Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a new downtown hotel could reshape Harrisburg’s riverfront and economy

Also, don't miss Harrisburg Seminar on the Harrisburg Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday October 1st Patch AM
Thursday October 1st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Harrisburg! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a new downtown hotel could reshape Harrisburg's riverfront and economy
  • Dozens of rescued Texas dogs are recovering now in Harrisburg
  • Want to taste chili while supporting Harrisburg-area culinary scholarships?

Also on today's calendar: SilverSneakers® Classes at Juniper Village at Mount Joy and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Harrisburg Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile - America's Best Mobile Network, according to Ookla Speedtest. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Harrisburg Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Harrisburg. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 82 and low of 62 degrees.
  • Friday: A passing afternoon shower, temps: high: 84, low: 56.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and cooler, with a high of 69 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. What we know about hotel coming to Harrisburg as part of $64M revitalization (pennlive.com) — A major $64 million revitalization push is bringing a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel to 333 Market Street in downtown Harrisburg, alongside upgrades to Riverfront Park and North Front Street. Backed by significant state funding and private investment, the project aims to boost tourism, support small businesses, and add new apartments, with plans heading to the Harrisburg City Planning Commission in early October.
   

2. Pa. animal shelters take in 50+ dogs from controversial Texas shelter (pennlive.com) — More than 50 dogs from a Texas rescue have been surrendered to Pennsylvania shelters, with several now resting at the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area. After a coordinated effort by Brandywine Valley SPCA and Texas authorities, the dogs are receiving medical care and will be quarantined before adoption. Harrisburg-area residents will soon have a chance to help rehome these animals or support their care through donations.
   

3. Alex's Chili Cook Off raises scholarship funds in chef's honor (local21news.com) — Central Pennsylvania residents, including those from Harrisburg, are invited to Dillsburg this Saturday for Alex's Chili Cook-Off, where local chefs and the ACF Harrisburg Chapter will raise scholarship funds in memory of chef Alex Smith. The family-friendly event offers unlimited chili tastings, live music, raffles, and games, with proceeds supporting HACC culinary students and area high schoolers. Tickets are available online and at the door.
   

4. Dauphin County man ordered to forfeit $180,000 for distributing misbranded drugs and money laundering (fox43.com) — Federal prosecutors in Harrisburg say a Dauphin County man must forfeit $180,000 after admitting he sold misbranded drug products and laundered the proceeds through his supplement business. He received a year of probation, while authorities stress the health risks of unapproved SARMs and SERMs sold online. The case underscores ongoing federal enforcement activity centered in the Harrisburg area.
   

5. From homemade bouquets to 23 supermarkets: Baez family opens Lancaster flower shop (wgal.com) — A Lancaster family's new flower shop, Rafaela's Creations, now supplies bouquets to supermarkets in Harrisburg as well as Lancaster, York, and Hazleton, giving local shoppers more fresh-flower options. The Dominican-owned business grew from homemade arrangements for Hispanic groceries into a brick-and-mortar shop built with strong family and community support. Their success highlights growing Latino entrepreneurship across south-central Pennsylvania.
   

📸 Around Harrisburg

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Harrisburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Harrisburg PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Brownie, a dog who went missing in Harrisburg, PA, has been safely reunited with their family after 11 days, 3 hours. Message from Owner: "If found… (Nextdoor Progress)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Brownie, a dog who went missing in Harrisburg, PA, has been safely reunited with their family after 11 days, 3 hours. Message from Owner: "If found… (Nextdoor Progress Ave)
  • Giant Food Stores, LLC posted a job opening for PT Cake Decorator - 6006 in Harrisburg. Apply here.
  • Reworld Waste, LLC - Covanta posted a job opening for Auxiliary Operator in Harrisburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harrisburg here.

Ok Harrisburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Harrisburg