Although they’re considered unofficial until certified by Dauphin County, these primary election tallies pretty clearly let us know who prevailed. Eric Papenfuse will race Nevin Mindlin to the general election finish line in November, but the results for City Council, Controller, and School Board are most likely the city’s next elected officials in these offices. That is, unless someone wages a write-in campaign for one of these positions, which there’s been buzz that may happen for City Controller. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see.

Harrisburg Mayor:

• Eric Papenfuse=2480
• Dan Miller=2084
• Linda Thompson=1816
• Lewis Butts=64

Harrisburg City Council:

• Shamaine Daniels=2652
• Wanda R.D. Williams=2430
• Ben Allatt=2364
• Eugenia Gina Smith=2364
• Camille Erice=2283
• Kelly D. Summerford=1912
• Ellis R. Rick Roy=1824
• Pat Stringer=1635
• Robert Drum=776
• Ron Chapel=642

Harrisburg City Controller:

• Charles DeBrunner=3377
  

Harrisburg School Board of Directors:

• Danielle Robinson=2771
• Patricia Whitehead Myers=2475
• James R. Thompson=2091
• Kenneth L. Mickens, II=2076
• Lola Lawson=2025
• Lionel Gonzalez=1620

Dauphin County Judge of Common Pleas:

• Republican:
  • Bill Tully=9218
  • Fran Chardo=

  • 6279

  • Anne Gingrich Cornick=1523
• Democrat:
  • Anne Gingrich Cornick= 6820
  • Fran Chardo=3590
  • Bill Tully=3469

Nevin Mindlin looks ahead to the Fall Campaign for Mayor of Harrisburg

Harrisburg, PA – Nevin Mindlin, candidate for Mayor of Harrisburg, released the following statement today regarding Tuesday night’s election result:

The fight for Harrisburg’s future begins today!

My fellow citizens have listened to the debates and watched the Primary circus. I am confident that they see the clear contrast between me and my opponent. They know that I have the experience and the competency, as well as the wisdom and the vision that is required to guide our City through these turbulent times.

My knowledge of the private sector as well as government provides a unique understanding of the problems that we face. My extensive experience in the management and implementation of public programs has impacted and improved the lives of every-day people. Public policies that I have helped craft and implement have created thousands of jobs and spurred economic development in various parts of the state. The Mindlin message has substance. It’s not an empty shell of high gloss advertising. It is not filled with empty promises and long lists of highest priorities, pandering to every desire.

While I am sure that my opponent believes he has the best interests of Harrisburg at heart, the election results clearly indicate that he is not the unifying force that this City so desperately needs and deserves. Winning a playoff game doesn’t make you a Champion. The nature of his campaign, as well as the final primary results clearly demonstrates that there is no public display of confidence in him. He has no mandate to govern. Sadly, he has willingly positioned himself to be the new darling of the same old political and funding interests that got us into our current deplorable situation. Harrisburg deserves better. We need a leader who truly believes that democracy is everyone – who protects the interests of all the citizens of Harrisburg.

Over the years, I have walked our streets and heard the problems that people confront day in and day out. These problems are the same problems which have been ignored or given lip service in the past. I want to help people to be safe in our City. I want to help their kids receive a quality education and to have the opportunity to achieve great things.

I ask everyone, starting today, to join me, to work with me to restore the greatness of our City. I don’t offer any easy solutions, and make no mistake that this will be a battle. This is a fight for good government. It is a battle that we will win! Democracy demands it.

Visit MindlinForMayor.com to see a real plan for our Harrisburg and join Team Nevin!

What should you do? You should go out and vote.

Besides that, I can’t tell you for who. I could go on and on about campaign finance reports, about PACs, players, and past performances. I can tell you who I like and who I don’t like, but really, it’s just about everyone of us voting. Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Vote.

It’s our right. It’s one of the most sacred rights we have as Americans–to vote. Majority rules.

It’s the essence of being a democracy. Democracy is a strange word yet at the same time so seemingly familiar. We hear the word democracy, and as Americans we nod and say, yes, we are a democracy. We have choice. We vote. We choose. We the People.

But what’s it mean…We the People?

Considering the situation the City of Harrisburg is in,  it’s a curious term and one which carries both implied and explicit meanings. Who is We? And what is meant by the People?

Important things for people of a distressed place to ponder.

Today when you vote, citizens of Harrisburg, keep these questions in your mind. Think about “democracy” and majority rules. Think about who We is and who the People are. Think about what our options are. The City (and the region for that matter) needs strong advocates who understand acutely the complex situation of the City and who have insightful vision of what the capital city of Pennsylvania can be and should be.  The City needs as many choices as it can get considering several choices have been taken away. Some we’re more aware of missing than others.

And that’s the point—too often citizens of the City have tended to do the same things and allowed the same things to happen. We the People. Numbed by expensively glossy campaign mailers stuffed in our mail slots and laid on stoops and porches left to blow around our streets.  Faces frozen grinning imploringly for power.

Exercise your right today, People, and think carefully, thoughtfully, and purposefully about the We being established. Use your options.

Vote.

Polling locations in the City of Harrisburg: here

The list of candidates on the ballot in the City of Harrisburg:

HARRISBURG MAYOR (Vote for One)

• Lewis L. Butts, Jr.
• Linda D. Thompson (incumbent)
• Eric Papenfuse
• Dan Miller

HARRISBURG CITY COUNCIL (Vote for not more than Four)

• Ellis R. Rick Roy
• Shamaine Daniels
• Ron Chapel
• Ben Allatt
• Pat Stringer
• Robert Drum
• Eugenia Gina Smith (incumbent)
• Kelly D. Summerford (incumbent)
• Wanda R.D. Williams (incumbent)
• Camille Erice

HARRISBURG  CITY CONTROLLER (Vote for One)

• Charles DeBrunner

HARRISBURG  SCHOOL DIRECTOR 4 Year Term (Vote for not more than Four)

• Patricia Whitehead Myers (incumbent)
• Danielle Robinson (incumbent)
• Kenneth L. Mickens, II (incumbent)
• James R. Thompson (incumbent)
• Lionel Gonzalez
• Lola Lawson (incumbent)

****James Thompson cross filed on Democratic and Republican tickets

HARRISBURG SCHOOL DIRECTOR 2 Year Term (Vote for not more than Three)

• Adara Jackson
• Monica Blackston-Bailey
• LaTasha N. Frye

DAUPHIN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Vote for One)

• Anne Gingrich Cornick (D)
• Fran Chardo (R)
• Bill Tully (R)

PROTHONOTARY (Vote for One)

• Stephen E. Farina (R)
• Joseph S. Solomon (D)

CORONER (Vote for One)

• Graham Hetrick

Notes: Reports of shots fired. One incident of shots fired occurred at a car wash in the 2200 block of Derry St in the afternoon.

compiled by Jan Konkle

Wildwood Park to Reopen to the Public on Tuesday, May 21

County officials issue advisories and restrictions due to air and water quality concerns 

HARRISBURG, PA (May 20, 2013) –Wildwood Park, owned and operated by Dauphin County, will reopen to the public on Tuesday, May 21. The park has been closed since May 9 while crews cleaned up fuel that seeped into the park’s wetlands after a nearby tanker truck fire in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County.

Because the fuel spill has affected the air, land and water at Wildwood Park, the park opening is subject to the following advisories and restrictions:

• It is recommended that individuals with respiratory ailments refrain from activity in the park; all others are advised to proceed with caution.
• Nothing may be harvested from the waters of Wildwood Park.
• Fishing in the park shall be “catch and release” only until further notice.
• No fish or game is deemed safe for consumption at this time.

While clean-up efforts have been completed, the air may still contain material that will affect those with sensitivity and respiratory concerns, and the flora and fauna may still be recovering from the adverse consequences of the spill.

“We will continue to monitor the conditions at the park and lift the restrictions once safety for all can be assured,” said Dauphin County Commission Chairman Jeff Haste, who has oversight of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Wildwood has received assistance from many organizations, including HazMat, Environmental Products and Services, Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, Inc.

Booms are still in place along the banks of the lake to absorb the fuel, and will remain in place for about one month as a precaution. Approximately 10 acres of the park’s 200 acres were impacted by the fuel leak.

Wildwood Park is open daily from dawn until dusk.

SOULS 2 THE POLLS RALLY

MONDAY, MAY 20TH @ 7:00PM at BETHEL VILLAGE A.M.E. CHURCH 1721 N. 5th Street

On Monday evening May 20th Pastor Micah Sims along with other clergy and spiritual leaders in the greater Harrisburg area are organizing a rally to encourage voters to exercise their right and vote on Tuesday, May 21st. The event will begin with prayer for the city of Harrisburg from 6pm – 7pm and then a rally feature speakers, candidates and leaders from across the area. All mayoral candidates have been invited to attend and speak during the rally. In addition elected officials such as St. Sen. Rob Teplitz, St. Rep. Patty Kim, Commissioner George Hartwick and others have been invited to address the audience. All individuals appearing on the ballot, for any elected offie on Tuesday are invited to attend.

The event will take place at Bethel Village AME Church, which is located at 1721 N. 5th Street (corner of 5th & Granite Sts.), where Rev. Micah Sims serves as pastor. This event is designed with the intention of creating awareness that this election is important to the future of Harrisburg city, Dauphin County and Central PA.

This election takes place in what is known as an ‘off election year’ but Pastor Sims & other leaders contend that people should show in record number for this election because of the immediate impact in living, working and receiving an education in the local community.

Rev. Micah Sims recently became pastor of Bethel Village AME Church and previously served as one of the State Deputy Director in PA for the 2012 Obama Campaign. He has a desire to have people informed, empowered, excited and mobilized to vote on every election day. Other spiritual leaders such as Pastor Earl Harris, Pastor LaVette Paige, Bishop Ravenal along with civic leaders agree that voting on election day is important to the future development of the greater Harrisburg area

You are invited to the Neighborhood Dispute Settlement (NDS) Annual Meeting on Tuesday May 21st form 6-9pm. This meeting will be held at the Harrisburg Quaker Friends Meeting House on 1100 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg.

This meeting is a county-wide event and will include:

1. 6pm A free-of-charge lite dinner

2. 7pm NDS annual report overview and guest speaker Randy Duque from Good Shepherd Mediation Program in Philadelphia. Mr. Duque will present on restorative practices: community group conferencing, victim offender conferencing, restorative circles and family-group decision making.

RSVP to info@disputesettlement.us or call 233-8255 and ask for Amanda

This event is free of charge and open to all communities served by NDS (Dauphin and Cumberland Counties). NDS has provided mediation services to residents of the Engleton community on several occasions. I (Amanda Jantzi-Robinson) am a resident of Engleton and maintain employment with NDS.

Organizers are trying to get a screening of the film Girl Rising. It tells the stories of 9 girls from around the world who face – and overcome – unbelievable obstacles on the path toward getting an education. The film was created by 10×10, a global campaign to educate and empower girls.

Each girl’s story is narrated by a cast of Hollywood actresses, including Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, and others. The stories were written by local women authors. The film is rated PG 13.

The film only comes to a theatre if at least 100 people sign up to see it. So, sign up by May 28th. You will only be charged for your ticket if we succeed in booking the screening.

• Trailer: http://10x10act.org/girl-rising/
• Film Info: http://girlrising.com/
• Reserve Your Ticket: http://gathr.us/screening/4122

A portion of Girl Rising ticket sales will help fund 10×10 programs for girls, so just seeing the film makes an impact on girls’ lives.

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging to Offer Food Vouchers to Qualified Senior Citizens

HARRISBURG, PA (May 14, 2013) – Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will offer qualified senior residents vouchers worth $20 to purchase state-grown fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets.

Dauphin County residents are eligible if they are 60 years of age or older and have a gross annual income of less than $20,665 for a single individual or $27,991 for married couples. These guidelines are subject to change. The federal guidelines that are in place on the day of distribution will be those that are used.

Senior citizens are advised to bring a driver’s license or photo identification for proof of age and Dauphin County residency.

Eligible senior citizens may only receive vouchers once each summer. Supplies are limited and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To obtain vouchers for another person, please bring a completed and signed proxy form to receive the vouchers. Proxy forms can be obtained by calling the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging at 717-780-6130.

Vouchers will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following sites in Dauphin County:

• May 31 at the Northern Dauphin Human Services Center, 295 State Dr., Elizabethville, (Any remaining vouchers for this site will be available at this location from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays.)

• June 6 at Essex House, 320 Market St., Middletown

• June 7 at Friendship Senior Center, 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg

• June 14 at Zion Assembly of Harrisburg, 2101 N. 5th St., Harrisburg

Any remaining vouchers from the last three sites will be made available by appointment at the county’s Area Agency on Aging at 2 S. Second St., Harrisburg.

Please call the agency to make an appointment at 717-780-6130 or to learn more about the program.

This one’s for the dogs. The City of Harrisburg passed a new tethering law that is the toughest in the state.

• PennLive–Anti-tethering law clears Harrisburg City Council three days after deaths of neglected dogs
• Philly.com–Harrisburg council approves first city anti-tethering law
• CBS 21–Harrisburg passes one of the toughest dog tethering laws in the state
• Fox 43–Harrisburg city council votes in favor of dogs’ rights

On the SEC and HBG. Philly.com–PhillyDeals: SEC spares individuals in Harrisburg case

Election 2013. The days leading up to the May 21st Primary are all about campaign finance, last minute pushes, and fact checking.

• Reuters–Ghosts of incinerator bond deal haunt Harrisburg election
• Pittsburgh Post Gazette–Harrisburg woes play big role in city’s mayoral race
• WHTM 27–Harrisburg mayoral candidates talk bankruptcy vs. receivership
• PennLive–Harrisburg City Council fundraising: Allatt has 30 percent of total in 10-candidate field
• The Sentinel–Campaign finance: Who’s the front-runner for Harrisburg mayor?
• PennLive–Split vote? Harrisburg neighborhood voter survey suggests close mayoral election
• PennLive–Eric Papenfuse’s jobs creation claim – a fact check
• PennLive–For mayor of Harrisburg, Democrat Eric Papenfuse: PennLive’s endorsement
• WHTM 27–Harrisburg mayoral candidates make final campaign push
• PennLive–Harrisburg school director candidates forum draws 50 to Midtown Scholar

It passed. With an unanimous vote approving the Chief Recovery Officer’s Plan, we see if recovery can truly happen at Harrisburg School District.

• today’s the day Harrisburg–The Board Voted Yes and Harrisburg School District CRO Begins to Act
• WHTM 27–Harrisburg School Board approves recovery plan

River city. That’s what Harrisburg is so it’s important to be mindful and aware of the Susquehanna. Central Penn Business Journal–EPA: Susquehanna River water quality uncertain

Another Shady McCoy shady headline. City of Harrisburg’s born and raised LeSean McCoy has some bad press, again.

• ESPN–LeSean McCoy faces lawsuit
• USA Today–LeSean McCoy’s agent denies Eagle assaulted woman
• NFL.com–Eagles’ LeSean McCoy sued for alleged assault
• Philly.com–What to make of the LeSean McCoy lawsuit
• CBS 21–McCoy denies ‘party bus’ assault allegation

Public Safety and Crime.

• PennLive–Harrisburg Police will charge owners of dogs killed last weekend
  
• WHTM 27–Man, dog shot in Harrisburg
• PennLive–Weeks after Allison Hill man’s death, homicide ruling still pending

Points for the City of Harrisburg to ponder.

• The Atlantic Cities–The Inequality of Urban Tree Cover
• Scientific American–Want to be happier and live longer? Protect green spaces
• Salon–Are streetcars the future of public transportation?
• Washington Post–Doing away with food deserts in the District
• Princeton University–Freshmen dig into challenges facing urban education