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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Harrisburg entrepreneur opens African food market in Allison Hill to provide for community

June 16, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Owner Eniola Iruaregbon of Eniola African Food Store

When Eniola Iruaregbon moved to Harrisburg two years ago, finding food from Nigeria, her home country, wasn’t easy.

In order to get African products, she would drive to the closest store she could find, which was in New Jersey. While there, Iruaregbon would often pick up extras to sell to others in Harrisburg’s African community. But her house was quickly being taken over by stacks of products.

With experience owning small businesses in Nigeria under her belt, Iruaregbon decided she’d better open a market here.

“I noticed a need for a food market for the African community,” she said. “A lot of Africans needed that service.”

In January, Eniola African Food Store opened at 1325 Derry St. with a large crowd of customers ready to shop. According to Iruaregbon, it’s the first store of its kind in Harrisburg.

Much of Iruaregbon’s store is stocked with Nigerian food, something that was hard to find in any nearby stores. That’s not the case anymore, as she carries shelves full of the country’s traditional foods.

“If you come into the store, and you’re Nigerian, you’re not going to miss home,” she said.

However, Iruaregbon has items specific to many other African countries’ cuisines, as well. Some popular items are yam flour, cassava flour and goat meat, among other items. Spices, beans and rice also fill shelves. If the shop doesn’t have something that a customer is looking for, Iruaregbon will try to find it.

“Our goal is that no matter where you’re from in Africa, you’ll be able to find what you want,” she said.

Additionally, coming soon, customers will be able to order hot meals on DoorDash.

Beyond food, Eniola’s carries African brooms, turning sticks and a small selection of clothing and accessories. While the store has only been open a few months, it has already generated a dedicated customer base.

It hasn’t been easy starting her business, but Iruaregbon is grateful for her community which has helped her along the way.

“We have come from too far to not support each other,” she said of her African patrons. “The African community has been growing. The business has been really good.”

For more information, visit Eniola African Food Store on Instagram.

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And Sold! Cordier to hold another auction of items collected by former Harrisburg Mayor Reed

June 16, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

This 51-inch Yunt Mountain Sheep Kachina will be part of the upcoming auction (photo courtesy Cordier Auctions).

Order up another round.

Next week, Harrisburg-based Cordier Auctions & Appraisals will hold another in a series of auctions of artifacts acquired by long-time Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.

According to Cordier, the former mayor’s estate released dozens of additional items for sale, many with ties to the historical American West and the U.S. military. These include photographs, statues, firearms, taxidermy, memorabilia and Native American artifacts.

“The late Stephen Reed was known as the Mayor of Harrisburg for 28 years but was also an insatiable collector,” Cordier said, in a statement.

This is at least the third online auction of Reed’s collectibles that Cordier has held since Reed died in January 2020, totaling thousands of individual lots. In addition, the city held several of its own auctions of artifacts that Reed bought with public funds, as he hoped to open a series of museums in the city, including an “Old West” museum.

This gaming wheel will be part of the auction.

The current online auction will be held on Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25. Auction preview and pre-bids open on Friday, June 17, via the Live Auctioneers website.

Melanie Hartman, Cordier’s director of catalog and specialty auctions, said that about 800 lots will be up for bid over the two days.

According to Cordier, some of the auction highlights include:

Wild West ephemera such as a Billy the Kid reward broadside (estimate $3,000 to $4,000)
Firearms including a U.S. Springfield trapdoor carbine (estimate $600 to $700) and an early Winchester model 1894 carbine (estimate $500 to $600)
A D.F. Barry cabinet card of Crow Foot, Sitting Bull’s son (estimate $200 to $300)
A gambling parlor gaming wheel (estimate $300 to $400)

Other notable items will include mountain lion and wolverine hides, a full coyote taxidermy, a buffalo horn rattle and a bear claw necklace. While some of the artifacts are period items, others are modern but have Old West ties or themes.

For more information about the auction, visit www.cordierauction.com/current-events/two-day-auction-estate-stephen-r-reed-1. To view the online catalog and bid, visit Live Auctioneers.

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Light it Up: Broad Street Market to ceremonially re-light historic sign after refurbishment project

June 16, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

The Broad Street Market

The Broad Street Market’s sign is shining again, after a project to refurbish it was recently completed.

To celebrate, the market will hold a re-lighting ceremony on June 17, featuring live music, vendors and food, as part of 3^rd in the Burg on Friday.

The sign was repaired and reinstalled in April after suffering damage due to a windstorm in the winter of 2021. In May 2021, the market launched a campaign and raised $43,000 from community and private donors for the refurbishment.

“On behalf of the board and the market’s 40 vendors, we are grateful to those who supported our efforts to reconstruct our iconic sign in order to continue to be a bright light for our communities in the heart of Midtown,” market Board Chair John J. “Ski” Sygielski said in a statement.

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, Sygielski and Matt Krupp of Lighten Up Harrisburg, a major donor to the project, will attend Friday’s ceremony, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The sign, constructed by RPM Signs and Lighting, will display new, energy-efficient lighting, a sturdier structure and a new design featuring silhouettes of the market’s two buildings.

For the event, the block in front of the market will be closed and food vendors and pop-up shops will be on site. Local band Switch Fu will perform and vendors inside the market’s stone building will stay open late for the festivities.

“Given that much of Harrisburg exists in a food desert, with little access to local affordable and nutritious food, the historic Broad Street Market plays an important role as the centerpiece in Midtown Harrisburg’s revitalization,” Krupp said. “We are very honored to be a part of this historic restoration and humbled to have been in a position to help.”

The Broad Street Market is located at 1233 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

June 16, 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: Check out Cristiano Winery and Pour Man’s Brewing in SoMa Harrisburg this week! Friday is 3rd in the Burg. Sunday is Father’s Day and Juneteenth.

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

Things on my agenda this weekend: Local book club gathering, SoMa Harrisburg, 3rd in the Burg, then Paulus Farm Camp for Bo!

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

For your weekend planning

WIN tickets to see The Roots in Riverfront Park!
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

Shop my Father’s Day Gift Guide
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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Home sales slipped, prices rose in May in greater Harrisburg area

June 15, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

A house for sale in Harrisburg

Harrisburg-area home sales dipped, but prices rose sharply in May, according to the most recent report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, sales fell to 670 homes last month versus 730 in May 2021, but the median sales price of a house increased to $260,000 from $240,000, according to data from the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 320 homes in May, a decrease of 27 units from the year-ago period, while the median price rose to $235,000 from $210,000, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had 322 home sales in May versus 335 a year ago, as the median price jumped to $291,000 from $265,000. In Perry County, 26 houses sold, a drop of seven units, as the median price rose to $243,000 versus $217,000 in May 2021, according to GHAR.

Houses sold relatively quickly in May, as “average days on the market” dropped to 16 days compared to 20 days the prior May, according to GHAR.

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Lyrical Lesson: Harrisburg Police Commissioner works with local rapper to share anti-violence message with youth

June 15, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Loe Badgett

According to Harrisburg rapper Loe Badgett, music has a unique way of getting across a message in a clear and powerful way.

That’s why, when Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter reached out to him about creating a song communicating the importance of anti-violence, he was so excited.

“The song came to me very easily because it’s a message that needs to be heard,” Badgett said. “My hope is that people that listen take heed to what I’m saying.”

On Wednesday, the city released the music video for Badgett’s new song, “Break the Cycle,” featuring local singer Alonda Rich. The song tackles the issue of gun violence in the city and encourages positive self-worth, mentorship and education, among other themes.

As part of the police bureau’s efforts to combat gun violence in the city, Carter said that he was looking for a new way to reach the youth with a positive message.

“You have to meet people where they are at,” he said. “If a rap song has a positive message they can relate to, they will listen.”

The music video, filmed at numerous Harrisburg locations, shows Badgett with his young son. The lyrics in his song are filled with messages that he knows he will have to talk about with his son one day. But he also hopes that his song will inspire other parents to share these positive messages with their kids, as well.

“The biggest thing for me was to hold us accountable as adults,” he said. “We always preach to the youth about stopping the violence, but it starts in the house. It starts with us and will trickle down to the youth.”

While the city has already released the music video for “Break the Cycle” on social media, Badgett plans to share the song on music platforms this Friday.

Badgett will also perform the song live at Harrisburg’s Juneteenth Celebration on June 18 outside of the MLK City Government Center downtown.

“I would hope that people would listen to the song and decide to put the guns down,” Carter said. “If it changes one or two people, that’s a good thing.”

To watch the music video for “Break the Cycle,” click here.

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Juicy News: Harrisburg residents to open juice bar in Midtown, promote healthy eating

June 15, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Owners Bryanna and Anthony Graham of Midtown Juice Lab

After Harrisburg residents Bryanna and Anthony Graham got COVID at the beginning of the pandemic, they started looking for natural ways to stay healthy.

Around that time, they were introduced to juicing and started learning about its health benefits.

“If you drink a juice that’s loaded with fruits and vegetables, you can feel lit working in your body,” Anthony said. “It’ll make you feel good throughout the day. You can feel the difference.”

The Grahams hope to share their love for healthy, natural eating at their new Harrisburg shop, Midtown Juice Lab, which they plan to open on June 25.

The juice bar, located at 1426 N. 3^rd St. Suite 130, will set up shop where the former House of Vegans restaurant operated until closing last year.

Bryanna and Anthony previously partnered with John Roman to open Fresh Pressed HBG, a juice bar in downtown Harrisburg. However, the couple wanted to venture out and start their own business.

Midtown Juice Lab will offer a variety of juices, smoothies and acai bowls made with fruits and vegetables. They will also carry a small selection of wraps and avocado toast.

“We really need more healthy options in Harrisburg,” Bryanna said.

According to Anthony, all of the juices can be used as detoxes, and each targets a different area or condition within the body. Some may help with diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma, among other issues. Anthony creates most of the concoctions himself.

For those who might be hesitant to try a juice or smoothie packed with greens, the couple will assure you—you won’t taste the veggies in the drink. It’s actually a great way for people who don’t enjoy vegetables to sneak them into their diet, they explained.

Additionally, all of Midtown Juice Lab’s products will use natural sweeteners, so no sugar, but still sweet, Anthony said.

The Midtown shop will feature limited indoor and outdoor seating. The Grahams hope it’ll be a welcoming community atmosphere.

“We are excited,” Anthony said. “It’s going to be good to do good for the area.”

For more information about Midtown Juice Lab, visit their Instagram page.

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Black history, culture to be honored at Harrisburg’s Juneteenth Celebration

June 15, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams, along with other local officials, announces the Juneteenth Celebration.

Harrisburg will honor freedom and Black culture at a festival this weekend.

The city will hold its first Juneteenth Celebration, in collaboration with Dauphin County, on June 18, featuring music, food trucks, vendors and performers.

“Juneteenth is not only a chance to say it loud—we are Black and we are proud—but we are educating everyone about Black culture and heritage in the city of Harrisburg,” Mayor Wanda Williams said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The holiday, on June 19, commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States.

The celebration will take place in front of the MLK City Government Center downtown from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food trucks will be on site, along with local vendors and craft artisans. Members of the PA Living History Interpreters Past Players will attend dressed in period clothing. Other entertainment will be provided by youth band FAME Jazz Ensemble and local artist collective The Singer’s Lounge. Harrisburg rapper Loe Badgett will perform his new song, “Break the Cycle,” about stopping gun violence in the city, as well.

To kick off the event, UPMC will get people moving with a 5K walk at 8 a.m., followed by dance and exercise activities. The programming is part of its Healthy Harrisburg initiative aimed at removing barriers to health care. UPMC will also offer blood pressure checks, COVID tests and COVID booster shots.

N. 2^nd Street, from Market to Walnut streets, will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to the city’s festival, Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg is holding Juneteenth HBG, with events taking place all week.

“Not only is this going to be packed with historical references and the idea of bringing people together around a critically important issue and holiday, and breaking down walls and barriers, but it’s also about having a little fun,” said Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick.

For more information about the Juneteenth Celebration, visit the city’s website.

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Harrisburg to use portion of federal COVID-relief funds for public safety building, personnel

June 14, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council’s legislative session on Tuesday

Harrisburg has decided to allocate a portion of its federal COVID relief funds to its public safety departments.

At a legislative session on Tuesday, City Council approved the allotment of about $15.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for public safety initiatives and reimbursement for lost revenue during the pandemic.

In total, the city was allotted $47 million in ARPA funding.

Under the bill, $5.5 million will fund the replacement of the HVAC system in the city’s Public Safety Building in downtown Harrisburg. According to Mayor Wanda Williams, the system is antiquated and in need of an upgrade.

“It’s a pricey, but necessary expenditure, as well as a health risk,” she explained at a previous council work session.

Harrisburg will also give $1.2 million in one-time bonuses to uniformed personnel in the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Bureau of Police. Each staff member will receive a $5,000 bonus.

“The bonuses, I feel, are instrumental because we were considering those at-risk workers during the hardest times of COVID,” said council member Ralph Rodriguez. “If we don’t take care of them, we will continue to lose them.”

Another $8.8 million will be used to reimburse the city for expenses and lost revenue due to the pandemic, which was initially approved as part of the 2022 budget.

Williams announced her proposed plan for the use of the ARPA funds in mid-May, including the items that council approved on Tuesday. Her proposal also includes uses for the remaining funds, such as for an affordable housing initiative and the replacement of the city’s Hall Manor pool with a waterpark. Those projects, among others, will require future approval by council.

“I would really like to hear the full presentation with presence from each of the directors that would be impacted by the mayor’s proposal,” said council President Danielle Bowers. “I would also like to hear from the residents.”

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What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

Top Weekend Recs

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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