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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Harrisburg to open 2nd Street to two-way traffic next week, completing year-long construction

October 6, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

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

A months-long project to convert N. 2^nd Street from one- to two-way traffic is finally coming to an end.

Starting on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 12 p.m., Harrisburg will open the roadway, from Forster to Division streets, to two-way traffic, the city announced at a press conference on Thursday.

“This is exciting,” said Percy Bullock, project manager for the city. “The residents themselves are very pleased.”

The $5.2 million project officially broke ground in May 2021, with the goal of reversing a decades-old decision to make the street one-way to accommodate suburban commuters. Over the years, Bullock said, the corridor “has been a race track.”

Additionally, to help slow traffic, the city constructed three roundabouts at Verbeke, Reily and Kelker streets, replacing traffic lights. They have also reduced the speed limit from 35 to 25 mph and added raised pedestrian crosswalks.

A new roundabout at N. 2nd and Verbeke streets.

While motorists adjust to the new traffic pattern, the Harrisburg Police Bureau will help monitor the traffic flow, according to Bullock. But overall, he said, the changes will just require some getting used to.

“It just takes some time and patience,” he said.

Over the year of construction, the project has faced several delays, pushing back the completion timeline. Originally, the roadway, from Maclay to Division streets was supposed to go two-ways in June, with Forster to Maclay transitioning in the fall. Last month, Harrisburg made the decision to move the entire corridor to two-ways at once.

The project is finally coming to a close, with only a few small tasks left to complete, such as pavement sealing and painting lines on crosswalks, Bullock explained.

The N. 2^nd Street conversion is part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative to reduce pedestrian fatalities.

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Musical Peace: Market Square Presbyterian Church’s Arts on the Square launches season with anti-war piece “The Armed Man” on Oct. 15.

October 6, 2022 | by Karen Hendricks

A recent rehearsal for “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace”

Halfway around the world, when Russia launched its war on Ukraine earlier this year, it sparked an idea within Tyler Canonico, minister of music at Harrisburg’s Market Square Presbyterian Church.

He knew the perfect piece of music to convey world peace. That’s why “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace” leads off the church’s 2022-23 Arts on the Square Concert Series on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

“Although I was hoping the war would be over by the time the concert came, in the meantime, gun violence began to rise, so this concert speaks to both world peace and an end of gun violence,” said Canonico.

Created by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, the piece will feature about 75 Harrisburg-area singers and musicians, including the Sanctuary Choir of Market Square Church and the community-based Market Square Singers, plus professional musicians plucked from regional orchestras such as the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. It also features Market Square Presbyterian’s artist-in-residence, organist Peter Yardley-Jones of the Swiss Church in London.

“It’s a moving piece—it takes you on a journey,” said Canonico, of the hour-long composition. “You’ll have joy, a calming aspect, moments of heart wrench and sadness, but it brings it back to a positive ending to find peace.”

The performance is being presented in partnership with the Harrisburg Chapter of Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, a Philadelphia-area nonprofit organization with several Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., chapters.

“We wanted to work with them and use this performance in a way that not only promotes world peace, but peace in our own streets,” said John Robinson, Arts on the Square spokesman. “Because it’s all about the madness of war—the horror of it, but by the end there are rays of sunshine and the hope for the achievement of peace.”

Although “The Armed Man” has been produced nearly a thousand times around the world since it was written in 1999, Robinson doesn’t believe it has ever been performed in central Pennsylvania.

It’s a piece on par with major works such as Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” which will be presented at Arts on the Square’s December “Carols by Candlelight” performance, Canonico said.

Following the conclusion of “The Armed Man,” the choir will sing four additional numbers to underscore the theme of peace, including “Amazing Grace” arranged by Michael McCarthy, director of music at Washington National Cathedral, and ending with the spiritual “We Shall Overcome.”

“It’s going to be a powerhouse of a concert,” said Canonico.

The Arts on the Square Concert Series began in 2020 after Market Square Presbyterian hosted the Vienna Boys Choir to a standing-room-only audience in 2019.

Tickets, priced at $20, are available at the door, or in advance via the church’s website at https://www.marketsquarechurch.org/event-details/the-armed-man-a-mass-for-peace. Market Square Presbyterian Church is located at 20 S. 2^nd St., Harrisburg.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 6, 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
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For something new: Harrisburg Senators present: Senstoberfest! benefiting our friends at Harrisburg River Rescue

Worth noting: Visit Hershey-Harrisburg’s Harvest Hops kicks off today and runs through Nov. 30

Things on my agenda this weekend: Kid-themed activities and house-cleaning.

For your weekend planning

Market on Market now open in Camp Hill
Best Fall 2022 Getaways — it’s not too late!
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!
All about the SoMa Block Party Series (just 2 left!)
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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Harrisburg announces Halloween party for families, trick-or-treating date

October 5, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

A past trick or treat night in Harrisburg. File photo.

Harrisburg has a Halloween treat in store for local families this month.

The city announced on Monday that it will hold its first “Bash at the Brownstone” Halloween party on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Reservoir Park Brownstone building, featuring games, food and candy.

“Halloween is one of my favorite nights of the year because of how much fun the children have,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “I’m so excited to bring a family-friendly Halloween to the people of Harrisburg, so we can celebrate together in a safe way.”

The event, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m., will include pumpkin decorating, a reptile zoo, face painting and yard games. There will also be candy for kids, hot dogs and refreshments.

Harrisburg’s city-wide trick or treat night will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27.

At the party, kids up to 15 years old can participate in a costume contest at 6:15 p.m. and a pet costume contest will take place at 7 p.m. Local celebrity judges will choose the funniest, scariest and most original categories in three different age groups. Kids ages 0 to 5 will take place at 6:15 p.m., ages 6 to 11 at 6:30 p.m. and ages 12 to 15 at 6:45 p.m.

The city will also raffle off prizes, including a mini-drone and wireless headphones.

According to the city, this is a walk-up event. Reservoir Drive will be closed to traffic and limited parking will be available at the park’s basketball courts.

“Our mission is to do a safe, family-oriented Halloween,” said David Baker, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “When the mayor first took office, one of her top directives was to increase parks and recreation outreach into the community. We want to get out and interact and have fun with the public.”

On the same night, Harrisburg City Council will host its sixth annual “Pre-Trick or Treat Night Bash” at fire station 1 at 1820 N. 6^th St., and station 8 at 9 S. 13^th St.

Council will hand out free trick or treat bags and candy from 5 to 7 p.m. and costumes are encouraged.

Reservoir Park is located at 100 Concert Dr., Harrisburg. For more information, visit the city’s website.

UPDATED on 10/4/22 to reflect a change to the city’s trick-or-treating date.

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Cheers & Changes: Midtown Tavern in Harrisburg to close, with plans to sell to local restaurateur

September 30, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

The Midtown Tavern

It’s the last call for a popular Harrisburg restaurant and bar, but its doors may not be closed for long.

The Midtown Tavern announced on Friday that it would close after several decades in business, with plans to sell to a local restaurateur.

“I’ve been doing this all my life,” said owner Sotirios Ntzanis. “It’s time for a change.”

Ntzanis said that he originally put the tavern up for sale in January 2020 after deciding to move on from the restaurant industry. While the pandemic wasn’t the reason for the decision to close, it definitely confirmed it, he said.

The Midtown Tavern, located on the 1100-block of N. 2^nd St., originally opened in 1981 and was purchased by Ntzanis’ father in 2000. Since 2004, Ntzanis has worked at the restaurant. Over the years they’ve become known for their wings and neighborhood bar feel.

“A lot of people felt like home in here for many years,” he said. “It was the neighborhood bar. I’m sure it’ll still continue to be.”

Ntzanis said that he plans to sell the tavern to restaurateur Adam Sturges, owner of The Sturges Speakeasy on Forster Street and McGrath’s Irish Pub on Locust Street in Harrisburg.

According to Sturges, he plans to purchase the building and the business and is waiting on the liquor license transfer from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).

“I’ve spoken to staff, and I can’t wait to start working with them,” he said.

While Sturges wouldn’t share details about a potential new name or menu changes until the PLCB approval is granted, he did say that he would plan to extend the business’ hours to seven days a week and reopen for lunch.

“I feel confident that he can take the business to the next level,” Nztanis said.

This weekend will be The Midtown Tavern’s last weekend in business and they plan to post information about its final day of operation next week, he said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 30, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

A past “Family Fishing Day” at Italian Lake

The October issue of our magazine came out this week! We hope you love our spooky cover and fall-themed stories as much as we do. Grab a copy and then catch up on this week’s local news, below.

The Ecumenical Food Pantry has served more than 1.2 million people in the Harrisburg region, our magazine story reported. The outreach recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary of combating food insecurity in the community.

Our editor talks about all that TheBurg offers in addition to the magazine, including our online news, podcast and 3^rd in the Burg, in his October Editor’s Note.

Family Fishing Day at Italian Lake will offer residents a chance to try their hand at a new sport, our online story reported. A course will teach participants the basics of fishing and provide the supplies to cast a line.

Firefighters from Harrisburg’s Bureau of Fire are stationed in Charleston, S.C., to assist during Hurricane Ian, our online story reported. The firefighters, members of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1, will help with search and rescue efforts.

Harrisburg City Council presented its “Unsung Hero” awards to local community activists and volunteers, our reporting found. Four city residents were recognized at a council meeting on Tuesday.

The Harrisburg School District is moving closer toward reopening the long-vacant Steele Elementary School, our online story reported. At a school board meeting, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a $21.6 million plan for its renovation.

Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus will receive increased police presence after a fight involving a large group of students took place earlier this week, our online story reported. Officers will conduct wellness checks and help train security officers on responding to situations like these.

M. Camille Erice, a community activist, dancer and founder of Dazante passed away. In our online story, read more about her life and how to honor her memory.

Phil Guarneschelli, the former president of UPMC of Central Pa., retired in September as Lou Baverso assumes the reins. In our magazine story, we share a Q&A with Guarneschelli, who reflects back on his long career in healthcare.

Sara Bozich has a full lineup of fall fun activities for you weekend. Find the festivities happening in and around Harrisburg, here.

Strawberry Square’s Chockablock Clock will move to Shippensburg University in October, our online story reported. Harristown Enterprises will replace the over 30-year-old clock with a new stage and office space.

The “Thin Blue Line” football game will take place on Oct. 7 to honor first responders who were killed in the line of duty, our online story reported. Bishop McDevitt High School, playing on its home field, will face Hershey High School.

Urban Churn, a Harrisburg-based creamery, announced that it will open a third scoop shop in Carlisle, our online story reported. Customers can also now purchase the company’s ice cream in select local grocery stores.

The West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland recently reopened after an extensive renovation and modernization project. In our magazine story, read about what the historic theater now offers to the community through its updated programming.

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Harrisburg firefighters stationed in South Carolina to assist during Hurricane Ian

September 30, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Members of the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Pennsylvania Task Force 1 are stationed in South Carolina to assist during Hurricane Ian.

As Hurricane Ian makes its way into South Carolina, Harrisburg first responders are ready to help.

Eight firefighters from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire are stationed in Charleston in their capacity as members of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 to assist with rescue efforts.

“From a rescue standpoint, they can do anything to help,” said Chief Brian Enterline in a statement from the city on Friday. “They can assist local and regional responders with water rescues. They can rescue people from buildings. If there are building collapses, they are trained to do that as well.”

The task force will serve as a reserve asset for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to the city. They will also assist regional fire departments and emergency units in the region.

The state task force is made up of 44 urban search-and-rescue first responders in the commonwealth and includes technical search specialists, structural engineers, doctors and hazardous material handlers. FEMA oversees 28 of these task forces.

According to Enterline, once the hurricane passes, the firefighters will search the area, block-by-block, for any victims inside evacuated buildings.

The task force can be based in South Carolina for up to 14 days before additional federal approval is required, according to Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel.

“It is no small feat to get onto an urban search-and-rescue team. There are hundreds of hours of additional training, often times with no pay, just to get onto that team,” Enterline said. “Every one of our guys on that team is prepared, and it goes to show the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire is committed to serving anybody. It will benefit the federal level over the next week, but it has daily benefits at home as well.”

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Strawberry Square Chockablock Clock to move to Shippensburg University in October

September 30, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Chockablock Clock in Strawberry Square

It may be time for a change in Strawberry Square’s atrium, but its iconic clock will keep on ticking as it’s handed off to a new home.

Harristown Enterprises announced on Friday that the over 30-year-old Chockablock Clock will move to Shippensburg University as Strawberry Square begins a new construction project in its place.

“We’re excited for the Chockablock Clock to find new life in such a prominent location as Shippensburg University and look forward to seeing it revitalized there,” Harristown Enterprises CEO Brad Jones said.

In July, the company shared that it would remove the clock from its atrium and replace it with a first-floor stage and second-floor cantilevered meeting room, to be used for a variety of events and functions.

Arizona-based Creative Machines, which builds and maintains these types of machines, will come to Harrisburg on Oct. 11 through 14 to disassemble, catalog and package the clock for moving.

According to Harristown, the clock will then be delivered to Shippensburg who will refurbish, reinstall and maintain the machine in the Ceddia Student Union Building with the support of students in the Milton and Doreen Morgan School of Engineering.

The clock, an audio-kinetic ball machine, was designed by George Rhoads and installed in Strawberry Square in 1988. The 40-foot tower has numerous balls that run through a maze and activate a series of sound and motion devices.

“Thousands of prospective students, current students, families and friends visit the Shippensburg University campus every year,” said Dr. Charles E. Patterson, president of the university. “The Chockablock Clock has been a historic piece of kinetic art in Strawberry Square and South Central Pennsylvania for generations, and we look forward to showcasing it on the Shippensburg campus for all to enjoy.”

For more information on Strawberry Square, visit their website.

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