New Digs: Developers finish up long-awaited, much-needed affordable housing in Harrisburg

October 30, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Jessica Meyers & Ryan Sanders

Tarik Casteel has a vision for his city.

His vision includes quality, but accessible housing, and neighborhoods that are vibrant with clean and safe streets for families. He wants all of this to be affordable for Harrisburg families.

“I’m born and raised in Harrisburg,” he said. “At the end of the day, I believe you should fix your home before you go elsewhere. I think Harrisburg is one of the most needed areas in this region, and it was neglected for a long time.”

In September, Casteel’s company, TLC Construction & Renovations, finished an apartment project near N. 15th and Walnut streets in Allison Hill. “The Cornerstone” now provides housing in the form of 50 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom units for lower-income families.

This is one of several affordable housing projects in the city that recently have been completed or are close to a ribbon cutting. In the years right before and during the pandemic, several developers proposed plans for apartments to help fill a need for lower-income families.

At the federal level, “affordable housing” is usually defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income. In addition, about 28% of Harrisburg households fall below the poverty line, according to the most recent U.S. census data.

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams has made affordable housing one of her primary policy goals, as have several City Council members. At public meetings, council President Danielle Bowers has often questioned developers about the inclusion of affordable housing in their proposed apartment projects, sometimes even voting against projects that didn’t incorporate units for lower-income tenants.

Bowers told TheBurg that she’s happy to see several projects coming online that she believes will be more affordable for her constituents.

“They’re all affordable for our residents—that’s always my number one priority,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”

Deserve It

Casteel’s project is just one of many affordable projects finishing up in Harrisburg.

“Sycamore Homes,” a 23-unit apartment building in south Harrisburg, is slated to finish construction by the end of the year. “Bethel Village” will provide 49 units for lower-income seniors on N. 6th Street in Midtown, also with an estimated completion in December. On the same street, “JMB Gardens,” a project by Harrisburg native and former NFL player LeSean McCoy’s company, Vice Capital, will offer 41 affordable units in Uptown, expected to finish in January.

Most of these projects faced pandemic-related delays, including supply shortages, which prolonged their timelines. However, they all are finally getting close to move-in dates, while The Cornerstone has already welcomed tenants.

“I’m just hoping that, once we get these tenants in, we can get phase two going right away because I’ve seen the list of people that are not going to be able to move in. So, it’s like, we need to keep on going,” Casteel said. “It was eye-opening once I saw how many people were waiting.”

Casteel said that, in the months leading up to project completion, his company had a waiting list of hundreds of people, displaying the city’s dire housing need.

During the lengthy design and construction process, Casteel, who grew up living in affordable housing himself, said that he didn’t “cut corners,” as he wanted to break the stigma that lower-income housing is lower-quality.

“A lot of times, they got the reputation or people think that they don’t want to work, and it’s not the case,” he said. “A lot of people work, but they just don’t make enough. They want good housing, and they deserve it. I gave them what they should be having—the best of the best.”

Casteel pointed out that, as neighbors have seen the revitalization, many have even made improvements to their own properties.

“The residents over there were welcoming because they loved to see that it was local people, but they also loved to see that their neighborhood wasn’t being neglected,” he said. “People thought we were gentrifying and didn’t know it was a Black developer and that they’re affordable [units] because they don’t look affordable.”

Challenging Stereotypes

George Fernandez has quickly found out how challenging development can be, especially when it comes to affordable housing and the requirements that come with utilizing low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), awarded by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

Fernandez, founder of Latino Connection and CEO of Color & Culture and Fernandez Realty Group, said that his first affordable development project, Sycamore Homes, likely will be completed in December.

“There really have been a lot of lessons learned for me as a young, minority developer,” he said. “No wonder a lot of other minority developers aren’t doing this type of work because of how hard the work is, to be honest with you.”

Fernandez explained how much personal investment has gone into this project as well, as he also grew up in a lower-income family and is striving to make sure Sycamore Homes provides quality living. He was proud to share that the units feature oversized fridges, washers and dryers and nice countertops and cabinetry.

“We really want to give people a sense of belonging and a sense of pride and dignity,” Fernandez said.

He hopes that minority developers, in particular, are given more opportunities to receive financial support, along with technical assistance and training, so that the pathway to becoming a developer can become more accessible.

“It is now time that those people that want to be doing this type of work be given the right seat at the table—so that the people that are building the homes look like the people that are going to be served in those homes,” Fernandez said.

Building On

Ryan Sanders of RB Development, the group behind Bethel Village on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street, is also a local and has spoken on the importance of diverse representation in the real estate field.

The plan for Bethel Village was first proposed in 2021 to help revitalize a block with significant local African American history. The new development now sits on the former site of the historic Bethel AME Church, which burned down in 1995.

Initially, the project faced pushback from neighbors who were concerned that there wouldn’t be enough parking in an already congested neighborhood. However, Sanders and his team worked to find additional off-street parking and pushed forward with plans, knowing that this housing was needed.

Sanders said that affordable housing projects often can’t offer the same financial return as market rate projects. In addition, it takes a lot of planning and technical knowledge to participate in the LIHTC program, he said.

“You’ve got to be crazy, and you’ve got to really want to do something for the community,” he said.

Sanders is working with general contractor JEM Group on the project. CEO Jessica Meyers said that Camp Hill-based JEM first dipped its toe into affordable housing construction about seven years ago and has come to understand its importance

“It really opened our eyes to what this market is and continues to be, and it’s an opportunity to give people a nice place to live,” she said. “No matter what your income level is, everybody deserves a safe, nice place to live.”

With many Harrisburg residents in search of affordable housing, these projects won’t solve the total need. But local officials and developers are encouraged by the investments. Several of these developers even have additional affordable and market-rate projects on the horizon.

Sanders has plans to build next door to Bethel at the site of the former Jackson Hotel, which collapsed in 2021. McCoy broke ground on another partially affordable apartment building on 6th Street in 2023. Fernandez has proposed affordable housing for seniors at the site of the former Woodward School, and Casteel has additional development phases planned for Allison Hill.

“That’s going to help out a lot of people,” Casteel said. “If everyone can go in and do another round or two then break out and do market rate, I think the city would be coming back real strong at that rate.”

For more information about TLC Construction and Renovations, visit www.tlchbg.com.

To find out more about Fernandez Realty Group, visit www.fernandezrealtygroup.com.

To learn more about RB Development, visit www.rbdevllc.com.

For more information about Vice Capital, visit www.vicecapitalgrp.com.

To find out more about JEM Group, visit www.jemgroup.net.

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Voting Block: What will the neighbors think?

October 30, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

How’s the election playing out on your block?

In a recent Washington Post story, five contributors wrote short essays about election season on the most hyper-local level: their own neighborhoods.

Writers took the political pulse in Seattle, rural Georgia, Irvine, Calif., and, not too far away, in the Lehigh Valley.

The humorist Dave Barry wrote a hilarious piece about how his Florida neighbors seemed more interested in the search for a missing tortoise than in the presidential election.

So, I thought about my small, Capitol-area neighborhood in Harrisburg. How was the election playing out there? I set out on a grand tour around the block to find out.

It’s a month before election day, and all’s quiet on the river front.

Some trees are beginning to show signs of color, though most remain stubbornly green. The usual geese root around in the grass, and the groundhogs scamper away before I can ask them who they would vote for, if the election were held today.

Back along the street, I spot the occasional campaign sign for Democratic candidates: president, Congress, legislature. If there are any Republicans around—and I know there are a few—they’re not publicly stating their preferences.

I run into a neighbor out walking his dog and ask him to assess the local vibe.

“Vibe?” he says. “I don’t think there is a vibe.”

Touché.

I point to a nearby window plastered with campaign signs for Democratic candidates and one that reads, “Dictator or Democracy.”

“Well, yeah,” he says to me, “there’s that guy.”

“That guy” is Jamie Earl, who may be the most overtly political person on my block. Even when there isn’t an election, Jamie hangs signs in his large front window, often supporting or decrying some politician or taking a street-level stand on legislation. When I caught up with him, he proudly sported a “Harris Walz” T-shirt.

Jamie is a 63-year-old former IT guy who, in his semi-retirement, started a custom button-making business called Keystone Buttoneer. From his Etsy store, he sells all types of buttons—special occasion, humorous, etc.—but specializes in those espousing liberal politics and left-leaning causes.

Unlike me, he enthusiastically discusses politics with our neighbors. A few, he informed me, had voted for Donald Trump in the past but were switching allegiances this year.

“Most people I talk to are aware of what’s happening, and most of them are voting for Kamala Harris,” he said. “My vibe is that it’s a fairly progressive neighborhood.”

I nod my head in agreement, and it’s not just the signs. Most of the folks I know from our tight-knit ‘hood surely fall into the category of “progressive.”

Jamie then brings up a concern that I’ve heard from others—that, for our neighborhood, election season may not be over, even when it’s supposed to be over.

He worries that Trump, if he loses, will launch a 2024 version of his previous “Stop the Steal” effort to try to overturn the election results, with our neighborhood, in the shadow of the Capitol, on the front lines.

“We’re the biggest swing state,” Jamie said. “We’re number one on the list. So, I do fear for that. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

It’s a legitimate concern.

After the last presidential cycle, groups protested for weeks, holding up signs showing a jacked-up, Photoshopped Trump as Rambo—chanting, screaming, honking, claiming, as Trump still does, that the 2020 election was stolen. On several occasions, heavily armed men with AR-15s strapped to their chests, often in camouflage, some sporting bandoliers, marched through our streets.

Capitol-area residents don’t want to live through that again. Many fear that they got a taste this past August, when a group of masked neo-Nazis aggressively paraded through the neighborhood.

That concern, more than anything else, seems to unite the neighbors, regardless of partisan lean.

When I moved to Harrisburg from Washington, D.C., I figured that my new capital city home would be as political as my old capital city home.

My old Capitol Hill, D.C., neighborhood pulsated with politics, never more so than on Halloween, when many homeowners mounted elaborate, politically themed displays. Think front-yard graveyards with cardboard tombstones of unpassed legislation and effigies of candidates as the undead.

Not so much my Capitol Hill, Pa., neighborhood. Here, you can walk the streets without encountering a single Trump zombie or Harris witch.

But watch out for Jamie. He might just buttonhole you for a brief, if passionate, political discussion. Then he may even sell you the button.

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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A Move, a Mission: HAPAL swings into new era of helping area youth

October 30, 2024 | by Deborah Lynch

For years, the former Lower Paxton Youth Center sat abandoned with weeds and kudzu taking over the playground and buildings.

Neighbors helped keep a path to the swing set cleared so a young man with special needs could make his daily pilgrimage there, where he would swing as high as he could.

His path became more inviting after the Harrisburg Area Police Athletic League (HAPAL) acquired the property and began cleaning it up. Now, the young man can venture each day to a freshly painted swing set surrounded by other refurbished playground equipment and picnic tables in a tranquil setting next to a baseball field with new dirt and mown grass.

HAPAL CEO Dr. Charles Stuart and his wife Ann watch with pleasure as that young man sails high in the sky and as others from the community venture to HAPAL’s new home, which was dedicated on Aug. 3, after nearly a year of painstaking work to reclaim the property.

Before the organization could obtain the youth center, baseball field and playground through an organizational merger, HAPAL mentored from a location at 6th and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. The Stuarts had seen the abandoned Lower Paxton property, but it took time to track down the property information and negotiate a deal. Eventually, their work paid off with a $1 property transfer purchase to HAPAL.

“This allows us to reach more people in the Dauphin County area,” Stuart said.

The Stuarts and a few volunteers put in “hours and hours and hours” of sweat equity. It involved cleaning up dead mice and feces in the youth center building, evicting a raccoon family from the attic space, and repainting everything. It included replacing the water system, installing security cameras and reclaiming the property both from the weeds and from undesirable activities near it.

Now, Stuart, a retired law enforcement officer, has a big, safe space to support sports teams and education programs for Harrisburg-area youth.

He and James Jones, a football legend at Harrisburg and USC, joined HAPAL in 2014 and worked to revitalize a program that had withered. They rebuilt the board and relationships with sponsors and the community. COVID and a search for baseball fields and a permanent home clouded their vision until the new property materialized.

Blessed

The Lower Paxton Youth Center was developed in the 1950s on property left by the Wood family, who wanted it set aside for community and youth activities. The center saw a variety of uses through the years, including as a music club for teenagers and a church, but it had been empty for a long time.

“Dr. Stuart got hold of me, and it seemed like a natural transition—healthy guidance and recreation for young adults, which was what the youth center was doing,” said Link Martin, the lone remaining board member of the Lower Paxton Youth Center who now sits on the HAPAL board. “It’s great to see it be used again as a resource for young people in the community.”

While Craig Heilman—who was familiar with the baseball field—donated his time and equipment to re-create the baseball field, the Pennbrook Board of Recreation and Swatara Township offered HAPAL baseball fields to use.

“We’ve been blessed with people like that,” Stuart said.

HAPAL is mentoring about 130 Harrisburg-area children through sports—this summer, it ran seven baseball teams and has had track and basketball teams—and education.

“Part of the education is finding out how people feel about the police,” Stuart said. “We are building a relationship to show that law enforcement officers are human, too, and the police want to help you.”

Stuart said HAPAL has excellent relationships with local police departments, and every December, it hosts Shop with Cops, when close to 80 area law enforcement officers take children Christmas shopping at Walmart, which sponsors the event.

Edith Cook, HAPAL’s education coordinator, works with children in groups, one-on-one, and together with parents using a curriculum provided by the national Police Athletic League on a variety of topics, from limiting social media to preparing for next steps in life.

HAPAL aims to involve young children and follow them from 5 through 17. By doing this, they feel they can have the most significant influence. Some of the older teens have been able to attend national youth conferences.

“If the kids get the help now, they won’t need it as an adult,” Cook said.

She took one of her mentees, Mar’kyi Madden, a 10th-grader at Susquehanna Township High School, to a youth conference in Washington, D.C., in 2023 and again to Charlotte, N.C., in 2024. Madden said that he enjoyed being able to get away from Harrisburg, meet people and have fun. The session about going to college and getting a degree inspired him to be “more focused on school,” he said.

While baseball is the most active group within HAPAL, they are looking for coaches and mentors for other sports. They also have children interested in boxing, dance, writing poetry and music and offer healthy cooking classes in the youth center kitchen.

The goal is to find enough volunteers to have regular hours at the center, which has video game consoles, a large TV, books, games, an electric keyboard and much more.

On a late summer evening, children drilled on the baseball field under the direction of coach Marvin Dones. A shy youngster balked at taking the field, and Dones called out, “C’mon. Leaders lead. You can’t lead from over here on the sideline.” At the end of practice, the Stuarts opened the concession stand, passing out drinks and popsicles.

Dones’ son, Jacob, a sophomore at Lock Haven University, is a peer mentor and won HAPAL’s first Angel Mercado-Ocasio scholarship, named for a former PAL child who died in a tragic dugout accident at a Harrisburg baseball field last spring.

JaTanna Parrish, a parent of one of the young baseball players, is happy her child has HAPAL.

“It’s a great tool to make friends, burn energy and learn skills throughout life,” she said.

The Harrisburg Area Police Athletic League is located at 100 Elmwood Dr., Harrisburg (Lower Paxton Township). For more information, visit www.harrisburgareapal.org or on Facebook.

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Past & Present: LGBT Center looks back—and forward—at civil rights advocacy

October 30, 2024 | by Wallace McKelvey

Mark Segal

Fifty-five years ago, a teenage Mark Segal used a piece of chalk to rally people for what would, in retrospect, become a watershed moment in LGBTQ+ history.

“Tomorrow night: Stonewall,” Segal scrawled on walls and sidewalks in the wake of a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village.

Historical moments like that don’t always seem so important while you’re living in them, Segal said, at a recent visit to the Harrisburg-based LGBT Center of Central PA’s new home.

Indeed, he said, LGBTQ+ activism is as essential today as it was in 1969, as school boards across central Pennsylvania ban books and pass new restrictions targeting young people. Meanwhile, an effort to pass statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people has stalled in the state Senate.

“My whole life has been about one word: visibility,” said Segal, who founded the Philadelphia Gay News in 1976. “So, you go to those meetings. You stand up and you talk. You get your friends and family to go with you. You become a majority, rather than a minority.”

When he was growing up, Segal said, gay people were largely absent from public life. In public libraries, for example, a young man like himself could find a few books about LGBTQ+ people—categorized under criminology and psychology. In the media, there were coded stereotypes, but no honest representations.

“I was told I was illegal. I was immoral. I was psychologically insane,” he said. “Somehow, luckily—and probably thanks to my family—I don’t think I ever felt that way.”

Back then, Segal said, “We were totally invisible.”

Segal interrupted the CBS Evening News, hosted by Walter Cronkite, in 1973 with a message: “Gays protest CBS prejudice!” The move was designed to note the lack of balanced news coverage of LGBTQ+ people.

Such activism risked real consequences—including criminal trespassing charges—but helped change hearts and minds. Segal said Cronkite eventually became a supporter of gay rights.

Community & Connection

Partly due to Segal’s efforts, LGBTQ+ rights have come a long way since then. Same-sex marriages are now recognized nationwide, and LGBTQ+ people are now visible in most areas of public life. A young person doesn’t necessarily have to flee to New York to be themselves, as Segal did.

Today, school boards and state legislatures nationwide are passing policy restrictions on athletics, bathrooms and even pronoun usage in schools. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, at least 530 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced nationwide in the last legislative session, including five in Pennsylvania.

For good reason, he said, many ordinary people are wary of becoming the public face of civil rights activism. But that relative lack of visibility cuts both ways. The more visible a minority becomes, the more difficult it becomes to silence them.

Segal himself was a key player behind the scenes of the LGBT Center’s latest historical exhibit recognizing Gov. Milton Shapp as “America’s First Equality Governor.” Shapp was the first U.S. governor to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ state employees, protections he later expanded to include companies with state contracts. In 1976, Shapp also issued a Gay Pride Week proclamation.

During his remarks at the exhibit’s opening, Segal said that Shapp noted his own status as a political outsider. Shapp, Pennsylvania’s first Jewish governor, shortened his last name from Shapiro to sidestep anti-Semitic discrimination.

At one point, Shapp told Segal: “I, too, am in the closet.”

That anecdote underscores another lesson for today’s LGBTQ+ activists: The importance of allies. Shapp wasn’t gay, but he could relate to oppression and that motivated him to stand up for social justice.

“Our allies are extremely important,” Segal said, “so put them to work!”

Further, Segal said it’s important for LGBTQ+ people to organize, even if it’s sometimes a messy process with so many different perspectives on their world and their place in it.

“Gay Liberation Front was probably the most dysfunctional organization that ever existed — and I’m so proud of that,” he said, of the early gay rights group he helped establish. “Out of that dysfunction came a movement that got us to where we are today.”

Segal said that organizations like the LGBT Center are essential to continuing that legacy, providing a place for LGBTQ+ people to gather without discrimination.

In addition to historical exhibits like “America’s First Equality Governor,” the center—which moved into its new home on Front Street in Harrisburg earlier this year—hosts a variety of community, mental health and even housing programs.

As a nonprofit, the center does not engage in political activity but earlier this year hosted an event, “Vote ‘n’ Vax,” that combined a nonpartisan voter registration drive with an MPOX vaccination clinic.

“Having a safe and affirming space where you know you will be welcomed for who you are and met with kindness and support is invaluable,” Executive Director Amber Roadcap said, of the center’s work moving forward. “The LGBTQIA community needs to know that there is a place to go for not just support and resources but to build community and connection.”

The LGBT Center of Central PA is located at 1323 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, visit its website.

Wallace McKelvey serves on the LGBT Center’s board.

Fun & FAB

In addition to the first exhibit in its new Front Street home, the LGBT Center of Central PA has several other activities planned this fall.

On the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m., the center will also host a family-friendly storytime, “Once Upon a Rainbow.” Families with kids of all ages are welcome to attend the event free of charge with snacks provided.

Then, on Nov. 2, the LGBT Center will hold its annual FAB Gala at the Hilton Harrisburg. This year’s theme is “Fabulous Fantasies and Fairytales,” with the event raising funds for the center’s community programming.

FAB festivities will begin with a welcome reception at 6 p.m. followed by the 7 p.m. gala. An after-party is planned at the new event venue, Karma, 706 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, starting at 10 p.m.

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From Unhoused to Home: Off The Streets assists those seeking permanent shelter

October 30, 2024 | by Dan Miller

Volunteers assembling furniture.

Sam Dunklau of Harrisburg was looking for a way to put his faith beliefs into practice. He found it with Off The Streets, a ministry serving the homeless throughout Dauphin County.

Off The Streets is a nonprofit organization based in Middletown, one of eight chapters in Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington. The national group was founded in 2009 by Michael Oles, a Catholic church deacon from Danbury, Conn.

In 2013, Oles moved to Lancaster and started Off The Streets there. Lancaster remains the busiest chapter in terms of the number of people helped, said Mary Ellen May, president of the Middletown chapter.

All chapters are affiliated with the Catholic church, though they’re nondenominational regarding their volunteers and the people being helped, May said.

The Middletown chapter was launched in March 2023 following an informational meeting at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, the church affiliated with Off The Streets in Middletown.

The group assists unhoused individuals and families by providing money for the security deposit needed to move into an apartment or house. This assistance is provided directly to the landlord.

Off The Streets also provides donated furniture to these people, including beds and bedding, dressers, chairs, tables, kitchenware and other household goods. The organization relies on human service agencies and school districts throughout Dauphin County for referrals to the chapter of those in need.

The chapter targets those who have the means to make monthly rent payments, once they overcome the security deposit hurdle. Off The Streets does not have the resources to provide ongoing rental assistance.

Each chapter sets its own amount as the maximum provided toward a security deposit, based upon the local economy and rental housing market. The Middletown chapter pays up to $1,000 towards a security deposit.

Sometimes $1,000 is more than enough, or it may not be enough for a family looking to rent a larger house, May said.

“I make sure people understand upfront how much we can give them because we want to be able to help as many people as we can,” she said.

Once people move in, Off The Streets delivers the donated furniture and household goods to them, something May believes is unique to other nonprofits in this area.

“There are certainly places where folks can go to look at furniture and pick out furniture, but usually they are paying $50 to $75 for a carload or truckload of furniture to take home, plus they have to have a means of transportation to pick the furniture up,” May said.

Before anything is delivered, Off The Streets volunteers visit the apartment or house to see what is needed and the type of space the person or family has moved into.

Except for mattresses and some bedding, all furniture and household items are donated to Off The Streets. But the chapter—especially Mary Ellen’s husband Dennis, who coordinates this part of the mission—is very picky about what is accepted and ultimately delivered.

“If we wouldn’t have it in our home, if we wouldn’t give it to our kids, we don’t want it,” May said. “So he [Dennis] says no to a lot of potential furniture donations.

Need Is Great

Since starting in 2023, the Middletown chapter has assisted more than 330 people— mostly single women with children—and provided over $70,000 toward security deposits.

That makes Middletown the third busiest of all Off The Streets chapters, following Lancaster and the chapter in Toledo, Ohio.

Most of the assistance has gone to people moving into apartments and houses in Harrisburg. Others are in Middletown and along the Route 230 corridor, May said.

Off The Streets has received some grants. Otherwise, they rely on donations of money and items and on the group’s fundraisers. A golf tournament that the chapter held in Londonderry Township in September netted $6,900.

The group has no paid staff, relying solely on volunteers, including May and Dunklau, who lives with his wife and daughter near Italian Lake. Dunklau helps Off The Streets deliver and set up furniture and household items in the apartments and houses.

Working with Off The Streets has been a learning experience for Dunklau, seeing firsthand the challenge of homelessness in Dauphin County.

“More often than not, we’re getting connected with single mothers who have multiple children or just families with multiple children who didn’t have a stable housing situation,” he said. “The need and extent of the housing demand for folks who are either coming off the streets or who may be just lower income and who need a place to stay is great.”

As of early October, Off The Streets had a list of 28 families waiting for furniture, May said. If a family doesn’t have beds, Off The Streets tries to deliver beds within a week of the family moving in.

Otherwise, the chapter does just one furniture delivery each week, due to the limited number of volunteers and pickup trucks available.

“The more volunteers we have, the more people we can help,” May said.

For more information about Off The Streets Middletown, visit www.offthestreetsmiddletownpa.org, call 717-460-2137 or email [email protected].

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Memory Makers: Central PA independent jewelers give their neighbors (you!) the custom treatment

October 30, 2024 | by M. Diane McCormick

Ring from Christy’s Concepts Jewelry

Christy Cloder is a “floor owner.”

Sure, she analyzes data for sales trends at Christy Concept Jewelry, her Lemoyne store, but she also gets out on the floor every day. She works with customers. She hears them.

“I get to understand what they’re buying and what they wish we had that we don’t,” Cloder said. “For me, that’s probably more important than the number on a report.”

The holidays are coming, and the national jewelry chains are flooding the airwaves with the frantic strings of Vivaldi to market their exclusives that are made in the millions. There is still room, though, for local jewelers who put their heart and soul into serving loyal customers with custom and designer jewelry that speaks the language of love.

Ring from K Novinger Jewelry

Be Dazzled

The midstate is blessed with independent jewelers steeped in the community, from the eminent Mountz Jewelers and Munn’s Diamond Gallery to new favorites beckoning window shoppers to step inside for a shiny treat.

K Novinger Jewelry is a 12-year-old mainstay in Lemoyne’s West Shore Plaza. Owner Kristin Novinger brought her jewelry-design talent, honed at the Gemological Institute of America and working under a meticulous boss in New York City, home to the Harrisburg area. After providing custom work behind the scenes for local jewelers, she brought her customer base to her own shop.

The mall stores offer “typical,” she said. Her store offers handmade and personally meaningful.

“My vision was custom,” she said. “It was always helping the customers. I wanted to help and talk with more customers. I talk all day long. I got what I wanted. I love working with customers. I love working with them, seeing their ideas, and taking it to the next level.”

Cloder was a veteran of corporate retail fashion and a regular customer of the former Higashi Jewelry who, “long story short,” bought the store and launched Christy Concept Jewelry in 2019. Upstairs at the West Shore Farmers Market, she redesigned the space to fit her vision of a comfortable, non-intimidating shop.

“I wanted people to come in and try things on, whether on their own or full service or no service,” she said. “They’re welcome just to check in.”

As a small business owner, she has the autonomy to source the pieces that make local buyers know “The One” when they see it. There are jewelry shows to attend, designers and sales reps to meet, and trunk shows to schedule.

Cloder is a self-admitted “pop culture wonk” who stocks her store with fresh finds inspired by trends in jewelry and the fashions it will accessorize. This holiday season, delicate and sweet is still in, since remote workers don’t need statement pieces but still want some sparkle for trips to the market. On the other hand, “big and chunky is coming back, too.”

Custom Eyes

With the custom capabilities of local jewelers, buyers know that they won’t get decked out for a night on the town and find everyone else wearing the same pieces.

The key to breathtaking custom designs is listening, said Novinger. Many customers don’t know what they want, but they know what the piece will mean to them. After getting acquainted with the customer, Novinger draws her ideas at scale. Those pencil sketches progress through computer designs to wax models, constantly modified until the customer absolutely loves it.

Other stores that offer “custom” might only be matching stones to available mountings.

“We’re picky, but that’s us standing behind our product and making sure the customer gets exactly what they want,” Novinger said.

For a recent customer who wanted style with sentiment, she wove the initials of the customer’s grandchildren into the design.

“Not everyone’s going to know what they mean, but she’ll know what it means,” she said. “That’s us thinking outside the box.”

Many mall jewelers will send their work out, shipping grandma’s diamond to who knows where. At K Novinger, customers can peer behind a glass wall to see for themselves that it’s not elves doing the custom work but artisans and goldsmiths fully equipped for making, repairing or redesigning precious pieces.

“We do not send anything out,” Novinger said. “The pieces are staying here. It’s behind the wall. It’s in our hands.”

At Christy Concept Jewelry, Cloder engages a goldsmith, stringer and engraver. Much of Cloder’s custom work is for customers who inherited a piece that is meaningful but just isn’t their style.

“So, then it becomes, ‘How can we convert this to something that still has that emotional connection but that you can also wear?’” she said.

Local jewelers bond into a community of people who care deeply about the jewelry they sell, repair, create and clean. If Novinger doesn’t have what a customer wants, she’ll send them to another jeweler, because “it’s all about the customers, and that’s why we are who we are.”

Cloder, the newer entrant on the scene, has found that each jeweler serves a niche, and “what they do, they do really, really well.”

“There’s plenty of room for everyone to play, everyone to win,” she said. “I engage with all of the jewelry stores in this area, and everyone really roots for each other. There’s a responsibility I feel to just measure up with these other great stores.”

Silver & Gold

For the holidays, local jewelers bring in new lines or expand existing ones.

Cloder is concentrating on deepening her relationships with designers, focusing less on adding new names and more on adding the different lines that each designer carries. This year, she is expanding her cases with varied looks from Frederic Sage, as well as the Annamaria Camilli collections from Florence, Italy, sold in only 25 American stores.

Cloder also tries to support women designers.

“I like a balance, but it’s important that women support women,” she said. “I like the fact that we have a couple of new women designers coming into the store.”

Men’s jewelry, she adds, is an increasingly popular gift. One possible reason: Smart watches are replacing traditional watches—although Cloder carries some handmade Swiss beauties—so men want to express themselves with a bracelet or necklace.

Novinger is preparing for the holidays—almost a year-round process—with layering pieces, bangle bracelets and charms.

“The holidays are for anything that’s special because it reminds you of your loved one,” she said. “People love sparkling jewelry, especially at the holidays.”

From $25 giftables for teachers and babysitters to five-figure showstoppers, local jewelers carry the proper blend of items because they know and love their communities. Novinger supports local causes because “if I didn’t have the community, we wouldn’t have this.” Her dog-friendly shop, home to white mutts Sydney and Cookie, fulfills charity requests all year and is especially fond of Ronald McDonald House.

“You have to give back,” Novinger said. Then, she corrected herself. “You don’t have to give back. I want to give back, because that’s how I was raised. You give back and help others, and that’s how they help you.”

Working in a business as emotionally invested as jewelry, local jewelers say that everything they do boils down to one word: trust. Cloder’s target customer is often age 45 and up, but she also strives to capture the 25- and 30-year-olds.

“They get their engagement ring with us,” she said. “It’ll be wonderful to be a part of their life and watch them throughout their marriage and all of those wonderful occasions. You have to connect first. It’s about building trust, building rapport, building relationships. I enjoy doing that. I just do.”

K Novinger is starting to see generations of the same families, including the mother who recently passed down the diamond from her Novinger-made ring to her son for his wedding set, also made there.

“We’ve definitely brought memories to customers,” Novinger said. “That’s one thing we’re good at doing, bringing memories, that creation, that love. I love our customers, and I’m grateful for them.”

Christy Concept Jewelry is located at 900 Market St. (West Shore Farmers Market), Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.christyconceptjewelry.com.

K Novinger Jewelry is located at 1200 Market St. (West Shore Plaza), Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.knovingerjewelry.com.

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Her Favorite Things: Sara Bozich shops local for one-of-a-kind finds

October 30, 2024 | by Sara Bozich

Sara at Apricot Lane Boutique

When TheBurg asked me to share my favorite local boutiques for their “Shop Local” issue, I couldn’t say no. Supporting and promoting local small businesses is at the heart of what I do, and I love a bonus opportunity to show off my faves. From one-of-a-kind finds to on-trend fashions, these spots are where I go when I want to shop for myself or for gifts.

Shopping local matters—you know this. Doing so invests your money back into the community and helps your neighbors—the small business owners—make a living. You’ve probably seen that internet meme around the holidays, “Every time you buy from a local business, a real person does a happy dance.”

This is true! And shopping local benefits you, too. For starters, there are no annoying return fees (seriously, when did that start happening?). Plus, returns are less likely in the first place because you can talk directly with the shop employees—and often the owners themselves—to find just what you need. These folks know their inventory best, and they might even pull something that isn’t even on the floor yet just for you.

Every day, I try to style my outfit with at least one vintage item and one item from a local boutique or maker. This keeps my looks fresh and makes me feel good.

Little Black Dress

While you can often pick up a perfect little black dress in this chic Camp Hill boutique, the name is more of a nod to finding the perfect fit for any occasion. In the five-plus years that I’ve been shopping at Little Black Dress, I’ve collected sweaters, casual dresses, statement jumpsuits that I’ve worn to multiple events, office-perfect shirts, denim, an arsenal of faux leather in various designs, belt bags, jewelry and gifts—including candles, casual menswear and the cutest selection of kids’ clothes. I shop here seasonally to add quality, on-trend-but-not-trendy pieces to my closet. Little Black Dress stocks limited quantities of styles and refreshes regularly—so if you like something, grab it! This also ensures that your wardrobe is uniquely your own.

Little Black Dress

Neighbors & Smith, 1801 Market St., Camp Hill

IG: @littleblackdressch

Plum Bottom

Having been traumatized by Payless Shoe Stores in my youth, I take shoe purchases seriously. Footwear must be well made—it’s the base of your look and your comfort! Plum Bottom carries a vast array of flats, loafers, pumps, occasion heels, boots, sneakers and sandals. Good footwear can be an investment, and Plum Bottom cares about matching customers with the right fit. Whatever your foot concerns may be—narrow feet? low arch? bunions? —they got you! Plum Bottom has two convenient locations (Neighbors & Smith in Camp Hill and The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace outside Harrisburg) and an up-to-date online inventory—and they’ll source what you need from either store. They even deliver! High-quality service and outstanding, on-trend shoes of all types are why Plum Bottom has been in business for decades. As a bonus, they also carry a small selection of accessories and outerwear, including handbags, earrings, socks and jewelry.

Plum Bottom

Neighbors & Smith, 1801 Market St., Camp Hill

The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace, 2547 Brindle Dr., Harrisburg

Shop online: plumbottom.net

IG: @theplumbottom

Plumb Bottom

Found Collab

Found Collab is hands down the area’s best vintage shop. It is a collaboration between Stash Vintage and The Midtown Dandy, two highly regarded vintage sellers (Stash focuses mostly on women’s clothes, The Midtown Dandy on menswear—and some of the sickest vintage tees around). In addition to selling quality women’s and men’s vintage apparel, accessories and (some) housewares, Found showcases curated collections from niche artisans, many of whom are local—from stained glass to pottery to incense to jewelry and more, including greeting cards, original art, notepads, water bottles, etc. Shopping vintage takes some time and work—they always encourage you to try things on, and it’s worth it. I’ve scored high-end designer finds, custom-made jumpsuits, cool jackets and so much fun jewelry. Their storefront in the SoMa neighborhood of downtown Harrisburg has impeccable vibes, open noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. They stay open late on 3rd in the Burg Fridays for SOUND@FOUND, when they amp up the evening with killer beats, a featured artist and refreshments.

Found Collab

25 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg

More info: foundcollab.com

IG: @foundcollab

Apricot Lane Boutique

Apricot Lane Boutique is interesting because, although it is a national brand, each franchise is owned and stocked independently. So, the items you find at our local Apricot Lane are unique to it. Apricot Lane’s youthful and fashionable staff slays Instagram, and, in-person, they make you feel right at home, always happy for you to do a little try-on fashion show or give an honest but encouraging opinion. This is the go-to for trendy items and fun, inexpensive baubles and gifts (someone purchase me a cute Hydrojug, please). I’ve scored basics like bodysuits, sunglasses, an oversized Rolling Stones tee I couldn’t pass up, a few gorgeous event dresses, plus fun, flirty blouses for date night.

Apricot Lane Boutique

3541 Gettysburg Rd., Camp Hill

Shop online: apricotlanecamphill.com

IG: @apricotlanecamphill

Seymour’s Plant Boutique + Apothecary

For all my plant parents looking for something cool or a little different, Seymour’s is your spot. In an adorable little storefront on E. Main Street in Mechanicsburg, you can find wall-to-wall houseplants from philodendrons to snake plants to monsteras to alocasia. Cacti that look like little butts? Yep. Mini umbrella plants? That too. They even have a Venus fly trap, a nod to “Little Shop of Horrors” and the inspiration for the store’s name. Seymour’s has some other extras—local artwork, candles, etc.—and will soon be adding oils to enhance the “Apothecary” side of things. In the meantime, this is the perfect spot to pick up your next plant baby—or score a fun gift for a fellow plant lover. Each houseplant comes with a name and care instructions, so even if you don’t already have a green thumb, you will soon.

Seymour’s Plant Boutique & Apothecary

230 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg

Shop online: fb.com/seymoursplantboutiqueandapothecary

IG: @seymoursplantboutique

The Gallery at The Millworks

My book club met on The Millworks rooftop over the summer, and, afterward, two of us found ourselves in The Gallery (not our first time) picking up a little something—something as a treat for ourselves. While I could wax on the beer/food/art combo that The Millworks gives us, The Gallery is, in a way, the ultimate highlight of this historic space. Every item is a perfect little Harrisburg souvenir, in whatever way it may be. Shop candles and earrings, pottery and photography, prints and planters. If you need a gift—whether for yourself or a friend—you’ll find something dreamy here and you’ll know with each purchase you’re supporting a real, live, uber-local artist.

The Millworks

340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg

More info: millworksharrisburg.com

IG: @the_millworks

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Maker Place: 32nd Street Mercantile celebrates artists, community

October 30, 2024 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Tucked away in a residential area in Camp Hill, a building bursts with creativity, celebrating community and allowing local artisans to highlight and cultivate their talents.

The business, known as 32nd Street Mercantile, is comprised of 43 makers, all of whom have carved out individual niches in the building. The small, attractively decorated stalls show off makers who create items like paintings, jewelry, fused glass, clothing, gourmet food, crocheted items, self-published books, home décor and more.

The original store of the same name opened in 2021 and changed hands over the summer. Today, the shop is run by two couples: Beth and Mike Hillman and Jennifer and John Anderson.

“We attended a vendor meeting one night and the owner, Kathy Carbonaro, informed us that she would soon be closing,” Beth Hillman said. “We couldn’t bear to see that happen, so we purchased the place.”

The owners spread word far and wide about the grand reopening. Kids frolicked in bouncy houses in the large parking lot as adults perused unique merchandise and sampled fare made by the vendors.

“Before we took over, advertising was practically nonexistent,” Jennifer Anderson said. “We needed to let the public know how to find us. That was the main reason for hosting a grand opening.”

Unique Items

While much has remained the same, some aspects of the business have changed.

According to Jennifer, the “new” business will concentrate more on the community. People can look forward to a Charles Dickens event and a Christmas event starring Santa, food tastings and more.

“My aunt, who is 70, knows so much about gourmet goods and told me about Tait Farms,” Jennifer said. “We sell their chutney, jams, pancake mix, biscuit mixes and salad dressings.”

The store also carries faith-based brands, which are often inscribed with a biblical message, from Bible bracelets to baby quilts with verses on them and Christian books.

“The books I’m picking are ones that are hard to find at stores like Target and Walmart,” Jennifer said. “They are hand-selected from Christian authors.”

Seeking a gift for a man who’s tough to buy for? Head over to the “Mercantile Men,” section, which features products for beard and hair care, along with items like books, sketch pads and pencils.

“We like the fact that our customers can see for themselves high-quality, unique items that will speak to them in a way that an online store can’t,” Jennifer said.

It’s obvious that Jennifer is in her element when it comes to the craft business.

“My mom started doing craft shows when I was 12,” she said. “Her business, ‘Painting by Eileen,’ has a pretty big following, and I’ve also grown to love the industry.”

Eye-Catching

The couples hold down full-time jobs while managing 32nd Street Mercantile, but that doesn’t mean the business gets short shrift.

“We are all very committed people, and community is especially important to us,” Jennifer said. “So, we devised a motto that sums it up. ‘Unity, Community, Growth’ is what came about through attending church services and finding guiding principles to build upon.”

It’s important to both Jennifer and Beth to make the business a family destination.

“We’re going to hold ‘Mommy and Me’ classes and ‘Daddy and Me’ classes, along with a ‘Paint Your Family,’ class,” Jennifer said.

In keeping with the community focus, the front room is now a space for relaxation, coffee, donuts on weekends and Wi-Fi.

“We are inviting people to hold talks, classes and seminars in that room when we’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays,” Jennifer said.

Kim Bentz, who lives north of Wellsville, is a vendor who sells antiques, wood crafts and other handcrafted items.

“People seem to like the old, nostalgic feel of my booth that sometimes takes them back in time to their grandmother’s house,” Bentz said.

She added that one person bought a little stuffed horse for her sister because her dad purchased something similar for her when she was a child. Another shopper, who was a collector, bought an old metal music box.

In accepting vendors, Jennifer said that they try to resist duplication so they can keep a wide range of products in the store. They are also willing to help vendors design their spaces so that their booths are attractive and eye-catching.

As the holiday season kicks into gear, 32nd Street Mercantile is expecting a busy time ahead.

“We love our customers and our vendors and are looking forward to continuing to grow the business and make it a family destination,” Jennifer said.

32nd Street Mercantile of Camp Hill is located at 515 S. 32nd St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.32ndstreetmercantile.com or their Facebook page.

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Family Ties: Mother/daughter team sews together a quilting future

October 30, 2024 | by Alex Hayes

Sarah McAllister & Ashley Gardner

“Puzzles with fabric.”

That’s how Sarah McAllister and daughter Ashley Gardner describe the intricate art form known as quilting.

They should know. In October, the pair opened Serendipity Stitch as the newest addition to Carlisle’s growing downtown arts scene, following a move from New Bloomfield. The two hope to infuse their love of quilting into younger generations so the centuries-old practice has a bright future.

McAllister began quilting about 20 years ago. The former nurse said that stitching helped her unwind after long, stressful days caring for patients.

“Quilting is a relaxing, fun, meditative art,” she said.

McAllister learned from her mother and grandmother, making Gardner the fourth generation of a fabric-filled family. Gardner said that she experiences a lot of anxiety, so quilting also helps her to destress.

McAllister entered the business in 2015 by longarm quilting, the process of using a sewing machine to secure the quilt to its backing. She then expanded by launching a website to sell quilting supplies. After almost eight years of quilting as a side business, McAllister hung up her nursing cap in 2023 and opened Serendipity Stitch in New Bloomfield.

The location was a planned first step, with Carlisle being the ultimate goal. What was not planned, however, was that their move would happen so quickly.

“This location opened up, so we decided to go for it,” she said.

McAllister and Gardner were attracted to Carlisle’s vibrant downtown, which features breweries, gift shops, restaurants and specialty stores. There are other quilt shops nearby, which McAllister believes makes Carlisle a destination for artisans.

“We all carry different patterns and materials, so we complement each other nicely,” McAllister said.

Best Friends

Serendipity Stitch specializes in stocking unique patterns with bright colors and fun designs.

Gardner said that rustic colors often come to mind when people think of quilting, but they are helping the industry turn those thoughts around by offering everything from animals to holiday-themed fabrics. Gardner recently stitched a quilt she calls her “reading nook.” It features books, cats and hot teas as a nod to her other passion—reading.

“There are so many different patterns you can find for different people,” she said.

Serendipity Stitch also offers patterns by independent designers they meet at trade shows.

“We like to support the people who create the fabrics on their own,” McAllister said.

Beginner quilters usually start by creating pieced quilts, which follow an established pattern that the quilter sews together. McAllister and Gardner pride themselves on helping new quilters enter the hobby with little intimidation. They also plan to offer quilting classes at the Bosler Library in downtown Carlisle. In addition, Gardner said she is exploring quilt and sip sessions to be held at local wineries.

Serendipity Stitch also offers custom embroidery. Customers can bring in a digital file and an item they would like it to appear on, such as a backpack, jacket or sweatshirt. There is no minimum order, so patrons can create unique pieces.

The store is a vibrant place that does not smell like fabric, thanks to Gardner’s homemade soy candles. Customers can choose from various scents and sizes that fill several shelves.

As their business grows, so does their knowledge of quilting. Gardner is currently practicing English paper piercing, the practice of stabilizing fabric with paper before sewing it into intricate designs. Quilters also can create handbags, pencil cases, jackets or makeup cases.

In the end, thread holds the quilt together, much like the business of quilting bonds McAllister and Gardner.

In fact, McAllister and Gardner said that their age difference helps them stock materials that appeal to a broad demographic. They are also people who value second opinions and are constantly validating each other’s choices.

“A lot of people warned me about getting into business with family, but my mom is my best friend,” Gardner said.

Serendipity Stitch Quilt & Gift Shop is located at 126 N. Hanover St., Carlisle. For more information, visit www.serendipitystitch.com.

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Unique Boutique: At Mojito Beach, you’ll find one-of-a-kind items—and a friend

October 30, 2024 | by Ashley Andyshak Hayes

Mojito Beach Boutique

Chris Schrum started Mojito Beach Boutique at what may have been the most challenging time for small business owners—in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But for Schrum, it was the best move for her family.

Schrum’s son has a respiratory condition that made him especially vulnerable to COVID, leading Schrum to question whether she wanted to return to work after the initial pandemic lockdowns ended.

“When everyone started returning to work, his specialist told us, in her opinion, he shouldn’t be in a summer day camp-like setting because if he did get COVID, it had the potential to be pretty devastating for him,” she said. “After hearing that, I decided not to go back to work.”

Schrum wanted to find a way to stay home with her children while contributing to the household financially. An avid boutique shopper, she started Mojito Beach Boutique as a Facebook group, selling handpicked women’s clothing and accessories, handbags and jewelry. She was successful and didn’t plan to take the business further than that.

One day, while having lunch with her husband at the Markets at Hanover, she saw a vacant spot that looked perfect for a small boutique. She decided it was time to grow beyond Facebook and into a physical location.

“I talked to a few people who said starting a business during COVID was crazy, but it just felt right, so I jumped on it,” Schrum said. “The business took off, and while most businesses were struggling, we were thriving.”

Schrum’s mother, Kim Beck, “loved the boutique from the start” and spent many Saturdays there. She learned the basics of running the business. So, when Schrum decided to return to school and full-time work a few years later, Beck bought the boutique. Schrum stayed involved as time allowed, offering input on which merchandise to feature.

As her lease at the Markets at Hanover neared its end, Beck began looking for a new location closer to her home and moved the boutique to South Market Street in Mechanicsburg in May.

“We are a very people-oriented business,” she said. “So, we didn’t want to go into the malls or something that is so impersonal.”

Beck said her goal is to offer something for everyone, so she carries sizes small to 3XL in a wide variety of styles.

“We try to have clothes that are unique so everybody’s not going to show up to an event wearing the same thing,” Beck said.

While the success of a small business is at the mercy of economic conditions and shoppers’ spending habits, Beck said that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

“If you want to spend a half-hour chatting with a customer and helping them, you don’t have someone pointing at their watch,” she said.

Now retired from full-time IT work, Beck is excited to focus her attention on the boutique and her favorite aspect—the customers.

“I’ve been in IT since I was 19 years old, and being behind a computer is very impersonal,” she said. “Although I loved the work I did, I couldn’t wait to be done so I could be out and about.”

Now, many of her customers have become friends.

“You know them, you know their kids,” she said. “It’s just amazing how many different kinds of people you get to meet and how much fun you have getting to work with them.”

Mojito Beach Boutique is located at 106 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.mojitobeachboutique.com.

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