Citing pandemic, Harrisburg School District cancels fall sports season

August 20, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Harrisburg School District administrative building.

Student athletes may not get a kick out of the Harrisburg School District’s fall sports plan.

The district has canceled the fall sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer announced this afternoon.

“We have a tremendous amount of empathy and compassion for how this decision impacts our student athletes, especially our seniors,” Celmer said. “However, the health and safety of our student athletes must be our first priority.”

A Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) board meeting is being held this Friday to discuss the fall season. Celmer said that, regardless of what is determined, Harrisburg district students will not play sports. He said that he hopes the PIAA considers postponing the fall season.

“There are still far too many unknowns about how COVID-19 spreads and medically impacts young adults in order for us to feel as though it is safe for our athletes to participate,” he said.

Celmer mentioned that research done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has found that people of color, including students in underserved populations such as Harrisburg, have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

No decision has been made by the district about the spring season, but Celmer hopes PIAA will consider an abbreviated season in the spring to allow for equitable opportunities for students across the state.

Celmer said that the cancellation is in accordance with Section 511 of the school code, and the district reserves the right to revisit their decision.

Earlier this month, the district announced its plans to start the 2020-21 school year 100% virtual. The first day of school is Aug. 31.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

“Saturday Nights in the City” outdoor dining extended through September

August 20, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

People dine on 2nd Street during “Saturday Nights in the City.”

Harrisburg restaurants are serving up yet another month of al fresco dining.

“Saturday Nights in the City,” a street dining experience, will be extended through Sept. 26, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced today.

“This program has been a great way for us to support our city restaurants,” he said. “We look forward to extending this initiative through the end of September.”

Through a partnership with the Downtown Improvement District, the city has been closing large sections of streets downtown to allow outdoor dining.

Even as some people have begun venturing back into restaurants, “Saturday Nights in the City” remains popular in the community.

From 3:30 to 10 p.m., the following streets will be closed to traffic:

2^nd Street, from Market to Pine streets
State Street, from Church to N. 2nd streets, westbound
North Street, from Susquehanna to 3rd streets, westbound, and from 2nd to Buttonwood streets
Conoy Street (Shipoke)
3^rd Street, from Market to Chestnut streets

The list of participating restaurants in the weekly event include:

El Sol
Stock’s on Second
Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
Café Fresco
Taco Solo
Ad Lib Craft Kitchen and Bar
Sawyer’s
Bourbon Street Saloon
Zembie’s
McGrath’s
Arooga’s
Taste Key West
Cork & Fork
Federal Taphouse
Rubicon
Mangia Qui
BurgerIM
Bollywood
The Brick Haus
Los Tres Cubanos
Second Street Shawarma
JB Lovedraft’s
Bacco
The Vegetable Hunter
Bricco

“Saturday Nights in the City” lasts from 5 to 10 p.m.

The event was originally planned to only last through the beginning of July, but was extended twice, first through August, and now through September.

Food truck festival to help fulfill wishes for children with critical illnesses

August 20, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A scene from last year’s Wish Upon a Food Truck Festival.

Would you like to support a good cause by eating good food?

Next month, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley will host its annual Wish Upon a Food Truck Festival on City Island.

“Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to engage in the community,” event coordinator Emily Reading said.

On Sept. 19, food trucks will park on City Island in an effort to raise funds for an organization that has long granted wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Make-A-Wish across the country has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, Reading explained. Children that have made wishes involving travel have had to wait on their trips during the pandemic.

Reading has been a wish granter with Make-A-Wish for seven years. She meets with kids to help them decide what they want to wish for and helps make it come true.

“If these kids can have one day or one wish where they don’t have to worry about doctor visits or medications, that’s it for me,” she said.

To help support Make-A-Wish kids during the pandemic, Reading said that their chapter has held virtual talent shows and other events.

The Food Truck Festival is one way the public can join in on the wish-granting magic.

While the event is free to the public, each food truck will have a donation jar for the local chapter of Make-A-Wish. There will also be “giving stations” with information on the organization.

Money raised will go towards funding wishes that are safe in light of the pandemic, providing care packages to children, and making sure there are no delays in granting a child’s wish once it’s safe to do so.

Among the 30 or so food trucks attending will be some local favorites including 717 Tacos, Dough Heads Waffles LLC, PA Farm Show milkshakes and Stock’s on 2^nd.

There will also be local musicians, entertainment and children’s activities at the event.

Reading said that they will follow state guidelines regarding the COVID crisis, and masks are encouraged.

“It’s going to be a day you can support local kiddos and spend time with your family,” Reading said.

The Wish Upon a Food Truck Festival is scheduled for Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on City Island, Harrisburg. For more information on Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware and Susquehanna Valley, visit https://wishuponafoodtruck.org/ or their Facebook page.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

August 20, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend! Things on my weekend agenda include: trip to Paulus Farm Market, haircut for the kiddo while we still can (still recovering from his dad’s quarantine attempts), stopping by The Vintage Vine Stem Sale, annnnnnd making more tomato sauce and pesto, when will it end. Below are ample options for your weekend, whether you’re laying low (there is no shame in the stay home game!) or venturing out. But if the latter, mask up and be nice!

Hiya, Are you on the email list? In addition to getting this weekly update loaded with things to do each weekend directly in your inbox, I load it with a bunch of other fresh, original content. Sign-up here. I also recommend following me on IG.

Weekend Recs

Grab some local brews from Boneshire Brew Works, Hemauer Brewing, Appalachian Brewing Co. or Tattered Flag.
Pick up HOLLA Spirits at your local state store — OR, if you’re lazy like me, just order online and have it shipped!
Stock up at R.G. Hummer’s in the Broad Street Market
Order some great takeout, maybe a BBQ feast for the backyard from MoMo’s
Try something new: Catch The Obstructed View with Open Stage TONIGHT
Binge episodes of Poured in PA: The Series FREE on YouTube!
Book your own private movie night at Carlisle Theatre.
Or how ’bout this Golf Tournament for a good cause?
Browse some new gems at Meeka Fine Jewelry.
Shop for some new masks at Hello Gorgeous Boutique.

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!

Resources for to-go/delivery

Need wine? Click here.
Need booze? Click here.
Need beer? Click here.
Need cocktails? Kits + premade options here.
Brunch? For serious. Click here.
Wait, what about coffee, kombucha, tea, juice? Got you!
Find Carry-Out options here

At town hall meeting, Harrisburg residents call for community appointments to proposed police advisory board

August 19, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Reservoir Park bandshell was the venue for Tuesday’s town hall meeting.

After two virtual town hall meetings, Harrisburg City Council members met in Reservoir Park on Tuesday night to hear in person from residents concerned about a proposed police advisory board.

As in past meetings, several dozen residents expressed concerns and asked for changes to the proposed board, including how board members would be chosen.

“This bill that is being proposed for the people, is not by the people,” one resident stated, beginning the conversation.

As the proposed bill currently states, the mayor will appoint three community members to sit on the board and City Council will choose four.

Council member Westburn Majors explained that community members and organizations can make suggestions for board members and submit them to council.

However, that was not enough for some, who want to see Harrisburg residents have the power to vote people directly onto the proposed board.

“I’m sure people that get elected into this panel are really not going to be from our community and are not going to know our culture,” said Kevin Maxson, leader of the local activist group, Voices for the Voiceless.

Harrisburg school board Director Carrie Fowler added that people should have to run for election to be on the board.

“Every one of us here [on City Council] are from the city of Harrisburg and a majority of us are people of color,” said council member Ausha Green, who also is chair of council’s public safety committee. “So we know what is going on here. We aren’t here to try to play people.”

Green said that council will solicit the community’s input on who to appoint to the board. She added that the bill states that, of the seven board members, each will be from a different policing district in the city.

While other comments about the proposed bill, such as a desire for subpoena powers for the board, were brought up, many people brought to the microphone concerns over general policing in the city.

“It doesn’t make sense to invest in a broken system and not address the cause,” one woman said.

School board Director Jayne Buchwach brought up the idea of community policing, which would deploy more police to regularly patrol certain areas.

“If a neighborhood has recognizable police, police that are always there, I think it will help,” she said.

Another woman added how she wants to see the police responding faster to calls in her community.

Council members said they welcomed the feedback on the proposed police advisory board and will look to make amendments to the bill in the near future.

“This is a beginning, not an end point,” Majors said.

To watch all Harrisburg’s town hall meeting from Tuesday, visit their Facebook page.

2021 PA Farm Show to go virtual, as pandemic scrubs all live events

August 19, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A cow gets groomed during the 2020 PA Farm Show.

Our area’s biggest annual event—the PA Farm Show—will go virtual this year, the state announced today.

In a news release, state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding described canceling all in-person events of the 10-day agricultural exposition as a difficult decision, but said it was necessary due to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are times in the life of a farmer when the risks are too great or uncertain, requiring farmers to make the tough decision to leave a field fallow,” he said. “To protect our assets–both our people and our resources—from incalculable losses, we have made the tough decision to take a year to lie in fallow.”

In 2021, the Farm Show will mark its 105th year.

The cancellation of the live show is another blow to the Harrisburg area’s already hard-hit hospitality and restaurant industries, as it represents one of the largest tourism-related events of the year.

Redding today didn’t describe the planned virtual substitutes, but said that details would be forthcoming. He did, though, say that virtual events would be focused on “education and awareness” for both the agricultural industry and the public.

He also announced the theme for the January 2021 event: “Cultivating Tomorrow.”

“Each year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show uses a theme to convey our vision for the future of Pennsylvania agriculture—through ‘Cultivating Tomorrow’ we’ll tell this story through technology as we envision and cultivate a prosperous, thriving future together,” said Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Executive Director Sharon Myers, in a statement. “We have not lost sight of what this industry means to Pennsylvania, in fact, this pandemic has highlighted our reliance on it. The show will go on, just as agriculture has persevered.”

Local organization hopes to use Sickle Cell Awareness Month to educate on “forgotten disease”

August 18, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A certain virus may have had the spotlight for the past six months, but for Joseph Robinson, September is all about another disease—one he thinks is often forgotten.

Next month is national Sickle Cell Awareness Month, meaning that the South Central PA Sickle Cell Council will have special programming.

“For us, it provides a focal point and a way to raise awareness,” said Robinson, the organization’s executive director.

Throughout the weeks in September, the council will host seminars on Facebook Live with hopes to educate the public on the disease.

According to the CDC, sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder that can cause severe pain, infection and stroke.

The Sickle Cell Council provides support to adults and youth with the disease and works to raise awareness.

“The more people we can get to know about it, the more people we can get to support our cause,” Robinson said.

Robinson said that the national theme for Sickle Cell Month this year is “Sickle Cell Matters”—a play-off of “Black Lives Matter.”

Sickle cell disproportionately affects African Americans. About one in 13 Black babies is born with the sickle cell trait and one in 365 is born with the disease, according to the CDC.

However, Robinson said people of any race or ethnicity can have the disease.

Robinson expects the increased awareness of health inequities that the COVID-19 crisis has brought will inspire people to learn more about sickle cell disease. He also thinks that the recent Black Lives Matter protests have made people more concerned about social issues.

“Everyone’s antennas have been raised a little bit,” Robinson said.

For a week in September the state Capitol entrance and the Harvey Taylor Bridge will be lit red in honor of the month, Robinson said.

The first Facebook Live seminar will be on Sept. 10. Robinson said that it will offer an overview on what sickle cell disease is. The second will be on pain management, the third on nutrition and fitness and the last on the sickle cell education across the state.

“When you know better, you do better,” Robinson said.

For more information on the South Central PA Sickle Cell Council, visit https://www.scpascc.org/. To watch their Sickle Cell Awareness Month seminars, visit their Facebook page.

“Community Classroom” aims to help working parents as virtual school year nears

August 17, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) announced Monday morning a “Community Classroom” program to address issues created by online learning.

Working parents in Harrisburg now have an option for their school-aged children who otherwise might be home alone.

State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) announced the “Community Classroom” program at a press conference this morning. The program seeks to address a concern many parents had when the Harrisburg School District announced that it was starting all students online this year.

“The set up will not work for everyone,” Kim said. “We are talking about parents with young students who don’t have the option to telework.”

The “Community Classroom” program, through partnering with local organizations, will create learning environments for students from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

The Journey Church on S. 29^th St., Whitaker Center downtown and the Major H. Winfield Funeral Home in Steelton have partnered with Kim to open their buildings for use as classrooms.

“We are living in really unique times, and we can all make decisions on what we do,” Journey Church Pastor Kris Sledge said. “How will we help our city? I’m tired of our building sitting vacant for the last couple of months.”

Kim explained that the program relies on community volunteers to staff the classes of around 20 students each. Volunteers will supervise students and assist with any technical issues they may have, Kim said.

She noted that CDC guidelines will be strictly followed and masks are required. Participating facilities must be child-ready, as well. The current plan is for the program to run through December, Kim said.

School district Receiver Janet Samuels and acting Superintendent Chris Celmer attended to talk about the decision to conduct virtual classes.

“The Harrisburg School District will be online, which unfortunately may create difficulty for many working parents,” Samuels said. “We know, in spite of the pandemic, many parents do not have the luxury of working at home and are adversely impacted on a daily basis.

According to Samuels, 75% of all working mothers work outside of their homes.

“This incredible initiative will allow parents who need it most to have support to enable their children to participate in instructional activities in a safe and structured environment,” she said.

Kait Gillis-Hanna, executive director of the Brethren Housing Association, was concerned about the time of the program not being long enough.

She explained her organization helps provide single mothers and their children who are experiencing homelessness with housing and support services.

“Our moms need to work,” Gillis-Hanna said. “They’re working on getting employment and, without someone to assist with their children’s education during the day, there’s a choice they’re going to have to make.”

Although the program only runs in the morning, Kim said this will cover the primary time students will have scheduled classes through the district.

“We are aware that this program will not help every family’s needs, and I feel badly about that,” Kim said. “But when you’re depending on volunteers, we need to start small and build out.”

Families will need to apply for the program at communityclassrooms.org. Here, volunteers can also sign up, and organizations can apply to become a “Community Classroom.”

“We have seen amazing heroes like our healthcare workers, frontline workers, essential workers and teachers,” Kim said. “I think this is our opportunity to be a hero, too.”

For more information, visit https://www.communityclassrooms.org/.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 14, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

People gathered at Kesher Israel Congregation on Wednesday to support Harrisburg’s Jewish community.

The COVID-19 crisis has shown us just how connected we all are. This week’s stories mirror that, demonstrating how community members and leaders are pulling together to support one another. In case you missed any of our coverage, we have it all listed and linked below.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights how local artists spent their summer. Find out how and from where painters, sculptors and photographers are drawing their inspiration.

Café 1500 and food blogger Corinne Foster have teamed up for a fundraiser to support Feeding Pennsylvania. Their special menu item will be available from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6, with part of the proceeds going to the organization to help with relief during the COVID-19 crisis. Find out more in our online story.

“Chairapy” is a new YouTube series featuring a Mechanicsburg barber and the stories his clients share while in his chair. His main client base–emergency service personnel–tells stories of bravery and struggle, our online story reports.

A community vigil was held to show solidarity with Kesher Israel Congregation. Local faith leaders spoke out against the hatred shown towards the Jewish community when swastikas were found painted on the synagogue. Read our online story for more on the event.

COVID-19 cases increased in the state this week with an average of just over 800 new cases daily. Our weekly pandemic reporting has information on testing, total deaths and cases per county.

Free internet access will be given to about 1,500 families in the Harrisburg School District through the school’s partnership with Tri County Community Action. Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer described the initiative as an effort to help close the digital divide for district students, our story reports.

Gamut Theatre announced its fall season show schedule on Monday. The theater will feature three live productions, with pandemic-related precautions in place, our online story reports.

The Harrisburg School District finalized plans for a 100% virtual start to the school year. Our online story has the details of what parents can expect and the options they have to choose from.

The March on Washington is later this month, and local resident Karla DeJesus plans to host a bus trip to D.C. Our online story discusses the impact that George Floyd’s death had on a group of residents and why they want to march for racial justice.

Midtown Redevelopment LLC proposed a project for Midtown Harrisburg that includes building nearly 100 townhouses. Their project would fill long-empty lots just north of the Broad Street Market, our online story reports.

TheBurg Podcast for August is out! This month, organizers of the Black Lives Matter mural in Midtown explain their motivation for the project. Tim Eller of the Commonweath Charter Academy and Mary Smith of Visit Hershey & Harrisburg provide updates on their organization, as well. Listen to the podcast here.

The “Weekend Roundup” is full of events to keep you busy. Sara Bozich lists the best places for takeout, virtual entertainment and outdoor fun in her blog.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, subscribe here!

Would you like to support our journalism and get some great benefits to boot? If so, become a Friend of TheBurg!

Harrisburg School District announces plan to close connectivity gap, offers free internet access

August 14, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg school district Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer (right) has announced a partnership that will give students free internet access. (file photo)

The Harrisburg School District is bringing free Internet access to students and their families through a new partnership with Tri County Community Action.

About 1,500 families will be given free access through next August, according to the district. For many families, this is necessary as the district announced recently that all students will begin the school year virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This timely partnership is a tremendous step toward closing the digital divide […],” Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer said. “With the generous support of Tri County Community Action, this partnership helps to make significant progress toward equitable technological access.”

Funding for the $160,000 connectivity initiative will come through Tri County Community Action’s Community Services Block Grant, as well as federal CARES Act funding.

“One of the best ways to disrupt and permanently break the cycle of poverty is through education and investing in our youth,” Tri County Executive Director Jennifer Wintermyer said. “Tri County Community Action is thankful to be part of the solution, and we are committed to working in partnership with the Harrisburg School District to meet the educational needs of children.”

According to Celmer, 84% of district students in the city come from families that are considered low-income or economically disadvantaged. This program will help close the digital divide, he said.

In a spring survey, the district found that three out of 10 students had questionable internet access to support online schooling, Celmer said. He added that the gap has closed slightly since then, but it’s still an issue for many families.

“Our priority is those families who have absolutely no access,” Celmer said.

The program will provide in-home Comcast Internet Essentials Services, Verizon Hot Spot access and Xfinity Wi-Fi Hot Spots at designated business and outdoor locations. Families do not have to be Xfinity Internet subscribers to access this, and it will be provided at no cost, according to the district.

More details on how to apply for the free wi-fi will come next week, Celmer said.

For more information and updates on the Connectivity Partnership, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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