Winter sports back on in Harrisburg after athletics freeze

January 6, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Harrisburg’s Lincoln School building

The Harrisburg School District had put a freeze on winter sports, but now they’re back on.

On Wednesday, Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer announced that athletics would resume on Friday with a number of new COVID-19 mitigation measures in place.

“No one can predict how the virus may or may not impact this plan, but we are going to give winter athletics a chance to participate during this very difficult time,” Celmer said in a statement posted on the district’s website.

The district will split practices to reduce the number of participants, limit roster sizes and allow windows of time for a safe transition between practices. No spectators will be allowed. Events will, instead, be live-streamed. Mask wearing will also be mandatory.

Additionally, Celmer said that a parental waiver will be required for each student-athlete.

The district will continue to monitor the spread of the virus and reserves the right to pause workouts and games again, Celmer said. Red flags include increased weekly positivity and incidence rates and COVID-19 cases amongst students or coaches. Recommendations from local health professionals to postpone may also be a reason to pause activities, he said.

At the beginning of the school year, fall sports were postponed originally, but started back up in October. However, when a football player contracted COVID, they were halted again.

For more information, visit https://www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us/.

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Group “bombs” Harrisburg with free scarves for the winter

January 6, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Scarves on a bike rack on N. 2nd Street.

Throughout the year, Robin Wheeler and a small group of volunteers gather at Penbrook United Church of Christ to knit, crochet and organize scarves.

But one Saturday a year, they go “bomb” Harrisburg.

“The Scarf Bombardiers” exploded through Harrisburg this past Saturday with more of a warm fuzzy kind of bomb. They hung over 320 scarves in the downtown area for people in need during the winter.

“This gets scarves to the people that need it the most, as quickly as possible,” Wheeler, the event organizer, said.

The group of just under a dozen hung scarves on railings, duck and cow statues and bike racks from Market to State street, in Riverfront Park, City Island and a few in Midtown. Some even made it to Steelton.

“There’s plenty of people that need help and want it, but don’t ask for it,” Wheeler said. “This gives us a chance to reach those people.”

The scarf bombing was started a number of years ago by Suzanne Volpe, who has since moved to Pittsburgh and started “bombing” there, Wheeler said. Wheeler and others got involved when Volpe created a Facebook page to invite others to join the action. When Volpe left, Wheeler took the reins, and it became an annual event.

This year, Wheeler hoped the scarves might reach even more people in need, as many residents took a financial hit due to the pandemic.

She loves the way the scarves look when they are finished, all colorful and waving in the breeze, but she’s even more pleased to see people picking them up and wearing them.

She recalled a time she gave a man a scarf, only to drive by later and see him wearing it.

“He looked so proud to have it,” she said. “It really warmed my heart.”

With this year’s scarf bomb finished, the team has plenty of time to prepare, but Wheeler already has the first scarf ready for next year, she said.

For those interested in volunteering or donating new, gently used or handmade scarves, message the “Scarf Bombardiers” on Facebook. People can also donate to Penbrook UCC and designate the money for the scarves. Wheeler assures the money will be turned into yarn.

“That little bit of kindness can let someone know they’re not alone and somebody cares,” she said.

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Year in Art

January 4, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Part I – January through June: Artists, Exhibits, 3rd in the Burgs and Social Relevance

The New Year started “on the sunny side of the street—grabbed our hats and left our worries on the doorstep.” We headed to the first art shows of the season on Jan. 10 to the Wild West (Shore).

The year began with art activist Carrie Breschi at Carlisle Art Learning Center (CALC), who kicked off 2020 with another healthy dose of social relevance in her merry-go-round of “Untamed Color,” an amalgam of art addressing seasonal affective disorder (pictured). With colorful sunburst stations set up for kids of all ages to create eye-popping art, Breschi enlisted a company of color consultants featuring Thomas Oakes, Cathy Stone, Deb Allen, Aron Rook and Carol Reed, who converged in the upstairs gallery at CALC. So bright and eclectic, you needed sunglasses indoors.

Meanwhile, miles away in Mechanicsburg, Metropolis Collective held an after-party all night long featuring 20 artists who held fast to the notion there are no rules in art. Under the watchful eyes of owner Richard Reilly (aka Rock-it Man) and Hannah Dobek, gallery director and artist in residence, Metropolis mapped out mayhem in the gallery as the Huckle Buckle Boys, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett unleashed their brand of outsider art, taking no prisoners.

January’s 3rd in the Burg featured two art exhibits that started with an “S,” Scottish landscapes at St. Stephens Cathedral’s Riverfront Gallery from the Art Association of Harrisburg’s CEO Carrie Wissler-Thomas, featuring sacred sites rendered in rich oils that lined the cloister gallery walls. The lure and lore of Scotland came alive under her ethereal brushstrokes.

“Kildalton Cross Sheep, Islay” by Carrie Wissler-Thomas

At the Susquehanna Art Museum, a radical “Shift” took place in the lobby gallery. The technology-tempered paintings from Tiffany Calvert and Alex Kanevsky created a new paradigm. Prominently featured in American Art Collector magazine, the exhibit brought national recognition to SAM, as well as to the artists’ works. To top that off, SAM at the Marty celebrated its fifth birthday in Midtown on Jan. 23 with a party and grand announcement of reaching its $3 million goal for future development and programs, due to the successful “Bridge to the Future” capital campaign.

With February designated for lovers and Mardi Gras partygoers, a 3rd in the Burg-timed event at the Art Association of Harrisburg featured a dual show, “Hear Me?”, an art exhibit featuring deaf artists from around the state downstairs, while upstairs, Charlie “Bootleg” Feathers and Reina “R76” Wooden took over the gallery rooms with a surprise behind every door. As the deaf artists created the connective tissue of disability disavowing any impact on art, likewise upstairs the dynamic duo left no doubt their art was aimed at social relevance too, addressing mental health awareness (Feathers) and the Me Too Movement (Wooden), in an artistic avalanche (pictured, “Me Too Mannequin”). The language of art is universal, be it spoken or signed.

The road trip to spring took us to the Milton Art Bank, where else but in Milton, Pa.? Their “Black/White” exhibit stole the show with a who’s who of A-list artists, past and present, sharing their diverse works across all mediums in black, white and even gray. Museum founder and curator Brice Brown of New York, created a visual tour-de-force for the art-loving public to appreciate in a six-month run. With the pandemic closing down businesses by mid-March, the edition of 3rd in the Burg became my take on “Outsider Art” scenes of nature’s art with a glorious sunset on the Susquehanna River, Italian Lake and an early peek at the eighth edition of “Art in the Wild,” which filled the void for the first look at springtime.

Spring’s return brought sad news when the art community lost local poet, Joe O’Connor, who succumbed to the coronavirus on April 13. One of Harrisburg and Camp Hill’s favorite sons, Joe left behind indelible words for all of us to live by in these uncertain times. Joe is sorely missed. The 50th Earth Day celebration took place behind shuttered doors at St. Stephens Riverfront Gallery, which featured the fine oil paintings of John McNulty, whose studies on the trees of the forest and glens were masterfully created with their inner-play of light and shadow. It is no wonder that McNulty is one of the area’s Seven Lively Artists.

“Conversation” by John McNulty

Meanwhile, at Elementary Coffee Co.’s temporarily closed North Street location, artist Katelyn Buchan achieved her “own personal Nirvana” with an introspective look at what drives her art and fuels her passion, an overlying principal of a deep and abiding love for nature. And to finish off the Earth Day celebration in neighborly fashion, our friends and artists Brandi and daughters Madden and Kendall with our very own granddaughter, Kiwi, created rainbows and stars chalked on the cul-de-sac for all to appreciate, lifting quarantine spirits.

The annual rite of spring known as “Art in the Wild” got moved back from its usual April opening to mid-May due to the pandemic. Established artists who create for the love of art pushed new entrants to grand heights. At the vanguard of installations were previous back-to-back winners Beau and Jana MacGinnes, as well as Eve Gurbacki, who inspired newcomers Suzanne Pagel and Jill Lippert, among others, in creating landscaping legerdemain (pictured, “Kindred Spirits” by Eve Gurbacki).

When June rolled around, I sought out the ancient art of rug-making. Our journey took us to Modern Rugs on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg. With their art gallery presentation, owners Zachary Nitzan and Tahirih Alia provided a rich history of rugs and romance, of exotic locales and enchanted people. Their lives are as fascinating as the exquisite rugs they produce. We were entertained and enlightened, regaled with high sea adventures and traveled to distant lands, all in search of the finest materials to create one-of-a-kind works of art. In the end, we realized rugs share the story of life, and we were hooked.

Additional Artistic Achievements

By mid-March, quarantine began as central Pennsylvania found itself in lockdown status. In response to a growing concern for her neighbors, Carlisle photographer Nicole Dube took it to heart and started a photographic journey, through social distancing, of over 100 family portraits. “Alive and Well” became not only an archival record but served as a time capsule of the pandemic to be valued even more in the years to come. Viewed at CALC over early summer, it served to define the heart of an artist and a community at large under stay-at-home orders. Dube’s exposé captured a place in time for posterity.

By April 2, just three weeks into restrictions, artists Nikos and Terra Phelps of Christmas Decor festooned an ordinary sycamore tree with 15,000 lights, providing Harrisburg with a Tree of Hope lighting, a way for city residents to rally behind local small businesses and restaurants experiencing hardship due to the pandemic (pictured). Their 17 hours of trimming the tree was a labor of love, which served as a fundraiser with its goal of raising $25,000. Twinkly Pro generously donated the lights, and the Tree of Hope at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge lit the way for other organizations to follow suit.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley Gittens

A plan is afoot to turn this blighted structure into a small apartment building.

Happy New Year Harrisburg! I think most of us are ready to leave 2020 behind, but here’s one last look into the final week of a year that made history. The stories are listed and linked below.

But first… The January issue of the magazine is out! Pick it up at one of our distribution locations, or read it online here.

TheBurg’s most popular online articles are revisited by our editor in his “Year in Review.” Take a look at the news that garnered the most clicks in 2020, from food to development to COVID, of course.

COVID-19 fitness routines can continue throughout the chilly winter months! Our magazine story has practical tips to stay motivated and ways to dress for the weather when running, biking or hiking outdoors.

COVID-19 restrictions imposed three weeks ago will expire on Jan. 4. In making the announcement, Gov. Wolf said that he’s been encouraged by a “plateauing” of new COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth, our online story reported.

Our editor came out with his annual list of what he considers to be Harrisburg’s biggest news stories of the past year. Capitol protests, development proposals, new city legislation and Sharkman all made the cut. Read more in his magazine column.

Harrisburg developers, artists and entrepreneurs have big plans for 2021. Our online story gives an overview of some of the major projects that may be coming down the tracks in the new year.

In his January Note, our editor reflects on lessons he’s learned from the pandemic and resolutions he hopes to carry through the new year. Hold him to them, Harrisburg!

Lonely Monk Coffee is a roaster new to Lemoyne, but not new to the coffee scene. Our magazine story tells why Josh Willits decided to buy the Lancaster-based brand and move it to the greater Harrisburg area.

Midtown’s “Carpets and Draperies building, known as such for the sign on the front façade, may become an apartment building, our online story reported. A city resident has a contract to buy this former department store building, one of the last dilapidated commercial buildings in Midtown.

Midtown Cinema’s renovations took longer than expected, due to COVID, but were finally completed in the fall, our magazine story reported. Re-opening looked different than usual, as they hosted small private screenings to follow safety guidelines during the pandemic.

Sara Bozich has a Weekend Roundup with plenty of things to do in the Harrisburg area. She also highlights ways to support local restaurants on this holiday weekend.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

December 31, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend around Harrisburg and central PA, we have a few below, most of which are virtual or outdoor only. Things on my agenda this weekend: a final FaceTime gift exchange, decluttering, and organization for the new year. Don’t forget to support your local brewery! Click here to find one near you.

For your weekend planning:

↬ Best New Year’s Takeout options (NYE + Day)
↬ 5 Ways to Support Local Restaurants Right Now
See what else you missed on the blog.

Below are ample options for your weekend.

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Top Weekend Recs

Visit RG Hummer today to get what you need for dinner tonight or tomorrow’s pork & kraut!
Get wine delivered to your door with WTSO
Binge Poured in PA: The Series – 2 new episodes added!

COVID-19 Disclaimer: As always, please click through the links or call ahead to get the most up-to-date information about venues and/or events below. It should also go without saying, but I’ll say it — Mask up, follow the rules, and be nice. And tip extra!

What are you doing this weekend around Harrisburg? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

What’s coming for Harrisburg in 2021? Development, road work, murals and more

December 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A view of the state Capitol

You can’t predict the future; you can only predict the past. But here’s my best stab at it anyway. Artists, entrepreneurs, engineers and city officials in Harrisburg have big plans for 2021. Below, you will get an idea of what may be coming down the tracks. Take it with a grain of salt. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that plans can change very quickly.

Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee
This was one of the hottest legislative topics in the city in 2020. Months of town hall meetings and public comments from concerned residents resulted in approval of a board tasked with keeping a check on Harrisburg’s Police Bureau. The nine board members will be empowered to review police documents and records and suggest recommendations to City Council. Council and the mayor are slated to appoint residents to serve during this coming year.

Community policing
Harrisburg substantially increased its Police Bureau budget for 2021, creating new community policing positions. There will be seven “community service aides,” a new civilian position aimed at improving bureau relations with residents and assisting officers. Two more co-responders will add to the one that already works in Harrisburg through a Dauphin County program. The co-responders are trained professionals who assist with police calls where mental health issues may play a role.

Concerts
Oh, the days of listening to live music. Harrisburg University had big plans for 2020 concerts, but COVID derailed all of them. That didn’t stop them from rolling out big names for 2021. Rockers Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are set to perform on May 29 in Riverfront Park. Sept. 23 brings a weekend concert blitz including Cage the Elephant, Dawes and Portugal. The Man. Cancelled concerts from 2020, including Young the Giant and MisterWives, have been rescheduled for 2021, as well.

Development
In his January column, our editor reflected on the many major development plans that popped up during 2020, but didn’t see much action. Developers have big plans for the new year, but when exactly will they come to fruition? The Bridge Ecovillage plans to start construction on Harrisburg’s old Bishop McDevitt High School in the spring. Integrated Development Partners may begin construction on the former Salvation Army building on Cumberland and Green streets, depending on city approvals. They are proposing 16 market-rate condominiums. Also hinging on city approval is a plan to renovate the former Gerber’s Department Store—also known as the “Carpets and Draperies” building for the sign on the front façade—on the 1500-block of N. 3^rd Street. Harrisburg resident Nathaniel Foote hopes to transform it into a small apartment building by the end of the year. TLC Construction & Renovations plans to construct eight apartments in Uptown, and two abandoned buildings on N. Cameron Street are slated for conversion to office and residential spaces by Harrisburg Commercial Interiors. Lastly, Harrisburg University should finally break ground on its 11-story academic building.

New Brews, Eats
A Broad Street Market favorite, Zeroday Brewing Co., is slated to open a much larger location on the 900-block of N. 3^rd St. early this coming year. Radish & Rye Food Hub, which was also a market vendor, should be opening soon just across the road on N. 3^rd Street, the owners confirmed. Also expected early this year is highly anticipated Good Brothas Book Café on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street. Co-owner Tony Diehl of Denim Coffee, with shops in Carlisle and Chambersburg, said they will likely open their third location at 401 Walnut Street in a couple of months.

Mayoral Race
Following a chaotic presidential election year, Harrisburg will have a race for its own chief executive in 2021. The primary election will take place in May, followed by a general election in November. Current Mayor Eric Papenfuse will likely run for re-election. David Schankweiler, the former publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal and the former chair of the state-appointed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, said that he plans to challenge Papenfuse. According to sources, former city council member Otto Banks may be running, as well. Additionally, four City Council seats will be up for election.

Murals
Sprocket Mural Works announced that they will hold a 2021 Mural Festival in Harrisburg. According to their website, they plan to paint more in Allison Hill, create a mural on the Mulberry Street Bridge and would like to create a pocket park in Midtown. However, they may not hold an outdoor celebration, due to COVID.

South Allison Hill Safety Project
Approved in the 2021 city budget was $103,345 for an initiative to improve lighting, safety, blighted properties and vacant lots in Allison Hill. Tri County Community Action, Wildheart Ministries, Power to the Hill and four other organizations decided to take action after seeing an uptick in crime in that section of Harrisburg.

Street improvements
City Engineer Wayne Martin has told TheBurg that 2021 will be busy for road work in Harrisburg. Some larger projects include reducing travel lanes on State Street to decrease car accidents and pedestrian fatalities. This was approved by PennDOT, which owns the road. Other projects coming next year will likely include adding bike lanes, parking and sidewalk enhancements on Chestnut and Walnut streets. Plans for converting 2nd Street to a two-way road, improving 7th Street and extending a pedestrian and bicyclist friendly corridor on Boyd Street from N. 3^rd to N. 6^th street are in the beginning stages.

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Enhanced coronavirus restrictions to expire on Jan. 4; vaccine “dashboard” announced

December 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot of PA Gov. Tom Wolf today

Extra coronavirus restrictions imposed three weeks ago in PA will expire as planned on Jan. 4.

In a virtual press briefing, Gov. Tom Wolf today made that announcement, ending speculation that he might extend them further into the winter.

Wolf said that he’s been encouraged by what he called a “plateauing” of new COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth, as well as the direction of the statewide positivity rate, which stands at 15.1%. It’s fallen for two straight weeks after reaching a high of 16.2%.

Today, the state Department of Health reported 8,545 newly diagnosed cases of coronavirus. Earlier in December, average daily new case rates exceeded 10,000 for about two weeks.

Disease death rates continue to be high, and today, the department reported 267 new disease fatalities over the past 24 hours.

Despite the recent reduction in cases, Wolf said, “This does not mean that we’re out of the woods, not by any means.”

On Dec. 10, Wolf announced the enhanced restrictions, which included a ban on indoor dining, the closure of gyms and entertainment venues and a ceiling on indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 50 people.

At 8 a.m. on Jan. 4, those limitations will be lifted, but the prior, less severe restrictions will remain, which allow for indoor dining at reduced capacity and for the reopening of closed businesses, such as gyms and theaters. The mask mandate will remain.

In addition, health Secretary Rachel Levine today said that her department has debuted a new “COVID-19 vaccine dashboard,” which she described as a “great new tool for people to follow the administration of the vaccine in Pennsylvania.”

The dashboard includes data such as vaccination by county and by demographic categories. Health care workers are the first to receive vaccines in PA, Levine said.

Wolf today counseled patience, saying that, while distribution has begun, it will be some time before most of the general public has access to the vaccine.

“We anticipate it will be months, not weeks,” he said.

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Care & Connections: Despite COVID, life goes on in area nursing and personal care homes, as staff, residents adjust to fight fear, isolation

December 30, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

Mavis McCollam looks forward to the Country Meadows lifelong learning broadcasts, including a new series on world cultures. Shows delve into people and architecture. A monthly meal ties into the featured country.

“Roast duck,” she said of the previous night’s Denmark-inspired dinner. “Some kind of potatoes. And then a Danish rice pudding, which was different from ours but was very, very good. It has almonds in it.”

There’s a lot of living going on inside the midstate’s retirement communities and group homes. When COVID-19 restrictions shut the doors for most non-residents except employees, it set off a constant churn to ward off isolation and keep residents engaged, connected and active.

“They cannot hug anymore,” says Teri Gotti Szubinski, psychotherapist with PinnacleHealth Psychological Associates of Pennsylvania at UPMC in York. “They cannot even hug their loved ones. They cannot even hug nurses or caregivers. They are completely tossed to the side. That’s a hard thing to comprehend when you wake up in the morning and all this is going on, and there seems to be no end.”

The solution, as facility officials figure so far, is multi-dimensional. FaceTime family visits. Hallway happy hours. Closed-circuit exercise sessions. Hardee’s takeout. Quiet prayer. Spiders and lizards.

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

December 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Greater Harrisburg Area Tenants United

When the pandemic hit, all Bobby Mitchell wanted to do was stay home.

He would be considered at-risk for many reasons. He’s 61 years old and has various health issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure, not to mention the kidney transplant he underwent.

Mitchell was receiving Social Security disability benefits, but it wasn’t enough to cover rent, utilities and other expenses.

Before the pandemic, Mitchell collected aluminum, copper and other materials from nearby scrapyards to make up the difference. With help from his friend, he made around $500 in a “good month.”

As March ushered in COVID-19, he couldn’t collect anymore. His son was out of work, and his son’s mother wasn’t working due to mental health issues. Mitchell fell behind on rent.

“You’ve got to think about your family,” he said. “I had to take care of his needs, her needs and mine.”

All Mitchell wanted to do was stay home, but that grew increasingly uncertain as back rent piled up and an eviction notice loomed.

However, after working with Kay Pickering at The Center for Peace and Justice in Harrisburg, armed with a federal document, Mitchell was able to postpone his eviction.

COVID Chaos

When the pandemic hit in March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court halted evictions, which Gov. Tom Wolf extended through the end of August. In September, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control picked up where the state left off, declaring a ban on evictions through Dec. 31. This applied to evictions for non-payment of rent, as in Mitchell’s case.

Although the moratorium protected these residents from a lockout, landlords could still file for eviction.

In Harrisburg, between Sept. 1 and Dec. 7, there were 528 evictions filed, according to data from the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University and Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Of those, 151 tenants were protected under the CDC’s declaration and could stay in their homes, at least through the end of December. There were 171 cases with scheduled hearings, and in 206 cases, landlords were granted possession.

Caleb Cossick, a volunteer with Greater Harrisburg Area Tenants United, which advocates for renter’s rights, explained the reason behind lockouts happening despite the moratorium.

“People aren’t being told their rights,” he said. “Information just isn’t shared.”

There were some people who weren’t aware of the moratorium or the declaration that they were required to fill out in order for it to apply, Cossick said. There were others who were evicted due to a month-to-month lease, in which the landlord can cancel whenever they want. Some were evicted because they only had an “oral lease,” which is less likely to hold up in court. Cossick calls these “loopholes.” With the declaration being relatively vague, he said that a magisterial district judge was often left to interpret the rules how they saw fit for each case.

“If a landlord wants to get around it [the declaration], they can try,” he said.

Throughout the pandemic, Greater Harrisburg Tenants United has set up tables outside court offices and at community events with the hope of stopping evictions by educating tenants of their rights.

In the declaration, the tenant had to certify that they had “used best efforts” to obtain all available government assistance, that they were unable to pay their full rent, but were paying as much as they could. They must also be facing homelessness if they are evicted, the declaration form said.

According to Harrisburg attorney Jordan Cunningham, this is one of the biggest issues. Renters are not paying anything even if they are able to.

“Zero isn’t what you can afford if you are still working,” Cunningham said. “My concern from the aspect of the landlord is, if we are going to have a moratorium in place, the landlord needs to have some way to enforce the lease and receive some rent, if not all of the rent.”

After all, landlords have obligations, as well. They have mortgages and taxes to pay. They also have a responsibility to keep up with the maintenance of the building, Cunningham said.

Planning Ahead

Angela Parker-Quarles’ phone has been ringing nonstop lately. She estimated that her phone calls have increased by 45% over the past months.

People call Parker-Quarles at The Fair Housing Council of the Capital Region frantic and desperate for help. When contacted recently, she was working with a 70-year-old resident in Steelton who was facing eviction.

The Fair Housing Council tries to bridge the gap between landlords and tenants, Parker-Quarles explained. They provide education on renters’ rights and responsibilities.

During the pandemic, she has tried to help clients think long-term. She’s afraid some people aren’t preparing for what happens after the moratoriums end.

“You can flash that declaration, but if you’re doing that without a plan, they’re just going to be at your door when it ends,” she said.

She’s been helping people find employment and other support services in order to get back on track with rent. However, rental assistance is in short supply, she said.

For people like Bobby Mitchell, that would make all the difference.

With no one in Mitchell’s household employed, they couldn’t pay their full rent. Eventually, his son and son’s mother found employment. While the family is able to keep up now, they have three months’ worth of back rent.

Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area is able to help families facing homelessness find shelter, Executive Director Darrel Reinford said. They also have some funds for rental assistance through their homelessness programs.

In December, the city of Harrisburg also launched a rent relief program to provide funds for those struggling to pay rent. They offered up to $5,000 per household.

According to Sandy Ballard, public services coordinator for the Dauphin County Bar Association, one of the biggest issues is a lack of communication between landlords and tenants.

“What’s surprising is people get an eviction notice and won’t even call the other side and say, ‘Hey, can we talk?’” said Ballard. “It’s in both parties’ best interests to come up with a plan.”

Ballard worked with Matt Rich of MidPenn Legal Services, Reinford and others to come up with a plan to try to help stop evictions. They are hosting free mediation sessions for landlords and tenants.

Every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on Zoom, volunteer attorneys work with landlord-tenant pairs from Dauphin County to provide education and assist them in agreeing on a payment plan to avoid eviction. While there had only been a few sessions by early December, Ballard said that they are going well.

Uncertain Future

Mitchell has boxes packed around his house. He fills a few, here and there, “just in case,” he said. When I called to check in on him on a mid-December morning, he said he was “hanging in there.” But as a wet snow fell in Harrisburg, Mitchell said that he was worried. He still had around $4,000 of back rent to pay. “It’s cold out there,” he said.

That same night, Harrisburg City Council voted to impose a 30-day moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent and lease expiration. Through mid-January, Mitchell was safe again, possibly longer, if the city or federal government chose to renew the ban on evictions.

“Prolonging this will probably help us,” he said. But in this case, time isn’t money, and Mitchell expected the debt would still be there once the moratorium ends, like the last one.

While moratoriums like the CDC’s and Harrisburg’s deal with the immediate need of shelter during a crisis, Cunningham said that extending them too long is “really just kicking the can down the road.”

Parker-Quarles expressed a similar sentiment, adding that a moratorium should go hand-in-hand with some sort of payment plan requirement for the tenant.

“I’d like to see some kind of plan in place to get these individuals out of the situation,” she said.

For now, Mitchell’s family will keep saving a bit of money from each paycheck and keep some boxes packed, just in case they need to find a new place to live.

“All we want to do is have a roof over our heads,” he said.

Eviction and Rental Assistance Resources

Center for Peace and Justice: 717-233-3072

Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area: www.ccuhbg.org, 717-230-9550

Dauphin County Bar Association Mediation program: https://forms.gle/egB7ZQSXQU92zCeP8, [email protected]

Fair Housing Council of the Capital Region: www.pafairhousing.org, 717-238-9540

Greater Harrisburg Area Tenants United: www.harrisburgtenants.org, 717-461-2096

Mid Penn Legal Services: www.midpenn.org, 800-326-9177

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Snowball Effect: Keep your COVID-19 fitness routine running and riding through wintry weather

December 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Usage of the Capital Area Greenbelt has soared upwards of 400% since the pandemic.

“It may sound crazy, but it’s a believable number,” said Dick Norford, spokesperson for the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA).

He admits that it’s difficult to accurately count and track visitors along the 20-mile path encircling Harrisburg, but CAGA puts usage estimates from 500,000 to 1 million people during a typical year.

That means that as many as 2 to 4 million people hit the Greenbelt in 2020 to ease their cabin fever, get outside and work out their pandemic stress by walking, running, biking or even rollerblading.

It’s a pattern repeating itself across central Pennsylvania, especially since many gyms remain closed.

Hit the Road, the Trail

“From the customer standpoint, we’re seeing a lot of newer runners and people taking up running again because they’re stuck in the house, and they want to get out and do something—they’re all coming in to purchase shoes,” said Katie Larsen, store manager at Carlisle’s Appalachian Running Company.

Colder temperatures don’t have to put the brakes on healthy habits.

That’s why, year-round, the store hosts two free group runs every week, led by Linda Reilly, Appalachian’s assistant manager. On Wednesday evenings, she guides runners on a three to five-mile run around town—socially distanced during this era of COVID-19. Runners of all paces are welcome.

“It motivates people to come out, even if it’s cold,” said Reilly, who doesn’t mind running through snowy—but not icy—weather.

On Saturdays, she leads runs on the Appalachian Trail.

“It’s an amazing workout because you’re using different muscles depending on the terrain or the day,” Reilly said. “I feel like the trail always motivates you, because you want to go explore and have fun.”

Runners who want to start the new year off on the right foot can join Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg’s Running Club, which kicks off a new round of running programs in January. Training groups, meeting twice a week in small bubbles, range from beginning runners to those targeting a marathon.

“Having accountability is one of the most important aspects of staying active in winter months,” said Fred Joslyn, Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg’s co-owner and running coach.

Gear Up

Dressing for the weather can be challenging for runners, but Joslyn shares a handy rule of thumb: add 20 degrees to the outdoor temperature, and dress as if that’s the actual temperature. So, if it’s 32 degrees, dress as if it’s 52 because once you get moving, you’ll likely feel like that’s the temperature.

“It’s important to warm up, especially in cold weather. Sometimes, some light walking before running can help,” Joslyn said. “I try to keep my first 10 minutes very easy, to allow blood flow and muscle elasticity, as I get into my run or walk.”

Well-fitting running clothes are essential in the winter.

“Something that is too tight or too loose won’t keep your body the right temperature,” Joslyn said.

He also advises runners to dress in layers for flexibility in unzipping or removing layers as needed and to avoid cotton, which absorbs moisture.

Convertible running gear is the key to Emily Melton’s winter routine. The Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club president likes to cover her fingers, neck and ears—but she likes options. She starts every run with her fingers covered, but convertible gloves allow her to change things up when her hands warm up into the run.

“I also like Buffs because they have many uses and are lightweight—I can use my Buff as a neck gaiter, ear warmer or even a hat,” Melton said. “I love the fact that they can easily convert from one to the other.”

Consistency is another key to winter fitness.

“For many years, I ran along the river [in Harrisburg] almost every day at lunchtime. I had people to meet and regular routes to run,” said Karen Mitchell, president of the York Road Runners Club.

Scheduling your runs for the same time and days can establish a pattern that embraces the conditions, even if they’re cold, rainy or snowy. Midday runs avoid the coldest and darkest parts of the day. But lights and reflective gear can make early-morning or evening runs safe experiences.

“Learn to love all kinds of weather,” Mitchell said. “But don’t mess with ice—wear slip-on spikes.”

Weather Cycle

Just as it takes walkers and runners time to adapt to colder temperatures, it generally takes bikers 30 minutes or six miles to feel comfortable, according to Cindy Gorski, a current member and past president of the Harrisburg Bicycle Club. Amid the pandemic, most members are riding solo or in small bubble groups.

Before heading out for a spin, Gorski recommends cyclists layer up from head to toe— including a layer under your helmet—plus a windbreaker.

“Wool is an ideal winter bicycling material because it doesn’t absorb moisture,” Gorski said. “Your extremities like your ears, hands and feet require extra care—make sure layers don’t make your shoes and gloves too tight, thus restricting your blood flow.”

She reminds winter bikers to hydrate—something they are usually more attuned to during sweltering summer days.

“I ride year round, and I will say, my riding has kept me sane during this pandemic,” Gorski said. “My riding always gives me a sense of freedom, what I call a mini-vacation.”

Shifting Gears

Motivation can go a long way toward helping walkers, runners or bikers get out the door through the winter months.

“I congratulate myself when I do get out there,” said Emily Melton, president of the Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club. “Some days will be easier than others… don’t tear yourself down if you don’t make it outside or if you don’t go as far as you planned… be proud of what you’ve done and plan for the next day.”

Winter exercise can boost mental health and alleviate “cabin fever.”

“Getting outside and exercising are two of the best things for our mental health,” said Fred Joslyn, co-owner of Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg. “The physical benefits are well known, but it is often overlooked how important being outside and moving are for our mental wellness. The biggest hurdle is typically getting ourselves started. So, take the first step, you’ll be glad you did!”

Another mental health booster is the winter season’s beauty.

“Winter riding can be very beautiful, and the terrain is so different than in the summer,” said Cindy Gorski, a Harrisburg Bicycle Club past president who has personally biked more than 100,000 miles through all seasons.

“The lack of foliage on the trees and bushes opens up scenic views that are hidden during the rest of the year. The beauty of snow-covered fields with evergreens and green moss along the creeks is breathtaking,” Gorski said. “Getting out in the winter helps eliminate cabin fever and really makes a hot shower and a warm bowl of chili that much better.”

Linda Reilly, assistant manager of Carlisle’s Appalachian Running Company, has special motivation to leave her warm home and head out into the cold for a run.

“With me, it always comes back to the reason why I started running in first place—for the charities I support,” Reilly said. “My father passed away from cancer five years ago, and my son has autism. They’re examples of strength to me—and I just think about people who have it a lot harder than me… and then I head out for my run.”

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