This Kind of Woman: Poet Kate Baer pulls back the curtain on womanhood in her bestselling book

December 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

I was in sixth or seventh grade when a teacher told me I had a knack for writing.

Mrs. Zehr was her name. All the extra effort I put into my papers was noticed, and she saw something in me. It took a few years before that sunk in, but I decided that’s what I’d be—a writer. Her encouragement sticks with me.

Many of us can probably point back to times like that, when someone important in our lives “called us out” for who we would become. For poet Kate Baer, that “someone” was Mrs. Rittenhouse, her second-grade teacher, who also told her she would be a writer.

I guess these teachers are on to something.

Baer, of Hummelstown, recently published her first book, dedicating it to teachers. “What Kind of Woman,” a collection of poetry, became a New York Times No. 1 bestseller the same week that it hit stores in November.

“It was really exciting,” Baer said of the experience. “I got a bunch of people to buy poetry, which really still blows my mind.”

Baer’s words, raw and vulnerable in “What Kind of Woman,” speak to the experience of being a woman, wife, mother and friend.

Her poems are meant to be real and relatable to those who find themselves in any of those four categories. Baer isn’t afraid to talk about the loneliness and sleeplessness that comes with motherhood or the times when husband and wife put on a smile and act like everything’s OK in front of company.

This is not a happy ending. This is not a fairy tale. This is the beginning of a life you haven’t met. It doesn’t matter how much you fall down on your knees, brown the buttered pan—time will reveal loves’ complication. Gloom and happiness.

— From “For the Advice Cards at Bridal Showers”

“I’ve always really loved peeling back the layers on things and telling the truth in a shocking way,” Baer said.

Baer’s identity as a woman is central to all the roles she plays in her poems. Some celebrate female friendships or body positivity. Many of her poems land on the idea that society or men have something wrong about women, and, with each word, she seems to reclaim womanhood.

The week before my wedding, my friend’s dad said: just don’t get fat, like other wives do. And so I brined him in a deep salt bath, added thyme and celery. Devoured him whole, in one big bite, so he could see just how hungry a woman can be.

— From “Like a Wife”

Other poems, like “Things Men Say to Me” and “Female Candidate,” address misogyny more directly by repurposing sexist phrases that Baer has become accustomed to hearing.

Because of the bold ways that Baer expresses her feelings around feminism and modern womanhood, she was surprised when she received a card in the mail from Mrs. Rittenhouse. This time, it wasn’t a report card, but more like fan mail.

Remembering her teacher as a more conservative older woman, Baer “thought this book would insult her.” But Mrs. Rittenhouse had only good things to say.

Baer’s intentionality to make the book relatable in a fresh and organic way is what she thinks draws in women despite differences.

“Love and heartache and grief and motherhood and romance is something that a lot of people experience, of all ages,” she said.

In April, Baer shared a picture on Instagram of herself lying on the couch with her four kids perched and flopped on top of her. She captioned it, “Mother in the time of Covid.”

In a different time, she could go to her favorite writing spot, the Panera Bread in Hummelstown, to get some work done. That’s where she wrote “What Kind of Woman.” Every now and then, she will still drive to that parking lot and write in her car, she confessed. She has no office and sitting in her bed is very uncomfortable.

COVID robbed Baer of a typical book tour, and that was hard for her. But it had its silver lining—she could stay home with her kids.

Motherhood, womanhood, marriage—Baer expects readers will find those same themes in her next book, which she has just begun to work on.

“I think people want a kind of pulled-back curtain on every topic including marriage and motherhood, and people want to see themselves reflected back in literature,” she said.

For more information on Kate Baer, or to purchase “What Kind of Woman,” visit www.katebaer.com.

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January Artist in Focus: Gloria Martin

December 30, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

When you view Gloria Martin’s artwork, words like “natural” and “symbolic” easily come to mind.

Indeed, her paintings and illustrations often combine the realistic with the fanciful, with a dreamlike quality to many of her pieces.

“Nature is the first creator and teacher, which is why I make it habitual that naturalistic symbolism is an integral component in my work and within my life,” she told TheBurg. “Knowledge of self has led me to explore feelings of oppression while using nature and symbols to combat pain both self-inflicted and/or external forces.”

Her frequent use of acrylics punctuates her art’s unique character, emphasizing the space between the solidly here and the otherworldly there.

On this page, we proudly share a sample of Gloria Martin’s artwork. To see more, visit www.gloriajeanstudio.com or her Instagram site @gloriajeanstudio.

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Home Sweet (Organized) Home: Virtual connections lead to real-life home organization

December 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Stacy Schroeder was lying in bed one night, unable to sleep because of all the home organizational projects on her mind.

That’s when she had a lightbulb moment.

“I literally posted one little Facebook post, probably around 10 p.m., that said, ‘Hey, is anyone else interested in joining a Facebook group focused on getting our homes and projects organized?’ When I got up the next morning, there were probably 50 responses,” Schroeder said.

That morning, she created Project 10, a private Facebook group, as “an accountability group for people who want to work on purging or organizing their possessions and commitments.”

The ground rules are pretty simple. Members make a list of 10 projects they’d like to accomplish throughout the year, and then share the list with the group—for accountability and advice. The goal is to tackle one project a month, with two extra months of grace.

Schroeder launched the group with about 75 friends, but over the past few years that number has doubled to 150 people who hail from central Pennsylvania and beyond.

“I was initially surprised at the response, but as I thought about it, I actually wasn’t surprised there were so many people feeling the same way,” Schroeder said.

Members have downsized, moved and cleaned out closets, cabinets and clutter. Some are simply getting their households organized. Others describe themselves as minimalists. They share “before” photos for ideas on how to tackle projects, then “after” photos to share success with the group.

Schroeder is quick to point out that she’s no Marie Kondo—perhaps the world’s most famous downsizer—but she recognizes the value of trying to stay organized. She admits that her home office is a place “where things tend to pile up.”

“They say a messy desk is the sign of a creative mind… but when a place is not cluttered, there’s a peacefulness,” said Schroeder. “Staying organized is about finding a system that works for you and then maintaining it.”

The new year is a natural time to establish new habits, and Schroeder offered words of advice for anyone who finds home organization overwhelming.

“Pick a part of the house that has the most impact on you emotionally or functionally and make that your priority,” she said.

Clean Slate

Project 10 came along at just the right time for Ilona Burd. Recently divorced, she faced a daunting task: cleaning out her 3,200-square-foot Dillsburg home of 22 years and downsizing to a new Carlisle home half the size, where she’d also adjust to living alone.

The group helped her evaluate whether she really needed numerous pots and pans of the same sizes, “20 mugs for only me,” and clothing that no longer fit. The answers were all a resounding “no.” She established a sorting system for trash and donations.

“Downsizing and decluttering was freeing for me because it makes cleaning a lot easier—I do not like to clean,” Burd said. “I think it’s easier as you get older, to simplify and let go of things—to accept that you can’t keep it and take it with you.”

Still, it was an emotional process at times.

The hardest task was downsizing a collection of Delft porcelain that connected to her Holland-born father’s heritage.

“I cried as I did critical thinking about whether I really needed all of them,” Burd said. “That was hard, but I felt good about giving some of the pieces away to people who would enjoy them.”

The end result? Her collection shrunk from five boxes to just one, plus a handful of especially meaningful pieces displayed in her new home.

“I think of my daughter who has her own personal life,” Burd said. “I don’t want her to have to deal with all of this. It was making life easier, not just for myself but for family.”

Now, she keeps an ongoing “giveaway box” in her garage as she continues to downsize. The daily task of checking the mail is made easier by keeping a recycling container in the garage for junk mail. That way, she doesn’t bring it into the house. And she keeps a bin by the front door to corral her umbrella, shoes or shopping bags—items she has in her hands as she enters her home.

“It’s been really fun, to see her growth, not being attached to things anymore,” said Amy-jo Humpton, Burd’s friend and fellow Project 10 member.

Humpton, who lost her husband to cancer several years ago, also found support from Project 10 members as she reorganized her Lemoyne home.

“Sometimes, we keep things for the memories, because we feel guilty about throwing things out or donating them,” Humpton said. “But if you have a minimal amount of stuff, you’re living more in the present.”

Having Project 10 friends who weren’t emotionally attached to her things helped Humpton with the decluttering and downsizing process.

And now she’s sharing the skills she’s learned. She’s teaching her daughter how to keep her room clean, in the hope that those organizational lessons become lifelong skills.

“I’m also taking the opportunity to help my mom clean out her house,” Humpton said. “It’s another way of connecting—throughout the process, she has stories to share.”

For more information about Project 10, contact Stacy Schroeder via email at [email protected].

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Wellbeing at Risk: Millennials’ mental health issues increasing during COVID-19

December 30, 2020 | by Capital BlueCross Staff

Millennials are more likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to have behavioral health issues, a new BlueCross BlueShield Association report finds—and the COVID-19 pandemic is making matters worse.

According to “Millennial Health Trends in Behavioral Conditions”—the latest report in BCBSA’s “Health of America” series—92% of millennials say the pandemic is hurting their mental health. The report also concludes that the COVID-19 crisis has sparked a rise in both depression and alcohol/substance abuse.

“All of us are doing many things each day in an effort to cope with this pandemic,” said Karie Batzler, director of behavioral health for Capital BlueCross. “Some of those things are healthy and some of them are not, and I think millennials are emblematic of us all.”

The report sampled 55 million U.S. millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—with commercial health insurance. Its analysis produced additional sobering conclusions:

Nearly a third of millennials have a behavioral health condition.
Millennials with behavioral health conditions are at twice the risk of having a chronic physical condition.
While millennials from majority Black and Hispanic communities have lower rates of mental health issues than millennials from white communities, that data is likely due to under-diagnosis.
Millennials diagnosed with an opioid-use disorder are 46% less healthy overall than their peers, and Blacks and Hispanics have lower overall rates of treatment than whites.

Because millennials now comprise more of the United States workforce than any other generation, and because they have also overtaken Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest population segment, their mental health issues may hurt the economy and have broad health and social implications. The most immediate concern, however, is what this rise in behavioral health problems might mean to millennials’ long-term wellbeing.

“Unfortunately, the rise in behavioral health conditions also puts millennials at greater risk of having chronic physical conditions as they age,” said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital BlueCross. “That can mean more cases of heart disease, high blood pressure or other conditions that can shorten their lives. One of the most effective things we can do during this pandemic is create a teachable moment for millennials to learn how to protect and maintain their mental and physical health.”

Educating millennials about how strongly their mental health connects to their overall health is a good place to start. So is teaching them how to best use their insurance coverage to address their behavioral health.

The latter is an ongoing effort at Capital BlueCross, which is concerned about a BCBSA survey finding that 62% of millennials said they only see their doctor when sick or in the midst of a medical emergency. Also worrisome: nearly half, 48%, said they would delay medical treatment due to cost.

Capital BlueCross tackles the issue not only through education—advising members on the most effective ways to use their healthcare coverage—but also through modernization that meets millennials’ needs. In a series of BCBSA-hosted listening sessions, millennials said they wanted the flexibility and convenience telehealth offers. Capital BlueCross heard them; it encourages use of its Virtual Care telehealth app, and visits to the app have soared 439% during COVID-19.

To help members access care, the health insurer temporarily waived member fees for Virtual Care visits for psychiatry, counseling visits and medical consultations.

For more information, visit www.CapitalBlueCross.com

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What Lies Ahead: Join the trek of a lifetime with “One Woman in the Himalayas”

December 30, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

Tracy Pawelski

“First you make a decision,” a friend once told Tracy Pawelski. “Then you make it the right decision.”

Tracy’s “One Woman in the Himalayas” chronicles that figurative journey by way of a real journey along Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit, a rugged trek leading through Hindu lowlands and Buddhist highlands. Tracy made the decision to hike Nepal, and even when the trek doesn’t go as planned, we meet her adapting and crafting a journey of discovery—discovery of a world of wondrous beauty and inner strengths.

Readers of Tracy’s “One Woman’s Camino” know she doesn’t shy from exploration. Adventure travel, she has learned over the years, transitions her from one phase of life to the next. She has explored Mayan ruins as a young woman between career moves. She found spiritual growth she didn’t know she was seeking on Spain’s El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Tracy, a Harrisburg area resident, has also braved the wilds of political and corporate America (and in case you ever need guidance on how a grocery chain responds when a black widow spider appears in a customer’s grapes—well, Tracy is your woman).

But the joy of Tracy’s journey is her willingness to peel away the veneer from the confidence that an American woman—careerist, wife, mother—must project in a world where the survivors are the winners. Did she make the right decision to fly to Nepal? It made sense at the time, and even as worries crept, she stayed true to her instinct. Was this the golden ticket to the mysteries of her soul? The opportunity presented itself, so she seized it.

Readers take a difficult journey with Tracy. Difficult physically. Difficult mentally. Trademark touches of humor help lighten the load. Women, she says, are “naturally gifted decision-makers,” tasked daily with mundane decisions on what to wear for the big pitch, how to get a healthy meal on the table, when to call mom. Most “are made in a split second. No second-guessing. No gnashing of teeth. Well, except for what to wear.”

Relatable moments such as these keep us trekking with Tracy. She gives us the Nepal of earthquakes and snow squalls and monsoons and political dysfunction. She also gives us the Nepal of hospitality and service and children whose smiles brighten the days. “Despite daunting odds and demoralizing conditions, the heart-warming, positive spirit of the Nepalese people is what you see first and what you remember last,” she writes.

Tracy shares snapshots of Nepali life. Schoolchildren climbing down from the roof of a bus, their uniforms immaculate. Hindu funeral pyres cremating the dead. Sipping a beer in a touristy watering hole called the Jesse James Bar. Waiting to catch a glimpse of the Kumari, or Living Goddess, a sequestered young girl chosen to imbue blessings and predictions—but only until she has her first period.

Leaving rigidity behind serves Tracy well. Her journey is beset with troubles. After one betrayal, she has to “swallow a heavy dollop of suspicion; it tastes like vinegar in my mouth.” Each setback presents a new decision point. She assesses her ability to endure, often thinking on her weary feet. Every time it seems she should turn back, she plunges forward. “I didn’t come all this way not to adapt to a new set of circumstances,” she says at one crossroads.

Amid wondrous waterfalls and spectacular mountain overlooks, the stoicism and humor she learns from a pair of British trekkers comes in handy. After spotting langur monkeys deep into one day’s trek, she asks her guide, Ram, how long until they reach the next village. The heart-sinking answer: Two more hours.

“While Ram doesn’t always give me the answer I am hoping for, he does his job so that I can do mine: pace myself and get my head in the right place so that I can mentally prepare for what lies ahead,” she writes.

Whether she is in corporate America or the mountains of Nepal, Tracy does her job. Reminding us that adventure often comes with a large dose of drudgery, she shares her mind trick for ascending mountains in the celestial altitudes, concentrating on nothing but the moment as she coaxes her body onward. “One foot. Next foot. Repeat.” She is rewarded by the panorama of the Himalayas from the top of the summit.

Tracy manages to find that no journey worth the having follows a straight line. When she finally hangs a string of Tibetan flags over a glacier to mark the journey’s end, she takes a moment to say a prayer of thanks. She remembers the Buddhist monk who blessed the flags and wonders “if he threw a few detours into my journey to test my resolve. If so, he certainly succeeded.”

Maybe it’s not blessings Tracy leaves Nepal with, but forgiveness—above all, self-forgiveness when things don’t go as planned. Learning how to live with your decisions, she realizes, is better than beating yourself up for mistakes. Maybe she wasn’t quite ready for this test, but that was OK.

“If you wait until you think you’re ready,” she says, “you may never act.”

For more information, visit www.tracypawelski.com.

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January Editor’s Note

December 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

About eight months ago, I wrote something that, upon reflection, seems pretty dumb.

With a sigh of relief, I congratulated readers on making it through April. It was a month of lockdown, and I thought that things soon would get better.

Silly me.

Well, as they say, hope springs eternal. So, with the calendar mercifully flipping to a new year, I’m about to express the same sentiment.

Congratulations, Harrisburg, for making it through 2020, however bruised and battered we may be. I feel confident that we’ll rebound strongly in 2021, though the road back may be a bumpy one.

Personally, I’m determined to take away a few lessons from our year of pandemic, which will serve as my New Year’s resolutions this year.

First, I hope to more fully appreciate the small things. Numerous people have said to me that they don’t really miss the “big” things, like taking a major vacation. But they most miss simpler things that they once took for granted—meeting up with friends, enjoying a restaurant or bar, going to the gym, seeing parents or grandparents, hanging out at a favorite spot. And, importantly, not needing to wear a mask to do these things.

Second, I would like to be less judgmental. This is a tough one for a news editor, since we’re supposed to have opinions about almost everything. Compared to other news outlets, TheBurg already emphasizes reporting and facts over opinion and commentary. So, I guess I have a running start on this one.

Third, I’d like to be more empathetic. This goes a step beyond my previous resolution, as it involves trying to put myself in another person’s place. Yes, I have a life story and hopes and goals, but so does everyone else. It’s sometimes tough not to behave like we’re the only person on the planet.

Fourth, I’d like to add more humor to my life. This past year has been so bleak.

So, those are four goals, which is enough for now, since they’re going to require plenty of work. The toughest part will be simply keeping them in mind because, as well intentioned as we may be, we often return quickly to our old behavior patterns. But maybe an entire year of pandemic will shake me of that.

I wish all our readers, advertisers and supporters a wonderful 2021. The past year has been challenging for everyone and, like you, we look forward to better times ahead. Joyous, joyous New Year!

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Happenings: Our January Calendar of Events

December 30, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Look . . . They Gave Me a Map,” an exhibit examining the enduring appeal of free road maps, through April 23

“Minibike Mania,” a display of more than two dozen miniature motorbikes, through April 23

“Yeah, It’s Got a Hemi!” an exhibit focused on Hemi engines, through April 23

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Observations & Experiences,” featuring the works of Peg Belcastro, Carden Holland, Maureen Joyce and Julie Riker, through Feb. 18

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“SEEN TOGETHER—Conflict and Resolution,” an exhibition of Walt Nichols’ smaller works that reveal persistent elements of imagination and composition in seemingly unrelated large compositions, Jan. 8-30

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

January artist: Karen Sykes

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“6th Annual Juried Exhibition,” held virtually with the opportunity to view outstanding art in person at the Veterans Memorial Building, New Bloomfield, and a chance to vote for the People’s Choice award winner, through Jan. 22

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Artisan Marketplace,” featuring original and unique local artwork and handcrafted gifts for holiday gift-giving, through Jan. 9

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

“The Modernists—Witnesses to the 20th Century,” featuring works by a variety of Modern artists from around the world, drawn from museum and private collections across the United States, through Jan. 17

“Sun + Light,” works from the series “Everyone Loves Sunshine” by visual artist Charles Edward Williams that juxtapose his past and present encounters with the 1960s Civil Rights movement, through Feb. 14

“Country Charm” examines artist Sanh Brian Tran’s experience as a queer Asian man living in rural America, through Feb. 21

“Once A Future Kingdom,” sculptured materials and imagined relics by Anthony Cervino, through March 14

“Project Pattern” multimedia display, through August

Read, Make, Learn

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Photography—Process, Share, Discuss on Zoom, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 9: Experimental Mixed Media 1-Day Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 12: The Joy of Making Paste Paper, 6-8 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Virtual Anime Club, 4 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Zoom Animal Crossing with The Library, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Virtual Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Create Lab, 4 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Young Adult Book Club, 4 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Preschool Storytime on Zoom, 10 a.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 4 p.m.
Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30: Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 3 p.m.
Jan. 11: Virtual Device Club, 1 p.m.
Jan. 12: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27: Knit One, Crochet Too! on Zoom, 6 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11: STEM Grab & Go Bag (ages 7-12), 9 a.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Teen Grab and Go Bag, 9 a.m.
Jan. 4, 18: Zoom—Fredricksen Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 5: Zoom—Curl up with the Classics on Zoom—“Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 6: Zoom—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 7, 21: Virtual Peaceful Poses Children’s Story Time, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 8: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2 p.m.
Jan. 9, 23: Easy Craft Grab and Go Bag (ages 4-7), 1 p.m.
Jan. 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: Zoom STEM Storytime, 10 a.m.
Jan. 20: Zoom—Write On, 7:30 p.m.

Greenwood Furnace State Park
15795 Greenwood Rd., Huntingdon
717-248-5019; jvymca.org

Jan. 16: Polar Plunge, 1 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Jan. 7: Morning Contemporary Book Group on Zoom, 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 9: Photoshop on Zoom, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 14: Evening Contemporary Book Group on Zoom, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Jan. 19: Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: Food Fight for Immune Health on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 21: Zoom Life Long Readers Book Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 23: Children’s Carry & Craft—Pom Pom Book Mark, 10-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 23: Teen/Adult Carry & Craft Felted Ball Coaster, 11-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 28: Zoom Between the Lines Book Group, 6:45-8 p.m.

Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

Jan 25: Fourth Monday Program: Historic Harrisburg’s 2021 Preservation Priorities, 6-7:30 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Rhyme Time on Zoom (18 months and younger), 10:15 a.m., 5:15 p.m.
Jan. 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Toddler Time on Zoom (18 months to 3 years), 6 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Story Time on Zoom, 1:30-2 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: English Conversation on Zoom,
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Family Story Time on Zoom, 6:45-7:15 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tea & Stitches on Zoom, 10 a.m.
Jan. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29: Zoom Story Time (ages 3-6), 10-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (meeting in person TBD)
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Zoom Toddler Time (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m., 6 p.m.
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29: Zoom Rhyme Time, 12-12:20 p.m.
Jan. 8, 22: Dungeons & Dragons on Zoom, 6-9 p.m.
Jan. 12: Tween Scene on Zoom—LEGO Challenge, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 16: Zoom Kindergarten Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 16: Zoom First Grade Club, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 18: Virtual Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 19: Zoom STEM Club, 6-6:45 p.m.
Jan. 23: Trivia at Home—Friends, 6-8 p.m.

The LBGT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Passageways Transgender & Non-Binary Group via Zoom, 2-4 p.m.

Leadership Harrisburg
3211 N. Front Street, Suite 105, Harrisburg
717.216.5200; leadershipharrisburg.org

Jan 29: Beyond Leadership Virtual Summit, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St, Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Online Science Fiction Book Club
Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Star Trek Rewatch online group
Jan. 18: Mystery Book Club, 6 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Jan. 30: Livestream with Michelle Duster and Keisha Blain, 2-3 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Jan. 1: First Day Bird Walk, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

Jan. 11: Palmyra Public Library Book Club, 6-8 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Jan 12: Virtual Winter Lecture Series—Mountain Laurel, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan 26: Virtual Winter Lecture Series—Brook Trout, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: Kids Discover—Owls (ages 4-6), 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 30: Kids Discover—Owls (ages 7-10), 1:30-3 p.m.

Live Music

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Jan. 16: York Symphony Orchestra livestream

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

Jan. 13: Violinist Juliette Kang and cellist Thomas Kraines

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Jan. 17: Reggie Harris virtual concert

The Stage Door

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; thehcpac.org

Jan. 14-17: “Fortress of Fandom”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Jan. 8-24: “Kafka’s Shorts” livestream

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The Lowly Lentil: Rosemary has soup to warm you up

December 30, 2020 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

My years growing up in an immigrant Italian family led to some culinary experiences that I considered “different”—different from those of my neighborhood and school friends, that is.

First of all, my dear sweet mother had an extraordinary affection for escarole, a lettuce-like bitter green. Once, she was stopped in the grocery store by a curious patron to ask if “all those greens were for her.” It seemed to me that my mother put escarole in everything: salads, soups and mixed with beans and olive oil as a side dish.

Then there was arugula. It couldn’t have been too easy to find back then, but we had it fairly often, much to my dismay. I kept thinking of skunks when I ate it (really). I love it now.

We also ate a lot of lentils, the lowly bean so popular in Italy. I don’t remember anyone I knew talking about eating lentils. I never saw it on a restaurant menu. The thing is—we didn’t have lamb shanks or duck breasts on a bed of lentils or a spicy lentil salad. We just had bowls of lentils, boiled and doused in olive oil with salt and pepper. That, along with a salad, was dinner, especially during Lent. Sometimes, my mother mixed in some cooked elbow macaroni, but it wasn’t a meal that I looked forward to. Italian peasant food for sure!

Lentils are very popular now. I see them paired with chicken, duck and lamb, and they star in many vegetarian main dishes. But on a cold, winter day, what is better than a bowl of hot lentil soup?

Almost every Italian cookbook I own has a recipe for lentil soup. Some recipes call for only a few basic ingredients. Some use ham and are cooked in the manner of Navy bean soup. The recipe that follows from the magazine, Taste of Italia, is one I like very much. It has a complexity of ingredients like tomatoes, prosciutto, sage, garlic and even rice that many other versions do not. I made it on a cold weeknight in December and just paired it with garlic bread and fruit—simple but perfect!

LENTIL AND RICE SOUP (Minestra di riso e lenticchie)

Ingredients

½ pound (1 generous cup) brown or green lentils
2½ quarts beef broth (I use reduced sodium College Inn beef broth.)
1 large bay leaf
¼ cup fruity extra virgin olive oil, plus more oil for serving
3 or 4 large garlic cloves, minced
¼ pound prosciutto, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried
1 cup peeled and seeded chopped canned tomatoes, plus 1 cup of their liquid (you can substitute 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes, if you prefer)
1 tablespoon tomato paste (try the type packed in a tube for less waste)
2 teaspoons sea salt (or less, as you prefer)
½ cup white rice
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Directions

Pick over the lentils and rinse well.
Place them in a large saucepan or soup pot along with the beef broth and bay leaf.
Bring the broth and lentils to a boil over medium heat. Immediately reduce the heat to medium low and simmer gently, uncovered, until they are half-cooked (about 12 minutes).
Meanwhile, in a cold skillet, combine the olive oil and garlic and place over medium-low heat.
Sauté this mixture until the oil begins to heat and the garlic begins to soften slightly (about 4 minutes).
Stir in the chopped prosciutto and sauté gently for another minute or two until the garlic is fully softened.
Add the sage, tomatoes and their liquid and the tomato paste and simmer for 5 minutes to blend all the flavors.
Transfer the tomato mixture to the pot with the lentils and bring to a boil.
Add the salt (to taste) and the rice.
Stir well and cook over medium heat, uncovered, until the rice and lentils are tender (about 15 minutes).
Season the soup with pepper and stir in the chopped parsley.
Ladle into warm soup bowls and drizzle extra olive oil on top, if desired.
Serve with salad or fresh fruit and nice crusty bread.

My lentil “research” revealed that, in Umbria, the central rural area of Italy, lentils are most often paired with rice rather than macaroni (like my mother did). So, you could try that version, too.

This flavorful soup is certainly a step up from my mother’s plainly cooked lentils. But I know she would approve.

Cooking Note: It is very important not to omit the intermediate step of sautéing the tomatoes, garlic and prosciutto. This step will meld the flavors in the finished soup.

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Careful Planning: Common mistakes related to long-term care

December 30, 2020 | by Dave Nesbit

Securing long-term care for a loved one can be a complicated process that involves legal, financial and social factors, in addition to physical care needs.

Below are some easy-to-make mistakes that can have undesirable consequences for the individual receiving care, as well as for the family.

Powers-of-attorney. It’s a big mistake if an individual fails to execute these documents. Especially for legal and financial matters, huge headaches can result if a person becomes incapable of handling their own affairs and they have accounts, property and other assets only in their own name. It can also be a mistake to cut corners with a do-it-yourself legal document. Having a legal piece of paper might be better than nothing, but using it inappropriately could create a new set of problems.
Have you been designated as a Financial Power-of-Attorney Agent? When signing anything on behalf of another individual, always sign your own name, followed by “P.O.A.” If you sign your own name as a responsible party to a contract without the “P.O.A.,” you could be on the hook financially.
Is a loved one receiving VA benefits? For certain benefits, an individual’s assets are taken into consideration during the application process. An application can take months, sometimes even a year or more to receive approval. If the veteran or surviving spouse owns a house at the time of application and the family needs to sell the house while the VA applicant is living, the proceeds of the sale will cause the VA benefit to stop. Consult an attorney before planning to sell a home or property.
Does your loved one need rehabilitation after a hospitalization? Realize that being admitted for a minimum of three nights in a hospital is key to getting Medicare to pay for rehab for a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 100 days. Carefully consider their potential ability to safely return home after the rehabilitation. Some short-term rehab facilities are not set up to accept Medical Assistance when Medicare stops, and this can be a real problem if your loved one cannot be safely discharged to return home. The adjustment to staying in a nursing home long-term will be much easier if the individual is able to stay in the same facility after the rehabilitation period has ended. Keep in mind the possibility of whether or not Medical Assistance could be available to pay for long-term care services when choosing a rehab facility.
The nursing home application process. A standard question on nursing home applications is whether or not the potential resident has given gifts in the five years prior to the admission to the facility. Many applicants may check “no” without an understanding of what constitutes a gift. This answer can create financial complications if the individual eventually runs out of funds and applies for Medical Assistance. A gift is any asset that is given away or transferred for less than fair market value. Specifically, a single gift or sum of multiple gifts that totals more than $500 in a single month is important to disclose. Examples of gifts are checks written at the holidays, college tuition paid on behalf of a grandchild, household expenses paid for a residence that isn’t their own (including if a parent is living in a child’s home so that the child can provide care), and a car given away or sold for less than market value. When these gifts are disclosed during the application process, planning can be done to avoid financial liability later on.
Personal Liability. If a nursing home tells you, the adult child, that they will do the Medical Assistance application for you and that you don’t need a lawyer’s help, ask if they will promise not to make a claim against you personally if your parent’s application is denied.

These are only a few situations in which uninformed families can find themselves in trouble, even when they have the best of intentions. When in doubt, consult an attorney who has knowledge of all of the issues that older adults may face, since rules can vary or overlap in a variety of ways, and the future is always uncertain.

Dave Nesbit is a principal with Keystone Elder Law P.C., based in Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.keystoneelderlaw.com.

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January News Digest

December 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Approves 2021 Budget

Harrisburg approved a 2021 budget last month, but not before making amendments to Police Bureau spending and personnel.

During a virtual legislative session, City Council unanimously approved a $136.5 million budget, which does not include a property tax hike.

The aggregate budget includes a $79.2 million general fund, a $17.9 million neighborhood services fund, a $15.3 million capital projects fund and a $12.5 million debt service fund.

The budget utilizes about $15 million of the city’s large reserve fund balance, which will draw down that account to $10.2 million by the end of 2021. The money will be used to add a number of positions and to pay down debt.

Included in the budget is funding for seven new civilian positions within the community services division. These community service aides will assist police officers with “quality of life” issues and work to improve relations with the community, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Originally, 12 aides were proposed, but after receiving comments from residents concerned about the positions, council decided to give the program a trial run for 2021 and, therefore, reduced the number of positions.

In public comments, some residents stated that they didn’t want to see extra funding go towards the bureau at all, saying that’s not what the city needs.

“There are so many pressing needs in Harrisburg right now,” one resident said. “More policing funding does not provide houses, food, education, medicine or security. More cops and more money for cops does not make communities safer.”

An additional amendment was passed 4-2 to remove the community policing coordinator position from the budget. Blake Lynch has held this job, but he’s due to be promoted to director of community relations and engagement. Council member Westburn Majors said that he believes the community service aides can take on the responsibilities of the coordinator position.

“To me, that could be seven heads being able to do a job that we had one individual doing,” he said.

Harrisburg to Collect Trash for Boroughs

Harrisburg’s neighboring municipalities will soon see new faces on trash pickup day.

Harrisburg City Council last month approved two resolutions to begin collecting trash and recycling for Paxtang and Penbrook boroughs on Jan. 1.

In total, the city now has intergovernmental agreements with three nearby boroughs for waste pickup. In mid-2019, Harrisburg began handling Steelton’s refuse.

“I really believe that this regional approach to the delivery of services is particularly well suited for Pennsylvania, where we have so many different municipalities in close proximity,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “We don’t all need to be duplicating services.”

Over the next five years, the city expects to gain over $2 million in annual revenue from the agreements.

An additional six sanitation workers and one sanitation manager will join the city’s Department of Public Works to assist with the new routes.

“I totally agree with the vision of shared services within municipalities as a benefit to the entire region,” council member Dave Madsen said.

In other action last month, council voted to continue a professional services contract with Harrisburg-based Maverick Strategies for lobbying-related services. The resolution passed with a 4-3 vote. The contract will last one year at a cost of $5,000 per month.

Additionally, council voted to apply for a Driving PA Forward—Level 2 EV Charging Rebate. If granted, the amount of $36,000 would go towards installing four electric vehicle charging stations on City Island.

Council also chose to continue an agreement with the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area to provide services to Harrisburg’s Animal Control Program for another year.

Condo Building Proposed

New condominiums may be headed for Midtown, as a Harrisburg-area developer is proposing over a dozen market-rate units in the former Salvation Army building.

Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners has plans to construct 16 efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom condo units in the mid-century brick building located at Cumberland and Green streets, said Jonathan Bowser, a managing partner. The building would be renamed “The Lofts” due to the high ceilings in several of the units, he said.

“It’s a nice building in a nice, historic neighborhood,” Bowser said. “For us, it’s critically important to keep the character of the building, which maintains the character of the neighborhood.”

The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region left its long-time home in late 2019 after moving into a new, larger facility on S. 29th Street. The 18,500-square-foot building has been on the market for many years and includes a small parking lot on Penn Street and a second, larger parking lot on Green Street.

Last March, another developer, Michael Lam, proposed a 25-unit apartment building for the space, but he bowed out as the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Bowser, a former chair of the Broad Street Market board, said that his company pursued the building after Lam dropped out.

“There’s the new courthouse and other plans that I believe are boosting the demand—the need—for housing,” he said. “So, we decided to look into that opportunity.”

In addition, the market for housing in Midtown has improved immensely for both rentals and sales, driven in part by the relocation of people to Harrisburg from larger cities, Bowser said.

Right now, the plan, Bowser said, is to build for-sale, market-rate condo units, ranging in size from about 650 square feet to about 1,200 square feet. However, that plan is fluid and could change if the company deemed rental apartments to be a better option, he said.

“There isn’t enough condo product in the walkable downtown or Midtown,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of vacancies there.”

He declined to provide a potential range of sales prices.

The project includes 32 parking spaces on Green Street. A brick building on that lot probably will be converted to storage units or maybe a gym for residents, Bowser said.

He hopes to begin construction in the summertime for completion in early 2022. His company has a contract on the building pending site plan approval from the city.

Harrisburg Buys Former Bank Building

Harrisburg has plans in 2021 to move its engineering and traffic departments to a former bank building on N. 7th Street.

City Council last month approved the reallocation of 2020 funds to purchase the M&T building for $375,000.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that the city received a significant discount as the building was appraised at $675,000.

According to Papenfuse, the purchase was necessary because some of the city’s public works facility will be lost to eminent domain as part of PennDOT’s I-83 expansion project. The city’s traffic department, which is housed in the building, will need to move.

In addition, the engineering department will move out of the public safety building downtown, freeing up space for the new community policing team to have its main base there.

Renovations and remodels of the building are part of the city’s 2021 budget. Papenfuse said that it would likely cost around $192,000 for demolition, renovations, HVAC replacement and security additions, among other items.

The annual cost of utilities and maintenance for the building would be around $60,200, he estimated.

“This is the first new real estate acquisition for the City of Harrisburg, I guess, since the public works facility,” he said.

Utility Bills to Increase in 2021

Utility bills in Harrisburg will be somewhat higher next year, as Capital Region Water has approved rate increases for both drinking water and wastewater.

Late last year, the CRW board approved both the 2021 budget and the new rates.

The board voted to raise the drinking water rate by 2% from $9.84 to $10.04 per 1,000 gallons, with a “ready to serve” charge of $7.93 for a standard residential customer.

The wastewater rate will increase by 3% for 2021 from the current $7.99 per 1,000 gallons to $8.23 per 1,000 gallons.

Under the new rate structure, the average Harrisburg customer consuming 45,000 gallons of water annually will pay about $1.80 per month more for water and wastewater services, according to CRW.

The new stormwater fee, which began in October, is unchanged at $6.15 per month for most residential customers.

Home Sales, Prices Up

Home sales and prices were up in the Harrisburg area in November, continuing a months-long trend.

For the month, 728 houses sold compared to 581 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price jumped to $215,000 from $180,000 for the three-county region, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, GHAR reported that 353 housing units sold in November versus 280 the year before, while the median price increased to $185,750 compared to $162,000.

In Cumberland County, sales rose to 327 homes from 244 a year ago, with the median price rising to $238,000 versus $195,500 in November 2019, GHAR stated.

Perry County saw a one-unit increase to 36 houses sold in November, though the median sales price dipped to $165,000 from $185,000 a year earlier.

Houses were also selling much faster this year, as GHAR reported that the average “days on market” fell to 26 days compared to 46 days in November 2019.

Home sales and prices in the Harrisburg area have been strong all year long, especially since pandemic-related restrictions were lifted on the industry in May.

So Noted

Amy Rote was named last month as the new president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, which serves five counties in south-central PA. She started with the organization in 2013 as vice president of programs and most recently served as interim president and CEO.

David Black plans to retire later this year from his longtime position as president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Black has served in the post for 20 years and expects to officially retire in mid-2021. A search firm has been hired to help identify Black’s successor.

Dauphin County will keep taxes steady this year, as last month it approved a $187.7 million budget for 2021. The county commissioners kept taxes unchanged for a 16th straight year, despite increased expenses wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and the election.

Harrisburg University Presents last month announced a three-day blitz of concerts in the city. Cage the Elephant will appear in Riverfront Park on Sept. 23, followed by Dawes at XL Live on Sept. 24 and Portugal. The Man on Sept. 25. HU Presents also has rescheduled many concerts for 2021 that were cancelled in 2020.

James Thompson last month was named the new president of the Harrisburg School District board of directors for the coming year. In addition, Steven Williams was voted in as the new vice president of the board.

Steven Rowley last month was named the new chief executive officer of Vista Autism Services, which provides autism services to children and adults in central PA. Most recently, Rowley managed his own consulting firm, Advokat Services, helping educational companies with strategic planning and executive development.

Summit Trail Advisors last month cut the ribbon on new office space in downtown Harrisburg at 108 Locust St. Nationally, the wealth management company has client assets of $10 billion, and its Harrisburg office manages over $1 billion in client assets, according to the firm.

Ward of Health, a vegan food stand, opened recently in the Broad Street Market’s stone building. Owner Craig Ward offers his own, vegan spin on many dishes, including mac and cheese, tacos and a “crab cake” sandwich.

Zen Leaf opened its doors for business last month, the second medical marijuana dispensary in the city of Harrisburg. The store is located at 137 S. 17th St. in the city’s Allison Hill neighborhood.

Changing Hands

Agate St., 2503 & 2510: T. Brown to Boy on Boyd LLC, $45,000

Agate St., 2719: D. Miller to DJam Property LLC, $830,000

Allison St., 1507: M. Fukac et al to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $42,000

Bellevue Rd., 2201: J. & B. McCoy to A. & K. Clark, $325,000

Boas St., 1923: CR Property Group LLC & R. Sykes to B. Patel, $109,995

Chestnut St., 2040: C. McCann to M. Cedeno, $86,100

Crescent St., 223: S. Gutshall to Bachaouch Properties LLC, $50,000

Croyden Rd., 2826: J. McErlean to W. & E. Daughtry, $110,000

Derry St., 2103: BSR Rental Trust to H. Qasim, $51,000

Derry St., 2426: P. & C. Ambrose to PA Prosper & Grow LLC, $68,136

Division St., 535: A. Eckert to F. Travers & E. Brown, $170,000

Dunkle St., 542: C. Hood to A. Linan, $39,000

Emerald St., 223: M. Horgan to A. Finley & D. Rhodes, $143,000

Evergreen St., 311, 313, 315, 317 & 319 and 1248 & 1250 Reese St.: RC Realty Holdings LLC to NA Capital Group LLC, $115,000

Green St., 1325: K. O’Donnell to S. & E. Rairigh, $134,000

Green St., 1421: Real Life Ministries International Inc. to J. Davis, $32,000

Green St., 1515: J. Barton to B. Brown, $191,000

Green St., 2122: Tassia Corp. to KMM Development LLC, $82,000

Green St., 2134: V. Rivas to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $40,000

Green St., 2230: A. Manderino to SPG Capital LLC, $59,000

Hanna St., 110: M. Knouse to S. Blades & N. Brody, $195,000

Herr St., 263: Summerhill Partners LP to F. Branch, $205,900

Herr St., 271: M. Fagan to C. Solimine & P. Frownfelter, $177,500

Herr St., 1509: D. Boyle to J. & B. Dilone, $38,000

Herr St., 1727: Mango Properties LLC to Gold Key Properties LLC, $50,000

Logan St., 1712: T. & V. Williams to H. Hawbaker, $134,500

Logan St., 2157 & 2222: B. & K. Saltzgiver to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $75,000

Market St., 2105: E. Ruggieri to H. Pacheco, $195,000

Muench St., 203: J. & T. Moffitt to D. Harmon, $90,000

Muench St., 430: W. Teats to Your New Home Rental LLC, $54,000

North St., 1942: W. Johnson to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $50,000

N. 2nd St., 717: BCRA Realty to Scarn LLC, $220,000

N. 2nd St., 932: P. Keelen to C. DeRosier, $85,000

N. 2nd St., 1400: C. Utley to J. Charles Realty LLC, $330,000

N. 2nd St., 1603: A. Meyers & J. Dunn to S. Barr, $239,900

N. 2nd St., 1609: S. Barr to R. Solano, $214,000

N. 2nd St., 1913: Lansanah Home Services Group to H. Smull & B. Holmes, $200,000

N. 2nd St., 2428: D. & S. Zewe to A. & M. Moosa, $323,000

N. 3rd St., 1719: J. & J. McElhoe to B. & K. Shank, $164,900

N. 3rd St., 2534: Skynet 2534 LP to 2534 PNR Properties LLC, $140,000

N. 3rd St., 2626: 2626 North LP to Prompt 2626 LLC, $2,904,337

N. 4th St., 19½: J. & S. Rogers to Akshay Properties LLC, $375,000

N. 4th St., 1705: D. Witmer to SPG Capital LLC, $85,000

N. 4th St., 2427: B. Jones Sr. to N. Hamilton & L. Brown, $86,000

N. 5th St., 1940: Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance Inc. to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $72,300

N. 5th St., 2030 & 2032: I. Druker to South Lake LLC, $50,000

N. 5th St., 2507: CR Property Group LLC to M. Hall, $110,000

N. 5th St., 2714: S. Elliott to J. Todd, $64,900

N. 6th St., 2225: Gilligan Realty LLC to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $40,001

N. 6th St., 3152: J. Boynes to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $50,500

N. 17th St., 53: S. Kum to A. Shabalah, $150,000

N. 18th St., 713: MJE Properties LLC to SSoluciones LLC, $37,500

N. 18th St., 802: A. Butts to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $42,700

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 204: E. Reynolds to L. & R. Luftig, $212,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 401: P. & E. Showalter to A. Witte, $170,000

Park St., 1730 & 2552 Lexington St.: V. Rivas to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $40,000

Paxton St., 1924 & 1915 Lenox St.: S. Fisher Jr. & Steve Fisher Rental Properties LLC to Shawn Hall CRE LLC, $550,000

Penn St., 1607: M. Dell to Z. Bouanane, $176,000

Race St., 546: L. Fisher to B. Rickert, $125,000

Randolph St., 1420 & 906 S. 15th St.: A. Biegler & J. Tomlinson to J. Fernandez, $131,000

Reily St., 109: C. Love & S. Kehler to K. Bardon & E. Cameron, $205,000

Reily St., 224: PI Capitol LLC to SJL Rentals LLC, $128,000

Rolleston St., 1016: N. Barger to A. Diggs, $106,000

Rolleston St., 1249: CR Property Group LLC to Paul Winka Trust, $385,000

Schuykill St., 656: A. McDonald to F. Russ, $73,900

South St., 103: C. Longyear to J. Machek, $89,000

S. 13th St., 433: Master Ventures LLC to A. Gil, $45,000

S. 14th St., 234 & 236: A. Wardhana & L. Winami to J. Gritten, $53,000

S. 16th St., 409, 411 & 413: Jackson Investment Properties LLC to G. & M. Landis, $112,800

S. 17th St., 14: CR Property Group LLC to L. & S. Swan Trust, $100,000

S. 19th St., 1133: N. Colon & R. Romero to F. & M. Carvajel, $135,000

S. 19th St., 1205: T. Sanchez to N. Mitchell, $130,000

S. 24th St., 702: N. Kehler to Property Value Solutions LLC, $50,200

S. Front St., 801: M. Boyer to J. Blackburn, $165,000

Susquehanna St., 2150: M. Barrette to SPG Capital LLC, $49,900

Swatara St., 2027: R. Miller to M. Temba and C. & J. Liu, $71,000

Verbeke St., 116: W. Macavoy to T. Cotton, $129,500

Waldo St., 2640: A. Owens to P. Baquero, $49,900

Walnut St., 1244: LAGR Properties LLC to Shutter Real Estate LLC, $33,000

Walnut St., 1808: I. Druker to Aumiller Enterprises Inc., $40,000

Whitehall St., 2043: D. Taylor to O. Cotto, $80,000

Harrisburg property sales for November 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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