Harrisburg Academy to hold fundraiser, provide potential scholarships for Ukrainian families

March 18, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Academy

One local school is turning its focus outside its walls to help neighbors globally.

Harrisburg Academy, a private school in Wormleysburg, plans to assist Ukrainian refugees through fundraisers, supply donations and possible scholarships.

“One of the missions of our school is to teach students to make the world a better place,” said Adrian Allan, head of school. “Our students very quickly put together something to help displaced Ukrainians.”

The initiative, organized by Harrisburg Academy students, includes partnering with the nonprofit Mission Central of Mechanicsburg.

March 23 will be “Denim Day” at the school, where students can pay $1 to wear jeans, instead of their usual uniforms. This money will be donated. They will also be collecting supplies such as hand warmers, first-aid kits, blankets and hygiene items. All contributions will be donated through Mission Central.

Community members also can get involved by donating supplies on March 23 at Mission Central.

Additionally, Allan said that the school is prepared to offer three full-ride scholarships to their high school to displaced Ukrainian students who may arrive in the local area. These scholarships would cover all four years of the students’ high school education.

While Allan does not yet know if any Ukrainian families will come to the area, he has partnered with pastors at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camp Hill to keep a lookout.

Harrisburg Academy is an International Baccalaureate Organization (IB), which means the school has a focus on providing students with a global perspective and critical thinking skills.

According to Allan, the IB program is recognized in Ukraine. If refugee students returned to the country after graduating from Harrisburg Academy, their diplomas would be recognized as a high academic standard for college admission, he said.

Harrisburg Academy’s IB program also has a strong focus on service. Students plan, organize and complete several service projects throughout their years at the school, he said. The decision by students to help Ukrainian families wasn’t a required project, but something they did on their own. For Allan, this is what their school’s mission is all about.

“We ask students, if you hear about global issues, what are you going to do about it?” he said. “Something we tell them is that it’s not enough to know, you must act.”

Harrisburg Academy is located at 10 Erford Rd, Wormleysburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Reminder: Many downtown Harrisburg roads to close Saturday for St. Pat’s Day race, parade

March 18, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Roads outlined in red will be closed for much of Saturday. Image: courtesy of city of Harrisburg

Downtown Harrisburg will experience numerous road closures this weekend, coinciding with the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

On Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., Market Street will be closed from the start of the bridge in Wormleysburg to 2nd Street in Harrisburg. Front Street will be closed from Forster Street south to Blackberry Street, and 2nd Street will be closed from Market north to Forster, according to the city.

The roads will remain closed until 5 p.m.

Saturday’s events kick off with the return of the Lucky Charm Race from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The four-mile race will run through City Island, Riverfront Park and up and down Front, 2nd and State streets.

The Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade will then step off from the Market Street Bridge at 2 p.m. Organized by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, the parade will feature an assortment of entertainment, with eight Irish pipe-and-drum bands, fire trucks, floats, Star Wars characters, Irish dance groups, local bands and more.

The parade will start on Market Street by the Dauphin County Courthouse, turn on to 2nd Street, continue to North Street, where it will turn left, before finishing along Front Street until it meets again at the Market Street Bridge.

No parking will be available during the day on City Island. Free, metered street parking is available for four hours on Saturday by downloading the Parkmobile app using the code “LUVHBG” at checkout. Additionally, the Market Square parking garage (on 2nd and Chestnut streets) will offer $10 event parking all day. Free parking is also available after 5 p.m. in the downtown district.

For more information on Harrisburg’s St. Patrick’s Day events, visit www.harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.

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Open Stage remembers Anne Frank through performance, special exhibit

March 17, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Stuart Landon feels a special connection to Anne Frank, after years of retelling her tragic story at his downtown theater, Open Stage.

However, this year is distinctly special, as the theater couples its annual one-night performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” with a rare photography exhibit.

Open Stage will perform its production on Thursday night and feature a collection of reproduced photographs taken by Frank’s father, Otto, in the years before the family went into hiding from the Nazis.

“I’m very excited,” said Landon, Open Stage’s producing artistic director. “We have such a relationship with Anne Frank and her story. Now, we get to deepen that. We are very lucky to have this intimate peek into their lives.”

Open Stage has been performing this story for 23 years, Landon said, and actors are excited to be back at it after the years off due to COVID. The photography exhibit, “Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album,” only adds to the experience.

Throughout Open Stage’s lobby and theater room are dozens of pictures showing Frank and her sister Margo as young children, as well as parents Otto and Edith, along with other family members. One image shows the daughters at the beach, another captures Edith rocking baby Margo.

“It’s haunting knowing what happened, but we get to enjoy with them the years previous to their hiding,” Landon said.

The exhibit comes from The Anne Frank Center in New York City.

Although the production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” is only one night, the exhibit will remain at the theater through April 9. It will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Additionally, Open Stage will bring the story of Frank, along with that of Martin Luther King Jr., to local students in early April.

“Letters from Anne and Martin” will highlight the writings of two influential figures in history, who were both born in the same year. Landon said that they will take the performance to several local schools.

Before COVID-19, Open Stage would bring in hundreds of students for performances about Frank every year. However, the pandemic changed plans and caused the theater to pivot.

The educational aspect of the yearly feature of Frank’s story is especially important to Landon.

“It’s so important to present this story to young people, and really to everyone, to make sure that these atrocities never happen again,” he said. “Our goal is always for people to leave changed.”

On the last night of the exhibit, Open Stage will hold a free performance of “Letters from Anne and Martin” for the community.

“To have an exhibit so personal and private adds a layer of beauty to the experience this year,” Landon said.

Open Stage is located at 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For tickets to “The Diary of Anne Frank” or for more information, visit their website.

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Harrisburg removes dead trees on Market Street with plans to plant even more

March 17, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Crews cut down dead and dying trees on Market Street on Thursday morning.

Harrisburg is doing a little spring cleaning of its own as it replaces a number of dead and dying trees.

Starting on Wednesday, the city Parks and Recreation Department crews began cutting down around 30 dead trees along Market Street with plans to plant 50 new ones.

Focusing on the section of Market Street between Cameron and 15^th streets, the city will remove trees, many of which were planted beneath power lines, and have been topped over the years to provide clearance.

“These trees were not supposed to be planted in this area,” said Sasha Ross, Harrisburg parks maintenance supervisor. “Now we won’t have to cut around power lines and make the trees look uneven.”

Along with volunteer assistance from PP&L Electric, the city will be working to remove trees through Friday.

The city will then plant new cherry trees in the area. A planting date has not yet been determined, but Parks and Recreation officials hope to begin in late April, according to a statement.

According to the city, the goal is to contribute to the tree canopy cover across Harrisburg, helping to improve air quality and reducing cooling costs.

“Any time you see a street full of beautiful trees, it’s something spectacular,” Ross said. “It makes you smile, or at least, I know I smile. So, I’m pretty sure city residents will love to see it as well.”

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

March 17, 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:

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Top Weekend Recs
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For something new: Check out new-to-you guest brewery and distillery in SoMa Harrisburg Thursday and Friday. Plus, even more St. Patrick’s Day hijinks and spring equinox celebrations.

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

Things on my agenda this weekend: Burn30, maybe some St. Patrick’s Day fun, sip @ soma and 3rd in the Burg, then a kid-free (!!) weekend to Lancaster!

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

For your weekend planning

All you need → March in SoMa Harrisburg
What is sip @ soma anyway?
View our local Restaurant Directory
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See what else you missed on the blog.

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Things to Do in Harrisburg + Central PA | Weekend Roundup | Sara Bozich

Top Weekend Recs

Details on Camp Hill’s upcoming Spring Fling
Preview of Prima Theatre’s Murder Ballad
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What are you doing this weekend around Harrisburg? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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Local developer proposes turning industrial building in Uptown Harrisburg into apartments

March 16, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

D&F Realty may turn this building at 2463 Jefferson St. into apartments.

An old industrial building in Uptown Harrisburg may soon get a new lease on life.

At a Harrisburg City Council work session on Tuesday, local development group D&F Realty shared a proposal to transform a warehouse building at 2463 Jefferson St. into apartments.

The project would include 22 apartment units in total. They plan to create 18 units in the 12,622-square-foot main portion of the building. Those would all be one-bedroom units with the exception of one two-bedroom unit, explained David Peffley of D&F Realty. Additionally, there are already four existing units in an adjacent building on the property.

Peffley expects to charge around $800 to $900 per month in rent for both the one- and two-bedroom units.

D&F plans to “freshen up” the exterior of the building while keeping the industrial look. This would include replacing windows, painting and landscaping, they explained.

Included in the proposed plan is the construction of an off-street parking lot with 20 spaces.

In November 2021, D&F received Zoning Hearing Board approval for the building, permitting a multi-family dwelling use and offering parking relief, decreasing the number of required parking spaces from 26 to 20.

According to the Harrisburg Planning Bureau, additional on-street parking is available on Schuylkill and Jefferson streets.

D&F Realty purchased the building in July 2021 for $150,000. If council approves the project, they plan to begin construction as early as June and expect to finish it in about a year.

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Dauphin County, local officials oppose South Bridge tolling proposal

March 16, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Rep. Patty Kim (D-103) speaks at Wednesday’s Dauphin County commissioners meeting, along with other local representatives.

Local officials did not mince their words when it came to discussing how a proposed I-83 South Bridge tolling plan would negatively impact the Harrisburg area.

At a Dauphin County commissioners meeting on Wednesday, city, county and other local representatives supported a resolution opposing PennDOT’s proposal to toll the bridge.

“To still continue to push for a bridge tolling of residents and those who transport for a living might be the most tone-deaf move of all time,” Commission Chair Mike Pries said. “Either they simply don’t have their finger on the pulse of the people or they simply don’t care.”

The proposal to toll the John Harris Memorial (South) Bridge is part of PennDOT’s plan to improve and widen the 62-year-old bridge spanning the Susquehanna River to meet traffic flow and safety needs. The upwards of $500 million project is slated to begin construction in 2024. To assist in paying for the construction and maintenance of the project, PennDOT has proposed tolling the bridge.

While officials present at the meeting agreed with the need for bridge improvements, they disagreed that tolling residents and commuters is the best way to fund the project.

“They need to reconsider another bridge, not a commuter bridge like ours,” said Rep. Patty Kim (D-103). “A toll would bring an economic and quality of life disaster to our communities in Dauphin and Cumberland counties.”

Several other local representatives echoed Kim’s statements, noting the economic hardship that the tolls would bring to residents who frequently use the roadway, some, multiple times a day.

Harrisburg City Council member Dave Madsen also saw it as a threat to Harrisburg businesses and the city’s economy at large, as workers may opt to avoid driving into the city and paying the fee by teleworking, he said.

“Communities like Harrisburg rely on commuters,” Madsen said. “This additional cost will have less of them coming through and will have an economic impact.”

Additionally, officials expressed concern with the potential traffic that could significantly increase in Harrisburg if drivers decide to avert the tolls by taking an alternate route.

“It will cause this community around us, in Dauphin and Cumberland county, a huge problem in traffic flow,” said Tom Mehaffie (R-106).

Others brought up ideas for alternate funding sources, also noting that the state is receiving billions of dollars under the federal government’s infrastructure bill. Rep. Greg Rothman (R-87) proposed using that money to help fund the project, rather than tolling.

The Dauphin County commissioners, with the support of all of the local officials present at the meeting, approved the resolution strongly opposing the tolling of the bridge. The commissioners also noted that they are requesting a meeting with Gov. Tom Wolf to discuss the plan.

“I think we are all on one accord as it relates to standing against this particular proposal, if that means anything, there are no weak links in this chain,” Commissioner George Hartwick said.

For more information on the I-83 South Bridge Project, visit PennDOT’s website.

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Snag & Bag: Make your city sparkle at annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup

March 15, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

A past Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup

Grab your work gloves, as the Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup returns next month for an annual day of city beautification.

The volunteer day will take place Saturday, April 23, marking a decade for the cleanup event, which usually coincides each year around Earth Day.

“We know litter and debris have a negative impact on our city and health,” said Jennifer Wintermyer, chief executive officer of Tri County Community Action. “The Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup is a great way to get involved in your community, to give back, and to help us all build communities of opportunity together.”

The event is a collaboration of Tri County Community Action, Clean & Green Harrisburg and Keep Harrisburg/Dauphin County Beautiful.

Sponsors include UPMC, Capital Region Water, the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Waste Management, Harrisburg city and the city Department of Public Works.

Volunteers and groups are encouraged to register early. Pre-registration runs until the day of the event, but those registered by March 24 will receive an event T-shirt.
Volunteer roles include litter pickers, truck drivers, site coordinators and dumpster monitors.

Since the event’s start 10 years ago, volunteers have removed over 380 tons of litter off of city streets, according to Tri County.

“Just a few hours on a Saturday morning can make a huge impact that benefits us all,” Wintermyer said.

The 10^th annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup takes place April 23, 8 a.m. to noon. For more information and to register, visit www.cactricounty.org/ghlc or contact Tri County Community Action at [email protected].

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Group of local creatives to open Harrisburg studio with focus on accessibility, representation for marginalized artists

March 15, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

The Garden Collective artists. From left: Dre Ceja, Gabe Darling, Hanni Sindelar, Lou Kirkland

According to a group of local artists, accessibility is key to a great creative community.

This weekend, The Garden Collective will open an art studio with that value at the forefront—that art is for everyone.

Located on the third floor of Grace Church’s building on State Street in Harrisburg, the studio will provide workspace for the four founding artists: Lou Kirkland, Hanni Sindelar, Gabe Darling and Dre Ceja. More than that, they envision it as a space where other artists like them have a place to create.

“Art is this really beautiful way to bring people together,” Ceja said. “It can be really powerful for the community.”

The group explained that the idea for The Garden Collective came out of a desire to have a space in Harrisburg that is accessible for artists who are often underrepresented in other studios. They’ve seen how things like income, race, sexuality, gender and culture have made it harder for people to access certain spaces. Specifically, they want to highlight Black and brown artists and artists from the LGBTQ community—identities that are represented within the group of founders.

“It’s very important for us to be able to center people within marginalized populations,” Kirkland said. “There really just aren’t that many opportunities for people who look like us and identify like we do.”

Among the four artists are photographers, painters, costume designers, jewelry makers and mixed media artists. With her photography business, You by Lou, Kirkland creates portraits of Black and brown individuals. Ceja specializes in multimedia art through their brand, Studio Con Chile. Darling focuses on photography and zine creation with their brand, Mx. Darling Creations, and Sindelar’s business, Treats Worldwide, specializes in custom clothing designs.

The group plans to offer workshops, gallery shows, vending events and other opportunities for collaboration at their studio. Eventually, they hope to have a permanent gallery and craft corner with materials for artists to use for projects.

According to Darling, the group chose the name, The Garden Collective, as a representation of what they hope to do—plant seeds in the community.

“I want to cultivate community through art,” Darling said. “I feel like we are really able to do that in this space.”

The Garden Collective will hold a grand opening celebration on March 19 at 3 p.m. There will be a ribbon-cutting, followed by a reception with authentic Mexican food, music by DJ She Wolf and local artist vendors. Face masks and vaccination cards or proof of a negative COVID test are required for entry.

Grace Church is located at 216 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit The Garden Collective on Instagram or email them at [email protected].

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State grants to fund major projects on Capital Area Greenbelt

March 15, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Photo courtesy of Capital Area Greenbelt Association

Two big projects soon will begin on the Capital Area Greenbelt, funded by recent grants from the commonwealth.

On Tuesday, the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) announced that it has received more than $280,000 for environmental infrastructure projects centered on two creeks that run through the 24-mile park and trail system.

“We’re extremely grateful to have been selected to receive this grant funding and look forward to the important and long-lasting benefits it will bring to our community through the completion of two key environmental projects,” said CAGA Board President Mike Shaull.

A $230,150 Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection (Growing Greener) grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be used to restore 500 feet of stream bank on Lower Spring Creek near the Ivey Lane Apartment complex. Additional funding from CAGA and Skelly & Loy, Inc. complement the grant, bringing the total project spend to $300,000, according to CAGA.

CAGA shared that it received the competitive grant over more than 200 other eligible applications.

“We were very pleased to see such an interest in watershed restoration and protection. Selecting among the many excellent project proposals was very difficult,” stated the DEP award letter, according to CAGA.

A second grant of $54,600 from the Community Conservation Partnership Program, administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), was also awarded.

The funding, coupled with an annual maintenance grant from Harrisburg city and CAGA contributions, will be used to restore the riparian buffer on Lower Spring Creek from 19^th to 28^th streets, CAGA said. The project, which will include the removal of invasive species and the planting of 1,800 trees and shrubs, will have a total cost of $150,000.

In other Greenbelt news, CAGA stated that the Phoenix Park loop will be closed through April 15 due to construction work related to the “Tiny Home Veterans Village.”

Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania plans to construct a small village of 15 “tiny homes,” plus a community center, to provide housing and support services for homeless veterans.

A rendering of the “tiny home” village planned for the Phoenix Park area

According to CAGA, trail users still will be able to access the Greenbelt to cross the bridge over the railroad tracks coming and going in both directions.

Phoenix Park is an extension of the Greenbelt just beyond the PennDOT building in south Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River.

For more information about the Capital Area Greenbelt Association, visit their website.

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Sunday

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