12 Run for Council
A dozen residents handed in petitions last month to run in the May primary for seats on Harrisburg City Council.
Four seats are up for grabs this year. Three hold four-year terms, while a fourth is a two-year seat to fill the unexpired term of Councilwoman Eugenia Smith, who died last year. Councilwomen Susan Brown-Wilson and Sandra Reid decided not to seek re-election.
The candidates, all Democrats, who filed for the four-year seats are:
- Jeff Baltimore (incumbent) *
- Jeremiah Chamberlin *
- Ron Chapel *
- Cornelius Johnson
- Alan Kennedy-Shaffer
- Brad Koplinski (incumbent)
- Koscina Lowe *
- Westburn Majors
- Rhonda Mays
- Ellis R. “Rick” Roy *
Two Democratic candidates filed exclusively for the two-year seat:
- Destini Hodges
- Pat Stringer
The primary is slated for May 19. No Republicans filed to run in the election.
* Also filed for the two-year council seat.
Treasurer, School Board Candidates File
Harrisburg will have competitive races this year for the Democratic nomination for both city treasurer and school board.
In the race for treasurer, challenger Brian Ostella will face off against incumbent Tyrell Spradley. Spradley has been in the office since November following his appointment by City Council. The seat was open after former Treasurer John Campbell was arrested last summer and resigned. No Republicans are running in the primary.
Six candidates filed for the Democratic nomination for five, four-year seats on the school board:
- Monica L. Blackston-Bailey (incumbent)
- Lionel Gonzalez
- Matthew Krupp
- Daunessy Penn
- Jennifer Smallwood (incumbent)
- Melvin Wilson Jr.
Krupp also filed for the Republican nomination, the only candidate to do so.
Two Democratic candidates filed for the sole, two-year term on the school board:
- LaTasha Frye (incumbent)
- Judd R. Pittman
No Republicans filed for the two-year seat. The primary will be held May 19.
2nd Street Plan Gets Boost
Harrisburg’s plan to return N. 2nd Street to two-way traffic received a key endorsement last month as the state Department of Transportation gave its preliminary approval.
Following a study, PennDOT concluded that the conversion of N. 2nd Street from one-way to two-way traffic between Forster and Division streets is feasible. However, it “must be supported by a number of improvements on Second Street as well as other area roadways in order to safely accommodate redistributed traffic.”
Most importantly, N. 7th Street north of Maclay Street must be converted from two-way traffic to one-way traffic northbound to Division Street. Moreover, improvements would have to be made at the intersections of Division and N. 7th streets and Forster and N. 2nd streets.
Finally, PennDOT urged additional study on the impact of the change before final planning for the conversion.
N. 2nd Street was made one-way in 1956 to speed traffic flow out of the city. Since then, many have blamed the fast-moving, three-lane street for a number of ills, including decreased property values, blight and lessening the quality of life for some city residents.
Market Building to Stay Open
The Broad Street Market’s stone building will remain open, reversing an earlier decision to close it.
The market’s board of directors last month said it needed the space due to a flurry of applications by potential market vendors. In addition, some in the community opposed closing the building.
In late February, the board announced it would shutter the 150-year-old stone building temporarily and relocate the prepared food vendors there to the renovated brick building. The board now says it will try to make improvements to the stone building while keeping it open.
“There has been an influx of interest from new potential market businesses and, in order to house the increasing number of vendors, we are going to have to hold onto that space and figure out a way to renovate while doing business,” said board President Jonathan Bowser.
The market is still looking for new, food-oriented businesses. To apply, visit www.broadstreetmarket.org.
Reid Pleads Guilty
Harrisburg Councilwoman Sandra Reid pleaded guilty last month to a summary charge of disorderly conduct following an incident in November at a city service station.
The district attorney’s office charged Reid for allegedly interfering with an arrest at City Gas & Diesel in the 1500-block of State Street. She was ordered to pay $253 in a fine and court costs.
Following her arrest, Reid missed numerous council meetings and decided not to run for re-election.
Changing Hands
Bellevue Rd., 2034: J. & D. Weidler to F. & C. Ramirez, $88,000
Bigelow Dr., 12: W. Portzline to S. Adamson, $60,000
Calder St., 207: PA Deals LLC to J. Manzella, $73,000
Calder St., 208: MTM Property Group LLC to J. Martin, $58,500
Cumberland St., 270: W. Fritz Jr. to PA Deals LLC, $68,750
Fulton St., 1719: Sovereign Bank NA to PA Deals LLC, $67,000
Green St., 1120: P. & H. Jackson to N. Foote, $128,500
Green St., 1307: T. McNew to J. & D. Ruggiero, $89,900
Green St., 1309: Leasing Solutions LLC to L. Oberly, $100,000
Manada St., 2010: B. & S. Dean to N. Etter, $36,000
Naudain St., 1630: R. Eisner et al to R. Murphy III, $37,500
N. 2nd St., 403: WCI Hotel Partners LP to 401 Hotel Partners LP, $482,709
N. 2nd St., 2146: R. & W. Shoop to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $130,000
N. 2nd St., 2530: B. MacDonald & M. Connolly to K. Dillon & D. Smyler, $106,000
N. 3rd St., 608: P. Kumar & S. Sharma to 608 N. Third LLC, $177,500
N. 3rd St., 2532: M. Hogan to D. Tamang & P. Moti, $125,000
N. 7th St., 3101: PT Properties LLC & Realty Management Inc. to Conewago Contractors Inc., $1,378,000
N. 12th St., 1500: Math Inc. to Greenworks Auto Recycling LLC, $250,000
Norwood St., 938: C. Weller to Edwin L. Heim Co., $70,000
Reily St., 225: M. Bitsko to M. Fickes, $99,000
Rumson Dr., 330: A. Pastula to G. Di Bosco, $41,500
S. 16th St., 334: Tri County HDC Ltd. to M. Espada, $99,900
State St., 1839: G. & M. Robinson to M. Tiedrebeogo, $50,000
