Harrisburg in search of volunteers to help plant trees in Allison Hill, Bellevue Park

October 13, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers plant trees at a spring planting event in April. File photo.

This fall, Harrisburg is looking for community members willing to lend a hand to help beautify the city.

The city announced on Thursday that it is in need of volunteers to plant street trees on Oct. 28 to 30.

Most of the planting will take place on Oct. 28 and 29 in Allison Hill on the 1800-block of Forster and Briggs streets and on the 800- and 900-blocks of N. 18th Street. Planting holes will be partially pre-dug, and volunteers will plant 45 trees. Participants will meet at Pleasantview Park at 19^th and Forster streets.

On Oct. 30, volunteers will plant an additional 25 trees in the Bellevue Park and Shipoke neighborhoods, with a meet up location at 143 Briarcliff Rd.

The meet up time for all three days will be at 9 a.m. for a demonstration and team assignments. Planting will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to the city, the trees are 7- to 9-feet tall and are bare root trees, making them easy to handle.

The city encourages wearing sturdy shoes or boots, long pants and a jacket and bringing any tools you may have. They will provide water, snacks, safety vests and some gloves and tools.

The planting will take place rain or shine, but if severe weather is predicted, registered participants will be notified by email no later than 8 a.m. on the day of the event, if it will be postponed.

To register to volunteer for the fall tree planting, click here. For more information, visit the city’s website.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 13, 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 your weekend planning
Top Weekend Recs
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Like this content?

For something new: Try “The Sunflower” at Cornerstone Coffeehouse; great acts at XL Live Fri & Sat with Harrisburg University Presents

Worth noting: Creatures of the Night opens at ZooAmerica; Visit Hershey-Harrisburg’s Harvest Hops through Nov. 30

Things on my agenda this weekend: Heading to a mini getaway in the Poconos! Follow along on IG.

For your weekend planning

Plan a holiday-themed trip ?
Harrisburg Book Festival is Oct. 19-23
Market on Market now open Tuesdays in Camp Hill
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.

Things to Do in Harrisburg + Central PA | Weekend Roundup | Sara Bozich

Top Weekend Recs

Check out AAA’s Pet Costume Contest!
WIN a Pumpkin Spice gift pack from Cornerstone Coffeehouse
Save the date for the last SoMa Block Party of 2022
The Best Farmers Markets around Harrisburg
Submit your events for the Weekend Roundup

What are you doing this weekend around Harrisburg? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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Tree for Free: Local environmental organization to hand out 10,000 trees to community

October 12, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Trees to be distributed by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture next week.

One local organization plans to hand out thousands of trees next week in hopes of making the community a little greener.

Harrisburg-based Pasa Sustainable Agriculture will distribute 10,000 trees for free to community members on Oct. 21 during 3^rd in the Burg.

The giveaway is in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Ten Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant 10 million trees in the state by 2025.

“We are really excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to see where the trees end up,” said Ashlee Dugan, development assistant for Pasa.

From Oct. 12 through 21, people can shop at Radish & Rye Food Hub on N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg to receive a voucher for a free tree. While vouchers are encouraged, they are not required, Dugan said.

“They do such a wonderful job of supporting local farms,” Dugan said of Radish & Rye. “We thought that was a natural partnership.”

On Oct. 21, trees will be available for pickup from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pasa’s office, 1631 N. Front St., Harrisburg. The organization moved its headquarters to this location around a year ago and views this project as a way to introduce themselves to the community.

Available tree varieties include Smooth Alder, Serviceberry, Buttonbush, Dogwood and Sycamore, among others. They are all small saplings, Dugan said. Community members may take more than one tree.

According to the Ten Million Trees initiative’s website, over 4 million trees have been planted by the program since 2018.

Dugan explained the benefits of planting trees for the environment, including cutting back on erosion, keeping farms healthy and playing a role in water treatment.

“Trees are one of PA’s greatest assets,” she said.

For more information on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, visit their website.

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Harrisburg Bureau of Fire presents awards, swears in new firefighters at ceremony

October 11, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams swears in five new firefighters to the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire

At an annual event, Harrisburg firefighters have been recognized for their actions both locally and nationwide.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Fire held its swearing-in and awards ceremony, distributing awards for heroism, CPR saves and bravery, among other honors.

“Today is another great day in the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire acknowledging some of the great men and women that we have protecting not only the city of Harrisburg, but the Harrisburg region,” Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.

At the ceremony, the bureau swore in five new personnel, bringing its complement to 93 firefighters, the highest number the bureau has had since the early 1990s, according to Enterline. New firefighters include Garret Morey, Corey Lease, Justin Kahill, Bryan Rooney and Tyler Bender.

Enterline noted other areas of growth within the bureau as they explore the possibility of opening another fire station within the city and as they increase efforts to assist other departments regionally.

Four firefighters were promoted to officer positions, including Deputy Fire Chief Floyd Wise, Battalion Chief Charles Zavrel, Capt. Byron Worner and Lt. Justin Zimmerman.

Firefighter Marty Henderson retired after 27 years with the bureau.

“You have the most sincere thanks and gratitude not from not just me, but from all the residents of the city of Harrisburg,” said Mayor Wanda Williams to members of the bureau.

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

Award of Merit—Battalion Chief Floyd Wise, Lt. Robert Lohin, Lt. Corey Stone, Fire Chief Brian Enterline, William Russo, Battalion Chief Brian Bastinelli, Brian Riddle, Zachary Miller
Unit Citation—William Junkin, Bobby Jones, Jonathan Little, Justin Barnes, David Gilkey, David Aguayo, Brandon Trygar, Kevin Craver, Battalion Chief Cornell Bradford, Patrick Fuller, Billy-Bob Holtzman, Brayden Byers, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Jonathan Morrow, Michael Shaak, Lt. Brian Yonkin, Cedric Yates, Lt. Matthew Kuntz, Joshua Winters, Lt. David Schock, Nathan Martin, Lt. Jeffrey Miller, John Peskie, Shakur Hakeem-El
CPR Save—Wilbert Turner, Ryan Spangler, Nicholas Hurst, Hadiel Bey, Jonathan Little, Thomas Cucchiara, David Aguayo, Jamie Kleckner, Dylan Landuyt, Timothy Wolcott, Joseph Kuhn, James Grundon, Connor Davis, Jared Day, Jonathan Felty, Codie Schaffner, Lt. David Schock, John Peskie, Austin Howard, Capt. Jeremy Saul, Shakur Hakeem-El, William Kauffman, Scott Young, Justin Zimmerman, Cody Durham
Heroism—Ryan Spangler
Bravery—Pablo Passalacqua
Reverend Dennis E. Snider Customer Service Award— Corey Stone

The following citizens were also awarded for their assistance to the bureau:

Citizen Commendation—Rick Weyandt, Brian Smith, Johnny Irizarry, Amir Speaks, Ihyanaa Griffin

Additionally, the bureau introduced a new award for Regional Rescue Deployment, which was given to a number of firefighters for their services outside of Harrisburg.

The ceremony also recognized former bureau firefighter, Battalion Chief Clarence E. Fry, who died in the line of duty in 1977.

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Listen Up: Americans face threats to hearing, but solutions exist

October 11, 2022 | by Think Capital Blue Cross

Female doctor examining the ear of a senior woman in clinic. ENT physician examining ear of a female patient with an instrument.

Some 22 million American workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work each year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Occupational hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition among adults behind hypertension and arthritis. American businesses pay an estimated $242 million annually in workers compensation claims tied to hearing loss, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Hearing loss is about more than missing out on conversations. It can lead to depression, feelings of isolation, and cognitive impairment, and it can increase the risk of workplace accidents, according to research from the Mayo Clinic and Grigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Fortunately, much is known about preventing hearing loss, and many resources exist to help keep workers and others safe in a noisy world.

Factory workers, musicians, farmers, dental workers, construction workers, coaches and game officials, military personnel, and first responders often face hazardous noise levels, according to NIOSH. The cumulative effects of hazardous noise levels can be serious.

“People with hearing loss face an increased risk of disability and dementia, and men with hearing problems face an increased risk of depression,” said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross, citing research from the University of Bordeaux in France.

Loud music, crowd noise, traffic noise, and other sounds of everyday life can slowly chip away our hearing health. Researchers largely agree that 85 decibels is a kind of tipping point when it comes to noise hazards. NIOSH reports that a person exposed to sounds levels of 85 decibels for more than eight hours could begin to damage their hearing, and adds that safe exposure time gets cut in half for 3-decibel increase above 85 decibels.

Normal conversation registers between 60 and 70 decibels while fireworks or gunshots can soar to ear-splitting levels of 140 or 150 decibels. A person pushing a lawnmower registering between 90 and 110 decibels would risk hearing damage in less than 30 minutes without protection, NIOSH estimates.

“The world can be a noisy place,” Dr. Chambers said. “The best advice for employers and workers is to take sensible precautions and to learn more about hazardous noise exposure.”

Anyone with a smartphone, for example, can download free noise meter apps like the NIOSH Sound Level Meter.

The NIOSH website is loaded with helpful information. It urges employers to require ear protection, to identify dangerously noisy areas, and to encourage employees to have annual hearing exams to determine baseline hearing ability.

NIOSH’s “Buy Quiet,” initiative encourages machine makers to design quieter tools, and machine users to buy or rent quieter tools for their employees. It even maintains a database of power tools ranked by how much noise they make.

And while occupational hearing loss is not reversible, technology can help. Dr. Chambers said the risks of depression, disability, and dementia often associated with hearing loss can be reduced with the use of hearing aids.

THINK (Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.

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Home prices rose, sales slipped in Harrisburg area in September

October 11, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

A house for sale in Harrisburg

Home prices in the greater Harrisburg area ticked up in September as sales dipped, according to the most recent report on previously owned houses.

In the three-county region, 685 houses sold, compared to 757 houses in September of last year, as the median sales price rose to $254,900 from $231,000, according to data from the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

For Dauphin County, GHAR reported 317 home sales, a decline from 356 during the year-ago period, while the median price increased to $230,500 from $205,000.

In Cumberland County, sales totaled 324 units, a decrease from 347 last September, as the median price rose to $275,000 versus $255,000 last year, according to GHAR.

Perry County had 40 houses exchange hands, an increase of six from September 2021, as the median price was unchanged at $217,450, GHAR said.

Houses continued to sell relatively quickly in the area, as the “average days on the market” was 21 days, as opposed to 20 days the prior September, according to GHAR.

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Take a Ride: Bike share is back in Harrisburg with six locations and more to come

October 10, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

A SusqueCycle bike share location at the Market Square Transfer Center in downtown Harrisburg

Bikes are back in the Burg.

On Monday, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) unveiled its new bike share program, SusqueCycle, which is now open for bike rentals across the city.

“It’s exciting to have it ready to go,” said Lauren Weaver, a planner at TCRPC, at the unveiling. “This will make it easier to get around.”

The bike share is operated by Michigan-based Tandem Mobility, which will maintain the bikes.

The city previously had a bike share from 2017 to 2020, organized by Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania and operated by Boston-based Zagster. The operations ceased when Zagster closed in 2020, due to COVID.

TCRPC decided to take on the project, announcing in April that the bike share would return.

There are now six locations around the city to rent a bike, with 36 bikes available between them.

The SusqueCycle pickup/drop-off locations are as follows:

State and N. 2^nd streets, downtown
City Island, near the Walnut Street Bridge
Market Square Transfer Center, downtown
Harrisburg Transportation Center (Amtrak station), downtown
Strawberry Square, downtown
Broad Street Market, Midtown

To rent a bike, cyclists must download the Movatic app and create an account. They can then scan a QR code on a bike to unlock it from the docking station. Once they are done riding, they must return the bike to any location, lock it and select “end rental” on the app. Yearly memberships for SusqueCycle are available for $25, or bikes can be rented at $1.50 for a half an hour.

According to Weaver, the bikes are a great option for commuting to work and connecting with bus transit or for those who want to avoid traffic or finding parking. They are also environmentally friendly.

“Whenever an area is more inviting for biking and walking, it’s a better place to live, work and play,” said Dick Norford with Bike Harrisburg, who attended the event on Monday. “This is a great way for people to ride bikes without needing to have one.”

Norford hopes that, with the increase of bikes in the city, local and state officials will make updates to bicycle infrastructure, such as bike lanes.

According to Weaver, TCRPC plans to expand SusqueCycle, starting with the addition of 13 more locations in the city in the spring. In the future, they may expand outside of the city, as well.

Weaver noted that Lancaster also uses Tandem Mobility for its bike share program and that cyclists can access both Harrisburg and Lancaster’s bikes through the same app and memberships.

“It was a long process, but it’s a relief to have it getting on the road,” Weaver said. “Now we can expand from here.”

For more information about SusqueCycle, visit Tandem Mobility’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

October 7, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Project Manager Percy Bullock announced the full opening of the new two-way N. 2nd Street.

It’s Friday in Harrisburg, which wraps up another week of news. You can find all of our stories, in bite-sized form, right here, or click the links to read more.

In Burg Bits, we share several nuggets of information that we’ve discovered around town. In our column, find tidbits about the returning bike share program and a new Broad Street Market manager, among other news.

Our Community Corner for October has lots of fun fall events for you to choose from. Find our list, here. For even more ways to spend the month, view our Happenings column.

Halloween is just around the corner, and Harrisburg has a new way for families to celebrate with their “Bash at the Brownstone,” our online story reported. The party will take place on Oct. 26, with the city-wide trick or treat the following night.

The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra is looking forward to its 2022-23 season, especially as it returns to its home, the Forum Auditorium. In our magazine story, get a preview of what’s to come.

Harrisburg will open much of N. 2^nd Street to two-way traffic on Thursday, Oct. 13, around noon, our online story reported. Over the past year, construction has taken place on the corridor to convert the one-way road to two-ways and to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Market Square Presbyterian Church’s Arts on the Square kicks off its season with “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace,” our online story reported. The anti-war musical piece was inspired by the war in Ukraine and the impacts of gun violence.

Midtown Tavern in Harrisburg announced its closure, but its doors may not be shut for long, our online story reported. Local restaurateur Adam Sturges said that he plans to purchase the business and the building.

N. 2^nd Street is almost complete, and our editor praises the city for the transformation of the one-way mini highway to a two-way neighborhood road. In his column, he urges Harrisburg to consider similar changes to other city roads.

October concerts are still hot, even as the weather cools in central Pa. In our Musical Notes column, check out what’s in store for live music this month.

Open Stage theater is debuting “Treasure Island” this weekend, with showings throughout the month, our magazine story reported. The show is a family-friendly, classic tale with a few new twists and lots of adventure and action.

Sara Bozich has a full list of ways to spend your weekend in the Harrisburg area. Find out what’s going on, here.

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Burg Review: Raise the sails of adventure, fun with Open Stage’s swashbuckling “Treasure Island”

October 7, 2022 | by Gina Napoli

Open Stage opens its 37^th season with the classic epic adventure “Treasure Island,” full of murder, mutiny and marauding misfits. Directed by Stuart Landon, the show holds a boatload of swashbuckling drama, slicing swordplay and overhaul mayhem.

The quest for treasure anchors the tale, which actually begins long before we meet our naïve hero, Jim Hawkins (Gabrielle Dina). Long John Silver (Sean Adams) has been risking life and limb searching for Captain Flint’s treasure map, hauling along his crew, a rough bunch of salts. In this leg of the journey, Silver manipulates his crew onto a ship—with the map—already setting sail for Treasure Island.

Adams plays the blackguard pirate with disarming, subtle charisma, adding just a dropper-full of smarm so that the audience has no trouble rooting against him when we decide we no longer like the cut of his jib. The reactions of Silver’s multiple enemies and friends grow his iconic status, both before and after he takes the stage. (Bravo Zulu to Christopher Robert Ellis, who went full sail on his portrayal of the intense, grog-filled Bill Bones, heightening Silver’s legendary reputation in the wake of his performance.)

Dina takes her character seamlessly through Jim Hawkins’ growth arc, transforming her from a wide-eyed waif into a badass lass who can right her own ship and take command. Full of well wishes for fair winds and following seas, she instead encounters mild misogyny, multiple counts of mutiny, and she learns the hard way who she can trust.

“Treasure Island” is chock-a-block with about 20 simpler characters who provide running gags that carry through the show, tacking between both knotting the tension and then washing waves of comic relief flotsam and jetsam, both on the high seas and back on land. But these seas are rough, and many of the crew didn’t make it to the end. (I can’t tell you which characters, but all keeled over convincingly.)

One standout sailor is literally a lone voice on a deserted island. Ben Gunn (Josh Miccio) is an abandoned shipmate on Treasure Island who’s described as “smart as paint.” Although he is a late-add to the pirate band, he has no trouble fitting right in with the rest of the misfits. Miccio brings Gunn to life as purposefully indecisive and sniveling, yet weirdly endearing, salting his character interpretation with strange idiosyncrasies. He contorts his body, nimbly making use of all his available space, yet still finds time to comedically nibble on newcomers.

With all the dirt-caked costumes, tattered hemlines, and scraggly hair everywhere, I have only one note… all the actors’ teeth are faarrrr too pretty. Everyone has impeccable dental work for being British pirates in the mid-18^th century. To be truly “unfair of face,” someone could have blackened, browned, or even yellowed a tooth or two. Other than that detail, the actors were perfectly outfitted as the loose cannons they were meant to portray.

You and your own crew have permission to come aboard Open Stage’s yar voyage. Hobble in on yer peg leg, get in close quarters with the rest of the audience, and become stowaways as the Open Stage crew sets sail for “Treasure Island.”

“Treasure Island” is underway Oct. 8 to 29 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com or call 717-232-6736.

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Burg Bits: News bites from around Harrisburg

October 7, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Bikes stand ready for riders at the Broad Street Market

Once upon a time, we featured a column called “Burg Bits,” which were nuggets of information that we unearthed from our wanderings about town. We thought it might be time to resurrect that feature, at least on an occasional basis.

Bike Share Back
A few months ago, we broke the story that Harrisburg again would have a bike share, now called the SusqueCycle Regional Bikeshare program. The first bikes were just deployed, with a soft launch over this weekend and a press conference slated for Monday. The city has been without a bike share since the previously provider, Zagster, went out of business after the pandemic hit in 2020. The new program, organized by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, is launching with six locations in Harrisburg, with suburban locations expected to be announced later.

New Market Manager
For months, the Broad Street Market board has been searching for a new executive director, as this top post has been vacant since early 2022. We’ve now been told that a new manager has been hired and will begin next week. Look for more details as the appointment is officially announced. Meanwhile, the former market executive director, Josh Heilman, hasn’t traveled far, just across 3^rd Street. He’s joined the team at Radish & Rye, a grocery that itself started within the confines of the market.

Welcome the Moose
Last week, we broke the story that the Midtown Tavern would close following a sale of the popular 2^nd Street eatery to Adam Sturges, the owner of both the Sturges Speakeasy and McGrath’s Irish Pub. At the time, Adam confirmed to us that he had bought the burger/wings/beer joint and would reopen with a few (but not too many) changes, pending the transfer of the liquor license and some building updates. At the time, though, he declined to reveal the name of his latest acquisition. The liquor license placard, however, reveals the new name to be The Mad Moose, a moniker confirmed by a recent Pennlive story.

Apartments for Capital Joe?
“Micro-apartments” may be in store for the former location of Capital Joe coffeehouse on the 400-block of Forster Street. A company called Zomelle Properties is requesting zoning relief to carve eight small apartments out of the 3,728-square-foot double building, situated just across the street from the Capitol complex. The project may face an uphill battle, as the city’s Planning Bureau has recommended denial of the variance, which is needed because unit sizes do not conform to the city’s zoning regulations. According to Zomelle’s website, the company specializes in short-term, furnished rental units, as well as shared apartments.

Land of Learning
We’re a little late on this one, but, back in August, the Pennsylvania STEAM Academy Charter School purchased the storied Evangelical Press Building for $8 million from GreenWorks Development. The PA STEAM Academy has occupied the former HACC Midtown 2 building since the charter school opened last year, with plans to expand grades and student enrollment eventually to occupy the entire century-old, 80,000-square-foot building. We reported the sale in this month’s magazine, but felt it needed a bit more ink (or pixels). Speaking of schools and land, the Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning also made a big purchase in August, buying a large chunk of property for its future school for $3 million from the Buonarroti Trust. They plan to build a day care and early learning center at N. 6th and Muench streets.

Web Apologies
Lastly, we’d like to express our apologies to our online readers who may have had trouble accessing our website late last week and early this week. A server crash disabled, and then limited, our online presence for a few days. However, repairs and upgrades have been made, so we’re confident in our ability to keeping serving you the news on a daily basis. Thanks for your understanding!

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