Happenings: Our October calendar of events

September 30, 2019 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Studebaker Cool: 114 Years of Innovation,” exploring South Bend, Indiana’s contribution to wheeled transportation,” through Oct. 20

“Harley-Davidson: History, Mythology and Perceptions of America’s Motorcycle,” through Oct. 20

“Raymond Loewy: A Retrospective,” an exhibit on the American industrial designer, who achieved fame for his design efforts, through Oct. 20

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Sustained: Artists and the Environment” Fall Membership show, through Oct. 10

“Hope, Memory & Pride: Artists View Equality,” a compilation of various artists celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Oct. 18-Nov. 21; reception: Oct. 18, 5-8 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“People and Places,” new works featuring candid observations of everyday scenes captured in plein air style by Kim Stone and Pat Walach Keough, through Nov. 2

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Jesus Gayton

Dickinson College
The Goodyear Gallery
595 W. Louther St., Carlisle
717-254-8044; dickinson.edu

“Jonathan VanDyke: The Ladder Maker,” a site-specific installation of pieced paintings, sculptures and a looping video, Oct. 8-28; reception: Oct. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Dickinson College
The Trout Gallery
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-254-8159; troutgallery.org

“Manifestation and Adaptation: Variations in Buddhist Sculpture Across Asia,” an exhibition curated by Dickinson student Bizz Fretty working with faculty members in East Asian studies and religion, Oct. 11-Feb. 1; reception Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m.

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

“Leisure Time Exhibit,” highlighting what the Reily family did for fun in their spare time as previous owners and residents of Fort Hunter, through December

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

“Something for Everyone,” artwork by Carrie Feidt, through Oct. 12

“The Art of PA Game News,” by Dana Bellis, Oct. 16-Nov. 16; reception: Oct. 20, 3-5 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

Cocoa Beanery Art Exhibit, through Oct. 7

Hershey Public Library Exhibit, through Oct. 12

“Under the Colors,” HAAA Members Fall Art Show, Oct. 19-30

Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

African American Quilters Gathering Harrisburg, Oct. 5-31

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

“In Matter and in Mode” Faculty Exhibit, through Oct. 9

“Otta Dix: Matthäus Evangelium,” Oct. 18-Nov. 26

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

“LIKENESS: A group show of Portraits,” through Oct. 24

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

New works by Linda Benton McCloskey, Joelle and Justin Arawjo, Kristen Fava, John McNulty, John Davis and Mary Kandray Gelenser, through Oct. 13

New works by Elaine Brady Smith, Christine Goldbeck, Andrew Guth, Judy Kelly, Yachiyo Beck and Lori Sweet, Oct. 15-Nov. 10

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“Boots and Saddles: Horses in the Civil War,” through June 7

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“The Best of Jim Bashline Outside and In,” through January

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Artwork by Shelby Pizarro in the Charley Krone Gallery, through October

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

The Penny Gallery at The Pond
32 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-245-0382; thepomfretgroup.com

“ArtsLive Series,” an art exhibition from of work by Red Tomato Farm participants, through Oct. 12

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Up Close,” a group exhibition of artwork in a variety of media that explores small worlds or highlights a portion of a larger whole, through Oct. 4

“Arts for All,” works created in the Arc of Cumberland & Perry Counties’ and PCCA’s “Arts for All” inclusive art classes, Oct. 18-Nov. 2; reception: Oct. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. Second St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Felting Iki,” an exhibition of whimsical and cheerful felted art pieces by Crissy Miyake, through Oct. 5

“Artisan Marketplace,” holiday shopping exhibition, filled with unique, locally made fine art and handcrafted items for gift giving, Oct. 18-Jan. 11; reception: Oct. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

Ceramics works by Carolanne Currier and Jack Troy, through Oct. 3

Relief prints by Brenton Good, Oct. 14-Nov. 7; reception: Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral and School
221 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-4059

“Icons in Transformation,” Ludmila Pawlowska’s artistic interpretation of her experience of prayer and connection with eternity, through paintings and sculptures, through Nov. 3

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Pennsylvania at War: World War I Posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives,” through Dec. 29

“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 29

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“War is Only Half the Story,” stories of the people left behind after the cameras have moved on from a war zone, Oct. 12-Jan.19; members’ preview: Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m.

“Other Worlds—Inka Essenhigh,” richly colored distorted fables with archetypes, sprites and anthropomorphized nature; Oct. 19-Jan. 19; members’ preview opening: Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m.

“Artistic Expressions: Faculty Edition,” featuring the work of Harrisburg-area art teachers, through Oct. 20

“On Location: Harrisburg Sketchers,” featuring sketches from the past six years from a rotating cast of artists, through Oct. 27

“Hidden City,” the plein-air landscape paintings of Valeri Larko, through Nov. 17

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“A Theater of Things: The Work of G. Daniel Massad,” signature works spanning five decades, curated by the Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art, through Oct. 20

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“An Eternal Essence—A Requiem for Rita,” a multimedia collaborative exhibition of works to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El, Oct. 4-25

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art In The Wild,” naturally inspired trailside creations along Wildwood Park’s wandering trails and wetlands, through Oct. 31

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Art gallery by Stephen Zerbe, through Oct. 17

Art gallery by Rapture Tattoo Emporium, Oct. 18-Nov. 14

Read, Make, Learn

BrainVessel Gallery
4707 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-2306; bvcargo.com

Oct. 9: Make a Face Mug, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: Stained Glass Mosaic Serving Tray, 1-5 p.m.
Oct. 16: Circle of Life Leather Cuff, 1-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: Functional Art 420 Glassblowing, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 26: Kawaii Halloween Charms, 1-3 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Oct. 1: Floral Enamel Pendant, 6-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 27, 24: Beginning Knitting, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24: Beginning Oil Painting, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 7-Nov. 11: Yoga Club, 4-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Intro to Metal Jewelry—Riveting & Texture, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 9: The Bee’s Knees En-caustic Painting, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12, 19: Fall Fest Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 18, 25, Nov. 2: Pit Fire Workshop
Oct. 21-Nov. 25: Wheel 101, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 22: Enameling with Stamps, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 22-Nov. 26: Wheel 102, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: Experimental Mixed Media 1-Day Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 23-Nov. 27: Play with Clay at the End of the Day, Wednesdays, 3:45-5:15 p.m.
Oct. 26: Weaving 101, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Oct. 3: Oktoberfest & Beer Pairing, 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 23: Bounty of the Fall, 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 30: Tour of Europe, 6-9 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Oct. 1, 15: Job Seeker Resources, 1-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: Crazy for Coloring, 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 19: Tear Apart Technology, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 29: Friends of East Shore Area Library Meeting, 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Cards & Coffee, 9:15-10:30 a.m., 6:30-8 p.m.
Oct. 5, 19: Cards & Coffee, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 5, 19: Family LEGO Club, 11 a.m.
Oct. 9: Teen Book Club, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9, 23: Anime Club, 6 p.m.
Oct. 10, 24: Community Knitters, 6 p.m.
Oct. 12: Lace Cottage Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 19: Book Discussion Group, 9:15 a.m.
Oct. 19: Community Knitters, 11 a.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Oct. 1: Teen Homeschool Hangout, 10 a.m.
Oct. 1: Curl Up with the Classics—“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” 10 a.m.
Oct. 2: Bilingual Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 2: Moving Forward Book Group with Hospice of Central PA, 1 p.m.
Oct. 3, 17: Blood Pressure Screenings with UPMC Pinnacle, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 3, 17: The Plot Twisters (ages 15-18), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 4: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: Tween Makerspace Drop-In (ages 9-13), 4-6 p.m.
Oct. 8, 15, 22: STEM Playtime (ages 3-5), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 10: Home Food Preservation—Wild Game, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: Foreign Film Friday—“35 Visages, Villages,” 2 and 7 p.m.
Oct. 12: After Hours Trivia—Steven King, 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 14: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 22: The Philadelphia Campaign of the Revolutionary War, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24: Creepy Crafts for Teens, 5 p.m.
Oct. 25: Indie Film Friday—”Moonlight,” 2 and 7 p.m.
Oct. 28: Fredricksen Reads—“Educated,” 7 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Oct. 2: Fiber and Friends, 6 p.m.
Oct. 8: Fun with Drafting Film, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 14, 15, 16, 17: Elke Isenberg Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Oct. 16-Dec. 4: Intro to Improv, Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Oct. 2-Nov. 20: Realistic Oil Painting, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 3-Dec. 5: Water Media, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 25-Dec. 20: Oil Painting—Concept to Completion, Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9, 22, 23, 29, 30: 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
Oct. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 22, 29: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
Oct. 2: Rotator Cuff Seminar, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 2, 9, 23, 30: Sensory 1, 2, Whee!, 1 a.m.
Oct. 3: Quilter’s Guild, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Teen Lounge, 3 p.m.
Oct. 4, 18: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Oct. 5: Halloween Costume Swap, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 5: Chess Club, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13: Memoirs Class, 2 p.m.
Oct. 6: Pumpkin Collage Class, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: Books and Babies, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 7: Books and Babies, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 7: Hinduism in America Class, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Hosted Writer’s Group, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30: Tween Lounge, 3 p.m.
Oct. 10: Morning Contemporary Book Group, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 10: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 9:45 a.m.
Oct. 10: Evening Contemporary Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10, 14: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
Oct. 13: Fall Succulent Workshop, 2 p.m.
Oct. 13: Library Program—Fracking, 2 p.m.
Oct. 16, 23, 30: LEGO League, 6 p.m.
Oct. 19: Cocoa Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Oct. 20: Friends’ Children’s Program—ZooAmerica presents Native PA Species, 2 p.m.
Oct. 21, 28: Storytime for 3s & 4s, 10 a.m.
Oct. 21, 28: Storytime for 4s & 5s, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: Between the Lines Book Group, 6:45 p.m.
Oct. 25: Edible Book Contest, 10 a.m.
Oct. 26: Photography II Class, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 26: Room #1 Chess Club, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 26: Room #2 – Friend’s Special Film Showing, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Friend’s Program—Ghostly Tales of Gettysburg, 2 p.m.
Oct. 28: Central PA Blood Drive, 3 p.m.
Oct. 30: ESL Class, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31: Trick or Treat Storytime, 1:30 p.m.

The Hershey Story Museum
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

Oct. 1-31: Chocolate Lab Classes, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Oct. 1: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 29: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 2: Robot Wars—Resume Edition, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 3: Learn to Knit/Crochet, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 (Every Thursday): Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 7, 15: Monday Morning Board Games, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 9: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 14: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 14: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
Oct. 16: Senior Living Options, 7-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 16: Sci Fi Book Club, 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 17: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.-1 am
Oct. 21: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 22: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oct. 23: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 23: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 28: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Oct. 4: Mini Golf in the Library, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 16: Knit 1, Crochet Too!, 6-8 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Common Roads Youth, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Passageways—Trans and Non-Binary Group, 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Young Adult, 4-6 p.m.
Oct. 12: Queer & Trans People of Color Advisory, 6-8 p.m.

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Oct. 21: Beginner Ballroom Dance Lessons, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 21: Advanced Ballroom Dance Lessons, 6:30 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Oct. 7, 14, 28: Video Game Club, 4-5 p.m.
Oct. 10: The Life and Works of Hari Jones, 5-6:30 p.m.
Oct. 21: Cookbook Book Club—Culinary Classics, 6-7 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Mid-day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Oct. 8, 10: Job Seeker Resources, 2-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 29: Device Club, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 1, 15, 22, 29: Family Yoga, 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 3: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 27, 24: LEGO Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25: Science Fiction Book Club (meets online)
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: STEM Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
Oct. 12: Pumpkin Painting Party (ages 6+), 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 12: Local Author Event, 1-4 p.m.
Oct. 16: Daytime Book Club, 1-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 21: Mystery Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 26: Halloween Costume Party and Storytime, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11, 25: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Oct. 20: LGBT Book Club, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: An Evening with Eleanor Gordon-Smith, 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 24: An Evening with John Witherow, 7-9 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Oct. 5: First Saturday Open Studios, 2-5 p.m.
Oct. 13: Fluid Art, 12-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Color Mixing Made Easy, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oct. 26: Macrame Workshop, 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 27: Kids Class, 12-1 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Oct. 12: Fall Family Fun Day, 12-4 p.m.
Oct. 17: Meteorology NDS, 7-8 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Oct. 1: Tales for T.A.I.L.S., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 22, 29: Book Babies Storytime (6-24 months), 11:15 a.m.
Oct. 3: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 3: Crochet Night, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24: Storytime in the Park, 10 a.m.
Oct. 5: Star Wars Reads Day, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 7, 21: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 7, 21, 28: Storytime & More (ages 2-5), 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 7, 21, 28: 123 Library! Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Book Review Program—“Killers of the Flower Moon—The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 9, 23: Wednesday Great Books Discussion group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 15: Baby Open Play, 11:15 a.m.
Oct. 17: Adult Fall Craft, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 18: Sensory Storytime 5-Week Series (ages 2-4), 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 19: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 19: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 23: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 26: Library Trick or Treat, 2-3 p.m.
Oct. 27: Cultural Program—Hiking the Appalachian Trail at Any Age, 3-4 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Oct. 13: DIY Guru—Tea Towel Workshop, 1 p.m.

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

Oct. 6: “Understanding Iran,” 8:45 a.m.
Oct. 13: Stained Glass Window Presentation—“Hidden Gems,” 8:45 a.m.

Rockhill Trolley Museum
430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace
814-447-9576; rockhilltrolley.org

Oct. 12, 13: Pumpkin Patch Trolley, 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
Oct. 12, 19, 26: Terror Trolley, 7:30-11 p.m.
Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27: Halloween Costume Days, 11 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Oct. 4: StoryTime—“I Am NOT a Dinosaur!,” 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 10: Curiosity Kids—Build a Nest, 11:30 a.m.
Oct. 16: Learn at Lunchtime—National Fossil Day, 12:15 p.m.
Oct. 24: Nature Lab—The Carboniferous and Coal Formation, 11:30 a.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 16: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 12, 19, 26: Yoga + Accompaniment in the Galleries, 10-11 a.m.

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Oct. 27: Bulgarian Dance Workshop

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Oct. 3: Bird Walk—Fall Migration at Wildwood, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Oct. 12: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 13: Tree ID Walk, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Webelos—Into the Woods, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 20: Fall Foliage Hike at Detweiler Park
Oct. 26: Night at the Nature Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30: Preschool Storytime—Fall at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

Oct. 3: Teen Night—Tear Apart Technology, 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 8: Friends of Alexander Family Library Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.
Oct. 9: 2nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 15: Novel Thoughts Too Book Club, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 28: Crazy for Coloring, 6-8 p.m.

Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 E. High St., Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

Oct. 16: Weaving on a Loom, 12-4 p.m.

Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com

Oct. 3-24: Restore Your Core Level 1, Wednesdays, 2-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 6-27: Restore Your Core Level 1 for Men, Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m.
Oct. 12-Nov. 16: Kids Yoga Series (grades K-5) , Saturdays, 2-3 p.m.
Oct. 12-Nov. 16: Kids Yoga Series (grades 6-12) , Saturdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Oct. 30-Nov. 20: Restore Your Core Level 1, Wednesdays, 2-3:30 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Oct. 9: Vince Gill
Oct. 10: The Temptations and The Four Tops

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Oct. 3: Xiu Xiu
Oct. 4: Rivers, The Wild Hymns
Oct. 5: Solar Federation—Rush Tribute
Oct. 11: YARN
Oct. 12: Catullus, Native Maze
Oct. 25: Gatos Blancos
Oct. 26: Steal Your Peach

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Oct. 3: Chris Botti
Oct. 4: Jazz in the City
Oct. 5: Justin Townes Earle
Oct. 6: Broadway, Big Bands and More! with Organist Ken Double
Oct. 10: Stanley Jordan
Oct. 11: John Waite
Oct. 12: York Symphony Orchestra—Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff
Oct. 14: Pink Martini
Oct. 19: Dar Williams
Oct. 19: York Symphony Orchestra—“Frankenstein”
Oct. 26: Gordon Lightfoot

Boneshire Brew Works
7462 Derry St., Harrisburg
717-469-5007; boneshire.com

Oct. 1, 15: Open Mic Night
Oct. 3: Shawan and the Wonton

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

Oct. 1, 4, 8, 10, 17, 19, 22: Noel Gevers
Oct. 2: Chris Purcell
Oct. 3, 11, 27: Anthony Haubert
Oct. 5: Natalie Ness, Noel Gevers
Oct. 9, 18, 23: Roy Lefevre
Oct. 12, 26: Ted Ansel
Oct. 15, 31: Andrea Britton
Oct. 16, 24: Natalie Ness
Oct. 25: Andrea Britton, Noel Gevers
Oct. 29: Michael Dempsey
Oct. 30: Noel Gevers

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

Oct. 20: Lucy Yeghiazaryan

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Oct. 4: Flux Capacitor
Oct. 5: NBD Fest
Oct. 5: Supersonic
Oct. 6: Popeye of Farside, Jeff of Gameface & Nathan of boysetsfire

Club XL
801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

Oct. 4: Uncle Kracker
Oct. 5: JD McPherson
Oct. 11: Medusa’s Disco
Oct. 12: Planet of the Drums
Oct. 18: Go Go Gadjet
Oct. 19: Sam Fender w/ Betcha
Oct. 26: !DEAD!
Oct. 30: Aqueous with Lespecial
Oct. 31: Powerman 5000

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Oct. 4: Antonio Andrade
Oct. 5: Dominick Cicco
Oct. 6: Brian Davis
Oct. 9: Open Mic Night w/ Jonathan Frazier
Oct. 11: Michael Arthur
Oct. 12: Joe Cooney
Oct. 13: David Fishel
Oct. 18: Kevin Kline
Oct. 19: Doug Morris
Oct. 20: Rayzen Kane
Oct. 25: SinClair Soul
Oct. 26: Hard Travelin
Oct. 27: Kevin Appleby and Eric Bohn

Dickinson College
Rubendall Recital Hall
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-245-1568; dickinson.edu

Oct. 13: Dickinson College Artist-in-Residence Program—“Reverón”
Oct. 27: James Martin

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

Oct. 5-6: Malina Madness
Oct. 24: Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Oct. 25: Hershey Symphony

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Oct. 15: Switchfoot & Their Fantastic Traveling Music Show

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Oct. 2: Razakel
Oct. 3: The Black Dahlia Murder
Oct. 8: Kung Fu Vampire
Oct. 10: Perpetual Groove
Oct. 13: Kaleido
Oct. 17: Tiffany
Oct. 18: Parmalee
Oct. 19: Wicked
Oct. 21: Death & Kupcakes
Oct. 23: Adelita’s Way
Oct. 24: 3 Years Hollow, Madame Mayhem
Oct. 28: My Life with Thrill Kill Kult
Oct. 31: Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, Alla Xul Elu, 7th Layer

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Oct. 8: George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Oct. 19: Josh Gates
Oct. 20: Scott McCreery

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
113 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
717-258-1234; marketcrosspub.com

Oct. 5: MiKe Kell & Townies
Oct. 19: Nate Myers & Aces
Oct. 20: Suzi Brown Brunch
Oct. 26: 2nd Time Thru

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Oct. 19: Messiah College Jazz Ensembles
Oct. 19: Messiah College Symphony Orchestra Family Concert
Oct. 19: Messiah College Concert Choir and Alumni Choir
Oct. 29: Chris Thile

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

Oct. 4: Dressy Bessy
Oct. 11: Radiator King
Oct. 12: The Jellybricks, Bo Deadlys
Oct. 18: THE JACKS, The Flat Wheels
Oct. 19: Drew & the Blue, Johnny 5 & the Flyin’ Helos, Shortstack Sam

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

Oct. 5: The Jayplayers
Oct. 19: Lucille
Oct. 26: Songsmith

The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; allenberry.com

Oct. 3: Acoustic Generations
Oct. 10: Three Strands
Oct. 17: Mockingbird

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

Oct. 5: The Martini Bros.
Oct. 21: River City Big Band
Oct. 26: Repeat Offenders, Smerf Merder, Los Misfits, Light the Lamp

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

Oct. 18: The Nighthawks

Stock’s on 2nd
211 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com

Oct. 4: Natalie Ness
Oct. 5, 18: TBA
Oct. 11: On Tap Duo
Oct. 12: Visitors Duo
Oct. 19: Ben Simcox Music
Oct. 25: Shea Quinn and Friends
Oct. 26: Natalie Ness

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Oct. 11: Jane Rothfield, Allan Carr
Oct. 13: October Jam Session
Oct. 27: Tim O’Brien, Jan Fabricius

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Oct. 5: Amy Banks
Oct. 13: NextGEN Allegretto Fall Concert
Oct. 13: NextGEN Overture Fall Concert
Oct. 23: Harlem 100—100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Oct. 2: Rick Wakeman
Oct. 2: Roger Waters
Oct. 6: Justin Hayward
Oct. 9: Metallica and San Francisco Symphony
Oct. 13: Renaissance
Oct. 15: Lake Street Dive
Oct. 18: Marc Cohn

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Oct. 18: Strangest Hearts

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Oct. 6: “The Office! A Musical”

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Oct. 30: “Beautiful—The Carole King Musical”

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Oct. 18-27: “Haunting of Hill House”

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Oct. 5: Jim Breuer

Dickinson College
The Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues
360 W. Louther St., Carlisle
717-245-1875; clarke.dickinson.edu

Oct. 3: “Reimagining Modern Manhood” with Carlos Andrés Gómez
Oct. 15: “Am I A Real Man? Questioning Masculinity With a Beginner’s Mind” with Thomas Page McBee.
Oct. 29: “The Trouble With My Name” with Javier Ávila

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Oct. 1-Nov. 9: “The Will Rogers Follies”

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

Oct. 25-27: “Barnum”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Oct. 3, 10, 17, 23, 31: Open Mic
Oct. 4, 5: Greg Hall and Andy Forrester
Oct. 11, 12: Adam Dodd and Cody Cooper
Oct. 13: Oxymorons Improv Comedy Show
Oct. 18, 19: Comedy Hypnotist Rich Guzzi
Oct. 25, 26: Roy Haber and Ryan Denisco

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Oct. 18, 20: Game of the Scene Level 2 Class Show

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

Oct. 3-13: “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Oct. 11: Gallagher & Friends

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Oct. 18-Nov. 2: “Assassins”

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Oct. 25: “So You Think You Can Dance Live!”

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Oct. 5: The Best of The Second City
Oct. 19, 20: “The Wizard of Oz”
Oct. 22: “Cirque Mechanics”
Oct. 28: “Kinky Boots”

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Oct. 26-27: Shoeless Joe Mic Night

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Oct. 25-31: “Spirits N’ Spirits”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

Oct. 3-31: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

Oct. 27: “Risque Business”

Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

Oct. 21: Ailey II—“The Next Generation of Dance”

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

Oct. 24: “Goosebumps” at Zeroday Brewing Co.

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Oct. 4: We the People—Celebrating Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El
Oct. 19: “SunjataKamalenya—The Story of the True Lion King of Africa”

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Oct. 4: Matt Braunger
Oct. 26-27: Central PA Youth Ballet

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 27, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A rendering for a proposed new building on Market Street in Harrisburg

A sleepy summer quickly transitioned to a busy fall around Harrisburg–news-wise, that it. This past week gave us everything from major construction proposals to Farm Show news to new wrinkles in the battle over the city’s sewer system. If you missed anything, you can read it all right here.

3^rd Street corridor project marches on in Harrisburg, as construction wraps up in the heart of Midtown. Click here to read about the timeline and when streets may be closed.

Capital Region Water extended the comment period by almost a month over its proposed stormwater fee. Also, CRW will give a presentation to City Council next month on the proposal. Find out the details here.

Environmental Integrity Project responded to a letter to the editor in TheBurg by Capital Region Water. Read CRW’s original letter then check out the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit’s response.

Harrisburg announced it will interview four companies that have expressed interest in buying the city’s water/sewer system. This then led to a heated exchange between the mayor and City Council. Learn the latest by reading our stories.

Harristown and Select Capital are teaming up to bring a new office building to downtown Harrisburg. Where and what will it be? Read our story for all the details.

Homeless encampment near the Mulberry Street Bridge must disband by Sunday, and long-time residents are unsure where to go next. Our feature story offers a glimpse into a community that most people didn’t even know was there.

Iconography is an ancient art form, and we have a great example of modern icon art right here in Harrisburg. TheBurg’s fine arts columnist tells us about an exhibit at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral.

Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority got some surprise news this week, as the chairman stepped down. The ICA, which is tasked with approving a five-year financial plan for Harrisburg, is down to four voting members. Find out what happened.

Next Step Performance is on the move, relocating from its 3^rd Street studio to larger space at the 1500 Condominiums. Get all the details by reading our feature story from the September issue.

PA Farm Show announced its theme for the 2020 event this week. With only 100 days to go until the January start, let the countdown begin.

Sara Bozich is ready for another warm weekend in the Harrisburg area. Scan over her long list of events then get out and do something fun.

Seven Bridges Development wants to build mixed-use and higher-density projects in the MarketPlace neighborhood near the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. First, though, the company is trying to get the area re-zoned. Check out our story to find out what they’re doing and what may be coming.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events? If not, subscribe here!

“Out by Sunday”: With a property sale, a homeless camp disbands and long-time residents wonder where to go next

September 27, 2019 | by Susan Ryder

This tent camp sits in one of the abandoned buildings near the Mulberry Street Bridge in Harrisburg.

On Sunday, his community will be gone.

But, this past Tuesday, Enos Hake sat on his concrete patio in Harrisburg, listening to his radio. He greeted his neighbor, Dale, as he peddled by. He talked about his days as an ironworker, politics and hubbub about his neighbors.

The property at 1001 Mulberry St. has been sold, and the 30-plus people who live there in the abandoned buildings and truck trailers have been told that they need to be out by Sunday.

“This is going to impact a lot of people ‘cause they don’t know where they are going to go,” said Hake, who has called this abandoned lot home for four years.

Hake and his friend share a 6-by-12 foot concrete room they call “the man cave.” Their space holds mattresses on milk crates, fishing rods, coolers, basic necessities and books he got from a van that drops by.

Not all dwellings on the lot are so well appointed. One building holds about 10 tents, where individuals and couples live. Why tents in a building?

Under a billowy sky, with the screech of train tracks in the background, GarriAnn Hearn explained that having the tents inside another structure, even one with holes in the ceiling, offers a layer of protection from the elements.

“Having it inside gives a little bit more of a shelter, even though it’s not a good, enclosed shelter,” she said.

Hearn, co-founder of Market Square Friends, a local grassroots group that assists the homeless in Harrisburg, went on to explain that people can keep their belongings in their tents, as well. She said that those who live here have a measure of security.

“People don’t go beyond the fence who don’t know what’s beyond there,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine, but it’s a community.”

Enos Hake and GarriAnn Hearn, co-founder of Market Square Friends, sit outside Hake’s long-time home.

It’s a community that needs to disperse by Sunday.

“They’re telling us we have to go by Sunday morning,” said Maggie Nace, who’s lived there for two years. “No one has nowhere to go.”

Still, people are collecting their things.

“Everybody’s rushing to pack up so we don’t lose nothin’,” she said “There’s no way to move things.”

There’s an air of fear, resignation and doubt on the lot. Hake said that he’s heard many times that the lot would be sold.

This time, however, it’s not mere rumor. The former owner informed local social service organizations that the sale was happening, so that residents could prepare.

Those same agencies are concerned about the people there and the disruption to their lives. Hearn is a part of the Compassion Action Network, a collaborative group of local charities working together.

Market Square Friends, G2:10 Outreach and other groups serve food every Monday and provide personal hygiene items and clothes in a location near the Mulberry Street Bridge.

“We can serve folks now where we can congregate without getting in trouble,” she said.

Last week, they served 75 people. She doesn’t know where they will serve now.

Downtown Daily Bread offers breakfast and lunch, as well as a place to stay during the day.

“We’re the only place where people can come during the day and just be,” said director Anne Guenin. “People can come in and sleep and don’t have to worry about their stuff getting stolen.”

With the sale of the lot, more folks may be using Downtown Daily Bread’s services.

“Whether they will end up coming here during the day remains to be seen,” Guenin said.

Kim Corigliano’s tent sits just outside the lot under the bridge, and she’s not sure if she’ll be affected by the sale.

“It’s a shame,” she said.

She described her plans for the winter. She’ll create a wall by collecting discarded water bottles and “plug the holes in the chain link fence to block the wind,” she said.

Nace and her husband, Nate Phillips, aren’t sure they’ll be there this winter. They headed off to see about a room to rent.

John, who didn’t want to share his last name, said he may go to Bethesda Mission.

“Something to get back on my feet,” he said.

He said that he was once a roofer and has health problems. He added that people on the lot get along and keep each other informed of what’s going on.

Phillips and Nace returned from their search. Hake, still seated on his concrete slab, yelled a greeting and asked if they got the place.

“No, Dave got it,” they answered.

Hake didn’t seem too worried about his next steps.

“I was an iron worker,” he said. “I’m tough.”

Then he added that many people there were “scared ‘cause they don’t know what they are going to do.”

On the other side of the fence, the buildings are lost to the sumac, golden rod and ivy. Except for the occasional passerby, most people never realized that folks lived there.

Hake, Nace, Phillips and the rest of the folks here are about to lose a community that, as imperfect as it was, most people didn’t even know existed.

Find out more about Market Square Friends at www.marketsquarefriends.org and Downtown Daily Bread at their Facebook page.

New office, retail building proposed for downtown Harrisburg

September 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A rendering of the proposed project

Over the last few decades, Market Street in downtown Harrisburg has been transformed by such projects as Whitaker Center, Harrisburg University and the Rachel Carson Building.

Another project is now on the boards that again would change the complexion and the skyline of the key commercial corridor.

Harristown Development and Select Capital Commercial Properties are teaming to build a new, mixed-use building in the center of the 300-block of Market Street, directly across from Strawberry Square.

“This is the last area on Market Street in the core of downtown that needs redevelopment,” said Harristown CEO Brad Jones. “This is the final piece.”

The 300-block of Market Street in Harrisburg, the future site of a new mixed-used building.

The developers envision a 10- to 12-story, 100,000-plus-square-foot office and retail building at 307 to 313 Market St. The building–called 311 Market Street–also would have several floors of parking and might include residential space.

For the past few years, Harristown has been purchasing properties to assemble the site. Last week, the company closed on the final, and largest, piece, buying the former Rite Aid drug store from the Camp Hill-based company for just over $1 million. That low-slung building has been empty since Rite Aid relocated a few years ago into Strawberry Square.

Jones said that plans are to demolish the existing structures, probably next year. In the meantime, the developers hope to recruit an anchor tenant.

He said that the building would suit any company or organization seeking a large amount of new office space in the heart of Harrisburg, such as a corporate headquarters. The building would be able to support 500 to 1,000 workers, he said, depending upon office configurations.

If construction is delayed following demolition, the developers would turn the site into a “pocket park” in the interim, a space that could be used for events, Jones said.

“We would have a nice transitional use,” he said.

Harristown this year applied for a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant in the amount of $5 million for the project, which is estimated to cost $25 to $40 million in all. It didn’t receive the funds, but will apply again next year, Jones said.

CRW extends comment period for proposed stormwater fee

September 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A sign on Harrisburg’s lower river walk warns about the combined sewer system.

Capital Region Water is extending the public comment period for a proposed stormwater fee for Harrisburg.

The CRW board of directors on Wednesday night voted to extend the public review and comment period by almost a month, to Oct. 22.

“The month-long extension will ensure we have done all we can to give residents the opportunity to review and comment on a plan that is designed to improve the health of local waterways and enhance our neighborhoods,” said CRW CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer, in a statement.

In June, CRW proposed a separate stormwater fee for most CRW customers beginning Jan. 1. It originally set a Sept. 25 deadline for comments, but the board decided to extend it to give residents more opportunities to voice their opinions, Katzenmoyer said.

In addition to receiving more than 70 comments to date, CRW has made dozens of presentations on the proposed fee at community meetings and forums. CRW also will give a presentation at a Harrisburg City Council meeting on Oct. 15.

Under the proposal, the average Harrisburg residential customer would pay a stormwater fee of $72 starting Jan. 1. Customers with larger properties, including many commercial customers, would pay more based on the total amount of impervious surface on their properties.

Until now, stormwater costs had been included in a customer’s wastewater bill, not broken out separately. If the stormwater fee is imposed, customers should experience less of an increase in the wastewater portion of their bills than they would have otherwise, CRW has said.

CRW said it expects the fee to raise about $5.3 million annually exclusively for stormwater operations and projects. It plans to invest $315 million over the next 20 years to upgrade its infrastructure and reduce the flow of stormwater into area waterways.

Harrisburg’s sewer system suffers from deferred maintenance going back decades, as well as an outmoded, combined design that allows untreated sewage to empty into the Susquehanna River during rainstorms. CRW is under a partial consent decree with the federal Environmental Protection Agency to slash the amount of sewage overflow.

Separately, Harrisburg is considering selling the city’s water/sewer system, interviewing interested, qualified private water companies beginning this week.

To learn more about and comment on CRW’s proposed stormwater fee, visit their website.

2020 PA Farm Show theme emphasizes “opportunities” in agriculture

September 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Farm Show milkshakes stand at the ready during the 2019 event.

The PA Farm Show is just 100 days away, and that milestone is being marked with the release of the theme for the 2020 show.

The state Department of Agriculture today announced that the theme will be “Imagine the Opportunities.”

“Each year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show uses a theme to convey our vision for the future of Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Farm Show Complex Executive Director Sharon Altland, in a statement. “This year, we see nothing but bright horizons and we want all of Pennsylvania to imagine how they can be a part of it.”

The 2020 Farm Show is slated for Jan. 4 to 11, featuring some 12,000 competitive exhibits.

According to the department, the theme builds upon the state’s first-ever comprehensive farm bill, actually a series of bills with broad bipartisan support signed into law in June. The $23 million legislation, in general, was meant to stimulate interest in agriculture through such measures as helping beginning farmers, funding research into specialty crops and assisting the dairy industry.

“This year’s Farm Show theme is inspired in part by Gov. Wolf’s ability to imagine a bright future for Pennsylvania agriculture through the support found in the PA Farm Bill,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, in a statement. “Thanks to this investment, the opportunities in Pennsylvania agriculture are boundless.”

Click here to see the just-released 2020 PA Farm Show promotional video on Facebook.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

September 26, 2019 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

Tonight is the LAST SoMa Block Party of 2019! Be sure to stop by and party with us one last time (Bonus: new mural on FULL display). I’m getting some much-needed mom-friend time and we’ll be there, too.

Friday I get my hair ‘did and good thing — on Saturday, I’m heading with the GK Visual crew to Pittsburgh. Our craft beer documentary, Poured in Pennsylvania, has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy!! Winners will be announced Saturday night!

Sunday, we’ll head back and do some housework and football.

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

Harrisburg’s state-appointed ICA down to four members, as chair submits resignation

September 25, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority met on Wednesday. From left: Kathy Speaker MacNett, David Schankweiler, Ralph Vartan, Audry Carter and Jeffrey Stonehill (authority manager).

Harrisburg’s Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority is down to four voting members, as the chairman today announced his resignation from the state-appointed board.

At the end of the ICA’s monthly meeting, Chair David Schankweiler announced his departure, saying that another “opportunity,” which he declined to specify, prevented him from continuing to serve on the body.

“I need to, as of today, resign as an authority member,” he said. “I’m disappointed having to do this because I’ve enjoyed serving with the authority and for the city.”

Gov. Tom Wolf and state legislative leaders appointed the ICA’s five voting members. Schankweiler, the former publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal, was appointed in January by state Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, who presumably would have the authority to appoint a replacement.

The remaining board members then voted to appoint Audry Carter, the ICA’s vice chair, as the new chair. ICA member Ralph Vartan was appointed as the new vice chair.

“It will be an honor to try and follow in your footsteps,” Carter said, following her appointment. “You helped us get through that incredibly steep learning curve.”

In addition to Carter and Vartan, the board’s voting members are UPMC Pinnacle executive Tina Nixon and attorney Kathy Speaker MacNett.

The ICA and the city are in the midst of finalizing a five-year financial recovery plan for the city. Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who attended the ICA meeting, said that City Council will meet in executive session next week to review changes to the draft Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement.

Once that agreement is finalized and approved, Harrisburg will have the ability to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed municipalities.

Otherwise, the board heard a presentation Wednesday on the city’s finances by Bruce Weber, Harrisburg’s budget and finance director.

Weber said that 2019 revenues are coming in as expected. Property tax receipts are about flat compared to last year, he said. However, both earned income tax and local services tax revenues are higher than anticipated, indicating a relatively strong city economy. Judging by these receipts, Weber estimated that the city created some 1,500 jobs through the second quarter.

“I think it’s important to note that, while we have some long-term fiscal challenges, I think we’re in a period of stability now, and that’s important to note, broadly speaking,” Weber said.

Letter to the Editor: Environmental group responds to Capital Region Water letter

September 25, 2019 | by Tom Pelton

A sign along Harrisburg’s lower river walk warns of the combined sewer overflow.

A September 19, 2019, letter to the editor published in TheBurg by Charlotte Katzenmoyer, executive director of Capital Region Water (CRW), titled “Capital Region Water is Committed to Addressing Environmental Threats, Concerns,” makes two factually incorrect statements about an August 22 report by the Environmental Integrity Project, titled “Sewage Overflows in Pennsylvania’s Capital.”

The letter incorrectly asserts that our report claims that: “Capital Region Water has avoided paying penalties or fines for CSO or other violations.” In fact, we make it clear on page 8 of our report that Pennsylvania fined the water and sewer authority 29 times for sewage violations from 2015 through 2018. However, the state failed to fine the authority for an additional 102 self-reported sewage violations over this time period (out of a total of 131 violations), meaning that only 20 percent of the violations resulted in penalties.

The letter from Capital Region Water also wrongly claims that our report says: “Capital Region Water’s plan targets 60 percent capture.” Our report does not say that. On pages 5, 9, 11, 14, and 21 our report states that the water authority’s proposal would allegedly “reduce” the current volume of sewage and stormwater flowing on an annual basis into the Susquehanna River, from an annual average of 800 million gallons to about 300 million gallons annually. That 60 percent estimate is correct, based on numbers in Capital Region Water’s written plan, “City Beautiful H20,” and CRW did not dispute those numbers we discussed the figures with CRW in a meeting at their offices on June 6 or in subsequent emails.

However, it should be noted that it is very different to say that the authority’s plan would “reduce” the volume of sewage and stormwater pouring into the river by approximately 60 percent (which is true, according to CRW’s figures), and to say that the plan would “capture” 60 percent of the total volume in the system (which would include both the liquid being piped to treatment at the wastewater treatment plant and the liquid being discharged to the river.) Our report only focused on the percentage of reduction in pollution flowing directly into the river, which produces a different number than what CRW is highlighting (the percentage of capture.)

We think it’s more important to focus on reducing the pollution into the river, which is why we chose the language we selected. The figure and language that CRW is highlighting makes their plan appear to be more effective, so I understand why the authority would want that framework and emphasis. But as a kayaker on the Susquehanna River, what I am more concerned about (and what I suspect many people are concerned about) is reducing the amount of raw human waste that we actually encounter in the river. Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight on those factual issues.

Tom Pelton is the director of communications for the Environmental Integrity Project.

Harrisburg council, administration spar over water system future, meetings

September 24, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg City Council chambers on Tuesday

Two branches of the Harrisburg city government sparred on Tuesday night over an administration plan to interview private companies that have expressed initial interest in taking over the city’s water/sewer system.

At a work session, several City Council members questioned a plan by Mayor Eric Papenfuse to interview four companies that responded to a “request for information” (RFI) issued two months ago by the city.

“You put the cart before the horse,” said council President Wanda Williams. “You should have had a public meeting to explain what you’re considering. In actuality, you’re continuing this process without informing the council.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Papenfuse issued a statement saying that six entities had responded to the city-issued RFI, and the administration determined that four of those companies were qualified and experienced enough to warrant an informational interview. Those companies are:

Bryn Mawr-based Aqua America
Hershey-based PA American Water
Paramus, N.J.-based Suez North America
Boston-based Veolia American Water

The first interview is slated to take place on Wednesday, with the last on Oct. 8.

As he has previously, Papenfuse stressed to council that the interviews are for informational purposes only–that there is no formal bidding or sales process underway.

“All we’re doing is gathering information,” he said. “We’re trying to gather information in a clear and transparent way. If we go down that path, we’ll need to have a greater conversation.”

Nonetheless, council members said that they felt left out of the process and said that the public felt the same way.

“I’m receiving five and six emails a day saying that you’re not being transparent about the process,” Williams said.

Papenfuse said that he felt it was necessary to perform this “due diligence” before potentially going through a more public bidding process.

He cited two principal reasons for taking this first step.

First of all, he said that he wants to better understand the city’s options in light of continuing negotiations with the state-appointed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority over a five-year financial plan for the city. Secondly, he wants to explore options for sewer system improvements other than those undertaken by the city’s municipal utility authority, Capital Region Water (CRW), which plans to impose a user stormwater fee starting Jan. 1.

“We have a comment period closing tomorrow for CRW for a major rate increase that will impact our residents,” Papenfuse said. “Council has not had a hearing despite CRW’s request to do so, despite my request to do so.”

Williams said that council has been attempting to set up a public meeting with CRW to discuss the proposed stormwater fee. That meeting is now scheduled for Oct. 15.

Papenfuse added that he hopes for concrete options from companies that will lead to less pollution flowing into the Susquehanna River and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay, at a cost that city customers can afford to pay.

CRW plans to spend some $315 million over the next 20 years to stem the flow of wastewater into area waterways. But Papenfuse has criticized that plan as incomplete and said that it doesn’t have final approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

In the end, council members seemed resigned that the interviews with the private companies would proceed, with Papenfuse pledging greater council and public involvement if the administration decides to take a next step.

“If recommendations come from those meetings, I will share them with council, as well as the underlying reasoning behind them,” Papenfuse said.

This story has been updated to include information about the upcoming CRW meeting with City Council.

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