Harrisburg City Council, Dauphin County officials take the oath of office

January 2, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

New Harrisburg City Council member Crystal Davis was sworn into office by Judge Hanif Johnson.

Kicking off the new year, many recently elected officials took office on Tuesday.

Harrisburg City Council and Dauphin County officials were sworn in at separate ceremonies, including newcomers to council and to the county’s board of commissioners.

During a morning ceremony at city hall, Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge Hanif Johnson swore in council president Danielle Bowers for her second term, alongside Crystal Davis, a new council member. The third member, Lamont Jones, also a newcomer, attended the ceremony, but was officially sworn into office at the county courthouse last week.

“The joy was in the journey,” Davis said. “This is like the topping of it all. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues and looking at different avenues to support our community.”

Davis shared that one of her initial priorities on council will be to support affordable housing development. Jones said that education is important to him, including helping to inform the public on where to go with complaints and concerns.

Soon after the ceremony, council held its reorganizational meeting, unanimously electing Bowers to serve as council president for another term. In a vote of 4-3, council chose Ausha Green to serve as vice president for a second term, as well.

Council president Danielle Bowers was sworn in.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to continue to serve the residents,” Bowers said. “I’m excited for the new year and to get started.”

Bowers said that, this term, she will focus on initiatives related to affordable housing, economic development and public safety.

Also mid-morning on Tuesday, at the Hilton Harrisburg, Dauphin County swore in several public officials, including several newcomers.

Incumbent county commissioners George Hartwick, a Democrat who has served for 20 years, and Mike Pries, a Republican who took office in 2010, again took the oath of office.

Dauphin County Judge Scott Evans swore in Commissioner Mike Pries.

In November, Democratic challenger Justin Douglas was elected as the third commissioner, replacing Chad Saylor, and flipping the board to Democratic control for the first time in over a century.

Douglas attended the county’s ceremony but was sworn in at a separate ceremony early on Tuesday morning in Conewago Township, where he lives.

“A lot of important work lies ahead, and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together for the residents of Dauphin County,” Douglas said. “I recognize there’s much for me to learn and I look forward to growing in my knowledge and understanding.”

County Commissioner Justin Douglas

According to Pries, priorities for 2024 will include finding additional funding for the county’s 9-1-1 dispatch service and fighting illegal dumping. During his campaign, Douglas shared that he would seek reform at the Dauphin County Prison and focus on improving mental health services.

The following county officials were also officially sworn in on Tuesday:

President Judge Scott Evans
Judge William Tully
Judge Courtney Powell (newly elected)
Controller Mary Bateman
District Attorney Francis Chardo
Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti, Jr.
Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco, Treasurer (newly elected)
Register of Wills/ Clerk of Orphans Court Jean Marfizo King
Clerk of Courts Bridget Whitley (newly elected)
Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay

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Veteran Harrisburg Democrat announces for 15th Senate district race

January 2, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Alvin Q. Taylor

A Harrisburg pastor has announced his candidacy for a Dauphin County-based state Senate district.

On Tuesday, Alvin Q. Taylor said that he would run as a Democrat for the 15th district, which includes the lower half of the county, including its major population centers.

In his announcement, Taylor said that his campaign would focus on healthcare issues and school equity and choice, among other issues.

“Our community has the unending problem of gun violence and death, which affects everyone’s quality of life,” Taylor sated. “We have to re-direct and re-prioritize taxpayers’ funds to address education, senior healthcare, homelessness and veteran’s issues.”

In the Democratic primary, Taylor will compete against Rep. Patty Kim, the long-time legislator from the 103rd House district, who also is seeking the open Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. John DiSanto.

Taylor has run for the state Senate before, competing unsuccessfully in both the 2016 and 2020 primaries. He is the long-time minister of United Missionary Baptist Church in Harrisburg and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Union University. He has lived in Dauphin County for 68 years.

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

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Lamont Jones sworn in to Harrisburg council, receives pardon for past criminal convictions

December 29, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Royce Morris swore in Lamont Jones on Friday.

The last time Lamont Jones stood in a Dauphin County courtroom, he had to defend his ability to hold public office.

But on Friday, in the same courthouse, he was officially sworn in as a Harrisburg City Council member.

“This isn’t about me; it’s for you guys,” Jones said to a room full of family and supporters during the ceremony. “I celebrate you for having the courage and willingness to look at me and say ‘this is the guy we want to represent us.’”

In May’s primary election, Jones became one of three Democratic nominees for council. In July, two city residents challenged his nomination petition, arguing that Jones’ past criminal convictions disqualified him from holding office. However, Judge Jeffrey Engle ruled in Jones’ favor, allowing him to remain in the November election, when he was elected to council.

On Friday, Jones shared that, just a week prior, he received a full pardon from the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons for his convictions, which dated back over 20 years.

“As we stand in yet another courtroom […] a room that has arguably taken so much from you, today you’ve gotten it all back,” said Ana White, a member of Jones’ campaign team.

According to Jones, he was aware that his previous felonies could impact his ability to run for office. But with the support of people like county District Attorney Fran Chardo, he decided to go for it.

“I wanted to challenge the law,” he said. “I broke the chain.”

At the swearing-in ceremony, which was officiated by Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Royce Morris, several community members spoke about the role that they’ve seen Jones play in the community as a mentor and re-entry service provider.

“Today, history is being made,” said Dorothy Scott, who spoke during the ceremony. “He has faced many challenges along the way. Not only did he persevere, but he lit the way for many to follow.”

In addition to Jones, newcomer Crystal Davis will take a seat on council, as will current council President Danielle Bowers, who was re-elected in November. A council swearing-in ceremony is slated for Jan. 2 in the MLK City Government Center atrium. Following the ceremony, council will hold its reorganization meeting at 12:30 p.m. to elect a president and vice president for the new council term.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 29, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Got Jerk Island Grill and Juice Bar opened this week at 1313 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg.

Just like that, 2023 has come to an end. We are thankful for a great year and look forward to continuing to cover news and share stories in Harrisburg in 2024. Enjoy the last bit of news from the year, below, and we will see you after the strawberry drops!

TheBurg’s January issue of the magazine just dropped, featuring health and wellness stories for the new year. Find a copy at one of our distribution locations or read online.

Got Jerk Island Grill and Juice Bar opened this week in Harrisburg, our online story reported. The restaurant offers authentic Jamaican cuisine, giving patrons a taste of Chef Kenny Henny’s native country.

Harrisburg’s top 10 news stories from 2023, according to our publisher, covered everything from city debt payoffs to homelessness to infrastructure and building projects. Click here for a recap of the biggest local stories of the year.

Harrisburg Board Game Day brings hobby enthusiasts to the state’s capital annually, our magazine story reported. The event organizer hopes that it brings people together over a shared hobby and introduces people to the city.

January events will soon kick off in the Harrisburg area. Find out all of the best ways to start off the new year, in our Community Corner and Happenings sections.

Our most-read online news stories from the year included features on small businesses, events and even a few tragedies. Find out what made the list, here.

Our publisher highlights the 15^th anniversary of TheBurg and how it has grown over the years. He shares what makes TheBurg unique, in his January Publisher’s Note.

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Spice it Up: Got Jerk Island Grill & Juice Bar opens in Harrisburg, serving Jamaican fare

December 28, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Got Jerk owner Kenny Henny (right) and Jomo Bunsie

Chef Kenny Henny is bringing a little slice of the Caribbean to a Harrisburg street corner.

Got Jerk Island Grill and Juice Bar opened on Tuesday on N. 2^nd Street, cooking up authentic Jamaican cuisine.

“We want to give everybody a touch of our culture,” said Henny, who owns the restaurant with several business partners.

To Henny, that means not only serving up great food to “spice up your life,” but also creating a laid back, familial atmosphere.

The restaurant opened at 1313 N. 2^nd St., the location of the former Ted’s Bar and Grill in Midtown.

Got Jerk Island Grill & Juice Bar

Got Jerk started in 2014 when Henny began crafting unique jerk sauces, which evolved into a restaurant several years after. Until recently, Got Jerk operated a takeout location on Union Deposit Road and two restaurants in Lancaster and Carlisle. All locations closed due to the effects of the pandemic, Henny said.

However, over the years, Got Jerk grew a dedicated following of customers who constantly asked Henny when they’d be able to get their hands on his food again.

Now, they can.

Henny’s jerk chicken and oxtail are the biggest sellers, but his curry goat and chicken, snapper fish and wings are popular with diners as well. Everything is marinated, seasoned and spiced to perfection, a skill Henny learned from his mother.

Growing up in Jamaica, Henny’s family worked in the restaurant industry, his mom serving as the “greatest cook” and teacher. Ever since, he has worked in the food business, operating several other restaurants before Got Jerk.

At the new Midtown location, Got Jerk decided to offer a juice bar with daily fresh-made creations like pineapple and ginger, guava sensation and blueberry lemonade.

Jomo Bunsie serves up a pineapple and ginger juice

Jomo Bunsie, who makes the juices, will hand you your glass with a smile and tell you all the health benefits of each ingredient he uses.

“It’s a natural remedy,” he said. “There’s beet, kale, spinach, cucumbers, carrot. You get a mixture of fruit and vegetables. We give people great taste, but also healthy.”

Customer John Crippins would regularly get takeout from Got Jerk over the past several years. So, he was excited to see that his favorite Jamaican spot was planning to reopen, now just a few blocks from his house.

“When I saw the sign go up, I was like, ‘what?’” he said. “I love their jerk chicken. It’s spicy.”

In addition to making sure people love their food, the Got Jerk staff also makes the effort to get to know each customer and promote a welcoming environment.

“We try to make you not just a customer, you’re a part of the family,” Bunsie said.

For more information about Got Jerk Island Grill and Juice Bar, visit their Facebook page.

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Lowdown Countdown: Our editor swipes right on the top Harrisburg news stories of 2023

December 28, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

The lanternflies mostly stayed away, predicted chaos on two-way 2nd Street never materialized, and, for yet another year, the legendary Harrisburg beaver hid from prying eyes. But a lot of stuff did happen in Harrisburg over the past year. In what has become an annual rite (at least for me), I offer my top 10 Harrisburg news stories of 2023.

10. Biz Buzz
Each year, I like to start my top-10 list with some good news before lowering the boom on readers. As a huge fan of small, locally owned business, I love that so many downtown storefronts, empty since the pandemic, found tenants over the course of 2023: shops, restaurants, salons, etc. The trend started with a trickle and then accelerated as the year progressed. Even better: nearly all of these new businesses are Black, brown and/or women-owned. Kudos to the robust entrepreneurial spirit of this city.

9. Finishing Touches
For years, Harrisburg has awaited the completion of three major building projects: the federal courthouse, the state Archives and Harrisburg University’s new academic tower. In 2023, they all opened. As a result, Harrisburg is now home to some 600,000 square feet of brand new office, educational and professional space. Two of these buildings, the courthouse and Archives, are along the rapidly reviving 6th Street corridor, which is slated for several more projects, including the in-progress Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning and several apartment buildings.

8. Petition Issues
It seems to happen every local election cycle—a would-be candidate is tossed off the ballot because of a challenge to his or her nominating petitions. In 2023, that fate befell Autumn Fair in her bid for an open magisterial district justice seat. She then undertook an unsuccessful write-in campaign against Matt Pianka, in the process accusing his family of being behind the disqualification effort. Another challenge was less successful. In July, a challenge was mounted against Harrisburg City Council nominee Lamont Jones, based on two-decade-old criminal convictions. Following a hearing, Jones prevailed in court and, in the November general election, secured his council seat.

7. Roads & Bridges
The PA Department of Transportation long has had an outsized presence in and around the state capital. Last year was no exception. In July, PennDOT announced its latest tweak to its Market Street Bridge rehab plan, adding a bike/ped crossing atop a planned utility bridge. Around the same time, the agency officially dropped its much-criticized proposal to toll the South Bridge as part of a replacement plan. It also kicked off years of construction on the long-anticipated I-83 expansion. I suppose Harrisburg should feel lucky/unlucky to be in PennDOT’s crosshairs, with so many major projects centered on a small stretch of the city’s waterfront and south end.

6. Federal Case
In my past top-10 lists, I’ve often reserved one entry for various development proposals in the city. In 2023, though, the development pipeline largely dried up. And then there was the major exception: a plan to redevelop the former Federal Building into a 162-unit apartment building. The project sailed through the city approval process, which, honestly, was surprising, though certainly welcome for a downtown struggling since COVID. The New Jersey-based developer said he expects to begin construction this year, which, if true, would be good news for a city where many planned projects have come to a screeching halt since interest rates and construction costs began soaring.

5. Debt Ditch
When I came to Harrisburg, I found a city mired in about half-a-billion dollars of debt, the result of failed projects and years of profligate spending. The medicine was tough to swallow: higher taxes, asset sales and the dreaded long-term lease of the city’s parking assets. In March, though, Harrisburg had cause to celebrate, as the Williams administration paid off the last chunk of general obligation bonds, fulfilling a promise to rid the city of enormously high debt loads dating back to the Reed era. Despite the payoff, Harrisburg remained in the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed cities, due to unresolved litigation between the city and its former financial consultants.

4. Plan Penn-ding
A decade ago, the Harrisburg School District shuttered the much-loved William Penn High School. Unfortunately, as it pondered the building’s fate, it didn’t secure it very well, leaving it vulnerable to the elements, vandals and firebugs. Finally, in June, district receiver Lori Suski announced a “final” solution: the district would demo the building. She then quickly backed off in the face of opposition from alumni, preservationists and activists. Finally, she did what many a savvy official, faced with a tough decision, has done before—she appointed a task force. At press time, the task force was continuing to meet, with a report and recommendations expected this year.

3. Complex Problem
Two years ago, we wrote an award-winning feature story about the tangle of troubles at Governor’s Square, a sprawling, rundown affordable housing development in Uptown Harrisburg. We then closely followed the story into 2023, as much of Governor’s Square was condemned and its owner filed for bankruptcy. A few court dates later, the half-empty, 222-unit complex was put up for bid, a new owner sought. Here’s hoping, for 2024, that a responsible party steps up, one that has pockets deep enough to restore the buildings and offer its residents the quality living space they deserve.

2. Without a Home
For years, a homeless encampment had grown beneath the Mulberry Street Bridge near Cameron Street. In January, the city ordered the encampment cleared, saying it was a public health hazard. This set in motion a series of events and news stories as the tent camp dwellers moved from one spot to another to another. The net effect has been that the other large homeless encampment, near the PennDOT building in south Harrisburg, has ballooned in size, with tents also popping up in other parts of downtown and Riverfront Park.

1. From the Ashes
The text came in the middle of the night, followed by a shocking photo. No, it couldn’t be true—but it was. The Broad Street Market was on fire. Without question, the fire, which gutted much of the brick building, was the No. 1 Harrisburg news story of the year. Our months-long string of stories covered the fire, the immediate aftermath, the fate of the vendors, the construction of a temporary market and much more. As of this writing, the interim market still hasn’t opened, delays apparently caused by labor and parts issues. Meanwhile, vendors and city residents anxiously wait for work to begin on the actual building restoration, a process that likely will take two or more years.

So, there you have it—my take on the top Harrisburg news stories of 2023. I’d say it was a mixed year. There was some good news, but it was tough to get beyond the drag of the market fire, which, in my book, stained the entire year and bruised the psyche of the city.

Now, we look ahead to 2024. It’s my great hope that, a year from now, I can report 10 solid good news items. My wish list includes the start of the market restoration, a decrease in community violence, an improvement in the homeless situation, a couple of road diets and more new businesses, buildings and residents. A guy can dream, right?

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

Illustrations by Rich Hauck.

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Food Loot: Breadcoin makes change in addressing hunger, helping restaurants

December 28, 2023 | by Susan Ryder

On the door at Taco Amigos in downtown Harrisburg, there’s a little sign that says, “Breadcoin Welcome Here.”

This coin, which now circulates in Harrisburg, feeds the hungry, assists small businesses and connects the community. It was founded in 2016 in Washington, D.C., by economist Scott Borger and consultant Cary Umhau.

“Breadcoin is a food token that ensures everyone is fed with dignity,” Umhau said.

Breadcoin arrived in Harrisburg in February 2022 and now has 15 vendors in the area, including 13 in the city.

Marcel Childs, co-owner of Taco Amigos, is one of those vendors. He and his wife Victoria Valencia often prepare food for the folks experiencing homelessness, whom they regularly encounter.

“It makes a way where they feel welcome to come in during the daytime hours, to get out of the cold and have a hot meal, as well,” Childs said.

Here’s how it works. Individuals or organizations purchase Breadcoin, which each have a value of $2.50. The coins then are given to folks who may not be able to afford a meal. They spend it at one of the participating eateries.

The coins do so much more than feed people.

“Every coin… feeds somebody, connects the community more deeply, resources a nonprofit, and supports local business,” Umhau said.

Breadcoin allows Childs to help the hungry, while supporting his bottom line.

So, why use Breadcoin and not just give someone a few dollars?

“A lot of people don’t like to just hand out money, not knowing where it might go,” Umhau said.

According to Borger, giving Breadcoin says, “I see you, and I want you to be able to have a meal.”

Breadcoin has a hyperlocal economic effect because vendors are specifically located in underserved areas. So, Breadcoin pushes spenders to those neighborhoods with synergistic results. Coins spent in the community support a local small business, its employees, and the community the business serves.

“A lot of community-giving exits the community quickly,” said David Vader, Breadcoin PA regional coordinator. In contrast, Breadcoin helps local small businesses, which adds vibrancy to the community.

Common Table

In addition to purchase by individuals, Breadcoin can be donated to local nonprofits, which then distribute the coins to those they serve.

One of those nonprofits is Tears for Tarina, which assists women fleeing domestic violence with a seven-bed safe house in Harrisburg. When founder Angel Fox first heard about Breadcoin, she almost couldn’t believe it.

“I was like, ‘There’s no way this is a thing,’” she said.

But she headed over to Taco Amigos, where she had never eaten, and presented the coin, and just like that, received her meal. A delicious one at that!

Fox provides Breadcoin to the women at the shelter.

“They love it because it’s usually on their bus route or at a restaurant close to their job,” she said. “So, in between them not being able to afford lunch or purchase lunch, it kind of works for them to be able to have this supplement.”

Fox also owns a laundromat, Fox’s Wash and Go, where she often provides Breadcoin to those who could use a meal.

This feeling of wholeness and being a part of the community is one of the hallmarks of Breadcoin.

“Breadcoin creates an entire economy around the fact that we all benefit from being around a common table,” Borger said. “And if you’re not including the marginalized, you are literally excluding them.”

Fox agrees that Breadcoin has a positive impact on individuals—and not just from the nourishment.

“You are able to go ahead and purchase something with dignity is what’s really great about it,” she said. “Regardless of what you have or what you look like, you can go into a restaurant and get a decent meal.”

Many restaurants have a “Four Coin Meal” special that provides “more bang for your buck,” Childs said. At Taco Amigos, that deal includes two tacos and a drink. Breadcoin, though, can be spent on anything on the menu.

Breadcoin also offers microloans to participating vendors. In fact, after his air conditioning failed during the summer heat wave, Childs was able to take advantage of one of those loans.

Breadcoin would like to become synonymous with food and community connection, here in Harrisburg.

“Basically we’ve created this Starbucks gift card, except that it’s for local mom and pop stores that are community-oriented,” Umhau said.

Childs of Taco Amigos has high hopes for Breadcoin, hoping it spreads nationwide. He also acknowledges the importance of caring for the community.

“It’s very heartwarming to see people not only enjoy your food, but you can be the difference for this person who then may pay it forward some day,” he said.

Find Breadcoin vendors, learn more about the program, and purchase or donate to Breadcoin at www.breadcoin.org.

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Her Garden Grows: Dovie Thomason uses oral narrative to recover Indigenous lives, histories

December 28, 2023 | by M. Diane McCormick

Dovie Thomason

Dovie Thomason was shocked. She heard an Estonian storyteller share an origin story of emerging from an egg that mirrored her own, Native American origin story. Suddenly, the world felt “tiny and cozy and friendly.”

“Our common legacies are common,” Thomason said. “Our nature is needing each other. Our nature is interacting. Our nature is to connect, and that’s why we speak. That’s why we write. That’s why we try to create and make art. Storytelling reminds me of that every day.”

Thomason has her own story of origin and growth into a nationally and internationally renowned storyteller. Born in Chicago and relocated to rural Texas. Growing up as “a river fed by many streams,” with her Lakota, Apache and Scottish Traveller ancestry. Award-winning presenter at the Kennedy Center, National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian and countless school auditoriums. Keeping storytelling relevant in the digital age. Known for raising more questions than answers.

And a resident of Lower Paxton Township, where her garden always grows a little extra for the deer, just like her father taught her.

Local Matters

Thomason was born in Chicago but moved to Texas as a child. She is 75 now, so that’s Texas in the 1950s. Her kind was extinct, she was told. Her name wasn’t Christian, so her teacher called her David—until her strapping father, a “blue-eyed thunderstorm of Scottish, Gypsy and Apache,” had a talk with the principal.

“I didn’t like school,” she says in her story, “My Name is Dovie.” “I liked to stay with my grandma.”

Thomason’s grandma Dovie would tell stories over the daily chores of cooking, cleaning, gardening or shelling beans.

“You’re visiting and cooking, and you start telling a story that might have to do with one of the ingredients in the pot and why we have it, or why we cook it this way, or who this was a gift from,” Thomason said. “What the trees thought when they gave us syrup, or how they gave up their leaves to make a home for the creatures, their sacrifice to take care of others. It was always a part of the busyness. It was the soundtrack to the busyness.”

She started as a teacher of refugee and immigrant students in Cleveland during the “rugged, rugged” early 1980s.

“The students came with oral traditions,” Thomason said. “They’d seen lives of disruption that I could imagine and empathize with as a Native person. They deserved so much respect.”

As she told them her stories, she realized that her tales resonated outside the Native American community. Her storytelling spread to other classrooms, assemblies, festivals and colleges. In the 1990s, her passion became her livelihood.

The road to Harrisburg started with meeting Jimmy Little Turtle at a storytelling festival. Little Turtle, the late activist and political insider, built networks centered around the past and present of America’s tribal nations. Her previous research into the Carlisle Indian School had been tinged with academics, but from Little Turtle, she absorbed the oral traditions.

“I like history told by people, not just historians,” she said. “Jimmy knew everything.”

When Little Turtle moved to Florida, he transferred his home in Lower Paxton Township to Thomason. She lives there today, planting urban wildflowers and vegetables.

As her garden grows roots, so does she. In programs for Dauphin County Library System’s celebration of this year’s Native American Heritage month, her stories—told in an amazing vocal range spanning from a grouchy bear’s low growls to a chipmunk’s giggles—explained to children why the chipmunk has stripes. It warms her heart when a child recognizes her in the grocery store as “the story lady.”

“It’s great to be internationally known, but there’s something at this point in my life, this awareness that being local matters,” she says. “Being local is where you’re effective.”

We’re Here

Storytelling puts our lives and histories in context, explains Anthony Buccitelli, Penn State Harrisburg assistant professor of American Studies and director of the Pennsylvania Center for Folklore. It is not a relic of “bygone days,” but a way to educate, share advice and convey a sense of personal or social identity.

“Oral narrative is a fundamental component of human communication,” he said. “It’s something that we do all the time, most of the time not even knowing that we’re doing it. The vast majority of storytelling is done in our day-to-day lives.”

Thomason weaves traditional stories with personal asides, said her friend and Philadelphia-based storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston. For instance, when young Dovie interrupted her grandmother with a question, Grandma would teach patience by starting the story from the beginning.

“It gives the listener a sense of who she—and by ‘she,’ I mean her collective people—is and what matters,” said Alston. “In doing that, she humanizes people. In this culture, we don’t only marginalize people. We almost pretend that they don’t exist and pretend that we don’t have any kind of history that has impacted Indigenous people, but she reminds us, ‘We’re here.’ You get a sense of what American sensibilities and policies have done to Indigenous communities, but she does it without beating people over the head with a sledgehammer.”

My Purpose

Thomason calls herself “a person who stories.”

“It’s like a person who cooks, a person who gardens, a person who shelves,” she said. “I’m a person who stories.”

Pennsylvania is now trying to recover the past through stories with the Indigenous Peoples Cultural and Heritage Initiative, announced in October. The two-year initiative will distribute grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office for experiences giving life to the stories, history and culture of Pennsylvania’s Indigenous heritage.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s Indigenous nations and their rich histories “receive almost no recognition,” Carrie Fischer Lepore, deputy secretary of tourism in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, told TheBurg.

The project can’t undo the atrocities and exile imposed on the nations “that once called Pennsylvania home,” Lepore said, but it will leverage tourism “to make sure that voices and cultures are heard.”

Through the initiative, the Lehigh University Institute for Indigenous Studies is convening descendants of the tribal nations forced out of colonial Pennsylvania to develop a comprehensive plan for allocating the funds. It is, said Lepore, important that those descendants “decide how to tell their stories.”

“They are not our stories,” she said. “They don’t belong to us. It is their history, it is their culture, and we want to make sure that they are the ones to guide us in how they should be presented.”

And, she added, “History is not always kind, but history is critical to awareness.”

Thomason addresses history’s complexity by adding more complexity. Her story, “The Spirit Survives,” tells of the Carlisle Indian School and the U.S. government campaign to forcefully assimilate Native American children. The story doesn’t end with answers but with a reminder that listeners can no longer say, “I didn’t know.”

Her research into the school became a program after she and her daughter were walking the graveyard of Carlisle Indian School (“Why would a school have a graveyard?” she asks.) Her daughter, then about 10, assumed she would learn the history in high school, but Thomason knew better.

“A storyteller has to make us comfortable with things being complex or ambiguous or unresolved or divergent,” Thomas said. “A storyteller insults her listeners and her community if she tries to make things simple.”

Thomason’s riveting, unapologetic storytelling offers a powerful counterpunch to the school boards and politicians “making it a felony to teach my history and to teach Dovie’s history,” said Alston, whose work includes storytelling in the African tradition.

“Dovie talks about buffalo waste, which is smelly and stinky and horrible when it comes out, but eventually, it dries, and you can pick it up and put it in your basket and use it to light your fires and cook your food,” Alston said. “You can touch and revisit the wounds of the past without creating new ones.”

Thomason hopes storytelling remains a service and doesn’t become “the latest streaming fad.”

She thinks about the Indian School survivors she has known, the ones who “need the speaking of it.” Storytelling is “a responsibility and a commitment to acknowledge how you got here and acknowledge the ones who came before you, because you wouldn’t be you without them.”

“I have great teachers who trusted me with some of the things they knew and learned, and now I’ve got to do something with it,” she said. “That’s my job.”

She interrupted herself.

“No, it’s not my job,” she said. “It’s my purpose.”

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Gotta Look Sharp: New menswear store fits perfectly into west shore shopping mecca

December 28, 2023 | by Mark O’Keefe

Glenna Marino is looking for a few good gentlemen.

Well, maybe more than a few.

In September, Marino opened Sharp in downtown Camp Hill, offering area men a different way of shopping for clothes.

Marino said that it’s often difficult for men to find clothes that fit them. By coming into the store, they’re able to get a custom fit, assuring that they will feel comfortable and look stylish.

“We’re very hands-on with our fittings,” Marino said. “We present an extraordinary experience that every man deserves the privilege to savor.”

Glenna Marino & Lucy

According to Marino, the shop’s commitment to refinement and elegance sets them apart from other men’s stores.

“We believe that clothing is more than fabric—it’s an expression of your individuality and style,” she said. “Each stitch, fold and seam is meticulously attended to, ensuring that the final piece not only fits impeccably but also exudes confidence and sophistication.”

Once fitted, clients have access to 12 different categories of custom clothing. The store offers a distinctive selection of fabrics from globally acclaimed mills, along with limitless customization possibilities, tailored to suit unique preferences, Marino said.

“Your unique, custom-made design is delivered within weeks directly to your home, and we will help with 100% satisfaction,” she said.

Sharp also offers items in-store, including sport coats, vests, socks, tie clips, leather goods, colognes, briefcases, polos, golf wear and soaps.

“We encourage people to stop by or make an appointment and see what items we have in the store,” Marino said.

Marino recently helped a customer who came into the store wearing baggy pants. The man, she said, never would have thought of wearing tighter pants on his own.

“He left the store very happy. He couldn’t get over how much he liked the tighter pants,” she said. “I get a lot of joy out of making people happy. It feels good to know that I’m helping people look better.”

Marino chose to open in the heart of the Camp Hill shopping district for both the building’s visibility, near other stores, and for its aesthetics.

“I’ve had my eye on this location for quite some time,” she said. “I liked the high ceilings. It has a masculine look, which is what I wanted for a men’s clothing store.”

Marino said that, while she hopes to draw much of her business from the west shore, she expects people to come from all over the area.

“We’re not just getting people from Camp Hill,” she said. “We’re getting people from Harrisburg and other places. We hope people from everywhere will be attracted to the clothes we have at our store.”

Marino said that she had always been interested in fashion and design. In fact, she wanted to open her store so badly that she worked in another store for the past year to get a better understanding of the men’s clothing business.

“It’s something I like doing,” she said. “I think I’ve always had an eye for fashion and design, and I like helping people in that way.”

Sharp is located at 2138 Market St., Camp Hill. To make an appointment, call 717-502-2024, visit www.sharpcamphill.com or email [email protected].

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January News Digest

December 28, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Projects Proposed to Counter Homelessness

There soon may be several new housing options for Harrisburg’s homeless population.

A group of local residents is proposing a tiny home village on six acres along S. Front Street to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness.

Additionally, the city has confirmed that another, separate group has proposed a development for homeless veterans for the same area.

Both of these projects would be located along S. Front Street, near the PennDOT building, and would neighbor Veterans Grove, a tiny home village for homeless veterans under construction.

If approved and built, three housing developments serving the homeless would sit along a short stretch of S. Front Street.

A group of local residents shared that they are purchasing a plot of land just past the PennDOT building. The group has partnered with Missouri-based Eden Village, a nonprofit that has built tiny home communities nationally, for the project.

“What we are excited about is that we are providing what we believe is the ultimate solution, which is permanent housing,” said Jon Bomberger, who is involved with the project.

The village would include 25 to 30 400-square-foot, single occupancy homes and a community center for those experiencing homelessness. Mental health, recovery and other services would be offered on-site.

The group expects to break ground on the $3 to $4 million project in the summer, should it receive the necessary city approvals.

Also proposed for the riverfront, near PennDOT, is a project by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides support services to homeless veterans and first responders.

The organization is proposing a 50- to 60-unit apartment complex and support service center, along with 15 to 20 comfort homes, on an 8.5-acre parcel.

Utility Rates Rise

Harrisburg utility customers will see their rates rise in 2024, with the average bill increasing by about 5.2%.

In late November, the board of Capital Region Water (CRW) approved new water, sewer and stormwater rates, effective Jan. 1.

Under the new rate structure, the drinking water charge will increase 3%, from $10.34 to $10.65 per 1,000 gallons consumed.

The wastewater charge will rise 8%, from $9.24 to $9.98 per 1,000 gallons used.

The stormwater fee also will rise, the first increase for most residential customers since the fee was first imposed in 2020. It will increase by 10%, from $6.15 to $6.77 per month for the majority of Harrisburg residences.

According to CRW, the average monthly bill for households in Harrisburg will increase a total of $4.56 a month, from $87.75 to $92.31, in 2024. From 2022 to 2023, the average bill increased about $2.60.

County Taxes Steady in 2024 Budget

Dauphin County last month passed a 2024 budget that holds taxes steady.

The general fund budget totals nearly $220.6 million and, for the 19th year in a row, does not include a property tax increase.

“A lot of hard work and careful review has brought us to the point where we can maintain this impressive streak of 19 years without a tax increase,” said Mike Pries, chair of the county’s board of commissioners.

The property tax rate for county services remained at 6.88 mills, with a mill representing $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The budget is an increase from last year’s budget of $218 million. It includes salary raises for all union contract employees with 2.95% increases for non-union employees.

About 50% of the budget is spent on salaries and benefits for employees, with the other half largely going to areas like service expenses, debt service and grants to organizations.

Crisis Center to Open

In Harrisburg, there will soon be a new place for those with behavioral health issues to receive help.

Dauphin County announced last month its plans to create a Connections Regional Crisis Walk-In Center to provide 24/7 assistance and resources.

The 15,000-square-foot center will be located on the first floor of a building at 1100 S. Cameron Street, which also houses the county’s Case Management Unit.

“We are recognizing that we are not able to meet the needs of our community successfully,” said Annie Strite, mental health/intellectual and developmental disabilities administrator and mental health director for the county. “We want to do an excellent job serving our community.”

According to Strite, the need for the center became evident to the county as the number of people struggling with mental health issues has continued to rise nationally and locally post-COVID.

The new center is a joint project among Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and will serve as a resource for the region. The project will cost $17.5 million and utilizes state and federal funding.

The county expects the center to open by the end of 2024.

The crisis center will function similarly to an emergency room where people can receive immediate assistance in a crisis, but will be dedicated to serving those with mental health and addiction issues. Anyone can walk in to the center at any time, regardless of their insurance status.

The center will offer a new peer counseling program for those struggling with a mental health issue or walking through the recovery process.

“People want to talk to somebody who has walked that walk and has that experience,” said Andrea Kepler, administrator of Dauphin County mental health/autism/developmental programs.

People will also be able to receive emergency medication prescriptions and access psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and case management personnel. The center will be operated by national mental health care provider Connections Health Solutions.

Homes Sales Down, Prices Steady

Harrisburg-area home sales declined but the median price rose slightly in November, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, 492 homes sold versus 616 in November 2022, as the median sales price inched up to $259,500 from $255,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 250 homes sold, 29 fewer than in the year-ago period as the median sales price rose to $235,000 from $219,000, said GHAR.

Cumberland County tallied 214 home sales versus 295 a year ago, while the median sales price totaled $302,000, compared to $300,000 in the prior November, GHAR stated.

In Perry County, 32 homes sold, a drop of six, as the median price dipped to $205,000 from $239,750 a year ago, according to GHAR.

For the month, the pace of sales slowed somewhat, as the “average days on market” clocked in at 22 days versus 17 in November 2022, GHAR said.

So Noted

Anthony L. Loscalzo, Esq., last month was named Of Counsel for SkarlatosZonarich. Loscalzo brings 40 years of legal experience to the Harrisburg-based firm, joining the Elder Law, Estate Administration and Estate Planning departments.

Daniel Youngs has been named the next chief executive officer for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA). Youngs, the current chief financial officer, will replace Robert Zorbaugh, who plans to retire at the end of 2024 after a 35-year career with the authority.

JoJo’s Barbershop debuted last month at 11 S. 3rd St., one of a string of new businesses to open recently in downtown Harrisburg’s SoMa neighborhood. From the storefront, owner Johanna Martin offers washes and cuts to men, women and children, as well as specialty services including coloring, undercuts and hair design.

Organic Remedies, a Carlisle-based medical marijuana company, has donated $62,250 to the PA Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA), money raised from its second annual golf tournament. Separately, it raised $20,000 to support the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, which serves breast cancer survivors and their families.

Thomas W. Ford is the new owner and supervisor of the Michael J. Shalonis Funeral Home & Cremation Services, located in Marysville. Ford has more than two decades of experience in the industry, having worked as a licensed funeral director and served as a supervisor for funeral homes in York, Lancaster and Dauphin counties.

Ward of Health is opening in downtown Harrisburg, offering plant-based meals at 221 N. 2nd St. Owner Craig Ward began his business with a stand in the Broad Street Market before making the move to the brick-and-mortar location.

William Habacivch last month was named the new executive director of Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, which is building a “tiny home village” in south Harrisburg to serve homeless veterans. Habacivch, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, replaces Jordan Ames, who left the post in August.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2471 & 2473: Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg to Picadillis Real Estate LLC, $165,000

Allison St., 1514: L. Moyer to J. Rivas, $175,000

Bigelow Dr., 13: R. Love to J. Stevenson, $105,000

Boas St., 429: B. & A. Malia to R. Beaston, $240,000

Briggs St., 1822: HBG Rents LLC to L. Guzman, $155,000

Briggs St., 1834: BCR-2 Properties LLC to S. & L. Bethea, $156,000

Cumberland St., 119: J. & L. Weigle to J. Michel, $182,700

Curtin St., 539: J. Brito to Tinhel LLC, $52,500

Emerald St., 328: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to A. Corporan, $199,900

Harris St., 213: Braxley Renovations LLC to H. Belcher & R. Pegus, $249,900

Herr St., 308: RSB Real Estate LLC to V. Arkoosh, $188,908

Hoffman St., 3234: K. Bateman to T Wy Enterprise LLC, $85,000

Hoffman St., 3242: Hancock Investments Associates LLC to B. Jarkow & R. Reuveni, $81,453

Holly St., 1851: Hoffman Properties LLC to S. de Sosa, $75,000

James St., 1321: PA Deals LLC to B. Meador, $129,950

Kelker St., 218: A. Czopek to T. Finlan & B. Burgos, $240,000

Kelker St., 624: D. Diep to D. Steltzer, $104,900

Kelker St., 628: S. Orr to Pink Dahlia LLC, $95,000

Maclay St., 332: D. Jolley to W. & M. Hyatt, $90,000

Market St., 1639: Evangelical Methodist Church to E. Puente, $68,000

Market St., 1912: SJL Rentals 2 LLC to 1912 Market LLC, $195,000

Market St., 2048: Dreamland Investors LLC to A. Ashraf, $125,000

Market St., 2201: M. Stanisic to Lugos Home Improvements LLC, $179,900

Melrose St., 912: C. Morton to T. Yun, $145,000

North St., 228: The Berlin Group to S. Salaam, $278,000

N. 2nd St., 1518: W. Sturges & M. Gallagher to N. Ngwane, $290,000

N. 2nd St., 2410: M. Richards to R. & D. Zampogna, $260,000

N. 2nd St., 3301: K. & K. Eshenaur to S. Ellison, $315,000

N. 3rd St., 1124: Keaton & Friends LLC to Phoenix North Third LLC, $505,000

N. 3rd St., 2209: J. Alvarado & I. Rodriguez to S. Nelson, J. Brunson & M. Saeed, $235,000

N. 3rd St., 3020: D. & K. Borelli to Calcor Holdings LLC, $139,920

N. 3rd St., 3031: C. Penn to D. Webster, $185,300

N. 4th St., 2249: M. & F Cruz to L. Roman, $110,000

N. 4th St., 3213: G. Erdman & S. Ukodie to C. Shoemaker & K. Anderson, $190,000

N. 6th St., 1520 & 1528 and 1525 N. 5th St. : Buonarroti Trust to Savoy Harrisburg LLC, $350,000

N. 6th St., 2017: Mahalo Mart LLC to 2017 North Sixth Street LLC, $1,700,000

N. 6th St., 2605: R2 Property Group LLC to Sky Resort Rentals LLC, $78,000

N. 6th St., 3211: D. Colardo to NDTPA Properties LLC, $125,000

N. 17th St., 700: J. Andia to O. Quispe, $70,000

N. 18th St., 34: C. Boyer to D. Boyle, $62,500

N. 19th St., 706: L. Murrell to F. Salcedo, $53,500

N. Front St., 2147: First Church of Christ Scientist to Sanctuary on the Susquehanna LLC, $315,000

N. Front St., 2411: NG Properties to 2411 N Front Street LLC, $475,000

Peffer St., 613: A. Oeun to Q. Phillips, $87,500

Penn St., 1422: A. Drotor to R. Nickel, $155,000

Penn St., 2140: J. Gaidos Investments LLC to Asteriaru LLC, $65,000

Radnor St., 100: Kait Brocious Group LLC to V. Bandell & M. Tipton, $235,000

Radnor St., 102: Angdupe2011 LLC to A. Witte, $221,000

Radnor St., 127: C. Bone to A. & A. Stidfole, $355,000

Regina St., 1446: C. McMullen to R. Brown, $150,000

Ross St., 614: JMA Home Renovations LLC to E. Tesfa, $58,700

Rudy Rd., 2302: J. Chen to J. Montgomery, $225,000

Rudy Rd., 2307: J. Klein to C. & M. Freeman, $170,000

Rudy Rd., 2474: C. Tran to S. To, $95,000

S. 20th St., 23: J. & C. Ludwick to E. & C. Thuma, $115,000

S. 23rd St., 1: Lewis Trust & C. Thomas to A. Burris & R. Banai, $285,000

S. Front St., 587: M. Robert to B. & A. Gockley, $259,900

Swatara St., 2319: BDS Property Group LLC to A. McPherson, $224,900

Swatara St., 2245: G. Anochie to BDS Property Group LLC, $105,000

Verbeke St., 114: Silverstone Enterprises LLC to B. Gebhart, $190,000

Walnut St., 1214: R. & D. Requa to J. Perez, $70,000

Walnut St., 1702½: D&F Realty Holdings LP to H. Peguero, $139,900

Wayne St., 1724: MB Hess Realty LLC to T. Middleton, $55,000

Wiconisco St., 411: J. Weale to M. Riley, $106,000

Wiconisco St., 524: S. Orr to H. Davis, $107,000

Wiconisco St., 566: W. Chisolm to M. Lemons & A. Meadath, $159,900

Wyeth St., 1406: PA Deals LLC to D. Morgan & P. Dorofeeva, $185,000

Zarker St., 1420: GBSM Enterprises LLC to Fernandez Landmark Realty LLC, $60,000

Harrisburg property sales, November 2023, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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