Community Comment: The bicycle community is “not separate” from the Allison Hill community

July 25, 2022 | by Brandon Basom

State Street in Harrisburg

Editor’s Note: Earlier today, we published an op-ed from Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams regarding the State Street project. TheBurg believes in healthy civic discourse and welcomes responses to published opinions.

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In her op-ed statement published to the city’s website and in TheBurg, Mayor Wanda Williams states that she has “heard the complaints of the bicycle community.” The words that follow show the exact opposite. The words she puts forth as coming from this community are her words, not theirs.

The majority of the members of the “bicycle community” commenting regarding the State Street redesign plan are not separate from the residents and community of Allison Hill; they are Harrisburg’s citizens who travel to and from the neighborhood. They are not recreational through traffic, and they are not commuters. A trip into Recycle Bicycle will quickly show that those who ride bikes in that part of the city are almost entirely from the surrounding community.

And what they have tried to tell the mayor repeatedly is very simple: there is no safe path between the city’s downtown core and Allison Hill for people who are not driving a motor vehicle. This includes disabled people who cannot legally drive or who use scooters and other mobility options that would benefit from access to a bike lane, as well as residents who cannot afford a car. And if the city fails to provide a safe route, residents of Harrisburg will continue to literally, not figuratively, die.

The “demand” to be “appeased” is for the city to plan and build that route, and the focus on State Street is because there is currently funding available for it and because it is the strongest candidate. Does the mayor expect residents to believe that when funding is available for road improvements again, with the limitations on the city’s budget, that it will put State Street at the top of the queue and redo it again? There are certainly other options than State Street that the city could explore, but there is no communication and no leadership indicating intent to do so.

The mayor’s piece implies that the needs of the disabled are opposed to those who choose not to use, can’t afford, or aren’t allowed to operate automobiles. This is both untrue and the worst form of political strategy, the pitting of one group against another to diffuse blowback and deflect responsibility for preventable tragedies.

It is not civil to demand that people whose needs for safety are not being met give up their place in the public discourse, especially when you have failed to even speak to their actual concerns.

I will conclude with a quote that I find relevant from the urbanist Enrique Peñalosa Londoño: “A bike lane is a powerful symbol that the life of a person on a $30 bicycle is as important as a person in a $30,000 car.”

Brandon Basom is a Harrisburg resident and volunteer for Recycle Bicycle.

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Community Comment: “The lack of civility towards others must stop”

July 25, 2022 | by Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams

State Street in Harrisburg (file photo)

“If we lose love and self-respect for each other, this is how we finally die.”

The great Maya Angelou may have passed eight years ago, yet I am reminded of these words every time I hear or read the public discourse about the ongoing State Street construction project. We are losing our ability to love and respect each other, and many of us are too concerned with personal wishes instead of the desires of others.

Before we talk about construction on State Street, let’s talk about the construction of State Street. This is one of the most important roads in our city. A gateway, if you will, which for years served as the literal and figurative entry point for state government workers and anyone else coming into the capital. It is beautiful and picturesque, lined with towering trees, providing a natural, tunnel-like canopy ahead of the State Street Bridge. Few, if any other cities in the country, offer the type of entrance to its state Capitol as Harrisburg does, and standing atop it all is the beautiful neighborhood of Allison Hill.

Allison Hill is unmatched in its beauty, and yet, for years, as a neighborhood, it has been cast aside. The families who live along State Street and its side roads have lived in Harrisburg for generations, and yet, for years, they’ve been ignored. These are the people who built Harrisburg, have seen it rise and fall, and will be here as it rises again. When the people of Harrisburg voted me into the mayor’s office, they did so because I promised to finally be a mayor who would listen to them. This is what we started to do immediately into my term.

On Jan. 14, only 11 days into my time in office, my staff noticed a deep flaw in one of the ongoing construction projects: the State Street Rapid Response Plan. This plan, which was created and approved by the previous administration, would have created dedicated, protected bicycle lanes as part of multimodal grant approved by PennDOT. It also would have eliminated all parking on the westbound side of the road from 7 to 9 a.m., and from 4 to 6 p.m. on the eastbound side. We immediately went to work on halting this plan, and a cease-and-desist letter was issued to the construction company on April 20.

I’ve heard the complaints from the bicycle community. “Parking is not a right! No one has assigned spaces elsewhere in the city!” While that may be true, what is a right is handicap accessibility. Tuesday, July 26 marks the 32^nd anniversary of one of the most important laws passed by Congress: the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more than three decades, the ADA has ensured that accessibility for handicapped individuals is a civil right. Taking away a disabled individuals ability to park without an acceptable alternative for four hours every day would be needlessly cruel, and the city would have opened up a Pandora’s box of legal, moral and ethical issues that are just not in the best interests of the city, and most importantly, its residents.

It is time we move on from the finger pointing and blame games which have poisoned this process. The State Street construction plan we are putting in front of City Council will still be safer, and more pedestrian- and resident-friendly than the road is currently. We have to work within the rules set in front of us. State Street is, at the end of the day, owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. They want to keep the road five lanes to allow for a more free-flow of traffic until construction is complete on the I-83 Capital Beltway. Once complete, we hope to make it the more residential road it needs to be, equipped with dedicated and protected bicycle lanes.

In the meantime, though, what is central to my administration is the wishes of the residents of State Street, and the families who for years have not had their voices heard. We hear you now. Once construction is complete, the new State Street will be freshly paved, with brighter intersections, better timed traffic lights, raised crosswalks, more crosswalks, and additional visual cues telling drivers to slow down! I know this plan will not appease everyone, but I make no apologies for listening first and foremost to the folks who live there. This may be the state’s street, but this is our road, and the resident’s home.

Wanda R.D. Williams is the mayor of Harrisburg.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

July 22, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School students and Home Depot volunteers painted outside the school building on Wednesday

While Harrisburg heats up this weekend, find some shade, chill out and catch up on this week’s local news, listed and linked, below.

Dauphin County’s Cultural Fest will return to City Island in Harrisburg on Aug. 20, our online story reported. The event will include music, food and dance from cultures around the world.

Destiny Dairy Bar in Carlisle offers non-homogenized creamline milk and ice cream fresh from the farm. In our magazine story, read about owner Amy Brickner’s passion for her farm and business.

“Faith Into Action” has brought students from local churches together this week in Harrisburg to clean up the city’s parks, our online story reported. The group has also hosted several block parties for residents at parks around the city.

Find Toby in PA helps reunite missing pets with their owners, our magazine story reported. According to the latest data, Find Toby helped reunite 5,754 pets in 2019 alone.

The Gunther family of Harrisburg has been on a journey to find a cure for their son Drew, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal genetic disorder. In our follow-up to a story TheBurg published last year about the family, the Gunther’s share that their search for a cure will soon take them out of the country.

The Harrisburg Mile took place this week on Front Street, our online story reported. For the 41^st year, runners showed off their speed to raise money for the East Shore YMCA.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau will host its annual National Night Out, offering the community a night of fun, food and a chance to interact with local first responders, our online story reported. The event will take place on Aug. 2 at Camp Curtin Academy.

“Hot Spot Saturdays” is a summer initiative aimed at involving both Harrisburg residents and the city in cleaning up illegal dumping sites. In our online story, find out how to get involved.

A pipe organ, recently installed at Market Square Presbyterian Church, is believed to be the first one in decades installed in a Harrisburg church. In our magazine story, read about the importance of the organ to the church’s worship.

Sara Bozich has a list that includes both indoor and outdoor events for this weekend, whether you prefer to stay out of the heat or soak up the sun.

Souls Shot Portrait Project is looking for Harrisburg area families who have lost a loved one to gun violence to participate in an art exhibit planned for early next year, our online story reported. The exhibit, coming to the Susquehanna Art Museum, will honor victims of gun violence and bring awareness to the issue.

Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School students worked on a beautification project at their school, alongside volunteers from Home Depot, our online story reported. The company awarded the school an almost $20,000 grant for the project, aimed at giving the students hands-on learning experience.

“Turbo Cola” is a heist movie that was filmed in New Cumberland, directed and produced by local residents, our online story reported. Producer Brandon Keeton explains how they made the film and its success thus far.

The West Shore Historical Society found out that the Sheepford Road Bridge was in jeopardy of demolition and members launched a plan to save it. Find out what happened to the historic Cumberland County bridge, in our magazine story.

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Fun & Games: Harrisburg Board Game Day invites community to connect around the table

July 22, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Board Game Day in 2019

It’s a whole day dedicated to rolling the dice, playing your hand and, hopefully, coming out on top when the points are tallied.

Harrisburg Board Game Day is headed downtown, to Whitaker Center on Sept. 4, when anyone can join in on the tabletop action.

“Whatever you want to play will be there,” said Matt Caylor, a Midtown resident and organizer of the event. “It’s generally a very welcoming community.”

According to Caylor, the intent behind the day of gaming is multi-faceted—to provide an event to those who love board games, to introduce the hobby to newbies, and to bring people together in the city.

From 12 to 8 p.m., groups or individuals can join the free event and test out new games or find others to join in on their favorites. There will be everything from card games to Eurogames to social deduction games. Some may take a few minutes to play, while others could take hours. Both beginner and experienced gamers can find something to enjoy, explained Caylor.

This will be the fifth year of the event, previously called Midtown Board Game Day. The name change signifies Caylor’s hope for an even larger and more diverse crowd at the event, inclusive of all city residents and those in the surrounding communities. The last board game day in 2019, before a pandemic halt, drew around 150 people. Caylor said that this year may be even larger.

“Board games break down the conversation wall,” he said. “It bridges the gap for meeting new people. The best experiences are when you’re able to get people that are not like yourself around the table.”

Harrisburg Board Game Day will partner with The Bodhana Group, a nonprofit focused on board gaming as therapy, for access to its large game library. Several board game designers also will attend and allow people to test their games to provide feedback.

The event will include a raffle and door prizes, along with some snacks. Registration is encouraged, but people can also walk into the event and participate. The event is family-friendly.

Caylor, a self-professed board game geek, is excited to find new games to play and possibly add to his personal collection of around 200 games. But, he’s really looking forward to the connections he will make with other community members while chatting around the table.

“It’s an avenue to find a way to bond with the people around me,” he said.

To register for Harrisburg Board Game Day, click here. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

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And Action! Local filmmaker releases “Turbo Cola,” a heist movie filmed in New Cumberland

July 21, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

Producer Brandon Keeton (right) and director Luke Covert at a screening of “Turbo Cola.”

Brandon Keeton won a scholarship in an acting contest his senior year of high school–but he didn’t take it.

Instead, he joined the Marine Corps, a choice that Keeton described as the “best life decision [he’s] ever made.” But after serving for 21 years and opening a martial arts academy, Tiger Rock Martial Arts in Camp Hill, Keeton decided to return to his passion for theater.

In June, the Camp Hill resident released his film, “Turbo Cola,” produced by Keeton and filmed in New Cumberland.

The movie, directed by Luke Covert of Lemoyne, can be described as “The Breakfast Club” meets “Oceans 11”–a heist film about teenagers who rob a gas station on New Year’s Eve 1999. Keeton was introduced to the script, written by Samantha Oty, at a playwriting contest, reworking it to make it easier to film.

New Cumberland residents may recognize the gas station used in the movie as the Quality Gas Station at 101 Bridge St. It’s still a working gas station, which created a challenge when filming.

The film was shot after hours, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The crew had to remove historically inaccurate signage, like Red Bull advertisements and the prices of cigarettes, before filming each night and put it all back before the station opened again the next morning. Whatever they couldn’t fix, viewers called them out on social media, Keeton said.

“I had to fly out an active-duty Army guy who took leave to be in our movie,” Keeton said. “He was a pretty big guy, and his job was to lift heavy things.”

The film had five months of pre-production, with two weeks of shooting in December 2020.

“The actors were always on the ball,” Keeton said.

Keeton got his start as an actor in Scott’s Lawn Care commercials. Eventually, the company went with bigger names, especially for their big Super Bowl ad.

“It took three A-listers to replace me,” Keeton said.

In March 2020, he was getting ready to open a second Tiger Rock Martial Arts location. On the day classes were set to start, the government announced a mandated lockdown due to the pandemic.

Being only two months into his acting career, Keeton took his grandmother’s advice and “threw himself” into the industry by contacting the director of his Tiger Rock commercials, Covert, and asked if he wanted to make a movie. From there, “Turbo Cola” was born.

Since its release, the film has received an 86% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 80% rating from audience members. Keeton said that the film took first place in several regional film festivals, was nominated for Best Picture at the Austin Lift Off Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Cinematography at the Dallas Film Festival. “Turbo Cola” was accepted into the Festival of Cinema in Queens, the New York Independent Film Festival and the Las Vegas Premiere Film Festival.

“Turbo Cola” is distributed by Giant Pictures. It is available for streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudo and XBOX.

Keeton is currently looking for investors for his next film project and said it will also take place in the area.

“It was really cool to showcase central Pennsylvania,” he said.

Watch the trailer for “Turbo Cola,” here. For more information, visit their Instagram account.

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The Fight Goes On: Local family continues search for cure for their son, raising awareness of rare disease

July 21, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

Steve, Vanessa, Brea and Drew Gunther

In February 2021, TheBurg published a story about the Gunther family’s journey to find a cure for their now 10-year-old son Drew.

Drew was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal genetic disorder, at age 7, when his pediatrician noticed that he moved slowly and lacked coordination. DMD is found primarily in boys and affects about 1 of every 3,500 children.

Upon receiving this diagnosis, his parents started the foundation, Wishes for Drew, and moved the family from their home in Harrisburg into an RV to drive across the country so Drew could receive stem cell treatment in California.

While in California, the Gunthers lived off the grid in their RV, relying only on generator and solar power. They traveled over 15,000 miles in under a year, traversed the country three times, survived wind storms, scorpion stings, and wild dog and scorpion chases.

Now, a year and a half later, the Gunthers have moved back to Harrisburg, leaving California in March 2021. Drew continues to receive treatment, just closer to home now.

“Treatment was doing pretty well for a while,” said Drew’s dad Steve. “The last couple of rounds haven’t been effective for Drew, so he’s pretty much almost entirely in a wheelchair.”

But the Gunther family is not alone in this fight. Drew started receiving treatment in Pennsylvania with a family friend from Ireland whose son also has DMD. Together, they started “Project Care for the Rare” to support a group of about 20 families from around the world with sons affected by the disorder.

“They’re just trying to seek out something that would work for their boys,” Steve said. “They’re in the same boat as us. They were all told the same thing as us–there is no hope and there is nothing that can be done.”

The parents eventually found treatment in Colombia that is “promising to be superior” than the treatment the boys are getting in the United States, Steve said. The Gunthers and the other 19 families made arrangements for several trips to that South American country. The first is set for the end of July.

Because Drew’s disease is so rare and most of his treatment is experimental, none of his medical bills are covered by insurance. Everything is paid for out-of-pocket by the Gunther family.

“It costs a good $50,000 a year,” Steve said.

That’s why they started their nonprofit organization, Wishes for Drew.

Steve said that local small businesses have always been Wishes for Drew’s biggest supporters. That’s why it’s important to him that their foundation works with these businesses, especially in a post-COVID world. It’s a “community cycle,” Steve explained, where they can help small businesses and small businesses can help them.

Drew’s mom, Vanessa, also makes jewelry to raise money for Drew’s treatment. She uses items like sea glass, guitar strings and wood to make her items, some using specific colors to represent DMD, healing and other rare diseases. Vanessa travels to farmers markets and summer bazaars to sell her jewelry and also sells it on the Wishes for Drew website.

The organization’s purpose is not only to raise funds for Drew’s treatment, but to raise awareness about DMD. The group has held fundraisers, such as “Pint Nights” at local breweries and kayak fundraisers down Swatara Creek. This year, they’re trying to get a team of 20 to 25 people to run the Harrisburg Marathon as a relay, which would make them the largest charity organization represented.

“We’re hoping to become a presence out there and raise awareness,” Steve said. “We want to make people wonder what this group is running for. We can’t expect people to understand a disease that is rare and that people have never heard of. It’s kind of our job to make sure people hear about it because it can affect anyone.”

To find out more about Wishes For Drew, visit their website.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

July 21, 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: Get your $20 express facial at NuBorn Skincare at the Broad Street Market on Saturday!

Worth noting: BIG changes are coming in this space! Check out my private Facebook community, Cheers Harrisburg to get the first peeks.

Things on my agenda this weekend: I’ve been working hard, going to take a week off, get a suntan.

Don’t forget to support your local brewery! Click here to find one near you.

For your weekend planning

Celebrate Ice Cream Month with something sweet & spicy
NEW: Debunking 4 Myths about a Hersheypark Season Pass
Plan a getaway – without the hassle
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

Enter to WIN a FLIGHT by Yuengling Beach Chair
Enter to WIN iced drinks for you and your besties at Cornerstone Coffeehouse
Don’t miss what’s next in HU’s Summer Concert Series
Make travel plans (with a discount + perks)
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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Nonprofit to memorialize Harrisburg gun violence victims in art exhibit, seeks families to participate

July 20, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Portrait of Shahjahan S. McCaskill by artist Stephanie Smith

Harrisburg area families affected by gun violence may have a unique opportunity to memorialize a loved one.

Philadelphia-based Souls Shot Portrait Project is searching for families and friends of gun violence victims to participate in an art exhibit planned for Harrisburg’s Susquehanna Art Museum.

“This is an opportunity for them to have their voice heard and to tell the story they want to tell about their loved one,” said Laura Madeleine, executive director of Souls Shot.

The project, which began in 2016, seeks to honor victims and bring attention to the issue of gun violence. The organization does this by linking artists with families and friends who share stories about their loved one. The artists then paint, sculpt or sketch a portrait of the victim.

Since its founding, the organization has hosted six exhibits, mainly in Philadelphia, with a recent one in New Jersey. However, it is now expanding its reach to Harrisburg.

From Jan. 12 to April 16, Souls Shot will hold an exhibit in the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg. They are currently looking for families in the city to participate, according to Madeleine. Participation is free. They expect the exhibit to feature mainly victims from Harrisburg, with others from the commonwealth.

Madeleine explained that the exhibits serve to benefit both the families of the victims, as well as the audience that views the artwork. She hopes that the exhibit will move attendees to explore how they can take action to combat gun violence. At the exhibit and on their website, the organization provides resources for those wanting to learn more about the issue or take action.

“Artwork can blaze a trail to the heart and mind,” Madeleine said. “It’s a very bittersweet experience. I’ve never seen someone come to an exhibit and leave not moved.”

While the experience can be difficult at times for the families who participate, Madeleine said, they are always grateful to the artists for listening to their stories.

“We the artists feel like this is using our talents in the best way that we can,” she said.

For more information about Souls Shot Portrait Project, visit their website. For families and friends of victims who are interested in participating, click here. Artists interested in the project can click here. Other inquiries can be directed to soulsshotportraitproject@gmail.com or by calling 215-740-8678.

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Dauphin County Cultural Fest to return to City Island, highlighting the region’s diversity

July 20, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

Festival attendees watch a performance at last year’s Cultural Fest.

For one special event, Harrisburg’s City Island will become a hub for cultural food, music and dance from around the world.

Dauphin County once again will host its 14th annual Cultural Fest on Aug. 20 on City Island to showcase the wide-ranging cultural backgrounds of the county’s residents.

“Cultural Fest is a celebration of diversity and the ability to realize that our diversity is our county’s greatest strength,” said county Commissioner George Hartwick.

The event is free and will take place from 3 to 10 p.m.

Festival attendees can expect to see performances from Irish, Latino, Chinese and African dancers and singers, among others from across the globe. To conclude the night, R&B group Dru Hill will perform as part of their 25th anniversary tour.

“Music unifies us,” Hartwick said of the scheduled performances.

Various ethnic food trucks will set up shop at the festival, selling dishes from across the globe, as well as other vendors and a kid’s corner sponsored by UPMC. Hartwick added that there will be resources for community members struggling with homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, as well.

In previous years, the festival has drawn crowds of around 25,000 people.

Hartwick summarized his goal for the festival in one word–love.

“We do not have to agree but we are diverse,” said Hartwick. “There is an opportunity to learn. We want to plant seeds and build relationships.”

More information on Cultural Fest can be found on the county’s website.

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In hands-on learning, Steelton-Highspire students work with Home Depot to beautify school

July 20, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School students and Home Depot volunteers paint outside the school building

Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School will look a little brighter after a beautification project by students and community members.

On Wednesday, students completing summer programming mulched, painted and built picnic tables with volunteers from Home Depot, which awarded the school a nearly $20,000 grant for the project.

“It’s like true community,” said Eleni Cordero, Jr./Sr. High principal at Steelton-Highspire. “The financial aspect is the bonus. The real thing to me is we are changing the culture of education.”

This summer, programming for the district’s credit-deficient students is a lot more hands-on, Cordero explained. Students have been planning, designing and proposing projects to complete during the summer months, using math, computer and science skills along the way, she said. Wednesday’s work was an effort to put their planning in action.

“Our kids want hands-on engagement,” Cordero said. “They’re going to be able to come to school and say ‘I built that.’”

Steelton-Highspire Jr./Sr. High School students and Home Depot volunteers

During a trip to a Home Depot in York for a personal home project, by chance, Cordero met Manager Tedd Terry who had volunteered for a project at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School 15 years ago. Now, he was interested in the project the school was undertaking this year.

According to Terry, the corporation has a grant program to support community projects, and what the high school was doing was a perfect fit.

“We are always looking to be able to reach into the community,” he said. “One of our values is giving back.”

On Wednesday, 50 Home Depot volunteers from across nine local stores worked alongside students, teachers and administrators to landscape, paint, build and mulch. But this is only the start, as volunteers plan to return to complete more work at a later date, Terry said.

“It’s a huge deal and will help our district move forward,” Cordero said. “This is just the beginning.”

As ninth-grader Taniah Jackson rolled blue paint onto a column in front of the school building, she said that she didn’t expect to be doing projects like this at school. She had never painted before, but was enjoying the hands-on learning experience.

“The mindset about summer school used to be, ‘I failed,’ but now I have kids saying they want to come,” Cordero said.

For more information about the Steelton-Highspire School District, visit their website.

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What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

Top Weekend Recs

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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