Harrisburg council keeps housing director on staff, following legal attempt to force vote

March 10, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Director of Building and Housing Development Gloria Martin-Roberts appeared before City Council at a legislative session Tuesday.

Harrisburg’s director of building and housing development will remain in her position, following an attempt by City Council to get her in front of them for a vote.

In a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, council approved Gloria Martin-Roberts as director of the department, following a legal motion on Friday to hold Mayor Wanda Williams in contempt of court for not bringing Martin-Roberts to council for approval.

On March 6, council filed a motion accusing Williams of not adhering to a legal agreement that the two legislative bodies came to in February. The agreement seemingly closed a legal battle that began with a lawsuit by Williams alleging that council acted outside its power by defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget.

While Judge Jeffrey Engle sided with council earlier that month, shortly after, council and Williams agreed that council would re-fund several positions. Also in the stipulation, Williams agreed to get council approval for every department head hired in the city within 120 days of their appointment, a requirement that she and previous mayors had occasionally circumvented by giving directors “interim” titles.

Council also sought to eliminate the practice on Tuesday by voting to amend city code to take away directors’ salaries if they remain in a position without council’s approval past 120 days.

Council alleged that Williams had not held to the legal agreement by keeping Martin-Roberts on staff in an interim role since 2024 without council approval.

At Tuesday’s legislative meeting, council finally voted on Martin-Roberts’ position, narrowly voting in her favor. Council President Danielle Hill, Vice President Lamont Jones and council member Jocelyn Rawls voted against confirming her appointment.

Council member Ausha Green told TheBurg that she voted to approve Martin-Roberts because she felt that the position becoming vacant would be a detriment to the city. She also said that council would be punishing the wrong person over their dissatisfaction with Williams for not bringing her up for a vote.

“No one said, ‘I’m voting against her because she can’t do the job,’” Green said. “I didn’t feel like it was fair to punish the employee because of what her supervisor did.”

Williams nor Hill was sure what the vote meant for the standing contempt motion against Williams. Williams said that she was meeting with her attorney on Wednesday to discuss.

According to Williams, she did not bring Martin-Roberts to council for a vote following her agreement with council because she believed she was “grandfathered” into her position and that the new requirements didn’t apply to her.

Hill called Williams’ decision to not bring Martin-Roberts to council for approval “unacceptable.” She also disagreed with Green’s statement that, had council not approved Martin-Roberts, they’d be punishing the wrong person. Hill said that Martin-Roberts has expressed interest in city positions before, and said that she believes Martin-Roberts has “served her time,” but that there are “younger generations of leaders in this city” ready to take leadership positions.

“It’s a violation of the law—645 days, 21 months and 92 weeks in an interim director role,” Hill said. “Nobody can answer my question as to why it took a motion for contempt for Miss Gloria Martin-Roberts to come before council for a vote.”

Williams said that, when she hired Martin-Roberts, it was meant to be a temporary position and said that no one was applying for the role. She said that she believes several council members’ issues with her are “personal.”

During the council meeting, members questioned Martin-Roberts about her qualifications and accomplishments in the department.

When asked what her greatest accomplishment was, Martin-Roberts said she was proud of maintaining Harrisburg’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding and working to get more in the future.

Hill questioned if that was a “baseline function” of the role and remarked, “Isn’t it an indictment on your nearly two-year tenure in the role that your biggest accomplishment is maintaining federal funds that you haven’t spent?”

Council member Crystal Davis praised Martin-Roberts for the work she has done. Council member Ralph Rodriguez asked questions about how federal funding and the department’s work would be affected if the position became vacant.

When council voted in favor of Martin-Roberts, a large section of the room cheered, including Williams. However, Williams said that any possible future reconciiation with council would take a “healing process.”

Hill said that she was disappointed that people were “rubber-stamping” the mayor for allegedly violating the law.

In other news, council approved a new ordinance that would have the city install trash cans outside of corner stores and bodegas. The ordinance would also require the store owners to keep them up, but the city would regularly empty them.

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Home sales, prices generally unchanged in February in Harrisburg area, says report

March 10, 2026 | by Lawrance Binda

A house for sale in Harrisburg

The Harrisburg-area housing market held steady in February, as both home sales and prices were largely unchanged from a year ago.

For the three-county region, 389 houses changed hands, compared to 398 in February 2025, as the median sales price inched down to $278,000 from $279,750, according to the monthly report from the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 187 houses sold in February, versus 195 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $268,000 from $260,000, the report stated.

Cumberland County had 170 home sales, a dip from 179 the prior February, as the median sales price fell to $300,000 from $315,000, reported GHAR.

In Perry County, 26 homes sold, an increase from 24 a year earlier, as the median sales price rose to $311,600 from $237,500, according to GHAR.

The pace of home sales slowed in February, as “average days on market” rose to 47 days versus 34 the prior February, GHAR stated.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Art’s Soundtrack for Spring

March 10, 2026 | by Bob MacGinnes

Spring’s art season kicks off early this Saturday at the Susquehanna Art Museum with a five-star blockbuster. Please read to the end for that special announcement.

The actual arrival of spring takes place on Friday, March 20, just in time for 3rd in the Burg. The venerable century old bastion of art, the Art Association of Harrisburg will hold its artist’s reception. Taking a page from the Beatles revolutionary album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” director of exhibition, Nate Foster and his assistant, Alanna Barton, borrow one of their hit tracks for the AAH show, “A Day in the Life,” powerful yet relatable, artfully sliced and spliced together elements of works from another quartet (not yet as famous as the lads from Liverpool) assembled exclusively for this exhibition that opened Feb. 27. You are not late to the party as its artist reception is scheduled for March’s 3rd in the Burg from 5 to 8 p.m. on the 20^th, comprised of four artists, all finding harmony within the gallery’s walls.

Rebekah Campbell adds to setting the stage for landscapes painted with an eye to nature, “inspired by hikes and road trips across the U.S.” Following in her mother’s footsteps as a watercolorist of renown, Rebekah is an award-winning painter from our city. Sarah Mendez is a storyteller painter working with figures, often herself. Hailing from our southern neighbor, Maryland, she is enchanted with the everyday aspects of life as ordinary settings help to shape her as a woman and as an artist. Influenced by both classical and contemporary techniques, Sarah ably navigates the bridge between the two. As a Latina in this volatile political climate, she feels her “body is being monitored at uncomfortable level.” Her compositions often invite seeing the female under the critical lens of the male gaze going from subject to object by forcing the viewer to come in on a private moment, each more revealing than the last.” Lisa Moore calls Chambersburg home and more than dabbles in the abstract as a painter who say, “Life down on the farm is where you’ll find my heart.” Her surroundings greatly inform her work with textured landscapes and horizons infused with color. Her foundation of valleys and hills speaks to self-reflection, encounters in her life that provide a window to personal growth and a never-ending journey.

Mark Dennis provides a masculine perspective to the mix enchanted with the bronze casting process of sculpting fine art. From taking an introductory course to full immersion, he ended up managing a bronze foundry after graduating from Mansfield State College with a bachelor’s degree in technical theater. Now a portrait sculptor working in wood, bronze and polymer clay, with the last garnering him acclaim as “one of the more recognized art doll artists in the world” and for his book, “The Human Figure in Clay.” The four artists featured put forth a very listenable studio session, almost Beatles-esque in an understatedly powerful exhibit. “A Day in the Life” becomes a month of Sundays in its presentation as this talented quartet individually and collectively deserves a standing ovation.

The Road Less Traveled: “Art in the Wild”

When you have been a major part of something since it began 14 years ago, often leading the pack for many of those, you become highly qualified to know what works well and what doesn’t. Touched with a gimlet eye for land art creations, one name comes to mind. “Art in the Wild” designer/artist, Beau MacGinnes, has captained his team since Wildwood’s annual park adventure began. Along with his mother, Jana, and sister, Aubrey McNaughton, he decided to take a different ‘path’ this time around. Opening on March 29 to the public, Beau and family with their proverbial plus one, Debbie Reihart, are taking the road less traveled in the form of the Towpath Trail, a scenic, one mile, relatively flat path built along the historic Pennsylvania Canal at Wildwood Park. It offers stunning views of the surrounding wetlands and Wildwood Lake. This year’s theme is “Balance,” something that has become more difficult to obtain, always a delicate proposition at best. There may be nothing more delicate than a dragonfly—perhaps the most well-balanced of all insects. As always, Beau and team craft their choice from all natural materials found within the park. They are only one of two entries employing the Towpath Trail to create their art. The other 15 will display their works throughout the path from the Visitor’s Center, incorporating the main portion of the 3.1-mile loop. In speaking with Beau, he revealed that, “The dragonfly is my wife, Kaila’s favorite living thing found in nature,” and he is dedicating its creation to her and their daughter. Dragonflies are found worldwide, mostly near water and are often seen with vibrant metallic red, blue or green coloring.

Beau MacGinnes and Aubrey McNaughton at work for “Art in the Wild.” (credit: Ashley Stephen Photography)

In addition to team MacGinnes, Wildwood Park’s environmental educator, Richelle Curanzy, shared a roster of 17 participating artists for 2026. First-time creators include Mary Chang, Moyra Goughnor, Kristi Rines, Karen Dehn and family, Vu Quoc Nguyen, and Sarah Fogg. Back for a wild ride along Wildwood Ways (the name for the central path) are returning veterans that include last year’s first place winner, Craig Bomberger. Other honorees from years past include Richard and Maria Joel, Carol Reed, Jill Lippert and Mark Cummins, Lorayn McPoyle, Brook Lauer, Subrina Lay, Chip Hitz, Will King, Tim Hoover and the aforementioned team MacGinnes, plus Debbie Reihart. Come out and see all the new instillations before summer construction starts, which will close part of the main trail. The collective group of artists is a close-knit community and this year’s 11 returning artists and teams are a great source of inspiration and information, always willing to lend support to those just getting started. Landscape art truly is its own reward. Your open invitation to meet the artists on opening day, Sunday, March 29, from 12 noon to 3 p.m., is a great way to celebrate the beginning of the new season. Be sure to walk the main trail and the road less traveled (it might as well be spring). Disclosure: this writer counts the MacGinnes team as family.

THE SUSQUEHANNA ART MUSEUM PROUDLY UNVEILS “AMERICAN IDENTITY: RESTORING THE SUSQUEHANNA’S ARTISTIC LEGACY”

“It is entirely fitting that a stunning art exhibit focusing on the Susquehanna River is opening to coincide with the 250th celebration of the founding of our great country. In a matter of days on March 14, the vaunted Susquehanna Art Museum reveals “American Identity: Restoring the Susquehanna’s Artistic Legacy.” Its historical timeline has run deep and true artistically for four centuries.

Painting by Paul Webber from “American Identity”

A Must-See Exhibit!! 5 out of 5 Stars
-Bob’s Art Blog, The Burg-

Have Art Will Travel: 400 years in the making, yet but a block away
The Painted Word: “The Susquehanna River in all its Artistic Glory…Not to Be Missed!”

SHOW TIMES WEDNESDAY 10AM TO 7PM
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY 10AM TO 5PM
SUNDAY NOON TO 5 PM
SUSQUEHANNA ART MUSEUM
1401 N. 3RD STREET

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Harrisburg mayor, council to go back to court over mayor’s alleged contempt of agreement

March 9, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County courthouse

Harrisburg’s mayor and City Council are slated to head back to court, putting a recent legal battle back on the table.

The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday set a March 20 court date for Mayor Wanda Williams and council to appear in regard to a recent complaint by council alleging that Williams is in contempt of court.

While Judge Jeffrey Engle sided with council earlier that month, shortly after, council and Williams agreed that council would re-fund several positions. Also in the stipulation, Williams agreed to get council approval for every department head hired in the city, a requirement that she and previous mayors had occasionally circumvented by giving directors “interim” titles.

However, in council’s recent contempt filing, they claim that Williams has not held up her side of the deal and has kept a director on staff without council approval.

Gloria Martin-Roberts, director of Harrisburg’s Department of Building and Housing Development, has served as an “interim” director since mid-2024, well past the 120 days in which directors can serve without council consent.

Council said that Martin-Roberts still remains in her position.

In council’s filing, it says that Williams told council that she would not bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote, instead saying that she believed Martin-Roberts was “grandfathered” into her position.

Council’s attorney Casey Coyle said, in a letter to Williams’ council, that “grandfathering in” positions was not within the stipulation.

Council requested that, as a penalty, Williams be fined $1,000 every day that she is in non-compliance, paid out of her own pocket, with potential jail time if she does not comply within a 30-day period. Council also asked that Williams reimburse the city for her attorney fees as part of the ongoing litigation.

In a press release on Sunday, city Communications Director Mischelle Moyer said that the city was “surprised and disappointed” by the filing. Moyer said that council and Williams had several constructive conversations recently, during which she said that she would bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote.

Moyer said that council members and Williams met last Monday and were scheduled to meet last Friday, but did not because the contempt motion was filed before the scheduled meeting.

“The residents of Harrisburg deserve a government that works together to solve problems,” said Williams, in a statement. “I have been clear that I am prepared to bring this position before City Council for a vote so that the matter can be addressed transparently and through the proper legislative process. Litigation should never replace communication when we have the ability to sit down and work through our differences.”

In Monday’s court order, Judge Engle said that Williams has 30 days to file her response to council’s motion and that an evidentiary hearing will take place March 20 at 1:30 p.m.

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Joy Ride: Families Invited to Pedal Past the Best of the ‘Burg at the Tour de Belt June 7

March 9, 2026 | by Admin

The Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) is rolling out a personal invitation: Join them for a “party on wheels” on Sunday, June 7th.

That’s when the 26th annual, family-friendly Tour de Belt (TDB) weaves its way through an 18-mile-long highlight reel of Harrisburg in all its early summertime glory.

CAGA–an all-volunteer nonprofit devoted to keeping the region moving, connected, clean and green–invites everyone to enjoy the ride: everyone from the tiniest trike riders to long-time retirees, from amateurs to pros, and from true-blue residents to inquisitive tourists.

CAGA Vice President Diane Kripas said she would be thrilled to break the 1,000-rider mark this year, touting it as the “most fun way to see the city.” The ride occurs rain or shine and begins and ends at HACC, starting at 9 am and ending in a high-spirited Finish Line Fest, complete with food trucks and fellowship.

CAGA President Doug Hill emphasized that Tour de Belt is the one and only fundraiser held each year for the Greenbelt, raising vital funds to “repair, maintain and expand” the leafy 20-mile loop nicknamed the “emerald necklace.” Every fresh-air fan who uses the trail has the opportunity to support it during TDB.

The TDB loop snakes through rustic nature trails, majestic urban cityscapes, glistening riverside views, and charming neighborhoods, with fully supported rest stops and the occasional strutting-geese obstacle course. Favorite destinations along the route include Wildwood Lake, Reservoir Park, the Five Senses Garden and the Farm Show Complex.

The ride is well staffed and safe, Kripas and Hill underscore, with 40 ride guides; frequent water stations; clean rest stops with fresh oranges, crackers, fig bars and other snacks donated by Karns; first aid stations; bike mechanics; and traffic support. There’s no need to puzzle out a map or decipher a byzantine route on your phone. Safety is the organizers’ number one priority. Strategic road closures are in effect so all is safe, especially along detours across busy city streets.

Hill, Kripas and event chair Doug Knauss send special thanks to municipal partners that include the City of Harrisburg, Paxtang and Penbrook boroughs, Susquehanna and Swatara townships, and Dauphin County. The goal is “No riders left behind,” Kripas said.

After participating in the event for nine years and chairing it for four, the state retiree said her favorite memories include seeing young parents pulling babies in trailers, and 80-somethings pedaling along with vigor, or at least, fortitude. She has seen 10-year-olds complete all 20 miles with gusto, and older bikers who struggle but still triumph. She also enjoys seeing hard-core cyclists, first-timers and people who never saw the city on two wheels before. She also enjoys seeing groups sporting matching themed shirts, like TDB regulars, the Dauphin County Parks and Recreation team. Hill shares her enthusiasm.

“My favorite memory of TDB is watching riders of every stripe – families, couples, bike clubs, church groups, fitness clubs and more, from the City, from the suburbs, and from across the country – sharing an early summer day on the trail,” Hill said. “It’s so good to see the connection of neighborhoods, nature, and community.”

Kripas said the route is mostly flat but the dreaded “mountain” at Reservoir Park looms large in her memory banks when she scaled it her first year with her then-15-year-old daughter.

She also embraces the connections she witnesses—neighbors greeting neighbors, annual riders reuniting, strangers meeting, and even our own residents seeing Harrisburg’s most breathtaking sites with fresh eyes. A majority of the trail is on dedicated paths with parts on local roads, she said. The trail is a mixture of paved, gravel, and crushed stone.

Hill also reassures riders that the Tour de Belt is not the Tour de France. It’s not a race…it’s a ride-at-your-own pace, hang-out-if-you-want, enjoy-the-ride experience.

“The TdB is a wonderful friends-and-family event, a great opportunity to be outdoors and see Harrisburg at its finest,” he said.

This year, the need for funds is heightened, as new construction by the PennDOT office building in south Harrisburg has caused a breach in the belt that CAGA volunteers are working to close.

Fortunately, the city gave CAGA’s “Buckle the Best” campaign a big push, in the form of a $750,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, augmented by another $150,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Hill, as a diehard runner, walker and cyclist himself hailing from midtown Harrisburg, is one of the event’s biggest boosters: “Find a group of friends, have a wonderful day in the saddle, and join us in supporting the Capital Area Greenbelt.”

For more information about the Capital Area Greenbelt, visit www.caga.org.

Burg Review: Revenge is served hot, creatively, colorfully in Gamut’s “King Lear”

March 7, 2026 | by Gina Napoli

Gamut Theatre takes us to ancient Britain for Shakespeare’s tempestuous, epic tragedy, “King Lear,” spearheading themes of love, betrayal and revenge.

The Gamut cast and crew, directed by Thomas Weaver, bring us a stage version so gory and graphic that I’ve been asked to keep its three most brutal scenes a secret.

But I CAN tell you the visceral way those scenes made me feel, in all their forbidden grotesqueness, like a teen watching a horror movie alone in the basement after curfew. And with over three action-driven hours of “King Lear,” there’s plenty more I can share. So shut up your doors for the storm. You’re in for a wild night.

Gamut’s main stage turns itself tribal, set with makeshift wicker furniture and tattered coverings (scenic designer, Andrew Nyberg; props designer, Karen Ruch; scenic painter, Ian Potter), possibly symbolizing the temporary and delicate nature of King Lear’s power.

The contenders’ costumes (costume designer, Callie Lythgoe; assistant costume designer, Jen Kilander; costume crafts artisan, Rebekkah Hurlbert) give a nod to the movie “Braveheart,” with animal remnants splayed across tartan, and face paint smeared everywhere.

“King Lear” (Clark Nicholson) features a house divided as the main character holds a contest of love, pitting his daughters Goneril (Rachel Landon), Regan (Gabriella DeCarli), and Cordelia (Weimy Montero Candelario) against each other, competing for his love.

He transitions his kingdom to them – but only to the love contest victors, while the other daughter holds her own contest of love between the King of France (Marcus McGhee) and the Duke of Burgundy (Calian Byard).

Then there is the Earl of Gloucester (Jeff Wasileski), whose illegitimate son Edmund (Elizabeth Hood) intends to take the inheritance from the legitimate son, Edgar (Alex Winnick), who is pretending to be someone else.

Vicious conflict ensues as competing family dramas play out (fight director, Hood; fight captain, Sean Adams). You may want to wear a poncho if you sit in the front row (blood designer, Brianna Dow).

After King Lear retires, he goes mad. Nicholson expertly arcs this character from a ruler akin to the boss level of a video game to a loon clearly losing his faculties. (This sentiment hits home as my own parents dwell within that same life season, and I watch them spend my inheritance like dandelion seeds on a windy day.)

During Lear’s descent into madness, he spends more time with The Fool (Hope Mackenzie), who gives this play lissome flair with her nature-inspired dancing.

As rival sisters Goneril and Regan, who are sometimes each other’s advocates, I can’t decide which manipulative wench plays nastier, Landon or DeCarli. Both ladies approach their roles with delicious force, like each chomping at opposite ends of a juicy underbelly, both trying to eat the biggest share.

The way they run their husbands Albany (Diego Sandino) and Cornwall (Robert Campbell) inspires me to assert myself more fiercely within my own marital dynamic. As Edmund, Hood rivals the sisters’ intensity, wielding the bastard moniker like a verbal weapon, emerging as a powerful antagonist.

I’m not sure if Shakespeare originally wrote a dance number into this play, but it is one of my favorite scenes. Reminiscent of the aggressive haka dance, the onstage Gamut players channel their most belligerent ancestors with rhythmic, ritualistic dancing to penetrative music, vibrating and palpitating under the skin. (music composer, David Ramón Zayas; sound designer, Mike Banks).

In rivalry for my favorite scene is of the otherwise dignified Kent (Adams) insulting Oswald (Brennan Dickerson) in a spewing fountain of obscenities like Chevy Chase vilifying his boss in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” after opening his jelly of the month Christmas bonus.

If you’re a fan of overly violent stories where only a few characters live until the end, and the remaining characters are missing a few body parts, get thee to Gamut Theatre to see “King Lear.” If ye fret about following The Bard’s iambic pentameter, known to be overly poetically flowery, ye need not understand word by word by word.

The actors use gestures, facial expressions, and stage movements to help you catch on why they’re fighting each other. You can also tune in to the digital program for a scene-by-scene synopsis. And if you didn’t like this review, bring your mace and club to my neighborhood and fight me.

“King Lear” runs March 7 to 29 at Gamut Theatre, 15. N. 4^th St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.gamuttheatre.org/lear.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 6, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

Hope you’re all enjoying the cloudy day as we gear up for Harrisburg’s annual Ice & Fire Festival this weekend. We’re excited to participate ourselves. In front of our N. 3rd Street office, you’ll find an interactive ice sculpture that will allow you to pose as if you’re on the cover of TheBurg!

This week, we’ve been hard at work solidifying stories for next month’s print issue. On the daily news front, we’ve also been covering the latest stories around town—including an update on how City Council will treat “acting” director appointments moving forward, after settling a lawsuit with the mayor over disputed interim positions.

All weekly coverage is compiled for you below:

Art Association of Harrisburg is turning 100 this year. The organization reflects on its last century in our March magazine story.

City Council discussed new legislation that would stop the mayor from appointing department heads without their approval and clarify how long acting department heads can serve without its approval, our online story reported.

Gamut Theatre’s “King Lear” opens this weekend. Find the behind-the-scenes story of how the theater company put the play together in our March magazine story.

Harrisburg events, including a scavenger hunt celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday and St. Patty’s Parade downtown, around the area this March are all available for your viewing here, as seen in our March issue.

Harrisburg happenings at local arts organizations, public libraries, gardens and more are compiled here for your perusal, as seen in our March issue.

Ice & Fire Festival will return this weekend, bringing ice sculptures, food and music to Harrisburg. Read more here.

QTPOC Collective, an LGBT Center program for queer and trans people of color, is fostering community with regular meetups. See more March magazine story.

Sara Bozich has compiled the best events of the weekend in her Weekend Roundup, including PA Home & Garden Show and the Friends of New Cumberland Public Library Book & Media Sale. Check out the full list.

Whitaker Center offers weekend programming for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to earn badges. Read more in our March magazine story.

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Local group Strong Towns to host community discussion this week, part of its ongoing speakers series

March 6, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

Strong Towns Q&A with Lancaster City Council member John Hursh (left) beside Strong Towns members Grant Elledge and Brandon Basom

With a series of planned community Q&As, local group Strong Towns Harrisburg is hoping to inspire positive change in the area.

“We’re focused on educating and activating residents of Harrisburg for the sake of the good of the city,” explained Grant Elledge, Strong Towns Harrisburg cofounder.

Elledge was one of three members who established Harrisburg’s chapter of the local Strong Towns movement in 2022. The national nonprofit has more than 290 chapters across the country, dedicated to growing towns with smart infrastructure decisions.

On Wednesday, he will moderate a discussion with Dauphin County Commission Chairman and U.S. congressional candidate Justin Douglas alongside two other Strong Towns members, who are taking questions from community members ahead of the event.

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Pursuit Coworking. The Democrat will speak to Harrisburg community members about working within bureaucratic systems to create change.

“We all interact with this kind of broader bureaucracy,” Elledge explained. “And a lot of people have experienced—and this isn’t unique to Harrisburg by any means—some frustration of just, ‘I want to see this thing change, but how would I even start going about figuring out how to do that?’”

This Q&A will mark Strong Town’s third speaker in the series. The group designed the series to engage people with elected representatives and other community stakeholders using hopeful, positive conversation.

It previously hosted then City Councilman-elect Rob Lawson and Lancaster City Council member John Hursh as guests.

Justin Douglas

For Wednesday’s event, Elledge said that the group is excited to host Douglas because he has the background to discuss the government at different levels.

He is informed both by his role chairing the Dauphin County Commission and his current candidacy in this year’s congressional election, running to unseat Rep. Scott Perry (R-10).

“He definitely has a unique vantage point,” said Elledge.

Elledge and other Strong Towns members are hoping the conversation will serve as a catalyst.

“We are hoping that people will feel the power to be able to pick up a particular project or a thing that they’re concerned about—whether that’s through the context of Strong Towns or totally unrelated to the rest of the group—and be able to get some traction,” he said.

Future Strong Towns Q&A panels are already planned for May and July.

They will feature Lawrance Binda, publisher of TheBurg, and Richard Farr, executive director of regional public transit provider rabbittransit.

Strong Towns is a national organization that encourages residents’ engagement with their towns for systemic change. To learn more about Strong HBG, visit its Facebook page.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

March 5, 2026 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find below:

For something new: Hershey Theatre reopens today! Sunday Food Truck Night In SoMa start this weekend. Los Tres Cubanos Cigar Lounge is now open.

Worth noting: First Friday York; First Saturday at The Millworks; 9th annual Ice & Fire Festival in Downtown Harrisburg

Things on my agenda this weekend: Lots of local live theatre! Early bday dinner with the fam.

Thursday

Latte Art Workshop at Little Amps | $ | Harrisburg
Keystone Merge at Penn State College of Medicine | Free | Hershey
2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships at GIANT Center | $ | Hershey
PA Home & Garden Show at the PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
Jon and David Robinson at The Sturges Speakeasy | Free | Harrisburg
Shamrocks and Shenanigans Trivia Night at Gruver Farms | Free | New Cumberland
Neil Degrasse Tyson at Hershey Theatre | $ | Hershey
Open Mic & Jam | Thursdays | The Abbey Bar | Free | Harrisburg
Candlebox at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
The Phil Collins Story at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster

Friday

City Island Roller Rink | $ | Harrisburg
2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships at GIANT Center | $ | Hershey
PA Home & Garden Show at the PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
First Friday in Downtown York | Free | York
Cocktails & Cigars featuring Foundation Cigars and Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey at The 611 Collection | Free | Mechanicsburg
open mic at Consciousness Coffee | Free | Lemoyne
TGIF: Cycle Express Radio Rides: Beyonce at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
176ers Dueling Pianos debuts at Mad Moose! | Free | Harrisburg
Social Hours at The Willows at Ashcombe | Free | Mechanicsburg
Karaoke at Der Harrisburg Maennerchor | Free | Harrisburg
Haus of Monsters: America’s #1 Tribute to Lady Gaga at the West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
NYCHAPS March First Friday at Dill’s Tavern | $ | Dillsburg
80’s Prom Murder Mystery at The Vineyard at Hershey | $ | Middletown
FIRST FRIDAY with Hank The Buffalo at Horn Pub | Free | Lewisberry
Rich Vos at Harrisburg Comedy Zone | $ | New Cumberland
Glif CD Release Show at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
The Emo Night Tour at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
Flux Capacitor at The Abbey Bar | $ | Harrisburg
The Badlees – Night One! at The Englewood | $ | Hershey
Rockfest at XL Live | $ | Harrisburg
Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass at Mickey’s Black Box | $ | Lititz
Jesse Barki Album Release, w/ Special Guest Olivia Basar at West Art | $ | Lancaster
Vienna Boys Choir at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg
Love, Loss, and What I Wore at Oyster Mill Playhouse | $ | Camp Hill
Murder at Mount Hope Mansion | $ | Manheim
Latin Fuzion Fridayz at Level 2 | Harrisburg

Saturday

Saturday Morning Yoga at Boneshire Brew Works | $ | Harrisburg
Ice & Fire Festival in Downtown Harrisburg | Free | Harrisburg
Artist Market at the 2026 Ice & Fire Festival | Free | Harrisburg
Harrisburg Beer Runners HBG Fire and Ice Festival Run & brunch and beer | Free | Harrisburg
First Saturdays at The Millworks | Free | Harrisburg
Huge Spring Book Sale at Red Land Community Library | Free | Etters
Friends of New Cumberland Public Library Book & Media Sale | Free | New Cumberland
PA Home & Garden Show at the PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
Popcorn Hat Players present Pinocchio at Gamut Theatre | $ | Harrisburg
Souper Saturday at Der Harrisburg Maennerchor | Free | Harrisburg
Kegs & Eggs – T.J. Rockwell’s Elizabethtown | Free | Elizabethtown
Reset at Source | $ | New Cumberland
Mellow + Sound: Freebird Yoga x Gruver Farms Collaboration | $ | New Cumberland
Get Fit Fest at Bethesda Mission Community Center | Free | Harrisburg
Local Artist & Maker Pop-Up @ Book Bar | Free | Palmyra
book club at Consciousness Coffee | Free | Lemoyne
FREE- Beginner Cycling Workshop at H2L Studio | Free | Mechanicsburg
Kid’s Yoga (Ages 5-10) at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Tween Yoga (10-13 Years of Age) at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Pizza and Wine Pairing at Gruver Farms | Free | New Cumberland
Tours and Tastings at the Eichelberger Distillery | $ | Dillsburg
CARLISLE – MID ATLANTIC REPTILE EXPO at the Carlisle Expo Center | $ | Carlisle
2026 PIAA Wrestling Championships at GIANT Center | $ | Hershey
Ladies’ Night at Live In Color | Free | Camp Hill
it’s coffee time – drag style at Consciousness Coffee | $ | Lemoyne
Rich Vos at Harrisburg Comedy Zone | $ | Harrisburg
Full Moon Comedy at Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire | $ | Manheim
Best Shot: A Tribute to Pat Benatar & Women Who Rock at the West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
The Badlees – Night Two! at The Englewood | $ | Hershey
Tupelo Honey: A Van Morrison Celebration at Whitaker Center | $ | Harrisburg
Grohl Fest – Celebrating the music of Foo Fighters & Nirvana at Mickey’s Black Box | $ | Lititz
The Pietasters at Capital City Music Hall | $ | Harrisburg
Ballyhoo Artikal Sound System at XL Live | $ | Harrisburg
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg
King Lear opens at Gamut Theatre | $ | Harrisburg
Love, Loss, and What I Wore at Oyster Mill Playhouse | $ | Camp Hill
Murder at Mount Hope Mansion | $ | Manheim
Ciroc Saturdays at Level 2 | Harrisburg
Brewery Tours: York City Walking Tour | $ | York
Brewery Tours: Cruise York County | $ | York
Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walking Tour | $ | Lancaster
Brewery Tours: Lancaster City Walk-a-Bout! | $ | Lancaster

Sunday

Sunday Tea at the Willows at Ashcombe Mansion | $ | Mechanicsburg
Sundays at Stumpy’s! | $ | Hershey
Sunday Night Trivia at McGrath’s Pub | Free | Harrisburg
Sunday Food Truck Night In SoMa at Agape Elixir Bar | Free | Harrisburg
coffee with friends with New Cumberland Collective at the New Cumberland Library | Free | New Cumberland
Charter Day at The State Museum of Pennsylvania | Free | Harrisburg
Live Music with Brunch: Shine Delphi at Wolf Brewing Co. | Free | Mechanicsburg
Pilates for Runners: Equipment Class at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Intro to Pilates Equipment: Start your Pilates Journey Here at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Molly Pitcher Tea Party at the Harris-Cameron Mansion | $ | Harrisburg
Breathwork Class at H2L Studio | $ | Mechanicsburg
Pizza and Wine Pairing at Gruver Farms | Free | New Cumberland
PA Home & Garden Show at the PA Farm Show Complex | $ | Harrisburg
Cumberland Honey with Aroostine Lively, Grace Mahar, and Gena Lanette at West Shore Theatre | $ | New Cumberland
Troegs Yoga & Brunch at Tröegs Independent Brewing | Free | Hershey
Sunday School – Italian Wine Tasting at The Ahndsome Cab | $ | York
Cocktails & Canvases at The Brownstone Lounge | $ | Harrisburg
Early Spring Nature Walk at Hershey Gardens | $ | Hershey
Dale and The ZDubs & Sons of Paradise at The Abbey Bar | $ | Harrisburg
Songwriters in the Raw feat. Benny Bleu, Andrew Dunn, and Andrew Pauls! at West Art | $ | Lancaster
The Drifters, The Platters & Cornell Gunter’s Coasters at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster
Stoney Brook – An Unauthorized Comedy Parody at Open Stage | $ | Harrisburg
King Lear at Gamut Theatre | $ | Harrisburg

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Harrisburg City Council slated to clarify “acting” director appointments, weighs requiring trash cans at corner stores

March 3, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council in January

Harrisburg city council discussed on Tuesday a resolution that would stop the mayor from appointing department heads without their approval.

At a work session, council briefly talked about legislation that would amend the code to clarify how long acting department heads can serve before requiring council’s consent.

The legislation comes after a legal battle between Mayor Wanda Williams and council.

Williams sued council for defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget. As an explanation for defunding and partially defunding two of the positions, the business administrator and director of building and housing development, council said that those directors had remained in temporary roles past 120 days, at which time “acting” directors are supposed to be approved by council. Williams had maintained that they were not “acting,” but “interim” directors, a title that is not in the city code, but which mayors have used in the past.

Council won the lawsuit and, soon after, council and the mayor came to an agreement that a few positions would be refunded, and that Williams would end the practice of appointing “interim” directors.

Council’s proposed amendment on Tuesday would further clarify the process of appointing “acting” directors by saying that, after 120 days, acting heads’ salaries would be halted.

“This was a good thing that we were able to get it in this form so that it’s understood by not only us, but any future council members and future administrations,” said council member Lamont Jones. “One of the things we got out of this was putting to bed old practices from previous administrations.”

Council also discussed a new ordinance, initiated by council member Ralph Rodriguez, that would have the city install trash cans outside of corner stores and bodegas. The ordinance would also require the store owners to keep them up, but the city would regularly empty them, as well.

Rodriguez said that he proposed the ordinance in response to concern from residents about trash and in conjunction with the city’s comprehensive plan.

“It was just something that, not only myself, but a lot of community members, for as long as I’ve been on council, have spoken about corner store ordinances and the cleanliness of our neighborhoods,” Rodriguez said.

Director of Public Works Dave West assured council that the city would make sure the cans were emptied and not overflowing.

Council is slated to vote on both bills at next week’s legislative session.

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Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find below:

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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