Government

HARRISBURG – Harrisburg Police will donate funds raised from “No Shave Initiative” to the YWCA on Friday, January 3rd at 11:30 a.m. in the MLK City Government Center atrium.

“No Shave Initiative” is a special annual fundraising program of the Harrisburg Police Department.  Both male and female police officers who donate $30 are permitted minor departures from the normal dress code.

During the event, which began on Oct. 28 and runs until Jan. 5, 2020, male officers are allowed to have neatly trimmed beards, and female officers are allowed to use makeup, hairstyles, and nail polish not typically permitted within the bureau’s grooming standards.

All funds received by the Harrisburg Police Department as a result of the eight (8) week-long event are donated to a charity selected by Police Commissioner Thomas C. Carter. Recipients in past years have included the Central PA Food Bank and Harrisburg Police Athletic League. This year’s “No Shave Initiative” focuses on bringing awareness to domestic violence.

For more information, contact Sgt. Kyle Gautsch, Harrisburg Police PIO, at [email protected].

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City Council will be announcing the recipients of the Unsung Hero awards at tonight’s Legislative Session. The community was invited to submit names of people who go above and beyond without the thought of reward or recognition.

For more information, please call the City Clerk at 717-255-3060.

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Harrisburg, PA – The City of Harrisburg will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a number of events and dining specials happening throughout the City. To learn more about these celebrations, please visit ExploreHbg.com/NYE.  

“There are a number of New Year’s Eve events happening in the City,” said Mayor Papenfuse. “From Gamut Theatre’s Countdown to Noon family event, to the Great Gatsby party at Rubicon featuring dining specials and performances, there is plenty of fun for all ages.” 

On Tuesday, December 31, there will be a New Year’s Eve celebration at the MLK City Government Center, located at 10 N. Second Street. The “Countdown to Kid-Night” activities begin at 9 p.m. with a free New Year’s Eve party hat craft, photo booth and more. A kid’s balloon drop featuring nearly 1,000 balloons will be held at 10 p.m., followed by a milk and cookies toast. DJ music in the street will begin at 10 p.m. and the evening concludes with the Strawberry Drop and fireworks at Midnight.   

“I would like to give special thanks to our Title Sponsor Visit Hershey & Harrisburg. Without their support, we would not be able to put together this wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration,” Mayor Papenfuse said.  The Market Square parking garage will offer $10 parking from 5 p.m. – 5 a.m.  In addition to the discounted garage rate, attendees can utilize the ParkMobile App to get up to 4 hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code. Street parking is free after 5 p.m.  

Beginning at 6pm, 2^nd Street from Chestnut Street to Walnut Street will be closed. Traffic will be permitted to enter the Market Square garage or detour west onto Blackberry Street if exiting the garage. Market Street from Front to Second will be closed, in addition to Second Street from Market to Walnut.  

Special thanks to all of our sponsors, including Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, VALVE, M&T Bank, Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, Hilton Harrisburg and SP+.   

For more information, contact Momin Bhatti, Communications Manager, at  [email protected] or 717-255-7295. 

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HARRISBURG –   Parking will be free in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019, but will return to normal on Thursday, Dec. 26.

“We appreciate that SP Plus is providing free parking on Christmas and Christmas Eve,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse, “We hope this encourages people to come to downtown Harrisburg and enjoy the holiday festivities.”

The MLK Government Center will be open Christmas Eve, but closed on Christmas and on Thursday, Dec. 26.

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Mayor Eric Papenfuse and the Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council will lead the City’s annual Giant Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in the atrium of the MLK Government Center, 10 N. Second St.

“An Interfaith Celebration of Unity and Peace” is the theme of this year’s celebration, which is sponsored by Giant Foods.  The company donated the 26-foot-tall tree as a gift to the City in December 2014 during Mayor Papenfuse’s first year in office.

The Mayor will offer remarks at the event, and members of the Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council will offer words of inspiration.

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HARRISBURG – Due to the late leaf drop, The City of Harrisburg is extending the leaf collection program through December 20, 2019. However, if there is a major snow event before December 20, leaf collection will cease at that point in time.

City of Harrisburg Public Works Crew are continuously working to make sure the leaves are collected quickly and efficiently. Capital Region Water is in close coordination with Public Works to continue street sweeping during leaf collection.

Reminders for Residents: 

• Put leaves in brown paper bags at the curb the night before street sweeping. You can buy the bags at most hardware and home improvement stores. Plastic bags are not accepted at the composting site.
• If you are unable to bag your leaves, you can pile them into the street the night before street sweeping. Please be sure not to block drains. Blocked storm drains can cause puddles or flooding when it rains.
• Please follow the posted street cleaning schedule even if your collection day is a holiday. There will be no leaf collection on holidays.
• For questions on leaf collections, please call the City at 311.  For street sweeping questions, contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606.

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Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Eric Papenfuse will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, at the City Government Center to announce the 2019 Holiday Parade that will be held on November 23 at 12 p.m. in Downtown Harrisburg. This year’s parade theme is “Winter Wonderland.

“We are very excited about this year’s parade,” said Mayor Papenfuse. “We are expecting a large crowd this year along the parade route as we kick off the holiday season.” The parade will include high school marching bands, dance performances, local celebrities, musical acts, vintage and classic cars, theatre groups, decorated floats, and costumed characters.

“I would like to give special thanks to our Title Sponsor, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg. Without their support, we would not be able to put together this wonderful parade,” Mayor Papenfuse said.

The parade route is as follows: Market Street to Second Street, Second Street to North Street, North Street to Front Street, Front Street to City Island. Road closures will begin at 9 a.m. and end at approximately 4 p.m.

Large parade balloons, provided by Starbound Entertainment, will complete the entire parade route and feature both cold air and helium balloons. Balloon designs include a snowflake, Rudolph, snowman ornament, turkey in traditional pilgrim settler attire, and a snowglobe featuring an elf. 

Five food trucks will be available on Market Street from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. including: 717 Tacos, Knead HBG, Tiki T’s Mini Donuts and More, Get Rollin’ Gourmet Eggrolls and Bartlebaugh Concessions. A carnival game will also be available. 

A parade map and foodie guide are available at harrisburgpa.gov/holiday-parade.

The Market Square Garage will offer a $10 special event rate from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.  In addition to the discounted garage rate, parade attendees can utilize the ParkMobile App to get up to 4 hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code.

Following the parade, join Santa for hot chocolate and cookies in Strawberry Square, while supplies last, followed by the awards ceremony. Awards will be given to the top Dance, Step & Drill Team Units and cash prizes will be given to the top High School marching bands. All parade participants are eligible to enter the “Best in Theme” contest to win an award.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors, including Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG, Capital BlueCross, Comcast, PPL Electric Utilities, Valve, Belco Community Credit Union, Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, and SP Plus. 

For more information, contact Momin Bhatti, Communications Manager, at  [email protected] or 717-255-6535.

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HARRISBURG – The 14^th Street Sinkhole Mitigation Project has reached completion, and the area has been transformed into a community green space.

What:       Press Conference and Dedication Ceremony To Announce

                  Sinkhole Mitigation Project Completion and Unveiling of

                  Community Green Space

Where:     Corner of South 14th St and Magnolia St, Harrisburg

When:      Thursday, November 14th at 10:00 a.m.

Who:        Mayor Eric Papenfuse, Mr. Steve Ward from FEMA, Mr. Tom Hughes from PEMA, Mr. Richard Vilello from PA DCED, Senator John DiSanto, Commissioner Mike Pries, and officials and representatives from other project partners

Background:

In March 2014, a sinkhole developed in the 1400 block of South 14^th Street, affecting 53 homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the project application for the City of Harrisburg’s sinkhole mitigation project and provided $1,650,000 in federal funds. This is FEMA’s first Sinkhole Mitigation Project, funded under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, in the United States.

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provided the local match of $550,000 from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for Phase 1 of the project. The City was also granted $1 million from Dauphin County’s Community Development Block Grant disaster relief funds to rehabilitate the sinkhole site and turn the area into a green space. DCED provided an additional 3 million dollars from HUD for Phase 2 of the project.

With the support of the above entities, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City was able to acquire and demolish the affected homes, help relocate the residents and tenants, and secure the sinkhole site.

The City of Harrisburg began building demolition on the South 14^th Street Sinkhole Mitigation Project on April 2, 2019. The site was then excavated to a depth of 10 feet and backfilled. Demolition activities were followed by site grading, lawn and tree planting. The end result is open space surrounded by a pedestrian path, with deed restrictions prohibiting future development of the property. It has been zoned as green space without the possibility for future construction.

For more information, contact Momin Bhatti, Communications Manager, City of Harrisburg at [email protected], or at 717-255-6535.

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What: Press Conference and Dedication Ceremony To Announce Sinkhole Mitigation Project Completion and Unveiling of Community Green Space

Where: Corner of South 14th St and Mulberry St, Harrisburg

When: Thursday, November 14th at 10:00 a.m.

Who: Mayor Papenfuse, Mr. Steve Ward from FEMA, Senator John DiSanto, and officials and representatives from other project partners.

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