April home sales, prices jump in greater Harrisburg area

May 10, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Row homes for sale in Harrisburg

The Harrisburg-area housing market took flight in April, with both home sales and prices up substantially.

For the month, 686 houses sold in the area, compared to 465 homes for April 2020, as the median sales price increased to $225,000 from $200,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 347 homes sold versus 220 a year ago, while the median sales price jumped to $200,000 from $171,000, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had sales of 274 homes, compared to 216 in the prior year, as the median sales price rose to $267,000 from $234,950.

In Perry County, sales increased to 35 homes versus 22 houses in April 2020, as the median price declined to $156,000 from $174,200, GHAR said.

Houses were also selling much faster than last year, as the average “days on the market” declined to 22 days versus 50 days in April 2020, according to GHAR.

Notably, the number of home sales in April 2020 was held down by the COVID-19 pandemic and the state-mandated shutdown of businesses.

However, sales and price data in April also were strong compared to two years ago. In April 2019, 619 homes sold for a median price of $180,000 throughout GHAR’s three-county coverage area, according to the association.

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Harrisburg plans to open Hall Manor, Jackson Lick pools in late June

May 10, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse celebrated a day of free swimming at the Jackson Lick pool in July 2019.

Harrisburg expects to open both its municipal pools next month in a step towards a post-COVID summer.

According to the city, the public pools at the Jackson Lick and Hall Manor housing complexes will likely open for swimming by late June.

“The city is looking forward to opening both pools this year for residents to enjoy,” said Dave Baker, the city’s parks and facilities director.

The two pools were closed for the 2020 season, due to the pandemic.

In previous years, the city has wrestled with how to keep the 53-year-old pools up and running. In recent years, both have been repeatedly patched and repaired, leading to delays and closures. Harrisburg has considered completely renovating both pools, but decided the multi-million-dollar price tag was too high.

Harrisburg has explored more affordable options, such as replacing the pools with spray park/splash pad installations.

Nonetheless, the pools will open for the 2021 season, according to the city, which is now testing the pool facilities and training staff.

When the pools do open, COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols will be followed, Baker said.

The Jackson Lick pool is located at 1205 N. 6^th St., Harrisburg and the Hall Manor pool is located at 1413 South 18^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit the city’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features from around Harrisburg

May 7, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley Gittens

Micah Parsons receives the key to Harrisburg.

Whether you plan to hunker down at home and out of the rain or grab your umbrella and head out, start your weekend right here, catching up on this past week’s local news.

Bob’s Art Blog will take you on a virtual walk-through of Carlisle’s art and antique scene. He also previews the upcoming Odd Ones Bizarre at the Millworks, by showcasing artists involved.

Dauphin County Library System launched a $3.5 million capital campaign to renovate and expand its McCormick Riverfront Library, our online story reported. The project will entail connecting the current building to a historic home next door, the Haldeman Haly house. Other improvements will be made to better utilize space in the Riverfront library, as well.

The digital divide has been exposed across south-central PA during the pandemic. Our magazine story shares how local libraries have stepped in to fill the internet gap.

Gamut Theatre opens “Little Red Riding Hood,” a family-friendly fairy tale, this weekend. Our theater review has the details on what to expect from this goofy, musical show.

Harrisburg school board candidates outlined their priorities and goals, should they be elected, in our online story. If you’re still deciding who to vote for, this may help.

The Harrisburg School District plans to celebrate its high school seniors through a “Sign & Drive” event. They will also hold an outdoor prom and graduation ceremony in the coming weeks, our online story reported.

Jeff Haste announced his retirement as a Dauphin County commissioner this week, our reporting found. The Court of Common Pleas will appoint another Republican to serve the remainder of his term.

The job of mayor may just be one of the toughest in the country, according to our editor’s column. The responsibilities of Harrisburg’s commander-in-chief are far from glamorous and are often a grind, he writes. Read more, here.

The Market Square bus transfer station received updates from PennDOT to make it safer and more ADA accessible, our reporting found. Changes included additional signage and new pedestrian shelters, among other improvements.

Micah Parsons, a Harrisburg High and Penn State University alumni, received the key to the city for his football accomplishments, our online story reported. Last week, Parsons was an NFL first-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys.

Many pandemic-related mitigation orders will be lifted by the state Department of Health on Memorial Day, our online story reported. Businesses will be able to operate at full capacity, although facemasks will still be required.

Sara Bozich has her Weekend Roundup, including everything from live music to yoga to dining. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate mom this Sunday, she’s got you covered.

The state oversight body for Harrisburg issued a generally positive annual report on the financial condition of the city, our online article reported. The report, submitted by the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg, acknowledged areas where progress has been made but also stated places for improvement.

Susan Orlean, author of “The Library Book,” will visit Harrisburg’s Whitaker Center this month for a live conversation about her book, our magazine story reported. The event is part of the launch of a capital campaign by the Dauphin County Library System to renovate and expand its building.

Susan’s Treasures, a gift shop in the West Shore Farmer’s Market, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this month. Owners of the store are thanking loyal customers through gift giveaways and donations to local charities. Read more in our online story.

Young the Giant will rock in Riverfront Park on Aug. 27, as part of the Harrisburg University Presents summer concert series, our reporting found. The band was originally slated to play last year, but, due to the pandemic, had to reschedule.

Zeroday Brewing Co. opened a new flagship taproom in Midtown Harrisburg. Our magazine story highlights what customers can expect, from food to brews.

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Harrisburg School District to celebrate seniors with drive-up event and outdoor graduation

May 7, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Harrisburg School District Administration building

Harrisburg will soon see its second class of seniors graduate high school during the COVID pandemic—but that won’t stop them from celebrating.

The Harrisburg School District is inviting its senior students and their families to a “Sign & Drive” event on May 8 to congratulate them from a safe distance.

“During this unprecedented time and a year of remote learning, it is imperative that we as educational leaders, a school district, student’s families and all residents of the City of Harrisburg, take time to acknowledge, celebrate and honor the hard work, steadfast perseverance, and outstanding accomplishments of our amazing students. Their academic tenacity, resilience, and determination to succeed is to be applauded,” said Harrisburg High School principals in a collective statement.

High school seniors and their families are encouraged to decorate their cars for the drive-up event, where the district will distribute complimentary Class of 2021 congratulatory signage. There will be music and gift giveaways, as well.

According to the district, only one car per graduate is permitted and students and families must stay in their vehicles.

The event will take place at Harrisburg High School’s John Harris Campus.

Also coming up is the high school’s red carpet and prom on May 22. It will be held outside on Severance Field at the John Harris Campus. In the case of rain, it will be moved to May 23.

On June 5, the district will hold a graduation ceremony at 11 a.m., also on Severance Field. Tickets will be required for entry and the ceremony will be live-streamed, as well. The rain date is June 6.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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Young the Giant added to growing number of summer concerts in Riverfront Park

May 7, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Young the Giant will play Riverfront Park this summer. Photo courtesy: Young the Giant

Riverfront Park just got a little rockier.

As in, rock music.

On Friday, Harrisburg University Presents announced that Young the Giant will play in the park on Friday, Aug. 27.

The California-based rockers were originally slated to play last year at the Forum as part of their “Mirror Master” tour. However, the pandemic wiped that date off the schedule.

Now, they’re back and, like many shows, the rescheduled concert will take place outdoors. Tickets are $55, all general admission.

HU Presents is slotting the band first in its outdoor summer concert series.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will take the Riverfront Park stage the next day, on Saturday, Aug. 28.

Outdoor concerts then take a break for nearly a month before resuming on Sept. 23 with Cage the Elephant and Sept. 25 with Portugal. The Man.

Like Young the Giant, these bands originally were slated to appear last year. Tickets purchased previously will be honored on the new dates, according to HU Presents. Tickets for the previously scheduled Young the Giant show already were refunded.

For tickets and additional information, visit www.HUConcertSeries.com.

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Burg Review: Gamut gets silly, song-y, with family-focused “Little Red Riding Hood”

May 7, 2021 | by Gina Napoli

Unless you spent your childhood under a rock sans fairy tales, you’re familiar with the bare bones plot points of “Little Red Riding Hood.”

Little Red Riding Hood (Rosie Campbell) journeys through the woods by herself to visit her Grandma (Alexis Campbell). Along the way, she meets the Wolf (also Alexis Campbell), who then tries to eat the girl. At first, Little Red Riding Hood doesn’t think she can make the trip alone, but then she finds her confidence. If you grew up in a land far, far away, you may have heard a variation involving a subplot with a woodsman or a goat.

No matter which story you grew up on, you’ll meet Kyle the Woodcutter and the Goat (both played by Robert Campbell) in Gamut Theatre’s variation, adapted and directed by Erin Shellenberger. This rendition is heavy on physical comedy, musical parody and overall comical silliness.

The story starts out with the Campbell family playing themselves in their living room during the pandemic, fighting with their Alexa (voiced by Clark Nicholson). When they find “The Little Red Riding Hood” storybook on their bookshelf, they realize they don’t need a script to move the story forward.

All along her journey, Little Red Riding Hood’s ability to trust is tested. When she meets the Goat in the woods, he assures Little Red Riding Hood that, “It never hurts to have a friend in the woods.” She really wants to trust that the Wolf is good because she is running for City Council, but she soon comes to realize that shouting “Stranger Danger” is a better way to handle the Wolf.

As the family unfolds the tale, they take turns handing each other the stage for song-and-dance numbers. The best family-oriented stories have jokes for adults, too, and the generation-spanning songs are where those hilarious gold nuggets are. I didn’t catch the titles, but you can look forward to Robert crooning about a sustainable forest to the tune of a Dean Martin song, Alexis singing about her villainous prowess to the tune of Adele’s “Hello,” and a delightful soft-shoe routine by a sparkly sneakered Rosie.

The song that will stay with me for a while… Clad in a charmingly a-dork-able costume in the middle of the Popcorn Hat Kingdom, the Goat belts out a downright appealing ditty called “The Day the Wolf Cried” to the tune of “Miss American Pie.” I won’t soon forget the line containing the whimsical near-rhyme “fancy prance.”

This play occasionally breaks the fourth wall when the actors talk directly to the audience, letting us in on their private jokes and revelations. For the kids, the fourth wall crumbles under audience participation. Kids will also take away a few life lessons and a coloring page.

What must it be like to be a fly on the wall in the home of the Campbell family actors during quarantine? While the rest of us busy ourselves by downloading new apps for ordering takeout, and figuring out where to get ourselves vaccinated, Robert, Alexis and Rosie Campbell spend quality family time rehearsing amusing song-and-dance material, with outstanding results. All three actors present their audience with a playful, dynamic interplay between lovable characters—even the villains.

Spoiler alert: there is a moral to the story. And we all live happily ever after.

“The Adventures of Little Red Riding Hood” runs May 7 to 16, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets must be reserved online in advance, and in keeping with COVID-19 protocols, will not be available at the door. There is currently a technical issue with the mobile app, so please use a desktop computer to order through www.gamuttheatre.org/lrrh or call 717-238-4111.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

May 6, 2021 | by Sara Bozich

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend around Harrisburg and central PA, I got you! Scroll down or use the menu links to find ideas for your weekend.

What’s inside:

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Need something NEW to do? Wolf Brewing Co. is now open; The Odd Ones Bizarre at The Millworks (plus the Rooftop Biergarten is now open). Plus, check out our Spring Bucket List!

(Still) Worth noting: We revived our private Facebook group, Cheers Harrisburg. You can join the convo here. Oh, and I have a 6K giveaway over on Instagram.

Things on my agenda this weekend: Clean my office, visit Wolf, garden planning.

Don’t forget to support your local brewery! Click here to find one near you.

For your weekend planning:

Best things to read, drink, wear, and do this spring
Try this wine club
View our local Restaurant Directory
Local Brewery, Winery, & Cidery Directory
See what else you missed on the blog.

Below are options for your weekend.

Things to Do in Harrisburg + Central PA | Weekend Roundup | Sara Bozich

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Shop for Mother’s Day
This wine is a total bargain
Book the tension remedy at Moxy
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New episodes of Poured in PA: The Series!

COVID-19 Disclaimer: As always, please click through the links or call ahead to get the most up-to-date information about venues and/or events below. It should also go without saying, but I’ll say it — Mask up, follow the rules, and be nice. And tip extra!

What are you doing this weekend around Harrisburg? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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Chapter Two: McCormick Riverfront Library launches fundraising campaign for expansion, renovations

May 5, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A rendering of the rear exterior of the library. The pictured staircase addition will connect the Haldeman Haly house with the existing McCormick Riverfront Library.

A sequel of sorts is in the works at one Harrisburg library.

On Wednesday, the Dauphin County Library System launched a $3.5 million capital campaign to raise funds for an expansion and renovation of the McCormick Riverfront Library in downtown Harrisburg.

The project, which is expected to begin in July, will entail connecting the current building to a historic home next door, the two-century-old Haldeman Haly house, explained DCLS Executive Director Karen Cullings. Other improvements will be made to better utilize space in the Riverfront library, as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s not really about the buildings, but it’s about the people and what we will be able to deliver out of the buildings to the community,” Cullings said at a press conference. “What we are seeking to do is create a place where everyone belongs and feels welcomed.”

The fundraising campaign kicks off this weekend with a live-streamed conversation between DCLS and author Susan Orlean, who is coming to Whitaker Center.

In a time when more people are working from home and much of education is online, Cullings still sees the need for a community space to gather, learn and work. That’s what the library plans to expand with this project.

In the main library building, the downstairs will be opened up for public use, including a new welcome center named after T. Morris Chester, a Black lawyer, soldier and prominent figure in Harrisburg history. The library will also move the current children’s section downstairs, expanding it and adding STEAM-focused elements, as well as classrooms and career development space.

A rendering of the children’s section

DCLS is partnering with the Commonwealth Monument Project to create an area dedicated to the city’s African American history. Cullings said that they will especially highlight the Old 8^th Ward, an Black and immigrant neighborhood that was demolished during the state Capitol expansion.

“Above all, we want to make sure that all we do reflects the backgrounds and cultures of those in our community,” Cullings said.

Upstairs, Cullings said that they plan to create a more open floor plan by exposing the vaulted ceiling, as well as adding moveable bookshelves, a business support area and a coffee bar.

The main building will connect to the Haldeman Haly house, which the library purchased in July 2019 for $295,000 from long-time owner, attorney William Balaban.

The Haldeman Haly house

Cullings said that they plan to keep the character and layout of the historic building intact, using the rooms as meeting and event spaces for the public, as well as office space for library staff. The property also has an outdoor space and room for parking—a feature that the library hasn’t had.

The house, originally owned by Sarah Haldeman Haly, predates the library building, which sits on what once was her garden. In 1896, Haly bequeathed the property to the library system. The McCormick library became the first free public library in the city.

A room inside the Haldeman Haly house

DCLS hopes to continue to build on its mission of offering accessible services, expanding to include more programs for ex-offenders and those in need of workforce training.

“The city of Harrisburg has some unique challenges,” said Brandon Flood, a board member at DCLS. “I know how valuable the library is as a resource.”

Although the capital campaign, “Your Place to Belong,” is just kicking off, Cullings said that they are already halfway to their goal, but are looking for community support to reach it.

“The library is a cornerstone of the community and needs to be dynamic, growing and changing as the community grows,” Cullings said.

To donate to the “Your Place to Belong” campaign, visit the website. For more information, visit the Dauphin County Library Systems website.

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PA to end most pandemic restrictions at end of May; mask mandate remains

May 4, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

A scene from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton

Pennsylvania soon will join a quickly growing number of states around the country by lifting most pandemic restrictions, although facemask requirements will remain in place.

In a press release on Tuesday, the state Department of Health announced that most pandemic-related mitigation orders will be lifted at midnight on Memorial Day, May 31.

“We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,” Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam said.

Recently, several states, including Florida, New York and New Jersey, have announced ends to their pandemic-related restrictions.

With this announcement, businesses that once were under severe restrictions, such as bars, restaurants, gyms and theaters, will be able to operate normally and at full capacity.

In Pennsylvania, face covering requirements will stay in place until 70% of residents, 18 years and older, are fully vaccinated, according to the commonwealth.

Currently, about one-third of the state’s adult population is fully vaccinated. About half has received at least one dose.

Under current state mandates, most Pennsylvanians must wear a mask both indoors and outdoors. Fully vaccinated residents are not required to wear masks under certain circumstances, such as while engaging in non-crowded outdoor activities and visiting indoors with other fully vaccinated people.

“I encourage Pennsylvanians to take the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated, follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and social distancing,” Beam said.

Upgrades complete to make Market Square bus transfer center safer, ADA accessible

May 4, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Harrisburg, CAT and PennDOT officials discussed updates to the Market Square transfer center on Tuesday.

Buses rolled in and out of the Market Square transfer center in downtown Harrisburg on Tuesday, as local and state officials gathered there to discuss transportation safety initiatives.

PennDOT highlighted its recent work increasing safety and ADA accessibility at the transfer center, used as a stop for Capital Area Transit (CAT) buses at 2^nd and Market streets.

“Improving transit facilities is important,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Jennie Granger. “Public transit connects people to their communities, transports them to medical appointments […] to shopping and to visit loved ones.”

Improvements to the transfer center included adding new signals and signs for pedestrians and bus drivers, installing leaning rails and new bus shelters for riders waiting at the stop, and constructing ADA-accessible crosswalks, among other small changes. Construction began last summer and was completed this spring.

According to Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, the project aligns with the city’s Vision Zero initiative to reduce pedestrian fatalities in the city. The area around the transfer center was problematic, he said, according to Harrisburg’s High Injury Network data.

“We are following the data, and we’ve already seen a great improvement in how people are crossing the street,” Papenfuse said.

In other news, CAT Executive Director Rich Farr noted the transportation system’s ongoing efforts to help people get to vaccine administration sites.

Since mid-February, CAT, along with York-based rabbittransit, has offered free rides to over 2,000 people headed to get vaccinated in central PA.

“Safety is our core value,” Farr said. “Most recently, we are about the business of safely transporting our residents to receive their vaccines.”

For more information on how to travel for free to a vaccination site with Capital Area Transit, visit their website.

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What’s inside:

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Top Weekend Recs

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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