Proposed PA STEAM Academy faces more delay, as Harrisburg school receiver appeals court decision

August 20, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Midtown 2, where PA STEAM Academy would like to locate

For months, the proposed PA STEAM Academy has been waiting for a date to take its case before the state’s Charter School Appeal Board.

It appears the proposed charter school’s supporters now will need to wait even longer.

At Monday night’s school board meeting, Harrisburg school district Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels approved a resolution starting the district’s own appeal, specifically an appeal of a lower court’s approval of signatures supporting the proposed school.

On Aug. 2, Dauphin County Judge John McNally issued an order stating that PA STEAM had collected enough valid signatures so that the proposed school could now move forward with mounting an appeal to the state Charter School Appeal Board.

“The required number of signatures (1,000) were properly obtained and presented to the Court . . . ,” McNally wrote in his decision.

Samuels now is appealing that decision to the Commonwealth Court. Asked about the issue on Monday night, Samuels declined comment.

However, during the meeting, she said that the Harrisburg district stood ready to compete with charter schools, and she even encouraged district parents with children in brick-and-mortar and cyber charter schools to consider returning to the Harrisburg school system.

“I want to be very clear about, here in the Harrisburg school district, we are ready in a very bold and courageous way [to compete] with all charter schools in this area,” Samuels said.

Reached by phone on Tuesday morning, Dr. Carolyn Dumaresq, chair of the PA STEAM Academy’s board of directors, said that she was disappointed with Samuels’ action.

“It’s kind of a mystery to me that the receiver says she wants to compete with charter schools, but then doesn’t allow any to open,” said Dumaresq, who served as state secretary of education under former Gov. Tom Corbett.

In fact, PA STEAM had submitted petitions with 1,844 signatures, far exceeding the 1,000-signature threshold, making it unlikely that the district’s appeal will succeed, she said.

“To challenge the signatures—isn’t there a better use of taxpayer money?” she said.

Originally, PA STEAM Academy had hoped to open for the 2019-20 school year in the building now known as HACC Midtown 2, previously the Evangelical Press Building, at N. 3^rd and Reily streets.

However, in February, the Harrisburg school board unanimously denied their charter application. Charter school supporters then collected signatures as a first step in the appeals process. With the petitions approved by McNally, school founders believed that they were free to continue their appeal to the state Department of Education’s Charter School Appeal Board.

PA STEAM Academy now must mount another hurdle—defending their signatures before the Commonwealth Court.

“You would have to prove that these people (who signed the petitions) don’t live in the city, and they do,” Dumaresq said. “It seems like just more delay. It’s sad.”

Dumaresq said that PA STEAM now hopes to open in time for the 2020-21 school year. The founders envision starting with 120 students in a K-2 school, adding a grade level each year until it becomes a K-8 school.

“I think this appeal is such a misuse of taxpayer money,” she said. “But are what are you going to do?”

The Broad Street Market says: Thank you for being a friend.

August 20, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

You now can become a “friend” of the Broad Street Market.

Do you consider yourself a “friend” of the Broad Street Market?

If so, Josh Heilman wants to hear from you.

Heilman is the market’s new executive director, and, as one of his first major initiatives, he has launched a long-planned “Friends of the Market” program.

The new initiative allows residents to help the market through a yearly donation or by volunteering for certain events and activities. The goal of the program is to bring additional revenue and support to the Broad Street Market for renovations, events, merchandise and more.

“We’re looking to get monetary donations and volunteer time,” Heilman said. “The market kind of needs some work, so we’re looking for some extra sources of revenue.”

The immediate donations are going toward two different projects: installation of banners that will surround the market and replacing the string of roof lights on each building, which have been out for some 20 years.

Volunteers, also called “market ambassadors,” will be asked to help with landscaping, painting and any special events. According to Heilman, the market is planning to roll out a merchandise table by Christmas, which the volunteers will also help run. They’ll sell tote bags and eventually T-shirts and answer any questions people have about the market.

Members get an exclusive Broad Street Market tote bag, which serves as a member ID, access to special market events such as an upcoming barbecue in September, and discounts to certain stands in the market. Right now, Sweet 717 and R.G Hummer Meats & Cheese are offering 10 percent off to all members.

The idea for Friends of the Market came from Beth Taylor, former Broad Street Market manager and Amy Hill, president of the board of directors. The idea was brewing for about three years before Heilman and the board decided to implement it.

“That was my first goal of coming here, getting it launched,” Heilman said. “There were a lot of hiccups along the way. It was pushed back about 90 days. In August, I just decided that we needed to do it now and just go from there.”

They had a soft launch of the program in early August. Heilman is planning an official launch of the program in late September with a press conference, guest speakers and the unveiling of the new banners.

Heilman hopes the program will become a revenue driver and allow the market to work on even bigger projects such as replacing the doors and making the market more accessible to customers.

Even with its soft launch, the program has gained traction, already signing up 85 members.

“I was overwhelmed with the response of volunteering. It’s been amazing that people are willing to donate their time and money into the market,” Heilman said. “I think people love the market so much that they’re willing to pitch in and help out where it’s needed.”

For more information on how you can become a “Friend of the Market” visit broadstreetmarket.org/friends.

Charter school fate again in doubt as school district restarts “non-renewal” process

August 19, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Members of the Harrisburg school board and administration during Monday night’s board meeting.

A Harrisburg charter school is once again in jeopardy, as the city school district is restarting efforts to deny it a charter.

Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels approved a resolution on Monday night that will continue “non-renewal” proceedings against Premier Arts and Science Charter School, located at 500 N. 17^th Street.

The district now will hold public hearings on its decision not to grant a renewal, though Samuels did not immediately offer a timeframe for doing so.

“. . . the School District will present evidence in support of the grounds for non-renewal set forth herein, and Premier will be given a reasonable opportunity to present witnesses and evidence in support of its defense,” according to the resolution approved by Samuels.

“Tonight, this meeting, Aug. 19, 2019, this district will commence with the non-renewal proceedings,” she said during Monday’s meeting.

Premier was granted a five-year charter in 2013, which has now expired. Nonetheless, it continues to operate and just opened for the 2019-20 academic year with about 220 students. If the district does refuse to renew the charter, the school could appeal the decision, allowing it to continue to operate during the appeals process.

Last year, the Harrisburg school board indicated that it would not renew the charter and began non-renewal proceedings against Premier. However, those proceedings were stopped and, earlier this year, the board was prepared to vote for a settlement that would have allowed Premier to continue to operate.

Once appointed receiver for the district in June, Samuels halted that settlement and now has restarted the district’s effort to deny Premier a renewal.

In its resolution, the district cites 22 separate reasons for denying the school a charter renewal, alleging procedural, reporting, data and funding issues, as well as alleged academic, achievement and instructional shortfalls.

“This board voted not to renew the charter based on lots of reasons,” Samuels said. “There are mandated reporting pieces that were not adhered to. When you think about, we talked about this at our last meeting, ensuring that clearances were done for staff—not adhered to. And I could go on.”

Also on Monday night, Samuels named Dr. John George, previously the district’s financial recovery plan service director, as the district’s acting superintendent, and named Christopher Celmer, previously the chief operating officer, as the acting assistant superintendent.

In his update on Monday, George went through a list of continuing issues facing the district. He said that the district’s finances are being pieced back together, though he projected that another 30 to 60 days of work remained to have a clear understanding of the budget.

“We’re building a puzzle without knowing what the picture will be like in the end,” he said. “However, it’s coming together.”

The district, he said, needs to close out the 2018-19 school year financially before it can create a firm 2019-20 budget, but “the bills keep coming in,” and they need to be examined and settled.

George also said that personnel records “were in disarray when we inherited them.” Going through them, they found that three support staff members lacked proper clearances and four teachers lacked appropriate certifications, so all were dismissed.

He also reflected on the morning’s faculty and staff convocation, which was held in the auditorium of Harrisburg High School.

“Today was an amazing day, watching all the staff members come back,” he said. “The excitement in the room, the enthusiasm, the sense of renewed hope was clearly, clearly contagious.”

Lastly, he said that the district is ready to start the school year, which begins for students next week.

“Monday is an important day for us, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

Fit & Balanced: Sculpt Pilates opens on Front Street in Harrisburg

August 19, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

The interior of Sculpt Pilates

“It’s very tiring trying to open your own business,” said Beth Seitz, who, nonetheless, had a huge smile on her face.

In just under 10 months, Seitz has created her own Pilates studio called Sculpt Pilates and Barre. Located on N. Front Street in Uptown Harrisburg, the studio offers traditional Pilates classes, as well as some specialty classes that she created.

“People should come [to Sculpt Pilates] because we are different from any other Pilates studio,” she said. “We really value our clients. We want to keep them happy, we want to keep them coming, we want their feedback.”

One element that helps the studio stand out is the “fuse ladder,” which is similar to a Pilates tower. The ladder incorporates a lot of strength training through its springs, different handles and a bar that allows you to do pull-ups on it. According to Seitz, Sculpt is the only studio in the area with these ladders.

“I think that really sets us apart from other studios,” she said.

Sculpt offers a wide variety of classes, such as a “planks and play” class for mothers and their kids, pre- and post-natal classes, private sessions, classes for seniors and more. There is a private room for people who need more personal training, a special room for mat and barre classes and another room for retail items.

The exterior of Sculpt Pilates, located on N. Front Street in Harrisburg

Seitz initially got into Pilates after giving birth to her son 17 years ago. After starting, it became more than just about losing weight.

“I don’t like to exercise at all, but I fell in love with Pilates,” she said. “It just gave me such improved mental clarity. I felt better physically, I felt better mentally, I felt better emotionally. It was an all encompassing transformation really.”

Seitz started teaching Pilates six years ago because she wanted to help other people achieve this feeling. She taught for five years at a studio run by someone else, but she said it felt like something was missing. In December, after leaving her previous instructor position, she decided she wanted to create her own studio.

“I wanted to tailor what was taught at the studio and what the experience should be,” she said. “I don’t like the big gyms. I think, whenever you do Pilates and when you do barre, you should have an extra-special experience in the studio.”

Right now, Seitz is pulling away from her instructor role to focus on the business side of things. So, she has instructors on-site to help her in the studio.

Even though they have a soft opening today, Seitz and her crew have already given free, 30-minute demos so customers can get a feel for the studio.

“Clients are really loving that the space is so modern, that it’s really relaxing and comfortable. They think the instructors are great, which they are,” she said. “Everyone who walks in just says, ‘This is absolutely incredible.’”

Seitz offers numerous subscription packages, from monthly auto renewal packages to no contract and drop-in prices. Classes can also be purchased through an app, which is available on IOS and Android. She also offers specialty prices from Aug. 19 until their grand opening at the end of September. People in the military, officers, health care workers, senior citizens and certain businesses in the city also get 10 percent off whichever package they choose.

“We’re community-focused. We want to connect with the community and get everyone involved no matter what their fitness level is,” Seitz said. “We want everyone to feel welcomed and come in and have a good time and get to be the best version of themselves.”

Sculpt Pilates and Barre opens Monday, Aug. 19, at 2609 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Parking is available behind the studio. For more information, visit www.sculptpilatesandbarre.com.

“New Era”: At convocation, Harrisburg school district leaders pledge respect, kindness, competence

August 19, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg school district Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels rang a bell to start today’s convocation at Harrisburg High School.

“I wondered: Why did you come back?”

Dr. John George asked that question today to hundreds of Harrisburg school district faculty and staff, who packed the auditorium of Harrisburg High School.

George, who is helping to lead the district’s recovery team, was half-joking, and the large crowd chuckled in response, but George quickly turned serious.

“I had the pleasure to ask a few of you, ‘Why did you stay through a decade of a difficult situation?’” he said. “One by one, I got the exact same answer from every single person I asked, and that was, ‘Because of the children.’ And that’s an incredible statement.”

The crowd then applauded in acknowledgement, marking one of the many emotional high points during this morning’s school opening convocation–a part orientation, part pep rally and part group hug to kick off the 2019-20 school year, which begins for students in a week.

District Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels opened the 45-minute meeting by ringing a bell, symbolizing a “new day” for the district, a theme stressed repeatedly during the ceremony.

“As we begin the new year together, may we recommit ourselves to excellence and expect nothing but the best,” she said. “It is the power of our beliefs and our expectations that can spark a burning desire in our students and rekindle their joy of learning and, of course, to move forward in a very successful manner.”

Samuels then called upon the faculty and staff from each of the district’s 11 schools and academies to stand up to applause.

“You indeed are very, very special and very important,” she told them. “And this is an opportune time to thank you for all that you do and all that you’re going to do to impact the students here in the Harrisburg school district.”

The convocation also was marked with implicit—and sometimes explicit—criticism of how the district was run previously, under the nine-year administration of former Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney.

“This is not business as usual,” said Samuels, who was named district receiver in June and quickly fired Knight-Burney. “I want to underscore that. It is not business as usual.”

Samuels went on to list several areas where the district’s 835 faculty and staff should expect improvements under her leadership, including an emphasis on early learning, curriculum materials, safe schools, clean buildings and a more responsive human resources department.

“This is about the business of service and support and putting our children first,” she said. “That means working together arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder to make a difference.”

Harrisburg school district faculty and staff packed into the Harrisburg High School auditorium today for a districtwide convocation.

Samuels also praised George, the financial recovery plan service director for the 6,000-student district, noting his key role in helping to turn around the Reading school district before agreeing to take on a similar role in Harrisburg.

“It’s my pleasure to be here and be part of this incredible team of people who are going to do amazing things here in the Harrisburg school district,” George said. “You’ve been through an incredibly difficult time period. That time period is over.”

George mentioned several areas where his team was making progress, most notably in straightening out the district’s troubled finances.

“We have to rebuild the budget,” he said. “We don’t know yet where we stand exactly. We’re getting close to figuring that out.”

He also pledged that the administration would treat faculty, staff, parents and students with “integrity, respect and kindness.”

“One thing I can tell you—there’s going to be no nepotism,” he said, a statement that may have gotten the loudest cheer of the morning. “That’s over.”

After the convocation concluded, Jody Barksdale, the head of the Harrisburg Education Association, remarked on the different atmosphere she already felt in the district, just two months after Samuels took over as the court-appointed receiver.

“Everybody feels like it’s a fresh start,” she said. “It a new era for the Harrisburg school district.”

Art in the Burg: Our fine arts columnist takes a stroll up Verbeke Street during 3rd in the Burg.

August 19, 2019 | by Bob MacGinnes

Works by Ann Benton Yeager adorn the wall of “The Gallery” at The Millworks.

Usually in an art column, one starts with the art and its impact felt by those who view it. This time around, it is important to discuss three components that go into making an art event work.

The first is an “A” for atmosphere. Is the stage set to provide the tone the artists want to convey? For last Friday’s 3rd in the Burg, we narrowed that stage to Verbeke Street, nicely tucked between the two art blockbusters currently in Harrisburg (“Picasso: A Life in Print” at Susquehanna Art Museum and “Art of the State” at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, both reviewed previously).

Tara Chickey is the art director of the Millworks, presiding over a beehive of activity in this art enclave on Verbeke, just across from the Broad Street Market. We got the inside buzz for the new show that opened Friday night and runs through Sept. 15, including the lineup of artists that will be featured for the citywide Gallery Walk on Sept. 8. The Millworks has been a natural home for local artists creating their own nest within the larger art community. Tara knows that, to keep the colony productive, there has to be a sense of cross-pollination. Think of the artists as vital to the sociality of the hive.

Ann Benton Yeager’s “Modern Art” on the main floor, studio 103, revealed her “cold wax and oil” painting. The finished product is “cool” to say the least, but it is the process that makes it so unique. Yeager will demonstrate her art for Gallery Walk. Next, onto the Millworks’ first-floor Market Place, a room filled with treasures for art lovers of all flavors. From candles to leather goods, textiles to trinkets of an artistic bent, jewelry and clothing, all touchable and tempting, provide visual stimulation to those who enter.

We next traveled upstairs to Studio 319, a shared space with a trio of artists who refer to themselves as “the three-ring circus.” This includes Tina Berrier, who spoke to the stories behind her colorful and quirky portraits of people and animals. A personal favorite was a cocky chicken named Clyde smoking a cigarette (pictured). Colonel Sanders would frown upon that activity as this character proved to be a “Kentucky Clyde Chicken.” Fellow painter Judy Kelly gave us the lowdown on their place in Millworks history, as the trio has been part of the creative hive since its inception. Mary Gelenser, with her fiber art, rounds out this group of friends.

Sharing studio 323 is none other than Caleb Smith and Tara Chickey, the Millworks studio’s resident married couple. And TheBurg’s own creative director, Megan Caruso, adds her “Quiet Clay” vessels to the charm, elegant in their clean lines. In the back half of 323 was Maddie, gallery assistant to artist P.D. Murray, whose paintings were drenched in rich colors with wildly imaginative subjects. The hive atmosphere carried over into the restaurant and bar, a hub of after-work gatherings with weekend wishes already starting to come true, enhanced by the clink of glassware and gab. In a glamorous and gregarious way—that’s atmosphere.

We next ventured up the street, to No. 258, also known as “Vivi on Verbeke.” Here, Vivian Sterste and Jeb Boyd had a welcoming stage set up outdoors and in, with a bench and chairs and the most comfortable divan. Perfect pottery by Vivi and painterly photographs by Jeb added just the right amount of pop that also snapped and crackled. Again, the relationships they make with 3rd in the Burgers create a lasting bond. In promoting that mindset, an outsized community painting (pictured) waits inside for visitors to add their own creative marks.

Just up the street at 214 Verbeke, La Cultura makes networking a nuance not to be outdone by any other organization. Elyse Irvis, owner and operator of this unique establishment, subscribes to her mission statement of, “For the culture…franchising the disenfranchised.” Her plan allows local businesses and artists to rent space within the premises for special events and art exhibits, limited only by the imagination. Coming up on Sept. 21 is a self-care workshop from entrepreneur April Ashe. Her line, “UnBottled Expressionz,” combines bath salts and beauty, proving that, if you are relaxed in spirit, you beauty shines through. The artist on hand was Dillon Mitchell, CEO of Art Only LMG, and his line of artistic products, including tees and paintings.

All told, 3rd in the Burg took a leisurely three hours in our tour of art on Verbeke Street. That brings me to the “T.” Time flew in the best sort of way. What we experienced in our investment of that ever-fleeting intangible commodity is something you cannot measure in quantifiable terms. Our night at all three venues was enlightened by rich cultural exchanges, atmospheres completely individual. The hive at Millworks in all its layers of “Art.Food.Brewery” and the venturous vibe at Vivi on Verbeke, completed by culturally committed La Cultura, all add up to “Atmosphere,” “Relationships” and “Time,” immeasurable gifts to be relished. So when the hourglass flips for the next 3rd in the Burg, may I suggest pursuing moments worth remembering?

The next 3rd in the Burg will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, through downtown and Midtown Harrisburg. For more information, visit https://thirdintheburg.org/.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 16, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg residents unfurled this sign at last week’s City Council meeting.

Harrisburg City Council interrupted its summer recess to hold a special session this past week, and residents had a lot to tell their elected representatives. Other stories, features and arts rounded out an unusually active mid-August news week.

1000-block of N. 6^th Street in Harrisburg has long been an eyesore with several dilapidated buildings. But suddenly the boards are coming off the buildings and restoration work has begun, which may yield dozens of new apartments. Read our feature story for the details.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center opened its latest exhibit last weekend, featuring a photographer and a potter, both from Cumberland County. Read the reaction from our arts columnist.

Circle School founder Jim Rietmulder is out with a new book, “When Kids Rule the School,” which discusses “democratic education.” Our feature story discusses his book and this unique approach to educating children.

Filmmaker Michael Kacey would like to finish up his documentary that tells a bleak story about American radio culture. To do so, he’s holding an upcoming fundraiser. Find out more about his project.

Harrisburg City Council passed ordinances last week that changed up the way the city disburses federal housing funds. Applicants will now have to respond to an RFP and attend a workshop. Click here for the details.

Harrisburg residents showed up in force to protest the proposed privatization of the city’s water and sewer system. Numerous residents told City Council not to sell the system and even made a sign to emphasize their point. Read about it here.

Mountain biking is no longer just for weekend warriors. With the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, high school students engage in league competition, with numerous teams in central PA. Read our feature story from this month’s magazine.

Ninja warriors live among us. Learn about a local gym that caters to athletes who train in this multi-faceted sport and competition—some even have TV ambitions.

“Over the Edge” returns this year for the daring who have Spiderman dreams and want to support a good cause. In the October event, you can rappel down the Market Square Plaza building and raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Read the details here.

Sara Bozich has more than 100 great ideas for things to do this weekend. There’s still time to squeeze in a few. Check out all the great events here.

Stop signs on N. 3^rd Street are slated to come down next week, prompting some Harrisburg residents to protest their removal to Harrisburg City Council. As a result, council has scheduled a meeting for this Tuesday to further discuss the issue. Click here to read our story.

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

Measure of Hope: Renovation arrives suddenly to N. 6th Street

August 16, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Matt Long of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors inside the Curtis Funeral Home/Swallow Mansion

After decades of blight and inaction, a historic Harrisburg block is undergoing a rapid transformation, removing an eyesore on a prominent city street and adding new apartments to Midtown.

Currently, three long-dilapidated properties are—or soon will be—under restoration on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street, a highly visible street and one of the last remnants of a once-thriving commercial strip that catered primarily to Harrisburg’s African-American community.

Brothers LeRon and LeSean McCoy, under the name Vice Capital LLC, are renovating 1000 N. 6th St.—at the corner of Boas Street—into a five-unit, market-rate apartment building, with additional retail or community space, according to LeRon.

“We looked around and decided to find a project that would be of benefit to both Harrisburg and ourselves,” he said, in a recent phone interview.

The brothers are Harrisburg natives who played football for Bishop McDevitt High School. LeRon, a retired wide receiver, played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, while LeSean, a former Philadelphia Eagle, is currently a running back for the Buffalo Bills.

LeRon McCoy said that building, also known as the Swallow Mansion and, later, the Curtis Funeral Home, is an investment for the pair.

The 1000-block of N. 6th Street, looking north, with the Swallow Mansion in the foreground

“LeSean and I have a desire to develop in Harrisburg,” he said. “It’s something he’s been wanting to do for a long time.”

Last year, the circa-1896, corner building suffered a partial collapse, with bricks and debris spilling onto the sidewalk on the Boas Street side. The collapse seemed to prompt long-time owner, Annette Antoun, to finally part with the property.

Antoun bought it in 2000 from the Historic Harrisburg Association, believing it would become part of former Mayor Steve Reed’s plan to develop the block as an African-American history museum. However, that museum was never built and, over the years, the building remained boarded up and increasingly dilapidated.

LeRon said he expects the project to be completed by year-end.

“It will be high end,” he said. “We want that area to look as nice as it used to.”

Right next door, at 1002 N. 6th St., a company called LBR Properties has begun to renovate that long-neglected building, which Antoun had owned for 35 years. The company is building out three apartments—two one-bedroom units and a “large studio”—as well as a small retail space on the first floor, according to co-owner Rani Rammouni.

“We’re gutting it and bringing it up to par,” he said, expecting the project to be completed in about two months. “We want to bring them as close to class-A as possible. We’ll have all the upgrades a class-A would have.”

Rammouni said that the block was ripe for redevelopment considering all the development in Midtown over the past decade, as well as its proximity to the Capitol complex.

“It’s positioned so well with the commonwealth right there,” he said.

The view of the block looking south, with the Jackson Hotel in the foreground

Next to that building is the beloved burger and sandwich restaurant, the Jackson House, and next to that, at 1006 N. 6th St., sits the “Jackson Hotel,” a former hotel and boarding house that once catered to African-American patrons who were denied service in Harrisburg’s white-only hotels.

Harrisburg Commercial Interiors bought that building last year, and company owner Matt Long said that his company will begin demolition work in September.

The Jackson Hotel has been empty and boarded up since long-time owner German Jackson died in 1998. In recent years, the building’s roof caved in, and the back of the building has collapsed.

Nonetheless, Long expects to fully rebuild and restore the property. Last month, the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board gave Long permission to perform extensive rehabilitation work, including rebuilding the rear portion of the building and installing a new roof, new windows, new floors and other improvements.

When complete, the 3,420-square-foot building will consist of four apartments, with commercial space on the first floor, Long said. Notably, the large mural, which features African-American entertainers and historic figures, some of whom stayed at the hotel, will be preserved.

“I’ve seen these buildings boarded up for as long as I’ve been here,” Long said, adding that he tried to buy the Swallow Mansion from Antoun some 14 years ago. “But they just sat and sat and sat. Now, the time is right.”

Ted Hanson, a Boas Street resident since 1978, said that he’s waited decades for the 6^th Street properties to be redeveloped.

“This finally has come to pass now that Steve Reed and Annette Antoun are out of the picture,” he said. “Forces are aligning that some needed development is happening there.”

Long’s company is also performing the restoration work on the Swallow Mansion/Curtis Funeral Home for the McCoys. LeRon McCoy said that he hired Long after seeing the work his company did to rebuild another tumbledown structure—the long-dilapidated building at North and Susquehanna streets that soon will be the new home of Elementary Coffee Co.

Demolition debris piled on the first floor of the Curtis Funeral Home/Swallow Mansion

McCoy said that he and his brother have an even grander vision for the block, which would result in dozens of new apartments.

They want to purchase the Jackson Hotel property from Long and then build a new, larger, market-rate apartment building next to it at the corner of N. 6^th and Herr streets, property currently owned by Bethel AME Church. That lot has been empty since the church burned down in 1995.

McCoy said that they’re currently in talks to buy that property from the church.

“This is all part of a larger project we’re working on,” McCoy said. “We have a vision for that block.”

For more detailed history about this block, read our award-winning feature story from 2013.

“Hearing Voices”: Harrisburg filmmaker strives to complete documentary on the troubled history of American radio

August 16, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Michael Kacey always loved old-time radio.

The Shamokin, Pa., native would listen to his parents talk about their favorite radio shows like “The Shadow” and “Lights Out” when he was younger. About 10 years ago, he found himself wanting to watch a documentary about the heyday of radio. However, he couldn’t find any. So, he decided to make one himself.

Next week, Kacey will hold a fundraiser for his documentary, “Hearing Voices,” at Gamut Theatre in downtown Harrisburg. Although the documentary started as a tale of the history of “Golden Age” radio, as he dug deeper into the subject, it quickly morphed into an investigation into diversity and racism on the airwaves.

“I realized why no one was telling this story,” he said. “There are incredible high points in radio broadcasting, but there are uncomfortable low points.”

Before diving into filmmaking, Kacey was an actor living in Los Angeles with his wife. He scored a couple of small roles in “Beverly Hill 90210,” the ’90s Nickelodeon show “All That,” and a Cracker Jack commercial. Around 2002, he moved into filmmaking with his indie film “Daybreak,” which Kacey calls a more sinister version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Around 2009, he dove into making his documentary after attending an old-time radio convention. While conducting research, he found that the first hit radio station was hosted by Amos and Andy, two actors who wore blackface during their performances.

The more he read, the more he found out that was more than just Amos and Andy. American radio had a history of racism–from white people using “black voice” and cultural appropriation of music to simply ignoring what was happening to minorities in the country.

“The more I read, in some cases, the more uncomfortable I became,” Kacey said. “You step back and see that everything is being packaged for middle-class, white America.”

Over the course of 10 years, Kacey conducted interviews with a wide variety of people, such as Larry King, Malkia Cyril of the Center for Media Justice, Dick Van Patten of “Eight is Enough” and others.

“It is really an investigation into diversity on the airwaves in America and asking: Have we paid the unintended price for losing the fairness doctrine, allowing large ownership, and essentially the abandonment of serving the public interest?” he said.

During the fundraiser, Kacey will screen the proposed opening 10 minutes of the film, which features interviews from some of the prominent figures he interviewed, as well as some who are less familiar.

Kacey is hoping to raise an additional $80,000 to make a total of $275,000 for the documentary. Along with the screening, Kacey is having a silent auction featuring the clapperboard they used for Larry King’s scenes and a signed copy of his book, “Anything Goes!” The event will be also be catered by Spice Grill. Tickets are $50, which includes two free drinks from the Gamut Theatre bar.

“It’s a story that hasn’t been told before,” Kacey said. “It’s about knowing that, without a functioning media system, democracy will fail—not suffer, it’s going to fail—and it’s happening right before our eyes,” he said. “I’m hoping this film, the people that see it, will understand more than they did before. I hope it inspires other filmmakers really plumb the depths of some of these topics.”

Kacey also hopes the film inspires other movie and TV producers to come to Harrisburg. After moving here in 2016, he was impressed by Harrisburg’s art scene and the community itself.

“There is no reason that Harrisburg can’t have film and TV shows come to this area the way Pittsburgh and Philadelphia do,” he said. “Everything we need is here, starting with the people, the community. I am very happy to be here. I feel like it is my community now.”

The “Hearing Voices” documentary fundraiser is Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Gamut Theatre. Tickets are available here. For more information on the documentary visit hearingvoicesthemovie.com.

Harrisburg council pledges public meetings after residents condemn possible water system sale

August 15, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Several Harrisburg residents brought a homemade sign, “Keep H2O Public,” to Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Harrisburg City Council is considering holding one or more meetings on the proposed privatization of the city’s water and sewer system.

On Tuesday night, council President Wanda Williams told a crowd attending the legislative session that she planned to schedule public meetings on the city’s proposal to sell the system to a private operator.

“We probably won’t just have one meeting,” she said. “We’ll probably have two or three.”

Her statement came following numerous public comments criticizing the proposed sale, a story broken by TheBurg on July 26.

Harrisburg is currently asking qualified, private entities to respond to a “request for information” (RFI) to gauge interest in acquiring the system. Companies have until Sept. 16 to submit responses, with interviews slated for the following week.

At Tuesday’s meeting, about a half-dozen residents spoke, uniformly saying that they opposed privatizing the water/sewer system, which would eliminate the current operator, the municipal authority Capital Region Water (CRW).

“I just wanted to speak out early and often against the idea of privatizing the city water authority, with the understanding that this is the first step to that potential process,” said one Green Street resident. “I’m categorically against the idea of privatizing the water authority.”

Both city Engineer Wayne Martin and Business Administrator Marc Woolley told council members that the request for information was a preliminary step and did not mean that city has decided to privatize the system.

“The information that we’re gathering is just that—gathering information—about the water system and any potential disposition of assets,” Woolley said. “But we have not decided what we’re going to do.”

Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who is on vacation and so missed Tuesday’s meeting, has also insisted that the city is simply testing the market with the RFI notice. He recently has forcefully criticized CRW, especially after it announced plans to impose a stormwater fee beginning in January.

Residents also denounced what they perceived as a lack of communication about the proposed sale. Several said they learned about it first in the press, as did a few council members.

“How does a city government make a determination that it should explore the possibility of selling a valuable asset like water and sewer and not bother to inform the people we elect to make a decision as to whether that is or is not a good idea and is in our best interest?” asked Melanie Cook, a 3rd Street resident.

Williams said that Papenfuse had discussed the RFI with her, but that he went public with the information before she could inform all other members of council. Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels, for one, said that she was not told of the RFI before it went public.

“I wasn’t aware of that,” she said. “I found out through the newspaper. I did not know about this.”

Several residents said they were less concerned about issues of timing and communication and simply want to see the sales process stopped.

“What we’re saying is that there isn’t an amount high enough for us to sell such a wonderful asset to Harrisburg off to a private corporation,” said Kathryn Lally, a 3rd Street resident. “I don’t think we even need to see what those offers are.”

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