Musical Notes: Rocktober Arrives in Full Volume

September 28, 2023 | by Skye Leppo

Tie up your combat boots and get to the gig, because there’s no shortage of great shows to enjoy or stomp along to in central Pennsylvania this October. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film will be available on the silver screen beginning Oct. 13 for those who didn’t catch the tour live, but there are many opportunities to soak in the live music experience IRL this fall.

DON’T MISS

105.7 The X Presents White Reaper, 10/2, XL Live

After a recommendation from a friend, I recently listened to a few songs by Louisville garage rockers White Reaper and was immediately sucked into the band’s slew of headbangers. Their glam rock sound and slick guitar work is basically a time machine into the ’80s, though I was even more impressed by their quasi-ballads like “Judy French.” The band is currently touring to promote their 2023 LP, “Asking For A Ride,” and they’ll hit the stage at XL Live on Oct. 2. I’ll break out my glitter eyeliner for this. Tickets available at www.xlhbg.com.

WORTH THE DRIVE

Kable House Presents S.G. Goodman, 10/30, Central Market York

Kable House has been booking incredible concerts in York for nearly a decade and simply does not get enough credit. If you’re a fan of great singer-songwriter discovery and intimate performances that make the hairs on your arms prickle up, this is for you. When S.G. Goodman opened for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Riverfront Park this summer, I immediately added the artist to my radar to catch a full set at some point in the future. Goodman, who hails from Hickman, Ky., is playing at Central Market in York on Oct. 30 and has a hauntingly beautiful sound that will be a perfect fit into Halloween plans. Get tickets at www.kablehousepresents.com.

A TOUCH OF AVANT GARDE

The Wind Down Presents Radiator Hospital, 10/23, West Shore Theatre

Full disclosure that yours truly is on the organizing committee for this music series, but I’m so excited to share that The New Cumberland Collective’s Wind Down Series, presented by Neato Burrito, is bringing Philly indie darlings Radiator Hospital to West Shore Theatre on Oct. 23. For those of you who didn’t have “Cut Your Bangs” stuck in your head for all of the 2010s, “Something Wild” or “Fireworks” are great samples of the band’s finest work. Tickets will be available at www.westshoretheatre.org.

SPOOKY SEASON THRILLS

There are a number of excellently timed sets happening this month to help you fully immerse into your most ghoulish music-loving self. Keep an eye on calendars at H*MAC, XL Live and Lovedrafts Brewing Co. in particular for some of the highlights of this category, including Raven Black (10/19, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.), Here Come the Mummies (10/20, XL Live), and Hallowemo Party, 10/28, H*MAC.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Fear, 10/5, H*MAC

Ashton Shepherd w/Little Rock, 10/5, West Shore Theatre

HU Presents JAWNY, 10/7, XL Live

Dinosaurs in Paris,10/8, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.

The Soap Girls, 10/12, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.

The After Hours’ Album Release Party for “Late Night Social,” 10/13, H*MAC

Badfish, 10/13, XL Live

Enter the Haggis, 10/13, The Englewood

Susquehanna Folk Music Society Presents Henry Koretzky & Kevin Neidig, 10/14, Beshore Hill Farm

September Mourning, 10/17, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.

HU Presents Gus Dapperton, 10/19, XL Live

The Reunion, a SWMF Gathering, 10/20 and 10/21, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.

Earshot, 10/22, Lovedrafts Brewing Co.

Susquehanna Folk Presents Julie Fowlis w/Seasons, 10/24, The Englewood

WXPN Welcomes Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin, 10/24, Appell Center for the Performing Arts

Big Gigantic, 10/26, H*MAC

Della Mae, 10/27, The Englewood

Spilly Cave, 10/28, H*MAC

Hallowemo Party, 10/28, H*MAC

HU Presents Paul Cauthen, 10/28, XL Live

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Stable & Steady: Consistency, service are keys as small Harrisburg law firm marks its golden anniversary

September 28, 2023 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

The attorneys and staff of Wix, Wenger & Weidner

Fifty years after its founding, Wix, Wenger and Weidner has not strayed far from its roots.

The Harrisburg-based law firm started as a smaller, niche firm and remains that today.

“We’re not stretched too thinly,” said attorney Steven Wilds, who’s been with the firm for 40 years. “A lot of my clients are long-term, repeat clients. It shows a lot about the confidence they have in us.”

The firm’s main office in downtown Harrisburg employs five attorneys handling a “wide variety of civil matters with a strong emphasis on real estate, business and corporate law, community association law, estate planning and administration and litigation,” according to the firm. Most of the office’s litigation relates to real estate and commercial matters.

A branch office in Lower Paxton Township features two more attorneys who primarily practice personal injury law, medical malpractice and wills, estate planning and administration.

“Our clients get to know our attorneys and staff. Some of our paralegals have been here for 40 years,” said attorney David Getz, who began with the firm in March 1988. “It’s nice to have clients call here and have the same person answer the phone year after year.”

Wix, Wenger and Weidner was established in 1973 by attorneys Dick Wix and Tom Wenger, who both worked previously for other area firms. Likewise for attorney Dean Weidner, who became Wix and Wenger’s third name in 1975.

Wenger and Weidner have since retired but remain in close contact with the firm. Wix still practices as firm counsel in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, civil litigation and municipal law.

Weidner, of Mechanicsburg, retired in 2019 at age 75 after 44 years with the practice. His legal career began as a partner with Rhoads & Sinon of Harrisburg, but he later left for the “smaller firm,” where he could “share in the management,” he stated.

“I thought we had a good combination of values and people, and we provided quality service to our consumers,” Weidner said of the firm that still bears his name.

Weidner witnessed much change during his four-plus decades in the field, much due to the march of technology. These changes, though, haven’t always been for the best, he believes.

“The internet and emails are much less personal ways of dealing with people than what we did before technology came to rise,” he said. “I liked interacting with our clients and helping them solve problems.”

When Weidner first came into the practice, he remembers dictating business correspondence to a staff secretary, who then typed and mailed out his letters. By the tail end of his career, he found himself dictating into a recorder and typing his own letters, he recalled with a laugh.

For many years, Wix, Wenger and Weidner has used the motto, “Client Centric, Solution Driven,” to describe its approach to practicing law.

“That tagline is usually front and center on our business cards, logo, website, email signatures, etc.,” stated Getz, of Hampden Township. “Our motto fits in with about how we pride ourselves on being dealmakers, not deal-breakers. We keep our clients and their needs at the center of our practice, and we seek to find solutions to legal matters that our clients are facing.”

Today, Getz said that he works with second- and third-generation descendants of his original clients. Wilds, of Susquehanna Township, said that he experiences the same. Likewise, staff change is infrequent, which also appeals to the firm’s long-term clients.

“People just come and stay here,” Getz said.

Wix, Wenger & Weidner is located at 508 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, and at 4705 Duke St., Harrisburg (Lower Paxton Township). For more information, visit wwwpalaw.com.

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A Proactive Approach to Keeping Our Community Healthy

September 28, 2023 | by Todd Shamash

Todd Shamash

At Capital Blue Cross, we are committed to going the extra mile to serve the greater Harrisburg region as well as our customers across the country. And that means more than simply contributing to local organizations or sponsoring events. We strive to listen to concerns and look for solutions, especially when it comes to healthcare.

Take, for instance, one of the most common concerns of healthcare consumers: the ever-rising cost of prescription drugs.

Capital Blue Cross has taken bold steps to help ensure people can afford the medications they need to be healthy and, in some cases, stay alive.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 9 million Americans cite high costs as a reason they fail to take their prescribed medications, even though skipping or delaying doses can worsen health conditions and make them costlier to manage.

Earlier this year, Capital launched a program to help eligible members reduce out-of-pocket costs for expensive specialty drugs they need, like those for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s Disease.

Within just three months after we started this effort, we had helped participating employer groups that have Capital drug coverage save about $4.5 million and cut eligible individual drug out-of-pocket costs by about $3,000 per person. That averages out to about $1,000 in individual savings every month!

And that’s just one approach Capital has taken to fight rising drug costs.

We also are the first insurer in the nation to work directly with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs—a new company started by billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban to offer some of the most commonly used prescription drugs at the lowest possible price. By allowing our members to use their Capital ID cards at Cost Plus Drugs’ online pharmacy, we’ve helped some people cut their out-of-pocket drug costs by as much as 40%.

We have taken the same aggressive approach to combatting one of the most common and costly diseases: diabetes.

About one-third of Americans will develop diabetes sometime in their lifetime—a chronic disease can cause severe health problems, damage vital organs and shorten life expectancy. The harm diabetes does to America’s collective health is matched by the financial toll it takes. The disease costs the U.S. nearly $330 billion a year.

Capital is the first Pennsylvania health insurer to offer a unique program that works to reverse type 2 diabetes through a well-formulated diet that works to regulate blood sugar in place of costly medications. We also offer a separate program that helps our members reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and helps those with types 1 or 2 manage their disease.

Our efforts to fight the diabetes epidemic are paying off for members and employers:

Capital members using our diabetes control program collectively lost more than 26,000 pounds last year.
Capital members using our diabetes reversal program saw their A1c levels drop by more than a full point on average in just the first 90 days. Higher A1c levels are linked to diabetes complications.
On average, Capital members were able to reduce prescription medications by about 45% in the first 90 days of using the diabetes reversal strategy.
Combined, our diabetes control programs already have helped Capital customers save nearly $6 million collectively, and an average engaged member can save $1,800 to $2,000 annually.

Using innovative strategies like these to proactively address healthcare challenges is beneficial not just to individuals, but to entire communities. When we help reduce the costs of care and keep people healthy, it gives their families and friends peace of mind, saves money, and contributes to a healthier, more productive community.

That’s what we mean at Capital Blue Cross by going the extra mile—and we’ll keep going every day to ensure the Harrisburg region remains a great place for our members, our dedicated employees and everyone who calls this area home.

Todd Shamash is president and CEO of Capital Blue Cross. For more information, visit www.thinkcapitalbluecross.com.

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A Single School: Cathedral Education Center completes renovation, opens to students

September 28, 2023 | by TheBurg Editor

Back in May 2021, the Diocese of Harrisburg broke ground on an ambitious project.

It planned a top-to-bottom renovation of the 70-year-old Catholic Elementary School on Liberty Street, plus the renovation of the even older (112-year-old) Shanahan Center on North Street.

In addition, the two buildings, which had always been separated, would be joined together by a new connector and entryway.

When done, the diocese would be able to consolidate its two elementary schools at this single location.

After a successful fundraising campaign and two years of construction, the project, led by Harrisburg-based JEM Group, is now complete. Beginning this semester, students from pre-K through eighth grade attend school at this single location.

We thought our readers would like to see the interior of the new Cathedral Education Center, home of the unified Catholic Elementary School, located just behind St. Patrick Cathedral. For more information, visit www.hbgdiocese.org/catholic-schools.

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Sliced Right: Central Wedge Cheese Shop stacks it high in Carlisle

September 28, 2023 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

People seem to love their cheese.

In fact, when dieters were asked about the top five foods they’d be loath to sacrifice to drop a few pounds, cheese ranked up there with chocolate, pizza and cake.

Stephanie Beeman is well aware of this fact, but also knows that cheese can be part of a balanced diet. The lifelong Carlisle resident and cheese aficionado looked around her town, found the area lacking in cheese shops, then decided to do something about it by opening Central Wedge Cheese Shop.

She opened in April, held a grand opening in June, and explains that it’s been in the works for quite some time.

“I wrote my first business plan in 2017,” she said.

Few would argue that Beeman lacks the chops to operate a food business. She started early in life with 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

“I began attending farm markets at age 8,” she said.

One might even recognize the name since her family runs Beeman’s Baked Goods, located on Orange Street in Carlisle.

“I’ve cooked my entire life,” she said. “Working in the bakery, you learn things, and we preserved a lot of fruits and vegetables there.”

Her education in agribusiness management doesn’t hurt either. Nor does her minor in international agriculture and ag communications.

“My focus was in dairy science, so I understand what happens on farms,” she said.

After writing her first business plan, Beeman began paying attention to craft food-makers in Pennsylvania. She developed a “long list” of people she wanted to source from. She now works directly with cheese-makers—around 25 of them.

“If you don’t have that relationship, you’re flying blind as to how one differs from the other,” she said.

One such maker is Goot Essa, located in Howard, Pa., a business operated by John Esh, who for 11 years has been perfecting his craft, starting first in the basement of his farmhouse.

“It was a scrappy time, with tight margins in the beginning,” Esh said.

Over time, his cheese became so popular that he was able to build his own cheese cave and add two levels to his house as production increased. Esh sells European-style cheeses to businesses like Beeman’s: Manchego, Stilton-style bleu, tomme, Swiss, aged Camembert, pecorino and more.

In all, Beeman carries about 65 cheeses, which she says are all unique in flavor and style.

“I sell goat, cow, sheep, cashew and mixed-milk cheeses,” she said. “Finding good, quality vegan cheese is very challenging, and I’m attempting to fill that niche. There’s only one supplier in the state that is licensed and distributing wholesale.”

Beeman also sells meats like scrapple, bologna, bratwurst and beef sticks, along with a selection of grab-and-go items like ricotta gnocchi, mac and cheese, butternut squash-stuffed shells and lasagna.

“I buy squash from a local market and use fresh pasta sheets for the lasagna,” she said.

Beeman, who has a staff of two, also runs a café, offering salads, grilled cheese sandwiches and grazing boards, to name a few items. There’s seating for 12 inside her shop, so people are encouraged to stay awhile and even bring along a bottle of wine if they like.

Louis Weiss, who works nearby at the Cumberland County Historical Society, said that Beeman’s shop is a welcome addition to his lunch repertoire.

“I can walk to her shop and, for $6 to $8, buy a sandwich and a drink,” Weiss said. “So, I send lots of people there for an affordable lunch.”

Beeman has enjoyed not only meeting and tending to the needs of her customers, but sharing her knowledge.

“I enjoy helping customers pick a cheese that they will be proud to serve and sharing where that food comes from. It adds a lot to family and friend gatherings. Basically, I just like to help people party,” she said, with a chuckle.

Central Wedge Cheese Shop is located at 24 W. High St., Carlisle. For more information, visit www.centralwedgecheese.com.

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Relish This Condiment: Italians love mostarda and you may too

September 28, 2023 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

If you’re a restaurant-goer who loves to order a meat-and-cheese board, you might have noticed a fruit condiment included in the offerings, along with some little pickles (cornichons) and slices of Italian baguette.

Cork & Fork on 2nd Street in Harrisburg has long served something similar, along with a choice of Italian meats and cheeses. We love it and used to order the dry sausage they called “Baby Jesus” and a merlot-flavored BellaVitano cheese. The fruit relish was a great addition.

But what is this unusual fruit concoction beloved by Italians, especially in northern Italy?

I have learned it is mostarda or “mustard fruit.” But even a little research on the subject of mostarda led me into a maze of endless recipes. The beginning of fall and the approaching holidays seemed like a good time to try a simple version that certainly my dinner guests (if not my family) would enjoy.

I’ve learned that making mostarda can be a simple process or one that involves many steps, many fruits and, several “strainings” of syrup. I found a recipe for a very Christmas-y version made with apples, pears, cranberries and cherries. Some mostarda is made with fresh fruit, others with dried fruit. There is always mustard or mustard seeds and often cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Sicilian mostarda relies on the lovely oranges and lemons that thrive on that beautiful island.

I settled on a recipe from the cookbook, “Giada’s Italy,” by one of my favorite cookbook authors, Giada De Laurentiis. It’s easy and relies on dried apricots, which are available year-round. It makes a small amount, and I thought it was a good place to start. Large amounts likely require canning, and I think my canning days are over.

Apricot Mostarda

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ cup white wine vinegar
5 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cups dried Turkish apricots, chopped

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add the chopped shallot, and salt and cook for 1 minute until the shallots are soft.
Stir in the mustard seeds and red pepper flakes and cook for an additional minute.
Add the sugar and vinegar and bring to a simmer, stirring often to dissolve the sugar (about 3 minutes).
Whisk in the mustard and add 1 cup of the chopped apricots. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes. The apricots should be plump, and the mixture should start to thicken to a jam-like consistency.
Turn off the heat and stir in the remaining apricots.
Cover the pan and cool to room temperature.
Transfer the mixture to containers of your choice, but tightly covered. This recipe makes about 2 cups and will keep in the fridge for 4 weeks. Serve at room temperature.

Now, the northern Italians often serve mostarda with boiled meats, which most of us are likely not to do. (My mother served boiled beef for dinner, which she pulled from the soup pot, often accompanied by potatoes and turnips. I left that tradition with her!)

Besides adding mostarda to your meat and cheese boards, you can do many other wonderful things with it:

Serve it as a relish with roast pork, ham or chicken for a fall dinner.
Spread it over baguette slices coated with mascarpone or cream cheese.
Top a round of brie with a good dollop of mostarda on top (especially good if the brie is warmed or baked in puff pastry).
Place a little over plain Greek yogurt for breakfast or a snack.
Use as a topping for a ricotta cheesecake.

This month’s recipe might be a little different, but I hope you will give it a try. A little container of it makes a lovely hostess gift if you are invited to dinner (you might have to explain what it is!). I plan on trying the apple and pear version with cranberries and cherries. It sounds like a nice change for Thanksgiving dinner.

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Art & Activism: New documentary digs deep into the life of musician Joan Baez

September 28, 2023 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Joan Baez, known both for her folk music and her activism, has a darkness in her.

That darkness has followed her for her entire life, haunting her even through her illustrious career. But did anyone know of her troubles? Directors Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle and Karen O’Connor took the task of telling her story, pulling back the veil on this talented, tormented woman.

The documentary gives a thorough examination of her life, from her seemingly happy childhood with her mother, father and two sisters to her musical career, her relationships throughout the years, and her journey to unlocking the memory of past traumatic experiences with her family.

Utilizing home video footage, therapy tape recordings, journal entries and drawings, the documentary often feels like a therapy session itself, revealing some deeply intimate parts of Baez’s life. Although, given the span of time in which the footage was filmed, it’s no wonder that the filmmakers got so much honesty from her. Both Joan’s sister, Pauline, and her mother appear in footage (and her father’s voice), her mother having died in 2013 and her sister in 2016, and the film is framed by Baez’s final tour in 2018.

The tour is a fascinating juxtaposition with the rest of her life. As she worries that her voice isn’t what it used to be, we see that little bit of darkness creeping in and are able to see, scene by scene, what might influence the person she is today. It makes for a very well crafted dance of memories and information, and a sharpened image of who Baez really is.

It’s a side of Joan Baez that may never have been seen before. What a beautiful film—thoughtful and striving to connect the dots in as respectful a way as possible. You won’t want to miss this film when it hits Midtown Cinema this October.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

October Events At Midtown Cinema

Film Openings

Sept. 29, “Stop Making Sense” (1984)

Sept. 29, “Flora and Son”

Oct. 6, “Exorcist: Believer”

Oct. 6, “Strange Way of Life”

Oct. 13, “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise”

Oct. 13, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour”

Oct. 20, “Killers of the Flower Moon”

Famous Movie Dates Series
“Mean Girls” (2004)
Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Down in Front! comedy riffing
10th Anniversary Party &
“Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” (1993)
Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Hocus Pocus” (1993)
Friday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday Morning Cartoons
“Coraline” (2009)
Saturday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

Sunday Doc Series

“Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror” (2019)
Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

“In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic ’80s Horror” (2019)
Sunday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

CINEM-Aaah! Series

“All Your Friends Are Dead” (2022)
w/Director TalkBack
Friday, Oct. 6 at 9:30 p.m.

“Friday the 13th” (1980)
Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 & Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Friday, Oct. 6 at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 9:45 p.m.

“Trick ‘r Treat” (2007)
Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

“Get Out” (2017)
Sunday, Oct. 8 & Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7:15 p.m.

“The Devil’s Rejects” (2005)
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 p.m.

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9:45 p.m.
Sunday, Oct.15 at 8:30 p.m.

“Cybergrime Festival 2023”
Horror anthology from queer filmmakers
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 at 8:30 p.m.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m.

“Halloween” (1978)
Tuesday, Oct. 24 & Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:15 p.m.

“Nosferatu” (1929)
w/live score by Nick Werner
Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

“It Follows” (2015)
Friday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:30 p.m.

“Chucky” Double Feature
Sunday, Oct. 22
“Child’s Play” (1988), 6:30 p.m.
“Bride of Chucky” (1998), 8:20 p.m.

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Harrisburg Mayor Williams shares positive outlook, assesses progress during State of the City address

September 27, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams gave her State of the City address on Wednesday at the Hilton Harrisburg. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Schwind of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber.)

To a room full of Harrisburg business owners, politicians and professionals, Mayor Wanda Williams declared that the state of the city “is full of excitement and progress.”

Williams shared recent financial, infrastructure and safety improvements, among other city accomplishments, during the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC’s annual “State of the City” address on Wednesday at the Hilton Harrisburg.

Williams, who is in her second year as mayor, highlighted Harrisburg’s financial state, touting the city’s final payoff of what was $20 million in debt to bond insurer Ambac Assurance, in March.

“The city of Harrisburg’s debt nightmare is over,” Williams said, stating that the payoff is an accomplishment she is “maybe most proud of.”

With the freed-up budget funds that formerly went to debt repayment, the city plans to invest in infrastructure improvements, road safety improvements and park modernization projects, she said.

Additionally, she said that the city will likely soon be in a position to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed municipalities.

The city also finished allocating the remainder of its $47 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. That money will go towards supporting affordable housing development, the renovation of Hall Manor pool, and home repairs for low-income and elderly residents, among other projects.

In addition to those federal funds, within the past year, Harrisburg received $13 million to support renovations of four city parks. Currently, city officials are developing plans, following a several-month-long public comment period.

“When our children are out playing in our new playgrounds, it will be a beautiful sight to see,” Williams said.

Williams also brought up the tragic July fire at the Broad Street Market, stating that the market’s scorched brick building will be restored and highlighting the support from state and county officials. In the meantime, a temporary market location for displaced vendors is “days away” from being ready to open, she said.

Harrisburg also is re-emerging as a cultural and business destination, according to Williams, who shared that the city will release an economic development plan in the coming weeks.

“We will transform Harrisburg’s future through equity and inclusion, access to healthcare services, supporting our local artists, and realizing that strengthening our culture is a keystone of small business growth,” she said.

However, according to Williams, small business growth is already taking place. She noted that 635 business licenses were issued in 2022, the greatest number in a dozen years.

One of Williams’ top priorities in office has been increasing affordable housing options in the city. On Wednesday, she applauded local developers like Vice Capital, Fernandez Realty and RB Development for working to bring affordable apartment projects to Harrisburg.

Lastly, Williams shared how the city is becoming safer and more welcoming for residents and visitors.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau has solved 18 of the 22 homicides from 2022, she said, and this year, shooting deaths have decreased significantly. Additionally, due to the work of the Fire Bureau, no one has died from a fire since the start of 2022.

Stating that she’s pledged to be a “mayor for everyone,” Williams said she has an open-door policy on Fridays and has met with nearly 200 community members in the past year. Additionally, the city’s special events, like Kipona and Artsfest, are back to pre-pandemic attendance levels, she said.

“My friends, our best days are ahead of us, because for the first time in years, all of us in this room have a shared vision together,” Williams said, in conclusion. “My administration is excited to lead.”

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Harrisburg shares mid-year financial update, “largely on track” 2023 with budget

September 27, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday

Harrisburg appears to be mostly on track with its budget for the year.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, city administration presented a mid-year financial report, in which they stated that Harrisburg is in solid fiscal shape.

For 2023, Harrisburg’s overall spending plan totals $109.4 million, including the $82.3 million amended general fund budget and the $20 million neighborhood services fund budget, among other items.

According to the report, the city is “largely on track” with meeting that budget.

The city’s mid-year review states that, by the end of June, about 47%, $38.8 million, of the general fund budget was spent. Harrisburg has spent about $10 million more at the mid-year point than it did in 2022, due largely to an $8 million debt payoff to bond insurer Ambac Assurance in March, as well as additional capital expenditures, according to the report.

At the end of June, the city had also received 55% of its budgeted $69.6 million in revenue. According to city Budget Manager Timothy Brooks, Harrisburg has seen significantly increased rental revenue due to payments from PennDOT for land used for its I-83 widening project. Earned Income Tax and Mercantile/Business Privilege Tax revenue are higher than expected, as well. Officials forecast that those taxes will exceed budgetary expectations by year end.

The report projects that by the end of the year, Harrisburg’s expenditures will reach $84 million, nearly $2 million over the general fund budget, due to the Ambac debt payoff, using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and increased personnel medical claims, among other expenses.

However, the budget is still expected to remain balanced, with additional federal funds yet to come in and with additional fund balance appropriations.

At mid-year, the city’s cash reserves equaled $22.9 million. Currently, they total about $23.8 million.

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Sprocket Mural Works celebrates new Harrisburg mural in full bloom

September 26, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Sprocket Mural Works and Harrisburg Young Professionals officials, among others, cut the ribbon on the newest city mural.

A new work of art has brought a colorful garden to N. 3^rd Street in Harrisburg.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg arts organization Sprocket Mural Works, along with community partners, cut the ribbon on its newest mural, a sprawling display of bright flowers.

The mural, located at 1205 N. 3^rd St., is inspired by local artist Suzanne Rende’s own garden. The painting, which took her 18 days to create, showcases flowers in bloom, butterflies, bees and other garden critters.

“Murals like this bring communities together,” Rende said. “It’s important to put positive ideas out there.”

The mural, sponsored by Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), is one of over 80 murals that Sprocket has completed in the region since 2014.

“We believe at Sprocket that murals are so much more than beautiful landmarks,” said Megan Caruso, Sprocket co-founder. “We believe that murals bring people together around a sense of belonging and pride.”

The mural adorns the side wall of a mixed-use building owned and recently renovated by Harrisburg-based WCI Partners.

According to HYP President Olivia Edwards-Rindfuss, the organization wanted to gift the mural to the city in honor of HYP’s 25^th anniversary.

“It’s an honor to provide this beautiful space for all who come to Harrisburg city,” she said.

For more information about Sprocket Mural Works, visit their website. To learn more about Harrisburg Young Professionals, visit their website.

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