“Quite a Life”: Judge Sylvia Rambo reflects on her trailblazing career, as her name tops the new federal courthouse

March 30, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Judge Sylvia Rambo at the new federal courthouse when it was under construction. Photo courtesy of Sarah McGowan.

If destiny has a voice, Sylvia Rambo heard it loud and clear long ago on the school bus to her elementary school.

She was headed from her home at the U.S. Army Carlisle Barracks, where her stepfather was stationed, to the borough’s former Franklin School. Suddenly, she recalled, a voice told her to become a lawyer.

It was an unusual calling, especially given the times. Women were few and far between in the profession, and Rambo came from a low-income family. If she listened to the voice, she’d become the first in her family to graduate college.

“From that time on, I became a straight-A student,” she said. “That became my drive from that point on.”

Those days on the school bus, and later attending law school, feel like a lifetime ago, reflected Judge Rambo, sitting in her large chambers high up in the downtown Harrisburg Federal Building. She will turn 87 this month.

It has been a lifetime of career success for the U.S. District Court-Middle District of Pennsylvania judge of 24 years. Her career has been noteworthy not only for her own achievements but for women across the state and country, as she blazed trails and made history. And she has done it humbly, rarely taking the time to count her accomplishments, simply continuing forward with the work she has always felt destined to do.

“I just kept on going because there were women behind me,” she said. “I just did what I knew I could do and tried to do that well.”

Last June, state officials held a ceremony to announce that Harrisburg’s new federal courthouse on N. 6th Street would be named in honor of Rambo. The courthouse, which held a ribbon-cutting in December, now bears the name, “The Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse.” It’s the first federal courthouse in the commonwealth to be named after a woman. In fact, Rambo is one of only three living female judges to have a courthouse named after her.

“I still haven’t come to grips with it,” she said. “It’s still unbelievable.”

Underdog

Rambo grew up the daughter of divorced parents, a German immigrant mother and a father who she never saw after the age of 2. Her mother later remarried, and the family moved when her stepfather was posted to the U.S. Army War College at the Carlisle Barracks.

After her school-bus-light-bulb moment, Rambo set her sights on becoming a lawyer. She loved reading about Clarence Darrow, an early 20th-century defense attorney who was known for helping low-income workers and the disadvantaged. Rambo was also passionate about supporting the overlooked and underserved.

“I was always concerned for the underdog,” she said.

Rambo went on to graduate from Dickinson College in Carlisle and later from Dickinson School of Law as the only woman of the class of 1962.

She was a minority in her field, but never let that get in her way. She was fiercely driven and independent, but never scolded men who opened the door for her, as some of her female colleagues did, during her time as a public defender in Cumberland County.

“In no way does that take away from your independence,” she explained.

She became the first woman to hold the title of chief public defender in the county. But that would be only one of many firsts to come. She was soon after appointed the first woman to serve on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for Cumberland County.

In 1979, Rambo became part of a historic class of federal judges appointed by then-President Jimmy Carter. Rambo, named to the Middle District of Pennsylvania, was one of 23 women appointed that year. For comparison, only 10 women were appointed as U.S. federal judges in the previous 190 years.

She would later serve as the first woman chief judge of the Middle District.

At the same time that Rambo was in the midst of the FBI background investigation process before her appointment, history was being made in another way. She followed the news with her late husband, George Douglas, as the Three Mile Island nuclear plant suffered a partial meltdown.

“I said, ‘I wonder who’s going to get that litigation?’ And he said, ‘I think I’m looking at her,” Rambo recalled.

Douglas was right. Rambo would go on to preside over litigation surrounding the TMI accident for 20 years.

Other cases she handled included mandated special education services for students, the Camp Hill prison riots in 1989, environmental protection issues and sprawling fraud cases.

With each case, she strived to remain as fair as possible, hearing all sides and considering all perspectives.

“I try to treat everyone, no matter who they are, in court, with respect,” she said.

Your Honor

Outside of the courtroom, Rambo loved sports, including basketball and volleyball. She also adored animals and always had German shepherd dogs. Years ago, she owned and rode horses on her property, farmland near Carlisle. She also would cut her own firewood, pointing to a picture in her office of her sawing a log.

Her husband, Douglas, was a trial attorney. And like Rambo, he was always concerned about helping those he interacted with. However, the couple never discussed their cases, unless it was something funny, Rambo added. Her husband was always supportive of her career, and she’s grateful that he didn’t mind that she didn’t take his last name in marriage.

While Rambo said that, for the most part, she was respected as a judge, that wasn’t always the case.

She recalled an occasion when a male lawyer repeatedly responded to her with “yes sir, I mean, ma’am.” She knew it was deliberate and called him to the stand asking, “When you have to respond to a male judge, how do you address him?” He replied that he used the term “your honor.”

“I said, ‘That works perfectly well with me,’” she said. “He got very angry.”

Martin Carlson, magistrate judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, has been a colleague of Rambo’s for years and has witnessed the environment of her courtroom.

“She demands and commands absolute respect,” he said. “She really is the model of what a judge should be. She brings to her work not only a great legal mind, but a great heart.”

Even after a life full of career accomplishments and firsts, Rambo was shocked to find out that the new courthouse, a project she helped lead, would bear her name.

“That courthouse ends up being a lasting monument to her life and career and an inspiration to everyone that there are no limits to what you can achieve,” Carlson said. “It’s a remarkable legacy.”

But Rambo admitted that she hasn’t really thought about her legacy. Throughout her life, she just kept pressing forward and now, as she ages and deals with medical issues, she admits that she’s getting tired.

“People will what think what they think of me,” she said confidently.

At the moment, Rambo is focused on packing up her longtime office downtown, as staff at the federal building will make the move to the new courthouse in the coming months. It’s been a lot of work, she said, but she’s excited. At the same time, she’s considering what the next few years may hold, as she knows she’s approaching the end of her career. She’s loved her work and, though there have been challenges, looking back, she’s satisfied.

“It’s been quite a life,” Rambo said. “I wouldn’t give it up.”

The Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse is located at 1501 N. 6th St., Harrisburg.

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Park Perch: Susquehanna Riverlands is a new gem of a state park with a bird’s-eye view of the river

March 30, 2023 | by Karen Hendricks

It’s a stunning vista overlooking the Susquehanna River.

To the north, the river flows and swirls around the pillars of the picturesque Shocks Mills Bridge. If you stay perched on the rocky outcropping long enough, you just might spy a miniature train below, chugging across the bridge.

A patchwork of Lancaster County fields and farmland ripple into the horizon, on the opposite shore. To the south, the river disappears around a bend, lost in the Hellam Hills of York County, upon which you’re standing. It’s hard to believe this panoramic spot, frequented by hawks and bald eagles, is less than 10 miles from downtown York.

Most people would probably describe the scene as “sweeping.” But most people haven’t seen or even had access to this bird’s-eye view, until now.

New Views

“We had 135 people here for a ‘First Day Hike’ on Jan. 1,” said Nathaniel Brown, park manager. “It was quite a big gathering—more than we expected, especially with the way the road is. It doesn’t usually see that type of traffic, being a relatively narrow, gravel road.”

That’s because the 1,044-acre-park was just acquired from the nonprofit Lancaster Conservancy last September. But the Overlook Trail leading to Schull’s Rock was quickly blazed in November, powered by a Harrisburg-based crew from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps. Roundtrip, the hike is just under a mile and a half, from the makeshift gravel parking area.

“We worked quickly, to give people access to those views,” said Brown. “We expect usage to increase as people become aware of the park. But it’s a lot to balance at the moment—trying to keep people happy by giving them access to the new property, letting them satisfy their curiosity, while we make improvements where we can.”

Another major hiking trail traverses the new park—nearly three miles of the 200-mile-long Mason-Dixon Trail.

As the name Susquehanna Riverlands suggests, the park includes a mile of riverfront along the Susquehanna. But that’s not the only key waterway. The park includes a one-and-a-half-mile stretch of the Codorus Creek, flowing through a gorge, into the river. And that section of the Codorus not only includes Class I and II rapids—rare for this area—but history along its banks.

“The creek had a lot of historic uses from the [nearby] Codorus Furnace,” Brown said. “There was a canal that ran the length of the creek to York city, and the metal that was produced was shipped to Baltimore or Philadelphia.”

Establishing Susquehanna Riverlands gives the state a foothold, from which it’s hoped that additional nearby historic sites—such as the furnace—could be added.

“We know the geology informed the history of this site,” said Rachel Reese, division chief for the resource management and planning division of the Bureau of State Parks, under the umbrella of the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

Diamond in the Rough

Environmental experts, starting at rock bottom, are building the park’s master plan—a process that will take at least a year.

“One of the first things we want to do is a complete inventory and assessment of the area—the physical and recreational conditions, if there are sensitive areas like wetlands, or rare species— we want to know all of that,” Reese said. “Once we have that information, the question becomes, ‘How do you connect visitors to those things, without damaging the things that create the desire for visitation?’”

Reese has long been involved in developing new trails and assets within existing state parks. But she’s “wildly overwhelmed” about the development of Susquehanna Riverlands—and two additional new state parks, Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County and Big Elk Creek in Chester County. That boosts Pennsylvania’s number of state parks to 124—one of the largest systems in the country.

Although every state park contains priceless natural wonders, it’s not without actual cost. And there are financial twists in the parks’ funding story. The price tag of three new parks, $45 million, is being underwritten partly by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, but primarily by the state’s Oil and Gas Leasing Fund. That’s funding, fueled by oil and gas leases on state land, which has significantly swelled with an increase in Marcellus Shale region leases. Tapping into Marcellus Shale is seen as a controversial practice by many environmentalists.

Additionally, some might question how DCNR—with a documented $1.4 billion of backlogged state park maintenance—can add new parks into the mix.

“Our infrastructure needs received a $75 million down payment in the 2022-23 budget through ARPA funding, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed adding another $112 million to address that infrastructure backlog, from the Oil and Gas Leasing Fund in the 2023-24 budget,” said Wesley Robinson, DCNR spokesperson. “All of that is said to note that we are consciously working to be stewards of public lands so that Pennsylvanians have the best recreation options possible. We will continue to push for investments into our public lands and prioritize critical infrastructure projects as we strategically address the backlog.”

As in nature itself, funding and land use are balancing acts. And pandemic trends turned many Pennsylvanians into outdoor enthusiasts, driving a greater need for recreational spaces, sparking the idea of new state parks.

“This is definitely a unique opportunity that hasn’t happened in a long time,” Brown said. “There were a lot of parks developed in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, but the last park that was built from scratch was Erie Bluffs in 2004. This is a new experience for everyone, from the central office to the field staff here. It’s a lot of work—a pretty heavy lift—but it’s a really cool opportunity to be part of the beginning of a new state park.”

For more information on Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, visit dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/SusquehannaRiverlandsStatePark.

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Diggin’ It: Earth Day falls on April 22, but the Harrisburg area is down with earthy events all month long

March 30, 2023 | by Karen Hendricks

Wetlands Festival at Wildwood Park.
Photo courtesy of Dauphin County Parks and Recreation.

This month, New Cumberland is ground zero for local Earth Day happenings.

“We’re surrounded by natural resources here—the Susquehanna River, the Yellow Breeches Creek—so Earth Day events feel like a natural tie-in,” said Drew Lawrence of the New Cumberland Collective, a community nonprofit planning month-long celebrations.

Events kick off April 1 with a “Repair Fair” at Weist Hardware. Handy community helpers are willing to fix small appliances, make electrical, carpentry and plumbing repairs, and offer bike and car maintenance. Mending and fixing things are sustainable habits, Lawrence said, that reduce landfill volume.

Earth & Arts

The borough’s signature event is the New Cumberland Earth & Arts Festival, April 16, both inside and outside the New Cumberland Library.

“We came up with different ways to include the arts in environmental messages,” Lawrence said.

For example, festival-goers can learn about sustainable fashion through workshops on thrifting and natural dyeing.

“We’ll have live music that’s very natural—songs about trees and a beat-making performance using cool sounds from nature,” Lawrence said.

Food trucks, art vendors and a recyclable art contest will add to the festive atmosphere. Booths, talks and bird walks will be offered by the West Shore Wildlife Center and American Audubon Society.

On Earth Day, April 22, Mayor Thad Eisenhower will exert pedal power, for a “Bike the Borough” ride.

Later, Litter

Over the years, volunteers with the Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup have found everything but the kitchen sink.

Oh wait—as unlikely as it might sound, they actually have found old kitchen sinks, along with old construction materials, plus plenty of bottles, cans and typical litter. You name it, they’ve probably found and picked it up—all by hand.

It adds up. Hundreds of volunteers have removed a grand total of 380 tons of litter from the city over the past 10 years. Last year alone, volunteers properly disposed of 450 tires.

“It’s kind of mind-boggling,” said Charlie Miller, with event organizer Tri County Community Action. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of illegal dumping that happens in Harrisburg, and this is a chance for residents to reclaim their neighborhood and to communicate that they want vibrant, safe, clean places to work and play.”

This year’s 11th Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup is set for Earth Day, April 22. The cleanup operates from three locations—South Allison Hill, Midtown and Uptown. The public is invited to participate by registering online, with free T-shirts for early registrants.

“The event is meant to bring residents and friends of Harrisburg together, as a community, to take on litter and be engaged in their city’s beautification,” Miller said.

Barrels of Fun

Sustainability is on tap, April 15, at the 12th Annual Mechanicsburg Earth Day Festival, where rain barrels are star attractions.

“The highest bidders go home with functional rain barrels that are also works of art,” said Susanna Reppert, festival coordinator.

Like a spring ritual, professional artists and area art students transform the barrels with colorful paint.

Rain barrels help gardeners conserve water and reduce water bills, potentially hundreds of gallons’ worth. The auction has another sustainable feature—profits underwrite the event, planned under the umbrella of the nonprofit Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership.

The downtown festival typically draws 1,800 people for its earth-friendly vendors, entertainment such as drumming, environmental nonprofits and unique community recycling.

Faded American flags, unused prescription drugs, print cartridges and old eyeglasses will be collected by the American Legion, Mechanicsburg Police, Simpson Library and Mechanicsburg Lions’ Club, respectively. Mechanicsburg fifth-graders with the Green Team Environmental Club are accepting Styrofoam, aluminum cans and old markers. Bicycles in any condition are being collected by Operation Wildcat, an organization that supports Mechanicsburg Area School District’s families in need.

“Since the Earth Day Festival is on Tax Day, April 15, you can even bring and shred all your documents you no longer need,” Reppert said. That’s thanks to a booth run by PSECU.

Reppert, owner of longtime downtown business, Rosemary House, is collecting old crayons for The Crayon Initiative, a nonprofit that creates new crayons distributed to hospitals.

“People like the vibe at our event,” Reppert said. “We have a strong ‘zero-waste’ commitment, so there’s minimal waste and trash. People really appreciate that.”

Celebration of Remediation

MycoSymbiotics, a mushroom research lab, was one of the first businesses to occupy offices to The Bridge Eco-Village.

A $40 million project, The Bridge plans to convert the former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg into an eco-friendly community hub mixing residential units with co-working spaces and a large event space. The school’s former stadium has been transformed into tiered garden beds.

“The Bridge is really the perfect ecosystem and space to show the world that any land can be remediated for the good of the earth and the people,” said Leslie Avila of MycoSymbiotics, organizer of the 2nd Annual Earth Day Fest at The Bridge, April 22 and 23.

Free festival events include a seed swap, live music and community mural painting. Tickets are required for overnight camping and educational workshops, such as how to develop a solar greenhouse.

“There’s been a new awakening—a shift in our consciousness,” Avila said. “Our ways of doing things, culturally, isn’t really sustainable. The Earth Day Fest offers the opportunity for people to learn how to live more sustainably so the earth can be a healthier place.”

Nature Treasure

Many people developed a newfound appreciation for nature amid the pandemic.

“Our visitation spiked—we had 100,000 visitors in March of 2020, and previously we had 100,000 visitors in a year,” said Savanna Lenker of Dauphin County’s Wildwood Park. “The Wetlands Festival gives them the chance to learn more about what makes Wildwood so special.”

Live animals—including turtles and frogs—science experiments, environmental groups, music and food are planned for the 23rd Annual Wetlands Festival on April 29. The family-friendly event is traditionally one of the park’s two busiest days of the year, attracting some 1,500 people. Guided nature walks will help visitors identify the park’s birds, trees and wildflowers.

Additionally, the 11th annual “Art in the Wild,” an outdoor natural art exhibit, is set to open on April 2.

“Our wetlands are very special,” Lenker said. “The park serves as a huge flood control device for the city of Harrisburg because Wildwood Lake absorbs floodwater and prevents it from making its way downtown.”

Digging Deeper

There’s a lot more to learn about the Earth Day events featured in this story:

New Cumberland Collective’s month-long events, including the April 16 New Cumberland Earth & Arts Festival, newcumberland.co
Mechanicsburg Earth Day Festival, April 15, mechanicsburgearthdayfest.com
Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup, April 22, cactricounty.org
Earth Day Fest at The Bridge Eco-Village, April 22-23, thebridgeecovillage.com
Wetlands Festival at Wildwood Park, April 29, explorewildwoodpark.org/event/wetlands-festival

All events mentioned are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

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April Publisher’s Note

March 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Each April, I count my blessings.

Back in 2020, we were in the thick of finalizing our April issue when the world came to a screeching halt.

With a pandemic crashing down around us, our long-planned feature stories seemed trivial, at best. Our advertisers suddenly cancelled their ads. Our printer wanted to know if we’d even have an April issue.

I’ll never forget that horrible, sinking feeling when the governor issued his stay-at-home order. What would we do? Like everyone else, we winged it.

We quickly held a meeting and decided, as a staff, that we needed to publish an April issue, despite it all. We cut some stories, dropped a lot of ads, and then decided to publish primarily online, as most of our distribution locations had closed.

In short, it was the worst time of my long journalism career, as well as one of the worst times of my life. I honestly didn’t know if we’d be able to continue in business past that point.

Well, we’re still here—stronger than ever. And that’s why, each April, I count my blessings.

A big part of that blessing is you, our community of readers. To try to survive the pandemic, we accelerated the launch of our new membership program—Friends of TheBurg—and, wow, did you respond!

Because of you, we were able to continue to report, continue to write, continue to publish, continue to offer this news service to the greater Harrisburg area and beyond. I cannot express enough gratitude to our incredible readers and supporters.

Yes, April is the third anniversary of Friends of TheBurg. If you’re a friend, we hope you’ll renew your membership and, if you’re not one yet, we hope so much that you’ll join. Last year, we even felt safe enough to throw our first (and long-delayed) Friends of TheBurg “bash.” It was so successful that we plan to hold another one later this year, so please stay tuned for that.

More good news—winter is over (well, what there was of it, anyway), and spring is coming on strong. Happy April, everyone!

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

Click here to read the digital version of our April issue.

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Flower Fans: Plant passion abounds at Penn-Cumberland Garden Club

March 30, 2023 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Hosta and daffodil demonstration garden at Adams Ricci Park.

You could hear a pin drop at the latest meeting of the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club (PCGC) as speaker Sandy Lockerman shared her knowledge about the secret lives of hummingbirds.

Lockerman is the only bander of hummingbirds in this part of the state, and both she and her husband have devised a special “trap” to temporarily capture the birds to band them for migration studies.

The room at the Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church was filled to capacity as dozens of club members gathered for their monthly meeting and to hear more about Lockerman’s research.

“We’re going to need a bigger room soon,” remarked Sheri Goff, who wears several club hats—youth activities chair, chair of photography and yearbook editor.

After the talk ended, members formed a long line leading to the kitchen, where a large spread, prepared by members, awaited. Choices included a selection of soups, tea sandwiches made with cucumber, cream cheese and dill and a variety of rich and delicious desserts.

After lunch, members caught up with one another and some even pulled out their purses to purchase pressed flower jewelry that was carefully displayed on a long table.

Goff is part of the 117-member strong organization that encompasses York, Lancaster, Harrisburg and the West Shore. Their mission is dedicated to the promotion of gardening, floral and landscape design, community beautification and preservation of trees, plants, birdlife and natural resources.

Goff, who lives in Camp Hill, learned about the nonprofit group after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper in 2013 and has been a member ever since.

“I walked in off the street,” she said. “You don’t have to know anyone to join.”

Lynn Garrett learned about the PCGC through word of mouth.

“I was invited by a woman I had known at Highmark before I retired,” said the Shiremanstown resident.

Members in attendance that day offered a variety of reasons for joining—from the desire to socialize with those who share a passion for gardening to an interest in community beautification and even floral design, which is what attracted current PCGC President Kay Yniguez.

“I became involved because I was interested in a club that taught floral design, and it turns out that they had a floral designer’s guild,” she said.

According to Goff, the club is affiliated with the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and the National Garden Club (NGC), which prepares members for participation in flower show judging and other activities.

“This is just one of four schools offered nationwide by the NGC,” Goff said. “The others are landscape design, gardening and environmental.”

The garden club also has a scholarship fund that awards $1,000 to a high school senior with a related major, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape architecture and others.

Beautification projects are an important part of the club’s mission, as well.

“We have 17 civic beautification sites in four communities throughout the area that are maintained by our club,” said Goff, whose project is caring for the landscape at the New Cumberland Library.

Additional beautification projects include design, planting and maintaining gardens and containers at the Camp Hill Borough building, Adams-Ricci Park in East Pennsboro Township and New Hope Ministries in Mechanicsburg, to name a few. The club also oversees the operation of 129 raised-bed garden plots at Ames Community Garden in Shiremanstown.

Annual dues are $30 and include a newsletter, which is published five times a year. Goff said that the membership cost is more than worth it for the joy that the organization brings to so many people in the community, both members and non-members.

“For me, the value of the club is the affiliation with state and local organizations, but also learning from fellow members about growing flowers, sharing plants with each other, trading seeds and working in the community to beautify public spaces,” she said.

For more information on the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club, visit www.penncumberlandgardenclub.org.

Upcoming Events

Penn-Cumberland Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale at the Historic Frankenberger Tavern in Mechanicsburg at 217 E. Main Street on May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Among the items for sale will be annuals, perennials, seedlings, herbs, bulbs, shrubs, trees, gardening books and magazines, garden tools, baked goods and more. Proceeds support civic beautification, Natural Disasters USA and Global Partners Running Water.

Also, mark your calendars for PCGC’s annual holiday market and luncheon. This is the 54th year for the event, which is open to the public and held at the Penn Harris in Camp Hill on the Monday after Thanksgiving, starting at 9 a.m.

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Hammering it Home: Fourth-generation woodworker Greg Johnson crafts small business success

March 30, 2023 | by Karen Hendricks

Greg Johnson’s first project, as he was launching his woodworking business, was for his dog.

He crafted a little wooden holder for Sabache’s food and water dishes. And as the glossy black dog lapped up his water, one of the characteristics of his breed—Chow Chow—was on full display: his spotted tongue.

And that’s how, two years ago, Spotted Tongue Woodworking was born.

Johnson’s vision? To offer handcrafted, fine furniture and custom cabinets—wooden pieces that are both detailed and enduring.

“I think everyone understands that what you buy at a big box store is going to be lower quality—it’s expedient, and they don’t expect it to last,” Johnson said. “In order for something to last, it has to be made—not just made, but crafted and custom-made.”

And so far, he’s customized a lot. From tables and chairs to vanities, built-in cabinets, a couple of kitchens, and even “a project totally out of left field”—a piano. More about that in a moment.

“I enjoy the diversity of projects—it’s good to mix it up and have a change of pace,” said Johnson, 31, of Mechanicsburg, gesturing toward the custom bathroom vanities he’s currently building for a couple—a husband who’s tall and a wife who, well, isn’t.

Heritage with a Hammer

Johnson laughed at the idea that woodworking is in his genes.

“The Johnson gene is more about being worried about every little detail,” he said. “But on both sides of my family, there is a very strong tradition of woodworking and craftsmanship.”

His Swedish great-grandfather became a well-known New York City cabinetmaker who hand-built pieces for the Pentagon and Smithsonian. Johnson’s grandfather was an English teacher who spent his summers as a woodworker, even building two motorboats and a camper from scratch. His dad became a contractor with an eye for detail.

Then there’s his maternal great-grandfather. A Queens firefighter, he built his Long Island home from reclaimed materials. In the backyard? A hydroponic garden powered by a washing machine.

“Looking back, I realize how incredible they all were,” said Johnson, whose own journey toward woodworking was a winding path.

From Words to Wood

An English major in college, Johnson became a local English teacher (also like one of his grandfathers) for two years.

Running is another one of Johnson’s talents. He’s coached track and cross-country and worked at an area running store. He entered his first marathon—the 2016 Harrisburg Marathon—and won. It’s a feat he repeated in 2017. One summer, he biked 4,500 miles across the country with a couple college friends to raise money for a ministry.

Johnson began pursuing grad studies in exercise science, but had a change of heart, and he also worked with his father as a contractor. When the pandemic hit, Johnson’s wife continued working as a kindergarten music teacher, while he transitioned into a full-time dad and childcare role for their young son.

“When he would take a nap, I started doing projects around the house, collecting tools, and that helped keep me sane,” said Johnson, whose woodworking side hustle took off through word-of-mouth.

Tinkering around in his garage and driveway, Johnson’s talents caught the eye of his mailman, who offered Johnson the use of his woodworking shop, appropriately nestled in the woods. It’s now home base for Spotted Tongue Woodworking and where Johnson reports to work every day as a fourth-generation woodworker.

“He’s a visionary,” said Julia Paladina of Mechanicsburg, who met Johnson through the Harrisburg-area running community and hired him to create a custom kitchen table for her family of six.

“We never had a table that would last or look good,” said Paladina. But the custom white oak table—with seating for 10—that Johnson created “is an art piece—a conversation piece that will definitely become a family heirloom.”

A Grand Idea

HACC music teacher Carole Knisely already had a family heirloom on her hands—a baby grand piano that had outlived its usefulness. She held onto it, nostalgically, and envisioned something even grander.

“My sister-in-law sent me a picture of how to turn it into a bookshelf, and I fell in love with it right away,” said Knisely. “Then, as it turns out, I was biking in my neighborhood, when I saw my neighbor Greg doing woodworking, and I realized a carpenter lived right down the street.”

The rest was history. Almost exactly 100 years after the piano’s manufacturing date of 1922, Johnson delivered it to her home, transformed into a bookshelf.

“It was a challenge, adding cross-braces and figuring out the shapes, angles and curves that preserved the piano while adding shelves,” said Johnson, who gutted the piano’s inner workings, while preserving the ebony and ivory keyboard as the bookcase’s edge.

He had to delay working on the piano until he had space in the workshop. Then, as the project got underway, life intervened. His wife went into labor with their third child, and the Johnsons became a family of five. Laughing, Johnson described how he completed the piano project, in between running home to take care of his young family.

“He works from the heart,” Knisely said. “I’m absolutely thrilled, because when I look at the piano, I see the love of my parents to give it to us, the joy of all those memories playing it for family Christmas gatherings, and now it’s a lovely heirloom to pass down.”

Johnson credits his wife with being “the primary breadwinner” so that he can “pursue his dreams.” And one of the biggest and best confirmations that Johnson has taken the right path in life recently came from the couple’s 3-year-old son.

“When Emerson says, ‘Daddy can fix it,’ it means he understands what I do for a living,” Johnson said. “And that is the most incredible thing.”

For more information on Spotted Tongue Woodworking, visit spottedtonguewoodworking.net. To see Johnson’s videos and photos of the grand piano transformation, along with other projects, check his Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels.

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Fit for Growth: West Shore Home has quickly expanded from local remodeler to nationwide company

March 30, 2023 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

B.J. Werzyn

When B.J. Werzyn opened the first location of his home remodeling business in Mechanicsburg in 2006, he held tight with an unusually lofty goal for a local entrepreneur.

“I wanted to create a national name since day one,” he recently recalled.

Today, after 17 years of constant expansion, West Shore Home appears to be well on its way to reaching Werzyn’s ambitious vision as the nation’s first home remodel installation chain. West Shore Home now installs high-quality baths, windows and doors in some 36 U.S. markets that crisscross 17 states, with a total of nearly 3,000 employees.

“One of our biggest competitive advantages is that we employ our own installers,” said Werzyn, now 45. “We don’t subcontract out, so we can have that operational excellence. Today, we have over 800 W-2 installers.”

Despite its rapid expansion, West Shore Home’s roots remain squarely in this area. Its corporate headquarters in Hampden Township opened in 2021. Due to rapid growth, it opened its second headquarters in 2022 on Westport Drive in Mechanicsburg.

Werzyn credits his company’s success on a “problem identified.”

“It’s not easy to do home remodeling,” he said. “In fact, it’s a big problem for many homeowners, and it’s an important problem. We provided a solution to the problem. People’s homes are their most valuable possession and the most intimate. It’s where they raise their families and make memories.”

Real Catalyst

Werzyn was introduced to the home remodeling business as a child. His parents owned a window company, offering him a depth of experience when he later started his own business.

About eight years ago, Werzyn decided to expand West Shore Home outside the Harrisburg area. To do so, he hired a consultant with a vision to “create a national footprint with a least 30 markets at that time.”

The company’s first venture outside the region was a greenfield site in suburban Pittsburgh. Following that, in 2018, Werzyn accepted a proposal for buying out a similar company, a move that gave West Shore Home nine new locations in outlying areas.

“That really wound up being a phenomenal acquisition for us, a real catalyst for our growth, and then, 13, 14, 15 more greenfields is how we got to the 36 locations we are today,” Werzyn said.

The company now stretches as far south as Atlanta and as far west as Salt Lake City. Its newest location, which opened in February, is in Oklahoma City. However, that still doesn’t satisfy Werzyn’s ambitious vision.

“I’d like to double this company again and again,” he said. “We hope to have 60 offices by 2025. Now, we’re focusing on going out west. There are still markets available for us in Chicago and Kansas City, to name just a few.”

Across the Nation

Recently, West Shore Home was honored with a 2023 “Top Workplaces USA Award,” a program celebrating organizations that build great work cultures. Winners are chosen based entirely on employee feedback.

That workplace culture includes an emphasis on giving back to the community through public service.

“It’s really important for us to help out the community where we live,” said Kirsten Page, West Shore Home public relations director. “It’s part of why we do what we do—to bring happiness to every home.”

Page said that part of her job involves overseeing the company’s community outreach endeavors at all of its U.S. locations. Food insecurity is a big focus of the company’s charitable efforts.

“For instance, January was Poverty Awareness Month,” she said. “So, we urged all of our branches to donate to local food banks in their communities.”

West Shore Home’s more extensive public outreach effort is serving local veterans’ communities, according to Page.

In February, for example, the company provided U.S. Army veteran Gerald White, of Columbia, S.C., with a new, safety enhanced walk-in shower as part of its West Shore for American Warriors Initiative. The donation helped White, a World War II vet who participated in the Battle of the Bulge, to continue to live independently.

West Shore Home branches across the nation also take part each year in U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. Over the past two years, the company donated more than 6,000 toys nationwide, as well as a total of $20,000 to the organization. The program also aligns with West Shore Home’s mission to support military veterans.

Additionally, the company has supported the United Way, Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Susquehanna Service Dogs, and several additional local and national charitable causes.

“We try to find organizations we can support across all of our branches nationwide,” Page said.

For more information on West Shore Home, visit www.westshorehome.com or call 866-885-0316.

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Panes & Gains: As it builds its business, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA opens a window to charitable giving

March 30, 2023 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Joe Zisman,Linda Johnston & Tom Zimmerman, at their Veterans Day celebration, pictured with a model tiny home.

Getting back to a sense of normalcy after COVID-19 has been a challenge.

If there’s one thing we learned from the pandemic, it’s that where we “nest” is important to us. Now more than ever, people are investing in their homes with fresh ideas.

As an example, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA, based in Mechanicsburg, had an outstanding year in 2022, partly due to the substantial demand that arose from homeowners wanting to enhance their surroundings or remodel homes they were buying. According to company President Joe Zisman, there is still pent-up demand.

“With the cost of housing being so high right now, rather than going out and purchasing a new home, many people are choosing to upgrade their homes with new windows and doors to keep the elements out and the heat and air conditioning in,” he said.

Zisman said that working for his family’s window business (Ambassador Home Improvements, Inc.) in Pittsburgh helped inspire his passion to help others, stay customer-focused and run a successful operation on his own.

“My dad, Marvin Zisman, was an installer, my uncle was a salesman, and my mom did the books,” he said. “We became partners before he retired in the late 1980s and back then he worked hard for each home improvement project undertaken.”

Joe Zisman opened RBA of Central PA in 2006. Today, he’s a hands-on president whose team understands the importance he places on making both customers and employees feel valued.

“I have a great team, which is very customer-service oriented, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “This includes rewarding our team when they perform well, establishing a “fun committee,” and, most importantly, volunteering in our communities around the region.”

Giving Back

Zisman repeatedly mentioned how his company encourages assisting Harrisburg-area nonprofits, and, indeed, the list of charities it supports is long. It includes Bethany House, American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s, Orange for Owen Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Coats for Kids, Peyton Walker Foundation, Big 33, Capital Area Dream House, PA Dairymen’s Association, various food banks and Speranza, to name just a few.

This past November, in recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month, the company contributed $500,000-plus of in-kind donations to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania to provide windows, doors and labor for its tiny homes project for homeless and displaced veterans across the capital region.

Thomas W. Zimmerman, Jr., co-founder and chair of VOPA, said that a tiny home provides everything veterans need to live with dignity and safety, including a bed, bathroom, shower, desk, sink and counter space, with a refrigerator underneath.

Linda Johnston, general manager for RBA of Central PA, said the company is partnering with other central PA companies to build 15 of these tiny homes, which will be located along the Susquehanna River in South Harrisburg.

“The entire village will serve veterans free of charge,” said Johnston, adding that a 6,500-square-foot community center will be built near the houses on the five-acre site, which, decades ago, was home to a Phoenix Steel Corp. mill.

Zisman said that he is proud of how the company has evolved and grown over the years, as well as its focus on giving back to the community.

“We have worked hard to be able to help so many families here through our work and also through our philanthropic endeavors,” he said. “All of this truly fulfills our sense of purpose, which is giving back to others, so the future looks bright indeed.”

Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania is located at 4856 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.renewalbyandersen.com.

To learn more and contribute to Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, visit www.veteransoutreachofpa.org.

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April News Digest

March 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Lauds Debt Payoff

Harrisburg officials last month celebrated a historic day, as the city made a final payment on its once staggering debt load.

The city officially paid off the last $8.3 million in general obligation bond debt dating back more than a decade to its municipal financial crisis.

“This is a historic moment in our city,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “Harrisburg’s best days are ahead.”

The forbearance liability debt is money that the city owed to bond insurer Ambac Assurance after it defaulted on its Series D&F bond payments in 2011. The original D&F bonds were issued in 1997, under former Mayor Steve Reed. Harrisburg paid off those bonds in September 2022.

Late last year, Harrisburg City Council approved the payoff of $12 million of what was $20 million in remaining in debt, at the time. While city administration officials had originally proposed paying off the total $20 million at once, council members were hesitant to spend down such a large amount of the city’s fund balance.

“I’m glad we were in a position to finish the task,” said council President Danielle Bowers.

Before the Williams administration made the two large payments, the city, for years, mainly made smaller, routine annual payments, with the exception of a $6 million payment under former Mayor Linda Thompson in 2013 and a $7.2 million payment under former Mayor Eric Papenfuse in 2021.

Before last month’s payment, Harrisburg’s fund balance, or savings, sat at around $25 million. With this final bond payment, it now is about $17 million, according to Brian McCutcheon, accounting manager for the city.

Officials pointed out that the total debt payoff also saves the city from continuing to accrue interest on the debt. Williams said that the city plans to put the freed-up money towards resident services, possibly street repaving, purchasing public works vehicles and blighted building demolition.

Local Primary Slates Set

Eight Democrats will vie for three seats on Harrisburg City Council, as the petition deadline for the May primary came to a close last month.

Council President Danielle Bowers and newly appointed council member Robert Lawson both submitted petitions to compete in the May 16 municipal primary. However, two-term member Westburn Majors did not, meaning that the field will include an open seat.

In an interview, Majors cited “family obligations” for deciding not to seek re-election.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done on council over the last two terms to move the city forward,” he said. “I will continue to be involved in the community.”

Other candidates for the three, four-year council seats include:

Cole Goodman
Lamont Jones
Brad Barkdoll
Lori Beamer Saulisbury
Crystal Davis
Leslie C. Franklin

No Republicans submitted candidate petitions for city council.

Harrisburg also has an election for five, four-year seats to the school board. Only four candidates, all Democratic incumbents, submitted nominating petitions. They are:

Ellis Rick Roy
James Thompson
Doug Thompson Leader
Terricia Radcliff

For city treasurer, only Democratic incumbent Dan Miller submitted nominating petitions to run for the four-year seat.

For magisterial district justice, long-time incumbent Barbara Pianka did not submit election petitions for District 12-1-02. However, her son, Matthew Pianka, did, cross-filing as both a Democrat and a Republican. He is running unopposed.

For District 12-1-04, Democrat Mikaela Sloan was the lone candidate to file for that district judgeship. The seat is currently held by MDJ David O’Leary.

In District 12-1-05, incumbent MDJ Hanif Johnson cross-filed for both the Democratic and Republican nominations. He faces competition on the Democratic side from Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins.

In District 12-1-06, Wendy Grella was the lone candidate to file petitions for the position, cross-filing for both parties. MDJ Joseph Lindsey currently holds that judgeship.

Harrisburg Weighs Grant Disbursal

With millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds in hand, Harrisburg soon will determine how the city will use the money.

Harrisburg City Council last month weighed a plan to potentially use its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to support affordable housing development and to create a spray park in south Harrisburg, among other projects.

Under ARPA, Harrisburg received $47 million for pandemic relief. In June 2022, council voted to use about $15.6 million of the funds to reimburse the city for lost revenue during the pandemic, for the replacement of the HVAC system in its Public Safety Building, and for one-time bonuses to uniformed personnel in the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Bureau of Police.

Last month’s proposal from the administration included using another $28.1 million of the funds. The two largest allotments, each $8 million, would go towards funding affordable housing projects and towards constructing a spray park at the site of the closed Hall Manor pool.

According to Director of Building and Housing Development Dennise Hill, the affordable housing funds may be disbursed to developers as either matching funds or direct assistance. The money could be used to support the development of around 100 rental or for-sale units for low-income residents, Hill explained.

The spray park would replace the aging Hall Manor community pool with a large, water park-style facility. According to Parks and Recreation Director Dave Baker, the project could include the construction of a new pool, lazy river and spray pad elements.

Another $5 million would support the city’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provides home repair assistance to low-income residents. A $1.5 million allocation would fund blighted property demolition, $1.5 million would create an ADA-accessible playground, and $1 million would help cover the cost of delinquent trash bills for low-income residents. Other, smaller allocations would go towards small business assistance, tree removal and pruning for seniors and an upgraded radio system for the Fire Bureau.

Council officials stated that they plan to hold several public meetings to gather input on the proposal before voting.

Public Housing Redevelopment Eyed

In a few years, some public housing in Harrisburg may look a lot different.

The Harrisburg Housing Authority, along with the city, recently received a federal grant to begin to redesign and redevelop Hoverter Homes in South Harrisburg.

The $500,000 grant, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), would support plans to renovate the 233 units in the housing complex. According to the city, the project would eliminate the current World War II-era barracks-style homes that have stood since 1941 and create a modern, mixed-income development in its place.

“There’s a lot of improvement we can do for this community, mostly for the kids who are growing up here,” said Johan Soto-Santa, development and revitalization manager for the housing authority.

According to city officials, the project would redevelop the current public housing, while also incorporating new development of housing for various income brackets.

Officials stated that Hoverter Homes was chosen first for renovation, over Hall Manor, another of the city’s public housing complexes, because it is older and smaller in size. However, there are plans to include Hall Manor in future projects, according to the city.

Over the next two years, the housing authority and the city will work with Chicago-based urban planning firm COLLABO to engage with the South Harrisburg community and receive input, while putting together a formal plan.

The authority will hold several public meetings, this year and next, for community members to share their thoughts on changes they’d like to see at Hoverter Homes and Hall Manor. Dates and times for those meetings are to be determined.

City OKs Apartment Project

An apartment project near the new federal courthouse in Harrisburg received the green light last month to move forward.

Harrisburg City Council approved a land development plan for the Savoy, 48-unit apartment building proposed for the 1500-block of N. 6th Street.

Harrisburg-based Vice Capital, a firm headed by retired NFL running back LeSean McCoy, plans to demolish three existing buildings at 1522, 1524 and 1526 N. 6th St.

The developer then plans to construct a four-story, 62,370-square-foot building that will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Ten of the units will be designated as affordable. The project also will include first-floor commercial space.

Construction of the $8 million project is expected to begin in mid-to-late summer and will likely take a year to complete, according to Jonathan Bowser, managing partner of Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, the project’s general contractor.

Cork & Fork Changes Hands

One of downtown Harrisburg’s most popular restaurants has new ownership, but patrons shouldn’t see too much change.

Restaurateur Josh Kesler, owner of the Millworks in Midtown, recently purchased Cork & Fork, alongside partners Patrick Garrity and John Laporta.

“It’s a great existing brand and restaurant in downtown Harrisburg,” Kesler said. “It seemed like a really good fit.”

Kesler said that he purchased both the business, from Harrisburg-based Nourish Hospitality Group, and the building, located at State and N. 2nd streets. He explained that, as his management group continues to expand, purchasing Cork & Fork seemed like a natural addition.

While Kesler plans to make small adjustments to the business behind the scenes, he said that nothing on the customer-facing side will change.

In December, Café Fresco Center City owner Brian Fertenbaugh purchased the Cork & Fork Osteria in Hampden Township with plans to make it a Mediterranean-style restaurant.

Fertenbaugh said that he plans to name the new restaurant Aura Modern Mediterranean and is currently renovating the building to fit the new theme.

He expects to open in early May for dinner, possibly rolling out lunch and Sunday brunch menus in the following months. Award-winning chef of the York and Baltimore areas, John Walsh, will also join the team.

East Shore Y Ponders Renovation

You can exercise, swim and take your kids to the East Shore YMCA, but in the coming years, you may be able to do a lot more there.

Local Y officials announced recently that the organization is considering significant renovations and changes to its historic facility, which would increase its role as a community hub.

“We hope to end up with a modern YMCA with services Harrisburg can enjoy,” said Harrisburg Area YMCA President and CEO David Ozmore.

Ozmore painted a picture of an aging East Shore Y that also faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic. The remodel would aim to boost its economic situation and bring the building up to date.

The Y, located along N. Front Street downtown, dates back to the 1930s when it was built and opened to the public. The wellness center was added onto the building in 2003. In total, the Y owns 2.3 acres of land, making up almost an entire city block.

Possible renovations may include changes to the current wellness center, which is elevated over the parking lot, and the Y’s administration building adjacent to the main recreational center.

The main building is considered historical and therefore will not undergo significant changes, Ozmore explained.

The Y is working with national firm Gro Development, which provides services to nonprofits, especially YMCA’s, around the country.

The Y has put together a task force of around 20 community members to help advise the organization on development.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about what the Y wants, but what the residents need,” Ozmore said.

Home Sales Dip, Prices Rise

Home sales slowed but prices ticked higher in the latest report on previously owned houses in the Harrisburg area.

For the three-county region, 368 homes sold in February compared to 456 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price increased to $234,950 from $227,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 179 homes changed hands versus 233 in February 2022, while the median price rose to $205,000 versus $193,550 last year, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had sales of 157 homes compared to 196 in the prior year, as the median sales price was nearly unchanged at about $270,000, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 23 houses sold, an increase of three, as the median price rose to $215,000 versus $189,900 in February 2022, GHAR said.

The pace of sales was similar year-over-year, as “average days the market” rose to 30 days compared to 29 days the prior February.

County Primary Field Set

The primary ballot for Dauphin County seats is set, with candidates running unopposed for commissioner and for several row offices.

For commissioner, Republican incumbents Mike Pries and Chad Saylor are running unopposed for the party’s two nominations. Likewise, incumbent George Hartwick and challenger Justin Douglas are running unopposed on the Democratic side.

Incumbent District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Controller Mary Bateman and Register of Wills Jean Marfizo King are all running unopposed for Republican nominations. No Democrats filed for these races.

For clerk of courts, Republican John McDonald is running unopposed, as is Democrat Bridget Whitley. For recorder of deeds, incumbent Republican Jim Zugay is running unopposed, as is Democratic challenger Tami Dykes. County treasurer also has two unopposed candidates: Republican Nick DeFrancesco and Democrat Fred Faylona.

The municipal primary is slated for May 16.

So Noted

Christy Zitsch last month was named the economic development manager for Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp. In this role, she assists local businesses with expansion, retention and attraction, according to CAEDC.

Erik Wiedman of Mechanicsburg has been promoted to director of counseling services at Reach Cyber Charter School, an online public charter school. In this position, Wiedman, along with the school’s leadership team, monitors students’ career readiness growth, ensures accessible graduation pathways, and oversees academic progress for nearly 7,000 students.

Garden plots of varying sizes are available this spring for free at the Atlas Street Garden, located in the 2200-block of Atlas Street in Harrisburg. Free parking and water are available on site. Interested gardeners should contact Dan Miller at [email protected].

Harrisburg University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship held a ribbon-cutting last month for its new location inside Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. The large space offers founders—the entrepreneurs who are invited into the incubator—residency to develop their business ideas for up to 18 months, financial assistance, coaching and student interns, according to HU.

Terese Delaplaine has been named the new president and CEO of Harrisburg-based Hamilton Health Center, replacing longtime CEO Jennine Peterson, who has moved into a consultant role. Previously Hamilton Health’s chief compliance officer, Delaplaine is joined by a new leadership team of Steve Ho as chief operating officer, Frackson Sakala as chief financial officer and Mary Elizabeth Bebe as chief clinical officer.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2435: I. & K. Mita to K. Weldeghebrial, $111,500

Bailey St., 1245: J. Jimenez to People First Homes LLC, $82,875

Balm St., 147: C. Wise to J. Shurns, $92,000

Bellevue Rd., 1841: PNC Bank to R. Escano, $80,000

Berryhill St., 1422 & 1424: R. & D. Waibel to V. Aguirre, $55,000

Berryhill St., 1643: C. Porter to A&K Investments Partnership LLC, $62,500

Briggs St., 205: BD Property Management LLC to J. Gjieli, $167,000

Briggs St., 217: C. McNelis to M. Shugars & P. Dee, $200,000

Briggs St., 1716: M. Mesa to HBA Landscaping LLC, $75,000

Camp St., 538: D. McNair to Camp St Investments LLC, $74,700

Catherine St., 1624: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to M. & D. Braktia, $53,000

Chestnut St., 1944 & 1948: J. Medina to Triple B Realty Group LLC, $180,000

Crescent St., 235: G. Neff to Saintelia Properties LLC, $108,000

Crescent St., 251: D. & R. McLean to D. Boyle, $62,000

Curtin St., 537: Brothers Group LLC to E. Megbaje, $145,000

Curtin St., 626: Sangrey Properties LLC to Lafite Investments LLC, $75,000

Derry St., 1327: J. Castillo & R. Mendez to R. Mendez, $103,713

Derry St., 1329: M. Nichols to N. & J. Monegro, $92,000

Duke St., 2444: M. Moyer to C. Lozano, $104,000

Dunkle St., 539: J. Zandieh to L. Johnson, $125,000

Forster St., 264: K. & E. Meckes to PDI Properties LLC, $180,000

Green St., 2129: Sangrey Properties LLC to Leachman Properties LLC, $140,000

Green St., 2225: O. Dawes to J. Sumner, $129,000

Hale Ave., 402: M. & B. Marsico to F. Alvarez, $100,000

Hale Ave., 427: D. & C. Taylor to K. Maxwell, $126,000

Herr St., 1621: N. Lawson to SPG Capital LLC, $57,000

Hummel St., 434: Rumers Corp. to J. & E. Aziza, $120,000

Kensington St., 2266: A. Tilghman to H. Alcantara, $77,327

Logan St., 2216: C. Salazar to O. & S. Malcolm, $70,000

Luce St., 2367: E. & B. Horting to A. & T. Botek, $87,500

Meadowlark Pl., 182: V. Ross to R. Ramos, $70,000

Moore St., 2135: R. Reyes to A. Bouhach, $69,000

North St., 261: M. Henao to J. Manning, $177,500

N. 2nd St., 1013: V. French to S. & J. Toole, $125,000

N. 2nd St., 3237: R. Lysaght to H. & J. Loughery, $235,000

N. 3rd St., 1724: J. Montone to RS Rentals LLC, $222,000

N. 3rd St., 1828: Dakar Realty Inc. to PDI Properties LLC, $170,000

N. 3rd St., 1830: Dakar Realty Inc. to PDI Properties LLC, $170,000

N. 3rd St., 2007: Young Advocate Program to Portee Properties LLC, $299,000

N. 3rd St., 2319: DAG EKG Properties LLC to J. Alfaro, $165,000

N. 4th St., 2104: Gold Key Properties LLC to R. Chevalier, $109,900

N. 4th St., 2412: T. Carlson to J. Zapata, $135,551

N. 5th St., 1702A: S. Kent to Montalvo Investments LLC, $92,000

N. 5th St., 2536: Mainline Funding Group Inc. to D. Boyle, $67,000

N. 7th St., 2512: D. Boyle to M. Perez, $46,000

N. 7th St., 2640: Riley Residential Real Estate LLC to V. Butts, $76,000

N. 12th St., 43: Neidlinger Enterprises to M. & J. Raabe, $125,000

N. 16th St., 921: Equity Trust Co. Custodian FBO Beatrice McQuarrie IRA to PA Deals LLC, $100,000

N. 16th St., 1220: B. Debeljak to S. Ruiz, $128,000

N. 17th St., 27: R. Staff & L. Dunkle to F. Ramirez, $45,000

N. 17th St., 32: R. Luu & C. Sun to C. & I. Castro, $87,500

N. 18th St., 714: E. Sanchez & R. del Hidalgo to A. Ortiz, $85,000

N. 18th St., 822; 3154 N. 6th St. & 2028 Susquehanna St.: Sangrey Properties LLC to J. Tang, $122,500

N. 18th St., 1010: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to M. Lebowitz, $135,000

Penn St., 1702: T. Underkoffler to T. Todd, $205,000

Penn St., 1929: R. Sterner to F. Deckter, $125,000

Penn St., 2115: J. Russell to Equitable Rentals LLC, $46,500

Penn St., 2154: Great Row LLC to J. Yingling, $70,000

Penn St., 2312: JRP Transportation LLC to C&A Fix Hold & Flip LLC, $103,000

Radnor St., 102: Renovations RE LLC to DelGiorno Investments LLC, $99,000

Radnor St., 674: S. Merritts to Lafite Investments LLC, $47,500

Reel St., 2417: Brookside Premier Properties LLC to W. Newton & J. Gainer, $75,000

Reel St., 2437: Endurance Capital Management LLC to D. Boyle, $50,000

Ross St., 617: D. Lansanah to SPG Capital LLC, $52,500

Ross St., 653: McNelis Gutter Cleaning Inc. to Sale Lizard LLC, $130,000

Royal Terr., 109: L. Bedon to E. Camones, $50,000

Seneca St., 216: J. Alibrio to J. Peters, $48,000

S. 9th St., 1125: J. Halkias to DB Real Estate & Properties LLC, $250,000

S. 13th St., 1516: S. Rodriguez to B. Arias, $128,000

S. 18th St., 211, 225; 2618 Atlas St.; 408 Moon Alley.: J. & S. Tang to Luce St Warehouse LLC, $122,500

State St., 231, Unit 402: M. & M. Vaccaro to B. Waxman & J. Wertheimer, $170,000

Swatara St., 1235: M. & M. Orellana to C&P Property Management Inc., $77,000

Swatara St., 1507: Tri County HDC Ltd. to T. Millovich, $116,000

Swatara St., 1509: Tri County HDC Ltd. to D. Taylor, $116,000

Swatara St., 2054: J. & G. Avila to M. Lopez & O. Perez, $55,000

Sylvan Terr., 125: S. & J. Rhoades to Triple S Real Estate LLC, $165,000

Verbeke St., 114: A. Labs to Silverstone Enterprises LLC, $88,400

Vernon St., 1306: JCAS1 LLC to KS Homes of PA LLC, $231,000

Walnut St., 228: RRF Building LLC to 1422 Route 179 Florida Realty LLC, $13,130,000

Washington St., 105: BD Property Management LLC to A. Cruz, $134,900

Harrisburg property sales, February 2023, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Let’s Get Cooking: Does your kitchen need an update?

March 30, 2023 | by Jim Mirando

A kitchen remodel by Excel Remodeling.

When you walk into your kitchen, do you like what you see?

If not, it might be time to explore a refresh of the most frequently used space in the home. Kitchens are truly the heart of the home, whether you are a foodie or just like to hang out with friends and family.

Kitchens have become the focus of innovative design, with every sleek surface, finish and modern appliance imaginable. Popular trends for kitchen remodeling include larger or double islands, walk-in pantries, additional appliances like a second dishwasher or freezer, light-colored quartz countertops, bright lighting and easy-to-clean materials. Since the pandemic, technological innovations in sanitization are in high demand, including touchless water faucets and products with antimicrobial coatings.

The Options

To begin the remodeling process, look for inspiration and ideas online. Attending home shows and visiting the kitchens of friends and family members can also provide good ideas. Important information to gather as you consider changes to your kitchen includes how many people use the kitchen, how often the kitchen is used for cooking or entertaining, whether space is needed for dining, the size and layout of the work triangle, and how to maximize storage.

Once you have gathered inspiration, it is time to define the scope of work and budget for your kitchen remodel. To accomplish this, think about what is important to you and establish your priorities. You ultimately want to strike a balance between your needs, wants and desires, and your overall budget.

Perhaps a simple facelift is all your kitchen needs. New countertops, flooring, backsplash and appliances can breathe new life into an old kitchen. Tired cabinetry could be painted, or the doors and drawer fronts replaced with fresh, more modern ones. New drawer boxes, glides, roll trays and other accessories can be added to make contents more easily accessible. Finally, new lighting, outlets and switches can help brighten the space and accent its most attractive features.

Another option is to completely replace the kitchen in its existing location. When a homeowner is happy with the size of the kitchen, just not the layout, this is an ideal alternative. Such kitchen renovations often involve adding center islands, building in new appliances, and removing soffits above the cabinets, extending cabinets closer to the ceiling to create more storage space. It’s important to keep in mind that removing soffits may require relocation of plumbing, electric wiring or ductwork.

A complete kitchen renovation involves the removal of walls and a complete redesign to enlarge and expand the kitchen into adjoining spaces. Such projects are often paired with an addition to expand the footprint of the home, perhaps adding a sunroom or family room.

Many homeowners plan to remain in their homes longer, so their kitchen renovations may incorporate Universal Design concepts for “aging-in-place.” As we age, our mobility and vision may become reduced, so it makes sense to consider design concepts that allow for increased safety and accessibility. Rollout shelves, countertops with round edges and improved lighting are features that will make your kitchen more enjoyable now and in the future.

The Process

Once you have determined the scope of your kitchen project, you can ascertain the best way to accomplish it. Whether you need a professional remodeler to handle the entire project or trade specialists to complete certain aspects, it’s important to find people you are comfortable working with and whom you can trust to have open and honest discussions. This is an important decision because you are dealing with your home, the place where you and your family live as well as one of your largest assets.

It is also important to understand the remodeling process from start to finish. There are certain stages every project goes through. A professional remodeling company should be able to lead you through the process in a straightforward, convenient way.

If you plan to serve as the general contractor, then it is important to do your homework. For example, how product selections will be made. If you want assistance with the selection process, it may be better to hire a professional remodeler who can advise you on which products best meet your needs. They have experience with the plethora of options and may have a showroom where you can make selections. Other considerations include who will handle the permit process, scheduling out the project to ensure all aspects are timed appropriately to avoid wasting time and money, and understanding the warranties on every aspect of the work.

Your kitchen is the gathering place of your home. It’s where you prepare food, socialize with family and friends, and foster lifetime memories. Renovating your kitchen is a big decision, but in the end, it should be a place where you enjoy spending time.

Jim Mirando is president and design team member of Excel Remodeling, 570 S. 3rd St., Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.excelremodeling.com.

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