Beautiful, Sustainable: In Gettysburg, local + flowers means Locaflora

October 29, 2021 | by Shannon St. Armand

With giant, polka-dotted mushrooms, plants and flowers boldly painted on the storefront window, you can’t miss Rebecca Muller’s Gettysburg shop.

It brings a bit of life to a less traversed block of town.

“I think it has actually served us well to be tucked away and found by exactly our target customers,” said Muller of her location on Carlisle Street. “I like to say, ‘local flowers for local people.’”

Muller’s shop, Locaflora, is the only floral shop in the area that sources its flowers 100% locally.

“From within approximately 100 miles of Gettysburg,” said Muller, whose mission to create a sustainable flower shop began with her appreciation for farmers. “I believe that the most impactful thing about flowers is the people who grow them.”

In high school, Muller worked at a small, pick-your-own berry farm in nearby Biglerville that was just starting to grow its own flowers.

“I was really impressed by the way that flowers connected people to their grower,” she said. “It was just apparent to me that [customers] were coming because of [the farmers] as people.”

She also realized the tremendous difference between locally cultivated flowers and the flowers sold in grocery stores, 80% of which are imported and go through an extensive, chemicalized sterilization process to keep them on the shelves longer.

“Working for that farm gave me a much deeper appreciation for the process and the intention behind growing those flowers,” she said.

Though she did, at first, try out more commercial ways of sourcing flowers.

“It sucked the joy out of it,” she said.

Afterwards, she committed herself to making her small business one that respects both farmers and their flowers.

Unlike traditional floral shops, Locaflora uses no chemicals or floral foam, composts regularly, and reuses much of their glassware. The business involves very little waste, while helping to support local farmers and their families.

“I consider myself a sustainable florist,” Muller said. “We’re trying to value both people and planet ahead of money.”

After high school, Muller attended Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. HU, she said, “had a really big impact on who I became and what I wanted to do.”

“I loved the connection with multiple cultures,” she said. “I felt very much alive.”

She began providing wedding florals on the side while studying for her degree in biochemistry.

After graduating, Muller became a fellow at the Foundry in Harrisburg, whose task is to build “creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking” through STEAM projects in K-12 schools while enabling fellows to hone their own talents. It is a hub of intellectual and creative expertise.

“I was impressed by the people who took their ideas and made them happen,” she said. “Having a group of people who believed in me gave me the confidence to open my business,” which she did, officially, in November 2020.

But does Muller’s science background overlap at all with her current work? She believes that the shop would not exist without her science knowledge base.

“The scientific process is very similar to the design process,” she said. “Ideation based on research, testing, redoing it, and…once you’ve tried it, [seeing if it’s] at the stage you want it to be, and if it’s not, you try again.”

In addition to flowers, Locaflora offers plants and handmade gifts, such as planters and cards, which bring another interpersonal aspect to the shop.

“I know every single one of our makers,” she said. “I try to find people we identify with a lot.”

This might include craftspeople who source locally, who have a passion for sustainability, whose works tell local stories or who are intentional about inclusivity. Muller wants products that cater to customers who also value these things. She wants her shop to be a safe place for everyone—college students and locals alike.

“I have tried to be inclusive,” she said, “appealing to people who don’t feel like they have a floral shop to identify with.”

While the shop does weddings and other big events, Muller’s passion lies in the small, everyday moments that flowers can highlight.

“I’m very much an ordinary day kind of person,” she said. “In little moments of sadness or joy, flowers make a huge difference.”

Locaflora is located at 102 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. For more information, visit www.locafloradesign.com.

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Rad Fads, to Be Had: Nostalgia is for sale at New Cumberland’s Retro & Rad

October 29, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Photo by Jelani Splawn

Walking inside one of New Cumberland’s newest shops actually feels like a step back in time.

“That’s what people say all the time,” said Kelly Donnelly, owner of Retro & Rad. “I describe it as happiness—a lot of good memories.”

Located at 308 Market St., the small shop is big on pop culture. Inside, you’ll find video games, action figures, vintage toys and collectibles—” a little bit of everything,” Donnelly said. “I’ve been collecting video games the last 10 years—that’s kind of where it got started.”

Her video game hobby led to a side business on eBay, then a booth at American Daydream Antiques & Miscellanea in York. Everything was doing so well online and at the booth that she left her full-time job working with children with behavioral issues—something she describes as “very rewarding but taxing.”

“I thought I’d open a shop if I could find the right brick and mortar [location], and I was lucky to find this retail space,” Donnelly said.

She opened Retro & Rad’s doors earlier this year, on April 1—no kidding. The shop, although neatly organized, is an explosion of pop culture and color.

Lava lamps and a Strawberry Shortcake dollhouse decorate the shop window. Action figures from the ‘80s and ‘90s are carefully catalogued, labeled and bagged, ready for action once again: Star Wars and Disney characters, superheroes including Batman and He-Man, Scooby Doo and the gang, Sesame Street friends, even the pretty pastel Care Bears.

Video games, like books on shelves, are organized for gaming systems from Atari to Xbox, Nintendo and Wii. There’s a shelf of Troll dolls, their neon hair fluffed out in all colors imaginable. Bright plastic lunch boxes are lined up for fans of Mickey Mouse, Cabbage Patch Kids, Captain Planet and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Need a pair of Power Ranger sunglasses? A toy Ghostbusters vehicle? Remember the dancing California raisins? Furby?

“The ‘80s and ‘90s were the best eras to be a kid in,” said Donnelly. “You had some of the coolest characters, movies, TV shows, video games—it was very brightly colored, well made, fun looking, with well-done artwork.”

Just to be clear, Donnelly, age 30, was born in 1991. But, wearing a brightly colored ‘80s jacket (green and purple; one sleeve a hot pink, the other a bright yellow, finished in blue cuffs), she identifies with those decades because she grew up playing with her extended family’s hand-me-down toys.

Catching a Rad Wave, Dude

And Donnelly isn’t the only one riding a wave of nostalgia.

She said it’s a hot topic of conversation among collectors and experts right now—and there are a number of factors leading to nostalgia’s surge in popularity.

First, Donnelly noted, we’ve all been stuck inside a lot more than usual, driving demand for entertainment, movies and games.

“Nostalgia has always been key. When times are tough, everybody wants to be happy,” she said. “As in, I want to get that same feeling like when I was 6 playing Super Mario—everybody’s chasing that.”

While video game collectors search for specific games and systems, the hobby has attracted a lot of new followers because it’s affordable and accessible, Donnelly said.

Retro & Rad carries items with price points for everyone, from $1 slap bracelets and 10-cent trading cards to video cartridges for $2 to $3 or the extremely rare $160 Nintendo find.

It’s All About Recycling, No Duh

As inventory comes in (Donnelly buys or trades for cash), she posts pictures on Retro & Rad’s Facebook and Instagram pages. She also keeps a running list of customers by the cash register so she can notify them when she spots their wish list items.

Recycling old toys is totally awesome, to borrow an ‘80s phrase.

“It makes me feel better when people bring me stuff, instead of it going to a landfill,” Donnelly said. “People talk about toys they used to have, that probably got thrown out. Even if video game consoles or controllers get broken, I have someone who can fix them.”

She also continues to maintain her booth at American Daydream Antiques & Miscellanea, where nostalgia permeates all aspects of life, from kitchen to décor items—a framed Rolling Stone magazine cover featuring a cigarette-dripping David Bowie, Bohemian rattan furniture, a sparkling set of once-again hot hobnail glasses ready for a kitschy kitchen, even an old local license plate from the Red Lion Fire Department.

Retro & Rad is into community interaction, too. Once a month, Donnelly fills a bin with free toys for customers, there’s chalk for kids of all ages to decorate the sidewalk, and she regularly collects donations for local nonprofits.

One of the most exciting things to happen since Retro & Rad opened its doors is a partnership with The Nacelle Company.

“It’s a cool little partnership—we are one of 40 shops across the country that will be carrying their products,” Donnelly said. “Honestly, I have no idea how they found me.”

The Nacelle Company is purchasing intellectual property rights to old toys in order to remake them, spurred by the success of their popular Netflix documentary series “The Toys That Made Us,” which is in its third season.

Everything old is new again—a concept that’s driving Donnelly and Retro & Rad.

“It’s awesome to say I sell toys for a living,” said Donnelly. “And making people happy is the best part.”

Retro & Rad is located at 308 Market St., New Cumberland, with an online presence on both Facebook and Instagram.

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The Big Short: As the holidays near, local businesses struggle with, adapt to a broken global supply chain

October 29, 2021 | by M. Diane McCormick

“Topless” cold drink from Elementary Coffee Co.

Cup, meet lid.

Or not. The world’s supply shortage has oozed down to the lowliest essentials at your friendly, albeit slightly frazzled, local business. As the holiday shopping season nears, watch for imaginative workarounds.

“We’ve had to get super creative,” said Andrea Grove, owner of Elementary Coffee Co. in Harrisburg. “For a long time, we couldn’t get cold cup lids. So, on our Twitter posts, we said, ‘Yeah, we’re going topless, and please bear with us.’ People loved that.”

Local business owners are an overworked but agile sort. They tend to tell the same story, managing fairly well in COVID’s first wave, but getting hobnailed by the second.

Diane Krulac, owner of Brittle Bark in Mechanicsburg and Cocoa Creek Chocolates in Camp Hill, first called her bevy of suppliers in March 2020.

“Everybody felt we would be OK, but it slowly degraded,” she said. “By far, it has been the worst impact this year.”

For Krulac, there are the chocolate slowdowns caused by barriers of shipping across borders and the Atlantic Ocean. And then there is packaging. Krulac’s boxes hold truffles in quantities from a few to a few dozen. One supplier has delivered them for years.

“All of a sudden, he’s out of stock and doesn’t know when he’s going to make them,” Krulac said.

What the Heck?

When nationalist trends of, ahem, four or five years ago drove supply chains from global to domestic, the U.S. economy had time to adapt, said Penn State Smeal College of Business economist Fariborz Ghadar. Then came the COVID tsunami. Manufacturers shut down or restricted operations. Customers kept available supplies for themselves.

Things smoothed out, but then COVID returned. The same shortages bedeviling computer chips began haunting supplies of boxes, packaging, whatever. Plus, aging workers in the logistics and other high-risk sectors “basically said, ‘The hell with it, I’m retiring now,’” Ghadar said.

Take away port workers to unload containers and truck drivers to haul the goods, and let the logjam begin.

“To top that off, the big guys have more power to get first in line,” said Ghadar. “If you’re Amazon, you have priority in the eyes of the manufacturer. If you’re poor Joe and Nancy who’s got a shop, you have no priority.”

Those conglomerates further aggravated the supply chain by preordering for the holiday shopping season. Krulac, for one, followed a supplier’s advice to “order big” this fall.

“It puts you at the head of the line,” she said. “That’s just the packaging. That’s not even the chocolate. I order much earlier in anticipation of waiting, and that’s worked really well, too.”

A Stinking Lid

Grove has built her business on a philosophy of sustainability.

She seeks out higher-end, compostable or recyclable to-go supplies. When her regular line of cold cups, lids and combos petered out, she found a substitute—at about four times the price. To fill the gap, she was ordering two boxes at a time, “which lasts about a week and a half.”

“Oh, my goodness, we’re already struggling for funds,” she would think. “This is going to run us into the ground.”

Talking with her team, they agreed to impose a 35-cent cup charge, while encouraging customers to bring reusable cups because, after all, “COVID’s not really spread that way.”

In Linglestown, St. Thomas Roasters also struggles to find matching lids and, in the words of owner Geof Smith, “gosh-darn cups.”

“The customers have been very understanding,” Smith said. “They all get it. Whatever job they do is probably affected. But you want to put a stinking lid on somebody’s drink cup so they don’t spill it on their lap in the car.”

Coffee supplies have been only minimally problematic for Smith, but in packaging, food and shipping, he confronts one snafu after another. Unsealed packages of gluten-free cookies that had to be returned. Sara Lee running out of cinnamon buns. The shipment of products mistakenly sent to Florida, turning a two-day delivery timeline into two weeks.

“And then, two shipments later, they sent it to Maryland,” he said. He attributes that little “fubar” to untrained newbies called up to fill staffing shortages.

And here in the age of store signs declaring, “Due to a shortage of . . .”, Smith posted a sign of his own, along the lines of, “If you’re staying in the shop, please don’t take a lid. We’d like to give the lids to people in their cars.”

Not every small business is feeling the pinch, so far. You can still get your sugar fix with a red velvet or Georgia peach cobbler cupcake in a jar from Alisha Perry, aka That Cupcake Lady. She finds her ingredients online or at local grocery and restaurant supply stores.

“I’m grateful that I’m not in that boat,” she said.

Night Owls

The search for alternatives, plus the brain-wracking accounting needed to avoid price hikes for customers, drain time that small business owners can’t delegate to their nonexistent underlings.

“It’s a huge mess of energy that gets expended,” said Grove.

Krulac’s husband wondered why she was on the computer until midnight. Her challenge, she said, is finding supplies that mirror those pictured on her website, for online orders. A change in packaging would require new photos. Even a search for 1-inch red ribbon demanded finding a supplier with a quality product.

“Invariably, and I’m sure it happened to other businesses like me, you don’t have a relationship with those suppliers,” she said. “You’re not buying in volume because you don’t know what your volume might be, because you might not be getting your original stuff from your original people.”

It’s all for the customers.

“You don’t want to disappoint them,” Krulac said. “They’re going through this whole pandemic, too. They want some normalcy. They want a good-quality product in a beautiful box for the price they’ve been paying all along. They want everything to be the way it was. We’ve tried to do that and have been pretty close to accomplishing that.”

Early Birds

Ghadar sees an end in spring 2022, when businesses adjust to their workforce challenges and the ports clear up. But he has advice for 2021’s holiday shoppers.

“Do your Christmas shopping early, and get whatever is there,” he said. “If you want something, you better not wait for a price change. If you don’t like this color, and you want another color—well, that other color is just not going to come.”

Krulac recently bought 50 cases of chocolate, saving more than $1,000, and prompting groupthink on finding storage in every nook and cranny. She is now committed to building her arsenal of supplier relationships.

“Absolutely!” she said. “Absolutely! We have great relationships with multiple suppliers that we never had before. That’s good because we have a backup. Every single thing we use, I now have a backup, and that took hours and hours of time, but that’s OK, because I have a backup.”

Grove, of the topless cold cups, sees a societal wake-up call. In this idyll, consumers bring their own cups, and businesses dream up incentives for BYO cups and bags.

“Maybe it’s getting people to plan more about what to do with their day, ideally,” she said. “It’s hard. It’s a struggle like everything else. In a world based on single-use products, it’s not easy to change that mentality overnight.”

In the meantime, she’s smiling through.

“Now,” she said, “there are shortages in hot cups.”

Learn More
To find out more about the businesses in this story, visit the following websites:

Brittle Bark Co.: www.brittlebark.com

Cocoa Creek Chocolates: www.cocoacreekchocolates.com

The Cupcake Lady: www.thatcupcakelady.com

Elementary Coffee Co.: www.elementarycoffee.co

St. Thomas Roasters: www.stthomasroasters.com

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Small Town Tradition: Rhoads is a taste of old school shopping, with modern touches

October 29, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Products for sale at Rhoads

“We’re really five stores under one roof.”

So says Dave Lutz, long-time proprietor of Rhoads Hallmark & Gift Shop in Hummelstown, who owns the business with wife Jeanne.

“We have a Hallmark Gold Crown shop, a gift shop, a women’s fashion boutique, a kitchen shop and a candle shop,” he said, explaining further.

Lutz bought the business in 1973, which many in the Dauphin County borough consider a local landmark. In total, Rhoads comprises 16,000 square feet of mercantile cornucopia on two floors and a cozy customer lounge.

“We move a lot of merchandise,” Lutz noted. “We don’t let our merchandise get stale. If it doesn’t move, we clear it out upstairs at 50% to 75% off.”

Currently, Nora Fleming serving dishes, which feature changeable design elements, are among the “hottest items,” Lutz noted. Another “amazing” food brand is Stonewall Kitchen, which features a wide selection of jams, relishes, mixes and dressings, he said.

Rebecca Yearick of Mechanicsburg recalled that she once shopped around “for the longest time” to buy an “old-fashioned” ice bucket for a party but just couldn’t find it. Then she spotted it, of course, at Rhoads—and it even came in brass.

You may say that Rhoads specializes in “old school” products, things once widely available in local shops but that have become increasingly difficult to find.

For instance, Yearick also favors Rhoads items like address books, recipe card boxes and Hallmark items. She further buys sauces, jams and mixes in the Rhoads kitchen shop, as well as ornaments.

In the women’s boutique, Rhoads sells jewelry, scarves and hats of recycled materials through an exclusive deal with Brighton Jewelry, among many other items.

“They have women’s clothing brands not found in other department stores and at affordable prices,” Yearick said.

For Meghan Carpenter of Hershey, Rhoads is a family affair.

She grew up perusing Rhoads merchandise while accompanying her mother and late grandmother on shopping trips. Today, she and mother Jill still are Rhoads regulars, particularly for the store’s Hallmark Keepsake Ornament series.

“They have such a unique selection (at Rhoads),” Meghan said. “I love going there especially to buy baby gifts that you won’t find anywhere else, like their prayer animals and mother-and-baby figurines.”

And then there’s the small-town feel that Meghan said that she senses whenever she visits.

The credit for that welcoming atmosphere goes, in part, to Rhoads’ roster of 16 employees, many who have been there for 25 years or more.

“Everyone who works there is so friendly,” she said. “They’re all so willing to take the time to recommend things that you’re looking for.”

All Rewarding

Rhoads’ roots in the Hummelstown community trace back to 1931 when Wesley Sanford established his drugstore there. In 1953, Simon Rhoads purchased the business and renamed it Rhoads Pharmacy. He later redesigned the building’s storefront, remodeled the pharmacy and added a gift shop.

In 1973, Rhoads sold the business to a young couple, Dave and Jeanne Lutz.

Dave had worked as a pharmacist under Rhoads before purchasing the business outright. Since then, they’ve remodeled the store five times, expanding it by purchasing adjoining properties on both sides.

In 2018, Dave Lutz sold the pharmacy operations to CVS, as the corporate chain opened a Hummelstown store blocks away on East Main Street.

“(CVS) came to me,” Lutz noted, after which he retired as a pharmacist.

After the sale, the business name was changed to Rhoads Hallmark and Gift Shop. Today, Dave continues overseeing the overall store while Jeanne supervises merchandise purchases by the store’s department heads.

For years, the Lutzes attended six national trade shows each year to scout for the store’s one-of-kind merchandise, traveling regularly to events in Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia.

Then came the pandemic. In 2020, all trade shows were cancelled. Dave Lutz has only gone to one show so far in 2021, the only one to reopen, he stated. In the interim, most merchandise is purchased through online vendors.

Meanwhile, the store was forced to close for eight weeks from March to May 2020 due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s pandemic orders. However, Dave Lutz said that business has since recovered.

“Sometimes, it’s been even better,” he said. “Forty percent of our annual revenue comes through the last three months of the year.”

As the business heads towards 50 years under his ownership, Lutz is proud of what they’ve accomplished.

“It’s all rewarding,” he said. “We’ve established one of the most popular shops in central Pennsylvania.”

Rhoads Hallmark & Gift Shop is located at 17 W. Main St., Hummelstown. For more information, call 717-566-2525 or visit www.rhoadsgifts.com.

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November Editor’s Note

October 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Each holiday shopping season comes with its own challenges.

Until recently, these tended to be things like busy mall parking lots or popular items that were hard to find.

Then came last year, and it seemed like the pandemic might quash the season entirely. That didn’t happen, but many folks did limit their in-person shopping and family gatherings.

Unfortunately, the pandemic lingers, though the problem has shifted, focused now on supply chain issues and higher prices. It seems that we can’t catch a break.

Well, I have an idea that might help.

Luckily for us, the Harrisburg area is chock-full of little shops, specialty stores and galleries that aren’t as dependent on long, global supply chains as the big boxes and retail chains—or even the e-commerce giants.

Even better, these stores often offer unique shopping experiences, wonderfully located in quaint downtowns or down picturesque country roads. They sell goods, carefully curated by shop-owners, which are locally produced, artsy and one of a kind.

The only supply issue might be the supply of time it takes the artisan to craft, build, pot, bake, cook, paint or otherwise create. Their products are made with care, skill and imagination, a process that can’t be rushed.

Throw in a side trip to a brewery, winery or restaurant, and you have the makings of a memorable, fun day trip with friends and family.

In this issue of TheBurg, you’ll find a long list of these shops and stores, along with feature stories and advertisements. We hope you’ll use these as jumping-off points for your own shopping explorations around the region.

With all the businesses included in the issue, I found many places that I wanted to visit, either for the first time or on a return trip. I even saw a few that I had forgotten about and was happy for the reminder. You might have the same experience.

Otherwise, it’s November, which means a return indoors for many of us. I hope the new issue of TheBurg will accompany you by the fire, a blanket nearby, a warm beverage in hand.

Lawrance Binda

Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Pennies from Heaven: Flush with cash, Harrisburg needs a plan

October 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

In the often-cruel world of municipal finance, it’s not everyday that a bucketful of money drops into your lap.

But that’s what’s happening in cities and towns across the country.

Back in March, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which, in part, gave $350 billion in relief to state, local and tribal governments.

Harrisburg’s share of these “local relief” funds: a cool $48 million.

Now, many months have elapsed since the federal government told Harrisburg how much money it will receive and issued rules on how it can be spent. However, unlike many cities and towns across the country, the real conversation in Harrisburg has only just begun.

In a press conference last month, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that he wanted to use the funds for city pool replacement and a guaranteed income pilot program. Meanwhile, council members have mentioned such things as infrastructure work, COVID expense reimbursement, affordable housing and small business support.

Harrisburg, though, has yet to officially introduce an ARPA plan, the first real step in a long process before these funds can be put to work to help city residents. Some council members also have expressed an interest in public hearings before drawing up a plan.

Personally, I like many of the ideas proposed so far. Harrisburg has plenty of unaddressed needs, and this unexpected bounty could have a huge impact on people’s lives.

I would like, though, to make a case for devoting at least some share to the city’s aged, dysfunctional sewer infrastructure. Let me explain why.

First, ARPA money can be deployed only for certain types of things. Most routine municipal infrastructure projects, such as building or fixing roads or bridges, are not allowed. But, notably, water and sewer projects are permitted.

Secondly, Harrisburg has become a regional poster child for water pollution. Its ancient, “combined” sewer system suffers from two main problems—leaks and sewage overflows. The water/sewer authority, Capital Region Water (CRW), reports that some 800 million gallons of raw sewage mixed with stormwater rush into the Susquehanna River each year.

Obviously, this is a problem for our environment, but also for the people of Harrisburg.

“The ongoing sewage releases are an environmental justice problem that must be addressed so that the people of Harrisburg can safely use their own waterfront to fish and swim,” according to Mary Greene, deputy director of the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, D.C.-based policy group.

For the past six years, Harrisburg has been under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection to repair and upgrade its outmoded, decaying sewer infrastructure and slash the pollutants damaging the river.

As a result, CRW has embarked on a set of solutions called “City Beautiful H2O,” which emphasizes “green infrastructure” to reduce stormwater flowing into the Susquehanna, as well as other fixes and improvements.

The schedule, however, is long, and the cost is high. CRW has a 20-year time horizon for the project at a price tag of up to $315 million.

To help pay for all this, CRW last year imposed a new stormwater fee on residents and businesses, which raises about $5 million a year. It also has received substantial state support in the form of low-interest loans.

Absent grants, though, nearly all of the cost eventually will be borne by Harrisburg consumers, who generally are in no position to pay it.

So, in my mind, sewer improvements are an all-around winner. They help solve an enormous challenge, offer a cleaner environment and may help relieve residents of high and likely rising utility costs.

It’s like money falling from the sky to help fix a festering, wildly expensive problem.

But there is urgency. Under ARPA rules, cities have just until the end of 2026 to exhaust these funds, which, in the world of capital projects, is not very long at all. In the meantime, Harrisburg must come up with a detailed plan for the money, get public input, fund the projects, deploy the money and undertake the work.

As I mentioned above, many municipalities already are deep into the process for using their funds.

For instance, Chambersburg already has developed, held a public hearing on and approved a list of eight projects, including a stormwater project, for its $7.7 million in local relief money. So, the borough is well on its way to getting a bang for its ARPA bucks.

Not so in Harrisburg.

In Harrisburg, a formal plan has yet to be introduced, much less vital consensus reached between the administration, city council and the public on how to spend the funds. In fact, given the ongoing, grueling conflict between the mayor and council, I don’t expect any real resolution until 2022.

I often say that, in Harrisburg, nothing is easy. This won’t be easy, either. Maybe you agree with my hopes for the ARPA money, maybe you don’t. But, whatever the plan is, we need to get the process rolling.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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He’s on a Roll: Nate Baer shares his passion for sushi through how-to classes

October 29, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Nate Baer

Sushi has become an obsession for Nate Baer—and he’s not alone.

“About 20 years ago, there was probably one sushi restaurant in the entire Mechanicsburg area,” Baer said. “But the area has shown an interest in cultural food,” leading to a long list of current Harrisburg-area hot spots for sushi.

Baer was ahead of the curve, finding his passion for the traditional Japanese food and art form when he was young.

“I’ve always been a super big fan of sushi and Japanese culture,” said Baer, 42, of Mechanicsburg. “I was like a nerd as a kid, into video games and anime, and my dad introduced me to sushi. So I kinda stood out as a kid.”

Sushi, a colorful mix of vinegared rice, vegetables and seafood—often raw—focuses both on flavor and presentation. That’s because the ingredients are sliced with precision and artfully rolled into tight circles that, when cut into bite-size pieces, reveal pops of color combinations inside—pink salmon, green avocado and white rice, wrapped in thin black sheets of seaweed known as nori.

Baer loved sushi so much that he taught himself how to make it.

“I’m big into eating healthy, and sushi, in my opinion, is one of the healthier things you can eat,” he said. “I’m really into the presentation and design of it.”

The advent of YouTube videos helped him hone his craft. A few years ago, he started making it at home for his family every Wednesday night. When he began taking pictures and posting them on social media, friends took notice—and one friend in particular hit upon a great idea: What if Baer offered sushi-making classes?

The idea for Retro Sushi, Baer’s side business, was born. Why “Retro?”

“Because I’m a super big nerd, and I really like old school video games. I just like the graphic style of pixel art, so I blended the two things I like, together, [into the name Retro Sushi],” said Baer. “I think there’s something going on in mainstream pop culture right now—there’s a lot of retro going on, a return to the ‘80s.”

This is the third year of business for Retro Sushi, and Baer has worked up to steady gigs of 60 or 70 sushi-making classes annually. It’s a mix of in-home classes, corporate team-building events, and sessions regularly offered at area businesses—The Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey and Ann’s Cupcakery in Mechanicsburg, where I recently honed both my sushi skills as well as my swirls of cupcake décor.

Why sushi and cupcakes together? You could say it’s a match made in heaven: Ann’s Cupcakery is owned by Baer’s wife Nicole, and the couple offers combo classes regularly.

Eight of us gathered on a recent weeknight, and both Baers provided all the ingredients and supplies needed. Sushi came first.

Our sheets of seaweed went shiny side down on our bamboo mats. Then we learned how to layer it with pre-cooked rice, long strips of cucumber and imitation crab. The true test came next—rolling it all up, lifting the bamboo at just the right times, sealing it all together. My first attempt didn’t quite work out.

But Baer showed me where I went wrong, and my second attempt resulted in a successful, although slightly wobbly, maki roll.

We turned things “inside out” for our second roll of the night. That’s what “uramaki” means, as the rice is on the outside of the roll, layered with nori, carefully arranged salmon and avocado. We even got fancy by sprinkling and patting sesame seeds onto the rice-encased rolls.

Slicing up the sushi and placing everything in our to-go boxes gave the class a sense of accomplishment.

“It’s a fun, simple introductory class for people with no real skills. You can just go in and do it, and have fun,” said Matthew Edwards of Camp Hill.

“Especially with this past year, it was good to get out and learn something new,” said Brian Brockman of Carlisle. “Rolling sushi was something I wanted to learn how to do.”

Seeing that look of surprise and satisfaction on class participants’ faces, that look of “I made that!” is what it’s all about for Baer.

So what’s the secret to good sushi?

“The rice, for sure,” Baer said. “The fish is important, but if you don’t make the rice right….” Well, we won’t finish that sentence and go there.

Baer advised the class to use small to medium grain rice, rinsed before it’s cooked to remove starch. He personally uses an Instant Pot to prepare it just right. After the rice is cooked, Baer recommends letting it soak in cold water, then adding sushi rice vinegar.

Two trips to Japan helped Baer become even more sushi savvy.

“I traveled for two weeks with friends, and we did a lot of sushi eating,” Baer said. “It was definitely inspirational.”

With his full-time job as a bartender, sushi-making on the side, and his wife’s cupcake business, it sounds like an interesting recipe for success.

“We’re not eating sushi and cupcakes at home all the time—especially not the cupcakes,” Baer said with a laugh. “We do laugh about the idea that it’s odd that we’ve never taken a class for these skills, and we definitely are really fortunate that we have found things we’re passionate about.”

For more information, see retrosushi.biz, or follow Retro Sushi on Facebook or Instagram.

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Sweet Story: Hershey Trolley Works has the lowdown on Chocolatetown

October 29, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

Craig Porterfield, Paula Russell

History is important. If we don’t pay attention, we may be doomed to repeat it.

But the history of Hershey is different. It bears repeating—again and again.

Nothing tells the story of a small company town in central Pennsylvania the way that Hershey Trolley Works does.

Combining sights, sounds and a hint of theatrics, Hershey Trolley Works transports curious riders a hundred years into the past to a time when trolley cars ruled the primitive streets of Derry Township, the distinct aroma of chocolate filled the air, and a young entrepreneur was employing ingenuity and persistence to overcome failures.

Of course, the key to Hershey Trolley Works’ success is that it has a great story to tell.

“Hershey is very historic, but in a slightly different way,” said Curt Sisco, vice president and general manager of Hershey Trolley Works. “We’re recounting history over the last 100 years, from the late 19th century into the 20th century. A lot of the original stuff is still here. We’re looking at Mr. Hershey’s company town. Ultimately, we’re telling the story of Milton Hershey and chocolate, because without that, the rest of it wouldn’t be here.”

Piloted by a motor “mam” and narrated by a knowledgeable and entertaining conductor, Hershey Trolley Works treats passengers to a 75-minute, 15-mile comprehensive tour of Chocolatetown, USA. All that is required of the patrons is their attention and a little bit of imagination.

“I would say that, most times, people are laughing at my jokes and getting a sparkle in their eyes,” said Craig Porterfield, a 66-year-old Hershey native and conductor. “When I can’t get that, I have to dig a little deeper. When people thank me coming off the tour, it’s very rewarding. They’ll say, ‘I learned something’ or, ‘it was a good tour,’ or ‘thank you for telling me the story.’”

Originating from the outside of Hershey’s Chocolate World, the Hershey Trolley Works tour takes in most of the significant sites along the way. This includes the still-operating Hershey West Plant, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup factory, Founder’s Hall, the Hershey Country Club, Milton and Catherine Hershey’s High Point Mansion, the original Hershey Chocolate Factory, Hersheypark, Zoo America, the Hershey Hotel and Hershey Gardens.

“If people want to know the history of the town, I would encourage them to come and take the tour,” said Porterfield. “I want them to know what made Milton Hershey significant besides the chocolate. It’s a way to get a better understanding of the man and the chocolate tour.”

The vast majority of riders are out-of-town visitors. But why should tourists have all the fun? For $17.95, locals also can jump on board.

“Our biggest segment of passengers by far is people visiting Hershey,” said Sisco. “You’ve got day-trippers. Some people are here three or four days, or a week, and they literally come from all over the world.”

But he would love to have more Hershey-area residents learn about their own town.

“If I had a nickel for everyone who has told me they live here and have never taken the tour, I wouldn’t have to work anymore,” Sisco said.

Aha Moment

Passengers are treated to a Hershey’s goodie bag as they exit the tour, but Hershey Trolley Works is not operated by either the Hershey Company or Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.

Privately owned, the trolley was established in 1988 for the exact purpose it now has mastered.

“The couple who founded it had moved to Hershey and loved the Hershey story,” Sisco said. “They found themselves driving around and telling people the story of Hershey. Then they had one of those ‘aha’ moments. They thought to themselves, ‘We could make a business out of this.’ That was the impetus behind it.”

From modest beginnings of offering tours mostly during the summer months, Hershey Trolley Works now operates year-round, 364 days a year. Over the past 33 years, ridership has grown from 20,000 visitors a year to more than 150,000.

“They’re tourists. They come from all over,” Porterfield said. “Tourism has always been important to Hershey.”

If history never gets old, then the future of Hershey Trolley Works is secure. There is nothing to suggest that the public’s interest in Hershey’s amazing story is waning.

“I’m of the strongest opinion that we haven’t yet reached our peak,” Sisco said.

In fact, the company is expanding, currently building a fifth trolley car.

“The story itself is tremendous,” Sisco said. “To me, the story of Hershey is a story of opportunities. I think the crucial centerpiece of the story is the Milton Hershey School, but it all comes back to Mr. Hershey and chocolate.”

Hershey Trolley Works is located in Hershey’s Chocolate World at 101 Chocolate Way, Hershey. For more information, call 717-533-3000 or visit www.hersheytrolleyworks.com.

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On the Right Trail: Central PA has become a mountain bike mecca, thanks to area activists

October 29, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

Kiosk and bike repair station at Derry Street gate

Like many pursuits, mountain biking is sort of an all-or-nothing venture.

If you’re not into it, you may not know a whole lot about the activity. But if you are into it—it’s a sport, it’s a passion, it’s a way of life.

Fortunately, central Pennsylvania is home to a thriving mountain bike subculture.

There are plenty of great biking trails in and around Harrisburg, and the local mountain biking community is supported by the efforts of SAMBA.

SAMBA stands for Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association, the local chapter of the global International Mountain Biking Association. SAMBA’s stated mission is to “provide information, education and support to the central Pennsylvania mountain bike riders.”

With some 320 members, SAMBA is very active in Dauphin and surrounding counties, maintaining and designing area bike trails and creating positive working relationships with area land management agencies. But SAMBA supports all area mountain biking activities, not just the ones engaged in by its members.

“You’ll hear people say mountain biking is about the freedom of being outdoors on a bike,” said Nick Loftus, president of SAMBA. “For me, it’s a connection with the outdoors, combining riding and being outside. Some people will tell you it’s an adrenalin rush. For me, it’s therapy, relaxation and recreation.”

With that freedom comes the cost of maintaining the area’s mountain biking trails.

SAMBA has designed, built or currently maintains the Parkway Trail System, located mere minutes from downtown Harrisburg, as well as many others in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. In all, that’s 70 miles of clearing fallen trees, trimming back brush and, sometimes, rerouting.

“The goal for us is to build the trails properly in the first place, so we don’t have to do too much maintenance,” said Loftus. “These trails have a life of their own. It’s an amazing place. Sometimes, a tree will fall, and we love it. We can either clear the tree or keep it as is and ride over it. It’s just the nature of the beast.”

Mountain bikers are a special breed, and so is their equipment. With fat tires, enhanced suspension and elevated clearance, mountain bikes are designed to tackle the tough terrain that riders not only encounter, but seek out. Helmets are highly recommended.

“We’re riding on natural surface trails, with roots and rocks,” said Loftus, a 50-year-old resident of Hershey. “Our bikes need to be built for that purpose.”

Out There

Originally formed as a club, SAMBA was founded in 2012 as an extension of the International Mountain Biking Association. As a member of this global community, SAMBA receives important support from the mother association to advance the local mountain biking community.

“We advocate for more off-road cycling opportunities in our area,” said Loftus. “We try to find opportunities for people to get outside and ride.”

For its members, SAMBA offers a handful of sponsored group events throughout the year, things like group rides, overnight camping, barbecues, seminars and fundraisers. But perhaps, most importantly, SAMBA provides the opportunity to connect like-minded riders.

“Both have their merits,” said Loftus, of the advantages of riding individually or with friends. “When you go by yourself, you can clear your head. It’s alone time. But it’s also a lot of fun ripping down trails with riders of the same skill level. There are some big groups that go out.”

The physical and aerobic benefits of mountain bike riding can’t be overstated. While one enjoys nature on the back of a mountain bike, exercise just sort of happens.

“Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise you can do,” Loftus said. “You’ve got to get exercise somewhere. For me, I can’t stand being on a treadmill or an elliptical. I’ve got to be out there.”

He said that he’s noticed an increased interest in the sport over the last few years. SAMBA is both partly responsible for that increased interest and there to support it.

“It’s amazing how many people are interested in off-road biking these days,” said Loftus. “We’ve been on that trajectory for years. We’re seeing kids riding. We’re seeing fathers and sons riding. It’s the old saying, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ If trails are close to home, they will be used. We’ve really seen that in the Harrisburg area.”

There’s an exploratory, adventurous element associated with mountain bike riding. Where you and I see trees and rocks and mountains, Loftus and SAMBA see potential trails.

“Prior to SAMBA being founded, bikers lost access to Pennsylvania state game lands,” said Loftus. “At that time, there were very few trails for mountain bikers to ride. We’ve established a lot of riding trails that are there now, and we’re proud of that. But we continue to advocate for more access to that area.”

All it takes is one mountain biking experience. It’s all downhill after that.

For more information on the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA), visit www.sambabiker.com.

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November News Digest

October 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Senior Housing Gets Go-Ahead

An affordable housing development for seniors planned for Harrisburg is free to break ground.

At a recent legislative session, City Council unanimously approved the land development plan for Bethel Village, a 49-unit apartment building for low-income seniors at N. 6th and Herr streets.

“I think this is a win for the community,” said Blane Stoddart of RB Development, one of the partners in the project. “So many people are going to benefit from the building of this building to provide affordable housing for the residents of Harrisburg.”

While many council members voiced support for the mission of creating affordable housing in the city, some did have hesitations about the limited parking.

Officials of the $15 million Bethel Village plan to have only four off-street parking spaces. Council President Wanda Williams expressed concerns about the lack of planned parking for building residents.

Bethel officials have said that they believe a majority of their residents, all low-income and elderly, will not own a car.

The developers also have letters of intent with Tabernacle Baptist Church for the future use of 15 surface parking spaces and with the state Department of General Services for use of 10 spots.

Williams noted that using the church and DGS parking lots will require senior residents to walk uphill and across busy streets, something she saw as a safety hazard.

“I want to make sure everything is right for the senior citizens,” she said.

However, in the end, with reassurance from Stoddart that they would increase their safety measures, Williams voiced her support for the project.

“I’m excited for this because I know the city needs this,” she said.

Building Design Approved

A new, mixed-use building in downtown Harrisburg received its first city approval last month, despite some lingering concerns over its contemporary design.

By a 3-1 tally, the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) voted to approve a five-story residential and retail structure at 512-514 N. 2nd St. that includes an exterior of brick, glass and metal.

Currently, two long-empty, neglected buildings occupy the site. Under the plan by developer Derek Dilks, they would be razed and a new, 5,000-square-foot structure would be built consisting of first-floor retail space and seven apartments on four floors above.

“I think it’s great to see more projects that are going to improve the city and turn a couple of dilapidated buildings into occupied, new construction,” said architect Chris Dawson, following the meeting.

At a prior meeting, several HARB members questioned the modern aesthetic of the design, saying that it stood in stark contrast with the streetscape, which largely consists of century-plus-old brick buildings.

However, at last month’s meeting, a majority seemed satisfied overall with the project design.

HARB member Kali Tennis stated that cities need a blend of historic and modern architecture, with buildings not mimicking older styles but reflecting the times in which they’re constructed.

“My personal opinion is that it both blends and distinguishes itself,” she said, of the building design. “Our job is to thoughtfully look at a proposal like this and think about it in the context of the whole city.”

The project now needs to go through the city’s land development process.

Fire Bureau Announces Hires, Awards

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau last month held its annual awards ceremony and announced new hires for the department.

Three new firefighters, Dylan Landuyt, Johnathon Felty and Codie Schaffner, officially joined the bureau. The swearing-in of these firefighters brings the bureau to a full complement of 90 personnel, Chief Brian Enterline said.

In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, the following awards and recognitions were given to firefighters in the bureau:

Award of Bravery—Kyle Paul

Award of Merit—Capt. Aldo Morelli, James Grundon, Zachary Miller, Patrick Giberson, John Peskie, Battalion Chief Jason Lloyd

Unit Citation—Lt. William Skinner, Nathaniel Barbolish, Justin Zimmerman, Michael Stender, Lt. Jeffrey Miller, Jared Day, Thomas Propst, Joseph Kuhn, Battalion Chief Brian Bastinelli, David Gilkey, Shane Conrad, Lt. Robert Lohin, Brandon Trygar, Jamie Kleckner, Thomas Cucchiara

CPR Save—Jared Day, Lt. Corey Stone, William Junkin, Shane Conrad, David Aguayo, Johnathan Little, Thomas Cucchiara, Austin Howard, Capt. Charles Zavrel, Richard Brocius, Nicholas Hurst, Lt. Brian Yonkin, Marty Henderson, Glenn Raudensky

Bureau members of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 also received National Deployment Awards for assisting throughout the country. They were recognized for assisting at the presidential inauguration, during Hurricane Ida and at the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Florida.

One firefighter, Brent Hill, received a National Deployment Award for supporting the National Interagency Fire Center during California’s wildfire season.

Downtown Tasting Rooms Debut

Last April, downtown Harrisburg lost Sip@SoMa, a rotating, limited-engagement brewery concept on S. 3rd Street.

This was actually good news, as Swatara Township-based Boneshire Brew Works opened a permanent tasting room in the space.

But now Sip@SoMa is back—times two.

Last month, Harristown Enterprises debuted a new Sip@SoMa just a few doors down from the original location. In addition, it plans to open another tasting room on the street, Sip@17, which will cater to small-group gatherings and tastings.

Both locations will feature products from a rotating lineup of Pennsylvania brewers, vintners and distillers, in limited engagements.

“Harristown is thrilled to add these two new tasting rooms to this thriving neighborhood,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown. “These two new tasting rooms will add to the vibrancy of this block and create a destination tasting row for the SoMa neighborhood.”

Located at 23 S. 3rd St., the new Sip@SoMa is larger than the original location at about 1,000 square feet, plus a 600-square-foot patio in the back, which together seats about 40 customers. The industrial-style design also features a small bar and performance stage.

Sip@17, located at 17 S. 3rd St., is a smaller space of about 600 square feet. It is intended mostly for special, more intimate events, such as wine tastings.

Sara Bozich will be responsible for booking vendors and promotion.

Longer term, Harristown’s plan for the two spaces is the same as for the original Sip@SoMa, now occupied by Boneshire—to lease them permanently and turn S. 3rd Street into a “tasting row,” according to the company.

“Harristown intends to offer these spaces for lease eventually and will be looking to build additional tap rooms in the neighborhood at other storefronts it owns,” Jones said.

New LGBTQ History Markers

The LGBT Center of Central PA’s History Project last month unveiled two state historical markers in downtown Harrisburg that honor local LGBTQ history.

The plaques, one at N. 3rd and North streets and the other at 205 State St., tell the stories of past Pennsylvania Gov. Milton J. Shapp and Richard Schlegel, a pioneering gay activist, respectively.

“People look to these historical markers as a window into our state history,” said Barry Loveland, chair of the LGBT History Project. “It’s really rewarding to know that finally some of this history will get recognized.”

These are the first historical markers for LGBTQ history in the commonwealth outside of Philadelphia, Loveland said.

The LGBT History Project started in 2012, and since then, Loveland and others have uncovered and documented many stories from LGBTQ history. Shapp and Schlegel’s stories were two that had huge impacts in central PA and nationally, Loveland explained.

In 1974, Shapp met with activist Mark Segal, which is believed to be the first meeting of a sitting governor with a gay activist. Shapp later appointed a task force to study and advise him on improving public policy for LGBTQ people, Loveland said.

Schlegel began working for the PA Department of Highways in 1963. He became active in the Janus Society, one of the first LGBTQ organizations in the state, and established a central PA chapter in 1964. The group met at Schlegel’s apartment at 205 State St., Loveland said. Schlegel was investigated for his involvement in gay activism and fired from his state job, later setting up a foundation to benefit LGBTQ organizations.

Loveland said that he was surprised to learn of Shapp’s advocacy for the LGBTQ community.

“He’s not particularly known for gay rights accomplishments,” he said. “That’s something we were surprised by. Shapp was really ahead of his time.”

Street Renamed to Honor Black History

A downtown Harrisburg street will get a new name to recognize Black history in the city.

At a legislative session last month, City Council unanimously approved a resolution to designate a section of Walnut Street as T. Morris Chester Way.

“I think it’s important that we recognize and highlight the contributions of African Americans in the city of Harrisburg and what we’ve done to improve Harrisburg despite the odds,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The idea was brought to council by the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade, which is responsible for the recent installation of the Commonwealth Monument at N. 4th and Walnut streets.

According to the Commonwealth Monument Project, Chester was a prominent figure in Harrisburg history during the 1860s. He was a lawyer, soldier and the only Black war correspondent during the Civil War. He also is recognized as one of the bronze figures in the Commonwealth Monument.

Walnut Street will keep its name, but, from Commonwealth Avenue to Front Street, it will gain T. Morris Chester Way as a second name. This will allow addresses to remain the same and avoid confusion, city Engineer Wayne Martin explained.

Lenwood Sloan of the Peace Promenade and executive director of the Monument Project said that the name “would concretize our designation as a national heritage site.” It will help create a pathway that connects several of the group’s African American history memorial sites, which include the Commonwealth Monument and the Bethel Heritage Trail, which commemorates the Bethel AME church in Harrisburg, he said.

Home Prices Up, Sales Dip

Harrisburg-area home prices continued a months-long climb while sales dipped in September, according to the most recent report on existing home sales.

For the month, 757 houses sold in the three-county region compared to 812 in September 2020, but the median sales price surged to $231,000 from $204,200 last year, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 356 homes sold for a median price of $205,000 in September, versus 370 homes at $178,000 last year, GHAR stated.

In Cumberland County, 347 houses sold, a drop of 21 units from last year, as the median price climbed to $255,000 compared to $226,250 in September 2020.

Perry County saw sales of 34 houses for a median price of $217,450. Last September, 51 houses sold at a median price of $180,000, according to GHAR.

Houses were selling more quickly than last year, as the “average days on the market” dropped to 20 days versus 33 days the prior September, GHAR stated.

So Noted

Andrea Britt last month was named 2021 New Librarian of the Year by the Pennsylvania Library Association. Britt has served for the past three years as the STEM librarian at Penn State Harrisburg Library.

Autumn Cooper and Anthony Burnett last month were named the first two appointees to Harrisburg’s Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory Board, which will be focused on police accountability. The mayoral nominees must be approved by council, which also must make five of its own board appointments.

Capital Region Water last month opened its customer service center for walk-in customers at its new location at 3003 N. Front St., Harrisburg. CRW also was recently featured as a community “anchor institution” for the Harrisburg area, according to a U.S. Department of Environmental Protection report titled, “Water Utilities as Anchor Institutions.” The piece highlights CRW’s programs and efforts to assist lower-income residents.

Elvis Solivan was hired last month as Harrisburg’s new business development/LERTA administrator. Solivan has experience in affordable housing, workforce development, government affairs and customer services, according to the city. He previously served as a regional senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as a communications specialist at the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Kelly A. Gollick last month was named the new executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Harrisburg, replacing Mark Totaro, who retired in July after serving in the post for 18 years. Gollick previously served as executive director of CONTACT Helpline in Harrisburg.

Lorien Reese Mahay last month began as the new executive director of Theatre Harrisburg, responsible for the day-to-day operations of one of the country’s oldest community theaters. Mahay has over a decade of experience in theater management, education and development, including as associate director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, based in Stony Brook, N.Y., according to the theater.

Nate Spriggs is the new director of Harrisburg’s Public Works Department. Spriggs worked for Harrisburg for 22 years before leaving in 2017 to become public works director for Susquehanna Township. He replaces Dave West, who is retiring at the end of the year, and, before that, Aaron Johnson, who retired in March.

TheBurg was named “News Organization of the Year” last month, an annual honor from the PA NewsMedia Association Foundation. TheBurg won first-place in the “weekly” category, while another Harrisburg-area newspaper, PennLive/The Patriot News, took first in the “multi-day” category. In all, 120 news organizations competed for the honors, according to the foundation.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2450: J. Alicea to R. Mondesi, $120,000

Adrian St., 2467: L. Locke to Alliance Estates LLC, $82,000

Bartine St., 925: Federal National Mortgage Association to A. Bryce, $41,000

Berryhill St., 1243: M. Seif to TKO Properties LLC, $38,000

Berryhill St., 2443: T. Yanich to K. Murphy, $69,900

Boas St., 124: A. Masser & A. Byrne to R. Schlicker & D. Della Loggia, $162,000

Boas St., 213: L. & S. Godinez to Z. Woodward, $190,000

Brookwood St., 2456: D. Stockley to Alliance Estates LLC, $80,000

Brookwood St., 2460: G. Trout to C. Mellinger, $96,500

Calder St., 109: Peter J. Lawson Trust to B. Smith, $163,500

Calder St., 319: J. Rivera to T. Russ, $113,000

Cumberland St., 107: T. Shovlin to C. & J. Askin, $160,000

Cumberland St., 212: N&R Group to E. Vera, $220,000

Cumberland St., 257 & 259: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown II LLC to N&R Properties, $340,000

Derry St., 1127: Medallo Real Estate LLC to K. Purnell, $47,000

Derry St., 1240: S. Akhter to G. Olivo, $195,000

Derry St., 1632: M. Wijaya to K. Gonzalez, $50,000

Derry St., 1950: Next Generation TC Parvez Akhter IRA to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000

Division St., 650 & 2997 Jefferson St.: D. Walker Jr. & J. Alwine to 650 670 Division Street Ventures LLC, $650,000

Elm St., 1714: Tridents Partners LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $34,000

Emerald St., 247: M. Bekelja to W. Correa & E. Rose, $115,000

Emerald St., 248: C., A., & K. Thompson to M. Nolan, $136,250

Emerald St., 520: J. Perkins to R. Feiler & B. Braun, $60,000

Emerald St., 635: Great Row LLC to C. Arango, $61,000

Forster St., 1912: PA Deals LLC to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $49,900

Fulton St., 1713: M. Fagan to C. & R. Ellis, $170,900

Geary St., 610: CPenn Patriot Properties LLC & Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Parfait Real Estate LLC, $119,995

Green St., 711: R. Coldren to S. Patrick, $190,000

Green St., 1122 & 1210 and 1114 Penn St.: Salvation Army Inc. to High Pointe Apartments LLC, $658,200

Green St., 1711: B. Rockwell & N. Gurley to B. Foster, $231,000

Green St., 2235: V., D. & J. Brown to P. Thomas, $115,000

Green St., 2316: U&N Properties to Dolly Properties LLC, $40,000

Hale Ave., 414: D. Wilson to I. Yolov, $65,000

Hale Ave., 415: J. & J. Fickett to B. Fickett, $70,000

Herr St., 119: J. Cooper to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $142,000

Herr St., 1500: R. Welborn to C. & T. Stephens, $120,000

Herr St., 1507: P. Akhter to SPG Capital LLC, $57,000

James St., 1327: S. & D. Noto to K. Lupold, $110,000

Jefferson St., 2999: J&S Estates LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $345,000

Kensington St., 2227: B. & L. Nguyen to KCA Holdings LLC, $60,000

Liberty St., 1343: HBGRE LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $36,000

Liberty St., 1406: PI Capital LLC to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $75,000

Logan St., 1938: P. Abel & R. Rolan to SPG Capital LLC, $74,000

Maclay St., 236: D. Lee to Bebe LLC, $289,000

Maclay St., 401 & 407: Trinity Church of God to Viva Iglesia Manatial de Agua, $100,000

Market St., 1907: J. Alvarado to H. Johnson, $155,000

Market St., 2203: J. Hunter to D. De La Rosa, $189,900

Midland Rd., 2317: J. Jordan to M. & P. Sweeney, $261,000

Muench St., 318: P. Sisemore & K. Hugo to V. Adams, $124,900

Mulberry St., 1823: Mid Penn Bank to H. Ali, $43,500

Mulberry St., 1848: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Quality Rentals LLC, $70,000

Mulberry St., 2002: C. Keester to H. Saldana, $87,000

North St., 1936: Y. Smith to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $30,000

N. 2nd St., 224: Nicholas E. Dunphy Jr. Trust to A. Sidhu, $210,000

N. 2nd St., 1718: 1718 Realty Associates to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $330,000

N. 2nd St., 1807: D. Keech to PDI Properties LLC, $98,500

N. 2nd St., 2138: R. Nagy to S. & J. Toole, $125,000

N. 2nd St., 2527: K. & D. Maltzie to J. Sutter, $270,000

N. 2nd St., 2711: V. & A. Montgomery to N. Corado, $282,000

N. 4th St., 1426: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to E. Drum, $89,900

N. 5th St., 1632: T. Kenenitz Jr. to A. Rasheed, $175,000

N. 5th St., 1738: M. Meads to A. Brown, $185,100

N. 5th St., 2744: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC & R. Rudy to C. Peterson, $60,000

N. 6th St., 2450: D. & A. Semancik to D. Aibangbee, $122,500

N. 6th St., 2633: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $50,000

N. 6th St., 2703: G. & J. Rhiel to J. De Grullon, $46,000

N. 6th St., 2915: N. Frazier to J. Brubaker, $150,000

N. 14th St., 1211: F. Burgos to T. & F. Jenkins, $115,000

N. 15th St., 1329: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to E. Drum, $69,900

N. 16th St., 618: C. & E. Henderson to C. Henderson & S. Ranson, $130,000

N. 16th St., 1002: D. Wilson to L. Deane, $71,000

N. 17th St., 52: Akilis Realty LLC to Akilys Real Estate LLC, $30,000

N. 17th St., 92: H. Pitt to ZM Penn Group LLC, $38,000

N. 17th St., 1105: R. & L. Overton to S. Simmons Sr., $55,000

N. 18th St., 905: M. Johnson to K. Mills Jr., $125,000

N. Front St., 1631: Front & Hamilton Streets Associates to PASA Sustainable Agriculture, $750,000

N. Summit St., 45: Evolution Properties LLC to N. & J. Hoover, $37,500

Paxton St., 1801: TNT Properties LLC to MMLM Realty LLC, $170,000

Peffer St., 230: Keystone Brothers Investments LLC to D. Tepper & E. Lowe, $190,000

Peffer St., 272: J. Bush to L. Kirkwood & H. Sindelar, $163,800

Penn St., 913: J. Robinette to A. Wooditch, $143,000

Penn St., 1915: J. Bankard to A. Birkhimer, $171,000

Penn St., 2117: TKO Rental Properties LLC to Sound Community Solutions, $60,000

Penn St., 2320: J. Compton to R. McCullough, $120,000

Pennwood St., 3200A: Husky Assets LLC & Ron Gensil LLC to Men of Morals LLC, $45,000

Race St., 552: A. & H. Appleberry to C. Martinez, $185,000

Radnor St., 403: TKO Rental Properties LLC to O. McCadney, $131,000

Revere St., 1715: S. Wallace to PA Deals LLC, $65,000

Rudy Rd., 1919: A. Ross to J. Kimble, $106,000

Rudy Rd., 2478: M. Murphy to J. George, $82,000

Rumson Dr., 2965: T. Jones to K. Jackson, $115,000

Showers St., 606: N. Jones to T. Buehler, $185,000

S. 13th St., 445: R. & T. Smolsky to S. & T. Jefferson, $100,000

S. 15th St., 27: Notable Investments LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $36,000

S. 18th St., 15: Gilligan Realty LLC to L. Rivas, $45,000

S. 18th St., 1100: S. Savage to J. & I. Lusan, $128,000

S. 19th St., 10: J. Gritten to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $80,000

S. 19th St., 1201: D. Greene to R. Rodriguez & C. Ross, $160,000

S. 20th St., 1200: G&H Holdings to R. Yussif & S. Alhassan, $220,000

S. 25th St., 704: E. & P. Southard to S. & M. Mejia, $120,000

S. 25th St., 734: SPG Capital to J. Pichardo, $81,000

S. Front St., 549: J. Benjestorf to Raas Properties LLC, $359,900

S. River St., 313: K. Mahoney to K. Grant, $119,900

State St., 211: SREG H LLC to State Capital Property Holdings LLC, $318,500

State St., 231, Unit 603: LUX 1 LP to Kreit Group LLC, $150,500

Susquehanna St., 2246: Harrisburg Mini Storage LLC to SJL Rentals LLC, $251,000

Swatara St., 1314: Peter & Rose Abel Properties LLC to D. Boyle, $43,000

Swatara St., 1937: R. Purdy to K. Watson, $115,000

Verbeke St., 1325: Care Properties LLC to K. Brunner, $87,600

Walnut St., 403: Get Rich Early Associates & R. Heaney to J. Charles Realty LLC, $575,000

Wayne St., 1400: W. Owens & L. Razo to S. Saxton, $170,000

Harrisburg property sales for September 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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