Creation & Pollination: Sprocket Mural Works creates pocket park and mural to encourage environmentalism in Harrisburg

August 31, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers help paint a mural in Patrick Alley.

Patrick Alley in Midtown Harrisburg likely would’ve fit the description of what moms picture when they tell their kids to avoid walking in dark alleys.

It was an overgrown, neglected space known for crime and trash dumping behind a strip of businesses on the 1300-block of N. 3rd Street—not exactly pedestrian-friendly.

But co-founder of Sprocket Mural Works, Meg Caruso, saw potential.

In 2019, Sprocket completed a mural on the side of the Broad Street Army and Navy Store on Sayford Street. During the outreach process, Caruso was talking with neighbors and heard a recurring theme—their dissatisfaction with the adjacent Patrick Alley. Caruso and volunteers developed a plan.

Starting on Martin Luther King Jr. day in 2020, a group of over 30 people from Sprocket and the neighborhood group, Friends of Midtown, hauled out two truckloads of trash, furniture and weeds from the alley. Since then, there have been several more cleanup days.

Over the next year, the organization, with the help of local volunteers, transformed the blighted alley into a pocket park—a colorful, natural escape.

Volunteers planted over 100 new plants, installed a rain barrel to water them, spread wood chips, and, in typical Sprocket style, brought in an artist to paint a mural.

“Murals and plants are both very powerful forces individually, but even more so together,” Caruso said.

Bee Creative

While the Patrick Alley project has had a huge aesthetic impact on the neighborhood, Caruso was quick to point out that the endeavor was far more encompassing.

Funded largely by an Environmental Education Grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, the mural and park were created to be both environmentally friendly and educational.

“We are really happy to be able to support and work with them,” said Kathleen Banski, the environmental education program coordinator for the DEP. “They are really trying to identify what the community needs.”

While the DEP funded 51 projects in 2021 and has awarded over $12 million in grants over the years, Banski believes that this is the first time they’ve funded an artistic mural. Sprocket’s vision and energy drew them in, she said.

The mural, by artist Gloria Jean Martin, features flowers and honeybees, highlighting the vital role of pollinators and native plants in the state’s agricultural environment.

Martin, a Harrisburg native, finds inspiration for her work through nature, fitting in perfectly with the theme of the project.

“Nature is our first teacher,” she said. “We learn a lot from nature. It impacts our lives.”

Caruso said that Martin was a natural choice for the project since she specializes in painting whimsical floral scenes, including bees and butterflies.

According to Penn State University’s Center for Pollinator Research, the state is home to hundreds of species of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths and beetles. Crops that rely on pollinators contribute over $260 million to the state’s economy annually.

However, according to the center, pollinator populations across the world are shrinking due to habitat fragmentation, pesticide use, climate change and the spread of emergent pathogens, parasites and predators.

The mural shines a spotlight on these crucial creatures to the environment, Caruso said. Informational signage will also accompany the mural as an educational tool.

But not only does the mural seek to communicate a message, the entire park is an example of what residents can do to create an environmentally friendly garden in their own space.

Manada Conservancy, a land trust dedicated to preserving land in Dauphin County, donated 100 native plants to Sprocket’s pocket park, said Jennifer Dunlap, former executive director.

The plants include thin leaf sunflowers, raspberry wine bee balm, purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, among others.

According to Dunlap, native plants are the foundation for a healthy ecosystem and sustain creatures, such as pollinators. However, native plants are disappearing as development encroaches and invasive species take over.

Dunlap and Sprocket hope that the pocket park will serve as a model for the community.

“Planting native plants is something almost everyone can do,” Dunlap said. “It’s a way that anyone can be a part of restoring the environment.”

Manada offers the community a chance to start their own native gardens at their native plant sales. One will take place at the East Hanover Township Nature Park on Sept. 11.

They also plan to hold a pop-up native plant sale in partnership with Sprocket near the pocket park.

“We want to make it easy to get native plants into local people’s hands,” Caruso said.

Not only did Manada share in Sprocket’s vision for creating more gardens in the city, other organizations donated, as well.

Master gardeners from Penn State University brought armfuls of plants and bulbs to plant in the pocket park. The city also pitched in, leaving a pile of woodchips for volunteers to spread.

“There’s a lot of people invested, and hopefully with the mural, we can find ways to not only make it look good, but have people learn something,” Caruso said.

Planting Beauty

When Puja Gellerman moved to Harrisburg a few years ago, she was hoping to get involved in the community. She loved to garden and started asking around to see where the local green spaces were.

When Gellerman started talking with Caruso about the neglected Patrick Alley and creating a vision for it, she saw an opportunity to get involved in bringing beauty to the community.

“As an occupational therapist, I know and understand the therapeutic value of gardening,” she said. “I’ve always had the belief that the beauty around us helps us feel good.”

Gellerman participated in the first cleanup day in 2020 and more since then. She hopes it will serve as a “pilot space” for other areas in the city.

Sprocket is already working with Manada to discuss future partnerships and ways to enhance Harrisburg’s beauty and environment.

“The strength that they have, that we are really excited about, is that they are going to be making local connections,” Banski said. “Environmental education isn’t teaching people what to think, but how to think about what is going on in their community.”

Most of Sprocket’s murals involve some preliminary cleanup and landscaping, but this was their first that included gardening on a large scale. According to Caruso, she hopes it’s not their last.

“I think this is a great example of what can be done in the city when everyone pitches in,” Caruso said. “We have so many people willing to help make things beautiful.”

The Patrick Alley Pocket Park is located in Midtown Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

To learn more about Manada Conservancy, visit www.manada.org.

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The Painted Word: Take an artsy stroll during Gallery Walk 2021

August 31, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Art by Jim Morphesis

The ring of school bells heralds September’s seasonal changes.

This month, the venerable three “R’s” (reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic) assume new meaning for the 33rd edition of the citywide Gallery Walk, now representing “rejuvenation,” “renovation” and “renewal.” And one more “R” added for good measure—“rebounding.”

Carrie Wissler-Thomas, CEO of the Art Association of Harrisburg, is the coordinator of this major fall art event. She is most excited about the 60% increase in participating venues this year, appropriately totaling 21 sites for ‘21. Join me as we channel categories collectively.

Take Me To Church: Since Gallery Walk falls on a Sunday, you may want to start the tour at one of four downtown churches. Showcasing a groundbreaking exhibit within the Riverfront Gallery at St. Stephen’s Cathedral is “De-Colonizing The Christ,” featuring 28 works of Christ as non-white or non-European. It is powerful in its scope and vision. From there, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church will feature the paintings of Halifax artist Thomas Wise. Zion Lutheran Church will showcase small prints of Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe. Tours of the church also will be available. Similarly, church tours will take place at Salem United Church of Christ. Look for “From The Broken Pieces” stained glass art from Diane Hoffer, who creates astounding mosaics, while Barbara James, mixed media artist, showcases her realistic works.

History Housed: The components of history and education go hand-in-glove throughout the McCormick Riverfront Library on Walnut Street. During your visit, you can learn about the library’s renovation and expansion next door into the historic Haldeman Haly House, while eyeing the work of several local artists.

Also downtown, Old City Hall has a history of its own, rich and varied. The apartment complex offers visual works from local artists. And, while strolling about Walnut Street, stop into Strawberry Square to check out the work of students of the Capital Area School for the Arts, who created art during the pandemic year, showing how it affected their lives.

Down on the riverfront, the Civic Club of Harrisburg’s Overlook mansion showcases the art of locals and can be viewed while gazing upon the magnificent Susquehanna. Farther down the river, the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion houses the repository of artifacts and adventures from the early days of the county.

Over in Midtown, at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, the exhibit “Harrisburg Heritage Highlights through the Decades” features vintage postcards and memorabilia for purchase. Also, author and local historian Rodney J. Ross will sign books for his latest, “Harrisburg and World War II.”

Galleries & Museums: The State Museum of Pennsylvania always has something fascinating within its circular walls. The exhibit, “Witness to History: Col. Paul Evanko’s 9/11 Field Notes,” coincides with the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It details PA State Police Col. Evanko’s race to an emergency command center as soon as he learned the first plane had hit the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

A few blocks away, Gallery@2nd takes the road less traveled, leading to a quartet of like-minded artists offering surreal and abstract approaches that unify their works in the collective experience.

The Susquehanna Art Museum, over in Midtown, is the only dedicated art museum in Harrisburg. It features the final week of the blockbuster exhibit, “The Circle of Truth.” The collection demonstrates how artists view the world as evidenced by 49 evolving interpretations.

Nearby, Robinson’s Gallery offers rare fine prints on view and for purchase, as Midtown Scholar features an art book sidewalk sale out front. Down the street, the resident artists of the Millworks will be on hand to share their work and chat with visitors.

The Susquehanna River provides all the inspiration needed for the gallery, Vivi on Verbeke. Photographer Jeb Boyd, with his virtuosic “Bridges” photographs, captures the fleeting and ever-changing light. Vivian Sterste, co-proprietor, channels her skills on the wheel to create her “Susquehanna River Series” pottery. Together, they present a gallery home that is different with every visit.

A stone’s throw away, Gallery Walk welcomes Harrisburg’s newest art space. The Nyeusi Gallery on 3rd Street specializes in art from Africa and the Caribbean, as well as local Black art. The spacious format is like a breath of fresh air, thanks to owners and curators Michelle Green and Dale Dangleben.

Bite To Eat, Place To Sleep: Add two more “R’s” for restaurant and rest. Mangia Qui is more than a great establishment to dine. Qui Qui Musarra, Staci Basore and Elide Hower will roll out the sidewalk for a plein air demonstration, with local artists painting outdoors. A few blocks away, City House Bed & Breakfast may be the perfect last stop on your itinerary if fatigue sets in. City House presents the paintings of Hershey artist, Joan Maguire, with her watercolor and oil paintings of the sea and shore. If you have a reservation, there are comfy beds upstairs for the weary.

Great Outdoors: Sign up for a guided mural tour. Learn the secrets behind the Harrisburg Mural Festival with artists’ inspirations, themes and techniques. By the end, you may even learn the “mural” of the story. Book your tickets at www.SprocketMuralWorks.com.

Back To The Beginning: This 33rd edition of Gallery Walk begins and ends at the Art Association of Harrisburg with its fall membership exhibition, “Duality.” The opening reception and awards will be held starting at noon with music provided by Hemlock Hollow. Charles Schulz of the Paper Lion Gallery will host the opening reception, with Randy Michener as the exhibition sponsor.

Last year’s Gallery Walk fell under a sparkling fall day and, by all accounts, was received with a tremendous turnout. This year promises even more venues to explore with the added bonus of perhaps not having to wear a mask (at least until Oct. 31).

Gallery Walk 2021 takes place Sept. 12, noon to 5 p.m., at venues throughout Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.artassocofhbg.com/events.

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A Scribe’s Life: A local playwright sets her creative eye on a long-lost ancestor, who played a key role in creating the U.S. Constitution

August 31, 2021 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Eric Jackson as Absalom Jones and Aaron Booth as Jacob Shallus

At a family reunion in 2005, Cindy Rock Dlugolecki learned of a previously unknown relative.

He was Jacob Shallus, who penned the original copy of the U.S. Constitution—on parchment —and was Dlugolecki’s first cousin six times removed.

Among the framers of the Constitution were the famous, including Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. Shallus, the son of German immigrants who served as an assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, had a much-lower profile.

A Mechanicsburg playwright, Dlugolecki is casting a spotlight on Shallus and the women connected to him in “The Hand that Holds the Quill,” a dramatic work with music. She based her research on a biography of the scribe by journalist-librarian Arthur Plotnik, who died last year.

Due to the subject matter, the cast of the play is heavily male. However, the wives of some delegates to Philadelphia accompanied their husbands. So, Dlugolecki included a fictional scene in which they are debating the issues at the city’s Robert Morris house.

“I worked hard to give each woman a distinct personality and political perspective,” she said.

The fact that the play’s production team consists of all women is coincidental, Dlugolecki said. In addition to her, they are director Chris Krahulec, producer Janet Bixler, composer Chris Purcell, music director Ellen Carnahan, and stage manager Carol McDonough.

Dlugolecki acknowledged deep gratitude to her team.

“I am in awe of the attention to detail each woman on this creative team has brought to the table,” she said. “‘Quill’ is in very capable hands.”

Work to Do

Dlugolecki believed that her work was largely finished following a 2019 table read. However, subsequent events convinced her otherwise.

“Since then, our nation has experienced two impeachments, Black Lives Matter marches protesting police violence, accusations of election fraud, an insurrection, and threats to voting rights,” she explained. “Now, I believe our democracy is fragile. The ending of the play now acknowledges there is still work to do.”

The play also makes people think about who was fully included in our country when the Constitution was drafted—and who was largely ignored, such as women, people of color and immigrants.

“There have been many unheard votes—silenced voices—in our country’s history,” Dlugolecki said.

The production team is enthusiastic about the play’s evolution.

“This is the first time I’ve worked with music so hot off the press,” Carnahan said. “The cast has been working hard to bring it to life. I think the audience will be pleased with the outcome.”

Purcell said that she was “thrilled” to write the musical score for this unique project.

“It is remarkable that Cindy is related to the individual who penned the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “The words, ‘We the People,’ have taken on a deeply personal meaning to me through the journey of creating, performing and recording the original score.”

In Awe

Dlugolecki’s writing career began in a high school journalism class. She also taught high school English and creative writing and attended playwriting workshops. A lifelong learner, she enrolled at age 60 in a master’s program for creative writing at Wilkes University. Now 71, she continues to pursue playwriting workshops.

While “Quill” is her latest project, Dlugolecki’s credits include 17 plays of varying lengths, produced mostly in central Pennsylvania theaters. “Great Expectations,” a video script created for the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, won the first-place Proclaim Award, which recognizes Catholic educators.

“Violet Oakley Unveiled,” Dlugolecki’s one-person play about the famous muralist whose works grace the PA Capitol building, will be performed on Nov. 12 and 13 at Open Stage of Harrisburg.

So, did Shallus—portrayed by actor Aaron Booth in “Quill”—realize the enormity of his task that September weekend, as he penned the new nation’s Constitution? His relative who, centuries later, captured his life in a new play, said that she’s not sure.

“I wish I knew,” Dlugolecki said. “He was used to engrossing official documents. However, this task did get him out of debt.”

“The Hand that Holds the Quill” will have three performances at the Capital BlueCross Theatre at Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.givebutter.com/Quill.

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Lost and Found? The art world loses perspective in “The Lost Leonardo”

August 31, 2021 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Photo courtesy of Sony Classics

What makes art valuable? Is it the artist who painted it? Is it the subject or the style it is painted in? Or is it the consumer who makes it valuable?

Director Andreas Koefoed’s “The Lost Leonardo” sets out to prove the latter in a dramatic account so full of twists and turns that it is almost comical, of the uncovering of the “Salvator Mundi”—or at least the version of it that surfaced in 2005.

It all begins when Alexander Parish and Robert Simon, two art dealers, purchase a damaged, painted-over “Salvator Mundi” for $1,200 at an art auction. While there are many copies of this famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci’s followers, the original DaVinci piece has been lost to the world since the early 1900s. So, naturally, any version of the “Salvator Mundi” has just a twinge of hope attached to it.

Parish and Simon take their severely damaged painting and bring it to Dianne Dwyer Modestini, an art restorer and conservation professor at the NYU Institute of Fine Arts, and she begins to clean the painting. By the end of this process, she is certain that it is DaVinci’s work. She claims the way the shading of the lip is painted could not be done by anyone other than DaVinci himself, noting the similarities between it and the “Mona Lisa.”

And so the spark is ignited. Modestini’s involvement in this scenario is a bit controversial, as many believe she had financial interest in the piece—she denies anything other than being paid generously for her restoration work. But Parish and Simon bring the painting to several other art critics to get their opinion, and, pretty soon, word begins to spread that they may just have a DaVinci original.

“Everyone wanted it to be a Leonardo,” one art critic says.

There are, however, plenty of critics who blatantly disagree. Many believe that the only parts of the painting that look like Leonardo’s work are the parts that were painted over by Modestini. Others believe that there are too many flaws in the painting for it to be the work of such a great artist—uneven eyes, no background distortion behind the orb and painted on wood, allowing for the grain to interfere with the work.

But the undecided origin of the painting does not prevent it from making waves in the art consumer world. This is where this documentary really shines, showing the painting’s rapid progression through auctions and various transactions, gleaning more and more financial value as it goes, much to the chagrin of many art critics. But art takes on the value we give it. Even sometimes up to $450.3 million.

We see billionaires, Saudi Arabian princes, French presidents and the Louvre all losing their collective minds over a painting with origins that are still uncertain. Just when you think the painting’s power has reached its peak, the stakes get raised every time. It is a fantastical tale, and Koefoed tells it in such an engaging way, weaving the power of financial gain in the art world into the modern history of this potential last work of Leonardo.

Nearly everyone who plays a part in this story, right down to the handful of art critics who studied the piece in its early stages of presentation, was interviewed to add to the perspective of the film, creating a very “he said, she said” atmosphere, while simultaneously keeping its dramatic, edgy tone. What results is an easily accessible glimpse into the art world and an easily enjoyable film for those who may not have known any of the goings-on that the documentary addresses.

“The Lost Leonardo” will reach the big screen at Midtown Cinema in September. Don’t miss this wild journey of a film.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

Special Events

At Midtown Cinema

Down in Front! presents

“Troll 2” (1990)

Friday, Sept. 10, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975)

Friday, Sept. 17, 9:30 p.m.

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Harrisburg finances stable, fund balance strong in mid-year budget update

August 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Members of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, at their meeting last week

Harrisburg’s mid-year financial condition appears strong, with a healthy budget balance, according to a mid-year fiscal update.

In a meeting last week, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg (ICA) discussed the city’s “Mid-Year Fiscal Review” for 2021, which stated that the city had $41.7 million in the bank.

“The reports demonstrate good revenue receipts for the first six or seven months of the year, a solid balance in the general fund,” said board vice-chair Ralph Vartan, citing the mid-year report, along with two other financial reports recently received by the ICA.

With encumbrances—expenses incurred but not yet paid—the fund balance totaled nearly $4 million dollars less, at $37.8 million, Vartan said.

The mid-year report, which the ICA received on Aug. 16, states that the city has several large expenses that will eat into its large fund balance through the second half of the year. These include an $8 million general obligation bond payment, about $5 million in capital expenditures and $4.6 in pension payments.

Nonetheless, the city should end the year well above its originally targeted $13 million fund balance, according to the ICA.

In its report, the city reported that revenue collections were nearly $3 million more than at the same period last year. Business-related tax receipts were especially strong, according to the report.

“Total revenues are on pace to exceed the budgeted amount for the year, with particularly strong performance from earned income tax and business privilege tax revenues,” the mid-year review states.

In contrast, the city showed weak parking tax revenue, which officials attributed to less commuting into the city, mostly due to the slow return of state workers to their offices.

“Many city employers, including the commonwealth, Harrisburg’s largest employer, are still not requiring regular in-office work, which has a materially negative impact on parking revenues,” according to the mid-year report. “While the city’s budget anticipated a slow recovery from these sources, revenues are even lower than expected.”

ICA members generally approved of the city’s financial stewardship, but noted two areas of concern.

First, members cited what they considered to be a low rate of collections within the Neighborhood Services Fund, which covers sanitation services. Vartan stated that the collection rate stood at 88% but should be above 95%.

Secondly, the city saved money not only because of strong tax receipts but because it’s having difficulty hiring for open positions.

“Generally, I agree the numbers look good,” said board member Doug Hill. “I don’t know how durable it will all be because the surplus balance relies in part on a continuing set of staff vacancies.”

Vartan agreed.

“When you see the staff vacancies—saving money is great,” he said. “But unfilled budgeted positions would unduly and deleteriously affect the city’s ability to execute their program requirements.”

Several ICA members expressed satisfaction with the resiliency of Harrisburg’s business community, as evidenced by the city’s strong business tax revenue.

“Maybe the local business community and the small entrepreneurs and the established businesses should give themselves a little pat on the back for revenues that justify tax returns more than anybody believed would be [possible],” Vartan said.

For more information about the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg, visit their website.

Click here to read Harrisburg’s “Mid-Year Fiscal Review”: 2021-COH-Mid-Year-Report

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Broad Street Market sign reaches fundraising goal, moves forward with repair plan

August 30, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Fire Bureau dismantles the Broad Street Market sign after it suffered windstorm damage earlier in August.

The wind might’ve defeated the Broad Street Market’s iconic sign, but the Harrisburg community wouldn’t let that stand for long.

The market has successfully raised enough funds to move forward with upgrading and replacing its sign attached to the front of the stone market building.

“The sign means a lot to us here [at the market], but I think it means even more to the community,” said Josh Heilman, executive director of the Broad Street Market Alliance.

A December windstorm damaged the sign, ripping off two letters. In May, the nonprofit market called on the community to help raise funds for the repairs.

According to Heilman, a second windstorm in August further damaged the sign, and that was the needed final push in their GoFundMe fundraiser.

In the end, the sign repair project received more than $20,000 from individual donors on GoFundMe and about $23,000 from private and corporate donors.

The nonprofit, Lighten Up Harrisburg, recently made a large donation, sending the market over its goal of $40,000.

Started around 2012, Lighten Up Harrisburg focused on raising funds for lighting upgrades along the Walnut Street Bridge. They ended up raising enough money to support lighting projects across the city, including upgrades on Market Street in Allison Hill, in Shipoke and on the Market Street Bridge.

According to Dauphin County Prothonotary Matt Krupp, the founder of the organization, they recently donated $10,000 in remaining funds from their 2012 fundraiser to the market sign upgrade, which includes a substantial lighting component.

“We were looking for the right project to be the capstone of Lighten Up Harrisburg,” Krupp said. “When I saw the market was in dire need of redoing the sign, I thought this would be perfect.”

Now that the market has met its goal, officials are working to schedule a time for Harrisburg-based RPM Signs & Lighting to install the new sign, Heilman said.

The old sign, created in 1996, has been taken down and is being refurbished to include the market’s new logo, featuring silhouettes of the two market buildings. It will also include increased lighting around the letters, as well as other replacements and upgrades.

This sign, Heilman assured, will be built with heavy gauge aluminum, making it last for much longer than the previous one, which was constructed with laminated plywood.

He expects the sign to be installed by the end of October at the latest.

Restaurateur Josh Kesler, owner of the Millworks, located across the street from the market, was the largest individual donor to the project, giving around $3,000.

“The market is the lifeblood of the city,” said Kesler, who also sits on the market’s board of directors. “The market needed some help, so I wanted to do what I could.”

However, on average, most people gave about $20, which showed the investment of the community, Heilman said.

“We weren’t walking around asking people for donations; they took it upon themselves,” he said. “It’s really an astonishing thing that the community came together in the way that they did.”

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

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New developers, new plan for dozens of Midtown Harrisburg lots

August 27, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

This city-owned lot at N. 4th and Calder streets is the future site of townhouses under a new development plan for the MarketPlace neighborhood.

There’s a new plan for a broad swath of Midtown Harrisburg, as the city’s redevelopment agency has selected a developer for dozens of long-empty lots.

In a meeting on Friday, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority chose the city-based development team of Chris and Erica Bryce and Harrisburg Commercial Interiors (HCI) to complete the unfinished MarketPlace development, consisting of 67 lots sprinkled between Reily Street and the Broad Street Market area.

The unanimous vote gave the developers permission to move ahead with their plan, which includes a mix of single-family townhouses, small apartment buildings and mixed-use commercial space.

“I’m very pleased with this decision,” said Chris Bryce, after the meeting. “I think what happened will be great for the future of Harrisburg.”

Their plan bested a competing proposal by Philadelphia-based Odin Properties and Harrisburg-based RB Development, which likewise was seeking “designated developer” status for the lots.

The authority voted 3-0 for the Bryce/HCI proposal, though members did not state why they made their selection.

After the vote, Ryan Sanders of RB Development declined to comment on the authority’s decision.

Both developers are currently active in the Midtown area.

Last year, the authority selected the Bryces/HCI to develop dozens of vacant lots that are part of the unfinished Capitol Heights project just across Reily Street.

They since have received city permission to begin the first phase of that project, which includes a small apartment building, a community center and townhouses along the 1600-blocks of N. 3^rd and Logan streets. The project should break ground in October, according to Matt Long of HCI.

Just weeks ago, RB Development received zoning board approval for Bethel Village, a low-income senior housing development at N. 6^th and Herr streets. The project is now is in the process of getting its final city approval from City Council.

In their proposal for MarketPlace, the Bryce/HCI development team envisions a total of 104 to 120 housing units, including apartment units and for-sale townhomes. Thirty to 40 will qualify as affordable, bringing the project into compliance with the city’s recently passed affordable housing statute, Long said.

The Bryce/HCI Capitol Heights/MarketPlace plan

The MarketPlace lots have a lengthy history dating back decades, when the city began to clear the area of abandoned and dilapidated buildings.

In 2005, State College-based S&A Homes was chosen to extend the existing townhouse community, but they stopped building in 2009, leaving dozens of lots empty.

Two years ago, the redevelopment authority reacquired the empty lots and chose Harrisburg-based Seven Bridges Development to complete the project, but that company never began construction, leading the authority to seek a new developer.

Long said that he expected the MarketPlace development to start early next year with the townhouse component, with a two-year construction timeframe for the entire project. First, the developers will need to purchase the vacant lots at market rates from the city, Bryce said.

In addition to townhouses and apartments, the project includes some new parking, several green spaces, a dog park and some ground-floor commercial space.

“I can’t wait to put the shovel in the ground,” said Long after the meeting. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Click here to see the Bryce/HCI proposal.

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Commonwealth to hold clinic in Harrisburg to increase vaccine accessibility

August 27, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

The state will hold a vaccine clinic in the Riverfront Office Center on Aug. 31.

Pennsylvania is hoping to get some more shots into the arms of residents and state workers by making vaccines more accessible.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration will hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Harrisburg on Aug. 31, and it’s open to the public.

“Getting vaccinated gives us the power to fight COVID-19 and provides the best protection against the COVID-19 virus and variants, including the highly transmissible Delta variant,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “This event, and other vaccination clinics in communities across the state, provide an opportunity for you and your families to get vaccinated.”

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Riverfront Office Center, where PennDOT is located at 1101 S. Front St., the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered to adults 18 and older. No registration is necessary.

The Pfizer vaccine will be given to school-aged children 12 years of age and older. For that vaccine, second doses will need to be scheduled with the state Department of Health or another vaccine provider.

Those attending the clinic may enter through the customer entrance at the Riverfront Office Center.

“Our hope is that offering a vaccine clinic at our facility will make it easier and more convenient for our commonwealth employees, customers and community members to get vaccinated,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We hope all employees and community members and those coming to the ROC for services take full advantage of this opportunity.”

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 27, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Absolute Pilates is a B Corps organization in the Harrisburg area.

Harrisburg is turning up the volume this weekend with back-to-back concerts on Friday and Saturday in Riverfront Park. But first, to start off your weekend, catch up on this past week’s local news, listed and linked, below. Then, rock out.

The Certified B Corporation movement started in Pennsylvania, which is home to over 60 certified B Corps—businesses positively impacting the community. In our magazine story, read about a few located in the Harrisburg area, including Absolute Pilates, Stroopies and Triple Bottom Brewing.

A chili cook-off will take place in October by The Alex W. Smith Foundation, our reporting found. They hope to carry on the legacy of a young chef, Alex Smith, who passed away in 2018, as well as to raise scholarship money for central Pennsylvania students.

Friends of Midtown’s Community Dog Park is set to close at the end of September, our online story reported. However, the neighborhood group hopes to find a new home for the park, where pups can run free.

The Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup will return this year to Allison Hill, Midtown and Uptown Harrisburg, our online story reported. Volunteers will spend the day working to beautify the city.

Harrisburg Superintendent Eric Turman spelled out his plans for the upcoming school year at a meet and greet event this week, our online story reported. His priorities include increasing safety, graduation rates, test scores and relationships.

The Harrisburg Symphony is gearing up for a new, in person, season, our online story reported. The symphony’s 2021-22 season will be held in the Scottish Rite Cathedral on 3rd Street in Uptown Harrisburg.

Joe Mama’s, on Derry Street in Harrisburg, serves up popular items like cheesesteak omelets, shrimp and grits and their fish and fries special. In our magazine story, read about the mother-daughter duo behind the restaurant and their made-from-scratch fare.

Salem United Church of Christ is the oldest place of worship in Harrisburg. In our magazine story, read about how the church, steeped in history, is finding new ways to serve and remain a presence in the community.

Sarah Bozich has the Riverfront Park concerts on her radar for this weekend, as well as plenty of other fun ideas. Check out her list, here.

State forests may be less popular than state parks, but they provide a uniquely peaceful and solitary getaway, our magazine story reported. If you’re looking to get off the grid for a bit, consider a trip into the forest.

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Barking up a New Tree: Midtown Harrisburg’s dog park to close, looks for permanent home

August 26, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Friends of Midtown’s Community Dog Park

Harrisburg dogs that have grown used to running free at the local park, will soon need to leash up.

Neighborhood group Friends of Midtown’s Community Dog Park soon will welcome pooches for its last month before closing on Sept. 30, said Terri Smith, co-chair of the park.

The dog park first opened in late 2018 on N. 7^th and Granite streets after years of fundraising by the organization. The initiative was headed up by Annie and Andy Hughes of Friends of Midtown who were inspired to create a space for their and their neighbors’ dogs to play.

They set up on an empty plot of land donated by developer Vartan Group, with plans to operate for two years on a test-run basis. They added fences and were ready to fill the park with some friendly canines.

And sure enough, they came. Smith would often bring her two pups, the younger of which would run laps around the green while the older black lab mix sat on the sidelines.

Smith herself even made many friends at the park—two-legged and four-legged ones.

“The dog park has been a great way to meet people,” she said.

During the pandemic, it became even more crucial to many Midtown residents as they sought ways to get out of the house and fight off isolation, Smith explained.

When the park hit its two-year mark, Friends of Midtown decided to keep it open for a third year, realizing how important it was during COVID.

However, the park was always meant to be temporary, and the cost of maintaining it became a burden on the organization, even with generous donations from community donors.

Although the park will soon close its gates, Midtown’s dogs may not have to whine for long.

Friends of Midtown is currently conducting a survey through Aug. 31 to gauge community interest in a new permanent dog park.

“There isn’t really another safe closed-in space for dogs to get out and get exercise,” Smith said.

Friends of Midtown doesn’t have any concrete plans as of yet, but hopes to gather ideas from residents.

Ultimately, they hope to partner with another local organization or business so that they don’t have to bear all of the costs.

On Sept. 29, the organization will hold a “Last Bash” for dogs and their owners to celebrate the park’s success and enjoy romping on the grass one last time.

“It’s sad to see the park close, but it definitely served its purpose,” Smith said. “We are hoping to continue that momentum and find a nice new spot.”

To complete the survey or for more information about Friends of Midtown’s Community Dog Park, visit their website.

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