The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 2, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market Alliance Board meeting on Wednesday

Our February issue of the magazine came out this week, specifically highlighting stories celebrating Black history and culture. We hope you learn something new and are inspired by our stories this month. Grab your copy at one of our distribution locations, but before you do so, catch up on our weekly reporting, below.

Bike share in Harrisburg may be on pause for the winter, but Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, the program operator, has shared its plans for the 2024 season. Starting this spring, Susquecycle will introduce new station locations and upgrades.

The Broad Street Market Alliance board approved a 25% rent raise for vendors in order to raise additional funds for the market, which is currently operating at a deficit, our story reported. The market also weighed a proposal from Midtown Property Management for free services.

The Broad Street Market received two proposals for plumbing work on its temporary market structure, our online story reported. A few weeks before, the city secured a bid for electrical work, as well.

Candidates for the 10^th congressional district reported their fundraising totals, our online story reported. One candidate, Blake Lynch, has also received an endorsement from Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams.

Dauphin County Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco announced that he would pursue the Republican nomination for the 15th senatorial district, our online story reported. He said that he would focus on such issues as schools, safety and the economy.

February events will celebrate the season of love and Black History Month through art, music and food. Check out our Community Corner for special featured events, as well as our long list of Happenings.

Harrisburg University shared that Dr. Steven Jasinski, a professor at the school, had identified and described a new species of large, predatory dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, our online story reported. Jasinski has been describing and naming dinosaur finds for years.

Harrisburg’s walkability, urban neighborhoods, nature and proximity to larger cities are its greatest strengths. According to our publisher, the city should embrace that destiny to attract residents.

Leon Laing, a local photographer, will display a collection of his work at Harrisburg’s city hall through March, our online story reported. Laing’s photography is focused on celebrities and hip-hop musicians.

Sara Bozich has a list of exciting events for your weekend in Harrisburg. Find them all, here.

Theatre Harrisburg’s show “Next to Normal” is showing now and our reviewer has shared her take on the play, here. The “tense drama” portrays the impact that mental illness has on a family and community, she says.

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10th congressional district candidates report fundraising totals; Harrisburg mayor endorses Lynch

February 1, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Blake Lynch

The money race for the Harrisburg-area congressional seat has heated up, just as one candidate received a significant endorsement.

On Thursday, Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams endorsed Blake Lynch, a candidate in the crowded Democratic field for the 10^th congressional district, which includes all of Dauphin and parts of Cumberland and York counties.

“Blake Lynch is the leader we need in Washington,” Williams said, in a statement. “I saw it with my own eyes as he built bridges between the Harrisburg community and local first responders. He built trust and understanding between residents and police officers, and in the process, played an instrumental role in making our neighborhoods safer.”

Lynch served as the Harrisburg police community relations director before becoming an executive at WITF, the public media organization for central PA. He left that position last year in order to run for Congress.

For fundraising totals among Democrats, former TV news anchor Janelle Stelson leads the field, having raised about $281,000 during the fourth quarter of 2023, according to just-released figures from the Federal Elections Commission. As of Jan. 1, she had $140,000 on hand, according to the finance report.

Marine Corps veteran Mike O’Brien is in second place among Democrats, raising $260,000 in the fourth quarter, with $186,000 on hand. Lynch reported raising about $54,000 in the fourth quarter, leaving him with almost $22,000 as of Jan. 1.

Shamaine Daniels, a Harrisburg city council member and the Democratic nominee two years ago, reported raising about $13,000. Rick Coplen, a Carlisle school board member, raised nearly $11,000 in the quarter, as did candidate John Broadhurst. Two remaining declared candidates, Bob Forbes and William Lillich, had not filed campaign finance reports as of late Wednesday.

The Republican incumbent, Scott Perry, raised about $402,000 during the quarter and entered January with $547,000 on hand, according to his finance report.

Meanwhile, the candidates have been busy getting signatures on their nominating petitions, with a deadline of Feb. 13.

The primary election is slated for April 23, with the general election on Nov. 5.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 1, 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: The Great American Outdoor Show is back. Worth noting: Snag some sweet Valentine’s Day treats at the HBG Flea on Saturday; Carlisle’s Ice Art Fest Things on my agenda this weekend: Double date at my favorite Harrisburg restaurant ♬

For your weekend planning

Dry January? 4 Harrisburg Bars offer Spirit-Free Cocktails
Sara’s 5 Favorite Local Places to Buy Clothing
9 Foodie Trips Not to Miss | AAA Central Penn
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are more options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

You can now sponsor the Weekend Roundup! Ask me how!
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

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Get Going: Movement is the heart of health, says UPMC cardiologist

February 1, 2024 | by Dr. William Apollo

Dr. William Apollo

Thanks to the convenience of technology and our modern lifestyles, people in the U.S. are more inactive than ever. Whether we’re sitting behind desks or hunched over laptops all day for work or lounging around binging our favorite shows, Americans simply aren’t as physically active as we used to be, and that’s a problem.

According to the American Heart Association, only about one in five adults and teens get enough exercise to maintain good health. Physical activity is one of the keys to preventing heart disease which is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Being more active can help all people think, feel and sleep better and perform daily tasks more easily.

When you sit for long periods of time, your body doesn’t work as well as it can and actually begins to adapt to the lack of activity in negative ways. You don’t burn as many calories as you would while standing or doing another activity, which can make it harder to stay at a healthy weight.

Science has linked being inactive and sitting too much with higher risk of heart disease. Your heart is a muscle, just like the ones in your arms and legs. The more you use it, the stronger and more efficient it becomes. When you’re active, your blood pumps through your arteries, helping to keep them healthy and functioning well. Regular cardiovascular exercise, the kind that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe heavily, helps improve your quality of life while reducing many of your risks for heart disease. It can:

Lower blood pressure
Lower cholesterol
Reduce blood sugar levels
Help with weight control

It’s clear that being more active benefits everyone and helps us live longer, healthier lives, but in our busy lives, what are we supposed to do?

The good news is that you can start on the road to good heart health without the need to hit the gym for hours on end or running marathons. Physical activity is anything that moves your body and burns calories. This includes things like walking, climbing stairs, stretching, and yes, even standing instead of sitting.

When you begin any activity, do it slowly to avoid injury and don’t get discouraged. Set incremental goals and break up activity into smaller portions of time working your way up to longer sessions.

Be thoughtful about your choice of activity. Non-weight bearing exercise, such as swimming or water aerobics, are less stressful to your joints. Doing a variety of activities keeps things interesting and involves different muscle groups.

Even the little things can make a big difference. The recommendations are for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity, but light-intensity activity can offset the effects of being sedentary. Get creative throughout your day to incorporate extra steps and movement; walk to a co-worker’s office instead of sending an email, take standing breaks while working at your desk, pick a parking spot that’s farther from the entrance, choose the stairs over the elevator. If you have young children or grandchildren, make them part of the activity. Hula hoop, jump rope, and dance with them. If your days are packed, consider breaking your workout into 10-minute blocks; the rewards are the same. Home exercise videos can provide a convenient workout or alternative for rainy days. Whatever you do, make it fun. Ask a friend to walk or enjoy a class with you—it’s a great way to stay motivated and satisfy your craving for social time, too. Beyond regular “exercise workouts,” leading an active lifestyle has been shown to be immensely beneficial to your overall health so make it a point to keep your body in motion.

You don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite shows, hit permanent pause of your latest video game quest, or throw out your television and devices, but you do need to be mindful of how much time you spend doing sedentary activities instead of being physically active.

Dr. William Apollo, an amateur bike racer, runner, and duathlete is a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based, board certified cardiologist, and co-medical director of UPMC Central PA Sports Cardiology. He also is medical advisor to Cynisca Professional Cycling. For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, visit www.UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.

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Broad Street Market lowers rent hike for vendors, receives offer for free services

January 31, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

The Broad Street Market Alliance board meeting on Wednesday

Vendors at the Broad Street Market soon will pay more in rent, but significantly less of an increase than previously announced.

At a Broad Street Market Alliance Board meeting on Wednesday, members approved a 25% rent increase, changing a previous decision to nearly double the rate.

In early January, the market notified vendors that rent would go up by almost 100%, due to a need to offset a budget deficit brought on by the July fire in the brick building. However, vendors and community members pushed back, causing the board to suspend the plan and then ultimately amend it on Wednesday.

“I’m confident we can do this with just a 25% rent increase,” said board member Eric Hagarty. “I’m confident that if we take this step we can turn this ship around and years from now we will look back at this as a challenging moment, but a moment that we took necessary action.”

The rent increase, which will go into effect in March, is one way that the board hopes the market will raise money to make up for an estimated $160,000 deficit in 2024. According to the board, the market has lost 70% of its revenue since the fire-devastated brick building was closed.

Outside of the rent hike, the board has cut about $30,000 in discretionary expenditures, including marketing and special events funding. Board members shared that they expect that recent donations and additional fundraising, along with the city and utility providers deferring bills, will make up for the rest of the deficit.

Under the new financial plan, the market will need to raise around $6,500 each month to stay out of the red, according to Hagarty. If the city’s temporary tent to house displaced vendors is not open by the spring, that number would increase by an additional $5,000 or more a month, he said.

Additionally, new vendor representatives Tito Tep, owner of Tep’s Fresh Seafood, Richard Choi, owner of Yami Korean Food, and Theo Armstrong of Zeroday Brewing Co. were elected to the board at the meeting and voted in favor of the rent hike.

Choi shared that the increase still will be a challenge for the vendors, but a more manageable one.

“It’s better than a 100% raise,” he said. “They don’t want [the market] to close. Everybody understands.”

In addition, the board is considering entering into a contract with Harrisburg-based Midtown Property Management, which has offered to provide free services to the market for five years. Under the agreement, the management group would help with rent collection, financial consulting, day-to-day operations and 10 free hours of maintenance work each month.

“Giving back is important to us, and making sure the market is thriving is one way we can do that,” said Justin Heinly, owner of Midtown Property Management, at Wednesday’s meeting.

Currently, the market utilizes Harrisburg Property Management Group, which is paid 2.5% of rent revenue for its services.

The board will enter contract negotiations with the Midtown company and may formally approve a contract at a special meeting on Feb. 7.

On Wednesday, the board also established a search committee of directors to find a new executive director for the market. Last week, current director Tanis Monroy announced that he would resign at the end of February for health reasons.

The board also discussed with vendors the possibility that they could begin moving equipment into the temporary market building during the week of Feb. 12. The city has not yet set a completion date for the structure, as it has only recently received bids for plumbing and electrical work after months of delay.

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Dauphin County treasurer DiFrancesco announces for open state Senate seat

January 31, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Nick DiFrancesco

A familiar name in Dauphin County has announced his candidacy for an open state Senate seat.

On Wednesday, Nick DiFrancesco said that he would pursue the Republican nomination for the 15th senatorial district, which includes the lower half of the county.

DiFrancesco currently serves as county treasurer, following his election last November. He previously served as county commissioner, Highspire council member and Lower Swatara Township commissioner.

“I’ve always focused on the needs of the communities I’ve represented,” DiFrancesco said in his campaign announcement. “There aren’t Republican or Democrat challenges, and there are rarely one-sided solutions. I’ve always worked with anyone who wanted to solve our problems and strengthen our communities.”

Sen. John DiSanto, a Republican, is retiring after serving two terms, leaving the 15^th district seat open.

On the Democratic side, longtime state Rep. Patty Kim has announced her candidacy for the seat, as has Harrisburg pastor Alvin Q. Taylor.

In addition to his elected positions, DiFrancesco has served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.

In his announcement, DiFrancesco said that he would focus on such issues as schools, safety and the economy.

“My record stands for all to see,” he said. “I will fight for this community before all else, and that means making certain that every child has a shot at a good education, regardless of zip code, every resident feels safe in their community, and everyone has a pathway to the skills needed to get a good job.”

The primary election is slated for April 23, with the general election on Nov. 5.

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Proposed rent hike for Broad Street Market vendors significantly lowered as board weighs fundraising options

January 31, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market

A proposal to raise the rent for Broad Street Market vendors has been changed, significantly lowering the rate hike.

The Broad Street Market Alliance board of directors shared on Wednesday that they are now weighing a plan to raise rates by 25%, as opposed to nearly doubling rent, as discussed previously.

The rent increase is part of a new proposed financial stability plan, aimed at keeping the market open through fundraising and cutting costs, according to a release from the board.

In early January, market management notified vendors that their rents would increase by nearly 100% to help make up for a large budget deficit. Vendors and community members pushed back on the plan, and, ultimately, the board voted to suspend the measure.

According to the board, the market has only $14,000 left in its operating account and was facing a deficit of over $160,000 for the upcoming year. Market management has shared that they have lost 70% of their revenue, due to the brick building closing after a July fire.

Since the last board meeting, members have identified $30,000 in cost savings from “reduced discretionary expenditures,” according to the release. Board Chair Bryan Davis previously shared with TheBurg that the board has temporarily cut funding from areas like marketing and special events.

The market also recently received a $30,000 donation from the William Penn Social Association and has agreements with the city and utility providers to defer bills until the city’s temporary market structure for displaced vendors is open and bringing in more revenue.

Between the cost-cutting and donations, the market would likely have an operating deficit of $100,000 for the year, but the rent raise and additional fundraising, such as branded corporate sponsorships, may help close the gap, the board shared.

“We are beyond grateful for the assistance offered by the City of Harrisburg, the Shapiro administration, our utility providers and generous donors such as the William Penn Social Association who are helping to make sure the market remains open for business,” Davis said.

The new proposed financial plan was agreed upon by board members, including three new vendor representatives. The board is slated to officially vote on the plan at a meeting on Wednesday evening at the Historic Harrisburg Association.

“As vendors, the outpouring of support from the community has meant the world to us,” said Tito Tep, owner of Tep’s Fresh Seafood, a vendor. “Although any rent increase is difficult to absorb during such challenging times, we believe the sacrifices everyone is making in this new plan will set the stage for long-term recovery at the market.”

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Capturing Culture: Local photographer’s exhibit showcases hip-hop, music celebrities

January 31, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Leon Laing

Visitors to Harrisburg’s city hall may see a few famous faces they recognize.

For the next two months, photographs of hip-hop artists and other celebrities by local photographer Leon Laing will be displayed in the MLK City Government Center atrium.

Laing, a Harrisburg resident, has worked since the early 2000s to capture cultural moments, photographing everyone from rappers J. Cole, Drake and Kendrick Lamar to local artists as well. Before he started his blog, Vigoronline.com, no one else locally was providing this type of coverage, he said.

“There was no one covering urban music, Black music, hip hop, R&B. No one was writing about it or taking photos,” he said. “So I said, let me fill this void.”

Laing has photographed local artists at Harrisburg events, festivals and concerts, but also regularly travels to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City and other larger metros to snap pictures of celebs.

His exhibit at city hall showcases a range of photos from his earlier years, using his father’s film camera, to more recent shots. The exhibit is part of the Art Association of Harrisburg’s Community Exhibition Program.

Photo of J. Cole by Leon Laing.

Laing said that he has always been artistic and grew an interest in photography while an art student at HACC. He also took art classes at the Art Association of Harrisburg and eventually zoomed in on celebrity and music culture as his focus. He made connections in the music industry and studied all things music, specifically hip-hop news, and began to find himself behind the camera at concerts and even meeting and interviewing artists backstage.

“I’ve been blessed to do this and to get access to people that other people don’t,” he said.

Laing has also photographed several famous actors and rappers who have connections to Harrisburg, such as the late actor Michael K. Williams.

“I like to show that we are a small city, but we’re hip,” he said. “I’m always trying to bring some of the experience from these larger cities to Harrisburg.”

The photo exhibit will be on display in city hall through March, and Laing hopes that visitors will find joy in spotting a celeb they love and enjoy reflecting on cultural moments spanning decades.

“I like to see the smile on people’s faces,” he said. “I’d like to give Harrisburg residents a sense of pride. We are a small city, but we have some cool things going on.”

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Dig It: HU professor helps identify, describe close relative to T. rex

January 30, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis reconstruction (by Sergey Krasovskiy)

For one Harrisburg University professor, the dinosaur hits keep coming—and this is the biggest one yet.

On Monday, HU reported that Dr. Steven Jasinski had identified and described a new species of large, predatory dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, which is related to the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex.

In the journal, “Scientific Reports,” Jasinski and several other researchers joined forces to describe the unique characteristics of the dinosaur and its significance in the late Cretaceous period, according to HU.

Jasinski has been describing and naming dinosaur finds for years. In a 2021 interview with TheBurg, he said he had named seven dinosaurs and was hopeful there would be many more to come.

“We are kind of only scratching the surface,” Jasinski said at the time. “We have at least several thousand more that we could and should be able to find.”

He estimated that 1,100 to 1,200 dinosaurs had been named in all until that point.

The newly described species, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, lived about 70 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. It had a massive head and sharp teeth, reaching lengths of 35 to 40 feet.

The dinosaur’s fossil bones were initially discovered in 1984, but remained partially underwater until 2002, when a drop in lake water allowed additional recovery, according to HU.

Further research tied the specimen to a group closely related to T. rex, but predating it considerably.

“As we continue to explore these areas, collect more fossils, and study those already in museum collections, our understanding of the diversity of the dinosaur fauna of North America, particularly in the late Cretaceous, will continue to grow,” Jasinski said.

Click here for more information about Harrisburg University.

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Harrisburg’s bike share plans for new stations, upgrades this year

January 30, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Susquecycle location at the Broad Street Market

The season for cycling may be over for now, but a local bike share program has plans to put more wheels on the street come spring.

SusqueCycle, which stations rental bikes around the Harrisburg area, will introduce upgrades and additional bike locations in 2024, according to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which administers the program.

The bike share, which launched in 2022, is currently paused for the winter, but will return in April with bikes in Midtown, downtown, Allison Hill and City Island.

“We want to thank all our participants and sponsors for the program’s success in 2023, and we eagerly look forward to the bikes returning in April,” said Steve Deck, TCRPC executive director.

In the coming months, Susquecycle plans to add two bike stations in Harrisburg at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets and at Commonwealth and North streets.

According to Deck, they will also make “sleeker, more modern” upgrades to bikes. TCRPC also plans to gather better location information to observe rider routes and plan for future expansions.

Additional improvements are dependent on ridership revenue and on the program obtaining more sponsorships, Deck said.

Susquecycle, which is operated by Michigan-based Tandem Mobility, allows users to rent bikes by paying as they go or purchasing an annual membership through the Movatic app.

Over the past year, the program grew in popularity, Deck shared, as people took over 2,300 Susquecycle rides, attracting everyone from commuters to tourists.

In 2023, the program added new bike stations near the federal courthouse on N. 6^th Street, by Tri-County Community Action’s office in Allison Hill and in downtown Hummelstown, bringing the total to nine stations.

Bike share promotes environmentalism, health and wellness and positively impacts the local economy, Deck explained.

For more information about Susquecycle, visit their website.

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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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