Better Late than Never: Wolf lets delayed contributions flow to schools and nonprofits

October 13, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Local schools and nonprofits this week were relieved to hear that they could soon receive millions of dollars in corporate donations, which had been put on hold in the state’s ongoing budget impasse.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office confirmed on Thursday that it authorized approvals for Educational Improvement Tax Credits, which awards businesses tax credits if they donate up to $750,000 to a scholarship fund or educational initiative. Both businesses and beneficiaries must apply to participate in the program.

The state Department of Community and Economic Development previously said that the tax credit applications would not be approved until the state passes its final budget. TheBurg reported that the delay was jeopardizing programs at local nonprofits and schools.

Letters notifying organizations of their approvals will be mailed by the end of the week, said J.J. Abbott, Wolf’s press secretary. Businesses have 60 days from the date on the letter to make their donations.

The private funding distributed through EITC is not a state appropriation, and Kirk Hallatt, director of the Harrisburg-based nonprofit Joshua Group, told TheBurg that lawmakers had no good reason to withhold it from beneficiaries. He accused lawmakers of using it as a “political toy” in their budget dispute.

Seventy-nine members of the House Republicans apparently agreed and petitioned Wolf last week to release the funds, according to a press release.

The Salvation Army of Harrisburg was approved to receive funding for its annual Summer Youth Enrichment Program. Kathy Anderson-Martin said Wolf’s decision to authorize EITC approvals makes it easier for them to plan ahead.

“The number of kids we are able to serve is dependent on available resources, so the prospect of donations through the EITC greatly improves our outlook for serving 400 local children next summer,” Anderson-Martin said.

Dog Gone? City aims to toughen leash enforcement following complaints

October 13, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Citations for off-leash dogs are on the rise in Harrisburg, but some residents want the city to do more to enforce leash laws.

Animal control officers working for the Harrisburg Police Bureau have cited 22 dog owners so far in 2017 for letting their animals run off-leash. That figure is up from 14 in 2016, 15 in 2015, and zero in 2014, according to data from the Harrisburg Police Bureau.

But many dog owners say that off-leash dogs remain a problem in certain neighborhoods of the city, particularly Italian Lake and the former William Penn High School. Dogs must be restrained on a leash in all public places, including parks, according to Harrisburg City Ordinance 33.

The issue surfaced at an Oct. 10 City Council meeting. One resident said her service dog was attacked by unrestrained dogs at the State Hospital Grounds in Susquehanna Township, where she started going to avoid off-leash dogs in Harrisburg.

“I don’t think this problem is being taken seriously,” she said, adding that an attack like the one her service dog suffered could ruin its training.

Randall Gooding, a Wormleysburg resident who walks his dog on City Island and in Riverfront Park, said that he encounters many more off-leash dogs in Harrisburg than in his home borough. He wants stricter leash enforcement to keep people and animals safe.

“I get so frustrated when unattended, off-leash dogs come running up to me and my dog while the owner [says] that the dog is friendly,” Gooding said. “I can’t protect their dog while handling my own.”

Unsupervised dogs appear to be a problem in residential areas as well as parks. Naomi Reyes used to walk from her home on 3^rd street to her workplace on 7^th street, until too many neighbors started letting their dogs outside unsupervised.

“I had to stop doing my walks because of loose dogs that didn’t look friendly,” Reyes said.

City Councilman Cornelius Johnson, chair of the Public Safety Committee, said he spoke about the issue with animal enforcement officers this week. The city currently employs two animal enforcement officers.

Johnson said that one possible solution is increased cooperation between animal enforcement officers and the city park rangers, who are responsible for patrolling Harrisburg’s 26 parks.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said on Friday that the city hopes to budget for another park ranger in 2018, bringing the total rank to three.

Park rangers cannot write tickets, but they make ticket referrals to the police or report stray dogs, Papenfuse said. Animal enforcement officers are also responsible for collecting stray animals, and have picked up 78 this year.

Above all, Johnson said, communication is key. He asks residents to report off-leash dog violations when they see them.

“The best thing a resident can do when they come across an issue is call it in,” Johnson said on Thursday. “When we get calls, there’s accountability.”

Burning for You: Midtown Bonfire returns for community, for firefighters.

October 12, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Flames licked the sky during last year’s 1st Annual Midtown Bonfire.

Last October, some drivers along Front Street were startled when they saw a tower of flames shooting up from an empty lot in Midtown Harrisburg.

Reportedly, some worried residents even called in an emergency.

There actually was no reason for concern, as Harrisburg firefighters were already on the scene. The fire, in fact, was in their honor.

The first annual Midtown Bonfire raised more than $1,000 for the Fire Bureau, said organizer H. Ralph Vartan, CEO of the Vartan Group, which owns the empty lot at Front and Verbeke streets.

But, perhaps even more importantly, the event brought together a few hundred people, mostly Harrisburg residents, to share a chat, some good food and a beer.

“It’s really just a fun community event,” Vartan said. “It’s a bonus that we’re able to raise some money for the fire department.”

Vartan now is bringing back the bonfire, which, this year, takes place Sunday, Oct. 22, in the same lot. A $15 donation gets you in and features live music, an a la carte menu grilled up by Chef Ben Beaver of Café 1500, a cash beer tent with Zeroday Brewing Co., s’mores and, of course, the main event—a big bonfire at dusk.

Vartan said he got the idea from being a student at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, which would host a bonfire social each autumn.

“Something about a big bonfire, it connotes fall to me,” he said. “I thought we could have one here as a community-building event.”

Fire Chief Brian Enterline said that he and some of his men will be there, so the blaze will be in good hands. He said he appreciates the fundraiser, which helped purchase washer and dryer units last year. But, like Vartan, he sees the event primarily as a way to bring people together.

“For us, it’s all about the community,” he said.

Vartan hopes for an even bigger tally this year, saying that he wants to raise $4,000 to $5,000 for the Fire Bureau. That money also will be appreciated, Enterline said.

“It helps us offset some small, incidental expenses,” he said. “But we primarily look at it as a way to bring community together.”

The 2nd Annual Midtown Bonfire takes place Sunday, Oct. 22, beginning at 3 p.m., at Front and Verbeke streets, Harrisburg. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the event; free for city police and fire. Click here for information and tickets.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 12, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

It’s a BIG weekend!

The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is here!

Saturday’s must do: HU Music Fest — FREE admission, live music, beer garden, food trucks.

I’m at the “whoa” stage in pregnancy, where when people see me they say, “whoa” and then something that inadvertently makes me feel like shit, so I’m essentially in hibernation mode. Though I’ll hit the market and a friend’s shower Saturday. Sunday, as you well know, is for football.

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

“Not One Penny:” Demonstrators slam tax plan ahead of Trump visit

October 11, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

PA Budget and Policy Center director Mark Stier speaks on the steps of the Capital today. Demonstrators gathered there to protest Trump’s tax plan in anticipation of his visit to the region later today.

President Donald Trump may not enter Harrisburg when he speaks in Dauphin County later today, but that didn’t stop protesters from coming into the city for an anti-Trump demonstration.

More than 100 people gathered this morning on the steps of the state Capitol Complex to protest Trump’s tax proposal. He is expected to promote that plan in front of area Republicans in a speech at Harrisburg International Airport this afternoon.

Activists who spoke at the event claimed that the tax plan would raise the tax burden on poor and low-income Americans while giving tax breaks to the rich. They also called on lawmakers to protect Medicare and Medicaid.

A number of grassroots advocacy groups were present at the rally, including organizers from the Tax March, Not One Penny, Keystone Progress and local chapters of the national Indivisible movement.

Some demonstrators traveled from neighboring counties to participate in the event. Nikki Byers came to Harrisburg from Etters, where she is a member of the Indivisible York chapter.

“Millionaires like Donald Trump don’t need a tax break,” Byers said, calling his tax plan a “scam.”

A group from Perry County also travelled to the Capitol for the demonstration. Evelyn d’Elia, from Newport, was specifically worried about the future of Medicare and Medicaid under Trump.

“The first thing [Republicans] want to cut is Medicare, and I can’t live without it,” said d’Elia, who is a retired state worker. “These social welfare programs were made so that the middle class and poor can survive.”

Daniel Doubet, executive director at Keystone Progress, could not confirm whether additional demonstrations would take place at the airport when Trump lands there this afternoon.

Trump is expected to address local Republican leaders at a closed-door meeting this afternoon. The event will take place in the National Air Force hangar at the airport, according to a statement released today by Rep. Lou Barletta.

No Deal: Harrisburg Council rejects lease agreement with Eastern U.

October 10, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Part of the basement of Harrisburg city hall.

In a decision that surprised the mayor and his advisors, Harrisburg City Council voted 4-2 tonight to reject a proposed lease agreement with Eastern University, a Christian college that wished to renovate and rent space in the city government center.

Council’s objection to the agreement, in which Eastern offered to spend $600,000 renovating city hall’s dilapidated basement, centered on the university’s religious affiliation and its requirement that its employees sign a doctrinal faith statement.

In remarks before the vote, Councilman Ben Allatt said he was deeply conflicted about the prospect of ceding public space to a private, religiously affiliated institution.

“The university would not hire someone like me,” said Allatt, who is gay. “I recognize they can do what they want, but they want to come into our city hall, which is a building of the people.”

Council previously pressed Eastern representatives on their commitment to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which outlaws employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Eastern embraced the non-discrimination policy in a letter to council.

“Eastern University agrees with the spirit and substance of the policy and agrees, in all cases, to stand against the discrimination of any persons in our services to prospective and enrolled students,” the letter reads.

In the same letter, however, Eastern affirmed its right to hire faculty who “fully embrace” the school’s religious mission. Members of council feared that exercising that right would translate into discrimination against LGBT applicants.

Eastern faculty members are bound by a doctrinal faith statement, but it does not provide explicit expectations for marriage or relationships.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse lobbied in favor of Eastern during the meeting, saying that the deal would save the city “real, significant money” by paying for necessary renovations. After the vote, he blasted council’s decision and accused them of squandering a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

“We’re going to have to take taxpayer dollars and devote it to fixing a building instead of fixing a pothole or fixing a park,” Papenfuse told reporters. “To me, it was a no-brainer to move forward in a partnership with Eastern.”

The proposal from Eastern offered to renovate almost 3,000 square feet in the city hall basement, which Papenfuse said is “substandard” for employees. City Council recently moved its offices out of the basement and into another part of city hall.

The renovations would have created two classrooms and a lounge area for Eastern students, as well as an Emergency Operations Center and media room for the city. City employees would have had access to the lounge and classrooms during the day, since Eastern would have only held night classes in the space.

Eastern also offered to extend a 25-percent tuition discount to all Harrisburg city residents for as long as the college occupied the city hall space. The agreement outlined a 10-year lease with a nominal yearly payment to the city.

Council had previously discussed the possibility of opening the project to a public bidding process. Papenfuse, however, does not think that the city will find widespread interest in its unfinished basement space.

“This deal was only done because of Eastern’s mission and its desire to connect to the city,” Papenfuse said. “We could put it out to bid all day, but there aren’t other business that are willing to make that kind of commitment.”

Papenfuse said that he has not received any public opposition to the Eastern deal, but Allatt said that he had heard criticisms from constituents.

Allatt voted against the resolution, joined by council members Shamaine Daniels, Cornelius Johnson and Dave Madsen. Councilman Westburn Majors and President Wanda Williams voted in favor.

In Early: Green to fill open Harrisburg council seat.

October 10, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Ausha Green

Ausha Green will be Harrisburg’s next councilwoman, as City Council plans to appoint her to an open seat.

Council President Wanda Williams announced tonight that council will name Green to the seven-member body, forgoing a competitive process that has marked recent council vacancies.

Williams said that council has reached an “informal consensus” to appoint Green, who currently serves on Harrisburg school board. A formal vote will occur during the Oct. 24 legislative session, after which Green will be sworn in, Williams said.

The seat became vacant after the unexpected resignation last week of former Councilwoman Destini Hodges, who is leaving Harrisburg to take a job out of state.

Come January, Green would have assumed a council seat anyway, as she won the Democratic nomination for council in May, along with incumbents Wanda Williams, Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt. There is no Republican opposition for the four, four-year seats.

Williams said that appointing Green just made sense given her inevitability as a future council member. The appointment will allow Green to participate in the lengthy 2018 budget process, which begins next month.

A two-year council seat also will be on the November ballot following the resignation in August of former Councilman Jeffrey Baltimore. Councilman Dave Madsen, appointed a month ago by council, is running unopposed for that seat.

$100,000 Idea: Startups make their best pitches at “Rise of the Rest.”

October 10, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Linsey Covert pitches her startup, TEAMology, today before the “Rise of the Rest” judges, including AOL founder Steve Case (seated right), at H*MAC.

It’s not every day that a billionaire comes to town and cuts a check for $100,000.

But that happened today when Steve Case, a venture capitalist and founder of AOL, came to central Pennsylvania with his “Rise of the Rest” tour, which stopped in York and Lancaster before ending in Harrisburg.

“Rise of the Rest” is a series of nationwide events promoting innovation outside of coastal areas. At each stop on the tour, Case visits local businesses, meets entrepreneurs and policy leaders and hosts a pitch competition for nascent startups.

The winner of the pitch competition receives a $100,000 investment from Case.

Today, that money went to Device Events, a York startup whose cloud-based software extracts and aggregates FDA data on adverse medical events and recalls. Founder and CEO Madris Tomes delivered the company’s pitch and accepted the prize money at the competition.

The central Pennsylvania pitch competition took place at H*MAC and was open to startups from the greater Harrisburg, Lancaster and York metro area.

Each of the nine startups had four minutes to deliver a pitch to Case and the judges. The six judges, who included Rosa Stroh, retired vice president and treasurer of the Hershey Co., and Timothy Reese, former Pennsylvania treasurer, had an equal amount of time to ask the entrepreneurs questions.

Before the pitch competition, Case participated in a moderated discussion at H*MAC with Penn State President Eric Barron. Gov. Tom Wolf appeared to give opening remarks, calling on central Pennsylvania to mend its regional divisions.

“I say I’m from York County, but really, we’re all from central Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “Together, we’re probably better than we even think we are.”

During the discussion, Case said that the regionalism he’s noticed in central Pennsylvania could hurt the area as a whole.

“Lancaster, Harrisburg and York will rise faster if it’s about central Pennsylvania, but that requires you to be more collaborative and less parochial,” he said.

Case praised the region for its strong work ethic and “humility.” He also said that central Pennsylvania has ample capital and wealth, as well as a population with expertise in many diverse sectors.

Case and Barron also touched on topics including diversity in tech and how to create opportunities for low-income or indebted students. Barron said that many low-income or first-generation college students have to be risk adverse, but the United States will have a “national problem” if they are precluded from entrepreneurship.

“There’s a whole population of creative, hardworking people who can’t take a step to get an idea out there, and we have to think about enabling those individuals,” Barron said.

He and Case discussed policies that would make the tech world more accessible for students, such as a loan deferment program for entrepreneurs or university scholarships for students to complete tech internships.

A 2017 Brookings Institute report found that entrepreneurship is driving economic growth in the Harrisburg metro area. Between 2010 and 2015, jobs at young firms (those aged five years or less) grew by 16.8 percent, the report said.

During the same time period, however, annual wages fell for African Americans and Asians in the region.

That trend mirrors national data suggesting that the tech boom isn’t benefitting all Americans equally. Case and Barron discussed the fact that less than 10 percent of tech funding goes to women, and less than 1 percent to African Americans.

The Brave, the Fallen Honored at Annual Fire Bureau Ceremony

October 10, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline speaks before a crowd assembled for the bureau’s annual awards ceremony.

After an emotional year that included four deaths by fire and one fallen officer, the Harrisburg Fire Bureau today celebrated its officers at its annual awards ceremony, held appropriately at the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum on 4^th street.

“We lost too much to fire this past year,” Chief Brian Enterline said in his opening remarks.

The bureau responded to two deadly structure fires that claimed a total of four lives in 2017, and also lost an officer, Lt. Dennis DeVoe, in the line of duty.

Councilman Cornelius Johnson, who chairs the council’s public safety committee, praised the department’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

“This was one of the most challenging years for our Fire Bureau, and they showed the utmost poise and professionalism,” Johnson said.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse thanked the firefighters for their “acts of heroism, bravery and cooperation that take place on a daily basis.”

He also commended the department’s management, saying that they set an “outstanding” example of budgeting for other city departments. The Fire Bureau operates an $8 million annual budget, Enterline said on Tuesday.

Harrisburg firefighters await before their awards and promotions are announced.

Many members of the department were given awards this afternoon for their achievements in the line of duty. Papenfuse also swore in newly promoted officers, including a battalion chief and two lieutenants. The bureau also recognized two officers who retired.

The ceremony concluded with a ceremony to commemorate DeVoe, who lost his life in March on his way to fight to a deadly fire on Lexington Street. He was driving on Market and 14^th streets when a drunk driver T-boned his car and killed him.

The Fire Museum placed DeVoe’s name on its memorial wall, which records the names of fallen officers in the Harrisburg area.

Be Like Spidey: Rappel down a building, help your community.

October 10, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

CEO Maddie Young today announced the “Over the Edge” event, flanked by other members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region and Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Like many kids, you may have grown up with dreams of being a superhero.

This week, you can get discover your inner Spiderman right in downtown Harrisburg with “Over the Edge,” a fundraiser in which people without evident superpowers will rappel down the 220-foot, 18-story Market Square Plaza Building.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region is sponsoring the event, which will start with a preliminary descent late Thursday afternoon before continuing all day Friday.

“We hope that people will come out and see the feats of bravery,” quipped Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Papenfuse said the event’s objective is two-fold: to raise money for the organization and to bring awareness that 50 young people in the Harrisburg area are in need of big brothers and big sisters.

In the eyes of CEO Maddie Young, the fundraising part is already a success, exceeding its goal before it even begins. So far, the organization has 60 people lined up at $1,000 or more to get strapped in and make the descent, with pledges totaling more than $80,000, she said.

Nonetheless, walk-up spots will still be available on Friday for a $1,000 donation, said Papenfuse.

Young said that the actual descent will be operated by Over the Edge, a Halifax, Canada-based company that specializes in adventure experiences and has staged this particular event many times. The company already has examined the building and received all the necessary permissions, she said.

“Many Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations have done this very successfully,” she said, adding that the event has been a year in planning.

Market Square Plaza Building

Papenfuse said that he doesn’t anticipate any problems, as the company exercises robust safety procedures, but city police and fire still will be on hand for the duration of the event.

He added that he hoped the publicity will lead to a big brother or sister for every young person on the list who needs a mentor.

“It is so essential to the health and fabric of this city,” he said.

“Over the Edge” runs 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at 17 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. Click here to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.

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