Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

January 11, 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: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None at Oyster Mill Playhouse Worth noting: 108th PA Farm Show runs through Saturday Things on my agenda this weekend: a chill weekend with football on the mind – pretty soon we’ll be back to it, so taking advantage of slow weekends

For your weekend planning

Dry January? 4 Harrisburg Bars offer Spirit-Free Cocktails
My PA Farm Show Hot Takes
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

Dry January Pop-Up in SoMa next weekend!
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

Thursday

- 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show
- Project FeederWatch: Birds and Beverages at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
- Mitch Gregory at The Sturges Speakeasy
- Cirque Du Soleil: Crystal at GIANT Center
- Blacklisted poets of Harrisburg 8-10pm no cover at HMAC

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Interim executive director named for LGBT Center of Central PA

January 10, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Amanda Carter

An established leader in the Harrisburg-area LGBTQ+ community has been named the interim executive director of the LGBT Center of Central PA.

On Wednesday, the center announced that Amanda Carter would take this leadership post, replacing long-time Executive Director Amanda Arbour, who is leaving the position this week.

“It is an honor to serve in this role for the LGBT Center of Central PA,” Carter said, in a statement. “I am so proud to be part of this team, which is committed to serving queer and trans communities across the region.”

In this position, Carter will oversee the day-to-day operations and the long-term initiatives of the center, which serves thousands of LGBTQ+ people each year.

A Harrisburg native, Carter joined the LGBT Center in 2018 as youth programs manager. A year later, she was promoted to site director of GLO Harrisburg, where she has managed the day-to-day operations, staffing and programming.

“I have worked alongside Amanda Carter for the past five years, and I know her to be a leader who sets a vision and makes it happen, who inspires and supports the people who work for her and with her, and who navigates challenging situations thoughtfully and in line with our values,” Arbour said.

In addition to the hiring of an interim executive director, the LGBT Center’s board announced the hiring of both a director of finance and grants, Michael Tschop, and a new GLO site director, TL Waid, filling the vacancy left by Carter.

According to their news release, the LGBT Center’s board continues to search for a permanent executive director. Interested candidates are invited to learn more about the position and application process on the Center’s website at www.centralpalgbtcenter.org/career.

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Country music’s Maddie & Tae headed to Harrisburg, adding to HU Presents concert lineup

January 10, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

A well-known country music duo is headed this way in the spring, further strengthening a lineup of national artists coming soon to Harrisburg.

Maddie & Tae is slated to appear at XL Live on April 13, part of the Harrisburg University Presents concert series.

The pair broke out about a decade ago with the hit, “Girl in a Country Song,” their response to “bro-country” music. They’re currently on tour supporting their latest album, “The Way It Feels,” which includes the No. 1 country music song, “Die from a Broken Heart.”

Recently, HU Presents has announced a number of other nationally known bands and musicians who are making their way to Harrisburg, all playing at XL Live. They include:

Joseph, Jan. 26
Indigo De Souza, Feb. 21
Beach Weather, March 15
Guster, March 27
Rodrigo y Gabriela, May 11

In addition, on Feb. 24, HU Presents will bring to town “Sing & Swing,” a Jazz at Lincoln Center production of works from the American songbook. The show features musicians Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III and will take place at the Forum in Harrisburg.

On its website, HU Presents also has listed the first concert for its outdoor “Summer Concert Series” for 2024, with Fleet Foxes slated to play Riverfront Park on Sunday, June 23.

For more information on these shows and to purchase tickets, visit the HU Presents website.

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Broad Street Market vendors seek rent hike reconsideration, greater role in decision-making

January 9, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

More than a dozen vendors are asking for changes in how the Broad Street Market operates and makes decisions, as well as reconsideration of a recent rent hike.

On Tuesday, 17 vendors, representing most of the businesses operating in the stone building, signed on to a letter with a list of “actionable items” that also demands greater transparency and vendor involvement.

“We collectively represent a significant portion of the small business owners who have chosen to invest and grow our family-owned businesses in Harrisburg and the Broad Street Market,” states the letter, which is addressed to the Broad Street Market Alliance board of directors, the market’s Executive Director Tanis Monroy and the Office of the Mayor.

Last week, the alliance board notified vendors that their monthly rents would increase by 97%, from $2.67 to $5.25 per square foot, effective Feb. 1.

The board justified the dramatic hike by stating that the new rate better reflected rents at other area markets. It further said that additional funds are needed because the market is operating at a considerable deficit, mainly due to the many vendors who were displaced following a devastating July fire that shut down the market’s brick building.

Monroy later told TheBurg that the market currently is losing about $10,000 a month.

In their letter to the board, the vendors articulated a number of “action items,” including that:

Vendors vote on and elect two members of the board, as per the alliance’s bylaws.
The board grants a re-vote on the rent increase. Some vendors have said that they believe that the board lacked a quorum to pass the increase.
A “neutral party” conducts an analysis of the rents at other area markets. Some vendors have stated that they believe that data gathered by the board to justify the rent increase is flawed.
Vendors get the ability to enter leases for at least a year, as opposed operating on a month-to-month basis.

In their letter, vendors also are demanding “fair and transparent leadership.” Several vendors have told TheBurg that the rent increase and other decisions have been sprung on them without any prior knowledge or their input.

“As small business owners, we understand having to make tough choices that are essential to sustainability and survival,” the letter states. “We believe that these decisions must be made with accurate data, transparency and respect.”

The market board meets next on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Harrisburg Association Resource Center, 1230 N. 3rd St. It has vowed to give the public time to speak, following the cancellation of two previously announced public meetings.

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William Penn demolition officially canceled, task force weighs future use of building

January 9, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

William Penn

Harrisburg’s William Penn building is no longer slated for demolition.

At Tuesday’s Harrisburg School Board meeting, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski officially reversed her previous decision to raze the vacant, blighted school building.

In June, she approved a contract with the Gordian Group to tear down the building, at a cost of $6.8 million. However, since then, community members voiced opposition to the decision, causing Suski to halt the demo and form a task force to discuss alternative options.

The task force has met a handful of times, starting in October, with a final meeting scheduled for Jan. 18. At a previous meeting, task force members voted on a motion to recommend to Suski that the building be saved.

Tuesday’s board meeting solidified that plan, with Suski instead approving the Gordian Group to clean out debris and remove asbestos from the building. The agreement also incorporates constructing a fence along the front façade to protect the public from falling debris.

A fire, determined by the city’s fire bureau to be caused by arson, damaged William Penn in December. As part of the proposal, the Gordian Group will also clean out and secure the fire-damaged area.

Also discussed on Tuesday was a recommendation to the receiver to ratify an agreement with St. Moritz Security Services to provide 24/7 security at William Penn. The district started utilizing the company on Jan. 1, at a cost of $1,200 per day. While the receiver still needs to formally approve the agreement, the security service has already taken effect.

The district has also recently boarded up many areas of the building, and new security cameras have been installed.

With Suski saving the building from demolition, task force members will continue to come up with a recommendation for future use of the property.

For several weeks, community groups, businesses and nonprofit organizations have pitched their proposals to the 25-member task force for consideration. Those presentations included ideas like creating a career and technology school, indoor sports complex, a medical facility and affordable housing for seniors, among others.

At the task force’s previous meeting, members voted on various concepts for the building to focus in on a recommendation for its use. Receiving the most votes from members was a proposal from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire to create an emergency services and public education facility. According to Fire Chief Brian Enterline, the facility would include an emergency services station, as well as classrooms and programming for students interested in career pathways within the fire and police bureaus, as well as with LifeTeam EMS and 9-1-1 Dispatch.

Members also favored proposals including creating a career and technology school and recreational and sports facilities.

The task force will eventually make a recommendation to Suski for the use of the property. However, she will ultimately have the final say on the project.

For more information on the William Penn Task Force, visit the district’s website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: All That Staz at Pure Gallery and CALC’s Juried Exhibit

January 9, 2024 | by Bob MacGinnes

“Empty Nest” by Elizabeth Staz (photo: Jana MacGinnes)

The Art Library called me to say I had two long “overdues”–not books, not works of art, but an art blog that heralds an artist of great repute and a gallery whose horn I needed to toot! The two go hand in hand.

Over three decades ago, my wife Jana and I made our first acquisition of serious art from a local painter who is well known for her abstract watercolors, often incorporating collage into the mix. The combination makes for a delightful interplay of color, tactile interest and fantasy. It is exactly those unique elements that prompted us to purchase Elizabeth Staz’s “The Empty Nest.”

She hails from the bucolic land of Boiling Springs, the home of the Children’s Lake, inhabited by “duck, duck, goose” or something that resembles flying fowl. Her paintings are wistful and whimsical, full of enchantment.

Over the years, Elizabeth has introduced people engaged in everyday activities, adding a narrative dimension to her painting. Perhaps the light brushes from her palette of pastels pronounce tales of time travel to exotic lands or her own garden. In discussing her art, she is the first to share that, more than anything, she “hopes the viewer will experience joy and a sense of adventure even in the commonplace.”

The award-winning artist has shown in galleries from Red Raven in Lancaster to her current home at Pure Gallery in The Shoppes in Arcona. Pure has represented Elizabeth since 2017. The gallery setting for Pure reflects the wooded glens and pristine streams with gurgling brooks and trees that whisper a language all their own, surrounded by Arcona’s landscape.

Rose Anderson of Pure Gallery (photo: Jana MacGinnes)

Owner Rose Anderson envisioned an art gallery for artists, art lovers and artworks that would accommodate all budgets and a variety of tastes. The Shoppes in Arcona were brand spanking new, and Rose was the first tenant to sign on at this creative enclave developed by Charter Homes and Neighborhoods. The setting was supreme for upscale restaurants, shops and services that spoke to a sense of discovery coming upon something exciting and different.

Off the beaten path, figuratively and literally, the Shoppes in Arcona today are home to Thea, an epicurean’s dream restaurant, Red Salon, an expansive hair/beauty emporium, and Arcona Athletic Club for making community connections while working out. In addition, SpringGate Winery, Water Colours Interior Design, Idea Coffee, Amore’ Pizza and Shirley Rae’s Ice Cream round out the Shoppes menu.

Rose saw the vast potential as the earliest adopter and, in celebrating her 20-year anniversary with the past eight of those in Arcona, proved her intuition right. In addition to representing Elizabeth, Pure boasts a roster of local talent including Peg Belcastro, Donna Daniels and Gail Coleman, as well as Ralph Hocker and Stewart Holmes. Rose has incorporated virtual receptions with Elizabeth, Peg and Gail through one-on-one interviews for discussing inspiration, process and creation.

Beyond offering paintings from the floor to the ceiling, Pure is as well known for its custom framing business. A gamut of gifts awaits within, showcasing paintings that become the icing on the anniversary cake. Pure unveils a king’s treasure of hand-carved wooden boxes and hand-crafted jewelry, glass objects d’ art, artisanal candles and cards. Now may be the perfect time for you to discover Elizabeth Staz and Pure Gallery. Be sure to help Rose blow out the candles on her cake and make a wish for an early spring.

CALC’s Juried Exhibit, “Looking In, Reaching Out”

“Haphazardly” by Ann Benton Yeager (photo: Abria Donato)

Long-time curator at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC), Cathy Stone created her own signature style, helping to put CALC on the map for presentation excellence with every show she mounted. Cathy became its executive director at the beginning of last year. After an exhaustive search, Abria Donato became the gallery director during late summer. She is a 2015 graduate of Edinboro University with a BFA in metal-smithing. She shares a vision with a community goal to bring a corral of local artists to the Carlisle address at 38 W. Pomfret St., and starts the new year off with a bang with a special juried show opening this Friday, Jan. 12. Three dozen artists made the cut for “Looking In, Reaching Out,” featuring 50 works of art. Abria was assisted in the process by TheBurg’s art writer, Bob MacGinnes (i.e. yours truly), and his photographer wife, Jana.

“Send it Away” by Alana Beall (photo: Abria Donato)

As seasoned jurors, it is one of our favorite activities to help decide what art gets shown from an extensive field of entrants works. Beyond its titled theme lies the challenge to look introspectively at disparate ends of the emotional barometer, from warm friendships to isolation and loneliness, the mental obstacles of daily living, and roadblocks faced for self-expression. Artists well-versed in the gauntlet that life who can throw down are Alana Beall, Andrea Frinch, Craig Bomberger, Gail Coleman and Ann Benton Yeager. It also includes other veterans such as Peg Belcastro, Julie Riker, Michelle Moats, Sue Marazzo, Susan Begnini-Landis and John Guarnera, who all offer their unique take on the dichotomy delivered in the exhibit. Collaborative director at CALC, Mo Geiger, adds her own spin on the more fun aspects of relationships, making connections though games and play. In her role at CALC, she synthesizes art projects filtered locally across organizations, museums and galleries, adding to the visual beauty of the region. She is also the co-founder of the South-Central Pennsylvania Performance Collective, Valley Traction. The exhibit, “Let’s Play,” will have its own soundtrack for the opening night reception for both shows upstairs and down from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The musical accompaniment will be provided by local artist, JWS. Mo has fun with the child in all of us bridging the real and surreal-Wonkaesque, “In a world of pure imagination.” If you venture out to participate in “Let’s Play,” you’ve already won the golden ticket!

January Art Events

Friday, Jan. 12, Carlisle Arts Learning Center, “Juried Exhibit” opening reception 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 19, 3^rd in the Burg

Art Association of Harrisburg “Figuratively Speaking” (Winter Members Show) curated by Nate Foster, reception, 5 to 8 p.m.
Susquehanna Art Museum “Shifting Forms: 5 Decades of Abstraction” (in its last three days) from 5 to 8 p.m., curated by Bonnie Mae Carrow

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Intuitive Eating Focuses On Why We Eat Rather Than What We Eat

January 9, 2024 | by THINK Capital Blue Cross

Nearly half of all Americans are obese, and the population of severely obese people has nearly doubled in the last two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

With the added weight comes an added risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers, and adds hundreds of billions of dollars in costs stemming from those conditions, the CDC says.

While many turn to fad diets that rely on vilifying and eliminating certain foods, a different approach, intuitive eating, is taking hold.

That approach focuses less on what we eat and more on why we eat, and the concept is getting attention from folks like Kaitlyn Miele and Debra Garzon, registered dietitians with Capital Blue Cross’ Health Promotion and Wellness team.

Introduced in 1995 by dietitians and authors Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, intuitive eating is known to some as the anti-diet. It revolves around 10 principles designed to help people become mindful and self-aware while eating:

Reject the diet mentality.
Honor your hunger.
Make peace with food.
Challenge the food police.
Respect your fullness.
Discover the satisfaction factor.
Honor your feelings.
Respect your body.
Movement—feel the difference.
Honor your health with gentle nutrition.

Restricting foods, especially ones you enjoy, can increase cravings for those foods, according to Miele. “Deprivation can lead to a binge-and-restrict cycle known as yo-yo dieting. Intuitive eaters are governed by internal cues rather than external diet plan rules,” she explained.

“Obesity is not always just about calories in and calories out,” Miele said. “That is oversimplifying a complex issue. … Many other factors can contribute to weight gain and obesity. It is not just a matter of will power or laziness. That, unfortunately, seems to be the stigma.”

Garzon, a registered dietitian with more than 20 years of experience, began her intuitive eating journey about nine years ago. She took a continuing education course that included an exercise in which students were asked to eat lunch in silence while being mindful of how they felt during the meal.

“It was an eye-opening experience even for a seasoned dietitian,” Garzon said. “I was astounded that during this exercise I was only able to get through half of my meal – a sandwich, fruit, pretzels, and water – when I realized I was so full I did not want to take another bite. This was the beginning of a wonderful journey to better health.”

Garzon started slowly by practicing intuitive eating during just one meal a day.

“It was difficult at first with family schedules, kids, sports, and working full time,” she said. Soon enough, she was practicing mindful and intuitive eating at every meal and, as a result, eating less.

In just a couple of months, she lost some weight, her clothes fit easier, she was sleeping better at night, and she was feeling more confident overall during the day.

“I really started to see how simply slowing down with eating a meal, being self-aware, and respecting my body’s hunger and fullness responses was changing my entire outlook on food and healthier eating overall,” she said.

“It doesn’t cost anything,” Garzon said. “There are no special meals and no calorie counting. It is simply a mindset adjustment and a path on a healthy lifestyle journey.”

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

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MLK Day of Service to celebrate King’s legacy, while helping the community

January 8, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

MLK Day of Service board members and local officials announced details of the upcoming event, at a service site in Harrisburg.

In one week, volunteers will serve throughout the region to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Officials gathered in Harrisburg on Monday to announce the 15^th annual Central PA MLK Day of Service, which will take place on Jan. 15.

“We have a lot of planned for next week,” said Mike Walsh, vice chair of the MLK Day of Service board.

This year, the service committee is recognizing the 60^th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

The day will kick off at 9 a.m. at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Harrisburg with an opening ceremony. There will be on-site service opportunities, a panel discussion on economics, education and health within the Black community and a community resource fair made up of over 30 organizations offering housing, healthcare and employment assistance.

Additionally, service projects will take place across the region, offering dozens of volunteer opportunities. Community members can sign up to do yard work, assemble care packages, clean up trash and paint, among many other service options.

Monday’s press conference announcing the day of service was held outside one of the service sites on N. Summit Street, where affordable housing organization Beahive will clean out a property to renovate as a home for a low-income family.

“They will hopefully be done in the next couple of months, and we will be able to open it up for a family,” Beahive founder Samara Scott said.

Over 850 volunteer slots still need to be filled, according to Walsh.

“It’s a day on, not off,” said Shelly Lipscomb Echeverria, a board member. “Come out and help people in your community and, if we all give back, you hear the saying, many hands make light work.”

There are opportunities for every ability, every age and for whatever amount of time volunteers can commit to, she said.

Also this year, the committee will recognize three community members for their service efforts, as part of their Drum Major Awards. Joseph Robinson Jr., president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute, Helen Spence, coordinator of the Dauphin County Systems of Care, and Charles Appleberry, a school security officer and local sports coach, will all be honored.

While the holiday is only one day, Walsh explained that the committee has started its MLK 365 initiative to keep the mission of service ongoing throughout the year.

“It’s really evident how excited and inspired people get by coming together and honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King and how our eyes are opened to the needs that exist within our community,” Walsh said.

For more information or to register for Central PA MLK Day of Service, visit their website.

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Broad Street Market contracting effort yields one bid for electrical work, none for plumbing

January 8, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

The temporary Broad Street Market building

Harrisburg has received one bid for electrical work at the Broad Street Market, but no plumbing bids.

Manheim-based KCS Electric submitted a bid of $84,491 for work on the temporary market structure located across the street from the main market complex, according to the city.

The city now will undertake a formal review process to determine if KCS is qualified to perform the work. If the bid is successful, the city will begin processing a contract, with the entire bonding and contract execution phase expected to take two to four weeks, according to the city.

Last month, Harrisburg issued a request for bids on the public site, PennBid, to complete both electrical and plumbing work on the tent-like temporary building, where it plans to house vendors displaced by the devastating July fire, which closed the brick market building.

Before PennBid, the city had posted the jobs on a private platform, Keystone Purchasing Network, but received no bids for the electrical work and only one bid for the plumbing work, which was deemed to be too high.

This time, through PennBid, the city received no bids for the plumbing phase. Therefore, it will republish that job on PennBid today, with a submission deadline of Jan. 25.

Though the brick building is shut down, the market’s other building—the stone building—remains open for business during market hours, Thursday through Saturday.

Visit the city’s Broad Street Market page for building updates.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 5, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council President Danielle Bowers was sworn in to office on Tuesday.

Making any goals for the new year? How about reading more community news in 2024? That’s one resolution we can help you out with. You can even start right now by catching up on the first stories of the year, below.

Alvin Q. Taylor, a Harrisburg pastor, said that he would run as a Democrat for the 15th Senate district, our online story reported. In his announcement, Taylor said that his campaign would focus on healthcare issues and school equity and choice, among other issues.

Breadcoin has made its way to Harrisburg, offering the community a way to help those who are hungry. In our magazine story, read about how the coin works and which local restaurants accept it.

Broad Street Market vendors reacted to notice that their rents would nearly double in the coming month, our online story reported. Some vendors shared that they may have to close down, while market management said that they need the extra revenue to survive.

Concerts will bring indie, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll music to the Harrisburg area this month. Read our Musical Notes column to find out which bands are headed this way.

Harrisburg City Council members were sworn in to office at a ceremony on Tuesday, our online story reported. Dauphin County also swore in and welcomed several new and returning officials, including a new county commissioner.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau swore in two new police officers and promoted five others at a ceremony this week, our reporting found.

Lamont Jones was sworn in as a Harrisburg City Council member at a ceremony at the Dauphin County courthouse last week, our online story reported. In the summer, Jones was taken to court over his eligibility to run for office due to past criminal convictions but ultimately was allowed to remain on the ballot.

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) has moved into the fourth floor of the Lerner Tower in Strawberry Square, our online story reported. The association is a membership-based advocacy organization of early care and education professionals in the commonwealth.

Sara Bozich has a list of events for you to check out this weekend, if the snow doesn’t keep you at home. Click here to find her recommendations.

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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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