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Let Your Harrisburg Garden Grow

admin July 11, 2011 Nature Comments Off on Let Your Harrisburg Garden Grow

It’s great to make meals with fresh ingredients. It’s even greater if these are to be found right outside! Well, apparently that’s exactly what’s been happening in our neighborhood. According to a recent Penn Live article, chefs all around Harrisburg – as well as the layman just wanting to make a nice tomato and basil salad from home grown herb plants – are now picking “herbs and vegetables from a garden beside the Olmstead Building, home to Stacks Market, the campus food court.” This is where Paul Motter is the head chef. The garden was planted by the campus Conservation Committee but is now available for use Motter is head chef there. The campus Conservation Committee developed and planted the garden, which students, professors and staff can also use.

According to assistance director of Housing and Food Services Greg Schiavoni, the garden is “sustainable, fresh and healthy.” Much produce can be found in the 25 by 45 foot garden, including parsley, chives, eggplants, dill, rosemary, thyme, peppers and more. As well, recycled materials were used and a home-made looking trellis ties four tree branches together. Planters have been made from old trash receptacles.

For those eating in the Penn State Harrisburg food court, there is encouragement to “compost appropriate foods and the compost eventually helps the herb garden.” So clearly, the garden in Harrisburg is set to benefit everyone…and looks to the future to protect the environment as well.

Jazzing Things Up

admin July 4, 2011 Entertainment Comments Off on Jazzing Things Up

Things are getting jazzed up for the folk of Harrisburg as the town’s Jazz and Multi-Cultural Festival comes on board.  And what better time to do it than the 4th July weekend?  There will be tons of food stands, different types of entertainment and more. Just go along to Front Street and start celebrating this true style festival.

 

Although is it?  It seems that in comparison to years gone by, this year’s festival isn’t exactly the noise-maker for which it has been traditionally known.   Indeed, one just needs to take a look at which vendors are present to see just how low key this year’s event is going to be.  In fact, around 50 percent of those vendors that were at the event last year, just didn’t show up this year.  According to a Fox news article, this was due to the additional fees they were “being charged to set up shop.”  According to game vendor Donna Goodling, this additional fees are making people “think twice,” about setting up at the festival.

 

Of course, the ones who end up suffering are the Harrisburg public who look forward to this event.  As Harrisburg resident Valerie Waller laments, “I used to buy a chicken on a stick and it was 4 dollars and now it’s 6 dollars.”  For sure the bargains that used to be available and are now no longer in such big supply, makes it tougher for everyone.  But if the fees are increasing for the vendors, of course they too have to put up their prices which renders it a lose-lose situation for everyone.

 

In addition, since the festival is now only two days (as opposed to three), the vendors really feel like they’re getting shot in the foot since they are being charged extra, and getting less.  For additional info on the festival, visit: www.harrisburgevents.com/Events/Jass_Fest.htm.

 

Harrisburg Takeover?

admin June 29, 2011 Law, Society Comments Off on Harrisburg Takeover?

If Harrisburg doesn’t get its act together and implement the state Act 47 coordinator proposal fast, there could soon be a takeover of the city.  According to Gov. Tom Corbett who is in favor of the Senate Bill 1151, issued by Jeffrey Piccola, it would facilitate the city’s financial recovery plan while stampeding “any efforts by the city to declare bankruptcy.”  Should city leaders fail to act on this Bill, Piccola will look toward a “three-person management board” to put it into effect.

No More Bankruptcy Options

It seems like the longer it is left, the less chance Harrisburg will have to file for bankruptcy.  The Act 47 plan is remiss of any “debt forgiveness” too.  Corbett – somewhat sensibly IMHO – is saying that he will indeed sign it should it get through the legislative process.  According to councilman Brad Koplinski, Corbett’s support is great, “and really should put all of us on alert as to how quickly this is moving on, and I hate to say it, but the fix might be in for Harrisburg.”

Act 47 Disadvantages

But of course there are always two sides to every coin.  While Corbett may be an Act 47 supporter, he might not realize that it would lead to an increase in taxes and unemployment, alongside a selling or leasing of the “city’s  parking garages and incinerator…to ensure banks get their money back.”  So it seems like the main beneficiary here would be Wall Street, according to Koplinski.

Piccola’s argument however is that Bill 1151 seeks to “protect municipalities and the state itself.”  Declaring bankruptcy is only going to end up “hurting credit ratings elsewhere,” rendering it much harder for townships to borrow money. The city’s mayor, Linda Thompson pointed out however that the bill fails to “respect the publicly elected officials in this city.”  She just doesn’t feel that it is the “appropriate process at this time.”

Well, we might know a little bit more in a few days’ time since it could get to the Senate floor “for a vote Friday,” moving on to the House by next week.  But then state lawmakers are going to be on recess so the timing might end up being not so great and once out of sight, may become out of mind.

Police Lose Popularity on Poplar Street

admin June 22, 2011 Crime, Harrisburg Police Department Comments Off on Police Lose Popularity on Poplar Street

It seems like the police blew it again.  A recent incident on Poplar Street at the Economy Inn Hotel most certainly did not put the police in a good light even if it was ultimately for a good cause and will in the long-term assist police strategy.  A man and woman were in a hotel room when the Harrisburg Police Department accused them of armed robbery. The individuals exited the room about half an hour after the police storming began.

According to Chief Bob Smith, “it was an ignorant attempt by another law enforcement agency.”  The street was closed off 15 minutes before the arrival of the State Police and traffic was rerouted.

At the same time, Smith was trying to work out exactly what the warrant was but after his phone conversation to Arkansas, realized no warrants had been issued.  Once the two had been taken into custody, he learned the Arkansas authorities did not want the two to be detained so they were released on the scene!

But this was the plan.  According to Smith, it was all undertaken for strategy and tactics.  According to Smith, “everything went according to plan and there were no problems.  We conducted this operation with safety of our citizens at the top most priority, we are sorry if we inconvenienced motorist through Harrisburg by closing Poplar Street.  The situation was resolved where no one was hurt.”

Nonetheless, on the other side of the coin, the operation was criticized as it can be somewhat risky and according to the article in The Daily Register, officers become very frustrated “when they’ve taken risks for what amounts to no good reason.”

It may have been an important endeavor for the Harrisburg Police Department, but I don’t think it’s going to end up winning them any awards in the popularity department, especially not on Poplar Street.

Harrisburg Man Let Off

admin June 19, 2011 Crime Comments Off on Harrisburg Man Let Off

A Harrisburg man has just been told he is free to go when a mistrial was called after a jury failed to reach a verdict.  According to an article in PennLive, the 21-year-old man, Damon Lewis, was accused of “robbing two women at a city bus stop.”  Probably what ultimately caused the case to be dropped was the fact that neither of the witnesses were able to select the man from a photo lineup just days following the robbery.  Nonetheless they were “able to finger him at trial and in an ATM photo.”  They also said that he “held a gun to their heads and repeatedly pulled the trigger.”

Lewis Still Acquitted

Perhaps Lewis should have been a bit more sensible in his thinking though when he tried to avoid the police by hiding on  a roof when they came for his rest during the holdup on 20th and Market Streets on August 23.  He has now been acquitted by the jury for this.  Further, he has been charged on two counts of robbery and of using one of the victim’s bank cards.

Lewis might also not be so lucky vis-à-vis the other robbery charge since Deputy District Attorney Johnny Baer has said that he will be retried on this.  It sure is a shame that the ladies weren’t able to make the identification but a lot can be said for shock in a situation like this and thus there is still a chance Lewis will be found guilty at a retrial.

Harrisburg Gets Healthy

admin April 2, 2011 Harrisburg Health Comments Off on Harrisburg Gets Healthy

It seems that now is as good a time as any for Harrisburg residents to start battling the weight.  Alongside Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, Harrisburg city is accepting the nationwide challenge to get fit which is good news since according to a Pennsylvania Department of Health report, there is an escalating trend towards childhood obesity in Harrisburg as well as the whole state of Pennsylvania.

The Summer of Fun

The new program has been called the Summer of Fun.  Set out by Linda D. Thompson, the city’s Mayor, it is going to be an all-compassing program covering health, wellness and recreation.  The aim is to also bring about awareness and education for the community at large.  But it’s great that it is starting in the summer as this type of recreation is perfect for hot, lazy, summer days.

Harrisburg Kids Get Moving

Getting kids to get moving is a great idea, especially right now and especially for Harrisburg.  According to statistics compiled by Dr. Thomas Loughran from Penn State Milton Hershey Cancer Institute, it is now being shown that today, over 20 percent of high school kids are now considered obese.

In Harrisburg, the childhood obesity statistics are even worse. In addition to more than 20 percent of high school kids, 18 percent of elementary students are considered obese, according to Dr. Thomas Loughran, of Penn State Milton Hershey Cancer Institute. “These incidents are higher than any other county, any other part of Pennsylvania, and also higher than the national average,” he says.

For more information on this initiative, call 717-255-3040 or visit: www.harrisburgpa.gov