The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 24, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Representatives from Dawood Engineering Inc. explained the updated proposal for State Street at a public meeting on Wednesday.

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Art House offers visitors an “adventure to a magical land of imagination and meaning, a world of enchantment full of treasures,” says our arts blogger Bob. In his magazine story, read about the artists behind the Fairfield Valley gallery, Michael McCullough and wife, Sharon Pierce McCullough.

Capital Blue Cross shares the story of how CPR saved one local bicyclist’s life. In our magazine story, read about the importance of CPR certification.

A disparity study conducted by Harrisburg will move forward as the city has asked local business owners to complete a survey, our online story reported. The survey will help identify the area’s diverse businesses to provide them with more city contracting opportunities.

Dr. Lori Suski, receiver for the Harrisburg School District, explained why she believes the court-approved three-year extension of the receivership will prove beneficial, our online story reported. A school board director also shares his thoughts.

Harrisburg Beach Club brings a bit of the shore experience to the city, our magazine story reported. City Island’s newest hangout spot has drinks, snacks and beautiful riverfront views.

The Harrisburg School District’s receivership period will be extended for another three years, our reporting found. The Dauphin County Court of Common Please approved the extension, which was set to end on June 17, and reappointed Dr. Lori Suski as receiver.

Harrisburg Young Professionals will host its annual Italian Lake Concert Series this summer, our online story reported. The series will begin on June 26 with Shine Delphi.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg dedicated its new building, The Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life, and unveiled a flag this week, our online story reported. On the six-acre campus, the administration building will now host meetings, federation staff and a 15,000-square-foot fitness center with river views.

The Millworks will host a music festival to benefit the Broad Street Market on July 9, our online story reported. Art vendors, food trucks and a beer tent will also be onsite.

The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle is the only lodge located in a Pennsylvania state park, our magazine story reported. With an environmentally inspired design, the lodge is tucked in the mountains among wildlife.

The PA Downtown Center (PDC) works with communities and community organizations to help them undertake strategic revitalization plans. In our magazine story, read about how PDC helps communities reach goals like increased quality of life, sense of place, long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

The Rolls-Royce Foundation in Mechanicsburg exhibits a stunning collection of the world-famous motorcars. In our magazine story, read about what the showroom, art gallery and garage have to offer to visitors.

Sara Bozich, as always, has a great listing of this weekend’s events in and around Harrisburg. Find them, here.

A State Street redesign project will move into the final stages after undergoing changes based on community feedback, our reporting found. The project, with the goal of making the roadway safer, will incorporate additional signage, crosswalks and parking lane buffers, among other upgrades.

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Supporters, officials gather as Jewish Federation unveils flag, dedicates new Alexander Grass Campus

June 23, 2022 | by M. Diane McCormick

Roger Grass and Elizabeth Grass Weese hold up the flag that will fly over the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life.

The new Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life offers space for community and people of all faiths, beliefs, and ideals to join forces for change, said speakers and supporters attending the flag-raising to dedicate the new home of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg.

The federation and affiliated organizations are moving to the former Dixon University Center at 2986 N. 2^nd St., in Harrisburg’s Riverside neighborhood. The federation bought the site in April for $4.56 million from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

A gift from the Alexander Grass Foundation gave the federation the means to exit the overcrowded Jewish Community Center a few blocks north. The move “kind of brings everything full circle,” said Elizabeth Grass Weese, who agreed with her brother, Roger Grass, to make the gift.

“My brother, Roger, and I are honored to be here today to dedicate this beautiful space,” said Grass Weese, foundation president. “My father would have been proud to see the community coming together to support this amazing project, and I am thrilled to see how his legacy will live on through all the activities and programs brought to life on The Grass Campus.”

Growing up, Grass family life revolved around the JCC, said Roger Grass, who traveled from Israel for the occasion. In 1957, his father donated about $150 to the original JCC campaign in 1957 and pledged to do more if he ever had the means.

“We’ve been very lucky, very blessed,” Roger Grass said. “We learned from my mother (civic leader Lois Lehrman Grass), and my father, as they say in this new generation, you’ve got to pay it forward. You’ve got to give it back.”

On the six-acre campus, established around 1908 as the home of Harrisburg Academy, the administration building will now host meetings, federation staff and a 15,000-square-foot fitness center with river views.

Other federation uses now crammed into the previous JCC will have dedicated buildings, including the Brenner Family Early Learning Center and a senior wellness center. Duncan Hall, across 2^nd Street from the main campus, will house a gymatorium, lap pool, and Silver Academy, Harrisburg’s Jewish day school. The federation-affiliated Jewish Family Services will occupy the former chancellor’s house.

“My mother was born and raised here,” Grass Weese said after the ceremony concluded with her and her brother holding up the campus flag. “My father loved it here. We’re so thrilled this is for all the community. That was important to us. For as long as Harrisburg is here, our hearts will always be here.”

Attendees view renderings of the planned Grass campus.

The Grass siblings’ decision to support the project is a tribute to their “incredibly generous” father, said Ron Muroff, rabbi of nearby Chisuk Emuna Congregation. The new space should allow joint programming between his synagogue and the JCC to grow, and the campus could be a platform for promoting Jewish values, he said.

“I would hope that we together, Jews and non-Jews alike, can really draw from the traditions, histories, values of Jewish history and Jewish life to promote justice, to promote joy, to promote support for the Jewish community and way beyond,” he said before the ceremony.

In the audience, Carol and Joel Ressler saw a sense of unity in the presence of rabbis representing multiple area congregations.

“This is what community is,” said Carol Ressler. “So many of us, between our family and our friends and our shul, we don’t have this endless opportunity to come together in the excitement of community, and this allows that.”

The campus “promises to be a blessing for the entire community,” said Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries, reading from a commissioners’ proclamation. The array of counseling, food, adoption, and other services “will be offered to all, regardless of religious affiliations,” he said.

“The Grass family has given and given and given to the community over several decades,” Pries said. “They have touched thousands and thousands of lives in the community.”

Carol and Joel Ressler, of West Hanover Township, wave Grass Campus flags at the event.

Matt Maisel, communications director for the City of Harrisburg, said that he grew up at the JCC. Presenting on behalf of Mayor Wanda Williams, who is out of town, he noted that the “diverse melting pot” convening around the JCC is all-inclusive. The federation’s move away from the Harrisburg-Susquehanna Township line and squarely into the city synchronizes with one of the most diverse cities in the United States, he said.

It’s bashert, Yiddish for destiny or “meant to be,” Maisel said.

“It’s so representative of the city of Harrisburg,” he told TheBurg after the ceremony. “Being a community center for the city, we’ll both be able to do great things together.”

The diversity, strength and shared values represented by the audience are “what holds us together as a community,” said state Sen. John DiSanto. “This is going to be an anchor, and it’s going to be growth for a solid community that’s doing good work not only here in Harrisburg but around the world.”

The campus will be “a great neighbor,” said state Rep. Patty Kim, noting the federation’s history of welcoming the community, from political forums to her children attending JCC day camps. She changed up a biblical saying, “Whoever is faithful in the little things will be faithful in the larger ones.”

“Whoever is faithful in the little buildings will be faithful in the big ones,” she said. “I know that as you open your doors to everyone in the community, you will continue that legacy.”

The campus is “everybody’s campus” and a community hub grounded in Jewish values that are also universal, said federation Board Chair Abby Smith.

“This is not about a bunch of organizations moving south along the river,” she said. “This is really about a moment to take what is one of the most beautiful properties I’ve ever seen and really make it shine, and to take this moment to dedicate this campus, standing on those who have come before us on their shoulders, but very much knowing that the best is yet to come.”

For more information about the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, visit their website.

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Harrisburg to move forward with State Street project after gathering public input, making changes

June 23, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Representatives from Dawood Engineering Inc. explain the updated proposal for State Street at a public meeting on Wednesday.

A project to make State Street in Allison Hill safer is moving closer to the design finish line.

At the last of three public meetings held by Harrisburg this month, residents on Wednesday shared their opinions on a final proposed design for the roadway.

“At the end of the day, State Street is going to be safer,” said Matt Maisel, communications director for the city. “The outreach from the public really speaks to how pleased we are that they stepped up to the plate.”

The State Street Rapid Response project began in 2019 with the goal of making the corridor safer for pedestrians and motorists. Construction began in April, but was halted not long after when residents expressed concern over aspects of the plan that would decrease parking and add a bike lane to the road. In late April, the city issued a cease and desist order for the construction and began to review the plans.

Since then, Harrisburg has held three public meetings and accepted public comments online. In total, the city received around 100 comments, Maisel said.

On Wednesday in the Harrisburg School District Administration Building, representatives from Dawood Engineering Inc., which provides services to the city, shared an updated proposal.

“We listened to all the comments we got from the community,” said Scott Bechard, senior transportation planner at Dawood Engineering. “We are doing what we can to improve safety along this corridor.”

The updated proposal includes narrowing the current 12-foot-wide traffic lanes to about 11 feet in width. All current legal parking areas will be maintained, and parking spaces will be marked. Additionally, the plan adds a 3-foot buffer between the outside traffic lanes and parking to allow for motorists to safely open their car doors, Bechard explained.

Other improvements were added based on residents’ concerns over speeding cars, pedestrian crossing safety and visibility issues, among other items. To address these issues, engineers added textured crosswalks, flashing crosswalk beacons, enhanced signage, restricted parking areas at corners for better visibility and added school bus drop-off zones to the plan. They also plan to re-time traffic signals to prevent speeding and add time to pedestrian crosswalk signals for more crossing time.

State Street resident Nicole Boyd was happy to see that parking will remain intact, but still feels nervous crossing a road with so many lanes, she said. However, she was satisfied overall.

“Compared to what the original proposal was, it’s good,” Boyd. “I didn’t think they would really make changes, so I’m happy.”

While the initial plan for State Street included designated bike lanes, many State Street residents spoke in opposition to them, saying the lanes would go unused. The updated proposal instead utilizes “sharrows,” markings to signify that the lane is shared by cars and bicycles.

For Harrisburg resident and bicyclist Brandon Basom, that’s not enough. He was happy to see the improvements to signage and crosswalks, but didn’t think enough was being done to accommodate those who travel by bike.

“Telling people to be careful never saves lives,” he said of the proposed “sharrows.” “It’s sad and frustrating. It’s almost like half of the city doesn’t matter.”

According to Basom, who volunteers at Recycle Bicycle in Allison Hill, which provides free bikes to residents, the organization gives out thousands of bikes a year.

“These are people who need to ride their bikes,” he said. “Some can’t afford a car or don’t have a license.”

While some residents, like Basom, still don’t feel their concerns were addressed, others felt adequately heard by the city.

Evelyn Hunt, a long-time State Street resident, was one of the first to initially express dissatisfaction with the project back in April. While there were still a few tweaks she hopes engineers will make, she seemed to be pleased overall with how things turned out.

“I feel better about parking,” she said. “My voice was heard by the city and the engineers, just not by PennDOT.”

According to Wes Heisley of Dawood, engineers will make adjustments based on comments from the final public meeting before presenting the plan to PennDOT, which owns State Street, for approval. The plan will also need to come before City Council again for approval, said Harrisburg Business Administrator Dan Hartman.

The city expects the project to be completed by the end of the year. Hartman added that PennDOT has committed to repaving the roadway, as well.

“We are really excited for the way that this is going to work out for the residents of this neighborhood,” Maisel said.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

June 23, 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
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For something new: HYP’s Home Tour is back, Midtown Juice Lab opens Friday

(Still) Worth noting: Check out my private Facebook community, Cheers Harrisburg. You can join the convo here.

Things on my agenda this weekend: Fete en Blanc Hershey tonight! Then, it’ll be a low-key weekend before a very busy July. For us that probably means a market visit, working in the garden, maybe seeing some friends!

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

For your weekend planning

7 Reasons it’s worth it to get a Hersheypark Season Pass (even now!)
Plan a getaway – without the hassle
Start a book club
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

Mark your calendar for HU’s Summer Concert Series
Subscribe & save with Broadway Series at Hershey Theatre
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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Sounds of Summer: Harrisburg Young Professionals hosts annual Italian Lake Concert Series

June 22, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

Italian Lake in Harrisburg

This summer, visitors to one of Harrisburg’s parks can take in the sounds of local music along the water.

Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) will host another year of its Italian Lake Concert Series.

“It’s a really great way to pull the community together and show a unique way of what we do at HYP,” said board President Jade Honey.

This year’s performers include Shine Delphi on June 26, Natalie Ness on July 31 and Justin Murphy on Aug. 21. Concerts start at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public. All of the performers are local, up-and-coming artists.

Honey said that the concert series is one of HYP’s only fully public events, as other HYP activities are typically for members. Since starting the series in 2012, HYP has hosted about three concerts each summer.

Depending on the weather, the concerts can draw in crowds of up to 200 people, Honey said.

“Since it’s in Italian Lake, all of the neighbors go out onto their lawns,” she said. “You can hear the concert throughout the park.”

Honey encourages everyone to grab their blankets and lawn chairs and come out to the concerts.

“It’s worth making the trip,” she said.

For more information about Harrisburg Young Professionals, visit their website.

Music for the Market: The Millworks to host music festival benefiting the Broad Street Market

June 22, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

The Millworks

The Millworks soon will turn up the music during a festival to benefit the Broad Street Market.

The Millworks Music Festival will take place on July 9 from 1 to 7 p.m. on the grass lot on 3rd and Verbeke streets in Harrisburg. There will be six musical acts, some of which are local, four food trucks and 12 art vendors, along with a beer tent.

This is the first time The Millworks has hosted the music festival. Tara Chickey, artistic director for The Millworks, said the idea was inspired by the various outdoor events that the restaurant hosted during the pandemic. They decided the event would be a great way to raise funds for their Midtown neighbor, the Broad Street Market, a nonprofit organization.

According to Chickey, The Millworks team “thought a music festival was a lovely idea,” and a great opportunity to use their large outdoor space for a community event.

Performers at the festival will include Big Happy, Lumberob, Weird Year, Jen Starsinic, Slughead and The Great Northeast. Entry to the festival is free.

Chickey encouraged community members to come to the festival to support the market. All vendors will donate 10% of their profits to the Broad Street Market.

“It’s for a good cause,” Chickey said. “Broad Street is so wonderful.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blanket or chairs to sit on. As for what they can expect of the festival, Chickey said that it will be a fun time.

“They can count on hanging out for the day,” Chickey said. “Relax and enjoy. It will be a fun day filled with music, art, beer and good times.”

For more information on the Millworks Music Festival, visit their website.

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Harrisburg School District receiver, board member in favor of extended receivership to continue improvements

June 22, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg School District Receiver Dr. Lori Suski

The Harrisburg School District will remain under state receivership for three more years, but according to Receiver Dr. Lori Suski, that’s not a bad thing.

In a meeting with TheBurg on Tuesday, Suski said that district has had some recent success achieving its financial and academic goals, but that the receivership has not completed its mission.

“I think we in the district would agree that the extension of the receivership is a positive thing,” she said. “There’s still a lot of work that has to be done both financially and academically to make sure the district is positioned for success moving forward.”

On Monday, Judge William T. Tully of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas signed an order for the extended receivership period, which was originally set to expire on June 17. In the order, Tully reappointed Suski through June 17, 2025.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (DEP) filed the petition for the extension in late May, stating that the district was in “mid-stream” with many of its initiatives. The district was initially placed under receivership in 2019 for failing to meet goals in the 2016 Financial Recovery Plan. Suski took her position in January, following the departure of former receiver Dr. Janet Samuels.

Suski described the past three years as a “stabilization” period, which the district has used to build procedures and policies that didn’t previously exist. The court only approved the district’s Amended Financial Recovery Plan in July 2021, giving the district less than a year to begin to implement it, she explained.

“A lot of the areas are not just a matter of checking a box of compliance,” she said. “It’s really the ongoing sustained efforts and accomplishments that have to be realized before the district is out of receivership.”

The next three years will consist of continuing those efforts.

Specifically, the district will continue to work on developing a five-year financial projection, creating a facility utilization plan, finding additional revenue sources through its tax-exempt entities and improving academics, according to Suski.

In a phone call with TheBurg, school board Vice President Steven Williams said that he’s in favor of the receivership extension, explaining how COVID affected the past three years.

“There was a lot of progress made during the three years, but it was really hampered by the pandemic,” he said. “That really threw a wrench into the receivership process.”

Harrisburg had less than a year of receivership under its belt before pandemic shutdowns began in March 2020. Williams said, because of that, the district didn’t get to experience the “full effect” of receivership.

Suski added that COVID was a major contributing factor to why students’ test scores, attendance rates and grades remained low in recent years.

“Students need consistent instruction in order to be successful,” she said. “Urban environments, as a whole, have been hit very hard by the pandemic. But we are very hopeful that we can move in the right direction.”

This will include revamping Harrisburg’s science and social studies curriculum, as well as updating classroom resources and focusing on project-based learning initiatives, Suski said.

According to Suski, the district will be poised to exit receivership in three years if it follows the 2021 Amended Financial Recovery Plan and gets community buy-in.

By 2025, Harrisburg could return to local control after six years under the state. That would return authority to the school board of directors, who currently only hold the power to levy taxes. In the meantime, Suski plans to partner with the board and assist with providing professional development opportunities.

Williams also explained that, while the board may not have its full range of power, members plan to act as advocates for the community.

“I think it’s been an honor to serve and be part of the district’s recovery,” he said. “This is about generations of students that were getting shortchanged, but will now see opportunities coming their way.”

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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Harrisburg asks for participation as it begins study on business diversity, contracting opportunities

June 21, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center

Harrisburg has launched a survey to help identify diverse businesses for future city contracting opportunities.

As part of a larger disparity study, the city is asking area business owners to complete a survey as it develops a list of minority-, women-, disabled-, veteran- and LGBTQ-owned businesses.

“Our primary goal is diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Marita Kelley, finance director. “The key to the diversity study is to include diverse purchasing practices.”

Mayor Wanda Williams announced the beginning of the study in February. City Council initially approved the agreement for the study in May 2021, but the project was put on hold.

The study seeks to locate diverse businesses in Dauphin, York, Lancaster, Adams and Cumberland counties. It will also examine Harrisburg’s current consulting practices and determine how to improve them.

Philadelphia-based Econsult Solutions, LLC will perform the study at a total cost of $250,000, funded in equal parts by the city, Dauphin County and Impact Harrisburg.

With the results of the study, the city hopes to introduce legislation to encourage more diverse purchasing practices.

According to Kelley, Harrisburg has numerous contracting opportunities within its departments, such as parks and recreation, vehicle maintenance and accounting.

Businesses that complete the survey will be asked about their diversity and experience with contracting opportunities. All information will be kept confidential.

To complete the disparity study survey, click here.

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Judge signs order extending receivership for Harrisburg School District for three more years

June 20, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

The Harrisburg School District Lincoln Administration Building

The Harrisburg School District’s receivership has been extended for three more years.

On Monday, the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas approved an extension of the receivership, which was slated to end on June 17.

In late May, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) filed a petition for an extension of the receivership for another three years, asking the court to reappoint Dr. Lori Suski, the current receiver of the district, to serve until June 17, 2025.

Judge William T. Tully signed the order on June 20, reappointing Suski for the extended term.

Suski was initially appointed as the receiver in January, following the departure of Dr. Janet Samuels who had served in the role since the beginning of the three-year receivership period in June 2019. The court originally placed the district under state control due to its failure to meet 2016 Financial Recovery Plan goals.

The PDE petition stated that while “the District has made initial progress toward financial and academic recovery,” the district’s long-term recovery still needs work. The department said that the receiver is “mid-stream” in many of her current initiatives to meet 2021 Amended Financial Recovery Plan goals.

According to the petition, the district has improved its financial status, developed a K-12 math and English language arts standards-aligned curriculum and has hired several top officials in the district. However, PDE has several items that it wants the district to address before exiting receivership. These include continuing to develop a five-year financial projection and facility utilization plan, improving student PSSA and Keystone Exam scores and making progress with graduation rates and attendance goals.

The extended receivership means that the Harrisburg School Board will remain stripped of most authority, except for its power to vote on the district’s annual taxing proposal.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 17, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Owners Bryanna and Anthony Graham of Midtown Juice Lab, which is set to open in Harrisburg next week

After Thursday night’s downpour, it’s looking like warm, sunny days ahead for the weekend. Make sure to celebrate Juneteenth, share some love with your dad on Father’s Day, and catch up on all of the week’s local news, below.

Bob’s Art Blog has lots to share about local art events coming up, including a Broad Street Market sign re-lighting and Metropolis Collective gallery’s anniversary party.

The Broad Street Market will ceremonially re-light its iconic sign on Friday, during 3^rd in the Burg, our online story reported. The sign was refurbished and reinstalled in April, after suffering severe wind damage.

The Capital Area Greenbelt Association held its 2022 Tour de Belt on June 5 and raised $59,425 to support its beautification efforts, our online story reported. Nearly 1,200 people made the 20-mile loop around the Greenbelt.

Cordier Auctions & Appraisals will hold another in a series of auctions of artifacts acquired by long-time Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, our reporting found. The auction, featuring many items with ties to the historical American West and the U.S. military, will open next week.

Eniola African Food Store recently opened in Allison Hill in Harrisburg, our online story reported. The shop offers a wide range of African products, something that the city was previously missing, according to owner Eniola Iruaregbon.

Friends of Midtown announced the schedule for its free summer Outdoor Film Series, our online story reported. Throughout the season, animated, action and cult-favorite movies will hit the big screen outside Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg City Council voted to approve the use of about $15.6 million in federal COVID relief dollars, our online story reported. The city will use those funds to finance an HVAC upgrade for its Public Safety Building and for benefits for fire and police bureau employees.

The Harrisburg School District seems likely to remain in receivership, as the Pennsylvania Department of Education has filed a petition for an extension for another three years, our reporting found. If the extension is approved by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski would remain in the post through mid-2025.

The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra announced that it will offer free concerts during the July 4^th weekend, our online story reported. The tour will travel to five local venues from June 30 to July 4 and conclude at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg.

Immigrant Heritage Month was celebrated in Harrisburg this week as the Dauphin County commissioners recognized several immigrant-owned businesses, our online story reported. Business owners also participated in a roundtable discussion.

The Jewish Federation of Harrisburg is moving into the former Dixon Center with big plans for the space. In our magazine story, read about the organization’s goals for its future and how it hopes to impact central PA.

Jubilee Day returned to Mechanicsburg this week with vendors, music, food and carnival rides. Read more about the significance and history of the day, in our magazine story.

Juneteenth will be celebrated by Harrisburg and Dauphin County on June 18 with food trucks, vendors and music, our online story reported. According to Mayor Wanda Williams, this is the first time the city will hold a festival for the holiday.

Loe Badgett, a Harrisburg rapper, released a new song in partnership with the city to promote anti-gun violence, our online story reported. Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter hopes the song, “Break the Cycle,” will inspire local youth.

The Lofts officially broke ground in the former Salvation Army building at Green and Cumberland streets in Midtown Harrisburg, our online story reported. The project, which is being developed by Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, will feature 16 apartment units.

Midtown Juice Lab will open in Harrisburg on June 25, offering juices, smoothies and acai bowls, our reporting found. Owners Bryanna and Anthony Graham hope to inspire people to eat healthy.

Sara Bozich has a long list of this weekend’s events, including ways to spend Juneteenth and Father’s Day. Find out what’s happening in the Harrisburg area, here.

Stewed rhubarb with red berries is on the menu for June in Rosemary’s cooking column. Find out how to make the simple dessert, here.

Theatre Harrisburg’s season wraps up with “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which portrays the family dynamics of three middle-aged, discontented siblings. The show runs through June 19. Read more, in our online story.

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