Tag Archives: Camp Curtin YMCA

Two Harrisburg locations to accept old, unwanted electronics in new recycling intiative

June 28, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

The Camp Curtin Y is one of two new drop-off points for e-waste.

Harrisburg-area residents soon will have a couple of new options to recycle unused and unwanted electronic items.

Ngozi’s Let’s Get Dirty!, the Bridge and Harrisburg Area Camp Curtin YMCA are partnering with Harrisburg-based Precision Recyclers to create two sites for the free disposal of end-of-life electronics.

“We are extremely excited about our new partnership with Precision Recyclers Inc.,” said Rafiyqa Muhammad, Camp Curtin YMCA’s Urban Ag coordinator. “This gives us an opportunity to educate our residents about e-waste, and the environmental impacts that this type of illegal dumping has on our community’s health, water, soil and air quality.”

On select dates from July through October, people can drop off their e-waste at the two locations of Markets on the Farm: The Bridge, 2200 Market St., Harrisburg, and the Camp Curtin YMCA garden on Jefferson Street, off of N. 6^th Street, Harrisburg.

The dates for The Bridge drop-off (2 to 6 p.m.):

July 14 & 28
Aug. 11 & 25
Sept. 8 & 22
Oct. 13 & 27

The dates for Camp Curtin Y drop-off (2 to 6 p.m.):

July 17 & 31
Aug. 14 & 28
Sept. 11 & 25
Oct. 16 & 30

The following types of items will be accepted:

Small household appliances
Computer equipment, including monitors
Consumer electronics, including televisions
Lamps and luminaires
Toys and tools
Medical devices
Monitoring and control instruments
Automatic dispensers

The Harrisburg School District receiver, Dr. Lori Suski, introduced Precision Recyclers to the partnering organizations, according to Cynthia Craig, Precision’s recycling coordinator and compliance officer.

“This is why we see this type of waste in our streets. We realize, in most cases, our residents may not have the ability to get to recycling centers or some may need a little education on proper disposal,” Craig said.

In addition to Precision Recyclers, the initiative is sponsored by GIANT, the PA Department of Agriculture and Clark Resources.

“When you come to Markets on the Farm, not only can you drop of your old or unused electronics, you can also support local vendors or become a vendor, enjoy families activities, purchase organically grown whole food, participate in workshop help us keep our city clean,” Muhammad said.

If you have any questions or would like to make a donation, please contact NGOZI c/o Rafiyqa Muhammad at [email protected] or 717-255-9739.

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March News Digest

February 28, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Task Force Recommends Uses for William Penn

The William Penn building should be preserved and returned to educational use, says a task force formed to suggest a path forward for the blighted structure.

In late January, Harrisburg School District officials heard recommendations from the 25-member task force, the culmination of several months of meetings that included presentations from groups interested in redeveloping the property.

The task force of residents, local officials and community members was formed in September as a way for the district to gather input on the fate of William Penn. Several months earlier, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the demolition of the building, but halted that plan after public opposition.

After wrapping up its meetings, the task force made its final suggestions to Suski, advocating for retaining and strategically utilizing the property.

The task force’s top recommendation was to use William Penn to house a career and technical education program for district students, shared Sheila Dow-Ford, a facilitator for the task force.

“They want to see a skilled workforce,” Dow-Ford said. “Everyone wants viable employment for each and every student in Harrisburg as a goal. There must be career pathways.”

This could include training students for healthcare careers, as well as for first responder careers, as the group weighed a proposal from the Harrisburg Fire Bureau to create an emergency services and public education facility.

Additionally, the task force favored ideas like creating affordable housing for seniors and using outdoor space for sports fields for students.

The task force crafted its recommendations after hearing a handful of proposals from local businesses and organizations. The group ultimately did not recommend such suggestions as constructing a sports arena, an outpatient medical facility and market-rate housing.

In the end, Suski will need to make a decision on what to do with the building and how the district will financially support any construction project.

Bike Share Plans for New Season

Harrisburg’s bike share program is readying for a new riding season with upgrades and additional bike locations.

SusqueCycle, which stations rental bikes around the Harrisburg area, will return in April with bikes in Midtown, downtown, Allison Hill and City Island, according to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which administers the program.

“We want to thank all our participants and sponsors for the program’s success in 2023, and we eagerly look forward to the bikes returning in April,” said Steve Deck, TCRPC executive director.

In the coming months, SusqueCycle plans to add two bike stations in Harrisburg at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets and at Commonwealth and North streets.

According to Deck, they will also make “sleeker, more modern” upgrades to bikes. TCRPC also plans to gather better location information to observe rider routes and plan for future expansions.

Additional improvements are dependent on ridership revenue and on the program obtaining more sponsorships, Deck said.

SusqueCycle, which is operated by Michigan-based Tandem Mobility, allows users to rent bikes by paying as they go or by purchasing an annual membership through the Movatic app.

In 2023, its second year, the program grew in popularity, as people took over 2,300 SusqueCycle rides, attracting everyone from commuters to tourists, Deck said.

Approvals for Apartment Projects

A proposal to construct a large apartment building in Midtown Harrisburg has taken a step forward again, over two years since it was first proposed.

At a meeting last month, the Harrisburg Planning Commission voted in favor of zoning variance and special exception relief for a proposed 144-unit building at 320 Reily St., moving the project forward for further approvals.

The proposal received variance and special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board in October 2021, but the developer, Harrisburg-based GreenWorks Development, never subsequently filed a land development plan so the relief was revoked, according to Geoffrey Knight, the city’s planning director. Therefore, GreenWorks was required to start the approval process again.

The plan also has changed slightly, knocking the number of units down to 144 from 155 and reducing first-floor commercial space from 3,000 square feet to 2,590 square feet.

Additionally, GreenWorks originally proposed only 86 off-street parking spaces, but now plans to include 160, using space at 1511 N. 3rd St. and 1530 N. 4th St. The developer nonetheless is requesting parking relief, as city code requires 191 spaces for a project of this scale.

The proposed project site is currently a surface parking lot. The project will need eventual approval from Harrisburg City Council in order to start.

Additionally, last month, the planning board heard a proposal for a four-story, 36-unit senior apartment building on land bounded by N. 4th, Clinton, Logan and Harris streets.

The board voted in favor of the land development plan, the consolidation of 19 lots on the project site, and the vacation of several grocer’s alleys on the property.

The project, proposed by developer Midtown Redevelopment LLC, would also include two first-floor commercial units, 30 first-floor interior parking spaces and 12 outdoor, on-site parking spots.

Developers will need approval from city council, as well, before they can break ground.

Free Services for Broad Street Market

The Broad Street Market has some extra help managing day-to-day operations.

At a meeting last month, the nonprofit Broad Street Market Alliance board approved a contract with Midtown Property Management, which offered free services to the market.

The Harrisburg-based management company is providing its services to the market at no cost for an initial term of five years, as the market recovers from a devastating fire last July.

According to Justin Heinly, owner of Midtown Property Management, the group will help with rent collection, financial consulting, day-to-day operations and 10 free hours of maintenance work each month.

“I want to be part of the team,” Heinly shared. “We are here to support day-to-day operations from day one.”

Heinly shared that his company may be willing to assume more of the roles of the market’s executive director at any point, if the market’s board wanted that. However, that is not part of the current contract.

Wildflower Coffee Opens

Wildflower Coffee opened last month inside the McCormick Riverfront Library in Harrisburg.

Owner Lucila Khan and her husband Jalal opened the shop on the library’s second floor, in the space that briefly housed Good Brotha’s Book Café.

Khan, who previously worked at the library, said that she became interested in opening her own business when she saw that the library was looking for a new vendor to fill the café space.

“It’s a dream job, running a coffee shop at a library,” said Khan, an Argentina native who lives in Harrisburg.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Harrisburg-area home sales dipped but prices were higher in January, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, sales totaled 358 houses versus 389 in January 2023, as the median sales price rose to $258,000 from $245,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 187 homes sold, an increase of one, as the median sales price climbed to $229,900 compared to $204,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 146 home sales, down from 174, but the median sales price increased to $297,450 versus $290,000 the prior January, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 24 homes sold, a decrease of three, as the median price rose to $263,450 compared to $191,000 in January 2023, GHAR said.

Houses sold a bit faster than last year, as the “average days on market” stood at 31 days in January versus 34 days in the year-ago period.

So Noted

Ami Zumkhawala has been named the new chief operating officer for Harrisburg-based Hamilton Health Center. Previously, Zumkhawala served as managing director at the Northridge Consulting Group, a national management consulting firm.

Brittany Boyd-Chisolm last month was named chief executive officer for the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, according to the Harrisburg-based disability and support services organization. Prior, she served several years as an administrator in the homecare field.

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry last month cut the ribbon on its new location at the Camp Curtin YMCA on N. 6th St. The pantry, formerly called the Ecumenical Food Pantry, relocated from Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg.

Heyy Healthy, an alternative health provider, debuted last month at 3950 Tecport Dr. in Susquehanna Township. The company offers “advanced red light therapy” as a tool to help treat and prevent various health conditions, according to the company.

Kenny Young, a veteran Harrisburg police officer, has been sworn in as deputy chief of the Harrisburg Police Bureau, replacing Dennis Sorensen, who retired after 32 years with the department. In addition, longtime officer Tom McGarrity was promoted from lieutenant to captain.

Kyle Snyder was appointed last month as president of Penn State Health’s Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers. Snyder joined Penn State Health in 2020 and has served as interim president of the two medical centers since last July.

Nauman Smith law firm last month merged into Cohen Seglias, expanding that firm’s Harrisburg office. Five Nauman Smith attorneys and their administrative staff joined Cohen Seglias effective Feb. 1. In addition, senior partner Spencer G. Nauman, Jr. retired after more than 62 years with the firm. Founded 153 years ago, Nauman Smith was Harrisburg’s oldest law firm.

Tanis Monroy last month resigned his position as executive director of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. Monroy cited health reasons for his departure, and the market board stated it would begin a search for a new day-to-day administrator.

Tymia Q. Green last month was named the new executive director of Shalom House, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit that provides shelter and support services to women. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership, program development and collaborative partnerships, according to the organization.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2427: L. Shultz to K. Weldeghebrial, $106,000

Berryhill St., 2424: Pcons Investments to JR Phoenix Investing LLC, $110,000

Boas St., 1812: Cooperwink LLC to MAT Holdings LLC, $85,000

Chestnut St., 1961: D. Trustey to Normans Realty Service Inc., $80,000

Crescent St., 310: C. Patel to M. Olano, $55,000

Crescent St., 404: HE Pressley Properties LLC to KTG Holdings LLC, $102,000

Derry St., 1603½: M. & W. Gomez to N. & D. Williams, $200,000

Derry St., 1954: Malesic Group Inc. to E. & K. Burri, $110,000

Derry St., 2105: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Derry St., 2107: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Emerald St., 520: R. Feiler to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $71,000

Forster St., 1847: Tender Loving Care Healthcare Services to D. Henderson, $58,000

Fulton St., 1422: M. Evans to D. Zeigler, $170,000

Green St., 807: H. Wehry to V. & A. Jones, $274,500

Green St., 2432: Mr. Wright Properties LLC to Stoute Housing LLC, $80,000

Hamilton St., 422: SRM Rentals LLC to T. Brandon, $105,000

Herr St., 1334, 1340: Sangrey Properties LLC to Kawity Capital LLC, $350,000

Herr St., 1406: Cooperwink LLC to Savvy Beyond Enterprise LLC, $65,000

Herr St., 1500: Herr Street Trust to M. Lewis, $225,000

Holly St., 1826: D. & W. Bruner to D. Warren, $120,000

Jefferson St., 2242: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2244: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2246: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2514: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Kensington St., 2123: Cooperwink LLC to 248 S Quince St LLC, $90,000

Kensington St., 2230: Murphy Rentals Incorporated to TM Murphy Properties LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2254: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Ray Dunkle IRA to Harrisburg Rentals LLC, $80,000

Kensington St., 2256: M. Mardula to IUGNAP Investments LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2360: L. Dyson to G&W Rentals LLC, $91,200

Kensington St., 2435: A. & M. Padua to G. Chambers & R. Ervin, $79,000

Lenox St., 1912: C. Saterstad to A. Rosario & S. Castillo, $70,000

Maclay St., 335: Bill Culwell Enterprises Inc. to E. & D. Tomlinson, $121,000

Maclay St., 1037: P2N2 LLC to Eastern First LLC, $194,000

Manada St., 1913: M. Rodriguez to M. Woolfork & S. Beatty, $177,000

Market St., 1228: Upscale Properties LLC to J. Bonilla & L. Velasco, $235,000

Market St., 1738: G. Ajakaye to JACB LLC, $195,000

Muench St., 404: G. & L. Neff to 248 S. Quince St LLC, $75,000

Muench St., 411: P. & R. Dixon to Figueroa Enterprises LLC, $70,000

Naudain St., 1428: R. Rammouni to Steve Etienne Service LLC, $71,500

Naudain St., 1638: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to Y. Alrosan & A. Hariri, $135,000

North St., 215: C. & M. Schenck to J Beck Properties LLC, $50,000

North St., 1851: Tester Ridge PA LLC to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $149,000

N. 2nd St., 2023: WCI Partners LP to MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC, $575,000

N. 2nd St., 3021: C. & T. Hines to D. Doziar, $200,000

N. 3rd St., 1116: Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $450,000

N. 3rd St., 1600: Fratelli Property Investments LLC to M. Hunsberger & J. Hartman, $270,500

N. 3rd St., 2304: FD Harrisburg Holdings LLC to Almonte Harrisburg LLC, $2,400,000

N. 3rd St., 3100: M. Clark to R. Kilby, $196,000

N. 3rd St., 3317: C. Moore to F. & C. Burton, $290,000

N. 4th St., 2647: SPG Capital LLC to J. Alfaro, $157,000

N. 4th St., 3115: E. & K. Kauffman to C. Hocker, $80,000

N. 5th St., 2211: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Broncano, $50,000

N. 12th St., 29: ILL Holdings LLC to Ali Al LLC, $75,000

N. 16th St., 918: R. Martin to Upscale Properties LLC, $50,000

N. 18th St., 34: D. Boyle to M. Perez & M. Lauriano, $62,500

N. Cameron St., 1603: 1603 Cameron Associates LP to Tunis Express LLC, $1,600,000

N. Front St., 2705: MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC to EI 2709 North Front Street LLC & G. Cipriano

Park St., 1847: LMG Enterprises LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investments LLC, $55,000

Paxton St., 140 & 406 River St.: Above Da Rim LLC to 140 Paxton LLC, $240,000

Penn St., 2349: Best By LLC to Vernon St Apartments LLC, $225,000

Pennwood Rd., 3120: C. Brubaker to J. Hill, $173,000

Pennwood Rd., 3160: T. Wylie to J. Stroup, $230,555

Radnor St., 514: Link Investment Properties LLC to A. Hariri & Y. Alrosan, $85,000

Reily St., 208: R. Bulgarelli to Millie 208 LLC, $285,000

S. 13th St., 1440: SPG Capital LLC to K. Kute, $124,900

S. 16th St., 520: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to B. Pasco, $115,000

S. 18th St., 23: Gilligan Realty LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $57,000

S. 19th St., 533 & 535: Best By LLC to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $200,000

S. Front St., 713: E. Kitzman to C. Rue, $230,000

State St., 1828: W. & D. Griffin to Visionary Investments RE LLC, $105,000

Susquehanna St., 1835: C. Blanco to K. Lourde, $137,000

Sycamore St., 1807: Z. Hailu to S. Redding, $122,500

Vernon St., 1315: M. Nichols to E. Marmolejo, $70,000

Walnut St., 1205: L. Palmer to F. & T. Heras, $134,000

Wiconisco St., 409: A. Kreider to Central PA Buyers LLC, $85,000

Zarker St., 1407: A. Reyes & R. Cruz to Zarker AW LLC, $95,000

Harrisburg property sales, January 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Harrisburg Area Food Pantry cuts the ribbon on new Uptown location

February 6, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Area YMCA and Harrisburg Area Food Pantry officials cut the ribbon on the new food bank.

A local food pantry cut the ribbon on its new location on Tuesday.

The Harrisburg Area Food Pantry celebrated its opening at the Harrisburg Area YMCA’s Camp Curtin Branch, where it will assist thousands of residents struggling with food insecurity.

The pantry, which relocated from Messiah Lutheran Church and was formerly called The Ecumenical Food Pantry, opened at the N. 6^th Street Y on Feb. 5.

“The Y is thrilled to welcome the food pantry to Uptown Harrisburg,” said Richard Utley, chair of the Camp Curtin Y’s board of managers. “People can come here and be treated with respect and dignity.”

According to food pantry officials, as the need for food has continued to grow, the organization needed a space that was easily accessible to the community.

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry

Currently, the pantry serves around 3,400 people each month, over 1,000 more each month than it served last year. The pantry has served the community for 51 years.

“Our reach and accessibility to the community is now not only inclusive physically, but we also benefit from the reach and the resources of the Y within the community,” said Ross Gibson, chair of the pantry’s board of directors.

The pantry is open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on the third Saturday of each month. No appointment or vouchers are needed.

The pantry offers clients a three-day supply of food, every 30 days, including items like rice, pasta, bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs and milk.

“Food insecurity is a problem that the Harrisburg Area Pantry can fix,” said David Ozmore, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Area Y. “What an exciting day for Harrisburg.”

For more information about the Camp Curtin YMCA, visit their website. To learn more about the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry, visit their website.

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Harrisburg Area Food Pantry to move operations to Camp Curtin YMCA

January 12, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry Executive Director Deidre Lenker packs bags for clients. File photo.

Two community organizations are teaming up to address food insecurity.

The Harrisburg Area YMCA’s Camp Curtin Branch announced on Friday that it would serve as the new home for the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry (HAFP).

Beginning on Feb. 5, the pantry, formerly called The Ecumenical Food Pantry, will operate at the Y’s N. 6^th Street location, offering food assistance to those in need.

The pantry, which was previously located at Messiah Lutheran Church, has operated for over 51 years, currently serving over 3,400 clients monthly.

“The Board, volunteers and I are very excited to create a welcoming space for anyone needing food assistance,” said Deidre Lenker, the pantry’s executive director, in a statement. “We are grateful to the YMCA for providing this opportunity. We thank our many community supporters including a variety of community groups, faith-based organizations, foundations and individuals who have supported us through donations and volunteering over the years. With your support we can continue to meet this most basic human need.”

According to the Y, the HAFP is one of the largest food pantries in Dauphin County in terms of the volume of people served and it provides access to emergency food assistance at least five days per week. Clients may receive an emergency supply of food around every 30 days, and no vouchers or appointments are necessary.

The move will allow HAFP to serve the community in new ways, with access to parking, increased accessibility and a built-in collaboration with the YMCA, the Y shared.

According to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank data, Dauphin County has a food insecurity rate of 11.4%, representing 31,330 people.

“As an organization committed to healthy living, the YMCA’s collaboration with the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry allows our organizations to assist our community in providing nutrition and food security,” said Richard Utley, chair of the Camp Curtin YMCA’s board of managers. “We’re very excited to welcome the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry to our neighborhood.”

The organizations will hold a ribbon-cutting event at the Camp Curtin YMCA on Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.

For more information about the Camp Curtin YMCA, visit their website. To learn more about the Harrisburg Area Food Pantry, visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Camp Curtin YMCA officials and new homeowners of four affordable homes in Uptown Harrisburg cut the ribbon on the organization’s housing development project.

July is here and that means two things at TheBurg—our new issue of the magazine just came out and it’s July 4^th weekend! Grab a copy or read online while you enjoy the holiday weekend. To catch up on our local news coverage from the week, look no further. It’s all linked, below.

Camp Curtin YMCA officials cut the ribbon on four affordable homes that the organization built in Uptown, our online story reported. Four first-time homeowners and their families will move in this week.

In Camp Hill, an Allstate Insurance agency houses a charming surprise on its first floor: an art gallery, our magazine story reported. The Gallo’ry on Market, owned by Heather Ebersole, showcases local artists’ work.

The Content Creator’s Collective opened recently in downtown Mechanicsburg, offering space for entrepreneurs to create content for their marketing needs, our online story reported. Photographer Shannon Claire opened the business on the first floor of 1 E. Main St., formerly the home of Glitz Soap Co.

Fourth of July celebrations will return to the riverfront in Harrisburg this Tuesday, our online story reported. The city will host its annual Food Trucks and Fireworks Festival on N. Front Street.

Gettysburg’s new “Beyond the Battle Museum” allows visitors to see, hear and feel what civilians experienced during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. In our magazine story, read more about the history center, which contains artifacts and interactive exhibits.

Harrisburg City Council made some changes to Mayor Wanda Williams’ proposed plan to use federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, our reporting found. Council voted to allocate additional money towards assisting seniors, supporting job training and funding emergency housing.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau recently welcomed four new officers to its ranks, our reporting found. The bureau held a ceremony at the State Museum of Pennsylvania to officially swear in the cadets, as well as to promote several other officers.

Harrisburg School District Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the demolition of the long-vacant, blighted William Penn School building, our online story reported. According to district officials, the building has faced increasing issues with damage, fires and break-ins.

Havre de Grace is the perfect day trip from Harrisburg, with a less than two-hour drive from the city. In our magazine story, find out what museums, shops and dining the quaint town has to offer.

July is our pet-themed issue of the magazine, and our publisher previews the host of stories featuring furry friends. Read his publisher’s note, here.

Millworks featured artists were the focus of blogger Bob’s latest column. He discusses works by creatives P.D. Murray, Reina “R76” Wooden, and The Huckle Buckle Boys—an explosive trio.

Nour is a café that celebrates diversity and creates a space for all, specifically people with disabilities, our magazine story reported. The shop serves baked goods, lunches and an assortment of coffee and tea beverages.

Sara Bozich has a list full of fun events for your holiday weekend. Find them all, here.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, sign up here!

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Camp Curtin YMCA cuts the ribbon on affordable homes in Uptown Harrisburg

June 29, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The Camp Curtin YMCA built four new affordable homes on the corner of Woodbine and Jefferson streets in Harrisburg.

Four Harrisburg families are new homeowners, thanks to a local housing initiative.

The Camp Curtin YMCA, along with local officials, cut the ribbon on its four new affordable homes in Uptown, which will provide housing to lower-income area families.

“We are so excited to welcome four new families to the neighborhood,” said David Ozmore, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Area YMCA. “This is a great day, and it should be a celebratory day for each of the families.”

The Camp Curtin branch of the Y kicked off its “Cornerstone Initiative,” to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income families in Harrisburg, in October 2021 with the groundbreaking of the affordable homes.

Thursday’s ceremony capped the $1.4 million project, as officials celebrated the completion of the four single-family homes located at the corner of Woodbine and Jefferson streets, just down the street from the Y.

Harrisburg Area YMCA officials and buyers of the new affordable homes cut the ribbon on the project.

Each 2,000-square-foot home cost homeowners $150,000 and includes four bedrooms, three baths and off-street parking. Buyers participated in first-time homeowner classes.

Housing Development Director for the Harrisburg Area Y, Cathy Hall, said that the homeownership opportunity provides families with instant equity, pride and the ability to build generational wealth.

“Handing a person a key to their first-ever home is handing them a key to the future,” Hall said.

Harrisburg resident Tara Roland will move into one of the homes with her two sons in the coming days. After applying for the housing, Roland waited to hear if her name would be chosen through the raffle-style selection. When it was, she was excited.

“This is a big step,” Roland said. “This is a blessing. It’s a good feeling.”

All funds for the project came through state and local grants, officials stated.

According to Hall, the Y already has plans to build more affordable housing in the Uptown area both to provide families with places to live and to revitalize the community.

“I hope that this Cornerstone Initiative build is the first of many to follow,” Ozmore said.

For more information about the Camp Curtin YMCA’s Harrisburg Cornerstone initiative, visit their website.

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Streets of Success: Last year, Harrisburg chose a unique way to honor two community leaders: Judith Hill and Rev. Billy Gray

January 31, 2023 | by M. Diane McCormick

Judith C. Hill. Illustration by Bryan Hickman.

What did your mom do when you were growing up?

Made hot dogs for you and your friends, probably. Or delivered petitions to the White House. Answered middle-of-the-night calls from suicidal teens. Stood in court with children who had no parental support. Was one of President George H.W. Bush’s 1,000 Points of Light.

“You talk about a queen and a warrior,” said Judith Michelle Hill, daughter of Judith Hill. “That was Mommy.”

In October, Harrisburg City Council gave secondary names to two sections of N. 6th Street, honoring civil rights activists and youth advocates who quietly achieved the monumental. The intersection of 6th and Harris streets is now Judith C. Hill Way, dedicated in December. The block from Forrest to Woodbine streets became Rev. Billy Gray Way, near the Camp Curtin YMCA, where Gray made only a portion of his outsized impact.

Judith C. Hill

Judith C. Hill Way commemorates the woman who grew up nearby, left the city, and returned to make an indelible impression in education, politics, civil rights, faith and civic life.

“Several members of Harrisburg City Council are literally standing on the foundation that Ms. Hill has set for us as the first Black woman to serve as a member of the legislative body for the City of Harrisburg,” said City Council President Danielle Bowers, who helped lead the commemoration.

Judith Hill was born in Harrisburg in 1928, the daughter of a Bethlehem Steel worker. She graduated from Virginia Union University, an HBCU. For a time, she lived in Montreal but returned to Harrisburg in 1966, teaching in the Harrisburg School District.

Just a few of her leadership roles: Camp Curtin YMCA. Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell UMC trustee. Central Pennsylvania Council of Churches. OIC counselor and lead instructor. Proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

“She wasn’t afraid to lead,” said her son, Jeffrey Hill of Harrisburg. “She was the president of just about every group she got involved in.”

Hill understood and leveraged the intersection of activism and politics. She was a Republican, forging deep ties and friendships with Pennsylvania power, including U.S. Rep. George Gekas and Gov. Dick Thornburgh. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis appointed her as staff assistant to the director of civil rights.

“We saw them really focus on making things happen in the community and following through on it, and making sure they were leveraging for the benefit of the youth,” said Judith Michelle Hill of New York, of her mother and her colleagues.

Linda Cammack served with Hill on the Harrisburg School Board when the mayor took control of the district. Hill “spoke what was on her mind,” and Cammack, a fellow teacher, followed her “no-nonsense” example.

“She was a staunch, strong African American woman,” said Cammack. “How family is supposed to be. What you say and don’t say. What you do and you don’t do. How you carry yourself professionally. She made an impression on a lot of people.”

When the district appointed Hill as dean of students, she advocated for the students’ requests for more Black history classes, more relevance, more Black teachers.

Politically, Hill preferred working behind the scenes, but after helping Wesley Plummer’s successful campaign to become City Council’s second Black member, he urged her to run.

Jeffrey Hill remembers her campaign, when students handing out fliers trailed her “like she’s the Pied Piper.” Judith Michelle Hill called it an easy win “because she was already so well integrated into the community and a teacher and in the church.”

Even after suffering multiple strokes, Judith Hill—the woman whose raucous laugh made everyone else laugh—retaught herself to write and speak. She died in 2014.

“She was very independent all the way to the end,” said Judith Michelle Hill. “She was a fighter. That’s probably the best tribute I could say to her.”

“What my mother left for us,” added Jeffrey Hill, “was a wonderful person to model ourselves after.”

Rev. Billy Gray

Forty tuxedos. Billy Gray changed the trajectories of countless young lives, but everyone also remembers the snappiest dresser in town, from his pocket handkerchief to the shoes matching every suit. After his death, 40 perfectly matched tuxedo sets were hanging in his custom-built closet.

And when City Council named part of N. 6th Street in his honor, his grandson was wearing the last pair of shoes he bought but never wore.

“He was big on people growing,” said his daughter, Marla Estriplet, of Susquehanna Township. “To progress, to live better and do better, and to look in a mirror and feel better about themselves.”

Rev. Dr. William M. Gray Sr. grew up as the son of an Army nurse—unprecedented for a Black woman at the time, but she was “a driven person” who insisted that her children get an education, said Estriplet.

World War II interrupted Gray’s education. He joined the Army at age 16. As an MP, he guarded liberated concentration camps, a witness to the interment of victims’ bodies.

Coming home to Harrisburg, he returned to William Penn High School. Like other GIs, he could have left the classroom behind and gotten his GED, but he always preached finishing what you started. He wanted a degree in honor of the cheerful sister who died at 18 from pneumonia, Estriplet said.

In Europe, Gray received respect from Europeans as a soldier and an American. He didn’t get that love in the United States, he would tell his daughter.

“It opened his eyes to the different opportunities you don’t even imagine you could have,” she said.

Gray’s list of firsts includes the first Black Red Cross lifeguard and first Black swimming instructor at the YMCA. With the military, he boxed in England, France and Germany. In the states, he was a Golden Gloves champion, boxing at flyweight.

“He didn’t do minor things,” says Estriplet. “In most instances, he was always the first Black to do something because he wanted everyone to say you can come above what people say about you, you can come above the expectations others have of you.”

Reading at least 10 daily newspapers from around the country, Gray replicated the civil rights protests he read about. Some people remember him leading bus trips to desegregate Hersheypark. When the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses at homes being bought by Black families on Herr Street, Gray led marches there that opened the neighborhood.

Gray marched with Martin Luther King Jr., but Estriplet also laughed at the story of her dad “failing” a crucial test of that era, when aspirants to join sit-ins had to show they could endure, stoically, the kind of brutality and vitriol they would encounter. At Gray’s mock sit-in, a white actor spit at a Black woman, and—well, he was a fighter. Enraged, he jumped up, ready to duke it out, and had to be restrained.

“It didn’t matter that the guy was an actor and was helping,” Estriplet said. “In that instant, my dad forgot what he was doing, and he lost it.”

It’s hard to encapsulate Gray’s efforts. Associate pastor and deacon for the Second Baptist Church of Harrisburg and president of the Interdenominational Ministers Conference. Scoutmaster. Free SAT tutoring and job-search help, including for ex-prisoners, through a YMCA youth program. Teaching kids to fish and swim in the Susquehanna River. Taking local youth to New York City and a show at the Apollo Theatre. Organizing college nights and HBCU bus tours, which Judith Hill helped chaperone.

The underlying message: Opportunities beckoned.

“They were the bright star behind me choosing North Carolina Central University,” said Cammack.

Gray died in 2013 and is buried in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Estriplet believes her dad’s message today would be, “You can still become greater.”

“You have an opportunity clear up until the time you breathe your last breath to do great things,” she said. “And it’s not about doing great things for fame or for money. It’s about doing great things for one another, so that someone else can see your achievements and know that it can be done and never give up.”

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Major Impact: A unique organization finds itself at a crossroads.

May 31, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Back in 2013, Harrisburg had a first hint that its future might be better than its recent past.

Late that summer, the state-appointed receiver released a financial recovery plan designed to return some measure of fiscal sanity to the insolvent city.

Sanity came at a high price.

To pay back creditors, Harrisburg had to monetize two of its most valuable assets, the city incinerator and its parking system, to raise almost $400 million. That was the headline news.

Several other important elements were buried deeper in the “Harrisburg Strong” plan. One called for the creation of a new nonprofit, Impact Harrisburg, which would try to right another wrong created by decades of derelict leadership.

In Harrisburg, it wasn’t just borrowed money that financed such extravagances as museum artifacts, a sports stadium and a waste-to-energy experiment. For years, Harrisburg’s core infrastructure was ignored so that funds could be spent on one man’s fantasy of turning the city into a tourist mecca.

As the mayor dreamed and schemed, Harrisburg’s roads and sewers fell apart.

I remember the first time I drove into Harrisburg, off of I-83. The trip up 2nd Street was like the world’s least fun bumper car ride—vehicles meandering all over the wide road, nearly crashing into each other as the lane lines had long disappeared. I thought to myself, “Can’t this city afford some paint?” Turns out, the answer was “no.”

Impact Harrisburg was meant to be a start in repairing the broken capital city, in the most literal sense.

I bring this up now because Impact Harrisburg is at a crossroads. In 2014, the financial recovery plan seeded the nonprofit with $12.3 million, half marked for infrastructure and the other half for economic development—pots of money designed to help the city play catch-up after years of neglect.

Eight years later, those funds have been nearly exhausted.

Recently, I sat down with several Impact Harrisburg officials to reflect back on what’s been done and where the organization goes from here.

Board chair Gloria Martin-Roberts and vice-chair Doug Hill, as well as Executive Director Sheila Dow-Ford, were pleased with the work done so far. They rattled off a long list of achievements—from street repaving to sewer upgrades to grants that helped keep businesses afloat during the pandemic.

I knew about those projects. We’ve reported extensively on them, and I can see some of the roadwork just by looking out my office window.

But others were more under the radar. For instance, about $4.1 million went to fund projects for community groups like the Salvation Army, the Camp Curtin and East Shore YMCAs and Tri-County HDC for housing development. Other monies paid for playground rehabs, software for city workers and, most recently, a disparity study to determine how the city can offer more opportunity for diverse businesses.

For Harrisburg, these funds were critical, as the city has been cut off from the credit markets for over a decade, unable to borrow money. This would stagnate or sink most cities, but Harrisburg has experienced tremendous redevelopment over the past half-dozen years, including major work to main thoroughfares like 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 17th streets.

Much of this was seeded by Impact Harrisburg, which provided direct grants and, perhaps as importantly, attracted matching funds from other sources.

“We are absolutely on fire over meeting our mission and improving the health status of the city,” Martin-Roberts told me. “And, what I mean by health status, I’m talking about infrastructure and economic development because it all impacts on the health status of our city.”

So, where does Impact Harrisburg head from here? That’s the question at hand, as its initial funding has nearly run dry.

In a nutshell, they’d like to stay in business, focused on economic development. Indeed, the city may need assistance in this area, as its economic development director currently serves just one day a week.

“We want to stay active,” Martin-Roberts said. “We want to stay involved.”

To make this happen, Impact Harrisburg will need to find new funds. Hill mentioned several possible sources, including both private donors and city-controlled monies, such as Community Development Block Grant funds and a slice of Harrisburg’s $48 million American Rescue Plan Act funding.

“We are going back to the city and going out to the philanthropic community and saying, ‘Here’s a remarkably unique need and a remarkably unique position that we can fill,’” Hill said.

If its coffers were replenished, Impact Harrisburg could continue its economic development mission. This might include continuing its small-business grant program, its help for minority and disadvantaged businesses and its focus on training, education and identifying additional financial support for young and emerging entrepreneurs.

“The city is not equipped to do that,” Martin-Roberts said. “I’m not casting aspersions against them. They don’t have the people to do it. We can get it done, and we know we can get it done. It just makes for a healthier community.”

Impact Harrisburg was a novel idea born from a profound crisis.

Over the years, this unique nonprofit has proven its value in identifying critical needs and making a visible difference, whether in normal times or in COVID times. I also like that it employs the talents of some remarkable and dedicated people outside of government who want to continue their service to our community.

As I write this, the city is announcing its plan for American Rescue Plan monies. Ultimately, that’s up to the administration and City Council, with public meetings slated for this month. But a strong case can be made for re-equipping Impact Harrisburg, which has a track record of strategically injecting funds where they’re greatly needed.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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Greener Grass: Capital Region Water to begin stormwater improvements at Camp Curtin YMCA

April 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Officials ceremonially break ground on the Big Green Block project, on the recreational field behind the Camp Curtin YMCA

The Camp Curtin Branch YMCA in Uptown Harrisburg will soon look a lot greener.

Capital Region Water (CRW) has partnered with the community center on a stormwater management project that will benefit not only the Y, but the neighborhood.

“We are here to break ground on what we know will provide a wonderful community amenity and have the added benefit of improvements to stormwwater management for this historic Harrisburg community,” said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, CEO of CRW.

The $2.5 million “Big Green Block” project will include constructing a rain garden and storage/infiltration trench along the edge of the Y’s parking lot and beneath the recreational field behind the Y. These measures will help prevent stormwater runoff from the parking lot and surrounding streets from overwhelming the sewer system.

Additionally, a green stormwater wall will be added to the back of the Y’s building. Planter boxes and troughs attached to the wall will help catch runoff water from the roof. Trees will be planted, as well.

All of these aspects of the project will manage 4.5 million gallons of stormwater annually, said Claire Maulhardt, CRW’s City Beautiful H2O program manager.

For local residents, this means reduced flooding during storms, better air quality and a beautified space, according to CRW. For the Y, it means fewer drainage issues, which they’ve had for years.

“This is an important day for Uptown Harrisburg,” said Jamien Harvey, executive director of the Camp Curtin and East Shore Y’s.

The project will also serve as an educational tool to teach the youth that visit the Y, Harvey explained.

CRW expects to complete the construction by September. The project will be financed through a loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, known as PENNVEST. This month, CRW was awarded another large loan from PENNVEST for $41.6 million.

The project is another step towards realizing Harvey’s dream of revitalizing the neighborhood, he said. In March, the Y broke ground on an affordable housing project just down the street from its building. They are currently working to build four single-family homes for low-income residents.

The Big Green Block project will benefit those future homeowners, as well.

“It’s all intertwined,” Harvey said. “The environment is important. I’ll continue to fight to change this neighborhood. I get excited about this.”

For more information about Capital Region Water’s Big Green Block project, visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 1, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Jamien Harvey, executive director of the Camp Curtin and East Shore YMCA, at the site of an affordable housing development project in Uptown.

Ready for spring? We sure are. This month’s home and garden issue of the TheBurg magazine features all the things, green and leafy, that spring brings. Look for the cover with lots of plants. and grab a copy of the April issue. And, of course, don’t miss out on this week’s local news, listed below.

Art in the Wild returns to Wildwood Park in April, celebrating its 10^th anniversary. In our magazine story, get a behind-the-scenes look at the event that features art made of elements found in nature.

Bob’s Art Blog features a fun April Fools’ Day twist and showcases art happenings at The Millworks.

The Camp Curtin branch of the YMCA in Harrisburg began construction on an affordable housing project in Uptown, our online story reported. The development will include four single-family homes for low-income residents.

Church World Service hosted a night at the movies this week in celebration of the opening of its new Harrisburg office, our online story reported. The organization will provide services to refugees including case management, basic needs support and cultural orientation, among others.

The Dauphin County Library System kicked off National Library Week with the county commissioners reading to local students, our online story reported. Also this week, they are asking residents to participate in a connectivity survey.

Our editor discusses the newspaper industry and the importance of local news to a community, in his April Editor’s Note.

Five candidates will compete in the race for the redrawn 103^rd House district, which may prove to be especially hot. To find out who will be included on the primary ballot in May, click here.

Harrisburg Havoc, the area’s new women’s tackle football team, will take the field for their first season on April 9, our reporting found. According to players, the team has provided a way for women to participate in a sport that they’ve largely been left out of.

Harrisburg will plant over 50 new trees in Allison Hill throughout April, our online story reported. The city is seeking volunteers to assist with the plantings.

John Wilsbach is central PA’s traffic guy, our magazine story reported. He updates central Pennsylvania commuters on traffic conditions multiple times each workday, mainly during rush hours, 52 weeks of the year.

The Ronald McDonald House in central PA provides a home for families with children receiving treatment at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. In our magazine story, read more about the services and care that the organization has given to over 1,000 families annually.

Rubicon will host a dinner to raise funds for the family of a Ukrainian staff member, among other relief efforts, our reporting found. The multi-course meal will feature traditional Ukrainian dishes.

Sara Bozich has weekend recommendations from concerts to beer trails and art outings. Click here to view them all.

Spring events are in full swing this month. See what’s happening in the Harrisburg area in April, here.

Trader Joe’s opened in Camp Hill on Thursday, our online story reported. Customers waited in a line that wrapped around the building on opening day.

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