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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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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What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning

Top Weekend Recs

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Like this content?

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