SoMa block parties to return to Harrisburg for the summer with drinks, music, food

May 2, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

A past SoMa Block Party. Photo by Michael Yatsko Photography.

It’ll soon be time again for warm summer nights spent in downtown Harrisburg.

SoMa block parties are returning to the city on May 19 with food, drinks and entertainment.

“They are a really great community event and a fun place to be,” said Sara Bozich, whose marketing company organizes the events. “It’s like discovering this little secret part of Harrisburg.”

The block parties will take place in the SoMa, “South of Market,” neighborhood, on S. 3rd Street, between Market and Chestnut streets. During the parties, the block will be closed to vehicle traffic.

Block parties will run through October and feature food trucks, live music and vendors. Tasting rooms Sip@17 and Sip@soma will be open, along with taproom Boneshire Taps@SoMa. There will also be at least one non-alcoholic vendor present. Stash Vintage x The Midtown Dandy, located on S. 3rd Street, will be open during the event, as well.

The May block party will feature East End Brewing Co., Mark and Val’s Wine, Pour Man’s Brewing Co., Englewood Brewing, Tröegs Independent Brewing and Boneshire Taps@SoMa. Live music will be performed by Nate Myers & the Aces. The Cheesesteak Guy and Walk-O Taco will serve food on site, and Reign & Taij’s Homemade Lemonade will offer a non-alcoholic drink option. Art by Vibrant Flow Creations and Reina 76 Artist will be on display, and vendors Moonrise Candle Co. and Why Knot will sell their creations.

The SoMa Block Party Series will take place on the following dates:

Thursday, May 19
Thursday, June 30
Thursday, July 28
Thursday, Aug. 25
Thursday, Sept. 29
Thursday, Oct. 20

All events run from 7 to 10 p.m and are free to attend.

Street parking is available on Market, Chestnut and 4th streets, among others in the area. Parking is free after 5 p.m. in most of downtown Harrisburg.

For more information on the SoMa Block Party Series, visit Sara Bozich’s website.

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Harrisburg seeks summer lifeguards, parks staff, plans to open Jackson Lick pool

May 2, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

File photo of the Jackson Lick Pool

Summer is right around the corner, and Harrisburg is looking for employees to help make it a splash.

The city is currently hiring for summer positions in its Department of Parks and Recreation, including lifeguards.

According to department Director Dave Baker, the city plans to open the Jackson Lick pool on June 13 and needs people to staff it. The tentative hours for the pool are 12 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Hall Manor pool will be closed for the year.

Finding people to work at the Jackson Lick pool has proven difficult, Baker said. If the city can’t hire enough staff for the needs of the pool, the opening date, schedule and number of residents allowed in the pool at a time may need to change, he added.

“There is a national shortage of lifeguards,” Baker said. “But this is a great opportunity for individuals to build that resume.”

Last year, Harrisburg also suffered from a lifeguard shortage, which, along with the pandemic, delayed the pool’s opening until late July.

In total, the department is looking for 300 employees to fill summer positions within its parks and pools. Open positions include lifeguards, pool managers, pool monitors, site leaders and recreational assistants. Those 15 and older are eligible to apply. Pay ranges from $10 to $18 an hour, depending on the job.

The city will pay for all training, certifications and clearances required for the positions.

Baker sees this as an opportunity for students to get job experience, which could benefit them when applying to college or looking for future positions.

“In the long run, it’ll probably benefit them more than doing something else,” he said.

As an incentive for students to commit to a job, Harrisburg plans to take summer staff on field trips at the end of the season.

However, summer jobs are not just for students. Baker said that retirees and teachers on summer break are encouraged to apply, as well. Employees with specialty training may even receive increased pay, he said.

The deadline to apply for summer jobs is Friday, May 6.

To apply for a summer job with the City of Harrisburg, visit their website or apply in person at Reservoir Park Mansion, 100 Concert Dr., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-232-3017.

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Winning Ways: See which stories, photos, designs garnered awards for TheBurg this year

May 2, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Award-winning photograph by Elena Jasic

Springtime brings us warmer weather, flowers galore and, if you’re a journalist in Pennsylvania, the year’s most anticipated press awards.

On Thursday, we learned that TheBurg received 17 individual and group Keystone Media Awards, a peer-reviewed contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. According to PNA, it received more than 2,500 entries from 110 news organizations, with entries judged by working journalists in Virginia.

Our awards cover a wide range of areas, including reporting, writing, photography, illustration and design and include the prestigious “Sweepstakes” award for the best performance statewide in our category.

Of special note, our contributor, Diane McCormick, received the first-ever, “Freelance Journalist of the Year,” a specialty prize awarded to just one journalist throughout the entire commonwealth. So, be sure to click on her submission to read some of the highest-quality freelance writing work in Pennsylvania.

But let us delay no further. As I have in recent years, I have all the winners listed below, with links so you can see what the judges deemed to be some of the best work done statewide in 2021.

SPECIALTY AWARD

Freelance Journalist of the Year: M. Diane McCormick (a single, statewide award)

Diane McCormick Freelance Journalist of the Year

REPORTING/WRITING AWARDS

News Beat Reporting: First Place, Maddie Gittens (Harrisburg government beat, 5 stories)

Harrisburg mayor proposes using federal funds on new pools; council members ask to be included in planning

Hop, Skip and Runoff: Harrisburg park is renovated to include to include stormwater management features, new playground

Harrisburg cleans up blighted properties, works to address illegal dumping

CARES Act funding under fire, Harrisburg School District loses students to cyber charters

Dauphin County to release rent relief money, could relieve large amount of tenant debt

News Feature Story: First Place, Maddie Gittens

In the Shadow of the Dome: It’s been an unprecedented year of protests in the backyard of residents, businesses near the Capitol

News Feature Story: Honorable Mention, Maddie Gittens

Home Sick: Harrisburg residents face eviction, unpredictable future during the pandemic

Sports Feature: Second Place, Jeff Falk

From Despair, Victory: Amid a pandemic, the Steel-High Rollers season resulted in a championship—and more

Sports Feature, Honorable Mention, Maddie Gittens

Back in the Swing of Things: The pandemic battered Minor League baseball, but the Harrisburg Senators are stepping up to the plate

Personality Profile: Second Place, Karen Hendricks

Deep Waters: One year later, Harrisburg’s Sharkman reflects on skating through the pandemic

Lifestyle/Entertainment Beat: Second Place, Maddie Gittens (6 stories)

Lifestyle Arts Beat

Lifestyle/Entertainment Beat: Honorable Mention, Stephanie Kalina-Metzger (6 stories)

Lifestyle Entertainment Beat SKM

Headline Writing: First Place, Lawrance Binda (3 headlines)

Burg Headline 4

Headline Writing: Second Place, Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens (3 headlines)

Burg Headline 1

Podcast: Second Place, Karen Hendricks (3 podcasts)

A Warm Welcome to 2021
Drama and Adventure
An Ice-Skater, Violinist and Illustrator

Diversity: Second Place: Susan Ryder, M. Diane McCormick, Maddie Gittens (3 stories)

Diversity 2

ART/DESIGN AWARDS

Feature Photo: Second Place, Elena Jasic

Photo/Essay Story: First Place, Meg Caruso

Feature Page Design: Second Place, Meg Caruso (3 designs)

Graphic/Photo Illustration: First Place, Rich Hauck

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Curtain Call: West Shore Theatre announces open house, re-opening lineup

May 2, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

West Shore Theatre (file photo)

The West Shore Theatre is ready for its close-up.

On Monday, officials with the landmark Art Deco theater in New Cumberland announced an open house and grand opening following an extensive renovation.

The open house will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in conjunction with New Cumberland Community Day.

People can stop by and tour the completed phase-one renovation, as well as purchase concessions and tickets for future performances. A soft opening follows with 4 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. showings of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

The West Shore Theatre has been closed since February 2018. A nonprofit, Friends of the West Shore Theatre, embarked on a fundraising mission for an extensive, $2-million theater renovation, including creating a standing lounge area, stage improvements and a new digital projector.

Grand opening weekend follows on May 12 through May 15. The weekend will showcase the variety of programming that the new West Shore Theatre will offer, including movies, music, arts, education and comedy.

On Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m., the theater will show “The Secret of Dr. Kildare,” the first movie ever shown at the West Shore Theatre in 1940. Friday, May 13, features a concert from The Martini Bros., a roots, rock and rockabilly band featuring New Cumberland’s own Deuce Gibb at 7 p.m.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, the theater kicks off its Saturday Family Series with a showing of the movie, “Sing 2.” Saturday afternoon features an opportunity for 12 high school and college students to take an audition technique masterclass with Broadway star Jessica Vosk from 2 to 4 p.m. Later that day, Vosk, star of “Wicked,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Finding Neverland,” and “The Bridges of Madison County,” will put on a concert at 7:30 p.m. Lancaster-based professional performer, Reji Woods, will open for her.

On Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m., the theater will feature the premiere of “Turbo Cola,” a movie filmed at the Quality Gas Station in New Cumberland. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with some of the cast and crew. At 7 p.m., the Oxymorons improv comedy troupe will perform, featuring improv games familiar to the TV show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway.”

The West Shore Theatre is located at 317 Bridge St., New Cumberland. For more information, visit westshoretheatre.org.

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Walk artfully with new, informative trail that highlights Harrisburg’s murals, attractions

May 2, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Murals along N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg

Over the past few years, dozens of beautiful murals have gone up throughout Harrisburg, and now there’s an easy, informative way to enjoy them.

On Monday, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH) announced “Murals & More—A Walk of Art,” audio-guided tours of two suggested routes that highlight murals, monuments and art.

For the tours, VHH has developed a mobile passport that users can add to their phone’s home screen. Visitors can sign up for the passport here.

“When you walk through Harrisburg, examples of artistic creativity and collaboration are everywhere,” said VHH President & CEO Mary Smith. “We loved the idea of creating suggested routes that allow visitors to not only see a variety of artwork within a few hours, but also learn about the artists and inspiration for the work through audio clips on the passport.”

The free passport features location information about each stop, along with audio overviews of the artwork, monuments and museums. At each stop, passport users are encouraged to use the check-in feature. After 14 check-ins, they’ll earn an art-themed prize.

Smith praised the work of Sprocket Mural Works, a nonprofit working to enhance communities through art and the organization behind many of the murals featured on the Walk of Art.

“Throughout the process, we worked with Sprocket to identify ways that VHH could incorporate a number of existing murals into a series of walkable routes that would also highlight local art havens like the Susquehanna Art Museum, Nyeusi Gallery and the PA Capitol building,” said Smith. “Sprocket’s done incredible work to leverage both local and nationally sought-after artists to create these sensational public works of art, and we are thrilled to be able to offer a program that helps to raise awareness about murals and other artwork and monuments throughout Harrisburg.”

“Murals & More” is the latest addition to a collection of VHH Trails and Experiences designed to package certain themes within the region’s many tourism assets in a way that makes it easy for visitors and local residents to enjoy. Other trails and experiences include:

Brew Barons Beer Trail
Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail
Adventure Trail
The Black Travel Experience

“Murals & More” may be primarily centered on free, public art, but it’s designed to have a positive overall effect and economic impact for Harrisburg.

“Every project VHH develops is a piece of the overall tourism puzzle in the Hershey Harrisburg region,” Smith said. “By encouraging people to take part in a walking tour, they’ll be passing restaurants, attractions and other small businesses that can also benefit from extra foot traffic in the city.”

Click here for more information on Murals & More–A Walk of Art.

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Federal funds announced for infrastructure work in Harrisburg Transportation Center

April 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

The Harrisburg Transportation Center

Harrisburg’s train and bus station is set for a major infrastructure improvement, thanks to federal funding announced on Friday.

At the Harrisburg Transportation Center, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced that the station would receive $634,525 for a new heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system. Much of the existing system, including the cooling tower, pumps and chiller system, were installed over two decades ago and need to be replaced, according to the city.

Amtrak owns the 135-year-old station, but the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority (HRA) has operated it under a master lease since 1983.

According to Executive Director Bryan Davis, HRA reached out to Casey’s office about the need to replace the HVAC system. Congress then appropriated funds for the project through its most recent federal budget, enacted in March.

“This was urgent because of what we saw during the [COVID-19] pandemic,” Casey said. “Air quality can help prevent the spread of the virus. Even absent that though, it’s critical we make these investments as part of a larger set of investments to improve the basic infrastructure of this historic building.”

According to the city, it will take a few months to work through the federal approval process, including through the Federal Transit Administration and Amtrak. Once the HRA receives the funding, it will seek bids from companies to provide and install the new infrastructure.

The whole process should last until the end of the year, Davis said.

More than 1.5 million people each year pass through the Harrisburg Transportation Center using Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses.

“The [HTC] is integral to supporting families all across the Keystone State, and it starts here in the city of Harrisburg,” said Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams. “We need, and deserve, a station fitting for a capital city, and we’re incredibly grateful for the work Bryan Davis and his team did to ask for these funds, and for Senator Casey for delivering the money to the people who need it most.”

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Burg View: State Street redesign must prioritize safety

April 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

State Street in Harrisburg

Back in 2018, State Street in Harrisburg was deemed one of the most dangerous roads in the country. Over 17 months, five pedestrians and bicyclists perished on this stretch of state-owned road.

To their credit, city officials moved quickly, creating a blueprint to re-engineer the road, calling it their “rapid response plan.”

In the end, there was nothing rapid about it. Unfortunately, the foot-dragging PA Department of Transportation needed to sign off on the proposal, a painstaking process that involved several re-drafts and more years of waiting.

But this spring, all that effort looked like it had finally paid off. Construction commenced to narrow the road, eliminate a lane, install bike lanes and make other much-needed safety improvements. What possibly could go wrong at this point?

Plenty, as it turned out.

The city, helmed by a new mayor, halted the project midstream after several State Street residents complained that the redesigned road would force them to move their parked cars twice a day. City officials issued a stop-work order and now say they’ll come up with yet another plan.

I have sympathy for residents who would need to move their vehicles. I wouldn’t want to have to do that. However, a greater issue is at stake—the safety of the people trying to cross the road and the bicyclists navigating it.

I am eager to see what the city comes up with now. How will it retain all the current parking yet make State Street a much safer road? After all, there is only so much paved geography to work with.

It will be a tough task to make everyone happy: the motorists, the walkers, the parkers and the bikers. I wish the city well in this heavy lift, with the belief that, in the end, someone is likely to walk (or drive or bike) away unhappy.

The city has promised to move swiftly towards a resolution. Indeed, time is of the essence. Soon, state workers will begin to return to their offices, post-pandemic. Inevitably, traffic will build on State Street once again, as will all the safety problems that have been idling over the past few years.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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Greener Grass: Capital Region Water to begin stormwater improvements at Camp Curtin YMCA

April 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Officials ceremonially break ground on the Big Green Block project, on the recreational field behind the Camp Curtin YMCA

The Camp Curtin Branch YMCA in Uptown Harrisburg will soon look a lot greener.

Capital Region Water (CRW) has partnered with the community center on a stormwater management project that will benefit not only the Y, but the neighborhood.

“We are here to break ground on what we know will provide a wonderful community amenity and have the added benefit of improvements to stormwwater management for this historic Harrisburg community,” said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, CEO of CRW.

The $2.5 million “Big Green Block” project will include constructing a rain garden and storage/infiltration trench along the edge of the Y’s parking lot and beneath the recreational field behind the Y. These measures will help prevent stormwater runoff from the parking lot and surrounding streets from overwhelming the sewer system.

Additionally, a green stormwater wall will be added to the back of the Y’s building. Planter boxes and troughs attached to the wall will help catch runoff water from the roof. Trees will be planted, as well.

All of these aspects of the project will manage 4.5 million gallons of stormwater annually, said Claire Maulhardt, CRW’s City Beautiful H2O program manager.

For local residents, this means reduced flooding during storms, better air quality and a beautified space, according to CRW. For the Y, it means fewer drainage issues, which they’ve had for years.

“This is an important day for Uptown Harrisburg,” said Jamien Harvey, executive director of the Camp Curtin and East Shore Y’s.

The project will also serve as an educational tool to teach the youth that visit the Y, Harvey explained.

CRW expects to complete the construction by September. The project will be financed through a loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, known as PENNVEST. This month, CRW was awarded another large loan from PENNVEST for $41.6 million.

The project is another step towards realizing Harvey’s dream of revitalizing the neighborhood, he said. In March, the Y broke ground on an affordable housing project just down the street from its building. They are currently working to build four single-family homes for low-income residents.

The Big Green Block project will benefit those future homeowners, as well.

“It’s all intertwined,” Harvey said. “The environment is important. I’ll continue to fight to change this neighborhood. I get excited about this.”

For more information about Capital Region Water’s Big Green Block project, visit their website.

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Harrisburg plants trees in Allison Hill to celebrate Arbor Day

April 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers plant trees on Market Street in Allison Hill

What better way to celebrate Arbor Day in Harrisburg than by planting some trees?

On Friday, volunteers planted trees along Market Street, between Cameron and 15^th streets, coinciding with the 150^th anniversary of the holiday.

“This is the city of Harrisburg’s way of showing support for our community and celebrating Arbor Day,” said Dave Baker, director of parks and recreation for the city, at a press conference.

A new cherry tree planted on Market Street

On Friday and Saturday, volunteers will plant nearly 50 trees, mostly cherry, along the corridor. In March, the city removed around 30 dead and dying trees from the street with help from Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL), who donated their services.

The city received a $21,500 grant from the Arbor Day Foundation and the United Parcel Service’s (UPS) “Planet Protection Program,” to assist with its efforts. Several UPS employees volunteered at the tree planting on Friday, as well.

The National Recovery Agency also pitched in, by donating $1,000 for a future tree planting.

At the press event, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) awarded Harrisburg, for the 30^th time, the designation of Tree City USA in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation.

Earlier this month, the city also planted 17 trees along Vernon Street between 13^th and 17^th streets.

“These trees add a tremendous amount to a community,” said Ellen Roane, city forester. “They’re environmental workhorses.

Besides beautifying a neighborhood, Roane said that street trees better the environment, increase property values and can even encourage business.

A tree planting volunteer, Shelly Page, summed it up best.

“The world needs more trees,” she said, at Friday’s event.

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Some construction to resume on State Street, as Harrisburg begins to draft project redesign

April 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

State Street on Allison Hill in Harrisburg

Construction along State Street in Harrisburg is slated to resume on Monday, focused mostly on completing unfinished sidewalk ramps.

Late on Thursday, Matt Maisel, the city’s communications director, issued a statement saying that the halted project would re-start next week in a limited scope.

This work includes finishing construction of the ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps at intersections. Work also will begin on drainage enhancements and traffic signal pole installations, according to Maisel.

All work on the State Street Rapid Response project stopped last week after the city issued a cease-and-desist order. In its original configuration, the project would have reduced lanes on the state-owned road from five to three, would have created a median refuge area for pedestrians, and would have added protected bike lanes.

This work is designed to improve safety on State Street, which has been the site of numerous pedestrian fatalities in recent years.

However, the “road diet” would have forced residents parked along the street to move their cars during peak traffic hours, as there would be no parking in the westbound lane heading into the city in the morning and none in the eastbound lane heading out of the city in the afternoon.

This prompted objections from some Allison Hill residents, which led the city to issue the cease-and-desist order. Meanwhile, some city bicycling advocates were displeased that the work had stopped.

According to Harrisburg’s business administrator, Dan Hartman, the city’s engineering department is working to create a new road design that will address the State Street community’s parking needs, while still providing for pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety and mobility.

“The prior plan didn’t really incorporate all of those components in a fair way,” he told members of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the city’s state-appointed financial oversight body, at a meeting on Wednesday. “But with the amount of space we have in the area, it’s completely doable.”

The outreach process will kick off this Tuesday at a City Council meeting, when the administration will make a brief presentation on the project to council members and the public, Hartman said.

“They’ll listen to comments and concerns from city residents at that meeting,” he said.

The city then hopes to have a new design drawn up “in the next two months,” Hartman added.

In the meantime, work will continue on the sidewalk ramps, which have to be widened to comply with federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements. That work will impact parking between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. until that part of the project is finished, which is expected to take about one month, according to Hartman.

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