Voices of Our Community: Blake Lynch

June 30, 2020 | by Blake Lynch

Blake Lynch

Following the death of George Floyd and the nationwide and local Black Lives Matter protests, we asked several members of our Harrisburg community if they would like to share their personal stories.

Growing up in central PA, I was raised by a single mom after my dad passed away.

During my childhood, I had positive interactions with our local police department through their focused community policing efforts. I believe their efforts helped shaped my young view of policing. I did have to counter that, however, with a culture that spoke of doubts in trusting the police. I had “the talk” with my mother and uncles about how to “act” around police and white people. I was told multiple times about implicit bias and how that might shape my interactions with people, but especially those who are white. I may encounter things my friends may not just because of something I could not control, my skin color. The stark reality is that not all men are treated equal in a land where it is proclaimed that all are created equal.

When I attended a midstate college as a student, I had another experience. I was driving back to campus on a Sunday night around 9 p.m. I noticed, in my side mirror, red and blue lights. I wasn’t speeding, so I kept driving, thinking that the car was going around me. I realized quickly that I was being pulled over. The officer approached my window and asked for information. I gave it to him and asked him why I was being stopped tonight. He didn’t answer but instead began questioning me.

“Where are you coming from?” “It’s late, what brings you to the area?”

He then asked where was I going. When I answered that I was going back to college, he gave me a look that said he didn’t believe me. The next few words he spoke cemented my thoughts that I was trying to keep back. When I told him what college I attended, he sarcastically said, “Oh yeah, really?”

In my mind, everything my family and culture had ever told me about driving while black became real in that moment. I was scared. I thought, “How I can get out of here?”

I quickly blurted out, “Can I give you my student ID?” With my hands shaking, I found my school ID and handed it to the officer. He looked at the ID, looked at me, went back to his car, ran my information, came back and returned it back to me and told me to have a good night. He went to his car, turned off his lights and pulled off. I sat there confused and wondered, “What just happened?” I have shared this story with people over the years, including several in law enforcement. No one could provide a reason other than what I originally thought. I had never been so scared in my life.

As I recall that story, it’s amazing how God will use one part of your life to potentially set a course and use your experience to help others. I’ve now worked with law enforcement for more than two years. I have watched members of the Harrisburg police department run towards dangerous calls for help, observed them de-escalate very tense situations, work long hours to solve cases for grieving families, serve food to needy families and play basketball with kids. Many in law enforcement know there is more work to do to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family in a welcoming community that we all want to see. I am blessed to now be able to help be a bridge and be a part of the change I want to see for our region. Everyone wants to live in a community where we all can feel safe, valued and respected.

Blake Lynch is the community policing coordinator for the Harrisburg Police Bureau.

Century of Grace: For 100 years, the Parkway has watched the river run

June 30, 2020 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

At 100 years old, this regal Front Street landmark looks good for her age, but love, care and pride have a lot to do with that.

Opened in 1920, the Parkway was one of first apartment complexes in Harrisburg and considered one of the most elegant. A century later, it remains so popular that residents still wait months for a vacancy.

“The Parkway was built to cater to the clientele in those days who wanted the prestige of a Front Street address without the maintenance of keeping a home,” said David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association. “It combines the graciousness of a private home in an apartment.”

The five-story complex originally was built with 30 units in a charming architectural design that Morrison described as “a blend of Georgian Revival and 20th Century International.”

Originally, all units featured a formal entrance leading into a spacious living room, three bedrooms and bathrooms, maid’s quarters and a formal dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows still offer majestic views of the Susquehanna River.

In the 1980s, the Parkway was renovated inside and out by its then-owners. The building was reconfigured to create a new total of 34 apartments. Only six units retained floor plans as originally constructed, while others were converted into two-bedroom units.

Outside, a row of single-family garages directly behind the complex was eliminated to ease cramped parking accommodations.

“Visitors had to park several blocks away,” Morrison noted.

With this, service parking and a new rear entrance off of Bartine Street were created.

Nonetheless, much of what makes the Parkway unique remains as it was built in 1920, such as claw-foot bathtubs, hardwood oak floors and plaster ceilings, said building manager Larry Bosak. Apartment walls are topped with wooden picture rails to avoid placing nails in the plaster for wall hangings.

Bosak has served as the Parkway’s manager since 1997. His base is a first-floor office within the complex.

“Our maintenance shop is here,” he said. “Most of our stuff is done in-house.”

Bosak is proud of the Parkway’s rich history. He’s quick to point out that the building is on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places. A plaque commemorating that honor sits outside the rear of the building.

“It’s great to be a part of history like this,” Bosak said. “It’s a dream come true for me.”

Christina Heintzelman moved into the Parkway 18 months ago. Her adopted home is an upper unit with a direct view facing the river.

“I like the view the best,” she said. “It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s also very affordable here with wonderful maintenance, and I’m surrounded by friends.”

Another plus? Heintzelman lives only 65 steps away from where she works. For the past seven years, she’s worked in the office of the Pennsylvania Council for the Blind, which is located on the Parkway’s ground floor.

The Parkway’s residents are friendly, too, she said. When not in a pandemic, building neighbors get together to grill on summer holidays and celebrate Christmas.

“We have a lot of great tenants,” agreed Bosak, equally proud of his building and its people.

Morrison returned the compliment, emphasizing that Harrisburg’s historic properties are only as good as their owners and landlords.

“It was very well built, well designed, and, importantly, has been well maintained,” he said.

The Parkway is located at 925 and 931 N. Front St., Harrisburg.

Six Months in the Mirror: Strange days, indeed

June 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

In the news business, big surprises are few.

At first blush, that may sound strange because isn’t novelty intrinsic to the word, “news?”

But, during my long career as a journalist, I’ve found that most “news” isn’t really all that new to those of us on the beat. Issues and events fall into patterns. So, if you’re a reporter covering a story over time, you often find that you can predict what’s going to happen before it occurs.

Most people say what you expect them to say. Most votes go as you think they will.

Then comes 2020, the year that broke all the rules.

Going into it, I expected the presidential election to be the big, dominant story. That’s hardly an act of great insight, right? Likely, most people thought exactly the same thing.

However, a pandemic, a crashing economy and a few enormous protests later, I have to admit that my prediction skills are lacking, at best.

Honestly, I’m still trying to get my brain around all that has happened in the first half of this year. What does it mean for the country? And, most importantly, what does it mean for the city I live in and report on every day?

As I sit here in June, writing this column, I would say that the earth beneath us is still shifting quickly, but I see a few patterns emerging.

First, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the creativity and resilience of our small business community. Harrisburg’s small business owners are a dedicated bunch, and I’m in awe of their focus and imagination as they had to cast aside their old business plans and pull new ones together on the fly. The future is still uncertain, especially as assistance like the Paycheck Protection Program expires. However, I’m increasingly confident that these owners are survivors who can overcome almost anything thrown at them.

Secondly, I’m going to do a slight turnabout and applaud the thousands of protestors who have descended on the state capital over the past few months. If you follow my scribbling, you may know that I expressed concern about these protests impacting our city neighborhoods, as they have several times. But, as I look around today, I see a neighborhood that’s no worse for the wear. We’re all still here, there hasn’t been any looting, and property damage has been quite minor. Yes, there have been some tense times, but nearly all of the demonstrations have been peaceful, the protesters passionately dedicated to their causes. This says a lot considering that the protests have been some of the largest and most persistent in the history of this city. It also says a great deal about the problems in our society and the urgent need to solve them.

Thirdly, the city government deserves recognition. The city, along with the nonprofit Impact Harrisburg, found creative ways to dole out more than $2 million to help the city’s struggling small businesses survive the devastating economic crisis. A few weeks later, the city and the Downtown Improvement District did something that, absent COVID, would have seemed downright radical. They closed downtown streets for outside dining, an experiment that proved to be a tremendous success. City officials also acted quickly to address issues of police conduct and procedures following the Black Lives Matters protests. It remains to be seen which reforms will ultimately pass into law. Certainly, this issue will persist in the corridors (and Zoom meetings) of city hall well into the second half of the year.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the impact of the Black Lives Matters protestors themselves. As the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2020, I certainly didn’t imagine that, a few months later, we in the media, in business, in government, etc., would be analyzing and searching for ways to improve racial equality and justice in this society. George Floyd’s death and the resulting worldwide protests have brought a singular focus to the perniciousness and persistence of racism across time and generations, and a reckoning is long overdue.

As I look back on the first half of 2020, I see a society and a city trying to regain its footing. However, with a presidential election quickly approaching, I expect that the year may grow more chaotic yet. Is that possible? At this point, I’ve learned not to underestimate the year 2020.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Voices of Our Community: Dr. Kimeka Campbell

June 30, 2020 | by Dr. Kimeka Campbell

Dr. Kimeka Campbell

Joy in Justice.

It’s 2:12 a.m. My eyes pop open, and my heart begins to race. I immediately begin to think about all the things I must do. I start putting everything in order. Walk the dogs. Shower. Get to work. Attend meetings. Hopefully eat lunch. Answer emails. Make phone calls. Mentor my staff. It’s only 2:15 a.m. The other side of my mind is trying to remind me to…Calm down. Breathe. Go back to sleep.

But what about George Floyd? It’s okay, you can think about that later. But what about Breonna Taylor? It’s extremely sad. She was asleep in her own bed. But what about Shaleek Moss? Sigh. 2016 seems so long ago. Did we fight hard enough for him? And don’t forget all the work that you must do in the community! My mind races on.

This has been my life for a long while. But the persistent anxiety has never been more present and visceral than in the last few weeks. There is so much work to do in the community and so much that goes undone.

But during this resurgence of terror, pain and struggle—there is hope. As I continue my community work, I remember.

Working in this community gives me life. Keeps me sane. Brings me peace. And strangely fosters a sense of joy. It’s a joy that is rooted in the hope for a better future, and the hope of equitable life experiences for all people. It’s the hope that, as I am lifting up Black voices, Black struggles and Black experiences, that we elevate the conversation. That we lift up society. Because when we lift up Black lives, we lift up all lives.

When we lift up Black lives, we lift up all lives. The joy this refrain brings fills my heart and calms me down. I go back to sleep and rest to fight another day.

There is Joy in Justice.

Dr. Kimeka Campbell is co-founder of Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color.

Flea Forward: HBG Flea vendors switch to online sales, but miss their community

June 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Jewelry by Amanda Burg

The COVID-19 crisis switched strolling through stores to scrolling online.

Not that people hadn’t been doing that already—I mean, they’re making drones to deliver packages. But this time, online shopping wasn’t so much an act of laziness as it was necessity.

Amazon lives off the e-commerce model, eating up consumers’ money and spitting out mass-produced goods wrapped in cardboard. But most small businesses take smaller bites.

Kat Dreibelbis has always made art. Art you can hold and admire. Her drawings and paintings come from a place of whimsy, surrealism. In one watercolor, a cat wears eyeglasses; in another, a trumpet sprouts a flower. In 2012, she began selling her work under the name Black Kat Luck and took it to festivals and markets.

Selling her art online isn’t something Dreibelbis is overly invested in. She’s partial to the in-person experience of buying and selling. This is why she has always loved the HBG Flea Market and why its temporary closing has been so hard for her.

“Not having that has hit home of how much we invest in the flea community,” Dreibelbis said.

Same Mission

When Meghan Weaver and Mary Imgrund started the HBG Flea, they had one goal—support local artists.

Over the past few months, tables that usually held handspun pottery, sweet smelling soaps and delicately crafted jewelry sat folded up in storage. Strawberry Square saw no crowds looking for a one-of a-kind find, and Midtown Cinema’s parking lot sat empty, as well.

The COVID-19 crisis may have put the physical market on hold, but that didn’t stop Weaver and Imgrund from fulfilling their mission.

“We had to do something to support the small businesses,” Imgrund said. “For many artists, that is a primary source of income.”

Knowing small businesses took a hard hit in the crisis, Imgrund and Weaver wanted to provide free assistance to their vendors

The pair set up the “Creative Outlet,” an online listing of their vendors. This would give the artists and small business owners a chance to sell and customers a way to buy. Over 60 local makers are available to peruse.

“It just feels like a different form of the same mission,” Weaver said. “It was a natural extension for us.”

Special Place

Eight years ago, Amanda Burg started making jewelry. With raw crystals and mixed metal, she crafts unique Bohemian style rings, necklaces and earrings. It began as a hobby, but Burg soon realized it was more than that. She opened a shop, Amanda Leilani Designs, on Etsy and set up booths at markets.

“The HBG Flea is actually the first market I did, so they hold a special place in my heart,” Burg said.

While Burg already had an established online presence, the market is a source of business she counted on. Each month, she set up shop at the HBG Flea.

“For a lot of people, myself included, it’s their livelihood,” she said.

Fortunately, Burg saw an increase in her online sales in April and May. She attributed that to the fact that people had no option but to shop for many products online. Burg also mentioned that the Creative Outlet helped drive customers to her site.

“To be able to support artists in a time like this is so important,” she said.

Flea Family

While the business of the market provides for artists, it’s the community aspect they miss the most.

“I miss my vendor community so much,” Burg said. “I miss seeing everyone each month.”

Dreibelbis has felt encouraged by having regular flea-goers reach out to check in on her.

“It’s really lovely to hear from them,” she said. “They’re rooting for the business.”

The re-opening of the HBG Flea in person is scheduled for July 11 in the Midtown Cinema parking lot. Weaver and Imgrund said the capacity will be limited and social distancing and wearing masks will be required.

Both Burg and Dreibelbis are hopeful that people will continue supporting local businesses, no matter what format that takes.

“It all comes back to building the community that you want to exist in,” Dreibelbis said.

For more information on the HBG Flea or to shop from its vendors, including Black Kat Luck and Amanda Leilani Designs, visit www.hbgflea.com.

Run On: Amid pandemic, many find therapy on the run

June 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

A body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Sound familiar? It’s part of Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion.

Physics aside, it’s also a credo many runners live by.

“Running provides a sense of freedom—I find joy in it, and running has always been one of my coping mechanisms,” said Joe Church, 68, a longtime Harrisburg resident who now resides in Dover, York County.

And he knows a thing or two about staying in motion. Church typically runs 50 to 60 miles per week. He’s completed 103 marathons—at least one in each of the 50 states, on all seven continents and in 44 different countries. He also ran the marathon distance (26.2 miles) around a cruise ship deck. Not once—but 29 different times. And those runs were just for fun (at least that’s how Church defines them), so they didn’t count as actual “races.”

In March, Church was in the Cook Islands, planning to run a marathon there, when the pandemic swept across the globe to the United States. The race was canceled, flights were being canceled, but he was able to catch one of the last ones home—just in time for Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders.

But he’s not exactly a homebody—running provided an “escape.”

“It helped me because when you’re thinking about people getting laid off from their jobs, or people not being able to pay their rent—I have friends in that situation—running allowed me to take that in my head and deal with it,” Church said. “If I feel any anxiety, running has always been a relief.”

Many runners, like Church, find running therapeutic during the pandemic. According to an informal poll of more than 200 River Runners, a Harrisburg-area running group, 75 percent said they’ve been maintaining or increasing their typical running mileage since the pandemic.

And apparently there’s a psychological reason for that.

“So much control was taken away from us during the pandemic, and most everybody’s coping skills were taken away too, and that’s one reason we’re seeing a surge in walking and running—people are going stir-crazy, cooped up,” said John Dennis, a counselor and sports psychologist at Parenting & Family Solutions LLC, with offices in Harrisburg and Lancaster. “And for long-time runners, it’s part of their daily routine—a spirituality, like a religion.”

Running, he said, improves the mind, body and spirit. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, the release of endorphins decreases stress, anxiety and depression and regulates a healthy appetite and sleep cycle.

Those endorphins, a “runner’s high,” are addictive—in a good way.

“In terms of mental health… for the majority of people, running is a way to clear their head,” Dennis said.

However, mentally and emotionally, COVID-19 also constructed hurdles on runners’ paths. After months of training, many runners are “grieving” the loss of canceled races—the non-existent high school track season, local races and high-profile events such as the Boston Marathon, Dennis said.

One of those runners is Scott McGeary, 32, of Harrisburg, who’s been a competitive runner since his high school days at Central Dauphin East. With his 2020 race schedule canceled, he’s increased his weekly run totals to about 90 miles.

“Running is my identity—more so than anything else,” McGeary said. “My eating schedule, my travel schedule—everything is based around running. It’s my stress relief, my exercise, my fun time, my socialization, my competitive outlet.”

McGeary, clinic director and physical therapist at Mechanicsburg’s Pivot Physical Therapy, has a recommendation for brand-new runners: a couch-to-5K plan that involves intervals of running and walking that gradually introduces your body to running.

Runners over-doing their mileage may become his patients this fall.

“It typically takes three to six months for overuse injuries, so the fallout from COVID-19 changes in running are a few months down the road,” McGeary said.

The social aspects of run clubs, or lack thereof during the pandemic, is also affecting runners.

“Enjoying a cup of coffee with friends after a run—that will come again,” said Mary Lou Harris, 73, of Camp Hill. “While I’m not always cognizant of my age, when I realized I was part of that vulnerable population, I realized I had to be smart and run strictly solo—the social things can wait.”

Harris, the founding race director of Harrisburg’s “Capital 10-Miler: A Run for the Arts,” is concerned about the pandemic’s ripple effects on races, charities that typically benefit from race proceeds, plus race-related tourism.

“As we come out of this, I think people will be looking for races closer to home—perhaps smaller races trying to help a charity,” said Harris. “In terms of runners’ comfort level in racing again, providing a safe, healthy race environment is really a puzzle. People are scrunched together at the start and finish lines—how do you make that safe?”

Amid the pandemic, both Harris and Church signed up for a number of “virtual race challenges,” in which runners track their total monthly or summer miles. For example, the Runnsylvania 283 organized by Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg challenges runners to rack up 283 miles—the approximate distance across the state—between the first and last days of summer. The sign-up fee includes a shirt and other goodies; proceeds benefit a nonprofit assisting with COVID-19 relief efforts.

At her age, Harris wonders, “Have I run my last [traditional] race? It’s sobering but you come to terms with it.”

Church is simultaneously participating in several virtual race challenges. In addition to the Runnsylvania 283, he’s running virtually across New York (a 1,000K distance) and Tennessee. He submits his running mileage to all three challenges.

“One of the benefits, if there is a bright side of pandemic running, is that in real life you can only go to one race at a time,” said Church. “But with virtual races, I can be virtually in many places at once.”

A June to Remember: Revisiting a month of history

June 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

The Black Lives Matter movement dominated our news coverage over the past month, as thousands of people gathered for protests and rallies in Harrisburg demanding justice and civil rights.

Online, we featured numerous stories, editorials and photo galleries dedicated to the many events that took place. We now want to share snippets of our web-only work for our magazine readers.

Why We’re Here

Unity. Peace. Justice.

Those words were heard over and over during Sunday’s rally at the PA Capitol, the latest in a weeklong series of protests following the death of George Floyd and demands for equal rights and fair justice.

Several hundred protestors gathered at the state Capitol and marched along downtown Harrisburg streets and over to City Island before returning to the Capitol steps to rally again.

Along the way, the diverse crowd held signs decrying police violence and engaged in chants such as “Say His Name: George Floyd” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.”

“This march is one of solidarity,” said community activist Kevin Maxson, speaking to the crowd. “We demand change. That’s why we’re all here today.”

—Lawrance Binda

Juneteenth Plan

It was just last year that Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill officially recognizing June 19 as a state holiday celebrating freedom from slavery, known as Juneteenth.

In the wake of the death of George Floyd and other black men and women at the hands of police, Juneteenth takes on special meaning this year in the midst of protests and calls to action.

The Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, La Cultura, Capital Rebirth and The Bridge are joining forces to host festivities in Harrisburg this Friday.

“It’s a celebration,” Mikell Simpson, founder of the nonprofit Capital Rebirth, said. “We have gained a lot of momentum. Now, let’s take a break for a day and celebrate.”

—Maddie Conley

African American Music Appreciation Month

If you live in central PA, you’ve probably heard of Shawan Rice and her band, Shawan and the Wonton. The singer-songwriter has brought her melodic voice and heartbreaking lyrics all across Pennsylvania and the east coast.

There is no other way to describe the 25-year-old’s voice but soulful. Her music, featuring traces of blues, R&B and folk laced together with her autobiographical lyrics, will probably wreck you but help you heal all over again.

“It’s soul music—music made for the soul,” she said. “You can feel it inside you.”

—Yaasmeen Piper

Editorial: “We Stand in Support”

We at TheBurg stand by the principals of this historic movement. We join this community in opposing racism and police brutality and in supporting equality, civil rights and black-owned businesses.

It is my greatest hope that this movement results in substantial and lasting change. I am amazed at what has already been accomplished in such a short time and look forward to seeing genuine progress towards greater equality and more opportunities in our community and our country.

—Lawrance Binda

Conversations

Every so often, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC hosts a seminar, but this one was different.

It was one that chamber board Vice Chair Meron Yemane has waited years for.

Today, the Chamber held a webinar entitled, “Chamber Live: A Conversation about Systemic Racism.”

Yemane explained how he believes this is the beginning of the process towards change for the chamber. He pointed out the power structures within the organization itself and the hope he has for positive movement towards inclusivity.

“Next year, I’ll be the first black chair of the chamber, and that doesn’t mean anything if there’s not a second,” Yemane said. “The chamber can lead in this.”

—Maddie Conley

Stories of the Past

The weather may have been gloomy, but the day was filled with celebration as the state recognized Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the freedom of enslaved African Americans.

As part of the day’s events, members of the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade presented the City of Harrisburg with a bronze map replica of the historic Old 8th Ward.

The bronze map shows houses, churches, synagogues and other landmarks from the neighborhood that was demolished for the expansion of the Capitol grounds. The Old 8th Ward was primarily an African American and immigrant community that was displaced with the expansion.

“The future is judged by how well we preserve the true and just stories of the past,” said Lenwood Sloan, director of the project.

—Maddie Conley

Editorial: “This Remarkable Week”

A month or so ago, I told a colleague how disappointed I was with my generation—the Gen X/Baby Boomer crowd. When I was young, I attended many protests, thinking that our voices could lead to change. Looking back, however, I felt like we failed to make much progress toward a better, more equitable society.

But now this time has come like a bolt, a renewed era of activism and optimism, led by young people and people of color, but including a broad swath of society across cultures and generations—and now with, of all the unimaginable twists, assists from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Life remains unsettled. There are still plenty of questions, struggles and unknowns, especially as the global pandemic grinds on. But suddenly, the world seems so much more hopeful, so much brighter. For this incredible, history-making week, we can believe again in Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous quote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

—Lawrance Binda

Visit www.theburgnews.com to read the full stories from these excerpts.

July News Digest

June 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Adopts “8 Can’t Wait”

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month announced the city’s plan to evaluate and rewrite its police Use of Force General Order.

Inspired by former President Barack Obama calling upon mayors to review methods of policing, Harrisburg officials began to take a look at city policies, Papenfuse said. The city is using Campaign Zero’s “8 Can’t Wait” challenge as a framework.

“At the end of the conversation, there will definitely be a rewrite of the general order,” Papenfuse said.

The project looks at eight policies that local governments can adopt, claiming they may decrease police killings by as much as 72 percent.

The eight policy recommendations include:

banning chokeholds and strangleholds
requiring de-escalation
requiring warning before shooting
requiring exhaustion of all alternatives before shooting
a duty to intervene when excessive force is being used
banning shooting at moving vehicles
requiring a use-of-force continuum
requiring comprehensive reporting

Papenfuse explained that Harrisburg’s Use of Force General Order explicitly addresses seven of the eight orders. It lacks only a “duty to intervene” when officers use excessive force. He mentioned that it is taught in the police academy.

“We can definitely add number eight,” he said.

In addition to the city addressing the eighth policy, officials are also looking to expand on and enhance the other seven. For example, Papenfuse said they want to require more de-escalation and warning before excessive force is used.

“I want to hear from the public,” he said.

Papenfuse encouraged Harrisburg residents to email [email protected] with comments and questions.

July 4 Celebration Planned

Fourth of July celebrations may remind you of life as normal this year.

Harrisburg Independence Day festivities will be combined with Saturday Nights in the City for an evening of food, fireworks and more food.

Originally scheduled as a drive-through food truck event, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said the city decided to make it a traditional walk-up experience.

“We do think it’s appropriate given where we are to do a walk-up,” he said.

As usual, a multitude of food trucks will make an appearance, this time on City Island instead of Riverfront Park. Papenfuse said there will be fewer trucks than before, but still more than a dozen. While no vendors will be in Riverfront Park, people are free to picnic there.

With the added twist of including the city’s outdoor dining event, Saturday Nights in the City, people will have the option of sitting for table service from downtown restaurants.

“It’s been so successful,” Papenfuse said of the Saturday event. “We definitely wanted to include that and give people a chance to come downtown.”

As is tradition, fireworks will close out the night at about 9:15 p.m., set off from City Island.

Throughout the event, participants are encouraged to practice social distancing, Papenfuse said.

New Owner, Plan for Hudson Building

Originally, it was supposed to be a high-rise apartment building—with a huge convention hall, to boot. It was supposed to be 10 to 12 stories tall.

That never happened.

Instead, over the years, the cavernous Hudson building has been everything from a bank to a church to a series of small shops. And, for almost 20 years, it’s simply sat empty and falling apart.

Now, the building, at N. 6th and Maclay streets in Uptown Harrisburg, has a new owner and a new plan, one that includes something city residents have long said they wanted—a grocery store.

“Harrisburg is a food desert, so we plan to have a grocery component,” said new owner Adam Maust, who purchased the property through his company, Mighty Group Holdings LLC. “That’s one of the things that I’m most excited about.”

According to Dauphin County, Maust bought the 50,000-square-foot building and surrounding lots late last month for $425,000 from Philadelphia Suburban Development Corp., a King of Prussia-based commercial real estate development firm. That company bought it in 2004 and never redeveloped it.

The neglect is quite apparent, as the building has deteriorated significantly since that time.

Maust said that he’s putting together a plan for the complete rehabilitation of the structure, with architecture by Camp Hill-based By Design Consultants.

First off, the building needs to be gutted, as little of the damaged interior is salvageable. He wants demolition to begin in July.

He then plans to ask the Camp Curtin community what it would like to see in the space. He wants to hold community meetings to get the feedback and buy-in of people who live in the neighborhood.

He’s pretty sure that the area needs a grocery store, so that’s high on his agenda. He also plans to move his own Harrisburg-based marketing company, A Mighty Group, into a small portion. He thinks that a brewery and art studios could be good fits, maybe a restaurant or a coffee shop.

The property includes a parking lot and several empty lots, which he wants to turn into community green space.

“I’m open to any idea,” he said. “It’s really talking to the community to see what makes sense.”

Maust said that he wanted to purchase the building for several reasons. First of all, he’s from the area and, he said, loves Harrisburg, so wanted to make a contribution. Secondly, he thinks that the 6th Street corridor is ripe for redevelopment with such projects as the new federal courthouse and the planned state archives up the street.

“I saw this as an exciting opportunity to change Harrisburg for the better,” he said. “I hope this will be an anchor that we can build on.”

He also likes the proximity to the state Farm Show Complex, which is just across the Maclay Street Bridge. He said that he easily could see the building serving as an adjunct for large events there, with event and meeting space.

Since the building is so large, there are many possible uses, he said. And, if his project is successful, he might even consider building up, since the stone and steel bottom floors were built to support a 12-story structure.

“This building is an anchor for the entire corridor,” he said. “It will be one of the very best buildings in Harrisburg.”

Women’s Shelter Breaks Ground

Bethesda Mission last month broke ground on a new women’s shelter to replace its two deteriorating existing buildings.

First, the transitional living building on Forster Street will be demolished and rebuilt, followed by the main building, situated in a 120-year-old former school building.

Once completed, the half-acre site will hold a new, four-story building with 51 beds, the new transitional living building and outdoor garden and park space.

“The shelter has given women who have been in crisis a whole new opportunity for a different life,” said Scott Dunwoody, Bethesda Mission’s executive director.

Within the past two years, Bethesda has raised over 85% of the $4.2 million price tag on the project through grants and private donors. They are now looking for community donations to meet their goal.

Contractor Pyramid Construction is expected to complete the project by the fall of 2021.

The shelter offers long-term and transitional living for women in crisis to seek restoration and personal growth. Many have faced abuse and addiction. The buildings have 25 beds for women and their children.

Shelter Director Shelley Brooks explained that the growing need in the Harrisburg area for young women’s support was a motivating factor in the expansion.

“It’s time to spread out a little because the need is great,” she said.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

The residential real estate market showed mix results in May amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, according to housing industry data.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR) reported last month that, for May, sales fell by about half in the region, but the median price increased by 6.8 percent year-over-year to $205,000.

In Dauphin County, 173 houses sold compared to 355 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $176,300 from $172,000. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 152 units versus 326 in May 2019, while the median price increased to $233,950 compared to $215,000 a year ago.

Perry County had 21 sales for a median price of $157,000 versus 39 home sales for $150,900 in May 2019.

Average days on the market for listings were virtually unchanged—52 days versus 51 in the prior May.

So Noted

COVID-19 Community Response Fund has awarded more than $127,000 in grants to 54 nonprofits around central Pennsylvania. The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and the United Way of the Capital Region combined forces in March to quickly raise and distribute funds to assist our region’s hard-hit nonprofit sector.

GK Visual last month debuted its latest project, “Poured in PA: The Series,” featuring individual episodes focused on Pennsylvania’s craft beer industry. The series, which can be streamed from YouTube, follows their two full-length documentaries on the industry.

Harrisburg Bike Share has ceased operations, closing down its three-year bicycle-sharing program. Boston-based operator Zagster shuttered all of its 200-plus sites nationwide, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.

Harrisburg City Council last month vowed to make reforms to help prevent possible police misconduct. Council member Ausha Green, chair of council’s public safety committee, said council would examine police use-of-force policies, in addition to other possible initiatives.

Harrisburg School District Receiver Janet Samuels last month approved a 2020-21 budget that does not raise taxes. The coronavirus pandemic had blasted a hole in the $158 million spending plan, but the budget gap was closed with federal CARES Act funding.

Harrisburg University’s HU Storm Overwatch team last month won the Operating System NYC Collegiate Championship. The e-sports team won four straight matches to defeat the University of California, Irvine, for the title.

Roger That Photography last month presented Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region with a check for $10,327 from funds raised from its

#TheFrontStepsProject. Owner Roger Baumgarten took free, socially distanced, on-the-porch family portraits, with all profits from the online sales of downloads, prints and photo gifts earmarked for the Salvation Army.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 2315: A. & V. Morelli to G. Ferkel, $250,000

Benton St., 607: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to R. Wilder, $125,000

Boas St., 114: D. Walker to P. Kavanaugh, $157,500

Briggs St., 215: P. Meehan to CR Property Group LLC, $108,000

Brookwood St., 2178 & 2178 Getty’s Alley: K. & S. Ribble to W. Macon, $37,000

Calder St., 116: D. Goldman to Z. Fisher & C. Cline, $155,000

Conoy St., 100: M. & J. Barton to S. & N. Dienner, $110,000

Conoy St., 110: H. Peyrot to L. Overby, $157,900

Croyden Rd., 2826: J. & A. Myers to J. McErlean, $45,000

Curtin St., 613: O. Ramos to F. Ruiz & C. Zapata, $44,000

Derry St., 2815: J. Elias Holdings LLC to S. Ambra, $64,900

Ellersie St., 2334: C. Woods to K. & B. Staton, $76,000

Forster St., 1926: CR Property Group LLC to S. & J. Hirota, $105,000

Grand St., 933: T. Heck to E. Thomas, $114,000

Green St., 2146: Coverex LLC to J. & S. Compton, $35,000

Hamilton St., 334: PA Deals LLC to D. Monzon, $119,900

Herr St., 1506: Seneca Leandro View LLC to V. Cobbs, $76,000

Hudson St., 1216: R. Mesariac to E. & V. Glover, $111,000

Kensington St., 2033: CR Property Group LLC to J. Curtis, $101,000

Lewis St., 210: Smith Della Porta Investments LLC to C. Jury, $120,000

Lexington St., 2562: I. Druker to M. Jones Jr., $80,000

Lexington St., 2716: P. Edrington to CR Property Group LLC, $37,000

Logan St., 2035: G. Vargas to CR Property Group LLC, $35,000

Logan St., 2235: B. & K. Saltzgiver to CR Property Group LLC, $37,500

Market St., 829 & 1001: Equity Trust Co. FBO Robert Clay IRA to Camcorr LLC Property Management Inc., $785,000

Meadowlark Pl., 174: L. Nguyen to E. Pinero, $80,000

Muench St., 200: Penn Home LLC to M. Temba & C. & J. Liu, $85,500

Muench St., 205: J. Secrest to S. Vielot, $135,000

N. 2nd St., 1715: 1715 N. 2nd Street LLC to A. & T. Stienstra, $175,000

N. 2nd St., 2341: G. & K. Speaks to M. Omari to T. Ebengela, $124,900

N. 2nd St., 3011: Central Pennsylvania Home Buyers LLC to K. Boggan & G. Rine, $240,000

N. 4th St., 1320: PA Deals LLC to D. Isern, $114,900

N. 5th St., 2507: W. Whitehead to CR Property Group LLC, $50,500

N. 5th St., 2200: Harrisburg Home Investment LLC to J. & J. Fessenden, $89,900

N. 6th St., 2101, 606 Maclay St., 608 Maclay St., 612 Maclay St., 620 Maclay St., 2120 Jefferson St. & 2119 Elizabeth Alley: Philadelphia Suburban to Mighty Group Holdings LLC, $425,000

N. 13th St., 23: P. Miller & Habitat for Humanity to NA Capital Group LLC, $37,000

N. 14th St., 1116: Gator Management Group LLC to 37 Estate LLC, $35,000

N. Front St., 901: J. & V. Wozniak to Equity Building LLC, $355,000

Norwood St., 909: J. Lindberg to Q. Wilson, $31,000

Norwood St., 943: M. Nguyen to X. Mangual, $71,400

Peffer St., 211: K. Scheib to J. DeMarco, $118,000

Penn St., 1916: D. Ohagan to A. Sosa, $176,300

Penn St., 2126: Coverex LLC to J. & S. Compton, $50,000

Penwood Rd., 3214: CNC Realty Group to R. & S. Holloman, $105,000

Pine St., 123, 125 & 127: B. & G. Dechowitz to N&R Group LLC, $475,000

Reel St., 2416 & 2418: American Rental Home LLC to CR Property Group LLC, $52,000

Regina St. 1606: D. Boyle to Y. Tejada, $30,000

Rudy Rd., 1909: PA Deals to H. Shbeeb, $73,900

S. 24th St., 625: J. Clancy to A. Ward, $77,000

S. Front St., 711: S. & D. Moffett to H. Peyrot, $192,000

State St., 1412: A. Sharp to S. Lee & M. Prokopy, $145,000

State St., 1715: D., J. & M. Sollenberger to D. & L. David, $93,000

Sycamore St., 1821: C. Williams to S. Glass, $120,000

Verbeke St., 1727: C. & J. Arp to S. & A. Dougherty, $79,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 26, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Forster Street may be in for substantial improvements if a grant application approved by City Council is accepted.

This week may not have been quite as jam-packed as last, but there was still plenty of news, including several proposals meant to improve life in Harrisburg. Now’s a great time to catch up on the latest stories you may have missed from this past week.

Capital Region Water is delaying stormwater fees for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. We shared, in our online story, that the payment will begin on Oct. 1, rather than July 1.

Citizen’s advisory board was proposed by City Council on Tuesday to improve relations between the Police Bureau and residents. In our online story, we outline the power that committee members would have and how they will be chosen.

COVID-19 cases have plateaued for now in Pennsylvania, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. In our weekly update, we show that cases haven’t fallen further, but they’re not generally rising either.

Deterring illegal firework usage is the goal of a new plan to open Harrisburg parks on July 3 as a place for residents to set fireworks off safely. Our story highlights the four parks that will be supervised by Fire Bureau officials from 7 to 10 p.m and the new mapping system that will pinpoint illegal-use hotspots.

Forster Street may be getting a facelift. City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to submit a grant application for improvements to Forster Street. Our online story details that council hopes to get $832,437 to reduce the width of the street and improve safety between the Harvey Taylor Bridge and N. 2^nd Street.

Harrisburg school district Receiver Janet Samuels approved on Monday a budget of $158.2 million for the 2020-21 school year. Our online story explains how the district originally faced a $4.2 million deficit caused by the COVID-19 crisis, but received one-time CARES Act funding to fill the gap.

“Out in Central Pennsylvania” by William Burton details the history of the LGBTQ community in the region. We reported on Midtown Scholar’s virtual book talk in which Burton and co-author Barry Loveland discussed the story.

Sara Bozich is laying low this weekend, enjoying some good local food and chilling out. Don’t miss her list of things to do this weekend to get out of the house while still relaxing.

UPMC Pinnacle is launching “Healthy Harrisburg,” an educational course for those dealing with chronic illness. It aims to help residents of color and those lacking adequate access to healthcare in the city. Check out what they have planned and how you can register to participate.

Young Professionals of Color of Greater Harrisburg have almost reached their goal for their 2020-21 Adopt-a-Classroom fundraiser. They’re looking to raise $15,000 to support 30 Harrisburg school district classrooms. More information and ways to give are shown in our online story.

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Do you love TheBurg? If so, join Friends of TheBurg, our new membership group. Click here to find out more.

PA averaged about 500 new daily COVID-19 cases over past week, state says

June 26, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Charts of daily new cases and tests over time. Source: PA Department of Health

New COVID-19 cases in PA remained relatively stable this week, with the state reporting an average of just over 500 new diagnoses over the last seven days.

With today’s update, the state Department of Health has reported an average of 515 new cases per day since last Friday. For the past 24 hours, the department confirmed 600 new positive cases throughout Pennsylvania.

Cases peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 daily new cases. Since then, cases have shown a gradual decline, despite increasingly greater testing levels for the virus.

With the additional cases, 84,370 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 3,608 over the past week.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 324 cases (prior Friday, 309)
Cumberland County: 830 cases (prior Friday, 768)
Dauphin County: 1,917 cases (prior Friday, 1,725)
Franklin County: 902 cases (prior Friday, 872)
Lancaster County: 4,280 cases (prior Friday, 3,911)
Lebanon County: 1,300 cases (prior Friday, 1,226)
Perry County: 86 cases (prior Friday, 79)
York County: 1,428 cases (prior Friday, 1,229)

Overall, 11.7 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The department also reported an additional 180 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 6,579 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 12 deaths (prior Friday, 11)
Cumberland County: 63 deaths (prior Friday, 61)
Dauphin County: 132 deaths (prior Friday, 118)
Franklin County: 42 deaths (prior Friday, 42)
Lancaster County: 354 deaths (prior Friday, 344)
Lebanon County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 40)
Perry County: 5 deaths (prior Friday, 5)
York County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 35)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 21,203 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 8,301 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,587 and 794, respectively.

“As nearly the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

With the exception of Lebanon County, all of the Harrisburg area is now in the “green” phase of reopening, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Gov. Tom Wolf stated today that Lebanon County would enter the green phase on July 3.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,518, or 68.6 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,527 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,162 cases among employees, for a total of 20,689 at 678 distinct facilities in 51 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, about 6,395 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 719,081 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 634,711 people testing negative, according to the state health department. A week ago, the state reported that 637,218 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
1 percent are aged 5-12
2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 7 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 25 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 28 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach,” Levine said. “However, the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 data update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.

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