Tag Archives: City Island

Community Comment: TheBurg unfairly overlooks Steve Reed’s many accomplishments.

February 21, 2018 | by James Heckman

Whitaker Center in downtown Harrisburg, cited by the letter-writer as one of former Mayor Steve Reed’s many achievements.

I enjoy The Burg and appreciate both your professional standards and ethics, and the constructive intentions underlying your work with it.

That being said, I must ask you to consider more thoroughly your statements re: Steve Reed’s tenure as mayor and its aftermath noted in your February article, “The Next Phase.” (“The Next Phase: Harrisburg Breaks with ‘City Discontented,'” February 2018). I have no horse in this race–I don’t really know him and have nothing to gain or lose by sending you this. It’s just a matter of fairness.

Your comments were the latest of many proclamations of the kind–i.e. writing off his 28-year tenure in condemnation. It is not fair. I’ve seen few balanced views of this subject in the rolling bandwagon, not to say stampede, of criticism of him and his tenure.

This inertial chorus completely overlooks the tremendous transformation of the city that he accomplished, as well as the incredible devotion to the city exhibited in his 16-hour days, seven days a week for 28 years. And it must be said that there is no possible rational contention that he was doing it for personal gain.

Yes, there are very legitimate questions about financial management, especially the mystifying incinerator deal, but it is a disservice not only to him but to history, the truth and balanced reporting to ignore his accomplishments.

I don’t know if you were around in 1980, but I would consider that, not 2011-13 cited in your article, as the city’s nadir. I grew up in Allison Hill in the 50s and early 60s near Reservoir Park, a fantastic time and place to grow up in. I left town and moved elsewhere in the world for many years, coming back in 1980 to find a city that not a soul in the region considered anything but a hopeless basket case. Into this miasma of despair Reed walked.

His vision was astonishing (yes, even while not batting 1.000) and his more visible accomplishments equally so, considering the starting point. The Hilton, City Island, Harrisburg University, the Whitaker Center, Restaurant Row and development of Second Street from a dangerous gauntlet to a thriving commercial district, and no doubt others I am missing were beyond unthinkable when he started. And yes, these all do involve the central commercial district. I am less knowledgeable about changes elsewhere in the city, like Allison Hill and Uptown.

But much more important than these was the psychological transformation of the city that he affected, from a universal perception of a lost cause to a place of energy, progress, potential and investment where people, suburban families even!, came for enjoyment.

The city is paying a price now for the financial “mismanagement.” I put that in quotes because, while it is technically correct, I sometimes wonder if it was deliberate, a considered decision in often no-good-choices circumstances, that it would be worth the future cost if it could lift the city out of its grave.

In short, despite the errors (not bad faith intentions) and seemingly counterproductive decisions visible in retrospect, the very arguable view is that he began and, in fact, assured Harrisburg’s resurrection, and the city now has a chance–the “Next Phase” in your article–because of him. The pejorative commentary also chooses not to recognize the selfless and total dedication to the city that more than anything defines his tenure.

Please consider this a letter to the editor for printing in The Burg. I believe it is more in accordance with the laudable standards of your magazine than the unbalanced commentary on this subject so often seen in the region’s media.

Thank you for your good work in advancing our community.

Jim Heckman
Wayne Township (Halifax area)

Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan is “unworkable,” say mayor, business leaders.

January 11, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Joyce Gamble addresses the Planning Commission during the Jan. 10 public hearing on the city’s comprehensive plan.

Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan faced a cool reception from business leaders and city administrators last night, as the city Planning Commission hosted its first hearing on the document following a months-long dispute between the city and the plan’s author.

During a three-hour hearing in City Council chambers, members of the business and development community said the plan stepped on the toes of property owners and private developers. They feared that the proposals it laid out in its land use chapter would restrict investment in the city.

Private citizens and representatives from neighborhood associations were more supportive of the plan. Those who spoke out favorably commended its goals to connect parks and neighborhoods and to redesign roadways for pedestrians and cyclists.

The plan, developed by the Harrisburg-based Office of Planning and Architecture, aims to guide development and urban planning in the city for the next 20 years. The project was delayed more than a year after OPA’s principal, Bret Peters, feuded with the city about compensation and proposals in the plan.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who has not shied away from criticism of Peters and his plan, wants the Planning Commission to discard the consultant’s draft entirely and adopt a new draft written by the city’s Planning Bureau. He said their in-house plan includes many of the best ideas from Peters’ draft, but is less specific and ideological.

“[Peters’] plan is a recipe for disaster. It’s unworkable and unsalvageable,” Papenfuse said. “It’s unreadable, redundant, disorganized and not ready for prime time.”

Other business professionals in attendance offered more specific criticisms.

Attorney Charles Courtney spoke on behalf of his client Adam Meinstein, who owns the former U.S. Postal Service building at 813 Market St. The draft comprehensive plan recommends dividing that property between commercial, residential and business uses. Courtney said that the specificity of the plan limited his client’s discretion for how to develop the property.

“We need to have a broader view,” Courtney said. “If and when that property is developed, all the stakeholders will want to work together and not have it hamstrung by language in the comprehensive plan.”

Kevin Kulp, president of the Harrisburg Senators, said that the plan would be catastrophic for businesses on City Island. It calls for the elimination of all surface parking on City Island and for parking to be relocated to a garage on the island and overflow lots in downtown Harrisburg.

“We don’t have enough parking as it is, and we need every bit of it,” Kulp said.

The plan also drew strong criticism from Brian Davis, executive director of the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, and Jackie Parker, the city’s director of Community and Economic Development.

Geoffrey Knight, director of the city’s Planning Bureau, said that the plan Harrisburg adopts needs to guide development, not direct it. He said that implementing the current draft could lead the city into thorny territory with property owners. If an owner did not want to develop a property according to a mandate in the comprehensive plan, Knight said, the owner would have to seek a waiver from the Planning Commission, which is the first body to consider land use proposals.

Some residents came out in support of the plan. Joyce Gamble, leader of Camp Curtin Community Neighbors United, said her organization supported the plan and hoped to work with the city to shepherd it to approval. Zach Monnier, a North Street resident, said he appreciated proposals that would localize property ownership and make renters stakeholders in their neighborhoods.

Peters, who was the chief author of the plan, only spoke once during the meeting to clarify his data collection methods. During a phone call today, he rejected the charge that he did not prioritize private business interests in his draft. Raising the aggregate real estate values in Harrisburg is central to the plan, he said, and will benefit property owners as well as residents. He also said that Harrisburg needed the kind of specific planning that made many attendees at Wednesday’s meeting balk.

“Laissez faire real estate and planning have been practiced in this city for 50 years, and it hasn’t worked,” Peters said.

Planning Commission members will consider the input from Wednesday’s meeting when they next convene on Feb. 5. They will then decide if and how they want to amend Peters’ draft document. They may also consider the separate plan submitted by the city’s Planning Bureau, which the Planning Commission already reviewed and rejected over the summer.

Here Too: Yes, Harrisburg can have nice things.

November 30, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

The whispers began well before the official opening last month.

Hmm . . . do you think Harrisburg will support this place? Can it survive here? Will it last longer than a month, a year?

It seemed too hip, too different—maybe even a little radical. Too—should I say it—nice? Sure, it might work in Philly or Pittsburgh or D.C., but certainly not here in dumpy old Harrisburg.

In this case, I’m talking about Provisions, the snug, urban-style grocery that opened its doors downtown in Strawberry Square. But it could equally apply to a bunch of other businesses that have started over the last decade.

A huge, independent bookstore on a forlorn block in Midtown? No way. A vast arts center in a dilapidated wreck of a building? Yeah, right. An upscale French bistro? Ha!

I refer to Midtown Scholar, H*MAC and Rubicon, respectively. But it could equally apply to so many other places that have opened in recent years: Little Amps (Harrisburg wants cheap coffee); the Millworks (too artsy, too pricey); Note Bistro (doomed location); Zeroday ($6 pints??); LUX, Union Lofts, Flats at Strawberry Square (too big-city, too expensive).

All have proven the haters and trolls wrong. They are still in business. Most are thriving.

The armchair critics also roared over the new Harrisburg Bike Share. But it had about 500 sign-ups in its first month in operation, according to sponsor Communities in Schools PA. The sturdy white bikes with the front baskets are now a common sight along the riverfront and City Island. Chalk up another success.

Therefore, I’m calling time on “old Harrisburg.” This is the Harrisburg with little more to offer its residents than cut-rate goods, unhealthy food and substandard housing. This is the Harrisburg owned by people who flee each night to the suburbs, snug in subdivisions where their blighted buildings and dangerous bars would never be tolerated. This is the Harrisburg with an inferiority complex, where anyone hoping for better is shouted down as an outsider or an idiot.

Of course, I realize that change, as is its nature, is distributed unevenly across the city, with some neighborhoods progressing and others not. But we need to realize—simply because it’s a fact—that Harrisburg’s economy has changed. Over the past decade, it’s deepened and diversified, and it should no longer surprise anyone that the city can support nicer and, yes, sometimes more expensive goods and services.

A couple of years ago, a friend told me that he was thinking about opening a business and asked me what I thought. My advice was this—go higher end. By higher end, I didn’t mean Gucci or Givenchy. I meant “mass market nice,” something a notch or two better than conventional wisdom in this town seemed to believe would work.

I reached this conclusion not based on my own personal likes or aspirations, but by looking around at what was already succeeding: Café Fresco, Stage on Herr, Suba, Cork & Fork, Federal Taphouse. “Something better” seemed to be where the market was moving in Harrisburg. I told him that that’s what we did with TheBurg—and it worked for us, too.

In contrast, you know what’s not working? People who treat the city like it’s still old, ramshackle Harrisburg, who seem stuck in the past. In the decade I’ve been here, countless convenience stores, cell phone resellers and used goods shops have opened and closed just along 3rd Street in Midtown. It simply doesn’t seem to be a successful business strategy any longer.

I also urged my friend to heed what I call the “three C’s” of success: capitalization, competence and commitment. As a small business owner and enthusiast, I’ve seen even good ideas flop due to owner malpractice. I told him that, if he chose to open a store, he had to ensure that he was well capitalized, deeply understood his product and business and was willing to work 12-hour days (he wasn’t and didn’t).

So, here’s to Provisions, Harrisburg’s newest small business. It’s a little funky, a little urban, a little fun. And it offers a completely different, superior food-shopping experience for anyone accustomed to the numbing, cold sterility of the suburban supermarket. May it have a long, long life!

Lawrance Binda is editor in chief of TheBurg.

You Got This! A runner recalls the exhilaration–and exhaustion–of the Harrisburg Marathon.

October 31, 2017 | by Mark Rank

Photo by Rosie Turner

On a wonderfully cool day recently, people on lunch break enjoyed the fresh air of the Walnut Street Bridge, the Susquehanna River meandering below them.

As I stood at the end of the bridge, just short of City Island, I was brought back to five years earlier when 2,000 fellow runners started a 26.2-mile race. Back then, the Harrisburg Marathon finished on the Walnut Street Bridge, and I was standing near the spot where I once collapsed into a wheelchair.

Run Forever
I’d started to run, casually at first, at the age of 40.

Running, like some other things in life, can cascade, and it soon became my addiction. I’m still not sure why it felt so good, but it might have had something to do with creeping middle age, endorphins and a little hole developing in my soul after 15 years in middle management.

The first marathon I entered was a pancake-flat race in York, which proved catastrophic. I trained for it in earnest, pretty much doing everything wrong, heeding no advice and training too fast and too short. My longest training run was 16 miles. In the race I “bonked” (hit the wall) at, you guessed it, mile 16. I heard a spectator say, “I didn’t know people walked these.”

My lower back had started hurting by then, sometimes bad enough that it was tough getting out of bed. After therapy, I started running again. I read an article in Runner’s World about a growing obsession, among some, to qualify for what might be the greatest race, the Boston Marathon.

I increased mileage gradually, my back held, and, in April 2012, I decided to train, a day at a time, for Harrisburg, which had gained a reputation as a well-organized, small-town race. I studied running websites, talked to local track coaches, stretched after runs, ordered chia seeds online, and religiously followed a training program. I stopped short of high altitude training in Colorado, but considered it. By November 2012, I felt like I could run forever.

Nov. 11, 2012, the date of the race, started cold and clear. By 3 a.m., I couldn’t sleep, and I walked my dog down the farm lane. The air from Canada was bracing; a meteor shot against the sky in front of us, too rare to believe.

I reached the parking lot on City Island around 5 a.m. I sat in my car, queasy but encouraged that others also saw fit to arrive so early. I walked around and picked up my packet inside a building. Everything was organized well, and the people were friendly, talking quietly in small groups. I really had nothing to say except for an inner monologue, and I walked back through the parking lot, telling myself I’m not nervous, and why should I be when I’ve put in the miles. A marathon is two races, someone had told me—the first 20 or so, and then the rest.

Before I returned to my car, I saw another man, maybe 30, in his car eating a thick hamburger. Red meat on race day? First the meteor, then this.

Are You OK?
It was finally nearing race time, and we lined up on the Market Street Bridge, which was choked with runners. Super Storm Sandy had hit several weeks before, wiping out the New York Marathon, and the overflow was hitting smaller races. Pace groups distinguished themselves with raised signs, and I went to the fastest group I saw: 3:25 (three hours, 25 minutes).

I’ll run with the group, I said to myself, and then take off, maybe at mile 18. Standing on the bridge facing the city, the sun was up, sweats were off, and it felt good. Announcements were made, and I wanted to run so badly. Two days ago, during my taper, my boss had said, “I bet it’s painful not to be able to run today.” Yes, boss, thanks.

A blond woman in our group, maybe 10 years my junior, said something to me. She was from Australia, living in northern Jersey, very pretty and outgoing. Absently, I pictured myself cheering her on at the finish.

The gun sounded—or maybe it was a horn. I don’t remember. I do remember feeling strong, curbing the temptation to abandon the group. I talked to the pacer as we ran, a friendly, helpful man in his early 30s named Jamie, sporting a hydration pack and yellow shirt. His personal record was 2:53, and he’d done Boston seven times.

Every two miles, there was a table with small water cups. I slowed down at each, took two cups and drank. The group pulled ahead each time, and I scampered after them, probably catching up too quickly. At mile six, I said something to Jamie about feeling so good and asked if it was too early to take off. We still had about 40 or so people in our group, and others heard me and must have thought I was obnoxious.

At mile 18, I said to Jamie, “If I still feel good by now, I have this, right?

Soon afterwards, we hit three short, but sharp hills. A man staggered down one, and Jamie said, “You got this! Stay with us!” But he pulled to the side and stopped, head down. I was still standing and chose this moment to inch ahead. A half-mile later, in an instant, I felt weak, a little sick. Jamie and a group of about 10 came up on me. He said, “Are you OK?”

Under my breath, I said, “Yes, it will be OK.” He offered a gel, strawberry banana. It made me nauseous and worried. I knew how quickly pace can slow, double, even go to stop, and I knew we were just 60 seconds ahead of a 3:25 finish.

We hit the last stretch, a winding path along the Susquehanna back to our bridge. The sun was up in the sky now, piercing in the dry atmosphere. Jamie announced that we had three miles to go, and a bit after, said, “There’s our bridge!” This was the bike section of the Catfish Triathlon that I’d done just a few months earlier, and I knew where I was. The next bridge, now close to us, was the Harvey Taylor, decidedly not Walnut Street. I hated that fact but was glad to know it as we continued past.

By now, I was finished, as if a virulent flu had taken hold. In any circumstance outside of a dire emergency, or, it turned out, a Boston Marathon qualifier, I would collapse and not move for hours. The human body can hold about 2,000 calories of glycogen, and a marathon, on average, requires much more energy than that. It is unbending math, and if you don’t heed it, you’ll bonk. I had ingested gallons of water and pounds of carbs in the days leading up, but intra-race nutrition was the one crucial item I’d left out of race day.

My mind went back to the catastrophe in York, two years before, but my eyes were fixed on Jamie’s yellow shirt, and, for the life of me, I wouldn’t let it recede. We continued, now four of us, along the path’s too-warm cement.

The last hill on this course was the path up to the Walnut Street Bridge. I braced for it, mentally preparing for the effort as a weight lifter might for a deadlift. On top, we saw the finish beyond the edge of the bridge, and Jamie stepped aside, cheering us on. “Mark, go, go. That’s the finish! You got this!”

I wondered how he could be so confident, because every step felt like my last. I lurched over the finish line, and a woman, a smiling volunteer, an angel, pulled up a wheelchair and pushed me to the medical tent. “Someone died at this last year,” she said.

As I looked around the tent from under my blanket, a nurse took my pulse and pushed Gatorade. I saw others in varying states of disrepair. A fit man in his early 30s was on his stomach next to me, a massage therapist teasing out lactic acid. He smiled at me. I grinned drowsily back and said, “I almost didn’t finish,” and he nodded, knowing what I meant.

The 2017 Enders Harrisburg Marathon is scheduled for Nov. 12. The course changed in 2015 and now finishes in downtown Harrisburg. The new finish, according to Tom Gifford, the race director, “allows more spectators, cheering and excitement.” For more information, visit www.ymcarun.com.

The Wheel Deal: City bike share to roll out this week.

September 26, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

The Harrisburg bike share system will comprise 11 docking locations similar to those in Philadelphia, pictured above. (Image from Creative Commons database.)

A local nonprofit and community sponsors have finalized plans for the city’s first bike share, which will put 55 communal bicycles on Harrisburg’s streets starting Sept. 29.

The program is modeled after bike share systems that have sprouted up in recent years in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Paying members use a smart phone app or text messages to unlock a bicycle from the docking station and then ride and return it to any docking station in the city.

A $25 annual membership will give riders free access to bikes for periods shorter than two hours and then charge $2 for each hour after that. “Pay as You Go” members will be charged $2 for each hour they use a bike.

The program is spearheaded by Communities in Schools Pennsylvania (CIS), a dropout prevention organization, and sponsored by organizations including Highmark insurance and the Dauphin County commissioners. CIS will outsource bike share management to Zagster, a startup that operates more than 100 city bike shares across the country.

A map released by CIS on Tuesday shows 11 docking stations in the city’s Uptown, Midtown and downtown neighborhoods and on City Island.

Ryan Riley, president of CIS, said that Zagster representatives helped determine where to place docking stations. National data show that bike shares are most successful when docking stations are spaced ¼-mile apart in areas with high pedestrian safety, he explained.

Those standards mean that some neighborhoods were cut off from the docking stations, Riley said, since major thoroughfares in the city cannot safely accommodate cyclists.

“Paxton Street and Cameron Street were two big impediments,” Riley said. “But that cuts off parts of Allison Hill and Bellevue Park, which creates a whole section of the city that can’t connect with the other parts of it safely.”

The station map released by CIS on Tuesday. Jenna Lewis, CIS vice president, said that the Broad Street East station shown here will be moved to the corner of Front and Division streets.

The stations also had to be located on city property. All of the docking stations are located on public sidewalks, or, in the case of the City Island stations, on city-owned land, said Jenna Lewis, CIS vice president.

Riley hopes to add more docking locations in the future, but said that early user trends will dictate how the program grows. Bike share sponsors will watch ridership data to see who is using the bicycles and for what purposes.

“We need to know if this will be a leisure [service] or if we have people who want to use these bikes to get to employment areas,” Riley said. “We need to see success to know where to expand.”

Zagster will charge an annual $90,000 subscription fee for bikes, insurance, maintenance and technical support. Harrisburg’s program also will have a separate marketing budget to fund ad campaigns and outreach events.

Riley said that the bike share sponsors are committed to seeing the program through for at least two years, though they don’t expect it to be self-sustaining after that.

Instead, they see their sponsorships as investments in public health, community building and traffic improvements.

“The whole point of bike shares is to increase pedestrian access by using bikes to improve communities and replace driving,” Riley said.

The program is part of a larger effort to raise awareness of CIS’s mission within the Harrisburg community, according to Riley. He said that the program launch will tie into their plans to establish a reengagement center for underserved youth in the city. CiS expects to open that center in spring 2018.

Your guide to Kipona 2017

September 1, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

A scene from the Native American pow-wow at Kipona 2014.

Kipona, Harrisburg’s annual Labor Day festival, will bring food, music and high-adrenaline stunts to the city from Saturday through Monday. This year’s event will be held in Riverfront Park from Market Street to Forster Street, with additional attractions on City Island and on State Street near the Capitol.

The city published a full festival guide here with detailed schedules and a city map. We compiled some essential details, including event highlights and parking info, below:

Map of Kipona events (click to enlarge)

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Fireworks from City Island will start at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Tight rope walkers will make walks over the Susquehanna throughout the weekend. On Saturday at 2 p.m., wire-walker Alice Herrick will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest wire walk in high heels.

A 28-foot high, 200-foot long zipline will be open on State Street starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday. It’s open to the public for free, but only for one day.

Sample food and watch performances at the Taste of India festival, taking place all day Saturday on City Island.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will host a rubber duck race at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Sponsor a duck for $5, or dedicate a pink survivor duck for $8.

The Dick Reese Canoe Race will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.

Throughout the weekend:
More than 45 food vendors will set up shop near State Street and on Kunkel Street Stage (between Market and Walnut streets.) Ice cream tacos, Auntie Ann’s pretzels, crab cakes and more are on the menu.
Witness indigenous cultural demonstrations at the Native American Pow-Wow on City Island.
Enjoy live music at the Market Street Stage, Kunkel Street Stage, and acoustic music tent starting at 11 a.m. each day.
Browse crafts at the Artist Market on Walnut Street
Enjoy face painting, bouncy houses, and entertainment at the Children’s Festival on Pine and South streets.
Enjoy a drink at the Millworks/Zeroday biergarten, adjacent to the Midtown Cinema screening tent in Riverfront Park.
Give your dogs a break at the Doggie Rest Stop near South Street.

ROAD CLOSURES
Front Street between Market and Forster streets, and State Street from 3rd to Front streets, will be closed from Friday evening until Tuesday morning.

PARKING
Parking is free on Sunday and Monday. Regular rates apply for Sept. 2, but use the code LUVHBG in the city meters for four hours of free parking. Alternatively, a full day of parking on City Island will cost $4.

Water & Wire: City Announces 2017 Kipona Festival

August 22, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Alice Herrick, 21, walks on a tight rope outside of city hall today to promote the 2017 Kipona festival. Photo by Yaasmeen Piper.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse predicts a record-breaking Kipona celebration this Labor Day weekend—and not just in terms of attendance.

At the city’s 101^st annual Kipona festival, which will be held Sept. 2 to 4 at Riverfront Park and City Island, two tightrope walkers will strut across the Susquehanna in hopes of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest wire walk in high heels. Stunt artists Alice Herrick, 21, and Rilee Gallagher, 16, both of the Finucular Circus troupe in Philadelphia, will attempt the feat at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Herrick, who was at the Tuesday morning press conference where Papenfuse announced the Kipona schedule, will be wearing 4½ -inch heels when she attempts to break the record. She said she is excited but nervous about executing the stunt.

“If I fall, I hope it goes viral,” Herrick said.

She and other wire walkers will perform additional walks (albeit in slippers, not heels) throughout the day on Saturday.

The tightrope walk is just one high-adrenaline event at this year’s Kipona, which is free and open to the public. On Sunday, the city and PinnacleHealth will erect a free, 28-foot high, 200-foot long zip line on State Street—the first of its kind at a Kipona celebration.

Some perennial favorites will return this year, as well, including the Native American pow-wow, Festival of India, the Dick Reese canoe race and fireworks on City Island at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday. Festival-goers will also be able to cool down at a Midtown Cinema movie tent, enjoy drinks at a beer garden, and view local craft goods at the artists market.

In all, more than 130 food and product vendors, artists and nonprofit organizations will be present at the event, Papenfuse said.

Kipona is presented each year by the City of Harrisburg in partnership with the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau and a number of corporate sponsors.

Sue Kunisky, vice president of the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, reported that 55,000 people attended last year’s celebration, many of them from outside the city. This year, organizers are preparing for an even higher turnout.

“Kipona is a time to celebrate Harrisburg’s diverse cultures,” Papenfuse said.

Kipona 2017 will take place Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4 at Riverfront Park and City Island in Harrisburg. Visit Harrisburgpa.gov/kipona2017 for more information, including an event schedule and parking details.

Author: Lizzy Hardison

Military Melodies: PA National Guard Band to play at Italian Lake.

July 18, 2017 | by Allison Moody

Harrisburg’s Italian Lake, the site of a concert on Saturday.

This weekend, patriotic tunes will temporarily displace the usual sounds of songbirds and water fowl at Italian Lake.

Starting at 6 p.m., the 28^th Infantry Division Concert Band will perform a variety of music, including John Phillips Sousa marches, in honor of the Pennsylvania 28^th Division of the National Guard and veterans around the nation.

The musicians are all active duty members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and will travel from all corners of the state for the performance.

The Special Projects Committee of the Greater Harrisburg Area is sponsoring the event. This committee is simply “a group of men and women who want to help get things done,” according to committee member Mike Trephan.

It was over lunch at the West Shore Plaza Family Restaurant that the idea for the tribute concert came about. Committee members felt as though National Guard service often goes unrecognized and uncelebrated, and they wanted to host something to show their appreciation.

“There’s been a toll on these people serving multiple tours,” said committee member and former WGAL anchor Jim Sinkovitz.

The committee and its members have been involved in numerous projects in the past, including the Pride of the Susquehanna, City Island, and more recently, getting Reservoir Park’s fountains up and running. The goal is to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents in the greater Harrisburg area, and this concert fits into their mission.

“We don’t have any agenda other than to keep what our forefather’s left us going,” said Trephan.

The 28th Infantry Division Concert Band will perform Saturday, July 22, beginning at 6 p.m. at Italian Lake, N. 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg. The concert is free.

Author: Allison Moody

Community Corner: Notable June Events

May 31, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

June Community Corner

Health Screenings June 1: PinnacleHealth will hold free blood pressure screenings at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more details, visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

Annual Breakfast June 2: The Nativity School will host its annual Breaking the Cycle Breakfast at Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., 7:30 to 9 a.m., including an 8 a.m. program with Horace Madison. Visit nativityschoolofharrisburg.org for more details.

Trail Hall of Famers June 2: Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame inductees Harlean James, Charles Parry, Mildred Norman Ryder and Matilda Wood will be honored at the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Comfort Suites, S. Hanover St., Carlisle. A reception begins at 6 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Visit atmuseum.org.

Free Shakespeare June 2-17: The annual “Free Shakespeare in the Park” returns this year with “Macbeth.” The Gamut Theatre production runs Wednesdays to Saturdays, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the band shell at Reservoir Park, Harrisburg. Visit gamuttheatre.org.

Health Event June 3: Black Girl Health, a minority women’s health outreach and awareness platform, hosts its annual “Kickstart your Health” wellness expo at Harrisburg Hilton, 1 N. 2nd St., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event includes access to health and fitness workshops, food, prizes and health screenings. Visit BlackGirlHealth.com for details.

Back Pain Workshop June 3: Join Absolute Pilates for a free workshop on techniques to beat back pain, 10 a.m. at Zang Physical Therapy, 836 Market St., Lemoyne. Call 717-440-6197 or email [email protected].

Spring HBG Flea June 3: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com for more details.

Family Garden Day June 3: Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County hosts a Family Garden Day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Penn State Extension Office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Enjoy free activities, make-and-take projects and visits with 4-H club animals. Visit extension.psu.edu for details.

Harrisburg Hoopla June 3: Harrisburg Young Professionals and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities will host Harrisburg Hoopla at City Island, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy a friendly track-and-field day for adults, organized to build community, boost the economy and raise money for local nonprofits. Visit hyp.org.

Bridges Ride June 3: Go on a leisurely sightseeing bike ride, 5:30 to 7 p.m., sponsored by Bike Harrisburg and Recycle Bicycle. Riders will travel over the Harvey Taylor, State Street, Mulberry Street, Market Street and Walnut Street bridges before heading back to Midtown. For more details, visit bikeharrisburg.org.

Night at the Museum June 3: Susquehanna Art Museum, 1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, will host “A Night at the Museum,” a festive benefit featuring cocktails, a silent auction and a sneak preview of the upcoming exhibition, 6 to 9 p.m. Visit sqart.org.

Tour de Belt June 4: The Capital Area Greenbelt Association will host its 17th annual Tour de Belt bike ride, which starts at 9:30 a.m. at HACC and follows the 20-mile Greenbelt trail. Lunch and post-ride activities provided to riders. Proceeds go to Greenbelt restoration and maintenance. Visit CAGA.org.

Plant Swap June 4: Head to Fredricken Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for a Community Plant Swap, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Bring as many plants as you would like to take home. Plants should be divided in containers in advance. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Painting Night June 5: SpiriTrust Lutheran LIFE will host a paint night fundraiser for its Alzheimer’s Walk “Lovin’ LIFE” team, 6 to 8 p.m. at LIFE Center, 1920 Good Hope Rd., Enola. Cost is $35, including supplies and a $10 donation to the team’s fundraising efforts. Painters can BYOB. Register at spritzandsplatter.com by June 4.

Summer Learning June 5-Aug. 10: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for a summer of reading, learning and events for adults, children and teens. Register in the first five days (June 5 to June 9) and/or register for a new library card to be eligible to win prizes. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Leads Over Lunch June 6: Mix and mingle with business leaders at this free lunch hosted by Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC at PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org for more details.

Women in Tech June 6: The Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania will host the 2017 Women In Technology Awards Gala at Spring Gate Vineyard and Winery, 5790 Devonshire Rd., Harrisburg, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit tccp.org.

Networking Mixer June 7: Join the West Shore Chamber and other local business professionals at the June Afternoon Networking Mixer, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Best Western Plus Harrisburg West, 4900 Woodland Dr. The event is free and open to chamber members. Visit wschamber.org for details.

Library Party June 9: Celebrate 60 years of Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, with an all-ages birthday party, 3 to 8 p.m. Enjoy food, music, giveaways, activities and games, a Quidditch exhibition, a preview of “Hamiltunes,” book character costume parade, mini book sale, birthday cupcakes and more. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Outdoor Movies June 9 & 23: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema will host two free outdoor movies in June, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” on June 9 and “Superman” on June 23 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Both films begin at dusk and, in case of rain, will be delayed until Saturday. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Volunteer Work Day June 10: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring along a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Summer Soiree June 10: Art Association of Harrisburg will host a summer soiree at Marc Kurowski’s restored historic home at 1421 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 1 to 4 p.m. Featured artists will include Ann Benton Yeager, Brian Eppley, Danielle Klebes and Dalton James. Visit artassocofhbg.com.

Let’s Talk Race June 10-24: Fredericksen Library and the YWCA Harrisburg continue a six-week series on how racism reveals itself. Held on Saturdays at the library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., “Let’s Talk” is a dialogue intended to create change and eliminate racism in our community. Visit fredericksenlibrary.org or ywcahbg.org.

Explore Wildwood June 10-25: Celebrate summer with a family adventure at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grab a packet at the nature center, then walk the Towpath Trail to explore the natural world on a 2-mile hike. Stop at stations and use clues to solve nature’s mysteries. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Concert Series June 11: Harrisburg Young Professionals kicks off its free Italian Lake Concert series with The Jayplayers at Italian Lake, N. 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg, at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, some picnic blankets and snacks. Visit hyp.org for the full lineup of summer concerts.

Garden Camp June 13-Aug. 8: Penn State Master Gardeners hosts a Summer Garden Camp for children ages 7 to 12 or in grades 3 to 6 at the Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. There will be five sessions on Tuesday mornings, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit extension.psu.edu.

Horticulture Camp June 14 and 28: Master Gardeners of Cumberland County will host Summer H.E.A.T., a horticulture program designed for teens ages 12 to 15 (or grades 6 to 9), on June 14 and June 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Penn State Extension Office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. For details, visit extension.psu.edu.

3rd in The Burg June 16: 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. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.

Civil War Days June 16-18: Immerse yourself in local history during a three-day event focused on the Harrisburg area’s role in the Civil War. Go on a battlefield tour, visit a re-enactor encampment and enjoy socials, among other activities. A roster of events is on the Facebook page: Civil War Days in Harrisburg.

Free Museum Day June 17: The National Civil War Museum presents its Community Free Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join NCWM staff and volunteers to celebrate Civil War Days with a day of activities designed to present history in a fun and educational setting. Visit nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.

Fairies & Flowers June 17: Kids can join the fairies at Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, for a hunt for the Magic Tree and to gather secrets about their favorite flowers, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children can dress in their favorite fairy costume and create jewelry and magic fairy doors. Visit hersheygardens.org for event details.

Garden Tour June 17: Visit 12 beautiful gardens, including a rooftop garden, a fairy garden and a mushroom garden on the New Cumberland Public Library’s Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of. Friends and members are $5. Visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org for more information.

Local Lunch June 17: Join Friends of Midtown at its community lunch, held this month at the Broad Street Market, 1233 N. 3rd St., 12 to 2 p.m. Support a Midtown business, meet fellow neighbors and enjoy a meal. 2017 Shop Midtown coupon books will be available. Email [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Brewers Fest June 17: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Central Pennsylvania will host its 14th Annual Harrisburg Brewers Fest from 2 to 7 p.m. at 2nd and Locust streets. The $50 ticket price includes beer samples, a collector’s sampling mug and live entertainment. Food concessions will also be available. Visit harrisburgbrewersfest.com.

Fathers’ Free Day June 18: Head to Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to celebrate Father’s Day and enjoy free admission for all dads. For more details, visit hersheygardens.org.

Art Tour June 18: Celebrate Father’s Day with a tour of Michael Ennis’s art collection, displayed in his historic home on Briggs Street in Harrisburg, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Visit artassocofhbg.org for more details.

Day Camp June 19-June 30: Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, will host Wildwood Way Day Camp for children ages 6 to 8 in two sessions, June 19 to 23 and June 26 to 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration fee is $115 per camper and is required in advance. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Business After Hours June 22: Mingle with business professionals at Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event at Sacunas Integrated Communications, 2201 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Visit harrisburgregionalchamber.org.

Dress For Success June 22-25: Suits to Careers and Dress for Success will sell new and gently used professional clothing and shoes, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., on the lower level of Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., next to Payless Shoes. Make a donation of $20 on Sunday and receive a bag to fill. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

Summer Tea Party June 25: The Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., will host a traditional tea party in its garden, 12 to 2 p.m., with the choice of freshly baked scones, lemon curd, preserves, tea sandwiches, mini-pastries and individual pots of tea. Reservations are required and are $25 per person. Visit artassocofhbg.com.

Garden Tour June 25: Join Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County, 1 to 6 p.m., for “A Summer Celebration” garden tour. Visit each of six unique private gardens in the Carlisle area, from Monroe to Dickinson Township, as well as the Master Gardener demonstration gardens, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Visit extension.psu.edu.

Rock Band Camp June 26-30: Learn guitar basics in a classroom band setting and experiment with different arrangements of classic rock-and-roll songs, during this weeklong camp, held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Visit musicatmetropolis.com.

A Field Day for Nonprofits: Harrisburg Hoopla raises money with friendly competition.

May 3, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

city island in the middle of the river on

Harrisburg Hoopla will take place June 3 at City Island’s Skyline Sports Complex.

Typically, professional athletes compete at Harrisburg’s City Island. However, come June 3, amateurs will have their day to play, while raising funds for local nonprofits.

Harrisburg Hoopla will give participants a day of friendly competition that ends with cold drinks, snacks and live music. Groups of at least six will face off in the Skyline Sports Complex in eight events of field day classics, such as the dizzy bat race and dodgeball.

The Emerging Philanthropist Program (EPP), a partnership between Harrisburg Young Professionals and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), created Harrisburg Hoopla this year to raise awareness and funds for local charities.

“We want to raise awareness for different causes and local nonprofit organizations,” said event organizer Devin Langan. “There are some organizations that are out there that are doing really good work, but people may not know about them.”

Teams select different local nonprofits to support. The winning three teams take the bulk of the donations for their charities. The first-place team takes 30 percent of funds raised. Second and third place teams, respectively, take 20 and 10 percent of funds raised.

After the field day activities end, the event turns into a party complete with live music, alcohol, snacks and a food truck.

“We have a little bit of everything,” Langan said. “People can relax, have fun and enjoy the weather.”

The winning teams will be given a platform to talk about their charity of choice.

So far, teams have been selected to compete for the Samara Center for Individual and Family Growth, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and a charity to benefit those with cystic fibrosis.

The event also serves as a fundraiser that will sustain next year’s event and EPP’s grant-making fund.

“Instead of just focusing on raising money for EPP, we can raise awareness of the local charities,” he said.

The program acquaints a class of 15 young adults with Harrisburg’s local nonprofit community. At the end of the yearlong class, the group doles out a $5,000 grant to a nonprofit. In its fourth years, EPP has donated $15,000 to local groups, including the YWCA and the Shalom House.

After completing the program, Langan and other event organizers wanted to create an annual event that would engage all the community and benefit the nonprofit community they became connected with.

“We want to keep Harrisburg growing and improving,” he said.

Participants must register to compete. Attendees can purchase tickets to come for the evening festivities. Register before May 7 for an early bird rate. Event organizers suggest that those supporting and cheering on teams during the day donate.

“[Harrisburg Hoopla is] open to everyone. We want as many people to come as possible,” Langan said.

For more information about Harrisburg Hoopla, including how to register, please visit www.tfec.org/hbghoopla/registration.

Author: Danielle Roth

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