PennDOT to host public meetings on South Bridge project environmental study

October 17, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The South Bridge

Local residents will have a chance to provide input on a major roadway project.

PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced two upcoming public meetings to discuss the I-83 South Bridge Project.

The meeting will focus on the Environmental Assessment prepared for the project and give community members a chance to view and comment on it.

Hearings will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Hotel Indigo Harrisburg, 765 Eisenhower Blvd., and Nov. 2 at the Penn Harris Hotel, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill.

According to PennDOT, the South Bridge, between Harrisburg and Lemoyne, is an aging structure that no longer meets current design standards.

“Due to bridge conditions and anticipated increases in traffic volumes, the bridge and its connections on the west shore and east shore need to be upgraded,” said a statement from PennDOT. “By investing in improvements today, we can ensure that the I-83 South Bridge can support the future needs of the Harrisburg region.”

In July, PennDOT announced that it would drop a previous proposal to toll the bridge and find alternative ways to financially support the project.

The agency hopes to begin the project in 2025.

The environmental assessment, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, examines the potential impacts to natural, social, economic, and cultural resources from this project.

At the meetings, an open house display on the project will be available for viewing. Formal public testimony opportunities will take place at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day, with a break in between sessions.

All of the project material from the open house, including a project overview, maps, and Environmental Assessment documents are available online, from now through Nov. 16.

People may comment on the project in person, in writing, through an online comment form or through email.

PennDOT asks that those providing testimony at the public hearings register in advance at www.penndot.pa.gov/i83SouthBridge or by calling 717-743-1005.

Emailed comments can be sent to [email protected] and written comments may be brought to the meeting or mailed to: PennDOT District 8, I-83 South Bridge Project, Attn: Marwa Said, 2140 Herr St., Harrisburg, PA 17103.

To learn more about the I-83 South Bridge Project, visit PennDOT’s website.

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Harrisburg to hold trick-or-treat on Halloween, host spooky event for families

October 16, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg trick or treat night 2022

Pick out a costume because Halloween is headed to Harrisburg.

The city announced that it will hold trick-or-treat night on Halloween, Oct. 31, changing up a longtime routine of having it on the Thursday before the holiday.

Trick-or-treating will take place in Harrisburg on Halloween, a Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

According to Matt Maisel, communications director for Harrisburg, the city decided to switch the date to space out trick or treating from its “Bash at the Brownstone” event on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Harrisburg held the first “Bash at the Brownstone” Halloween at Reservoir Park last year, and it was a hit among residents, Maisel said.

“It was incredible; so many people showed up,” he said. “The success the first year really showed us that we needed to do this again and make it an annual event.”

“Bash at the Brownstone” will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Reservoir Park Brownstone building and include a costume contest, face painting, reptile petting zoo, magician, crafts, games and food for families.

For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

October 13, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams swore in new firefighters at a ceremony.

It’s fall in Harrisburg! As the leaves change and the weather cools, make sure you grab one of our Burg gear sweatshirts to cozy up in. Before you head over to our website to check them out, catch up on this week’s news, below.

The After Hours has been making a name for itself regionally over the past several years, our magazine story reported. The group’s first full-length album, “Late Night Social,” came out on Friday, Oct. 13 and will be celebrated with an album release party at H*MAC.

An apartment project proposed for the former Federal Building in downtown Harrisburg was approved by City Council this week, our online story reported. The project will convert the 11-story office structure into a 162-unit apartment building.

Bob’s Art Blog highlighted central PA galleries that are packed with spooky scenes this month. Click here to read his review of shows at HIVE artspace and Metropolis Collective.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University received $250,000 from M&T Bank to support its programming for startup businesses, our online story reported. The bank has committed to supporting the business incubator program for five years.

Communities in Schools exists to fill a gap and complete a framework of care for school students, our magazine story reported. The organization works with area schools to host art and history projects, teacher appreciation activities, open gym events, movies, anti-bullying Unity Day and many more events.

“The Exorcist” is currently showing at Open Stage, bringing the horror to Harrisburg. Click here to read a review of the show from our theater columnist.

Fall is in full swing and so are seasonal events in the Harrisburg area, our magazine story reported. It’s the perfect time to visit an orchard, navigate a corn maze and attend a fall festival.

Gamut Theatre’s show, “I Don’t Speak Spanish,” offers audiences a glimpse into local playwright David Ramón Zayas’ culture and ancestry. Our theater columnist shares her thoughts on the inspirational play, here.

Harrisburg swore in four new firefighters and honored many others for their lifesaving efforts at the fire bureau’s annual awards ceremony, our online story reported.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area fell this month, while prices rose slightly, our online story reported. For the three-county region, 542 homes sold, compared to 685 in the year-ago period, as the median sales prices rose to $260,575 from $254,900.

Joan Baez is the subject of a new documentary showing at Midtown Cinema this month. In our magazine story, read about the darkness that the film may reveal about the musician.

Sara Bozich has a full list of fall activities for your weekend in Harrisburg. Find her recommendations, here.

Tree planting will take place in Harrisburg from Oct. 27 through 29 and the city is looking for volunteers, our online story reported. Volunteers will help plant 74 street trees in South Allison Hill and Uptown.

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Harrisburg to plant dozens of new street trees, in need of volunteers

October 13, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers at a previous Harrisburg tree planting.

While many Harrisburg trees begin to shed their leaves for the season, the city will get busy planting new ones.

From Oct. 27 through 29, Harrisburg plans to plant 74 street trees in South Allison Hill and Uptown and needs the help of volunteers to do it.

The city conducts plantings each spring and fall, and according to city Forester Ellen Roane, autumn is a great time for new trees to go in the ground.

“In the fall, the weather is cooling off, but the ground is still warm, allowing roots to establish without worrying about the heat of summer coming on,” Roane said, in a statement. “The tree doesn’t have to push out leaves, so it can just focus on growing its roots.”

To help with the plantings, Harrisburg is calling on volunteers to join the city.

Volunteers will help plant 44 trees between the 2100- and 2400-blocks of Kensington Street in South Allison Hill, and 30 in parks at 4^th and Dauphin streets and 4^th and Emerald streets in Uptown.

Trees will be of 21 different varieties, such as the Amur Maackia, Japanese Tree Lilac, Redbud, Sargent Cherry, Accolade Cherry and Oak-Leaf Mountain Ash, among others. They will all be between 7 feet to 9 feet tall and are easy to handle, according to Roane.

Plantings will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Volunteers on Friday and Saturday will meet at the corner of Kensington and 22^nd streets, and Sunday volunteers will meet at 4^th & Dauphin Park, located at 1821 N. 4^th St. Volunteers should arrive between 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.

Planting will happen, rain or shine, and hand tools, work gloves, water and snacks will be provided. Volunteers are invited to bring their own tools, as well as a refillable water bottle.

The city purchased the street trees using a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation, with additional funds from the United Parcel Service (UPS), which will send volunteers to help with planting on Oct. 27.

“Trees make the city of Harrisburg more beautiful and add so much to the quality of life in our city,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “We are grateful to UPS and the Arbor Day Foundation for funding this project and to the many volunteers who give of their time to help plant the trees.”

Each spring and fall, Harrisburg plants trees in different areas of the city at no cost to residents. Since 2019, more than 500 trees have been planted as part of the program.

“Trees offer vast benefits for any community,” Roane said. “Thriving urban forests bolster human health, filter the air by removing pollution, and they also reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants, and organic matter into streams, improving our water quality. Trees have also been shown to reduce crime, lower stress levels, and develop community pride.”

To sign up to volunteer at the tree plantings or for more information, click here.

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Burg View: An Experiment on Forster Street

October 12, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Traffic was extremely light last week during a weekday, mid-morning, on Forster Street, despite one lane being closed for utility work.

Right now in Harrisburg, an important experiment is taking place.

This experiment isn’t by design, but by circumstance, the result of a major utility project in the city.

For the past month, much of westbound Forster Street, from the Capitol Complex down to the Taylor Bridge, has been reduced to two lanes. And you know what? It’s been fantastic.

I don’t mean fantastic for the poor residents living around Green and Forster streets, who’ve had to endure jackhammering, heavy machinery and beep-beep-beeping starting at sunrise.

But it’s fantastic for the city, because it’s offered a real-world test of a slimmed-down Forster Street, one in which the street is reduced, in each direction, from three to two lanes.

This view of Forster Street is from late September during “rush hour”: 5:30 p.m.

Now, I’ve long known that six through lanes on Forster were far too many (expanding to an unreal eight lanes at the corner of 3rd Street). I live on one side of that notorious, dangerous dividing line and work on the other, so have crossed the street hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

I consider myself something of an expert on that particular sea of asphalt.

Before covid, Forster got busy for short periods during rush hours. Since covid, it’s basically never busy, even at 8 in the morning or 5 in the afternoon. Reduced to two lanes in one direction, traffic still flows freely. At other times, it’s little more than a trickle.

Even with Capital Region Water’s major utility project on site, the traffic seems so much slower, the drivers more careful, and the narrower street so much safer.

So, PennDOT are you paying any attention?

State engineers—use your imaginations. Just think what you could so with that real estate. Instead of unnecessary, superfluous traffic lanes, you could have bike lanes, rain gardens, bumpouts, green space, etc. You could be heroes to residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, businesses and the environment.

Mid-morning on Forster Street, from Green to N. 2nd streets

But you don’t have to wait for a firm plan either. Start today.

You know those dividers that are currently blocking the right-hand lane? Leave them there. Until you come up with a permanent solution, the road will be narrower, the street safer—and it will no longer divide the city of Harrisburg in half. After 70 years apart, downtown and Midtown would be reunited.

I wouldn’t make this argument if six lanes were actually needed. But they’re not, and it’s not even a close call. Meanwhile, the wide road and excessive lanes encourage speeding and reckless driving, leading to crashes, injuries and even fatalities. And it divides and harms the city of Harrisburg.

It is time—today—to begin to fix Forster Street.

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 12, 2023 | 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: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | at Midtown Cinema Worth noting: The “toberfests” are prevalent this weekend: Choctoberfest, Beachtoberfest, Yorktoberfest, Senstoberfest Things on my agenda this weekend: might take Bo to see a Tom Petty tribute band on Friday …, Tres Bonne Annee Gala on Saturday

For your weekend(ish) planning

Grab tickets to see Gus Dapperton on Oct. 19
Find the perfect holiday-themed getaway — no planning required!
The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg
How to help the Broad Street Market and its displaced vendors
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

WIN tickets to see HU Presents Paul Cauthen on Oct. 28
Harrisburg Book Festival is next week!
The last SoMa Block Party of 2023 is Oct. 19!
Add ‘3rd in the Burg’ to your calendar now — we’ve got a good one in SoMa
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

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Harrisburg business incubator receives check from M&T Bank to support programming

October 11, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

M&T Bank officials presented a check to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University.

A Harrisburg business incubator received an extra boost to help local, budding entrepreneurs.

M&T Bank, on Wednesday, presented the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University with $250,000 to support its programming for startup businesses.

“This is an amazing program and we are privileged to be a part of it,” said Nora Habig, M&T Bank’s regional president for Central and Western Pennsylvania. “This new facility is really a gem in downtown Harrisburg.”

The center, located inside Strawberry Square, serves as an incubator for local entrepreneurs, with a focus on minority- and women-owned businesses. Currently, about 15 startups are participating in the 12- to 18-month-long program.

The CIE provides workshops, mentorship, coaching and resources to innovators, giving them a kick start in growing their businesses.

With M&T Bank’s financial support came a five-year commitment to assisting the CIE.

“Investing in Harrisburg University and the CIE will help us empower the next generation of innovators and change-makers,” HU President Eric Darr said.

The bank has previously partnered with the center for its Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Lab, an annual program that started in 2022. This year’s lab wrapped up June after a seven-week program, which provided free weekly business classes at HU to local minority entrepreneurs. The next lab will take place in the spring.

Beyond its incubator and business lab programs, the CIE also provides workshops and classes for entrepreneurs in the community.

With the funding from M&T Bank, the center will be able to continue providing these services, according to officials.

“The bedrock of any community is its local, homegrown business operations,” Mayor Wanda Williams said. “M&T Bank and Harrisburg University are directly helping the city of Harrisburg strengthen its future.”

For more information on the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University, visit their website.

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Apartment project for former Federal Building in Harrisburg receives final approval

October 10, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

A rendering of the proposed apartment building conversion for the former Federal Building. (credit: McKissick Associates)

A major downtown Harrisburg development project can move forward after receiving city approval.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council unanimously approved a proposal to turn the former Federal Building into a 162-unit apartment building.

A New Jersey-based developer, Yasser Hellel, has proposed adaptively reusing the vacant, 11-story office building at N. 3^rd and Walnut streets and constructing one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio units.

The building would also include first-floor commercial space and amenities such as a fitness center, penthouse lounge, shared office space, a rooftop deck and shared lobby.

Hellel said that the units will rent at market rate, with the exception of 10, which would be affordable by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines.

According to Hellel, the total cost of the project, including acquisition costs, would total about $35 million.

The building previously housed the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and other federal offices. Personnel have since moved to the new federal courthouse on N. 6^th Street.

Hellel has said that he expects to begin construction early in the summer of 2024 and continue for about 18 months.

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Harrisburg swears in new firefighters, recognizes life-saving achievements

October 10, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams swears in new firefighters.

Harrisburg firefighters were honored for their lifesaving efforts at an annual event on Tuesday.

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau presented awards and swore in new firefighters at a ceremony in the bureau’s Station 1 on N. 6th Street.

“Today is a day that we celebrate the acts of these members and their daily service and commitment to not only Harrisburg, but the region and our great country,” Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.

At the ceremony, Mayor Wanda Williams swore in four new firefighters, Kevin Tarapchak, Samuel Welk, Joshua Jones and Kaleb Shreiner. The new members bring the bureau’s complement of firefighters to 96.

According to Enterline, the new firefighters completed fire training at HACC and have been working in the bureau since June.

“We are grateful to have them join the ranks of our team,” Enterline said.

Also at the ceremony, Enterline announced the return of a partnership with the Harrisburg School District to have firefighters visit the district’s schools to talk with students about fire safety and career opportunities. The bureau is picking the program back up after over a decade without it.

“We really wanted to show our kids in Harrisburg that being a firefighter is a career opportunity,” said district Superintendent Eric Turman, at the event.

Additionally, the bureau awarded numerous firefighters for their lifesaving accomplishments including CPR saves and fire rescues.

The following awards and recognitions were given to firefighters in the bureau:

CPR Save—Lt. David Schock, Billy-Bob Holtzman, Shakur Hakeem-El, Jamie Kleckner, Jonathan Morrow, Allison Shattuck, Nathaniel Barbolish, Capt. Michael Feldman, Scott Young, William Kauffman, Cory Lease, Eriq Nowlin, Lt. Jeffrey Miller, Richard Brocius, Brendon Booz, Nicholas Hurst, Hadiel Bey, Bryan Rooney, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Bobby Jones, Michael Bruetsch, Kyle Paul, Jordan Stoudt, Robert Brackbill, James Grundon, Justin Kahill, Tyler Bender, Samuel Welk
Unit Citation—Lt. William Skinner, John Peskie, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Pablo Passalaqua, Lt. Matthew Kuntz, Gregory McDonald, Joshua Winters, Brayden Byers, Nathan Martin, Capt. Aldo Morelli, Connor Davis, Kyle Paul, Codie Schaffner, Jordan Stoudt, Garret Morey, Patrick Giberson, Lt. Brian Yonkin, Jared Briggs, Brendon Booz, Robert Brackbill, Hadiel Bey, Richard Brocius, Jonathan Morrow, Billy-Bob Holtzman
Merit—Richard Brocius, Bobby Jones
PA Task Force 1 Deployment—Joshua Hull, Lt. William Skinner, Brian Riddle, Benjamin Page, Zachary Miller, Capt. Aldo Morelli, Nathan Martin, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Lt. Justin Zimmerman

“Over the past year, you have saved countless lives through your quick decisions and heroic actions,” Williams said, addressing the bureau’s firefighters. “This city is certainly grateful to you.”

Enterline highlighted the fact that there have been no fatalities from fires in the city in the past two years and that the bureau responded to over 3,000 calls in 2022.

While not every action by a firefighter may receive an award, every effort to keep the city safe and informed is important, Enterline said.

“These everyday calls may seem mundane to us. However, to the 911 caller, it is probably their worst nightmare,” he said. “It gives our members an opportunity to engage and make a difference.”

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Home sales dipped, prices rose slightly in September in Harrisburg area

October 10, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

A house for sale in Harrisburg

Harrisburg-area homes sales declined but prices inched higher in September, in the latest report on sales of previously owned homes.

For the three-county region, 542 homes sold, compared to 685 in the year-ago period, as the median sales prices rose to $260,575 from $254,900, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 258 houses sold in September versus 317 a year ago, while the median price was nearly steady at $229,900, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 257 sales, a drop from 324 the prior September, as the median sales price rose to $310,000 from $275,000, GHAR reported.

In Perry County, 22 homes sold, a dip from 40 in the previous year, as the median price rose to $257,000 from $217,450, according to GHAR.

The pace of home sales remained unchanged from a year ago, with the “average days on market” holding steady at 21 days.

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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(ish) planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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