Harrisburg shakes up process of applying for federal housing funds

August 13, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday night.

Harrisburg agreed on Tuesday to switch up the process of how it distributes its annual allocation of federal housing funds.

City Council unanimously passed ordinances that will substantially change how nonprofit organizations apply for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Previously, community groups—called “sub-recipients”—applied for grants that were individually approved by council.

Now, the sub-recipients will have to respond to a “request for proposals” that is being issued by the city. All interested applicants then will have to attend a mandatory workshop on Sept. 10 at the city Public Works building and submit their final applications by Sept. 20.

Moreover, organizations will have to apply from two separate funding buckets.

Of the $1.94 million in total CDBG funding, the city is setting aside $100,000 for “public service activities,” which includes most programming activities. It then has allocated another $407,261 for “public improvement/public facilities,” which includes most facility and building projects.

In the past, funds for these activities had been combined into a single application process and source of funds. However, HUD recently instructed the city to separate operational projects from infrastructure projects.

“The primary reason for this change is so we can get those dollars separated properly,” said Franchon Dickinson, director of the city’s Building and Housing Department. “Nonprofits can apply for both public services and public facilities dollars, but have to apply separately.”

The city will favor applications that show that a service is new or has demonstrated a quantifiable increase in a level of service over the last 12 months, said Dickinson. In addition, she said that HUD prefers to fund senior enrichment programs or programs geared towards special needs populations.

Dickinson said that a scoring matrix will be used to judge applications and determine who will receive funding. City Council then will approve the contracts with the sub-recipients, said city Business Administrator Marc Woolley.

Other CDBG allotments included:

$593,423 for debt service, as the city continues to pay down a federal loan it guaranteed under former Mayor Steve Reed for the disastrous Capitol View Commerce Center project
$387,670 for grant administration
$250,000 for homeowner rehabilitation
$200,000 for emergency demolition

Representatives from several social service agencies attended Tuesday’s meeting, speaking publicly to stress how important CDBG funds are for them.

“I hope the available funding will be such that it can help groups such as CRAM,” said Juanita Grant, director of Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry (CRAM), which assists those recently released from prison. “We really do need that money. We really do need help to help the people in the community.”

Dickinson said that the city is now conducting a reconciliation of disbursals in recent years, matching allocations with expenditures. It’s possible, she said, that additional funds could be available following the results of that reconciliation.

Several council members complained that the allocation process this year started late and now seems rushed.

Dickinson primarily blamed HUD, which she said met with city officials only in June, leading to the unexpected change in process. She pledged that next year’s process would go more smoothly.

“We’ll be ready to go early,” she said. “We should be able to provide a timeline for next year by the end of this year.”

Council President Wanda Williams urged her to begin the 2020 process as soon as possible.

“I want to make sure next year that we have this information in front of us well before we vote,” she said.

Art Debut: Local photographer, potter demonstrate connections in shared CALC show.

August 12, 2019 | by Bob MacGinnes

Lori Snyder’s “The Maples in Autumn”

There is something incandescent about the last art show of the summer, especially when in a packed house in the upstairs gallery and down in the G.B. Stuart Gallery of Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)

On Friday night, you could hear a pin drop. The galleries were filled with art that brought its own heat. That is “Art” with a capital “A,” when it speaks for itself in hushed tones and whispers. Art that requires no fanfare at all. Its pronouncements are clear as a bell or a bulb, both in photographs and in pottery from two masters of their craft.

Home can mean a different thing to each and every one of us. For some, it is a place to hang your hat. For others, a place to kick back and relax. It can be a haven and even a bit of heaven. Home is a state of mind. Not so much what is on the inside but what awaits in the world outside.

Lori Snyder, philosophical photographer, captures it all in a new, shared exhibit that opened at CALC on Friday and runs through Sept. 21. Showcasing her as a “naturalist” photographer means more than talent due to the surroundings she captures on film. The exhibit is aptly titled “This Place I Call Home.” Her imagery transports the viewer to places reserved for peace and quiet—out in nature, the sight of the master canvas, never the same twice, always surprising.

Snyder does her best in expressing that love for nature in all its simplistic beauty. From obedient orchards to majestic mountains, fertile fields and wild waterways, all add up to indelible images that linger in our collective memory. An open field beckons with just a pair of trees in transition titled, “The Maples in Autumn.” It is the openness of space that frees the mind and the rest of the senses. To imagine the solitude felt in that moment as the light shades the area cascading through the leaves is nothing short of boundless bliss.

Sharing the stage and his love for nature—in the sense of incorporating raw materials sourced locally for his wood-fired stoneware—is potter Kurt Brantner.

Brantner’s path to pottery was a circuitous one in that his college studies at Kutztown were in fine art as a painter. However, he chose a road less traveled after taking one pottery class and becoming fascinated with the process, making it a lifelong pursuit. When one looks at the sheer magnitude of some of his larger vessels, it’s hard to fathom the skill it takes to turn clay into such a towering treasure. It is nothing short of gravity-defying art.

Brantner uses an old-world method to create his pottery, one that dates to fifth-century Japan, firing his wares with an anagama kiln. There are a number of variants employed in this labor-intensive process that takes 70 to 80 hours of firing and uses up to five cords of wood sourced from the area. The results are worthy of admiration and appreciation for the art and the artist that brought them to life. Brantner’s subtle style is that of a geologist searching for the right clay and turning it just so and firing it to its glorified end. Some of his best pieces reveal a sheen in the way the glaze elevates a simple pot to a rare thing of beauty. From everyday coffee mugs to collectible earthenware, Brantner’s range defies category, but instead creates art that speaks a language all its own. If you listen closely, a piece may speak to you.

Snyder and Brantner, two Cumberland County artists, are each experts in their own fields. One uses a camera, the other, clay, complementing and completing a circle of continuity. After all, everything in life, to a certain degree, is interrelated as CALC’s Cathy Stone shows with this collection.

We as the human race are all connected to each other on a grand scale. Or at least we should be. Art has the power to change ideologies, to shift the paradigm from fear to friendship. Art connects us in ways unimaginable and in vastly different arenas. The disciplines of art, literature, fashion, music and sports, all unique in their approach, contain unifying elements that can trigger global responses and elevate the soul of mankind to new heights. All one has to do is share from the heart.

“This Place I Call Home” runs through Sept. 21 at Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle. For more information, visit www.carlislearts.org.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 9, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

“The Weekender” festival returns next week.

Was everyone on vacation this week, or did it just seem that way? Indeed, life seemed to slow down here in the dog days of summer, but the news scene was busy as always.

Aquaponics is one of the most exciting trends in agriculture, and a major facility is located right here in Harrisburg. Read how this technology is helping to reshape agriculture, while educating public school students.

Cameron Street Boxing Club houses the hopes and dreams of many of Harrisburg’s best boxers. Read our feature story about the coach, the fighters and the facility.

Capital Rebirth is dedicated to helping Harrisburg youth, scheduling two events over the next two months to further its cause. The first, a talent festival slated for Reservoir Park, is coming up soon. Get all the details here.

Dynasty Harrisburg is far more than just a cheerleading and dance gym. It’s a place where Harrisburg’s young people can gather, receive support and learn life-affirming skills. Click here to read our feature story.

Harrisburg is experiencing a rebirth of business and culture, and much of the credit goes to ordinary people who have dug deep financially to support the progress of the city, says our editor in his monthly “City View” column.

Marshall Math Science Academy hosted a STEAM camp this summer, focused on the important role of historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs). Read our feature story from the August issue.

Mount Gretna Art Show turns 45 this month and is bigger and more significant than ever. Find out how a small, quaint village fostered the growth of one of central PA’s cultural gems.

Sara Bozich has more than 100 ideas for fun things to do this weekend. So, you’d best make some room in your calendar to fit it all in. Find out what’s happening in and around town.

Vocational education is gaining renewed attention as students seek a lower-cost way to prepare for good jobs in industries that need skilled workers. Read our feature story from the August magazine.

Weekender Festival returns next week with four days of music, entertainment and education. Find out all the details about this annual event sponsored by the Harrisburg Housing Authority.

Wine is not only for drinking but now also is for speculation and investment, as PA Fine Wine and Good Spirits is allowing the purchase of select “wine futures.” Our wine columnist chimes in on this trend.

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

Talent festival, Superhero Day arriving soon, courtesy of Capital Rebirth

August 8, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

You may remember seeing a bunch of superheroes on City Island last October and wondering, “Is there a villain in town that needs defeating?”

It may have looked like the Avengers assembled here in Harrisburg, but that wasn’t quite the case. This anti-bullying community event was sponsored by Capital Rebirth, which has more events coming soon.

“We like to find solutions to all of the issues that are happening in our community,” said Madeline Williams the marketing and media relations director at Capital Rebirth.

The organization, which is made up of seven members, seeks to educate and be a resource for families in Harrisburg, with a focus on kids. Founder and CEO Mikell Simpson explained how their focus is on unifying Harrisburg residents, rather than on one specific issue.

However, this month, Capital Rebirth is hosting a “Stop the Violence & Drug Abuse” talent festival in Reservoir Park in Harrisburg. They plan to have local vendors, poetry readings, musical performances, a fashion show and food. All of the performances will be free of references to violence, drugs and profanity—creating a positive atmosphere is important to Simpson.

“It’s entertainment with a mission behind it,” Simpson explained.

In addition to the performances, the line-up includes guest speakers from City Council, the Police Bureau and others who will talk about their personal experiences with violence prevention and the opioid epidemic.

“This isn’t the Harrisburg I grew up in” Williams said. “It’s not just a Harrisburg or central PA issue. It’s a national issue. It’s become too normal for us.”

There will also be onsite resources provided by local businesses and organizations to connect people to services that can help them with an array of issues related to substance abuse and health.

The event is free and hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided to kids.

That is a main focus of Simpson’s—serving Harrisburg kids struggling financially. This is why Capital Rebirth holds free sports camps and children’s events, so that no kid is excluded.

“These kids get left behind, because most things deal with money,” Simpson said.

Funding for all of their events comes directly from the seven members’ pockets. Since they are not yet a nonprofit—but are looking to become one soon—they don’t typically raise money for their events.

All of the members are from Harrisburg, attending Harrisburg or Susquehanna high schools. They hope to serve as role models and mentors to kids growing up similarly to the way they did.

“Many people who are fortunate to go to college or are successful from here, they up and they move,” Simpson said. “There’s not a lot of success left for the youth here to see. We want to stay here. Our whole team is living proof.”

Simpson mentioned that once they become a nonprofit, they will be able to do more of this through after-school programs, summer programs and career path coaching.

“It all goes back to our name,” Williams said. “It’s all about capital rebirth. It’s all about revitalization. We are trying to bring our area back to a place where it was before, where we felt like it was prospering and thriving.”

Capital Rebirth’s “Stop the Violence & Drug Abuse” talent festival will be held on Aug. 24, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Reservoir Park, Harrisburg. Their second annual Anti-Bullying Superhero Day is Sept. 14, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information visit https://www.capitalrebirth.com.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

August 8, 2019 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

I’m starting my weekend off with a 100-min massage in the name of #selfcare.

From there, a trip to the Market (and pick up my new Friends of the Market tote!). Andy doesn’t know it yet, but I’m definitely making lamb chops this weekend with a cucumber sauce and other fresh veggies.

On Sunday, we’re getting together with friends for an afternoon que — otherwise just soaking in the last warm and sunny days of the season!

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

Music, community, education take the stage during 4-day Weekender festival

August 6, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

One of many performers during last year’s Weekender festival. Photo credit: Harrisburg Housing Authority

For a second straight year, the Harrisburg Housing Authority (HHA) is bringing its resources and music to the community with its Weekender festival, a four-day celebration designed to educate, entertain and uplift.

The multi-faceted event will be packed with live performances, food and educational resources for residents.

“This was a great opportunity for us to hold a cross-venue celebration where we take our residents out into the general community and invite everyone else onto our property as well,” said Casey “Oche” Bridgeford, HHA’s director of communications and compliance.

HHA is kicking off the event with a “NetWorth” summit at the Hilton Harrisburg. The summit provides attendees with the “ins and outs of entrepreneurship and wealth-building,” according to its website. Speakers from 100 Percent Financed, Black upStart, BB&T and Penn State will host sessions on starting your own business, credit management and more.

“This is a great opportunity for them to come out and learn the nuts and bolts of getting started,” Bridgeford said. “We want to put all those resources in one place.”

Friday, the second day of the Weekender, is “Community Day,” hosted in Hall Manor. Along with music by DJ Beauty and The Beatz and Johnny Bliss, HHA will have kids’ activities, health screenings and a school supply giveaway.

The last two days are the Weekender’s “Music in the Park” in Reservoir Park. Performers include international jazz artist Laurin Talese, two-time Grammy-nominated singer Case, as well as local artists such as Lady Shakespere, Maschine Life, The Singer’s Lounge and more.

HHA started its Weekender events last year with the goal of bringing the community together and highlighting some of the programs and services that HHA offers. According to Bridgeford, HHA houses more than 5,000 residents, which amounts to about 10 percent of Harrisburg’s population. Some of the programs offered include a Summer Team Program that pays youth to work in the community doing beautification, a food pantry and a free clinic.

“It’s really an enriching experience. From the beginning to the end, [the event] is packed full of resources for attendees to enrich their lives,” Bridgeford said. “That’s what we want to do at the end of the day.”

The Weekender event runs Thursday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug, 18. For more information visit www.weekenderhbg.com.

2019 HBG Mural Fest Brochure

August 5, 2019 | by Admin

Sprocket Mural Works

Thank you to the Sponsors:

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 2, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A trio of newly built houses on Swatara Street.

The past week has been packed with breaking news and feature stories. If you missed any, you’ve come to the right place.

Art Association of Harrisburg opened its latest exhibit, “Energized,” last weekend. Find our what TheBurg’s art columnist had to say about this eclectic assembly of artists.

Broad Street Market was named a “Great Public Space” by the PA chapter of the American Planning Association. Harrisburg’s historic market was only one of three places statewide to receive the honor. Click here for the story.

GreenWorks Development is the recipient of a $2 million state redevelopment grant, which will go towards a major proposed apartment and commercial project in Midtown Harrisburg. The National Civil War Museum and Tri-County Housing Development Corp. also received grants. Find out the details here.

Guglielmo Botter, an Italian-American artist, has returned to central PA to exhibit his illustrations of local landmarks. This time, he’s focused on Lancaster, with a show at the Visitor’s Center.

Habitat for Humanity and Tri-County HDC unveiled three new houses on Swatara Street that resulted from a “building blitz” last summer. The affordable houses are now on the market for sale. Read all the details here.

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC) unveiled the details of its next phase of construction, which will add a dance club and other amenities to the mixed-used venue. H*MAC also plans to change up and rebrand its restaurant. Click here for all the details.

Harrisburg’s music scene is hot for the summertime. Read the recommendations for this month from TheBurg’s music columnist.

Jelani Splawn is young photographer with a lens focused on the urban environment. Find out what he’s eyeing in our feature story.

Nikolaos Hatziefstathiou has been arrested in Delaware County on multiple charges due to alleged “fake news” schemes, according to the county district attorney. Hatziefstathiou is a key defendant in a defamation suit filed by the previous owners of the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. Click here for the story.

R.O. Kwon drops into Harrisburg this weekend for a reading and some conversation at Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Learn about this acclaimed writer and her debut novel, “The Incendiaries.”

Sara Bozich has all your leads for a fun summer weekend. Find out what’s going on around town.

Susquehanna Art Museum will help turn a Subaru into a Picasso this weekend, with a public painting event. A Midtown Harrisburg couple generously donated the car/canvas. Read the painterly details.

TheBurg dropped our August issue, which is focused on youth and education in our area. If you ever had doubts about the next generation, you’ll want to pick up a copy or read a few stories online.

Urban Snob has rebooted, so to speak, reopening its boutique with a new look and business model. Read what the Midtown shop has in store.

Vintage Vault held the grand opening of its newest store in downtown New Cumberland. This shop is focused on mid-century pieces for all your “Mad Men” décor needs. Check out the offerings here.

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

Major Midtown Harrisburg project, Civil War Museum to receive state redevelopment funds

August 1, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

GreenWorks Development plans to develop this site on the 300-block of Reily Street in Harrisburg into a major residential and commercial project.

State grants for several area projects were announced late Thursday afternoon, including for a major mixed-use development in Midtown Harrisburg.

In a news release, Sen. John DiSanto announced the distribution of $7.2 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants for Dauphin County and another $1 million for Perry County.

The Dauphin County grants include $2 million in funding for a proposed GreenWorks Development project that would construct 135 market-rate apartments, along with street-level retail, on the 300-block of Reily Street.

Reached by telephone, GreenWorks CEO Doug Neidich said he was delighted by news of the grant.

“I’ve been talking about creating a learn, live, play environment in this area,” he said. “We haven’t been able to do the live portion, but this is the live portion.”

Neidich declined further immediate comment about the project, such as the timeframe, other than to say that the total price tag is expected to be about $26 million.

The property is now a large surface parking lot supporting HACC’s Midtown campus. HACC, though, is significantly reducing its presence in Midtown, returning operations to its main campus at Wildwood.

According to the state RACP website, GreenWorks had requested $4 million for the project, which includes a 135,000-square-foot building for 135 apartments and 10,000-square-feet of “neighborhood-oriented” retail at 320 Reily St. The building is just down the block from the new federal courthouse under construction at N. 6^th and Reily streets.

Another $2 million RACP grant was awarded to the National Civil War Museum to acquire its museum artifacts from the city of Harrisburg and to help fund capital improvements to its building and grounds in Reservoir Park.

Nearly two years ago, Harrisburg and the museum agreed to settle a longstanding dispute over funding for the museum and ownership of the artifacts. Under the agreement, the city agreed to sell the museum the permanent collection of artifacts for $5.25 million if the museum could raise the money within five years. The museum had requested a $5 million RACP grant.

Other RACP awards in Dauphin County include:

$2 million to Derry Township for the Hershey Community Center. The township had requested $2.77 million.
$700,000 to Insulators Local Union 33 to convert the recently acquired VFW Post 9639 in East Hanover Township to a training and business center.
$500,000 to Tri-County Housing Development Corp. to remove blighted properties, construct new homes and make streetscape improvements as part of the Hummel Street redevelopment project. Tri-County had requested $1 million.

The state also awarded $1 million to the Perry County Economic Development Corp. for the Perry Innovation Park Cogeneration Power project in Penn Township.

In Cumberland County, REC LMS LLC received a full grant of $1 million to help redevelop the former Lemoyne Middle School for a mixed-use development of 17,500 square feet of commercial space and 30 townhomes.

RACP grants are awarded annually, meant to go to projects that are deemed economically, culturally or historically important.

Read more about the RACP program and recipients.

Urban Snob reboots, with a new look, personalized service

August 1, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Dimitra Diggs and Johnathan Branch inside the reopened Urban Snob.

Before opening the doors to her revamped Urban Snob showroom, Dimitra Diggs believed the shop was going to close.

“This was my hardest year,” she said. “I was struggling personally, financially, and was frustrated with Urban Snob’s current business model.”

Tired and weary of where her store was going, Diggs planned to close her shop the same day it was scheduled to reopen. However, she kept getting signs that told her otherwise.

She was honored at a minority business conference hosted by a state legislator for her shop and for creating a space for other black-owned businesses.

The following day, another business owner came into her shop and spent $400.

“She texted me the next day, and she’s like, ‘I want you to know there is a demographic here for you,’” Diggs said. “She didn’t even know where I was at mentally. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing, but I felt like those were the signs that God told me to just stay open.”

And that’s what she did.

Diggs and her team transformed the 3rd Street boutique into a showroom where guests can book an appointment and have a personalized shopping experience. She also renovated the space to match the new business model.

“I really wanted to change the business dynamic which started with changing the space,” Diggs said. “After seven years, I was tired of looking at that hot pink wall. I wanted something a little more sophisticated just to match where I was at personally.”

Urban Snob owner Dimitra Diggs looks through a clothing display.

The upgrades include outdoor seating with pink and black benches, new lighting topped with a Chanel-inspired chandelier, blush pink walls, hardwood floors and more.

According to Diggs, the new Urban Snob showroom allows customers to get more exclusivity when they are shopping and a celebrity-like experience. As her friend MaDonna Awotwi, owner of Sankofa Concepts would say: “You may not be Beyoncé, but you can shut down the store like you’re her.”

Guests can book their showroom free of charge through Facebook, Instagram or their website. All you have to do is pick a time you are available, put in your personal information and any additional notes the staff should know, such as the event type. Diggs then makes sure her shop is staffed appropriately and provides snacks, water and, of course, wine.

Urban Snob also creates profiles of the customers to store their shopping preferences.

“It allows me to know how to shop better for our customers. There’s a lot of women who just don’t like to shop,” Diggs said. “So, we can pick out curated pieces for you and relieve that burden and anxiety off of trying to find something to wear.”

Diggs started renovations in May and finished in late June. They had a soft opening, until their “kickback” in July.

Diggs and her team are currently working on expanding Urban Snob’s online presence to become a national brand.

“Between MaDonna and Dimitra, this baby is amazing,” said Johnathan Branch, an Urban Snob employee since 2014. “Anyone that shops here will always tell you that the experience is something that’s different. I can’t wait to see what we do in another five to 10 years.”

Urban Snob is located at 1006 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. To book your appointment visit www.theurbansnob.com.

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