Harrisburg Police Bureau swears in one of its largest recent classes of new officers

January 5, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams swears in 11 new police officers.

Soon, Harrisburg will have nearly a dozen new police officers on its streets.

On Thursday, the Harrisburg Police Bureau swore in 11 officers, one of its largest classes of new officers in recent years.

“On this day, we welcome 11 new officers into our family, the greatest police force in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Mayor Wanda Williams at the swearing-in ceremony held at Whitaker Center.

After a months-long selection process that began in August, 10 of the officers will begin training this month at HACC’s police academy, followed by in-house training with the bureau. According to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, the training process may take about a year to complete. One officer has already completed police academy training and will move straight to in-house training.

With the new hires, the bureau’s complement of sworn and civilian officers now includes about 160 people.

Among the new officers is Daniel Donovan, 64, who came to the bureau as a retiree, following a 34-year career as an attorney with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and U.S. Department of Defense.

During the pandemic, Donovan saw the struggle that police departments were facing in terms of recruiting officers and wanted to step up to the plate, he said.

“I thought, my health is still good, my children have grown, I have a few good years left to serve, and I felt that if good people don’t step up and try to help, then the police bureau doesn’t have the manpower it needs,” he said.

Carter sees this attitude as part of the reason why the new class is so large compared to past classes. During the pandemic and during nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, fewer people were joining police departments, Carter said. However, he believes the trend is now shifting.

“More and more people are willing to serve,” he said. “People feel that they can make places safer and are willing to do that.”

The newly sworn-in officers include the following:

James P. Bard
Marco G. Benitez-Soto
Elliot D. Christman
Sean J. Cigich
Daniel G. Donovan
John J. Grant
Steven C. Gray
Jared A. Nouzovsky
Thomas L. Oxenrider
Evan A. Ramos
Robert C. Tritch

“I’m so proud of these officers because they have answered the call,” Carter said.

Additionally, bureau officers Travis Banning and Donald Bender were promoted to the rank of corporal. Banning has been with the bureau since 2015 and Bender joined the bureau in 2009 and works in the K-9 Unit.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

January 5, 2023 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What you’ll find:

For something new: I just discovered this event is, in fact, open to the public: PA Preferred Reception at the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show. Go! Worth noting: Farm Show week kicks off Saturday Things on my agenda this weekend: Farm Show fun, Anniversary dinner, HBG Flea, Pilates at Zeroday ??

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

1. HU Presents announces spring 2023 lineup

1. The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg

1. Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

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

Harrisburg hires city engineer after year without in-house official

January 4, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Michael Yeosock

Harrisburg soon will have a new official helming its engineering department and infrastructure projects.

After over a year without an in-house city engineer, the city announced that it has hired Michael Yeosock to fill the position.

After the previous city engineer, Wayne Martin, resigned in November 2021, Lower Paxton Township-based Dawood Engineering filled the position on a temporary basis, since March 2022.

Yeosock has over 30 years of municipal engineering experience. He most recently served in the city of Norwalk, Conn., as principal engineer since 2018, and was the assistant principal engineer before that.

“We are incredibly excited to bring someone in with Michael’s experience to lead Harrisburg’s engineering efforts,” said city Business Administrator Dan Hartman in a statement. “His experience as an engineer in a city with similar issues, not to mention his work on diverse and modern transportation projects and grant writing, made him a slam dunk hire.”

Yeosock will begin as city engineer on Jan. 30. Dawood Engineering will then be used by the city on an as-needed basis for contracted services.

According to the city, during his time in Norwalk, Yeosock facilitated more than $100 million in civil infrastructure projects devoted to improving traffic signals, recreational trails, green infrastructure and streetscapes.

“I am so humbled to have been selected by Mayor [Wanda] Williams to be the next city engineer for the city of Harrisburg,” Yeosock said in a statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the administration, City Council and all stakeholders on future projects like this and Vision Zero that will help make all modes of transportation in Harrisburg more friendly, sustainable, safe and equitable.”

Yeosock is a native of Plains, Pa., in Luzerne County. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering of mines from West Virginia University, and carries six different master’s degrees in space resources, legal studies, civil engineering, environmental engineering, construction and engineering management, and mining engineering management.

Yeosock’s top priority in his new role is to improve multimodal infrastructure and livability throughout Harrisburg, according to the city. He will also work to build a stronger partnership with PennDOT and its new secretary, who will be announced and sworn-in once Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro begins his term.

Additionally, he will work to develop an asset management program and determine road paving and bridge rehabilitation needs, the city said.

“I’m very eager to get to work in making Harrisburg an even greater city by making smart choices through an inclusive process,” Yeosock said. “We are going to integrate environmental and resilient thinking which takes advantage of the many grant opportunities now available to municipalities to safeguard and improve on their critical infrastructure.”

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

PA Farm show set to return to Harrisburg this weekend, officials expect a strong turnout

January 3, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding (left) shares details of the 2023 Farm Show.

State officials are saddling up for this year’s PA Farm Show, which they say will be in “full force mode” after several years of pandemic-induced changes.

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding announced the details of the 107^th show, set to take place Jan. 7 to 14 in Harrisburg.

“It is wonderful to be back in the complex for the 107th Farm Show,” Redding said, during a press event. “We are anxious to host this show and bring everybody back together again.”

The past two years of the annual agricultural event were impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 farm show was held virtually, and attendance at the 2022 event was down by 44% compared to previous years, according to farm show Executive Director Sharon Myers.

However, Myers expects this year’s attendance to be back to pre-pandemic levels.

“We are confident that this year will be back to normal or almost back to normal,” she said.

The theme for the 2023 PA Farm Show is “Rooted in Progress,” emphasizing the history of agriculture in the commonwealth.

A display at the Farm Show

As always, the show will include plenty of food, vendors, animal competitions and exhibits and educational presentations.

New this year are a sustainable home gardening exhibit, a sunflower exhibit and an exhibit honoring the state’s veterans and the role that the farm show complex played in World War II. Additionally, there will be unique events like goat yoga, a llama and alpaca costume contest and the “Moo U” station, which will explain the technology behind dairy farming. Dogs will also have their chance to shine during “Meet the Breeds” presentations during the week.

In one change, there will be no poultry included at the event due to an avian influenza crisis, Redding explained.

Favorite Farm Show treats will be found in the food court, as always. In December, the PA Dairymen’s Association announced that it would serve up a new orange cream milkshake flavor at this year’s farm show to celebrate 70 years of the iconic shakes.

Starting on Saturday, the PA Dairymen’s Association will serve its iconic Farm Show milkshakes.

“It’ll be eight days of fun,” Redding said. “It’s a chance for us to honor and celebrate agriculture in the state as a major economic enterprise, but it’s also a place of education, it’s a place of food, and it’s a place of relationships and rekindling those relationships.”

The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center is located at 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. For more information on the 2023 PA Farm Show, visit their website.

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Incumbents Pries, Saylor announce election bids for Dauphin County commissioner

January 2, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Dauphin County commissioners George Hartwick, Mike Pries and Chad Saylor (file photo)

Dauphin County’s two Republican commissioners have announced their intention to run for re-election.

On Monday, commission Chair Mike Pries and Commissioner Chad Saylor said they would seek their party’s nomination for four-year terms.

In a joint statement, the pair pointed to an 18-year run without an increase in the county portion of the property tax.

“While 18 years without a tax increase sounds good, it didn’t happen easily,” Pries stated. “It took teamwork with our county row officers and dedicated employees and holding firm to controlled spending and fiscal responsibility.”

Pries, of Derry Township, has served as a county commissioner since 2010. Saylor, of Lower Paxton Township, has served since June 2021, appointed to his seat following the retirement of long-time commissioner Jeff Haste.

The three-member board currently consists of Republicans Pries and Saylor and Democrat George Hartwick.

In their joint announcement, Pries and Saylor also cited as accomplishments their support for small businesses during the pandemic, their preservation of farmland in the county and the county’s investments in emergency services and infrastructure.

“We never stop looking for ways to make Dauphin County a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Saylor, in the statement. “We focus on public safety, infrastructure and open spaces to improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Pennsylvania’s primary election is slated for May 16.

For more information, visit www.priesandsaylor.com.

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

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 30, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Members of the local bicycling community place a ghost bike along S. Cameron Street, near Paxton Street, where a bicyclist was fatally struck Tuesday.

Happy New Year to all of our readers! It’s been another great year with lots of news in the Harrisburg area. Catch our final stories of 2022, below, before the strawberry drops at midnight! Then, ring in the New Year by reading our new January issue of the magazine.

A bicyclist was struck and killed by a truck near the intersection of S. Cameron and Paxton streets, our online story reported. Shortly after, members of the bicycling community placed a ghost bike at the site of the incident to honor the victim.

TheBurg has a new leadership team, we announced in our January issue of the magazine. Find out what has changed, here.

Carl Shuman, a retired Harrisburg attorney, introduces kids to Jewish values with his series of books, “Torah Time Travel,” our magazine story reported. Through his stories, he seeks to bring ancient Bible tales to life for young people.

Harrisburg and PennDOT officials addressed the many recent pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on S. Cameron Street, our online story reported. According to PennDOT officials, the roadway will undergo safety upgrades as part of the I-83 widening project.

Harrisburg restaurateur Brian Fertenbaugh plans to open a Mediterranean-style restaurant on the west shore, at the current location of Cork & Fork Osteria, our online story reported. Fertenbaugh runs Café Fresco Center City and Level 2 nightclub in downtown Harrisburg.

New Year’s Eve will be celebrated in Harrisburg with the traditional strawberry drop and fireworks at midnight, our online story reported. The festivities will return to N. 2^nd Street and include a “Countdown to Kid-Night.”

Our Year in Review showcases the top 10 most popular web stories of 2022. Find out what you, our readers, clicked on the most this year.

PennDOT announced that the public may now view plans for a road construction project on Derry Street, which will span Swatara Township, Paxtang Borough and Harrisburg, our online story reported. Proposed work includes milling and overlay of the existing pavement and sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, among other changes.

Sara Bozich has you covered with New Year’s weekend plans. Find all of the local festivities, here.

The Top 10 news stories of 2022 include road construction projects, a return to semi-normal and new local leadership, according to our editor. What else made his list? Click here to find out.

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!

Harrisburg restaurateur plans west shore dining concept, slated to open in 2023

December 30, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

The new restaurant will open in the current home of Cork & Fork Osteria.

A Harrisburg restaurateur is bringing his talents across the river, opening a new Mediterranean-style restaurant on the west shore in 2023.

On Friday, Brian Fertenbaugh said that he, with his wife, Jen, plan to open a restaurant in the current location of Cork & Fork Osteria in Hampden Township.

“There are a lot of chain restaurants on the west shore and not enough good independent restaurants,” said Fertenbaugh, when reached by telephone. “We want to bring something better.”

Currently, Fertenbaugh runs both Café Fresco Center City and the Level 2 nightclub, which he will continue to own and operate. But he added that he’s been wanting to open a west shore restaurant for some time.

“I was born and raised on the west shore and know it really well,” he said.

Cork & Fork Osteria’s owners are selling the business to Fertenbaugh in a deal that will close on Dec. 31, according to the principals. The Osteria has operated at 4434 Carlisle Pike since 2016.

After taking ownership, Fertenbaugh said that he’d like to make some updates to the space and open up in the spring. The new restaurant will feature a “modern Mediterranean” menu with dishes featuring Italian, Spanish, Greek and possibly Middle Eastern flavors, along with a full cocktail menu, he said.

“This will be a totally new concept,” Fertenbaugh stressed. “I’m not bringing Café Fresco to the west shore.”

Cork & Fork downtown is not changing owners, and all Osteria gift cards will be honored at the downtown location, according to their ownership group.

Local, state officials address deaths on Harrisburg roadway, upcoming safety changes

December 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

City and state officials address safety upgrades coming to S. Cameron Street in Harrisburg. Pictured (from left): Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel, PennDOT spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler and city Project Manager Percy Bullock.

On Thursday morning, city and state officials stood near the site of a recent fatal accident to discuss safety on the roadway.

Near the intersection on S. Cameron and Paxton streets, on Tuesday evening, a female bicyclist was struck and killed by a truck. This was the latest in a series of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths along the Cameron Street corridor in the last two years.

Harrisburg and PennDOT officials explained that, while there are no new proposals to make changes to the roadway, one long-standing project will aim to make the corridor safer.

PennDOT spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler explained that the department has plans, dating back to 2017, to improve safety on Cameron Street in anticipation of its I-83 widening project.

As PennDOT prepares for its major construction project to widen the highway, officials expect to see increased traffic on Cameron Street. This prompted the plan for upgrades, including improved street lighting, road patching, line repainting, sidewalk improvements and longer pedestrian crossing signals, among other changes.

Schreffler stressed that this project is not in response to the many recent fatalities. However, according to Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel, they will help.

“Every time an accident like this happens, it is a reminder of why we are doing this,” he said.

Schreffler also noted that currently, motorists access the S. 13^th Street interchange by driving through Paxton Street, making the intersection at Cameron Street busy. However, that will also change as part of the highway widening project, when the ramp is relocated.

“It’s safety improvements focused on motorists first, but also on anybody crossing the street, pedestrians, bicyclists,” Schreffler said.

PennDOT expects to begin construction on the corridor, from Berryhill Street to Elmerton Avenue, in the summer, and it will likely take around a year to complete. Construction from Berryhill Street to Sycamore Street is expected to begin the following year.

While some advocates have called for increased bicycle infrastructure, according to PennDOT and the city, adding bike lanes to the road is not in the plan.

“It’s a very busy drag,” said Harrisburg Project Manager Percy Bullock. “It’s too difficult with the businesses and the speed of the road to put bike [lanes] on it.”

In the meantime, while construction takes place, Maisel urged motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists to use the road responsibly. He advised drivers to be aware of their surroundings and speed and encouraged pedestrians and bicyclists to follow safe crossing practices.

“This is a call to action for everyone to be more careful when you are on the road,” he said.

For more information on PennDOT’s I-83 Capital Beltway project, visit their website.

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

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

December 29, 2022 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What you’ll find:

For something new: Harrisburg Beach Club is hosting the Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day

Worth noting: Urban Churn is releasing its annual Sauerkraut ice cream again in time for the New Year

Things on my agenda this weekend: Tired: NYE plans; Wired: New Year’s Day Open House

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

1. HU Presents announces spring 2023 lineup

1. The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg

1. Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

Thursday

- Jurassic Park – ONE DAY ONLY! at Whitaker Center
- The Year End Metal Ball w/ Kore Rozzik, Negative Steel & More at Lovedraft’s Brewing

- 2022 Christmas Show: Home for the Holidays at American Music Theatre

- The Christmas Tree Showcase at Hershey Gardens

- Christmas in Hershey
- Christmas Spirit Light Show

Friday

- Smooth Like Clyde @ XL Live
- Hidden Roots @ Wolf Brewing
- Back to the Future Showing – ONE DAY ONLY! at Whitaker Center
- Aisle Rolling | Laughs & Such: an experimental evening of stand up at Midtown Cinema
- Community Blood Drive at Capital City Mall

- 2022 Christmas Show: Home for the Holidays at American Music Theatre

- The Christmas Tree Showcase at Hershey Gardens

- Christmas in Hershey
- Christmas Spirit Light Show

Saturday | New Year’s Eve

- Popcorn Hat Players Countdown to Noon! at Gamut Theatre Group
- Noon Years Celebration at The State Museum of Pennsylvania
- TMI Improv Last Laughs of 2022 at Gamut Theatre Group
- Harrisburg NYE Celebration
- COUNTDOWN TO KID-NIGHT CELEBRATION
- NYE 2022 W/ THE AMISH OUTLAWS @ XL LIVE
- New Year’s Eve at Blue Sky Tavern
- New Year’s Eve at Harrisburg Beach Club
- New Year’s Eve Dinner at Greystone Brew House
- New Year’s Eve Party at Bourbon Street Saloon
- New Years Eve Dance Party at Stallions
- NYE Party at Savannah’s
- New Years Eve Punk Rock Tribute Night at Lovedraft’s Brewing
- Final Ultimate Craft Beer Experience of the Year!

- Christmas in Hershey

- The Christmas Tree Showcase at Hershey Gardens

- Christmas Spirit Light Show

Sunday | New Year’s Day

- 2023 Polar Plunge
- New Year’s Day Brunch at The Sturges Speakeasy
- A Dinner You Can’t Refuse at Lovedraft’s Brewing

- Christmas in Hershey

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

January Publisher’s Note

December 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Fourteen years ago, on a cold winter’s night, we distributed the first issue of TheBurg.

A lot has changed for us since then, and I’d like to use this month—our anniversary month—to announce another big change.

As the calendar flips to a new year, we have new leadership. Well, more correctly, we have new old leadership.

With the January issue, I am TheBurg’s majority owner and full publisher, an upgrade from minority owner and co-publisher. I’ll also continue as editor, so readers shouldn’t expect any radical departures in our content or operations.

But that’s not the real excitement.

For me, the real excitement is TheBurg’s two new co-owners—our long-time sales director, Lauren Maurer, and equally long-time creative director, Meg Caruso.

For 10 years, Lauren, Meg and I have been “TheBurg team,” and I couldn’t be more thrilled now also to call them my business partners. With this, TheBurg truly has become an employee-owned company.

There’s a good chance you already know these two incredibly talented people. So, if you see them around town, feel free to give a quick “congrats.” But not too long please—we have work to do!

Also, I want to offer my greatest thanks to TheBurg’s former publisher—and my former co-publisher—Alex Hartzler.

A decade ago, Alex saved TheBurg from imminent extinction and then helped us build a sustainable business, a Herculean feat these days for a small, independent publication. Alex has promised to continue offering his wise business counsel, which we certainly will take him up on.

Well, enough of this navel-gazing—I have swag to sell!

Last month, for the first time ever, TheBurg began to offer branded merch—T-shirts and sweatshirts. You can choose from two designs: our logo or a unique, Harrisburg-themed design featuring the Walnut Street Bridge.

What a great way to celebrate our new ownership—or just demonstrate your love of TheBurg and of Harrisburg. Please visit our website if you’d like to make a purchase.

With that sales pitch complete, I present you our January issue. Happy New Year, everyone!

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

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

You May Also Like

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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You May Also Like

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Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

A Look Ahead

Thursday

Friday

Saturday | New Year’s Eve

Sunday | New Year’s Day

You May Also Like

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