Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

December 17, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend around Harrisburg and central PA, we have some below, most of which are virtual or outdoor only. Things on my agenda this weekend: cleaning, planning holiday food, grabbing last-min gifts, and wrapping. Don’t forget to support your local brewery! Click here to find one near you. Looking to gather with your “pod” this winter? Ad Lib Craft Kitchen and the Hilton are offering small gatherings as their “Pod Package.” Learn more here.

For your weekend planning:

Below are ample options for your weekend.

Weekend roundup | Things to do in Harrisburg and Central PA

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Top Weekend Recs

Plan your holiday feast with RG Hummer
Book a massage, give a massage at Polished Spa & Salon
Get wine delivered to your door with WTSO (not a club! Discount with code BOZICH!)
Give an outdoor experience this holiday with Adventure Explorations
Upgrade your mise en place with Mangia Qui Pantry Pick-up
The perfect gift for your favorite home cook.
Gifts for everyone (plus dinner) at Arooga’s
Drink Boneshire Holiday Reserve IPA
Drink PA cider! Ploughman Cider delivers to your door.
Binge Poured in PA: The Series
Shop online with Meeka Fine Jewelry.

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.

Harrisburg temporarily bans evictions, moratorium to continue for another month

December 15, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A sign on N. 3rd and Kelker streets.

Harrisburg residents facing eviction are safe for another month to remain in their homes.

At a legislative session on Monday, City Council voted 6-0 to approve a bill issuing a moratorium on evictions in Harrisburg. Council member Westburn Majors recused himself from the vote, due to a conflict of interest.

“I can breathe a sigh of relief going into the holiday knowing we are protecting our residents,” council member Danielle Bowers said.

City officials found that there would likely be hundreds of people facing eviction in the coming weeks, with not nearly enough shelter space available during the pandemic, city Solicitor Neil Grover explained. This could pose a danger both for newly homeless residents and for everyone else, as COVID cases continue to climb in Dauphin County, he said.

Currently, a moratorium from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is in effect through Dec. 31, but the federal government has not yet released a plan to extend the declaration.

Harrisburg’s halt on evictions fills the gap for now, extending for 30 days into mid-January. The city may then choose to renew it for another 30 days if needed.

The bill states that no resident can be evicted for non-payment of rent or lease expiration.

Greater Harrisburg Tenants United, an advocacy group, believes that the legislation, focused on non-payment and lease expiration, leaves loopholes that still could lead to evictions.

“That opens the door to all kinds of petty technicalities that a landlord could deploy to terminate a lease and evict a tenant,” said Caleb Cossick, a member of GHTU, in a public comment on Monday.

Grover said that city enforcement officers will oversee compliance with the legislation, with the power to fine non-complying landlords up to $10,000 or 90 days in jail.

“The idea is to essentially make noncompliance something very unattractive,” he said. “We have essentially criminalized the violation.”

However, Grover did say that the ordinance does not take away landlords’ right to be paid, and they will need to receive payment once the moratorium or string of moratoriums ends. They may also still file for a court hearing, although lockout of a resident is banned.

Council member Ausha Green expressed concern for what will happen once the moratorium expires and tenants must pay their debts.

Grover said that, through state law, landlords are allowed to garnish tenants’ wages, meaning take owed rent directly from paychecks.

“I would say this solves the most immediate problem, but it doesn’t solve the other large problems that are being caused by the pandemic,” he said.

Grover added that, going forward, he hopes that the city, state or federal government will be able to offer landlord assistance.

Additionally, the bill does not apply to properly registered hotels and motels. It does apply to some rooming and boarding houses.

“The city is serious in our intentions,” Grover said. “We are not going to continue or start evictions in the middle of what is a dire situation.”

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Harrisburg’s 2021 budget passes, includes new Police Bureau positions

December 14, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Screenshot from the City Council legislative session.

Harrisburg approved a 2021 budget on Monday night, but not before making amendments to Police Bureau spending and personnel.

During a virtual legislative session, City Council approved a $79.2 million general fund budget, which does not include a property tax hike. The budget passed 6-0, with council member Shamaine Daniels not in attendance.

The budget utilizes about $15 million of the city’s large reserve fund balance, which will draw down that accumulated savings to $10.2 million by the end of 2021. The money will be used to add several positions, especially in the Police Bureau, and to pay down debt.

In budget hearings, a significant increase to the Police Bureau budget has been the most discussed of the many budget items and the one that faced amendments on Monday.

“The funding of public safety is so important,” council member Ben Allatt said. “You can’t put a value on the fact that we need to have effective public safety.”

Included in the budget is funding for seven new civilian positions within the community services division. These “community service aides” will assist police officers with “quality of life” issues and work to improve relations with the community, Papenfuse said.

Originally, 12 aides were proposed, but after receiving comments from residents concerned about the positions, council decided it would be best to give the program a trial run for 2021 and, therefore, reduced the number of positions.

In public comments, some residents stated that they didn’t want to see extra funding go towards the bureau at all, saying that’s not what the city needs.

“There are so many pressing needs in Harrisburg right now,” one resident said on Monday night. “More policing funding does not provide houses, food, education, medicine or security. More cops and more money for cops does not make communities safer.”

An additional amendment was passed 4-2 to remove the community policing coordinator position from the budget. This position is currently filled by Blake Lynch, but he will be promoted in the coming year to director of community relations and engagement, leaving his current job open. Council member Westburn Majors said that he believes the community service aides can take on the responsibilities of the coordinator position.

“To me, that could be seven heads being able to do a job that we had one individual doing,” he said.

However, Papenfuse said he did not support that amendment and that council “jeopardized the entire transition that we’ve proposed for community services.”

Council also passed an amendment to raise the city communication manager’s salary from about $66,900 per year to $68,000 per year.

Monday’s meeting was the final council session of the year, unless a special meeting is called before year-end.

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Harrisburg offers free garage parking for residents due to expected storm

December 14, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Reily Street in Harrisburg during the blizzard of January 2016

The mid-week weather forecast calls for snow—and lots of it—prompting Harrisburg to make arrangements for resident parking.

City residents will be able to park for free in the Locust Street Garage, 214 Locust St., beginning at noon on Wednesday and continuing through the afternoon of Thursday, according to the city.

This action was taken so that residents are able to clear snow emergency routes of vehicles and to allow for easier passage of snowplows.

In addition, the city is urging residents to park as closely to the curb as possible and away from intersections to make room for plows.

The Department of Public Works is expected to deploy 16 trucks to help keep major roads clear, according to the city. Mayor Eric Papenfuse is also encouraging people not to drive if conditions become hazardous.

Harrisburg is currently under a Winter Storm Watch beginning Wednesday morning and lasting through Thursday morning. According to the National Weather Service, more than a foot of snow is possible during this time.

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Kline Library closes after employee tests positive for COVID-19

December 14, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The Kline Library in Harrisburg

The Kline Library has closed for a week after one of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Dauphin County Library System made the announcement late today, describing it as a precautionary measure.

Currently, all six of the library’s staff members are in quarantine due to the one positive case, according to DCLS.

“In addition to the safety precautions we take at all our libraries, interactions between the public and staff are almost always less than 15 minutes,” said Karen Cullings, DCLS executive director. “Because public interactions are brief, and we adhere to strict protection and social distancing guidelines, we believe the chance that our staff member spread the virus to either co-workers or the public is slight.”

According to DCLS, the employee did not catch the virus while at work.

The library is slated to reopen next week.

The system’s other libraries will remain open, though patrons are asked to limit visits to under an hour and to use curbside pickup when checking out materials.

Also, the library system is no longer waiving indoor mask-wearing requirements for medical reasons. Members who cannot wear masks can either order materials online or call ahead and arrange “curbside pickup” of their books and other items, according to DCLS. All locations have masks available for those who need them.

“Many in our community rely on us for internet and computer access and other services,” Cullings said. “We are committed to meeting the public’s needs in a safe way that follows all state and federal guidelines.”

For more information, visit www.dcls.org.

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Harrisburg area home sales, prices jump again in November

December 14, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A house under contract in Harrisburg

Home sales and prices were up in the Harrisburg area last month, continuing a months-long trend.

In November, 728 houses sold compared to 581 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price jumped to $215,000 from $180,000 for the three-county region, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, GHAR reported that 353 housing units sold in November versus 280 the year before, while the median price increased to $185,750 compared to $162,000.

In Cumberland County, sales rose to 327 homes from 244 a year ago, with the median price rising to $238,000 versus $195,500 in November 2019, GHAR stated.

Perry County saw a one-unit increase to 36 houses in November, though the median sales price dipped to $165,000 from $185,000 a year earlier.

Houses were also selling much faster this year, as GHAR reported that the average “days on market” fell to 26 days compared to 46 days in November 2019.

Home sales and prices in the Harrisburg area have been strong all year long, especially since pandemic-related restrictions were lifted on the industry in May.

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David Black to retire from Harrisburg Chamber; nationwide search launched for new CEO

December 14, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

After two decades, David Black on Monday announced his retirement from leading the Harrisburg area’s principal business organization.

Black said that he plans to retire in mid-2021 as president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, following a nationwide search for his replacement.

“The people who I’ve met over the years have been great and hopefully we’ve been able to make a positive difference for our region,” said Black, during a phone interview.

Black, 67, took the helm of the organization in 2001, following a stint with the administration of Gov. Tom Ridge. Before coming to Harrisburg, he served as a county commissioner in Clarion County.

Black said that he’s proud of his lengthy tenure with the chamber and CREDC, both in terms of cultivating staff, many of whom have gone on to other leadership positions, and for promoting the region’s economy.

“The area economy was strong when I arrived here, and it’s arguably even stronger now,” he said.

He said that he’s also encouraged by the economic situation in Harrisburg proper. He said that state receivership and the financial recovery plan were vital to help straighten out the city’s finances and, nearly eight years later, there are promising signs.

“We’re starting to see some private investment again,” he said. “That’s good for the prospects of the city.”

He said that the last year has been one of the most challenging of his career, given the COVID-19 pandemic. Some types of businesses, such as those in the area’s large health care industry, can’t find enough workers, while others, especially in the restaurant and hospitality industries, have suffered enormously.

“Some businesses have done well, but other businesses have absolutely tanked,” he said.

Black said that he plans to remain in the area after retirement and may even continue to work in some capacity. However, he felt it was time to move on from his current position.

“Twenty years is a long time for an organization like this to have the same leadership,” he said. “It’s time to put a fresh perspective on things.”

To that end, the chamber and CREDC boards have created a search committee, aided by an outside firm, Greensboro, N.C.-based Jorgenson Consulting, to find the organization’s next leader.

“Many thanks to people from all sectors of the region and beyond for the support, collaboration and friendship,” Black said, in a statement. “I look forward to the successful transition of leadership in the months ahead and a bright future for the Chamber & CREDC and our region.”

For more information about the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, visit their website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Cautionary Tale

December 13, 2020 | by Bob MacGinnes

“A Bird Just Being a Bird” by the Huckle Buckle Boys. Photo: Jana MacGinnes

Dear readers of Bob’s Art Blog:

What follows serves as a prelude to “What a Year in Art,” coming out in two parts in January. For now, we take you back almost a year ago to share a cautionary tale seen at the first art show of 2020.

In the art world today, there is much talk about intuitive painting, but what if, as an artist, you were actually able to foretell the future—see it in your mind’s eye before it happens and transfer it to the canvas? For all intent and purpose, intuitive painting is being in touch with your inner self, be it through meditation or some other means of self-reflection. For Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy, aka The Huckle Buckle Boys, that was truly the case in their outsized painting completed in the first week of January, well before COVID-19 reared its ugly head and reached our shores by February’s end.

For many cultures around the world down through time, birds have been viewed as “seers,” forecasters of future events, often prognosticating both positives and negatives such as love, sickness and even death. What does that make artists then who incorporate a bird as their main focal point? In a year that has turned the world upside down since mid-March, it qualifies them as vessels of vision. Those artists, Dorsett and Rudy, created an art opus that we first viewed exactly 11 months ago during opening night of the annual winter gallery show at Metropolis Collective in Mechanicsburg for its “Wintry Mix V” in January. Hannah Dobek, gallery director/curator at Metropolis, had invited the Huckle Buckle Boys as the featured artists for the show, along with Nicole Dube of Carlisle and Charlie Feathers of Harrisburg.

During the evening, Rudy and Dorsett unveiled a portrait constructed out of a massive, 4-by-6-foot wood panel featuring a bird as its main attraction. The painting is arresting in its bold vista and deft manipulation of color achieving a washed patina of soft turquoise and yellow bordering on a dreamlike rendering. Lost on us then but ever so telling in hindsight, the larger-than-life bird was wearing a mask, a face covering adorning its beak for the world to observe and take note. From its imperious position poised on a high wire of telephone lines, the bird was sending a communication to share with the world that its future hope globally was the need to mask up. Titled “A Bird Just Being a Bird” proved to be anything but–it was telling us then to wear a mask into the world and to adopt it as a means of safety, precaution and protection. Like another bird of childhood notoriety, the sky was falling and, within this prescient painting, we needed to heed the warning that danger was just around the bend.

The Huckle Buckle Boys, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett (left), along with TheBurg’s Jana and Bob MacGinnes

Getting to meet the artists that evening was enlightening in the sense that here were artists that operated well outside of the norm. There is a coda that exists within the framework of the piece that shares vital data. The painting was completed a full seven weeks prior to COVID’s origins. Two views of a human face are found within the breast of the bird’s body. One is a mirror image representing the self, with the other facing left looking out to the world.

There is an underlying theme of hope on the horizon if we just keep focused on the bigger picture. By all indications, the vaccine is imminent, and it is a race well worth running. Every day is crucial with its importance of saving lives. But for present day, we must follow safety measures at all costs until everyone is inoculated. This massive work of art is and will be a timely piece perhaps for eternity. The bird was all too ready to let the world know its message as Dorsett and Rudy truly are intuitive painters. Their work foreshadowed devastation and uncertainty, informing us then more than ever we must stay the course, believing that one day this too will be a memory. But, until that day arrives, you will find me “somewhere over the rainbow,” with the bluebirds, way up high.

For more information about the Huckle Buckle Boys, visit their Facebook page or their Instagram at @thehucklebuckleboys.

Metropolis Collective is located at 17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their website.

Learn more about our arts blogger Bob MacGinnes and his take on our local art scene in the December edition of TheBurg Podcast.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

December 11, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley Gittens

Ralph Rodriguez (right) of All You Can Inc. at last year’s Holiday Donation Drive.

Even though you may not be able to eat at your favorite restaurant this weekend, you can still support local businesses. Grab some takeout and catch up on any news you may have missed this past week, listed and linked below.

All You Can Inc. will distribute free holiday gifts to over 600 children in Harrisburg on Dec. 19, our online story reported. Founder Ralph Rodriguez hopes to spread Christmas cheer during a time when many are struggling.

Bethesda Mission’s tree lighting event at Italian Lake on Saturday will be virtual, due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s new COVID restrictions. Tom Russell, chief meteorologist from CBS21, will host the ceremony, and various Bethesda community members will be involved, our online story reported.

TheBurg Podcast closes out the year with a special focus on the arts in Harrisburg. We hear from Amie Bantz, who designed TheBurg’s cover this month and Megan Caruso, co-founder of Sprocket Mural Works. Harrisburg band Yam Yam and art blogger Bob MacGinnes make an appearance, as well.

COVID-19 cases soared over the past week in the commonwealth, our online story reported. The average new case count has reached over 10,000 per day.

Dauphin County announced another round of funding for businesses, our reporting found. Another $1.15 million is available through the Dauphin County COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Grant Program.

Faith organizations in the Harrisburg area are gearing up for the holidays in the midst of COVID. Our magazine story tells how local communities have adapted their traditions to fit with the times.

Gov. Tom Wolf tightened restrictions on some businesses and indoor gatherings on Thursday, our online story reported. The restrictions include a ban on indoor restaurant dining and the closure of gyms and entertainment venues, such as theaters, museums and casinos.

Harrisburg City Council voted on Thursday to begin collecting trash from Penbrook and Paxtang boroughs. Mayor Eric Papenfuse said this would result in over $2 million in annual revenues for the city, our online story reported.

Harrisburg’s City Council race began to take shape this week, as council member Ben Allatt said he would not be running for another term. The race for mayor has also begun as David Schankweiler, the former publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal, indicated that he planned to run, our online story reported.

Joy to the Burg celebrations will continue this year, with a twist, our magazine story reported. Instead of a live concert, “Good Day PA” will broadcast musical performances and interviews to raise money for homelessness programs provided by Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area.

Open Stage is virtually presenting “A Christmas Carol” this month. In a Burg Review, our writer described this version as a creative take on the traditional Dickens classic.

Police Bureau funds have been the main topic of discussion within the proposed 2021 Harrisburg budget. During a budget hearing on Tuesday, residents pushed back against what would be a significant increase in funds for community policing efforts, our online story reported.

Portugal. The Man will play in Riverfront Park in September 2021 as part of Harrisburg University’s concert series. Bands Cage the Elephant and Dawes are slated to perform the same weekend, our online story reported.

Sara Bozich has some holiday gift ideas and fun things to do around Harrisburg this weekend in her Weekend Roundup!

Sprocket Mural Works has been busy creating five new murals for Harrisburg between September and October. Check out the artists’ work in our magazine story.

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Italian Lake tree lighting goes virtual due to new coronavirus restrictions

December 11, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Italian Lake in Harrisburg

An outdoor tree lighting planned for this weekend has become a virtual event, according to organizers.

The Italian Lake event on Saturday now will take place virtually, given Gov. Tom Wolf’s order yesterday limiting outdoor gatherings, said event sponsor Bethesda Mission.

“We ask everyone to please stay home and watch the live stream of the ceremony on our Facebook page,” Scott Dunwoody, executive director. “We appreciate your cooperation in this, and we apologize for inconveniences and disappointments.”

According to Bethesda Mission, Tom Russell, chief meteorologist from CBS21, will host the ceremony, and Cindy Mallow, Bethesda’s director of development, “will share the meaning of Christmas.” Shelley Brooks, director of Bethesda Women’s Mission, will share what’s happening at the shelter, and there will be a special appearance by Women’s Shelter guests as they light the tree, according to Bethesda.

On Thursday, Wolf issued an order that re-imposed certain restrictions due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. These include limits on outdoor gatherings to fewer than 50 people, leading to the change in plans for the event.

The tree lighting ceremony begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday on Bethesda Mission’s Facebook page.

For more information, please visit ChristmasItalianLake.com. Donations can be given at BethesdaMission.org/Donate.

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