundary, where it would continue around until reaching the bridge over the railroad tracks, connecting back to the Greenbelt trail.

“We are very much supportive of the Tunnel to Towers project,” Hill said. “The sketch plan that they’ve done, including its configuration and the configuration of the fencing, would be able to accommodate the Greenbelt.”

However, officials with Tunnel to Towers expressed concerns about security, saying that they believe drug use has been an issue along that stretch of the Greenbelt.

However, Hill contested the representation that drug use is a “rampant” issue and City Planning Director Geoff Knight said that any illegal activity would likely not be as much of an issue once the area is developed.

“I would venture that it’s probably safer down there than it is in downtown Harrisburg,” said Vern McKissick, a planning commission member. “I’m having a tougher time accepting that as the only reason that this can’t happen.”

In the end, the commission voted to recommend the variance and special exception for the project, but opted to slightly alter a condition in the document to strengthen the language to say that the applicant “shall coordinate” with the Greenbelt Association rather than “shall continue to coordinate.”

“The planning bureau feels very strongly that this really needs to be included in a final design, however that may happen,” said Geoff Knight, city planning director. “We recognize that this is private property as the applicant said, but at the same time, it’s also a critical more than a 100-year-old part of the city’s infrastructure.”

Tunnel to Towers will next need to get Zoning Hearing Board approval, then have its land development plan approved by the city.

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Hoop It Up Harrisburg 3×3 Street Fest to return to City Island

June 10, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

A previous Hoop it Up, photo curtesy of the City of Harrisburg

An upcoming tournament gives local basketball players a chance to enjoy the sport — and possibly earn a cash prize.

NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s national 3-on-3 basketball tournament is returning to City Island this summer on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Hoop It Up Harrisburg 3×3 Street Fest basketball tournament, a 3×360 Sports event, was last held in Harrisburg in June 2022 and is making a reappearance this year.

Registration is open to people of all ages and abilities. Both recreational divisions and pro-am teams are welcome, with recreational divisions capped at five players per team and pro-am teams at four players.

The winning pro-am team will receive up to $2,000 in cash, and additionally, the team will earn a bid to the Hoop It Up National Championship tournament held in November.

Up to 25 baskets will be set up on the City Island South Parking Lot, along with music, food vendors and other entertainment to be available throughout the event.

Drew Dawson, founder of 3×360 Sports, is a Harrisburg native and the force behind Hoop It Up 3×3’s return to Harrisburg.

“Although basketball and my career have taken me out of the area, I grew up here and Harrisburg will always be home to me,” Dawson said. “I have great memories and made lifelong relationships participating in similar community events while growing up here.”

A rain date for the event is scheduled for Sunday, July 28.

To register, visit this link. All youth, adult and recreational divisions cost $195 to register, and pro-am teams cost $250. For more information about 3×360 Sports, visit their website.

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Nominations for Harrisburg Young Professionals’ “20 in their 20’s” awards open

June 10, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

It’s time again to honor the Harrisburg area’s young achievers.

Nominations for the Harrisburg Young Professionals’ (HYP) sixth annual “20 in their 20’s” awards are now open until July 1 and can be submitted by any member of the public.

According to the submission website, nominees must be between the ages of 20 and 29 as of Dec. 31, 2024, and must live or work in Cumberland, Dauphin or Perry counties.

HYP uses the award to “celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of young professionals in the Harrisburg area who are making significant impacts in their communities and industries.”

The subsequent awards ceremony will be Nov. 12, and event tickets will go on sale Sept. 1, with all proceeds going towards HYP.

Nominations can be made here.

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New signage, planters, bike racks mark completion of SoMa streetscape project

June 7, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

The new “Welcome to SoMa” sign

If you’ve been to downtown Harrisburg lately, you may have noticed a few decorative additions.

On Friday, Harristown Enterprises announced the completion of the SoMa (South of Market) streetscape project, featuring a number of newly installed ornamental and practical elements along S. 3^rd Street between Market and Chestnut streets.

“We’re thrilled to have this project completed, and we look forward to welcoming more new tenants to the neighborhood,” said Brad Jones, president of Harristown, which oversaw the work. “The improvements that have been made will only enhance the public’s use of this dynamic block.”

These improvements include permanent brick pavers, bike racks, planters, bollards, logos and, as a centerpiece, a massive, lighted “Welcome to SoMa” sign.

The sign repurposed the frame of the Walker’s Art & Framing sign, which stood for over 40 years on the block. Walker’s left the location in 2022, replaced by the Found Collab retail shop.

Round bollards (foreground) and planters (background) are part of the streetscape project.

The streetscape project was financed, in part, by a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, according to Harristown.

New shops have been popping up on the block in recent years and, last year, the UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University opened on the corner of Chestnut Street. In addition, Harristown and Sara Bozich Events have hosted monthly block parties and special events on the block for several years.

Upcoming June SoMa events include:

Juneteenth SoMa Pop-Up inside the former Bricco restaurant, 31 S. 3^rd, Thursday, June 20, 5 to 8 p.m.
3^rd in the Burg Juneteenth Block Party with YPOC and HYP, Friday, June 21, 5-9 p.m.
“Budget Bash” SoMa Block Party, Thursday, June 27, 6-10 p.m.

“This project has been a long time coming, and it’s great to have it finished in time for our summer block party series,” Jones said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 7, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

A past Proudly PA! Festival. Photo courtesy of Dauphin County.

It’s looking like sunny days and blue skies all weekend long in Harrisburg. If you’re looking for ways to enjoy the nice weather, look no further than our June issue of the magazine, which is packed with stories highlighting summer fun in our area. You may also find a little inspiration from our local news from this week, below.

The arts community in Harrisburg deserves more support and appreciation, argues our publisher, in his column. Without an organization dedicated to arts advocacy, the creative community faces a vacuum in leadership, advocacy, direction and funding, he says.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights three local artists who find inspiration in everything from color to nature to advocacy. Blogger Bob also previews some of their upcoming exhibits.

Community Corner highlights June’s special events in and around the Harrisburg area. For even more live music, theater and educational experiences taking place this month, check out our Happenings column.

Gamut Theatre’s “Comedy of Errors” brings local audiences a “ridiculously over-the-top” comedy, says our reviewer. The play is Gamut’s featured show for its summer “Shakespeare under the Stars” series, which brings free entertainment to Reservoir Park in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg announced this week that it would offer a co-application opportunity for nonprofits and other organizations looking to apply for Dauphin County’s annual gaming grant money, our online story reported.

Harrisburg appointed Gloria Martin-Roberts as the interim director of the city’s Building and Housing Department, filling a vacancy recently left by former director Dennise Hill, our online story reported. Also, Joel Seiders was hired as the new city engineer, a position that has been vacant since March.

Jackson Lick pool in Harrisburg is slated to open for the summer on June 12. Our online story reported. The pool recently received some much-needed painting, patching and repairs.

June concerts will bring a wide range of genres and sounds to the area. Find our columnist’s recommendations, here.

Juneteenth HBG will showcase Black history and culture through a week-long celebration, our online story reported. The festivities will include a concert, arts expo, Juneteenth Jubilee, and many other events.

Proudly PA! Festival will return to Dauphin County this weekend with entertainment, food and drinks, our online story reported. Additionally, the county has weekly summer movie nights planned.

Sara Bozich has a list of all the best events happening this weekend in Harrisburg. Find them, here.

Sycamore Homes, an affordable housing development in South Harrisburg, is slated to open in September, our online story reported. This week, the developers, Latino Connection Foundation and Fernandez Realty Affordable Homes, hosted a walk-through event to tour the building.

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Harrisburg’s Jackson Lick Pool to reopen for the summer next week, with some updates

June 6, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

Jackson Lick pool. File photo.

Three, two, one, cannonball!

Harrisburg’s Jackson Lick Pool on N. 6th Street will reopen for the summer season on Wednesday, June 12, after receiving some much needed TLC.

The city recently completed patching and repairing the aging pool using $55,000 that City Council allocated in April for the updates. At the time, Harrisburg officials said that the updates were necessary to be able to open for the summer.

In addition to the repairs, the Public Works Department is currently putting the final touches on painting the bathhouses.

The pool will be open throughout the summer on Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. each day. Admission costs $4 for adults and $2 for children.

Harrisburg’s second public pool in Hall Manor has been closed for several years, but is slated to be replaced and reopened in the coming years. In April, council approved using $8 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to construct a new pool in Hall Manor, which would likely take over two years to complete, city officials shared.

For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.

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