Hamilton Health Center announces new CEO, other top officials

March 9, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Hamilton Health Center

A Harrisburg healthcare facility has several new chief officials.

Hamilton Health Center announced on Thursday that Terese Delaplaine has taken the role of president and CEO of the organization.

Hamilton Health Center’s new President & CEO Terese Delaplaine

Delaplaine, Hamilton’s former chief compliance officer, fills the position previously held by Jeannine Peterson, who transitioned into a consultant role after 22 years at the helm.

Hamilton has also hired a new chief operating officer, Steve Ho, and chief financial officer, Frackson Sakala. Ho previously served as senior vice president of operations for Chai Urgent Care, which has locations in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Sakala was formerly the CFO at Neighborhood Health of Alexandria, Va.

Additionally, Hamilton has hired Mary Elizabeth Bebe as the new chief clinical officer. Bebe previously served as chief nurse officer at HealthSouth in Lancaster and as a director of nursing for Pinnacle Health System (now UPMC).

“Our new leadership team will continue Hamilton Health Center’s mission to support the needs of our community by providing quality health care to all who need it,” said Michael Harris, Hamilton’s board chair.

Harris also noted that the new leadership team will help to continue to develop the center’s satellite location in Steelton.

The new senior leadership team is “poised to support the needs of our community in a post-COVID environment and thrive in an evolving world of value-based care,” Harris said.

Hamilton Health Center is located at 110 S. 17^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

St. Patrick’s Day parade to bring holiday festivities to downtown Harrisburg

March 9, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo courtesy of the Downtown Improvement District.

If you’re a fan of Harrisburg parades, you have the luck of the Irish with you this month.

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) announced its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will bring all things green to the city on Saturday, March 18.

The parade will begin at 2 p.m. and feature five Irish pipe and drum bands, Irish dance groups, fire trucks, animals, floats, characters and local bands, among other entertainers.

“We are pleased to be hosting this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and are excited to show off more of our downtown business community,” said Todd Vander Woude, executive director of the HDID. “We invite you and your family to join us for a great day downtown.”

The parade will start on the Market Street Bridge and turn onto N. 2nd Street, where it will continue until turning left on North Street. It will then turn left onto N. Front Street, traveling until it meets up again on the Market Street Bridge.

Before the parade, at 12 p.m., runners can participate in the annual 4-mile Lucky Charm Race through downtown.

Free metered street parking is available for four hours on Saturday by downloading the Parkmobile app and using the code “LUVHBG” at checkout. Additionally, the Market Square parking garage will offer $10 event parking all day. Free parking is also available after 5 p.m. in the downtown district.

Streets included on the parade route will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Market Street Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, visit their website or contact Sydney Musser at [email protected].

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

March 9, 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: Sip & Shop with me at Little Black Dress tonight! Worth noting: HU Presents An Evening with Dawes on Saturday! Tickets available! Check out my interview with Taylor Goldsmith. Things on my agenda this weekend: See above, plus A Red Carpet Evening at Midtown Cinema

For your weekend planning

View my local Restaurant Directory or Local Brewery, Winery, & Cidery Directory
See what else you missed on the blog

Below are options for your weekend.

A Look Ahead

An interview with Dawes’ frontman Taylor Goldsmith
HU Presents announces spring 2023 lineup
The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Eight Democrats file for three seats on Harrisburg City Council; incumbent Majors opts not to run

March 7, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg city hall (file photo)

Eight Democrats will vie for three seats on Harrisburg City Council, as the petition deadline for the May primary came to a close on Tuesday.

Council President Danielle Bowers and newly appointed council member Robert Lawson both submitted petitions to compete in the May 16 municipal primary. However, two-term member Westburn Majors did not, meaning that the field will include an open seat.

In an interview following Tuesday night’s council meeting, Majors cited “family obligations” for his reason not to seek re-election.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done on council over the last two terms to move the city forward,” he said. “I will continue to be involved in the community.”

Other candidates for the three, four-year council seats include:

Cole Goodman
Lamont Jones
Brad Barkdoll
Lori Beamer Saulisbury
Crystal Davis
Leslie C. Franklin

No Republicans submitted candidate petitions for city council.

Harrisburg also has an election for five, four-year seats to the school board. As of the deadline, only four candidates, all Democratic incumbents, submitted nominating petitions. They are:

Ellis Rick Roy
James Thompson
Doug Thompson Leader
Terricia Radcliff

For city treasurer, only Democratic incumbent Dan Miller submitted nominating petitions to run for the four-year seat.

For magisterial district justice, long-time incumbent Barbara Pianka did not submit election petitions for District 12-1-02. However, her son, Matthew Pianka, did, cross-filing as both a Democrat and a Republican. Autumn Fair Cooper also filed for the Democratic nomination for the six-year term.

For District 12-1-04, Democrat Mikaela Sloan was the lone candidate to file for that district judgeship. The seat is currently held by MDJ David O’Leary.

In District 12-1-05, incumbent MDJ Hanif Johnson cross-filed for both the Democratic and Republican nominations. He faces competition on the Democratic side from Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins.

In District 12-1-06, Wendy Grella was the lone candidate to file petitions for the position, cross-filing for both parties. MDJ Joseph Lindsey currently holds that judgeship.

Note: All candidate information is current as of 4:34 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Dauphin County Bureau of Registration & Elections. The deadline to file was 4:30 p.m. For more information on primary candidates throughout Dauphin County, visit their website.

Maddie Gittens contributed to this story.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Harrisburg City Council discusses use of federal COVID relief funds, approves debt payment

March 7, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday.

With millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds in hand, Harrisburg soon will determine how the city will use the money.

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday weighed a plan to potentially use its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to support affordable housing development and to create a spray park in south Harrisburg, among other projects.

Under ARPA, Harrisburg received $47 million for pandemic relief. In June 2022, council voted to use about $15.6 million of the funds to reimburse the city for lost revenue during the pandemic, for the replacement of the HVAC system in its Public Safety Building and for one-time bonuses to uniformed personnel in the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Bureau of Police.

Tuesday night’s proposal from the administration included using another $28.1 million of the funds. The two largest allotments, each $8 million, would go towards funding affordable housing projects and towards constructing a spray park at the site of the closed Hall Manor pool.

According to Director of Building and Housing Development, Dennise Hill, the affordable housing funds could be disbursed to developers as either matching funds or direct assistance. Applicants for the funds would be approved by a board using a scoring rubric, which would be developed. The money could be used to support the development of around 100 rental or for-sale units for low-income residents, Hill explained.

The spray park would replace the aging Hall Manor community pool with a large, water park-style facility. According to Parks and Recreation Director Dave Baker, the project could include the construction of a new pool, lazy river and spray pad elements.

Another $5 million would support the city’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provides home repair assistance to low-income residents. A $1.5 million allocation would fund blighted property demolition, $1.5 million would create an ADA-accessible playground and $1 million would help cover the cost of delinquent trash bills for low-income residents. Other, smaller allocations would go towards small business assistance, tree removal and pruning for seniors and an upgraded radio system for the Fire Bureau.

Administrative costs would take $1.2 million of the funds.

According to council officials, they plan to hold several public meetings in the coming weeks to gather input on the proposal before voting.

Also on Tuesday, during a special legislative session, council voted to pay off a remaining $8.3 million in general obligation bond debt. This debt is money that the city owes after defaulting on loans during its financial crisis a decade ago.

Officials explained that the city has a sufficient amount of money saved to pay off the debt. Currently, Harrisburg’s fund balance is around $25 million and, once the debt is paid, the balance would total $16.7 million.

In other news, council may be moving closer to filling seats on its Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Board. The board, which aims to provide accountability to the police bureau, was created by council in Nov. 2020 but never filled.

On Tuesday, council introduced its five proposed appointees to the board, including Brent Miller, Quinton Davis, Adrian Selkowitz, Gia Johnson and Lakichia Carrier.

Each proposed board member is a resident of a different policing district in the city. Once the board is formed, they will appoint two members from the city at large.

Mayor Wanda Williams has the power to appoint another two members to the board, but she has not yet announced any appointments.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Bob’s Art Blog: Pixilated, Betwixt and Between

March 7, 2023 | by Bob MacGinnes

If the month of February is the apex of winter and April is a sure sign of spring, then what falls betwixt and between, March, assumes a role as the bridge. There are the icy winds of winter and the gentle breeze of spring, but March is a different breed.

The idioms associated with the month are many but speak to madness and singularity, “march to a different drum,” “mad as a hatter” (mercury poisoning in the process of hat making) or “mad as a March hare.” Caesar needed to take heed on the steps of the Senate, beware “the Ides of March,” and lastly a month that comes “in like a lion and out like a lamb” demonstrates that its bark can be worse than its bite. All of this discourse can provide conversational grist for the mill on your next coffee or tea date. Yes, you could talk about the weather but isn’t it more fun to share idioms?

This blog takes us on the road to the white rose city of York to Hive Art Space for its March exhibit, “A Fine Cuppa (Coffee, Tea, Or),” dedicated to hot beverages, perfect for the month. Hive Art Space, a “thematic gallery” like no other, is operated by owner and proprietress, Susan Scofield. Her impish stature (slight in height) belies her passion and zeal for what she brings to Hive. She is the “buzz,” no caffeine needed.

Hive owner Susan Scofield

In the 1936 Frank Capra film, “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,” Gary Cooper’s character, Longfellow Deeds is a pixilated protagonist. Inheriting a windfall fortune, he wants to give it away to those who need it. In a pivotal courtroom scene, he is deemed certifiably pixilated by neighbors who have known him all his life. “The pixies got him as he is whimsical and prankish.” Who else fits that bill? Leprechauns, for sure, and Hive’s owner, Susan Scofield, who is proud to be part and parcel of that special group of pixies. After all, how else could a person be in two places at once? She is the concierge in charge at the newly reopened Yorktowne Hotel during the week and operates Hive on the weekends, sometimes feeling like she is in both places at once.

“Bitter Grounds” by Justin Ritmiller

The beverage-centric show overflows with ideas from 34 artists running through the month of March. Perhaps the most unique piece is a sepia-toned portrait appearing like Lawrence of Arabia. It was created by mixing coffee and water as the base ingredients for the painting rendered on illustration board. Justin Ritmiller brews a potent portrayal of art outside the norm. The artist hails from Seven Valleys, Pa. He shared the story behind the art, “The inspiration was taken from a Neil Gaiman short story entitled ‘Bitter Grounds’ as well as from a Zora Neale Hurston anthropological study of magic in Haiti.”

In addition, “Gem Kettle,” by Nicole Smeltzer from York and “I’ll Have the Regular” by Avery Grinstead of Palmyra put a different spin on the morning eye opener. Kyle Newkirk from Lancaster provides his painting, “Mugs,” suitable for any beverage. Be sure to look for something from Jim Hively as he is omnipresent in most Hive shows. Owner Susan deposits an assortment of $2 block prints for sale in the gumball machine. Half of the proceeds will go to the Culture Alliance of York County in support of its annual fundraising campaign. Behind the Hive counter for the show, which runs through March 25, are art baristas, Kate Rush and Heather Greenough, serving up banter and perhaps some idioms.

“I’ll Have The Regular” by Avery Grinstead

Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m., so pull up a stool, place your order and drink to your heart’s content. That last one is a Leprechaun pulling your leg. So, after viewing “A Fine Cuppa,” please patronize one of the great coffee shops, restaurants and bars in the eclectic Royal Square Arts District. At Hive, you are in the very heart of it. A treasure on every corner awaits and maybe, if you are pixilated, even a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

And now a word from our sponsor…As this blog inches toward March 17, McGrath’s Pub will be rolling out the barrels of beer for celebrants of all things green, (except envy). Be sure to visit them at 202 Locust St. for a Ceili to remember. Erin Go Bragh!

March Art Events

New Cumberland Collective’s “Art in the Stacks” featured artist, Deb Schell at the New Cumberland Public Library

March 17, 3^rd in the Burg St. Patrick’s Day. See Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup list for special openings and deets.

March 23, Student Art Celebration Reception 5 to 6:30 p.m. Meet the artists at Carlisle Art Learning Center. Exhibit closes April 15.

Be sure to patronize your local Midtown galleries:

Vivi on Verbeke at 258 Verbeke St., pottery, paintings, photographs by Vivi Sterste and Jeb Boyd

Nyeusi Gallery, 1221 N. 3rd St. African and African American Art

Millworks, 340 Verbeke St. March featured artists, Tara Chicky, Rebecca Adey, Paul Gallo, Averill Shepps and Richard Souders

Nyianga Store, 1423 N. 3rd St. featuring African goods and art

Burg Review: Raise a glass to the gloomy, thoughtful “Thistle & Salt”

March 4, 2023 | by Gina Napoli

J. Clark Nicholson, Michael Bush & Ryan Hicks. Photo by John Bivins Photography.

In stark contrast to the rollicking, Kelly green, American version of Ireland that comes alive this time of year for St. Patrick’s Day, Gamut Theatre and Narҫisse Theatre partner to present a grimmer slice of Ireland from the turn of the 20^th century.

“Thistle & Salt: The Ireland of J.M. Synge,” is formatted as two one-act plays: “Riders to the Sea” and “In the Shadow of the Glen.”

While the Gaelic language is itself lyrical and lovely to the ears, and Synge carefully composes his characters’ dialogue like a song, the themes and plots of his stories were surely written with ink distilled from the muck at the bottom of Galway Bay. The drips and drabs of humor that peek out from the covers is so dark, it’s dank.

We don’t meet the Irish literary renaissance poet John Millington Synge, but his contemporary, William Butler Yeats (Clark Nicholson), narrates Synge’s 37 short years. Yeats relays the story that executors found Synge’s papers. Of great concern to Synge himself: He did not want “good things destroyed or bad things published in haste.”

Both plays move slightly slowly, but you’ll need that built-in lag time for your brain to process the dialogue, which is thick at times. For being of a gentler pace, Synge’s works are not cozy. His sets his glum characters in circumstances both morose and sparsely mundane.

“In the Shadow of the Glen” is a tale of physical survival amidst mental anguish. Nora Burke (Erika Eberly) is stuck in a loveless marriage to a cantankerous old man. She is equal parts “afeared,” lonely for affection, and entrenched in resentment while doing all the chores. When it appears as if the husband is freshly dead and laid out in the parlor, Nora has a suitor already lined up. Then A Tramp (Ryan Hicks) knocks on her door one stormy evening.

Eberly and Hicks display a perfect amount of foreshadowing, subtle chemistry and trust between strangers. And Daniel Burke (Michael J. Bush) is darkly funny as the maniacal husband who is so bored that he cruelly pretends to be dead just to amuse himself.

“Riders to the Sea” is a dramatic, suspenseful story about succumbing to nature. Grieving mother Maurya (Susan Banks) is riddled with fear about losing more sons to an ocean that has already claimed four of them, her husband, and her father-in-law. Banks, along with daughters Cathleen (Madison Eppley) and Nora (Abby Carroll) reach deep into their innards to portray the torment of fresh grief that simultaneously rips scabs off old wounds of loss.

The gutting action in this play spares no feelings, showing the raw materials for a coffin propped against the chimney, as well as fresh contents for that coffin. Bravo to Bartley (Matthew Hogan) for lying absolutely still, and brava to Kim Greenawalt and Eberly for their keening (mournful wailing) skills.

Sláinte to all the actors for preserving the intent of the Gaelic language while still modernizing it to help the audience follow along. The Gaelic brogue is inherently a bit mumbled and slurred no matter the amount of alcohol the characters consume, so check your program’s glossary when you need subtitles. The language is poetry, but it demands your attention to fully absorb it.

The plays double down on the depression all the way through to their gloomy endings. Because these plays do not end happily, and they further leave the audience wondering how the characters’ lives unfold after the proverbial curtain falls, these one-acts were natural choices for Director FL Henley and his penchant for presenting plays with “no happy endings, and sometimes no endings.”

Both Gamut Theatre and Narҫisse Theatre take risks in the assortment of theater they produce, diving into obscure and/or difficult material, as well as thoughtful experimentation. In this partnership, both companies push the boundaries to deliver us something authentic – an un-sanitized, un-romanticized Ireland, un-celebrated with a parade or green beer.

“Thistle & Salt: The Ireland of J.M. Synge” runs until March 19 at Gamut Theatre. Find more information at www.gamuttheatre.org/ and on Facebook.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 3, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

East Shore YMCA

There’s a lot going on in Harrisburg this weekend! The city will host its annual Ice & Fire Festival, HU Presents has live music and several local theaters are taking to the stage. While you’re out and about, grab a copy of our March magazine, which came out this week!

Community Corner is where you can find a list of special events happening around the Harrisburg area this month. Also, visit our happenings section for even more live music, museum, theater and family events.

Concerts are in full swing this month in Harrisburg, with the band Certainly So taking the stage on Friday night at XL Live. Find our live music recommendations for the month, here.

The East Shore YMCA in downtown Harrisburg is considering a significant expansion project, our online story reported. According to Y officials, the project would modernize the facility and create office space for other community businesses and organizations.

Flooding is a huge concern for Pennsylvania’s emergency management and environmental experts. In our magazine story, read about how experts are trying to find solutions to climate change and weather events that could cause flooding.

Gamut Theatre has the perfect show to get you into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit, our magazine story reported. “Thistle and Salt,” a tale from Old Ireland, premieres this weekend in partnership with Narcisse Theatre Company.

Harrisburg area legislators Dave Madsen and Justin Fleming may be new to the state House of Representatives, but they have years of experience in public service in our area, our magazine story reported. The two new representatives are part of what has been called PA’s most diverse Assembly.

Historic Harrisburg Association is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. In our magazine story, read about the preservation and revitalization advocacy work that HHA has done over the years.

March is a noteworthy month in Harrisburg as it includes two big events—Ice & Fire Festival and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It also brings us closer to spring and summer, and because of that, our publisher is a fan.

The Roots and The Struts are headed to Harrisburg this summer to perform, our online story reported. Harrisburg University Presents announced the iconic hip hop and rock bands as part of its 2023 Summer Concert Series, which will take place in Riverfront Park.

Sara Bozich has your weekend plans covered. Click here to find out what’s happening in Harrisburg.

The Savoy, a 48-unit apartment building proposed for the 1500-block of N. 6^th Street, got the final green light from the city to move forward with development, our reporting found. Harrisburg City Council approved the plan by local developer Vice Capital.

Thyroid conditions affect around 20 million Americans, but over half of them don’t even know they have an issue. In our magazine story, find out what thyroid problems can arise and how to treat them.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, sign up here!

Support quality local journalism. Join Friends of TheBurg today!

Nonprofit Focus: GK Visual & Wishes for Drew

March 2, 2023 | by Admin

The Gunther family

GK VISUAL
933 Rose St., Harrisburg
Gkvisual.com

Why do you feel it’s important for your business to support our area’s nonprofits?

GK Visual was founded in 2005 and, from the start, we have made it a priority to give back to our community. We don’t always have the funds to support every cause, but we do have a talented team that has a heart for helping others. We’ve grown both personally and as a company by championing the work of these nonprofits and charities. Telling these incredible stories through video, interviews, photography and images is what we love to do.

Why do you support this particular nonprofit and what does your business do to benefit the organization?

We came to know Wishes for Drew and the Gunther family through our mutual love for craft beer. Steve Gunther reached out to us after seeing our work with our video series, “Poured in PA,” and asked if we would be able to help his family tell the story of their courageous son, Drew. We’ve been very fortunate to work with the Gunthers and learn about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This fatal, genetic muscle-wasting condition has no known cure, and treatments are incredibly expensive. We admire this family’s determination and love for Drew and other children impacted by DMD. We wish we could do more, but what we have been able to do is tell their story through videos, including “Poured in PA,” and connect them with other friends in the community. We consider it such an honor to know them and call them friends.

Drew Gunther

Wishes for Drew
wishesfordrew.org

Describe your organization and the importance of corporate or foundation support to further your mission.

The importance of corporate or foundational support cannot be overstated. Many of our events to raise awareness and support depend heavily on businesses and corporations willing to get behind us as sponsors, just to ensure an event can even be held in the first place. We have been blessed with support from many local companies and businesses, and they are truly the foundation upon which most nonprofits and charities are built and enable us to benefit others.

GK Visual has been such a critically important sponsor and supporter of Wishes for Drew. From the first time I emailed them with a request for a project we needed done, they have been integral to what we do. From producing video for us, showing up at our events, giving advice on media needs, GK team members taking part in events, and through the constant follow-up and sponsorship support over the last couple of years, GK truly shows what a company giving back looks like.

For 2023, what is your greatest need for corporate or foundation support?

2023 is going to be absolutely vital to us as a nonprofit. We are finally starting to get momentum behind us, and our feet under us, as we started at the beginning of COVID and are not experts in how to run a nonprofit. We’re just concerned parents doing our best. In 2023, we hope to expand enough to allow us to benefit and offer assistance to many additional families and charities battling the disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To date, we have successfully implemented a treatment regimen/proof of concept treatment program that benefitted Drew and 20 other children from around the globe. This disease has no cure and is rare, yet so many children are impacted. About one out of every 3,500 males born will have this fatal, genetic muscle-wasting condition. Without the ability to spread awareness of this disease, people won’t know that there is a need, and without supporting families and other nonprofits in this sector, many families will go without necessary support, resources and mobility devices. Without our corporate or foundational support, we can’t provide such needed assistance to the community.

Other info: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy typically affects 1 out of every 3,500 boys born around the world, regardless of national origin or race. It makes the body unable to create new muscle, and the muscle breaks down as a result. A child goes from slowly acquiring abilities to slowly or rapidly losing them. It’s basically the “Benjamin Button” disease without the outward aging. Most children with DMD pass away in their late teenage years or as very young adults. Wishes for Drew was established after our 7-year-old son was diagnosed with DMD on Valentine’s Day of 2019, completely unexpectedly. He has already lost the ability to walk or support himself standing at all and is rapidly losing upper body strength. Most boys pass away from cardiac or breathing issues.

Proudly Sponsored By

Harrisburg’s East Shore YMCA begins planning for renovation, service expansion

March 2, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

East Shore YMCA

You can exercise, swim and take your kids to the East Shore YMCA, but in the coming years, you might be able to do a lot more there.

Local Y officials announced recently that the organization is considering significant renovations and changes to its historic facility, which would increase its role as a community hub.

“We hope to end up with a modern YMCA with services Harrisburg can enjoy,” said Harrisburg Area YMCA President and CEO David Ozmore.

Ozmore, who began in his position in June 2022, painted a picture of an aging East Shore Y that also faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic. The remodel would aim to boost its economic situation and bring the building up to date.

The Y, located along N. Front Street downtown, dates back to 1930s when it was built and opened to the public. More recently, the wellness center was added onto the building in 2003. In total, the Y owns 2.3 acres of land, making up almost an entire city block.

Possible renovations may include changes to the current wellness center, which is elevated over the parking lot, and the Y’s administration building adjacent to the main recreational center.

The main building is considered historical and therefore will not undergo significant changes, Ozmore explained.

The Y is working with national firm Gro Development, which provides services to nonprofits, especially YMCA’s around the country.

While Ozmore explained that the Y is still in the brainstorming stage of the process, he shared that they are interested in building out space for local businesses and organizations to lease. They have proposed bringing in medical providers and banks and offering housing to seniors or low-income tenants. The Y would also seek to renovate existing gyms and create additional multipurpose rooms and spaces for group fitness classes.

The Y has put together a task force of around 20 community members to help advise the organization on development.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about what the Y wants, but what the residents need,” Ozmore said.

However, a motivating factor in the decision to renovate comes out of the facility’s unfavorable economic situation, Ozmore said.

According to Ozmore, between February 2020 and the summer of 2021, the East Shore Y lost 56% of its members. While it has since recovered some of that loss, membership is still only at about 85% of what it was pre-COVID.

A proposed model of making space for tenants in the building would allow them to share costs, as well as hopefully bring in more traffic to the facility, Ozmore said.

The next step for the Y will be to issue a request for proposals from developers. However, it may be over a year before the project begins. In total, Ozmore estimates it will be a three- to-four-year-long project.

Ozmore said that the goal is to keep the facility open throughout the majority of the construction process, although parking may be limited at times.

At the project’s completion, he said that there will likely be more parking included.

Overall, Ozmore’s goal is to make sure the East Shore Y better serves Harrisburg residents.

“It’s for the common good—to make our community stronger,” he said.

For more information about the East Shore YMCA, visit their website.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

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

What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like