November News Digest

November 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

2-Way 2nd Street Debated

More than 100 residents attended a public meeting last month to learn how a proposal to return N. 2nd Street to two-way traffic will affect infrastructure and traffic flow across the city.

The $6 million project already has grant funding from Impact Harrisburg and PennDOT. Preliminary plans call for changing traffic flow over a two-mile stretch of 2nd Street north of Forster Street, leaving its three northbound lanes in downtown Harrisburg intact.

As residents learned at the meeting, 2nd Street was originally built as a two-way road. Harrisburg officials converted it to a one-way, three-lane mini-highway in the 1950s to accommodate commuter traffic.

The meeting addressed two major questions:

Where will displaced commuter traffic go after the conversion?
What’s the best use for the extra space that will result from eliminating a traffic lane?

Planners and engineers expect much of the evening commuter traffic on 2nd Street to flow north on 3rd Street instead, said Adam Vest, associate engineer at the planning firm Kittelson & Associates. Other cars will go to 6th and 7th streets.

Overall, engineers expect that 70 percent of traffic between 4 and 5 p.m. on weekdays will be diverted to other roads. About 1,400 cars travel down 2nd Street during rush hour each day.

Outside of those five hours each week, however, the traffic volume on 2nd Street is usually low enough to travel in a single lane northbound lane without much displacement, Vest said.

Mike Hughes, who lives on the 2200 block of N. 2nd Street, wasn’t too worried about displacing commuter traffic.

“Ultimately, commuters are going to have to change routes, but they don’t live here or pay taxes here,” Hughes said.

Like many other residents at the meeting, Hughes was more concerned about reducing vehicle speeds along 2nd Street.

Traffic study data show that vehicle speeds on N. 2nd Street increase as cars travel north out of the city. Cars approaching Verbeke Street travel an average of 33 miles per hour—already well over the 25-mile per hour speed limit. That speed rises to 35 miles per hour as cars approach Maclay Street and hits 38 miles per hour just south of Schuykill Street.

Over the course of the two-week study, 93 percent of drivers exceeded the 25-mile per hour speed limit, Vest said.

“With those speeds, nobody wants to be on 2nd Street,” he said. “We’re trying to make a street people want to be on.”

During an hour-long breakout session, residents debated the merits of bike lanes, angled parking, traffic circles and sidewalk expansions—all options on the table for a two-way 2nd Street.

Trimicka Crump-Joseph runs an after-school theater program for youth at 2nd and Reily streets. She said that vehicle speeds endanger children walking or being dropped off at class.

“I need traffic to slow down because right now, I’m only zoned for 10 children,” Crump-Joseph said. “I could have more, but want it to be safe for kids to walk or get dropped off.”

New Pavilion at Italian Lake

Last summer, inclement weather forced the cancellation of numerous outdoor concerts at Italian Lake.

City officials and local activists expect a better outcome in 2019, as last month they unveiled a new pavilion that shields the park’s stage from the elements.

“This is a tremendous improvement to the value of Italian Lake,” said Jeb Stuart, a board member of the Harrisburg Parks Foundation. “Now, we’ll be able to make more events happen here.”

The foundation was one of several groups to contribute money for the $36,800 project. First National Bank (FNB) donated the bulk, with a $25,000 contribution. The foundation, the city and a group of business people led by activist Mike Trephan filled in the remaining funding gap. Kennett Square-based Recreation Resource USA built the pavilion.

The 90-year-old, 9.5-acre manicured park in Uptown Harrisburg has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years.

Several years ago, the ornate fountains were restored, and the community group Friends of Italian Lake introduced several swans into the lake during the warm weather. In 2015, Harrisburg Young Professionals spearheaded a renewed summer concert series, which had been suspended for several years.

Community activist Peggy Grove said that Friends of Italian Lake would like to raise another $5,000 to finish the project, which would include an overhead fan, an improved sound system and the refinishing of the concrete stage.

“I’m just so glad that this pavilion has been built,” she said. “Now, people can perform despite the rain.”

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that the city would like to see additional improvements to the park, such as the rehabilitation of the bench seating and the restoration and reopening of the restrooms.

“This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a greater upgrade of the park,” he said.

HU Buys Land for High-Rise

Harrisburg University has completed the purchase of four parcels of land in downtown Harrisburg, bringing it a step closer to starting construction of a new academic tower and hotel.

In mid-October, HU bought 24, 26 and 28 S. 3rd St., as well as 222 Chestnut St., for a total of almost $3.2 million, according to Dauphin County property records. As the new landowner, the university soon will begin going through the city’s planning and zoning processes, said HU President Eric Darr.

If all goes according to schedule, HU expects to begin clearing the site, which includes demolishing three small, 19th-century-era buildings, in late spring, and initiate actual construction in the early summer.

Darr said that he expects a two-year construction timeframe for the building, now projected to be 19 stories tall, with completion expected in the summer of 2021. Originally, the university had planned for the building to rise more than 30 stories, but the size was scaled back due to higher-than-anticipated costs.

“The cost of the project exceeded what we felt comfortable with,” Darr said.

As now envisioned, the 280,000-square-foot building will have two main components. An academic portion will house HU’s health sciences programs, as well as several other disciplines, including advanced manufacturing and interactive media. An on-site boutique hotel will include 190 rooms, Darr said.

HU, Darr said, is currently “in negotiation” with its hotel partner, which will operate the hotel privately. He added that he’s confident that Harrisburg easily can absorb a new hotel, as, already, the university attracts a large population of visiting students, who often must stay in hotels outside the city.

The original project plan included space for student housing, which, Darr said, remains a critical need. However, HU now expects to convert some underused downtown buildings to housing, which would be a less expensive alternative.

“We’re evaluating other properties close to us to retrofit for student housing,” Darr said.

The revised plan also eliminated parking from the project, which, Darr said, shouldn’t be an issue as the site is near several parking garages. The plan also calls for a first-floor restaurant.

Demotion Affirmed

The Harrisburg school board voted unanimously last month to affirm a previous decision to demote a former business manager, months after a county judge ordered it to reconsider its action.

At a special meeting, board members voted 7-0 to approve an adjudication document defending the district’s demotion of Kenneth Medina, a business manager who was reassigned with a pay cut following allegations of professional misconduct.

The document adds greater detail to the charges and evidence brought against Medina last year, according to district Solicitor Samuel Cooper, and satisfies an August order from a Common Pleas judge that the district reconsider his case.

Medina was hired as the district’s business manager in April 2016 at a salary of $120,000. He was reassigned to a grants manager role at a salary of $60,000 last year, after Harrisburg Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney placed him on administrative leave due to allegations of professional misconduct.

According to Knight-Burney, Medina had failed to notify the district of a vehicle loss, submitted budgets to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) with incorrect figures, failed to schedule building inspections at John Harris High School, and failed to make arrangements for mail service at district properties.

Medina denied those allegations. He said that his reassignment came after he started raising questions about consultant contracts and other practices in the district’s long-troubled business office.

But when the district held a due process hearing in August 2017, a hearing examiner prepared a report concluding that the allegations against Medina were credible. The board voted to adopt the examiner’s recommendations, leading to Medina’s reassignment and salary cut.

Medina filed a complaint with the Court of Common Pleas, leading Judge John Cherry to order the school board to hear Medina’s case.

Last month, Cooper said the district fulfilled the court’s mandate by preparing a more detailed written decision justifying Medina’s reassignment.

The district has shared that adjudication with board members, who reviewed it before the vote. According to Cooper, a vote to approve the document “ratifies the actions the board had previously taken.”

Project Planned for Steelton

A major mixed-use development has been announced for Steelton, a project that envisions a restaurant, a grocery and apartments.

Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners announced last month “The Steel Works,” which would include a brewpub, a 20,000-square-foot supermarket and more than 75 apartments. Five buildings would span 102-230 N. Front St., in the heart of the borough.

IDP bought the land earlier this year for $375,000 from the Steelton Economic Development Corp. after a prior developer failed to get financing for its project.

IDP expects to break ground in late 2019 or early 2020, with construction expected to take 24 to 36 months.

So Noted

Friends of Midtown Community Dog Park officially opened in late October, marking the first public dog park in Harrisburg. The park, at N. 7th and Granite streets, will operate for at least two years under an agreement with the landowner, Vartan Group.

Harrisburg University last month unveiled new training and competition space for its e-sports team, The Storm, inside Whitaker Center. When combined with Whitaker Center’s two theaters, HU now has the largest e-sports campus in North America, according to the university.

Jackson Hotel, a historic Harrisburg property, last month got a new owner, who vowed to restore the dilapidated, circa-1884 building. Developer Matt Long purchased the N. 6th Street building, which once served as a rooming house and a hotel for African-American patrons denied service in the city’s whites-only hotels.

Michael Knill was named last month as the new athletic director for Central Penn College. A graduate of the college’s physical therapist assistant program, Knill previously served as athletic director of the Susquehanna Township school district and as an assistant football coach for Red Land High School.

Rep. Patty Kim last month won re-election to the state Assembly representing Pennsylvania’s 103rd legislative district, defeating Republican challenger Anthony Harrell by a margin of 15,393 to 2,933 votes, respectively. In the closely watched race for the 10th congressional district, Republican incumbent Scott Perry beat back a tough challenge from Democrat George Scott by a margin of 148,790 to 140,956 votes, respectively.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2435: S. Padrilla & M. Serrano to I. & K. Mita, $54,000

Adrian St., 2459: B. Rotta to A. Sloane, $70,000

Barkley Lane, 2511: K. Clement to R. & B. Martinez, $76,000

Boas St., 256: First Evangelical United to C. & R. Herr, $50,000

Briggs St., 1942: Jeremiah Property Holdings LLC to S. Dolph, $122,500

Brookwood St., 2408: Citizens Bank NA to M. Cedeno, $53,000

Brookwood St., 2466: PA Deal LLC to V. Sanghani, $65,900

Capitol St., 1220: C. Sullivan to M. Olds, $137,500

Chestnut St., 222: Musalair Trust to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology & D. Maun, $2,450,000

Derry St., 1252, 1254, 1312, 1330, 1629, 1631, 1633; 1333 Vernon St.: McFarland LP to A. Himalaya PA Properties LLC, $561,428

Derry St., 2401: M. Wijaya & I. Lim to S. & M. Mejia, $30,000

Derry St., 2514: H. Alcantara to Portal Enterprises Inc., $50,000

Green St., 1104: N. Hench to W. Eltringham, $203,171

Green St., 1310: M. Corbett to Panda Real Estate LLC, $76,000

Green St., 1324: W. Davis to A. Miller, $115,000

Green St., 1523: CJ MF Invest 1 LLC to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $110,000

Green St., 2338: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to E. Chattah, $32,000

Greenwood St., 2124: G. Leo to A. Dascani & D. Colbert, $30,000

Greenwood St., 2600: Q. Long to A. Beck, $84,000

Hale Ave., 412: T. Tran to G. Romain, $69,900

Hale Ave., 435: E. Pereira to I. Yolov, $57,000

Herr St., 131: S. McGovern to J. Noonan, $122,000

Hudson St., 1131: A. Stephens to R9 Holdings LLC, $47,350

Hudson St., 1216: N. Brofee to R. Mesariac, $99,900

Industrial Rd., 4050, 4100: 283 Associates to Sygma Network Inc., $4,025,500

Kelker St., 222: J. & J. Corey to B. & A. Ennist, $154,000

Kensington St., 2417: P. & D. Bang to L. Upshur, $67,000

Kensington St., 2431: T. Dieu to K. McClaire, $67,500

Maclay St., 423: L. Ware Jr. to Tyrone Peoples, $80,000

Maclay St., 427: S. & T. House to S. Kelly, $60,000

Market St., 1847: 1847 Market St. to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $45,000

Market St., 1845, 1849: Nish Properties LLC to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $85,000

Muench St., 234: WCI Partners LP to A. Fortune, $115,000

North St., 208: Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation to K. MacNett, $112,000

N. 2^nd St., 618: Chattah Family Trust to Qiu Zhen 618 LLC, $313,000

N. 2^nd St., 3218: D. Henry to K. Prestia, $114,900

N. 3^rd St., 1700: PA Deals LLC to E. Shelly, $126,900

N. 3^rd St., 2014: R. Heath to S. & C. Payson, $213,550

N. 3^rd St., 2200: J. & M. Cross to D. McCoy, $70,000

N. 4^th St., 1320: Sapanvi LLC to Harrisburg Home Investment LLC, $30,000

N. 4^th St., 3229: E. & K. Mundy to Willowscott Investments LLC, $46,000

N. 5^th St., 2743: Investment Specialists LLC to S. Salleb & M. Aziz, $52,000

N. 6^th St., 2400: Resting Place to Sent Ones Inc., $39,000

N. 6^th St., 2401: Investment Specialists LLC to Marl Investments LLC, $175,000

N. 6^th St., 2937: S. Driscoll to KMM Development LLC, $59,000

N. 6^th St., 3113: S. Householder to F. Pizzoli, $54,100

N. 6^th St., 3149: Asset Management Services LLC to A. Salame, $32,000

N. 14^th St., 1330: D. Lopes & J. Wright to T. Stokes, #137,000

N. 18^th St., 57: MSP Associates Inc. to KS Homes of PA LLC, $50,000

N. Cameron St., 10, 22: K. & I. Newkam to Great Scott Productions LLC, $470,000

N. Cameron St., 1217: San Pef Inc. & P. Peffley to CDG United Investments LLC, $1,065,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 612: J. Eirkson to M. & N. Hameed, $181,000

Penn St., 1502: H. Lord to A. Fortune, $110,000

Penn St., 1724: T. Howarth to K. Mohn, $108,000

Penn St., 1802: G. Link to M. & C. Freeman, $74,000

Penn St., 1935: WCI Partners to R. Solano, $134,900

Pennwood Rd., 3139: L. Ciambotti to A. & M. Burnett, $126,900

Pennwood Rd., 3143: T. Marhon to E. Cortes & E. Roman, $117,000

Regina St., 1611: J. & F. Burgos to I. Bakare, $35,000

Reily St., 213: P. Donahue & P. Chaves to E. Brantner, $111,000

Reily St., 253: R. & A. Gallagher to R. Wodele, $112,500

Rolleston St., 1020: E Street Properties LLC to DHS Team LLC, $49,900

Rudy Rd., 2245: M. Saluhdin & P. Williams to E. Brown, $155,000

Rudy Rd., 2258: K. Hoffman to M. Brossman, $151,350

Schuylkill St., 664: MSP Associates Inc. to KS Homes of PA LLC, $32,500

Showers St., 608: D. Wiedemer to R. & W. Fellinger, $155,000

Shoop St., 1443: S. Khan to K. Nashed & R. Mahrous, $40,000

S. 3^rd St., 24, 26, 28: Dauphin Land Co. to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology & D. Maun, $730,062

S. 13^th St., 225, 229; 1408 Vernon St.; 1627 Derry St.: Woodlayne Court LP to A. Himalaya PA Properties LLC, $1,110,000

S. 14^th St., 1449: B. Price Jr. to City of Harrisburg, $54,500

S. 17^th St., 424: Yovany LLC & Rivas Property Investments LLC to R. Feliz, $49,500

S. 17^th St., 831: Crist Holdings LLC to S&P Property Holdings LLC, $140,000

S. 18^th St., 1100: J. Edrington to S. Savage, $85,000

S. 25^th St., 604: M. Clea to I. Yolov, $57,000

S. 25^th St., 620: D. Staub to C. Grant & M. Rinaldi, $55,000

State St., 1510: TW Property Management & Rentals LLC to J. Ansell, $43,500

State St., 2007: Deuce & Mike Properties LLC to Ephraim Slaughter American Legion Post 733, $585,000

Susquehanna St., 3115: K. & M. Baum to A. & J. Mazer, $109,000

Swatara St., 2006: K. & F. Yocum to A. Shah, $38,000

Swatara St., 2040: Crist Holdings LLC to J. Crawford, $47,000

Zarker St., 1917: DC Investments LLC to C. & N. Carr, $39,900

Harrisburg property sales for October 2018, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Happenings: Our December Calendar of Events

November 30, 2018 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Cars and Christmas,” with themed Christmas trees, unusual vehicles, vintage toys and cars, a Hess Truck display, model train exhibits, and more, through Jan. 6

“Buses and their Impact on the Civil Rights Movement,” through Jan. 30

“Post World War II Luxury Convertibles,” through spring 2019

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

“Realized,” a collaborative exhibit with Hannah Dobek, Kelly M. Curran, Chad Whitaker and Reina “R76” Wooden, through Jan. 3

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

“Awen,” fantasy oil paintings by Jon Carraher that depict natural landscapes, through December; receptions: Dec. 7 & 8, 7-10 p.m.

Café 1500
1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg
717-831-8322; cafe-1500.com

“People in Lines,” art by Amy Powell and Lesley Blandy, through Dec. 16

“Taino Offerings,” art by Luis Cuevas, through Dec. 16

“Fluid Art Extravaganza,” works by Ann Benton Yeager, Dec. 21-Jan. 13; reception: Dec. 21, 5-9 p.m.

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

“Art for the Holidays,” annual fine arts and crafts boutique of CALC members, through Dec. 29

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

Artist of the Month: David Sponseller

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

“Christmas at Fort Hunter,” a holiday display of natural trimmings of fresh evergreens, fruits and fresh and dried flowers, created by the Harrisburg Garden Club, Dec. 1-23

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

Annual “Holiday Show,” featuring unique, locally made items that make great gifts for the holidays, through Dec. 22

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

“Beauty Given by Grace: The Biblical Prints of Sadao Watanabe,” through Jan. 25

“How to Meet an Angel,” with Russian-born American artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, through Jan. 25

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

“The Sweet Petite,” a group show of small works, Dec. 7-Jan. 1

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

Holiday group exhibition, featuring a collection of cash-and-carry works by Millworks resident artists, through Jan. 13

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

“Ned Smith and the Pennsylvania Game Commission,” through Jan. 1

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

Works by Sierra Lush’s Washington Heights Elementary School students artwork, through December.

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

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

Annual “Juried Exhibition,” with original artwork in a variety of media, through Jan. 18

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Artisan marketplace, packed with locally made, unique art and gifts for the holidays, through Jan. 5

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

“Student Honors Photography,” through Dec. 6

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

“Pennsylvania at War,” highlighting World War I posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives and The Saga of the US Pennsylvania, through Dec. 30

“Innovative Means: Photography from the Collection,” featuring 29 photographs from the museum’s fine art collection, spanning almost 80 years, through Feb. 17

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

“Color Improvisations 2,” invitational exhibition of contemporary quilts curated by Nancy Crow, through Jan. 20

“Celebrating Sprocket Murals 2014-2017,” a record of the citywide mural project created with a community of volunteers and artists, through Feb. 10

“Pattern & Place,” large-scale paintings by Danielle Klebes and Maija Miettinen that incorporate patterned brushstrokes as a response to the world and spaces they inhabit, through Feb. 17

“Special FX,” featuring works that explore pattern, optical illusion and the art of dazzle camouflage, through Feb. 24

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

“Witness to War,” examining combat-themed art of the 20th and 21st centuries and providing an introspective of the lived experience of war and its aftermath, through Dec. 16

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

“Scotopia: Steve Abreu,” Dec. 7-Jan. 25

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

Friends of Wildwood Photo Contest Display, Dec. 11-Jan. 26

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Brandie Stonge

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

Art by Al Maclaughlin, through Dec. 20

Art by Matt Samuel, Dec. 21-Jan. 17

Read, Make, Learn

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

Dec. 1: Deck the Walls, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 6: Paint Night—Winter Landscape, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Crash Course—Coil Pots, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 5, 12, 19: Crash Course—Plates/Platters, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Marbling, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 8: Weaving 101, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.

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

Dec. 6: Feast of the Seven Fishes, 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 7: Holiday Party Appetizers, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: Feast of the Seven Fishes, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Dec. 30: New Year’s Eve Eve Dinner, 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Dinner Celebration, 6-9 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Homemade Holiday, 1-2 p.m.
Dec. 13, 18: Holiday Bell Ringing, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 1, 15: Cards and Coffee, 10 a.m.
Dec. 1-29: Train Display
Dec. 1: Lego Club, 11 a.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Cards and Coffee, 9:15 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Yoga for All, 7 p.m.
Dec. 6: Knitters, 6 p.m.
Dec. 8: Lace Cottage, 10 a.m.
Dec. 8: Dog Tales, 10:30 a.m.
Dec. 8: Holiday Parade, 4-7 p.m.
Dec. 11, 13, 18: Santa Storytime, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15: Book Discussion, 9:15 a.m.
Dec. 15: Knitters, 11 a.m.
Dec. 15: Polar Express Movie Night (Ticketed Event) 4:30-8 p.m.
Dec. 17, 19: Mini Miracle on Market – Pop Up Christmas Crafts, 4-7 p.m.

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

Dec. 4: Curl Up with the Classics—“Gift of the Magi,” 10 a.m.
Dec. 4, 18: Adventures in 3D Printing and Modeling, 5-6 p.m.
Dec. 5: Hour of Code Day (teens ages 12-18), 4 p.m.
Dec. 6: Coding Club, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 7: Coding Club Information Night (ages 12-18), 7 p.m.
Dec. 8: Trivia After Hours—Holiday Pop Culture & Ugly Sweater Contest, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9: Teen Gingerbread Extravaganza, 1:30-4 p.m.
Dec. 10: Philosopher’s Roundtable, 2 p.m.
Dec. 10: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 10, 11, 13, 14: Library for Lunch—The Gingerbread Man! 12 p.m.
Dec. 11: Introduction to Beatboxing, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 12, 19: Snowflake STEM, 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: Library for Lunch—The Gingerbread Man!, 6 p.m.
Dec. 13, 27: Drop-In Family Story Time, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 13, 27: Plot Twisters Teen Writers Group, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 14: Watercolor Salt Painting, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 20: Blood Pressure Screenings, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dec. 20: Seasonal Snowman (ages 6-8), 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 21: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 8: Kids’ Christmas Workshop, 2 p.m.

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

Dec. 2-Jan. 27: Improv Level 1, 3-6 p.m.
Dec. 8: Game Made Easy, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 8: Instinctual Improv, 3-6 p.m.

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

Dec. 1: Adult Storytime, 2 p.m.
Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Chess Club, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: Terrarium Therapy Workshop, 2 p.m.
Dec. 3, 10: Crazy 8s (Grades 1-2), 4 p.m.
Dec. 3, 10, 17: Storytime for 3s & 4s, 10 a.m.
Dec. 3, 10, 17: Storytime for 4s & 5s, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19: 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
Dec. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 27: Mothers & Babies Together w/ Penn State Hershey, 10 a.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Girls Who Code, 5:45 p.m.
Dec. 5: In the Middle—Games, 3 p.m.
Dec. 5: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
Dec. 5, 12, 19: Sensory 1, 2, Whee!, 11 a.m.
Dec. 6, 20: Hershey Quilters Guild, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Evergreen Wreath Class, 10 a.m.
Dec. 8: Second Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: Hershey Writer’s Critique Group, 6 p.m.
Dec. 12: In the Middle—Art, 3 p.m.
Dec. 12: Crochet Guild, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 13, 20: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14, 26: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Dec. 15: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Dec. 17: Central PA Blood Drive, 3 p.m.
Dec. 20: In the Middle—Creativity, 3 p.m.
Dec. 20: 9th Annual Holiday Movie Extravaganza, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 26: In the Middle—Writing, 3 p.m.
Dec. 27: Winter Break Movie—“A Wrinkle in Time,” 10 a.m.
Dec. 28: Winter Break Movie—“Moana,” 10 a.m.

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

Dec. 3, 17: Brain Games for Adults, 10-11 a.m.
Dec. 4: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 4, 18: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 6, 13, 20: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dec. 6: Learn to Knit/Crochet, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 10: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Dec. 10: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
Dec. 11: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dec. 12: The New Tax Laws: Will they Affect You?, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 17: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 19: Ugly Sweater Trivia, 7-8:30 p.m.
Dec. 20: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 am

Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist-Center
251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg
717-232-2700; meditationpa.org

Dec. 1: Healing Difficult Relationships, 1-4 p.m.
Dec. 2: Wishfulfilling Jewel, 4:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 1: Game Day, 12-4 p.m.
Dec. 13: Friends of Kline Library Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.

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

Dec. 1, 8, 15: Passageways—Trans & Non-Binary Group, 2 p.m.
Dec. 2, 9: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Dec. 5, 12: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.

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

Dec. 5: Dungeons and Dragons, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Dec. 17: Holiday Bell Ringing, 4-5 p.m.
Dec. 17: Cookbook Book Club—All Things Citrus, 6-7 p.m.

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

Dec. 5, 12, 19: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 28: Paralax Project, OAF

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

Dec. 1, 15: Super Saturday-Storytime and Free Play, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 3, 10: Evening Family Yoga 6-7 p.m.
Dec. 3, 10, 17: STEM Club 5:30-7 p.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Storytime and Craft 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Tales with T.A.I.L.S. 6-7 p.m.
Dec. 6: Book Club 6-7 p.m.
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: LEGO Club 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28: Science Fiction Book Club (meets online)
Dec. 17: Mystery Book Club 6-7 p.m.

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

Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7-9 p.m.
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Dec. 8: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.
Dec. 16: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Dec. 19: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
Dec. 23: Democratic Socialists of America Reading Group, 2 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Colorful Caribou Painting Class, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Movement Center
2134 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg
717-238-0357; themovementcenter.net

Dec. 9: Community Beginner Yoga Class, 10 a.m.

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

Dec. 3, 10: Preschool Pals Storytime Series, 10:15 a.m.
Dec. 3, 10: Toddlertime, 11 a.m.
Dec. 3, 10: 1-2-3 Library! Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 3, 17: Monday Great Books Discussion, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 4: Tales for Tails, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4, 11: Book Babies Storytime, 11:15 a.m.
Dec. 4, 11: Preschool Pals Storytime Series, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 8: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Christmas Card Crafting, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: Something Cool After School, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Dec. 13: Holiday Movie Night, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 15: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

Dec. 4, 11: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:25 p.m.
Dec. 18: Makerspace (for kids in grades 1-6), 3:30-5 p.m.

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

Dec. 1: Drop-In Art, 1-4 p.m.
Dec. 15: Intro to Wet and Needle Felting Workshop, 12-3 p.m.

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

Dec. 13: Nature Lab—Pre-historic Deer (Cervids), 11:30 a.m.
Dec. 20: Curiosity Kids—Old-Fashioned Christmas, 11:30 a.m.

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

Dec. 1, 8, 15: Saturday Morning Art Club (ages 4-7), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 1, 8, 15: Young Artist Camp (ages 8-12), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Dec. 1: Wreath Workshop, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m.
Dec. 2, 9, 16: Natural Ornaments, 1-3 p.m.
Dec. 15: Art in the Wild Workshop, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 4: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30-8 p.m.
Dec. 6: Teen Night, 6-7 p.m.
Dec. 12: 2^nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 18: Novel Thoughts Too Book Club, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 2-Jan. 27: Tween Yoga, Sundays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Dec. 8: Yoga and Tibetan Singing Bowls, 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Live Music

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

Dec. 1: Project/Object—music of Frank Zappa w/Napoleon Murphy Brock & Denny Walley
Dec. 2: Rebirth Brass Band
Dec. 7: Willie Jack & the Northern Light
Dec. 8: Yarn
Dec. 9: The Larry Keel Experience w/Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Jon Stickley Trio
Dec. 14: Colebrook Road
Dec. 15: Start Making Sense—Talking Heads Tribute
Dec. 22: The Big Takeover
Dec. 28: Steal Your Peach—Grateful Dead/Allman Tribute

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

Dec. 7: Jazz in the City

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

Dec. 7-8: “Big Band Christmas Spectacular”

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

Dec. 1, 5: Roy Lefevre
Dec. 4, 7, 11, 14, 15, 20, 26, 28: Noel Gevers
Dec. 6, 23: Anthony Haubert
Dec. 8, 13, 22, 31: Ted Ansel
Dec. 12, 19: Christine Purcell
Dec. 18, 29: Beth Trez
Dec. 21: Corinna Joy & Noel Gevers
Dec. 27: Corinna Joy

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

Dec. 7: Ted Vigil, Tribute to John Denver

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

Dec. 1: Kulick
Dec. 7: Whiskey Myers, Thunderstruck—AC/DC Tribute
Dec. 8: Ashley McBryde
Dec. 9: P.O.D., Nonpoint
Dec. 12: Parker Gispert of The Whigs
Dec. 14: Shadow of Intent, From Ashes to New
Dec. 21: Big Fat Meanies & Hot Jam Factory
Dec. 22: Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, A Very Britpop Christmas
Dec. 30: August Burns Red

Cliff’s Tavern
1104 Carlisle Rd., Camp Hill
717-412-7323; cliffstavern.com

Dec. 7: Chapel Hill
Dec. 8: The Starving Musicians
Dec. 14: The Swisher Sweets
Dec. 15: Honey Pump
Dec. 21: D-Bo
Dec. 22: Steel
Dec. 28: Rattletrap Jack
Dec. 29: Grumpy Old Men
Dec. 31: Road Case

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

Dec. 1: The Famous, The Jellybricks, The Martinis, Syn D’Cats Reunion
Dec. 7: Runaway June, Maddie & Tae
Dec. 8: All Day Suckers & Gobbo (“A Tribute to Stevie Wonder”)
Dec. 13: Rev. Horton Heat’s Holiday Hayride
Dec. 14: Smooth Like Clyde
Dec. 22: Back in Black (AC/DC tribute)
Dec. 29: Luv Gods & Special Guests

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

Dec. 1: Hard Travelin’
Dec. 7: Antonio Andrade
Dec. 8: Steve Gellman
Dec. 14: Kevin Kline
Dec. 15: Doug Morris
Dec. 21: Sinclair Soul
Dec. 22: Dominick Cicco
Dec. 28: Joe Cooney

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

Dec. 20: Hit the Roof

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

Dec. 5: Saint Thomas Dulcimer Society

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

Dec. 10: Harp and Handbells Concert

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

Dec. 7-16: “The Big Gay Christmas Extravanganza!”

Harrisburg Scottish Rite Theatre
2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-8868; valleyofharrisburg.org

Dec. 16: Air National Guard Band Holiday Concert

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

Dec. 15: HSYO “HO HO HO!”

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

Dec. 2: Jason Mraz
Dec. 8: Hershey Symphony
Dec. 9: Straight No Chaser
Dec. 14: Clint Black
Dec. 15: Chris Tomlin
Dec. 16: Jewel

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

Dec. 1: DJ Magic, Funktion
Dec. 7: Sapphire
Dec. 8: DJ Matrix, Light Up The Moon
Dec. 14: Kevin Miller Band Smashed
Dec. 15: DJ Ray Rossi, Chris Woodward & The Shindiggins
Dec. 21: The Luv Gods
Dec. 22: DJ Jayson Matrix, Radio Neon
Dec. 28: 52 Pickup
Dec. 29: Emily’s Toybox
Dec. 29, 31: DJ Ray Rossi
Dec. 31: Honeypump, Smooth Like Clyde

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

Dec. 7: Sempre Dolce
Dec. 28: Live at the Fillmore (Allman Brothers tribute)

Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com

Dec.1: Stranger in the Alps
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26: Open Mic, Walter DeWall
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28: DJ Joe Hertz
Dec. 8: Lazy Joe Fink
Dec. 15: The Colt Wilbur Band
Dec. 22: Adrian Blitzer

Keystone Capital Chorus
717-350-5712; kccsing.com

Dec. 1: “Toyland” Christmas Show at Bethany Village, Mechanicsburg

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

Dec. 1: Concert at St. Andrews
Dec. 15: Concert at All Saints Episcopal Church

Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu

Dec. 2: Christmas at The Valley
Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

Dec. 2: QWAM, NOWNS, Grapefruit Cannonball
Dec. 6: Vireo, Jelli, Tara Stark
Dec. 14: New Cult, Alex Stanilla, Andy
Dec. 21: Felix Black and his whole crew

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

Dec. 8: Vienna Boys Choir

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

Dec. 1: Mike Hell & Handsome Devils
Dec. 22: Nate Myers and the Aces
Dec. 30: Jane Ramsey & Suzi Brown
Dec. 31: DJ Big Rob and Keg Drop

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

Dec. 21: Holiday Music w/Ray Holland

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

Dec. 2: Messiah College Christmas Concert
Dec. 3: Unite Voices of Praise
Dec. 8: Messiah College Guitar Ensemble
Dec. 14: Susquehanna Chorale Candlelight Christmas Concert
Dec. 15: One College Ave

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

Dec. 1: Laredo
Dec. 8: Fred Pellegrini
Dec. 15: Radio Neon
Dec. 22: Lucille
Dec. 29: Roy LeFever

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

Dec. 12: Coffeehouse at Sorrento’s, Duncannon

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

Dec. 1: Kilmaine Saints & Smileyfoot
Dec. 8: STEEL

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

Dec. 21: The Weeklings

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com

Dec. 1: CC Spirit Strings & Sofeya and The Puffins
Dec. 7: Joe Cooney
Dec. 8: Rayzen Kane
Dec. 14: Cotolo
Dec. 15: Just Dave
Dec. 28: Rhoads & Putt Trio
Dec. 21: Amber Nadine
Dec. 22: Joe T. and Friends
Dec. 29: Craig Bonner & Steve Geib

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

Dec. 1: Quentin Jones
Dec. 7: Lucille and The Wolf
Dec. 8: Visitors Duo
Dec. 14: Natalie Ness
Dec. 15: Shea Quinn and Friends
Dec. 21: Cruise Control Trio
Dec. 22: DJ Ray Rossi
Dec. 28: Kevin Koa
Dec. 29: Noel Gevers
Dec. 31: TBA

Susquehanna Chorale
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-533-7859; susquehannachorale.org

Dec. 14-16: Candlelight Christmas Concerts

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

Dec. 8: Kristyn Harris & Hailey Sandoz
Dec. 9: Holiday Jam Session

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Dec. 8: Fred Hughes Trio
Dec. 9: Vocal Harmonix & Red Rose Chorus

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

Dec. 2: David Crosby & Friends
Dec. 8: Don McLean

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

Dec. 8: Holiday Music w/Ray Holland

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

Dec. 8: Edgewood
Dec. 21: Skribe

The Stage Door

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

Dec. 1-30: “The 2018 Christmas Show—The First Noel”

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

Dec. 8, 9: “The Nutcracker” ballet
Dec. 14: Kevin Lee & Kenny Garcia
Dec. 15: “This Wonderful Life”

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

Dec. 1-30: “A Christmas Carol”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Dec. 1, 8, 15: “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” (Popcorn Hat Players)
Dec. 7-23: “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)”

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

Dec. 14-16: “A Christmas Story” The Musical

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

Dec. 1: Larry XL & Sean Finnerty
Dec. 2: Justin Schmoyer
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Open Mic
Dec. 7, 8: Grandma Lee & Bob Lauver
Dec. 14, 15: J Bliss & Melissa Douty
Dec. 21, 22: Aaron Kleiber
Dec. 31: Mike Gardner

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

Dec. 8: Paranormal Comedy
Dec. 9: Poetry Slam
Dec. 14, 15: Missed Connections
Dec. 14, 16: Level 1 Class Show

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

Dec. 6-16: “A Christmas Story”

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

Dec. 5-6: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Dec. 22-23: “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” (Central PA Youth Ballet)

Lancaster Marionette Theatre
126 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-394-8389; lmt.yapsody.com

Dec. 1-29: “Cinderella’s Christmas”

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

Dec. 1-15: “Twas the Night Before Christmas”

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

Dec. 1: Cirque Mechanics
Dec. 6: “The Sound of Music”

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

Dec. 14-23: Totem Pole presents “A Christmas Carol”

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

Dec. 7-15: Fall Senior Series

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

Dec. 1-23: “A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 14, 15: “A Very Court Street Christmas Cabaret”

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

Dec. 7-9: “Radio Plays”

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

Dec. 1-16: “The Man Who Saved Christmas”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Dec. 14-16: “Ho Ho Ho! The Santa Claus Chronicles”

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

Dec. 7: We the People—“Alonely”
Dec. 14-23: “A Christmas Carol”

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

Dec. 15-16: “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” (Central PA Youth Ballet)
Dec. 29: “Daniel Tiger LIVE!”

Community Corner: Notable December Events

November 30, 2018 | by Missy Smith

December Community Corner

Christmas Trains
Dec. 1-15: 29th Street United Methodist Church, 750 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, will host a Trains of Christmas Open House, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring model train layouts with food available. On Dec. 8 and 15, the church will host extended hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the public to see the model railroad club at work. www.29thstumc.com

Wreath Workshop
Dec. 1: Make an evergreen wreath out of natural materials and sip hot chocolate at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. Cones, berries, nuts and seed pods provided. Participants may bring other items. Cost is $20. www.wildwoodlake.org

Santa’s Workshop
Dec. 1: Take the kids to Foundation House at New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, to experience the magic of Christmas, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children can shop for their family members and should bring a list and money. Items are reasonably priced and wrapped. Proceeds benefit the library. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Holiday Flea
Dec. 1: HBG Flea will host a holiday market of local art, vintage treasures and curated curios that are perfect for gift giving, Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.hbgflea.com

Market of Curiosities
Dec. 1: Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb hosts the 5th annual Market of Curiosities at Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This circus of imaginative holiday gifts will feature more than 65 independent artists, vintage dealers and DIY creators, along with micro-brews, food and live music. www.marketofcuriosities.com

Merry Mechanicsburg
Dec. 1: Join Mechanicsburg businesses for food, drink, entertainment, specials, giveaways and more, during Merry Mechanicsburg, 1 to 5 p.m. Seasonal tree lighting at 5:15 p.m. www.downtownmechanicsburg.com

Greens Sale
Dec. 1-2: Head to Fort Hunter, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, to purchase boxwood trees, pine centerpieces, arrangements, candle rings and more, handmade by Friends of Fort Hunter, Dec. 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Dec. 2, 11 a.m. until sold out. www.forthunter.org

Snowball Saturdays
Dec. 1-15: Kids can participate in friendly indoor snowball fights, meet the Hershey Bear’s mascot and listen to stories at The Hershey Story, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on December Saturdays. www.hersheystory.org

Fort Couture
Dec. 1-16: View Christmas tree dresses created by Fort Hunter friends and neighbors on Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Fort Hunter Mansion & Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Enjoy imaginative displays with one-of-a-kind dress forms adorned in Christmas decorations and vote for your favorite. www.forthunter.org

Winter Fun
Dec. 1-31: Whitaker Wonderland offers indoor winter fun for the family at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. Take laps around the sock skate rink and dive in the snowball pit. Festive activities are included with Harsco Science Center admission. www.whitakercenter.org

Cars and Christmas
Dec. 1-Jan. 6: The AACA Museum will feature themed Christmas trees, unusual vehicles, vintage toys and cars, a Hess Truck display, model train exhibits, Sammy the snow plow, a Grinch scavenger hunt and more. Bring a toy or non-perishable food item for the Central PA Food Bank and Toys for Tots. www.aacamuseum.org

Clear Toy Candy
Dec. 2: Head to Fort Hunter Mansion, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for a toy candy making demo with candy makers George Kopp and Gina Napoli, 1 to 4 p.m. This Pennsylvania-German tradition involves molding sugar into hard-candy sculptures. Demonstration and candies for sale. www.forthunter.org

Concert Fundraiser
Dec. 4: Join Pollock Preforming Arts Center at 7 p.m. for the 29th Annual Eaken Trio Holiday Concert, a night of classical music to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg Area. Tickets are $15. www.harrisburghabitat.org

Fundraiser
Dec. 8: Wildheart Ministries, 333 S. 13th St., Harrisburg, will host an Open House Fundraiser, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to celebrate the past and dream for the future of Allison Hill. www.wildheartministries.net

Holiday Trivia
Dec. 8: Have fun in the upper atrium of Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill,
at the Trivia After Hours Holiday Pop Culture & Ugly Sweater Contest, 7 to 9 p.m. The library will provide popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes. Ages 21 and older. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Christmas Fest
Dec. 8, 9: Bethesda Mission hosts “A Tremendous Christmas” festival at Italian Lake, 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg, 12 to 5 p.m. Enjoy photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, local choirs, a petting zoo, food vendors and a holiday market. A tree lighting ceremony is on Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. www.bethesdamission.org

Candlelight House Tour
Dec. 9: Historic Harrisburg hosts the 45th annual Candlelight House Tour, 1 to 6 p.m., highlighting homes and businesses in Harrisburg’s Capitol and riverfront neighborhoods. Tickets are $20 in advance through Dec. 8 or $25 at the door. www.historicharrisburg.com

Teen Gingerbread Houses
Dec. 9: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, invites teens to its annual Gingerbread Extravaganza, 1:30 p.m. Teens can make a gingerbread house with kits and extra details to make a unique creation. Enjoy holiday movies, hot cocoa and prizes. Cost is $3. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Seasonal Concert
Dec. 9: Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. 2nd St., presents the Sanctuary Choir and Market Square Ringers, with director Tyler Canonico, Susquehanna Youth Chorale soprano Max Davis and organist Ellen Landis Hunt. Audience will join in singing carols. Prelude music at 3:30 p.m. Service at 4 p.m. Parking offered in the adjacent Market Square garage. www.marketsquarechurch.org/concerts

Holly Luncheon
Dec. 11: Enjoy a “Holly Luncheon” and music presented by Bob Philips at Foundation Hall of New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, starting at 10:30 a.m. Reservations and payment of $10 should be made at the main desk. Proceeds benefit the library. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Mansion Christmas
Dec. 11: Historical Society of Dauphin County hosts “Christmas at the Mansion & Holiday Market” at Harris-Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., 1 to 6 p.m. Tour the house, view an antique toy exhibit, visit Santa, and shop a holiday market. Suggested donation is $5. Children, members and House Tour ticketholders are free. www.dauphincountyhistory.org

Connect Mixer
Dec. 13: Meet, mingle and have some fun at “Make The Connection,” hosted by Vera Cornish, publisher of The Urban Connection, at Best Western Premier, 800 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg, 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, a meet and greet and a concert with Slam Allen. www.urbanconnection.us

Holiday Reception
Dec. 13: Join West Shore Chamber of Commerce for a holiday networking mixer at UPMC Pinnacle’s Fredricksen Outpatient Center, 2015 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free event is open to chamber members. Potential members may attend up to three per year. www.wschamber.org

Army Heritage Dinner
Dec. 13: Army Heritage Foundation hosts an evening with Gen. David Petraeus at West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner and a presentation starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person. Contact Amanda Neal at 717-258-1102 or [email protected].

Holiday Gala
Dec. 14: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host a holiday gala at Federal Taphouse. 234 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15; members are free. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and entertainment. Take unwrapped, new and unused toys to donate. RSVP required. www.hyp.org

Candlelight Concerts
Dec. 14-16: Susquehanna Chorale will hold its evening Candlelight Christmas concert series, with pre-concert recitals by Messiah College Faculty Brass and organist Daniel Dorty. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $5 for students. www.susquehannachorale.org

Holiday Breakfast
Dec. 15: Paxtonia Fire Co. will host a holiday breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., with all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausages, bacon, drinks and more. Adults are $8; children ages 4 to 12 are $5; kids under 3 are free. Each child has a chance to win a gift. Kids can enjoy a craft table and get photos taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. www.paxtoniafire.com

Bell Ring
Dec. 15: Central PA Handbell Festival presents The Jingle Bell Ring, a massed ringing event, 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 1:30 p.m., at Marriott at Penn Square and Convention Center, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster. There is no admission fee, but non-perishable food items will be collected. Interested ringers can contact [email protected].

Christmas Concert
Dec. 15: Join Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus as they offer glad tidings, great music and entertainment at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg, 7 to 8:30 p.m. They’ll tell the story of Frankie, a gay elf who gets stuck on the same shelf every year, even though he dreams of becoming a singer. www.harrisburggaymenschorus.org

Holiday Benefit
Dec. 15: Open Stage of Harrisburg and LGBT Center of Central PA host a special night of holiday cheer to benefit the center, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $28; VIP tickets are $45. Admission includes a swag bag, free drink and general admission ticket to see “A Very Court Street Cabaret Christmas.” www.openstagehbg.com or www.centralpalgbtcenter.org

Curiosity Kids
Dec. 20: Kids ages 3 to 6 and families can enjoy an “Old Fashioned Christmas” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. Learn how children celebrated Christmas in Pennsylvania’s early history and make a Christmas craft. www.statemuseumpa.org

3rd in The Burg
Dec. 21: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Noon Year’s Eve
Dec. 28: State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., celebrates the New Year with its annual “Noon Year’s Eve” for young children and families, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included with museum admission, the celebration features dancing, crafts, snacks, seasonal planetarium show and the museum’s firefly and balloon drop. www.statemuseumofpa.org

Kids’ New Year
Dec. 31: Children can count down to noon with a balloon drop at the Popcorn Hat Players’ 26th annual New Year’s Eve party and performance of “Hansel and Gretel,” beginning at 11 a.m. at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. Tickets are $12 per person. Reservations recommended. www.gamuttheatre.org

Countdown
Dec. 31: Families are invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Hershey Story, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids can make some noise with Hershey product characters and “bubble-wrap stomps” at 11 a.m., 1.p.m. and 3 p.m. www.hersheystory.org

Harrisburg New Year
Dec. 31: Harrisburg will ring in the new year with fireworks and a celebration at MLK Government Center, 10 N. 2nd St., and in downtown Harrisburg, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Watch the strawberry drop at midnight outside of the Hilton Harrisburg. www.harrisburgpa.gov

Mystery Unwrapped: Need a break from holiday banality? “Capernaum” is for you.

November 30, 2018 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

As we get closer and closer to the holidays, it becomes harder and harder for the general audience to sit through films with heavier subjects.

The holidays are a time for happy-go-lucky romantic comedies and blockbusters that will lift the audience’s spirits. But some films defy those limitations. Their true purpose is to tell a story, and sometimes that story won’t be happy or inspirational.

“Capernaum” is one such film. Director Nadine Labaki brings us a thought-provoking, visceral look into familial neglect (happy holidays!), and it’s getting some Oscar buzz for the foreign film category.

Zain (Zain Al Rafeea) is 12. We think. We’re not entirely sure because his parents don’t know his date of birth or have any birth records for him. Zain is maybe 12, lives in Lebanon, and is in court. Not for the violent crime he committed, because there is not any question of that. This trial is to sue his parents. Why? “Because I was born,” he says. He has a strong case for neglect and does not want his parents to continue having children.

What begins to unfold onscreen is Zain’s life leading up to the trial, interspersed with tidbits from the case against his parents. We meet his parents (Kawsar Al Haddad and Fadi Yousef) and his sister, Sahar (Haifa “Cedra” Izzam), to whom he is very close and of whom he is very protective. We meet Tigest (also called Rahil, played by Yordanos Shiferaw), the Ethiopian immigrant that Zain meets after he runs away from home, before his crime, and her toddling, adorable son, Yonas (Boluwatife Treasure Bankole). Every character that Zain meets throughout the film adds another gritty layer to his experience, whether in his home life or out on the streets.

While what we are watching would not categorically fall into the “mystery” genre, with a detective finding clues and solving a crime, it is certainly shrouded in mystery. The slow-burning plot gives us clues about the horrors of Zain’s upbringing only after we see their context in his life on the streets. We know, for example, that Zain has committed a crime, but we don’t know what that is until we are well into the plot. And, even then, the characters hem and haw about it, giving basic information and no more.

This reviewer’s goal is honestly to give you as little of the plot as possible, for that is what makes the film so gripping. It is a journey of discovery, of desperation, of a little boy who is forced to skip over childhood and be mature beyond his years.

Al Rafeea will draw you in with his performance. It is a daunting role for such a young actor, and yet he sets the mood for the entire piece, playing the father, the son, the protector, where others fail to fill these roles throughout the story. Such a serious, weary face on such a young boy. Shiferaw will break your heart with her supporting performance, though “supporting” seems unjust, given the portrayal she gives for her story.

As difficult as the subject matter is—most people prefer their family drama to be wrapped up with a big, red bow by the end of the film during the holiday season—“Capernaum” should not be overlooked this holiday season.

“Capernaum” plays this month at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

December Events
At Midtown Cinema

National Theatre Live presents
“The Madness of George III”
Dec. 9, 3 p.m.

Down in Front!
Comedy improv panel riffs on
double Santa feature
Dec. 14
8 p.m., “Santa Claus” (1959)
9:30 p.m., “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964)

“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Dec. 20, 24 & 25, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22, 12:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Dec. 21, 9:30 p.m.

Moviate presents
“Holly Jolly Film Shorts”: 16mm rare holiday movies
Vintage fun for the whole family
Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., $5

Sights & Sounds: Assistive tech allows more patrons to enjoy films at Midtown Cinema.

November 30, 2018 | by Ann Beth Knaus

Movie lovers know what a treasure Harrisburg’s Midtown Cinema is.

Screening independent and art-house films since 2001, the intimate theater on Reily Street offers patrons a unique viewing experience that cannot be duplicated in larger venues.

For patrons with a hearing or vision impairment, however, even this smaller, up-close space can be a challenge for taking in a show. But now, thanks to new technology acquired by the Midtown Cinema earlier this year, these moviegoers can enjoy the same theatrical experience as other guests, with comfort and ease.

Assistive and accessibility devices acquired through California-based QSC help to bring the movies to life for patrons with hearing or visual challenges.

Stuart Landon, director of community engagement for Midtown Cinema, said that even though the technology has been available for only a couple of months, patrons are catching on and coming in more to take advantage of it.

“We had been doing a lot of research into this technology,” Landon said. “And as a member of the Arthouse Convergence, a national group of arthouses, we have been following what our sister theaters are doing and acquired the technology.”

Open caption programs on Mondays have been standard offerings at Midtown Cinema for many years. Not unlike subtitles, open captions appear on the movie screen where they are visible to the entire audience. Although the open captions did attract a select crowd, the one-day-a-week offering was limited.

Through the acquisition from QSC, the cinema now has six assistive and accessibility devices. Moviegoers simply need to provide their ID for a deposit to use the device for any movie they plan to see.

Closed-caption devices receive and display captions via infrared energy. Infrared comes from the booth and then transmits to the device. The receiver is attached to an angled flex arm, which is adjustable to accommodate a person’s height, with a base and built-in cup holder that fits into the theater seat arm. Guests can select up to four caption languages delivered with the movie.

Two-channel headphones also are available with either HI (hearing impaired) or VI-N (visually impaired narrative) audio options. Headphones with the visually impaired narrative are comparable to listening to the screenplay, Landon said. Not every film comes with all the narratives, but more and more films are adding this feature.

The captions and subtitles can be open or closed. And with the captioning devices, those with hearing or visual impairment are at an advantage.

“What’s also neat about it is, when you use the closed captioning, you will get information sooner than patrons who aren’t using it,” Landon said. “They have the inside scoop, almost like holding a script.”

Guests who are unfamiliar with the technology simply need to ask for assistance from one of the cinema’s staff, which is trained in use of the technology.

Landon said that Midtown Cinema has reached out to members of the hearing-impaired community to let them know about the devices and hopes more and more people will take advantage of them. Each evening, two devices per screening room will be available.

“Over the holidays and during Oscar buzz season, I hope more people will take advantage of it.” Landon said. “I hope more people will feel at home at the movies.”

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

November 29, 2018 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

We’re going to go out to dinner on Friday! Together! It’s wild.

Then, Saturday is Market + FLEA (#shoplocal for the holidaze, folks)., then helping friends move, by which I mean bringing them snacks and booze. And Sunday, the Steelers are playing under the lights. It’s funny the difference a year makes. Last year I wouldn’t have been able to stay awake long enough to watch an 8 p.m. game, and this year, I’m like score, I can actually watch the game because the baby will be in bed.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Nonprofit brings 570 free winter coats to Scott Elementary students.

November 29, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Students from Harrisburg’s Scott Elementary School received new winter coats this morning thanks to a partnership between a nonprofit and an electric supplier.

Christmas came a few weeks early for students at Harrisburg’s Scott Elementary School this morning.

All 570 students at the K-5 school received a new winter coat today from Operation Warm, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that distributes jackets to children in need.

The giveaway was jointly sponsored by IGS Energy, a natural gas and electricity supplier with offices in Harrisburg.

Starting at 9 a.m., students filed into the Scott gymnasium to claim their new jackets. Local and out-of-town volunteers from IGS and Operation Warm helped them choose among different sizes and colors.

IGS provided funding for the coats, which are manufactured by Operation Warm under their own proprietary clothing line, according to Operation Warm projects manager Gabrielle De Leo.

The coats were provided at no cost to the children or the school. The Harrisburg giveaway was one of five that Operation Warm has hosted throughout the Northeast and Midwest this season, and will also be one of its largest.

Operation Warm fields partnership requests from businesses across the country that want to distribute coats to local children, De Leo said.

They then identify eligible school sites, based on criteria including school size, the diversity of the student population, and the number of students who receive free and reduced lunch.

Like all schools in the Harrisburg City School District, the high rate of low-income students at Scott School mean that every student qualifies for a free or reduced lunch.

Many Scott students also walk to school, according to principal Eugene Spells, making it all the more important that they have warm coats in the coming winter months.

“Knowing they’ll have a coat to put on every morning to get to school, it might not seem like a big deal to all of us but it’s a big deal to them,” Spells said.

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Capital Region Water sets 2019 budget, will increase water, sewer rates

November 29, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

Capital Region Water replaces sewer infrastructure in Harrisburg.

Water and sewer rates will rise for many people in the Harrisburg area, as Capital Region Water last night set its rates for next year.

Under the 2019 budget, CRW’s drinking water customers will pay $9.65 for 1,000 gallons, an increase of 19 cents, or 2 percent, over the 2018 rates. These customers also pay a $7.62 “ready to serve” charge.

Sewer, or wastewater, rates will go up more substantially. For 2019, these customers will pay $7.65 for 1,000 gallons, an increase of 66 cents, or 9.4 percent, over the 2018 rates.

An average, full-service residential customer who uses 4,500 gallons of water monthly will pay an extra $3.98 per month, according to CRW.

CRW stated that the rate increases were necessary, in part, to fund ongoing capital improvements in its service area. The company has committed to some $40 million in capital projects to repair and replace its aging infrastructure.

For 2019, CRW’s water projects include lining a major water main on Cameron Street, replacing several aging water mains, and evaluating the DeHart Dam spillway. Wastewater capital improvements include updating treatment systems at the wastewater treatment facility and repairing major interceptor sewers along Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River, according to the company.

“Capital Region Water has and will continue to make prudent financial decisions to reduce costs and limit the burden placed on our customers while investing in the water and wastewater infrastructure essential for everything we do in life from taking a shower to fighting fires,” said CRW board chair Marc Kurowski, in a statement. “Large, multi-year investments are needed to address aging infrastructure and a partial consent decree for combined sewer overflows requiring gradual rate increases over time.”

CRW has increased its water and sewer rates for several years in a row. For 2018, drinking water rates went up by 7.5 percent and wastewater rates by 7.1 percent.

A 12-lane highway in Harrisburg? It’s possible in PennDOT plan for I-83.

November 28, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Aerial view of I-83 in Harrisburg from 19th Street to the Susquehanna River. A PennDOT proposal would double the width of this segment of the highway. Photo courtesy of PennDOT.

A state proposal to widen a segment of I-83 in Harrisburg to 12 lanes is causing concern among some city officials, who say it will increase noise and traffic congestion while costing the city tax revenue.

Concept drawings from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) published in October reveal plans to double the width of I-83 between 19th Street and the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, bringing the six-lane highway to 12 lanes of mainline and local traffic.

PennDOT predicts the new lanes would displace as many as 28 city residences and 20 businesses, mostly in low-income and minority neighborhoods.

The proposal, part of a larger plan to improve traffic flow and repair roads on the I-83 Capital Beltway, is still in the preliminary engineering phase, according to PennDOT community relations manager Greg Penny.

PennDOT developed the current concepts based on 20-year traffic projections and conversations with local stakeholders, including the city of Harrisburg. The project is still in its preliminary engineering phase, and construction may not begin until 2022.

But Harrisburg officials worry that current proposals will generate noise and congestion, eliminate taxable properties, and counteract local efforts to make Harrisburg friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists.

“Harrisburg’s street network can’t support what PennDOT will force into the city,” city Engineer Wayne Martin said. “The vision of Harrisburg as a state capital surrounded by a parking lot is not working. That’s not a sustainable future for us.”

The proposal would increase the number of mainline traffic lanes — those running the length of I-83 — from the current two lanes to three in each direction. It would also add two local “collector distributor” (CD) lanes on both sides for motorists traveling short segments along the highway, as well as exit lanes.

The intent of the CD system is to separate local traffic from mainline motorists, Penny said, and improve safety for local traffic merging on and off the interstate.

The result would be a 12-lane highway running from South Allison Hill to Shipoke. From 19th Street to 29th Street, the road would narrow again to four lanes in both directions.

Image source: PennDOT

PennDOT traffic studies also identified a need for an interchange at Cameron Street, a major north-south route through Harrisburg. Preliminary plans call for eliminating the current interchange at 13th Street and replacing it with a new one on Cameron.

Martin said that he’s not opposed to the Cameron Street interchange, which would take traffic away from Foose Elementary School on 13th Street.

But he and Mayor Eric Papenfuse balked at the proposal to double the width of the highway, especially at a time when the city is trying to reclaim road space from motorists and prioritize multi-modal infrastructure.

“It’s just too wide,” Martin said. “With that many lanes, bridges are twice as costly, roads are twice as costly to maintain. PennDOT is ignoring what the market is saying—that not everyone will be driving cars in 10 to 15 years.”

Martin fears the PennDOT traffic models ignore the phenomenon of induced demand—the idea that increasing road capacity will encourage more people to drive, negating any efforts to improve congestion.

“If you make the road wider, people will fill it with cars,” Martin said. “Instead of driving through New Jersey, they’ll drive through Pennsylvania. If you build it, they will come.”

Martin also said that larger roads would separate communities in Harrisburg and increase traffic and noise. The 1-83 Master Plan study concedes that neighborhoods along the highway may need noise walls after the expansion.

Harrisburg officials were also troubled by the project’s potential to displace dozens of businesses and residences, including the city’s public works facility on Paxton Street.

Harrisburg Finance Director Bruce Weber couldn’t estimate how much taxable property the city would lose to the lane expansion. But any revenue loss is significant to the city, he said.

The expansion could potentially affect historic homes in the area, including those adjacent to the 19th Street ramp and in Shipoke.

Despite the negative externalities, Penny said the current proposals represent the best options PennDOT could find during its preliminary planning effort.

“Right now, this is the best thing we’ve got,” Penny said. “It is subject to revision, but these were the best alternatives after weighing all the input.”

Martin said Harrisburg officials submitted comments to PennDOT, sharing their concerns about the project. Residents can view the entire plan and submit their own comments by visiting I-83beltway.com.

Mayor proposes 2019 budget with no tax hikes, slight spending decrease from current year.

November 27, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg’s mayor tonight presented a proposed 2019 budget that calls for slightly less spending and no tax increases in the new year.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse appeared before city council tonight to propose a balanced budget with $70.8 million in expenditures and revenues, including $6.8 million in capital improvement projects.

The budget does not radically alter any city programs, but does propose the reorganization of personnel into a new departmental structure.

Capital spending is down by $500,000 from the 2018 budget, and the $64 million operating budget decreased by almost $700,000.

That brings total spending down by a total of $1.2 million from 2018, but it won’t require the city to cut any programs or staff.

The decrease is also a far cry from the $12 million in cuts Papenfuse feared he would have to make back in June, when the state legislature denied Harrisburg a special provision allowing it to keep its current tax rates.

The legislature ultimately passed a similar measure for Harrisburg in October, which will allow the city to exit the Act 47 oversight program for distressed municipalities. Officials expect the exit will be complete this spring.

The legislation will let Harrisburg to retain its current local services tax and earned income tax rates, which both brought in more revenue in 2018 than in the previous year. Indeed, all revenue sources except for property taxes showed marginal year-to-year growth since 2017, Papenfuse said.

Local services tax and earned income tax revenues are projected to increase again in 2019, thanks to a growing workforce and wage gains.

Parking revenues have also been steady, and Papenfuse said he received assurances from parking officials that they will not increase meter rates in 2019.

Capital projects

The mayor’s proposed capital improvement budget calls for $4.8 million in spending from the Neighborhood Services fund, including:

$2.5 million for the acquisition of a new public works building
$250,000 to outsource the demolition of abandoned buildings
$2 million in new equipment for parks maintenance.

Papenfuse said that the city has spent more than $1 million enhancing its parks this year, with hopes for more projects in the future. New equipment will help maintain the park investments for years to come, he said.

An additional $2.5 million in proposed spending will allow the city to finance its share of grant-funded transportation projects. Among them are:

$517,000 to construct new sheltered bike lanes and a traffic circle on N. 7th Street
$345,000 to repave two miles of Riverfront Park’s lower riverwalk, a segment stretching from Maclay Street to Shipoke.
$270,000 for landscaping and construction to complete the MulDer Square revitalization project.
$250,000 to complete the 3rd Street repaving project, which was delayed this year by heavy summer rains.

Papenfuse also proposed dipping into Harrisburg’s general fund to cover new equipment in other city departments. Those expenditures include $700,000 for the IT department to replace aging infrastructure and purchase off-site data storage.

The police bureau will also receive $150,000 for the purchase of body cameras, a figure that includes $70,000 in unspent funds for the same purpose in this year’s budget.

Papenfuse said the city can expect to see body cameras in 2019, despite initial promises they would be rolled out this year. Police said this fall that it took longer than expected to identify what kind of equipment they wanted.

Operating expenditures and reorganization

As always, the city’s largest operating expenditure — $32.7 million — will be on personnel. Debt service and healthcare will eat up $9.8 million and $11 million from the operating budget, respectively.

Even though personnel expenses increased by $500,000 from 2018, Papenfuse said a priority for the 2019 budget is to maintain Harrisburg’s current staff capacity, which his administration has rebuilt after years of austerity.

“We’ve done a lot of growing in the past year, but we’ve gotten to a point where we have a critical mass,” Papenfuse said.

Rather than add new personnel in 2019, the mayor proposes reorganizing the city’s departments to more closely align with the city council committee structure.

A new organizational chart calls for creating seven city departments to correspond with the seven council committees. The chart would dissolve the current Department of Community of Economic Development and replace it with the Department of Engineering and Development.

The reorganization was due in part to the resignation of Community and Economic Development Jackie Parker, who left the city in September for a new job in the private sector.

The reorganization would eliminate Parker’s old position, which has not been filled since she left. Instead, city engineer Wayne Martin would oversee the department of Engineering and Development.

The reorganization would also make the bureau of housing and development its own department, led by the bureau’s current director Franchon Beeks.

The reorganization also calls for the elimination of some obsolete, currently vacant positions and the creation of new ones, mostly at the management level.

Next steps

Council members will discuss the budget at two public hearings on Dec. 11 and 12, slated for 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.

They did not have detailed questions for the mayor tonight, but president Wanda Williams and Public Works chair Westburn Majors expressed concern about the absence of a community and economic development director in the mayor’s proposed reorganization.

Council is scheduled to vote on the budget at its Dec. 18 legislative session. As in past years, the budget will need final approval from Harrisburg’s state-appointed Act 47 coordinator.

The 2019 budget will also be the first step in a five-year financial plan for the city, which will be adopted by a newly created, five-member intergovernmental cooperation authority (ICA) in the new year.

Members of the state legislature are expected to make their appointments to the ICA by the end of the month.

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