Tag Archives: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Online, Lifelines: Dauphin County libraries seek funding to boost computer access, amid escalating need

April 2, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Adults use Dauphin County library computer resources, pre-pandemic

Every morning, people are waiting in line outside Harrisburg’s three libraries.

They wait in line because they need to get online.

“What we’re seeing now, entering this pandemic recovery mode, is that computers continue to be a lifeline for the community,” said Karen Cullings, executive director of the Dauphin County Library System (DCLS). “During normal times, we provide people with access and help them with issues, but there are even more of them right now.”

Library staff began helping patrons complete Dauphin County’s online rental relief applications this week. That’s in addition to guiding library users through searches for online vaccine appointments, filing for unemployment, and navigating job searches. The city’s three libraries—Kline, Madeline L. Olewine and McCormick Riverfront Libraries, plus the East Shore Area Library—have the most heavily used computers within DCLS’s eight locations.

The problem is, computer access is at a premium.

Only 49 of the library system’s 128 traditional desktop computers are currently online. Due to social distancing guidelines, the remaining 79 computers are blocked off, with their screens remaining dark on a daily basis.

Laptops are somewhat of a stopgap—32 laptops are available for use within the libraries. Some of them were recently purchased thanks to funding from Dauphin County’s gaming grants.

But additional funding—between $40,000 to $50,000—is needed to reconfigure the layout of the PCs, Cullings said, not only to allow for safe social distancing, but for privacy reasons as many users enter personal, sensitive and medical information into their searches and applications.

Cullings is hoping DCLS can plug into federal, state or local COVID-19 grant funding—or a combination of those sources—to bring the otherwise unused computers back online.

If funding isn’t secured and reconfiguration doesn’t begin soon—some of which involves lengthy processes such as cutting through masonry in order to move electrical wiring—Cullings fears libraries won’t be able to meet residents’ escalating need for computer access.

“I believe good news is on the horizon thanks to the American Rescue Plan [recently passed by Congress],” said Glenn R. Miller, deputy secretary and commissioner for libraries, under the Pennsylvania Department of Education. “In that plan, there are a number of programs—one that speaks to this specifically is a connectivity fund–$7.1 billion—through the Federal Communications Commission.”

Miller believes guidelines for the relief program will be available in early May, followed by an application period for libraries and schools by early-to-mid-summer.

“In terms of vaccine appointments, the bad news is, it might not be soon enough for that [increased computer access],” Miller said. “But it’s still going to solve a lot of problems.”

According to the most current (2018) data, 83% of Dauphin County households have internet access. That leaves 17%–or nearly 19,000 households—disconnected.

“We knew the problem was there but the pandemic has accentuated the magnitude of it,” Miller said. “It’s highlighted the disconnect between the haves and have-nots, specifically around digital access… it’s having a more profound impact on kids and families who are in more disadvantaged economic circumstances.”

County agencies such as Dauphin County Human Services, along with area pharmacies, are referring residents without internet access to the libraries for computer access. Which puts DCLS in a tight spot that is only getting tighter.

“We’re trying to make it work, with what we have,” Cullings said, “And we’re very eager to help residents because we know the need is great, but as the vaccine rollout increases, we may have to go to an appointment-only arrangement [for computer use].”

DCLS recently lifted the one-hour time limit previously imposed upon library computer use, because many of the relief applications and searches are taking users longer than an hour to complete.

“This is a time of big transition,” Cullings said. “We recognize that public libraries are not just access points but part of the cultural fabric of our community, and we’re going to have to work through these issues such as equitable technology.”

For more information on DCLS, see dcls.org.

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PA will allow schools to reopen July 1; districts must develop safety plan

June 3, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Lincoln School

Schools in PA can begin to re-open on July 1, though districts must have in place health and safety plans based on federal and state guidance.

The state Department of Education today gave school districts in all “yellow” and “green” zones permission to reopen on that date as long as they develop plans based on guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health.

By July 1, all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties should be in either the yellow or green phase of the state’s three-phase reopening plan. On Friday, all remaining red phase counties, mostly in the southeast portion of the state, are due to enter the yellow phase.

“The Wolf administration remains committed to the safety and welfare of students, faculty and staff, and any reopening plan must be rooted in these principles,” said Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera, in a statement. “As school leaders resume instruction in the 2020-21 school year, the department recognizes the need for preliminary guidance to aid in planning for a return to in-person instruction, delivery of services, and resumption of extracurricular activities.”

According to the department, plans must encompass several elements:

identifying a pandemic coordinator or team to lead response efforts
steps to protect higher-risk children and staff
processes for monitoring students and staff for symptoms
guidelines for hygiene practices
processes for cleaning and disinfecting
guidelines for the use of face masks
protocols for social distancing
procedures for restricting large gatherings

The plans must be approved by local school boards and posted on the school or district public website before a school reopens. The plans must also be submitted to the state education department.

According to Rivera, the plans should be tailored to the unique needs of each school and reflect a comprehensive, community approach created in consultation with local health agencies.

The guidance applies to school districts, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, career and technical centers and intermediate units. Nonpublic schools are strongly encouraged to create plans tailored to their unique needs and post them on their websites.

Postsecondary schools in the yellow and green phases can resume in-person instruction on June 5 following the development of a health and safety plan. The guidance applies to colleges, universities, seminaries, trade schools and adult basic education programs. Institutions must adhere to proper physical distancing guidelines and other general public health and safety considerations informed by guidelines released by the CDC and DOH, according to the education department.

“Educators, students and caregivers have done a remarkable job as we all navigate through this pandemic,” Rivera said. “Now we need to direct our energy to focus on how to resume instruction in the 2020-21 school year. We fully expect students to return to classrooms in some capacity and are confident that schools will use this guidance to build a framework that best meets the unique needs of their students and communities.”

PA schools to stay closed for rest of academic year

April 9, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Benjamin Franklin School

Pennsylvania schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, the state ordered today.

Gov. Tom Wolf said that the step was necessary to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“We must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus during this national crisis,” Wolf said, in a statement. “This was not an easy decision, but closing schools until the end of the academic year is in the best interest of our students, school employees and families.”

Wolf first ordered schools closed last month, setting an early April reopening date. He then said that schools would be closed until further notice before today’s announcement that they will remain shut.

The closure mandate applies to all schools, including public, private and cyber charter schools.

In his statement, Wolf said that, although schools are closed, they’re “strongly encouraged” to continue to offer education in “the most appropriate and accessible ways possible,” whether through online or paper-based lessons.

Schools will stay closed until Wolf lifts his “stay at home” order and the state explicitly allows them to reopen, according to the state Department of Education (PDE).

“As schools and communities adapt to the prolonged school closure, PDE will continue to work with our state, educational, and business and nonprofit partners to meet the needs of students,” said education Secretary Pedro Rivera.

PA schools ordered to remain shut for another two weeks

March 23, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Lincoln School building

Public schools in Pennsylvania will be closed for at least another two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera announced on Tuesday afternoon an extension of the closure order until “at least” April 6. The prior order extended only through the end of this week.

“Protecting the health and safety of students, families, teachers and all employees who work in our schools is paramount during this national health crisis, and we must continue our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus,” he said.

Rivera said that this directive aligns with Gov. Tom Wolf’s “stay at home” order issued on Monday for seven counties: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Monroe.

Rivera on Monday also cancelled standardized testing for students in career and technical education (CTE) programs for the 2019-20 school year. Last week, the department cancelled all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year, as well as the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA).

“The number of positive cases increases daily and we’re seeing it spread to more counties. We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines,” Rivera said. “Extending the closure will help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread.”

Harrisburg school district, city police team to ensure food access for students

March 17, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg’s Benjamin Franklin School, one of the meal pick-up locations

On Monday, all K-12 Pennsylvania schools closed for 10 business days in accordance with Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandate during the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

As a result, the Harrisburg school district will be closed through at least March 27.

But it’s not just classroom instruction that students will miss, as they regularly receive free breakfasts and lunches at school, as well. The district, however, is ensuring that students continue to be fed, even with the epidemic.

“We are trying to put food into our families’ hands,” Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer said.

The school district is giving free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches to enrolled students. Resources come through their collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National School Lunch Program.

This week, parents can receive food for their children through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., at their children’s school. The district asks parents of pre-K to fourth-grade students to arrive at 10 a.m.; fifth- to eighth-grade students to arrive at 10:30 a.m.; and ninth- to 12th-grade students to arrive at 11 a.m.

According to Celmer, a plan for next week is still being developed, although the district should have more information about it on Wednesday.

In addition to breakfast and lunch options, the Harrisburg Police Bureau, in partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, will provide students with dinner meals.

“We understand our children have limited means and that creates an obstacle for a lot of families,” Community Policing Coordinator Blake Lynch said. “We want to try and step in because the commissioner and our offices understand that serving is important.”

Parents can pick up these meals on Wednesday, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., and on Friday at the same times.

Food pick-up locations for all three meals are:

Foose School (1301 Sycamore St.)
Rowland Academy (1842 Derry St.)
John Harris Campus (2451 Market St.)
Downey School (1313 Monroe St.)
Ben Franklin School (1205 N. 6th St.)
Camp Curtin Academy (2900 N. 6th St.)

Lynch expects to see the program continue next week. However, the police bureau is working closely with the district to see how plans develop.

Food is being packaged and handed out through the help of community members and groups volunteering alongside the bureau and the school district.

Celmer encouraged families to resist congregating at pick-up sites to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

The district is also working on academic enrichment activities for students to participate in outside of the classroom, Celmer said. Regular updates will be posted on the district’s website.

“This situation is unparalleled, but we are working together to do the best for our students,” Celmer said.

For more information, visit https://www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us/student_and_families/coronavirus___c_o_v_i_d-19_

Proposed PA STEAM Academy faces more delay, as Harrisburg school receiver appeals court decision

August 20, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Midtown 2, where PA STEAM Academy would like to locate

For months, the proposed PA STEAM Academy has been waiting for a date to take its case before the state’s Charter School Appeal Board.

It appears the proposed charter school’s supporters now will need to wait even longer.

At Monday night’s school board meeting, Harrisburg school district Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels approved a resolution starting the district’s own appeal, specifically an appeal of a lower court’s approval of signatures supporting the proposed school.

On Aug. 2, Dauphin County Judge John McNally issued an order stating that PA STEAM had collected enough valid signatures so that the proposed school could now move forward with mounting an appeal to the state Charter School Appeal Board.

“The required number of signatures (1,000) were properly obtained and presented to the Court . . . ,” McNally wrote in his decision.

Samuels now is appealing that decision to the Commonwealth Court. Asked about the issue on Monday night, Samuels declined comment.

However, during the meeting, she said that the Harrisburg district stood ready to compete with charter schools, and she even encouraged district parents with children in brick-and-mortar and cyber charter schools to consider returning to the Harrisburg school system.

“I want to be very clear about, here in the Harrisburg school district, we are ready in a very bold and courageous way [to compete] with all charter schools in this area,” Samuels said.

Reached by phone on Tuesday morning, Dr. Carolyn Dumaresq, chair of the PA STEAM Academy’s board of directors, said that she was disappointed with Samuels’ action.

“It’s kind of a mystery to me that the receiver says she wants to compete with charter schools, but then doesn’t allow any to open,” said Dumaresq, who served as state secretary of education under former Gov. Tom Corbett.

In fact, PA STEAM had submitted petitions with 1,844 signatures, far exceeding the 1,000-signature threshold, making it unlikely that the district’s appeal will succeed, she said.

“To challenge the signatures—isn’t there a better use of taxpayer money?” she said.

Originally, PA STEAM Academy had hoped to open for the 2019-20 school year in the building now known as HACC Midtown 2, previously the Evangelical Press Building, at N. 3^rd and Reily streets.

However, in February, the Harrisburg school board unanimously denied their charter application. Charter school supporters then collected signatures as a first step in the appeals process. With the petitions approved by McNally, school founders believed that they were free to continue their appeal to the state Department of Education’s Charter School Appeal Board.

PA STEAM Academy now must mount another hurdle—defending their signatures before the Commonwealth Court.

“You would have to prove that these people (who signed the petitions) don’t live in the city, and they do,” Dumaresq said. “It seems like just more delay. It’s sad.”

Dumaresq said that PA STEAM now hopes to open in time for the 2020-21 school year. The founders envision starting with 120 students in a K-2 school, adding a grade level each year until it becomes a K-8 school.

“I think this appeal is such a misuse of taxpayer money,” she said. “But are what are you going to do?”

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

July 5, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg school district receiver Dr. Janet Samuels with Dr. John George of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit

It may have been a holiday-shortened week, but it was still long on news around Harrisburg. Here are some local stories and features that you may have missed amidst the barbecues and big booms.

Harrisburg City Council members expected a long summer break, but now they’ll need to return to city hall next week because of delays in the annual process of doling out federal housing grant money. What’s the holdup? Click here to find out.

Harrisburg’s affordable housing crunch is a problem that won’t be fixed overnight. However, our editor has some thoughts on what may help.

Harrisburg school district receiver Dr. Janet Samuels introduced Dr. John George, who will head up her recovery team for the next three years. Oh, and a bunch of computers and essential data have gone missing. Click here for all the details.

Independence Day fireworks went off with a bang, despite the threat of rain. Read our feature story on the best place to witness them in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Department of Education consultants completed their financial audit of the Harrisburg school district, issuing a damning report that prompted responses both from the school receiver and from our editor.

Sara Bozich looked beyond the July 4 holiday to offer up some great ideas for going out and having fun for the entire long(ish) weekend.

TheBurg’s music columnist has fests and folkies in focus this month. Check out all her recommendations for July.

Two-way 2^nd Street is a step closer to reality, as Harrisburg plans to offer two design plans at a public meeting on July 18. Click here for the details.

“Where I Live,” a book by Harrisburg writer and educator Debra Hervitz, teaches local children exactly where they stand in the state, the country, the universe.

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

Turn the Page: A 2-year renovation project will bring the Forum into the modern era, but library patrons should be prepared for prolonged disruption.

June 28, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

There are good things and bad things to say about decades of neglect at the Forum Building.

The bad news about the Capitol Complex’s Art Deco jewel: Peeling paint. Rattling room air conditioners. Computer cables tangled like the snakes from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Walls and woodwork dingy from cigar smoke.

The good news: A glorious canvas ready for a makeover. A two-year renovation will culminate with the return of the Pennsylvania Department of Education to its original home and, perhaps, a return of the State Library to its original glory. By late 2021, Pennsylvania’s full continuum of learning will share one building with modernized systems.

“We clearly know that serving the public today is quite a bit different than 1931,” noted Deputy Secretary/Commissioner for Libraries Glenn Miller.

Gutted & Renovated

What we call the Forum Building was erected in 1931 as the Education Building. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction occupied the space until most operations of the renamed Pennsylvania Department of Education moved to Market Street—into the disco-era building emblazoned with its “333” street address.

But in that move, the Office of Commonwealth Libraries stayed behind, amid the towering stacks of books and other materials housed in the State Library.

In this space, researchers have mined obscure journals for academic papers. Genealogists scrolled through microfilm census records or newspapers for gems of family history. The Pennsylvania State Police utilize the separate law library, on the building’s south side, for background checks. Need a 1980s DER report on stormwater drainage? It could be here, because the State Library is—in theory, at least—keeper of all state documents.

But even the mighty State Library—with its 3.7 million books and “newspapers, DVDs, pamphlets, maps, microfilm reels, manuscripts, and more,” in Miller’s words—has felt the impact of the internet age. Meanwhile, the entire Forum Building has become “largely vacant due to its functionally obsolete and inefficient mechanical and electrical systems,” according to Pennsylvania Department of General Services spokesperson Troy Thompson.

An $88 million project will upgrade and modernize mechanical, plumbing, electrical and life safety systems, including IT, throughout the building. Upper floors will be gutted and renovated “into modern office space” accommodating 800 people, up from 200 now, Thompson said.

“The project will take an 80-year-old building’s aging and outdated infrastructure, which has seen minimal upgrades over its lifespan, and convert it into modern, tenant-ready space with maximum occupancy,” he said.

Third Space

Not that there aren’t some spaces worth saving in those nooks and crannies above the library. Miller took TheBurg’s writer and photographer into “the best office in the Capitol Complex”—his own.

Paneling and shelving in a light-hued wood, framed by dentil molding, line the walls. Glass doors open to a restored portico of tile floor and coffered ceiling painted in brilliant blue. Or maybe the ceiling is tiled. Hard to say because it’s soaring some 20 feet above, held up by massive columns. It all overlooks Soldiers’ Grove, the leafy space commemorating Pennsylvania’s Medal of Honor winners.

While the Capitol Preservation Committee restored the building’s law library to Art Deco faithfulness in recent years, the State Library side might not be so lucky. Restoration of the library’s elegant features, including ornate chandeliers and brass railings, depends on any money left over from renovations. More will be known when bids are opened this fall.

“Depending on the bids, the priority will be system replacements over historical restoration,” said Thompson.

As of last month, the renovations chased Office of Commonwealth Libraries bureaus to other state spaces. The popular Makerspace, where educators get professional development in sparking imaginative creations, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math classes (that’s STEM with an A, or STEAM), moved to the Pennsylvania State Museum.

The library services folks relocated to the Keystone Building, where the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s own library people “squished themselves down to about half,” said Miller. A handful of often-requested library materials will travel along, for a “scaled-down version of library services,” but patrons requesting any other materials must wait while their items are retrieved from the stacks.

The huge project, slated to begin in September, is “part of the governor’s desire to get people back in state-owned space on the Capitol campus,” said Miller.

PDE’s return, championed by Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, represents “a wonderful step forward, because it’ll reintegrate us back more directly into the department.” Separation, Rivera said, “limits your opportunity for serendipity to bump into people and collaborate.”

Proximity means more collaboration between libraries and early childhood education and K-12. The higher education offices mandate “includes adult literacy and adult education, and we do a lot of that in public libraries,” said Miller. “We could do more and will do more.”

Libraries and how they’re used have changed, Miller knows, but in a world of public and private siloes, they are emerging as “that third place, where I can go to connect with the rest of the people in my community.” And in an internet-age irony, librarians help patrons “navigate the chaos.”

“The only thing more prevalent than information on the internet is misinformation,” Miller said. “A professional librarian can and does help people sort through that.”

The Forum Building renovations encompass “a huge undertaking but will result in a building and space that the commonwealth will be able to use for many years to come and have full ownership of,” said Thompson.

Even in exile from his richly paneled office, Miller will probably keep referencing the quote etched into the Forum Building’s lobby, near the law library entrance.

“Law is the science of human conduct, derived from the past,” it reads. “Regard for the public welfare is the highest law.”

“I love that,” Miller said. “That to me speaks about library services and why we’re here. We’re here to take care of our fellow citizens and to serve them.”

For more information about The State Library of Pennsylvania’s renovation and move, visit www.statelibrary.pa.gov/Pages/moving.aspx.

Where Do I Go?
Effective June 1, the State Library of Pennsylvania scattered to several locations around the Capitol Complex in anticipation of the Forum’s two-year renovation.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries relocated to the state Department of Education building, 333 Market St., Harrisburg.
The Bureau of State Library relocated to the Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg.

The State Library Digitalization Department and Markerspace/STEAM relocated to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg.

Harrisburg school district denies charges in receivership petition, says students may fall under “external management”

June 12, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A recent meeting of the Harrisburg school board

The Harrisburg school district today responded to a state petition seeking to place the district into receivership, denying numerous charges and stating that the district’s 2013 recovery plan could compel the state to place students “under external management.”

In his 31-page response, district Solicitor James Ellison took issue with the charges leveled against the district by the state Department of Education.

In his response, Ellison repeatedly denied claims made in a petition last week by education Secretary Pedro Rivera, which included that the district allegedly failed to meet student achievement targets and allegedly failed to fulfill key initiatives in the 2013 financial recovery plan.

Ellison’s response repeatedly stated the district has followed both the law and the directives of the district’s state-appointed chief recovery officers.

“The District hereby affirmatively represents that it has performed its statutory obligations under the Financial Recovery Law as well as the Second Amended Plan passed by its Board of School Directors on May 31, 2016 as confirmed by Exhibit 8 of the Petition, and substantially (if not fully) complied with all directives issued by its assigned chief recovery officers related to the governing recovery plan applicable during their respective tenure,” Ellison wrote in response to many of Rivera’s charges.

Ellison further stated that the district will “establish by clear and convincing evidence that the petition for appointment of a receiver is arbitrary, capricious, or wholly irrelevant to restoring the school district to financial stability.”

Dauphin County Judge William Tully is slated to hear the case on Monday, in which the district must show that the state’s request for receivership is, in fact, “arbitrary and capricious.”

After the hearing, Tully has 10 days to affirm or deny the state’s petition to put the district into receivership. The state also has asked Tully to appoint the current chief recovery officer, Dr. Janet Samuels, as receiver for the district.

In his response today, Ellison also repeatedly stated that, according to the district’s 2013 recovery plan, a failure to meet recovery plan goals compels the state to “take the necessary steps to transfer District-educated students to schools under external management.”

The recovery plan indeed does contain the phrase “external management,” but fails to define what precisely that means.

“If the Court denies the Harrisburg School District’s prayer for relief and issues an order appointing Dr. Janet Samuels as Receiver, the Harrisburg School District respectfully submits that such order must direct the [sic] Secretary Rivera and Dr. Samuels to take all necessary steps to transfer all District-educated students to schools under external management effective for the 2019-20 school year,” Ellison concluded.

Meanwhile, the district remains under a court order banning it from entering into contracts without Samuels’ express consent. Tully issued that order last week after the district met in “special session” to consider a settlement with Premier Charter School without previously notifying Samuels.

The district today also issued a statement saying that it was prepared to cooperate with the state’s “real-time” financial audit—the state’s intention to review results of its financial audit of the district as the audit continues.

“We remain committed to transparency, the process of financial and academic recovery and a continued effort to put students first,” according to the district’s statement.

The Week That Was: A summary of news and features around Harrisburg

June 7, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

A meeting of the Harrisburg school board

It was a big news week in and around Harrisburg this past week. Here are some of the stories and features you may have missed.

Harrisburg City Council reacted warmly to Harrisburg University’s plan for a 17-story downtown tower. Click here for the full story.

Harrisburg school district is set for a state takeover, as PA Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera filed a petition to place the district into receivership. Click here for the full story.

Harrisburg school district played a bit of a cat-and-mouse game with the state Department of Education, which acted several times to prevent the school board from entering into new contracts ahead of a hearing on possible receivership. For the story, click here, here and here.

Lancaster’s Jonathan Burns appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” bringing his twisty routine to a national audience. Click here for the full story.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore’s stage is the scene of “Drag Storytime,” a national trend that has come to Harrisburg. Click here for the feature story.

PennDOT’s plan to wide I-83 is opposed by Harrisburg, but should the city spend money to try to influence the final design? City Council seems divided on the issue. Click here for the full story.

Sara Bozich has more than 100 ideas for things to do during this early summer weekend. Click here for her full list.

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” opened last weekend, and our reviewer recommends that you catch the annual production in Reservoir Park, this year featuring “Much Ado About Nothing.” Click here for her review.

Additional stories from TheBurg over the past week:

Ephraim Slaughter was one of the last surviving veterans of the Civil War, and his ancestors now carry on his legacy in Harrisburg.

Music is a big part of our lives in the Harrisburg area, and our music columnist shares her can’t-miss shows for the month in her monthly “Musical Notes” column.

Urban Churn has some of the best craft ice cream you’ll ever taste, and now, with a new shop, you can walk right in.

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

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