Harrisburg School District to keep 5th grade students at elementary level for upcoming school year

April 18, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Superintendent Eric Turman speaks at Monday’s school board meeting.

The Harrisburg School District is making a significant change for the next school year.

At a school board meeting on Monday, district officials announced a plan to move fifth-grade students from its middle schools back to the elementary level.

“The data is showing that the 5^th grade being at the mid-level is problematic,” district Superintendent Eric Turman said.

According to Turman, the move has been under discussion since the fall, after the district noticed negative declines from 4^th to 5^th grade in academic and behavioral data.

Turman cited that, under the current model, when students move to 5^th grade, the district has seen decreased attendance, increased suspensions and decreased academic improvement.

The district believes that keeping fifth-grade students in elementary schools will provide a better structure and environment for students, while also fitting better with the current curriculum. Turman said that this also will benefit the “jam packed” middle schools by decreasing the overall student population in those buildings.

In a recent survey issued by the district, a majority, 72%, of teachers and parents who responded believed that the transition would be beneficial.

Turman said that elementary students moving into 5^th grade will remain in the same elementary school that they were previously in.

Additionally, kindergarten will be added to Cougar Academy.

The new school grade configuration will affect the following schools and will be as follows:

Ben Franklin Elementary School, grades K-5
Scott Elementary School, grades K-5
Melrose Elementary School, grades K-5
Foose Elementary School, grades K-5
Downey Elementary School, grades K-5
Rowland Academy Middle School, grades 6-8
Camp Curtin Middle School, grades 6-8
Cougar Academy, grades K-12

Turman explained that all of the district’s elementary schools have enough space to accommodate the additional grade. Many of the schools have several unused classrooms that will be utilized, he said.

At Monday’s meeting, district Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the plan. It will go into effect in the coming school year.

According to the district, further communication on the plan will be sent to parents beginning on Tuesday.

“We are very excited about the opportunity,” Turman said. “This was well thought out.”

In other news, Suski also approved the hiring of Heidi Zula as the district’s new director of human resources. Her salary will be $125,000.

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Rock band KALEO to perform in Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park this summer

April 18, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

There definitely won’t be a shortage of live music in Harrisburg this summer.

On Monday, Harrisburg University Presents announced that Icelandic rock band KALEO will perform in Riverfront Park on Aug. 17.

Just last year, the Grammy-nominated band released its second album, “Surface Sounds.” The band is known for its chart-topping, alternative song “Way Down We Go.”

For the summer concert, KALEO will be joined by punk band White Reaper.

KALEO is the fifth show announced by HU Presents as part of its Summer Concert Series, hosted in partnership with Harrisburg city, Dauphin County, Clair Global, PNC Bank, and Troegs Independent Brewing.

Just a week ago, HU Presents announced that pop-rock band LANY, along with guest band Surfaces, would perform on Aug. 19 in Riverfront Park.

Several other bands will also make an appearance at Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park this summer. Death Cab for Cutie, with special guest Illuminati Hottie, will perform on July 14. American indie rockers Lord Huron, with special guest First Aid Kit, will play on Aug. 20. And HU Presents the National on Sept. 24.

KALEO tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on April 22. For tickets, click here. For tickets and information about Harrisburg University Presents entire lineup of shows, visit https://www.concertseries.harrisburgu.edu/.

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Harrisburg to begin paving 2nd Street, moving closer to two-way conversion

April 18, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Crews milled N. 2nd Street earlier this month in preparation for the paving process.

Harrisburg will continue to hit the gas on a major road construction project this week.

On Tuesday, the city will begin paving N. 2^nd Street, the next step in a process to move the corridor from one-way to two-way traffic.

Crews will start paving along the east side of 2^nd Street (right side), from Forster to Division Street, on Tuesday, April 19. The west side will be paved on Wednesday. Thursday will be used as an extra day in case more time is needed.

The street will move northbound with one lane of traffic during this time. Paving will begin at 6 a.m. and end no later than 6 p.m.

“No Parking” signs will be posted along the length of the road. Vehicles not removed from the street before 6 a.m. will be towed. Residents who use 2^nd Street for residential parking can park on side streets during this time with no concern of getting a ticket.

On Monday, April 25, crews will paint lines on the street to represent new traffic patterns. Once new lines are complete, the city will begin constructing medians and continuing work on installing ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps. During this time, the city expects parking to be open on the road, with the exception of areas where crews will need to work. “No parking” signs will be posted with 48 hours of advanced notice.

Harrisburg began the conversion project last May in an effort to make the road safer and more walkable and started the road milling process earlier this month. Last week, Harrisburg officials announced that the project will continue through late October or early November, but that the road will switch to two-way traffic earlier, in mid-June.

The 2^nd Street project is part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate pedestrian fatalities on its roads.

For more information, visit the city’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 15, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Owner Rosa Ortiz of Café De Olla, a Mexican eatery that opened this week in Harrisburg

Happy Easter to all of our readers who celebrate! In between the egg hunting and chocolate bunny eating, take a minute to catch up on the Harrisburg area’s latest news, linked below.

Café De Olla opened on Thursday in downtown Harrisburg, our reporting found. The restaurant offers authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch fare.

Callery pear trees have been placed on the state’s noxious weed list and banned from being sold or cultivated. In our magazine story, find out why this stinky plant is now considered illegal.

Developers have proposed many large-scale projects for Harrisburg, but few have even begun, writes our editor in his column. Will they ever cut the ribbon on these apartment buildings and commercial spaces?

Easter dinner is a big deal for our food writer Rosemary. The meal signifies tradition, cultural heritage, family and faith. This holiday, she shares her recipe for roasted lamb.

Entrepreneurs in the Harrisburg area now have a chance to acquire skills, knowledge and cash to help them realize their small business dreams, our online story reported. M&T Bank and Harrisburg University’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship are partnering on a program called the “Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab: Bridges to Success.”

Harrisburg-area places of worship and nonprofits will receive state funding to support safety and security efforts, our online story reported. The funding comes from the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and is intended to help prevent hate crimes and acts of terrorism.

Harrisburg City Council approved a list of recipients for annual federal funding to support housing and social service efforts, our online story reported. Council also voted in favor of requiring city boards to record public meetings.

Harrisburg University Presents announced its plans to bring pop-rock band LANY to Riverfront Park this summer, our online story reported. The band will be joined by guest band Surfaces.

Home prices rose this month in the Harrisburg area, although home sales fell, our reporting found. For March, 576 houses sold in the three-county region compared to 627 houses in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $238,900 from $209,900.

Metropolis aerial arts studio recently opened in downtown Harrisburg, our magazine story reported. Owner Mikee Bentz hopes to provide a space for fun and fitness through pole dancing.

Plant Family opened on N. 3^rd Street in Harrisburg, offering natural medicines and botanicals, our online story reported. Owner Sara Rose Bryant hopes her shop fills a gap in the city by offering natural wellness products.

Sara Bozich has lots of ways for you to spend the Easter holiday weekend. No need to hunt; find them, here.

Second Street in Harrisburg is set to go from one-way to two-way by the summer, with the full project slated for completion by year-end, our reporting found. In a press conference on Wednesday, the city’s project manager, Percy Bullock, offered an update on the long-anticipated project.

Someone To Tell It To, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit focused on vulnerability and connection, is rounding out its first decade, our magazine story reported. The organization provides a listening service for businesses, teams, families and individuals.

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Local places of worship, nonprofits receive funding for security, safety enhancements

April 15, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Chisuk Emuna Congregation, a recipient of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding

Friday starts off a holiday weekend celebrated by many local religious communities.

The day before, state officials announced funding to support the safety of places of worship and local nonprofits.

Through the commonwealth’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a handful of Harrisburg-area nonprofits will receive a combined $132,201 in funds.

“This program exists in order to provide the necessary funds to update security, training and safety procedures to protect nonprofit organizations from violent attacks, hate crimes and acts of terrorism,” said Rep. Patty Kim (D-103). “I’m pleased to see funding will be provided to organizations in order to protect local residents and preserve their right to worship and gather in our community safely.”

According to Kim, this state program was created following the 2018 shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 11 people.

The following nonprofits in the 103^rd legislative district, which covers all of Harrisburg and several adjacent east shore communities, have been approved for the listed amount:

YWCA Greater Harrisburg, $6,895
Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit, $15,439
Islamic Center Masjid Al-Sabereen, $74,436
Chisuk Emuna Congregation, $10,503
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, $24,928

The grant program is administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Awardees can use the funds for safety and security planning, security equipment and technology, training, building upgrades, vulnerability and threat assessments and other security enhancements.

Eligible organizations are chosen based on substantiated prior threats or attacks they have faced because of ideology, beliefs or mission; buildings of symbolic historic or regional value that they operate in; and/or based on findings from previous threats or vulnerability assessments, according to the PA House of Representatives.

These organizations may be at risk for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication, according to the state. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.

Gov. Tom Wolf also announced on Thursday that, in total, over $5.23 million in the security grant program funding will go to 120 churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth.

“This is an investment in the safety and security of the diverse communities that are the tapestry of Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “It’s unfortunate that hate continues to surface here, hurting Pennsylvanians and tearing apart our communities. I will continue to stand with and support these communities in any way I can.”

For more information on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and for a full list of Pennsylvania awardees, visit their website.

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Harrisburg U, M&T Bank launch program, competition to encourage, nurture diverse businesses

April 14, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg University’s Jamal Jones, right, speaks at the launch of the “Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab: Bridges to Success.”

Do you have what it takes?

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur in the Harrisburg area, you may now have a chance to acquire skills and knowledge—and maybe even some cash—to help you realize your small business dream.

At a press conference on Thursday, the city, M&T Bank and Harrisburg University’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship announced a startup business program called the “Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab: Bridges to Success.”

The six-week program aims to provide budding entrepreneurs of minority-owned businesses with guidance and resources to help hone their ideas and accelerate their growth. It will be capped off with a “Shark Tank”-style business pitch competition, with the winner receiving as much as $5,000 from M&T Bank.

“Our program is designed to provide multicultural business owners with the skills needed to build strong businesses to help generate a stronger community economically here in the city as well as to help build generational wealth,” said Natalie Wech, senior vice president, business banking, central Pennsylvania, for M&T Bank.

The partnership and program were founded following input from the community, she said.

“It is the result of a focus group last year in Harrisburg and held with local community leaders, who shared with us challenges they notice in the community for startup businesses,” Wech said.

The six-week program will offer free guidance and resources focused on business planning, establishing credit, accessing capital, marketing, branding and networking. It is open to Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx and Asian-American entrepreneurs doing business in the capital region for fewer than three years and whose gross annual revenue does not exceed $350,000.

Applications for the program will be accepted until April 25. You can apply here.

According to Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, the new business climate in Harrisburg is already strong. At the kickoff event, she said that, since the beginning of the year, over 60 new businesses have begun in the city, with “at least two dozen [of these] run by minority business owners.”

“One of the top priorities of our administration is to create a Harrisburg which gives everyone a chance to start their own business,” Williams said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, if you’re white, if you’re Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern. Harrisburg is one of the most diverse cities in the commonwealth.”

Williams mentioned that, just last week, the city held a ribbon cutting at the Original Hot Dog Factory franchise, a Black-owned business at 317 Market St. in downtown Harrisburg. In fact, just two blocks away, today was the first day of business at Café de Olla, a Mexican cuisine-inspired eatery at 210 N. 3^rd St.

HU’s Center or Innovation & Entrepreneurship will run the program.

“We acknowledge the significant challenges faced by multicultural and ethnically diverse business owners,” said the center’s program manager, Jamal Jones. “By participating in the Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab with M&T Bank, we’ll team up to create an equal system of resources and support for entrepreneurs who need the most help.”

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

April 14, 2022 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What you’ll find:

For your weekend planning
Top Weekend Recs
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Like this content?

For something new: Play Friends of Midtown Business Bingo (signing up for my email counts!). Plus, lots of adult easter egg hunts.

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

Things on my agenda this weekend: Lots of market visits, grocery shopping, cooking, and easter egg hunting — I’m hosting!

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

For your weekend planning

Call for sponsors and vendors: Plants + Pints 2022
My trip to Lancaster last month
View our local Restaurant Directory
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

This week! April in SoMa Harrisburg
Check a few things off this Spring Bucket List!
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.

Like this content?

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Harrisburg’s 2nd Street set for two-way flip, year-end completion, as manager offers project update

April 13, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Project manager Percy Bullock explains the 2nd Street project to the press on Wednesday.

Harrisburg is on track to complete the conversion of 2^nd Street to two-way traffic by year-end, the city said today.

In a press conference on Wednesday morning, the city’s project manager, Percy Bullock, offered an update on the long-anticipated project. While the project will continue through late October or early November, the switch over to two-way traffic is slated for mid-June.

“It’ll start looking good in about two to three weeks because we’ll start paving,” Bullock said.

Harrisburg converted 2^nd Street to one-way traffic in the 1950s, turning the road from a neighborhood street to a high-speed throughway. For decades, city officials proposed reversing the move, stating that it mainly benefitted suburban commuters at the expense of city residents’ quality of life.

Finally, in 2019, the city finalized plans to return the street, from Forster to Division streets, to two-way traffic. Last May, the city kicked off the project and, since then, ADA-compliant ramps have been constructed at most intersections. The road milling process began last week.

Besides making the street two-way, the plan calls for constructing three new roundabouts, building a number of turn lanes, installing new, brighter street lamps and implementing pedestrian- and bike-friendly elements. In addition, Forster Street between Front and N. 2^nd streets will be narrowed to eliminate one of the turn lanes.

Some of this work, including the new roundabouts at Verbeke, Reily and Kelker streets, will come after the initial paving work and the conversion to two-way traffic in June.

The ultimate aim, Bullock said, is to improve safety in line with the city’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate pedestrian fatalities on its roads.

“We have a lot of accidents on the street; we’ve had some fatalities,” he said. “We’re trying to reduce that.”

In addition, the city hopes to provide a better quality of life for people who live in the area by turning the high-speed corridor into a neighborhood road with less traffic at much slower speeds.

“We want to give an opportunity for the people, the residents in the area to see some growth in their homes and hopefully bring in some new businesses, as well,” he said.

In the meantime, Bullock urged patience for residents inconvenienced by the construction, which has reduced parking and created noise and dust.

“It is an inconvenience,” he said. “I compare it to a bad storm at the beginning, but there’s a bright day in the future. When we get to that point, everybody’s going to be loving it.”

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Harrisburg City Council approves funds for local groups, mandates recording of city board meetings

April 12, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council legislative session on Tuesday

A number of Harrisburg organizations will receive money to assist with housing assistance and social services, following approval by City Council.

On Tuesday, council voted to allocate annual federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds from both the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years will be distributed to several Harrisburg organizations. During the pandemic, the city did not allot these funds due to the influx of CARES Act funding that they instead worked to distribute.

The following organizations are recipients of the 2020 and 2021 ESG funds:

Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness, $50,000
Christian Churches United, $100,000
Shalom House, $50,000
YWCA, $50,000

The following organizations are recipients of the 2020 CDBG funds:

Justice House of Hope, $84,728
LHACC, $45,000
PAIRWIN (Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network), $39,220
Salvation Army, $75,000
The Worship Academy, $50,000

Additionally, $244,031 will go towards debt service, $425,000 for public improvement/public facilities, $344,746 for housing programs, $200,000 for demolition and $75,000 for the Dauphin County Library System.

The following organizations are recipients of the 2021 CDBG funds:

Center for Employment Opportunities, $25,000
AJB Drug & Alcohol, $48,586
Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg, $35,000
The Rock Church, $100,000
Justice House of Hope, $15,272

Additionally, $240,000 will be used for debt service, $504,600 for public improvement/public facilities, $359,066 for housing programs and $218,000 for demolition.

In other news, council approved a bill that would require Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board and Planning Commission meetings to be recorded and shared publicly. Council hopes that this bill will make these meetings more accessible for the public.

Also on Tuesday, the administration introduced Timothy Brooks, the city’s new budget manager. Brooks, a life-long Harrisburg resident, will be responsible for preparing and monitoring the city’s annual budget. He started in his position in late March.

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Home prices much higher, sales slip, in Harrisburg area in March

April 12, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

A pending home sale in Harrisburg

Home prices rose at a brisk pace, though sales fell, in the latest monthly report on previously owned homes in the Harrisburg area.

For March, 576 houses sold in the three-county region compared to 627 houses in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $238,900 from $209,900, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 309 houses sold, an increase of nine, while the median price rose to $205,750 from $179,500 in March 2021, GHAR said.

Cumberland County saw sales fall to 245 homes versus 287 the prior March, though the median price jumped to $280,000 from $233,050, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, sales dropped by 17 units to 23 homes, as the price increased to $216,000 versus $194,000 the prior March, said GHAR.

Houses sold relatively quickly in March, as the “average days on the market” dropped to 23 days compared to 31 days last year, according to GHAR.

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Top Weekend Recs

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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