Family Built: Excel Remodeling spans 50 years, three generations.

March 31, 2020 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Business is more than just business at Excel Remodeling in Lemoyne. For president and owner Jim Mirando Jr, it’s a strong family legacy of craftsmanship and care now its 50th year.

Mirando, of Silver Spring Township, is the second generation of his family leading the enterprise that was founded by his father in 1970.

“It’s a real community atmosphere here,” he said. “Most of our staff has been with us for over 10 years. We have wonderful clients who’ve been with us years. It’s a lot about relationships. We’re a small business, and we work hard to do a good job.”

The business is based in a 6,000-square-foot showroom where customers are welcome to browse through a large display of cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, tiles, interior and exterior finishes, wallpaper, floor coverings and whatever else is needed for their homes. Aided by a staff of 12, Excel specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodels and home additions.

Jim Mirando Sr. started Excel with two partners and an initial focus of land development and home building. By the late 1970s, the company had transitioned to home remodeling. Mirando’s business partners had pulled out by then, leaving Jim Sr. as sole proprietor.

As it so happened, Jim Sr. wasn’t alone in business for long. Son Jim Jr. started in the early 1980s, learning the ropes while in high school. After college, he initially pursued a career outside of the family business but decided to return a few years later. He started out as a designer, working his way up to company president in 1989. Jim Sr. subsequently retired in the early 1990s.

Jim Jr. said he’s seen a few changes in the way business is done over the past few decades.

“It’s always changing, from styles to technology to tools,” he said.

When Jim Jr. began, cell phones weren’t yet in common usage, and blueprints still were drawn by hand. Clients today tend to be “more educated and informed” than in the past due to sources like the internet and the HGTV network.

Daughter Alicia Goyette represents the family’s third generation.

“I grew up around all this,” she said. “My dad guided me through the business. It was a cool experience learning the ropes from him.”

Goyette initially pursued a college major in accounting and business but eventually felt “ready for a change,” she said. She came to Excel two years ago. Today, she is a company designer and mostly works with clients on kitchen and bath designs.

“It’s really fun to work with clients and see it all come together as a finished product,” she said. “I like coming up with a new design that maybe they didn’t think of.”

Mike Wilson, chief marketing officer for Members 1st Credit Union, ranks as a satisfied Excel customer.

The company recently completed a “very large project” that involved building a 500-square-foot addition over the garage of his Conewago Township home. The project renovated an upstairs bathroom and extended the master bedroom into a sprawling suite with custom-made closets, a beverage station and a sitting area.

Wilson said that Excel stands out from other building contractors by offering customers a “true customization” of design.

“We were looking at how to creatively maximize the space that we had,” he said. “I would highly consider using Excel again for another project.”

Excel Remodeling is located at 570 S. 3rd St., Lemoyne. For information, call 717-774-4990 or visit www.excelremodeling.com.

March News Digest

March 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Coronavirus Pandemic Forces Shutdowns

Harrisburg last month issued an emergency declaration and shut down city government buildings to the public until further notice.

With the declaration, all official city buildings closed to the public, including the MLK Jr. Government Center, the Public Works building and the Reservoir Park Mansion.

Despite the shutdown, the city continues to provide all essential functions and services, according to Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

“We are all in this together,” Papenfuse said. “I encourage the community to adhere to Gov. [Tom] Wolf’s directives and use precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”

Most city workers continued to work, some remotely, Papenfuse said. The public should use the drop box at the rear of the building to pay bills, submit forms and drop off other items, he said.

For inquiries, residents are encouraged to fill out the city’s online support form at www.harrisburg.gov/support, email [email protected] or call the city’s 311 help desk, which will continue to operate.

Likewise, Dauphin County declared a disaster emergency and closed county government offices to the public until further notice. All events and activities at county facilities also were cancelled.

County residents who want to pay a tax bill or drop off a voter registration form or absentee/mail-in ballot can deposit items in a locked box near the entrance of the Dauphin County Administration Building on 2nd Street in Harrisburg. The Dauphin County Courthouse also will have a secure box near the entrance on Market Street where documents can be dropped off.

Last month, Wolf allowed most state workers to work remotely, and most private businesses were ordered to close their physical locations. He also closed public schools.

Wolf also ordered all “non-essential stores” to be closed throughout the commonwealth, though dine-in restaurants can continue to sell through delivery and takeout. Essential businesses to remain open include grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies. All Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores also closed until further notice.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents, especially the elderly and most vulnerable,” Papenfuse said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during this disaster emergency.”

Council Overturns Veto

Harrisburg City Council overrode a mayoral veto last month, though the two branches of government agreed to work towards a policy that could give the city more leverage over future development projects.

By a 5-2 vote, council rejected the action by Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who had vetoed a resolution that would vacate several “paper” streets on a parcel of land where the new federal courthouse now is rising.

Papenfuse said that he vetoed the resolution to make a point. He wants council members to create a policy that would require developers to conduct a “public benefit analysis” when requesting street vacations.

Such a policy, he said, would give the city leverage as developers continue to plan projects in Harrisburg. In exchange for the street vacation, the city could ask for certain benefits, such as offsetting city-borne costs, making streetscape improvements, utilizing local labor or including affordable housing.

“It could help us with affordable housing policy in the city,” he said.

In February, council approved a resolution that would vacate “various unnamed paper streets” on the 4.2-acre site at N. 6th and Reily streets, where the federal government is building a 243,000-square-foot courthouse. Papenfuse then vetoed that resolution.

Usually, paper streets are narrow “baker’s” or “grocer’s” alleys that offer rear access to row houses. On the courthouse site, neither the houses nor the alleys exist any longer, but the public rights of way remain on paper.

Papenfuse told council that, currently, the city holds little leverage over a developer outside of the normal planning and zoning process. Requiring an analysis for street vacations would give the city a tool to extract “public benefit” concessions for large projects, he said.

“It would be a power vested in City Council that is not granted through the land development process,” he said.

Before casting her override vote, council President Wanda Williams criticized Papenfuse’s housing strategy, saying that he has supported past development proposals in the city that didn’t include an affordable housing element. Despite the criticism, Williams said that she would be interested in discussing a street vacation policy.

“I think we should work on this quickly,” agreed council member Dave Madsen, one of two votes, along with council member Westburn Majors, to uphold the veto.

Papenfuse admitted that his veto was unlikely to impact the federal courthouse project, which is slated for completion in spring 2022. But he said that he wanted to make a point that council should pass a street vacation policy.

“These are public streets,” he said. “Potentially, there are things that could be received in exchange, which goes well beyond the courthouse.”

Also last month, City Council:

- - - Voted 6-1 to approve an agreement transferring the Strawberry Square Arcade to the Strawberry Square Condominium Association, with Williams voting no.
    - By a 5-2 vote, approved a resolution to hire Harrisburg-based Maverick Strategies to continue to provide consulting and lobbying for the city. The agreement for the $5,000 monthly retainer expires on Dec. 31.
    - Unanimously passed a resolution hiring Ecological Solutions to provide lake management services for Italian Lake at a cost of $9,125.
    - Unanimously passed a resolution backing state legislation that would allow Pennsylvania residents, regardless of immigration status, access to a valid driver’s license.

City Starts Facebook Live Events

Harrisburg last month held its first Facebook Live event, focused on the COVID-19 outbreak and what it means for city residents.

With city hall shut down to visitors, Mayor Eric Papenfuse used the platform, with a broadcast on WHBG-TV Channel 20, to address residents’ concerns and answer questions about everything from emergency services to the local economy.

“Although we are facing an international health crisis, Harrisburg is a resilient city, and we have survived crises before,” said Papenfuse, joined by police Commissioner Thomas Carter and Fire Chief Brian Enterline. “We’ve made it through the TMI disaster, we’ve made it through Agnes, and we train and prepare for disasters on a regular basis.”

During the event, Papenfuse took time to explain updates in the city regarding recent orders from Gov. Tom Wolf. He commended Wolf for taking preventative action to mandate the closure of non life-sustaining businesses.

The panel highlighted services available in the city, including the school district’s feeding program and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s efforts. Papenfuse said that, at the same locations as the student meal pick-ups, any resident in need of food can partake.

While Carter acknowledged many homeless shelters are filled to capacity, he assured many, such as Bethesda Mission, are still giving out food. He also mentioned that residents who are undocumented immigrants should not fear asking the city for help.

“We will be providing emergency services regardless of national origin or citizenship,” Papenfuse said. “You won’t be asked, you’ll be helped.”

While the city is working to help residents, officials acknowledged that response times to calls for the police may be slower with shifting priorities during this time.

“We do have new priorities and calls related to health concerns regarding the virus have to take priority over others,” Papenfuse said.

With businesses shutting down, he ensured residents that they will not be penalized for late trash service payments, rent payments or other city taxes.

“We are all in this together, and we can weather the storm,” he said.

“Community Conversations with Mayor Papenfuse” are slated to continue each Friday at noon as a forum for information and discussion during the pandemic.

Revised Design Approved

The city got its first look last month at a new design for a planned academic building for downtown Harrisburg.

At a special meeting of the city Planning Commission, Harrisburg University presented its plan for an 11-story building at the corner of Chestnut and S. 3rd streets.

“The revised design is very similar to what was approved,” said David Alessi, senior associate at Stantec, the project’s architectural and engineering company.

Last year, the commission approved plans for a 17-story building and a 10-story hotel. However, HU’s hotel partner, Harrisburg-based HHM, was unable to secure financing for that portion of the project, said HU President Eric Darr.

“We worked with multiple finance partners, but we couldn’t wait any longer,” Darr told commission members.

The problem, he said, was comparative. He said that a project analysis showed that the hotel would be profitable. Nonetheless, potential financiers felt that they could get an even better return by committing their money to projects in other cities, he said.

With the loss of the hotel, HU cut the project’s size by about one-third, proceeding solely with an educational building. The $100-million, 260,000-square-foot facility will house HU’s health sciences programs, simulation labs and other academic programs.

Planning Commission members seemed satisfied with the design, complimenting HU for adding brick to the façade and for aligning the design with HU’s current building on Market Street.

“I like how it blends in with HU’s tower,” said commissioner Zac Monnier.

The new design also eliminates a planned curb cut along Chestnut Street.

Following HU’s presentation, the commission unanimously approved the new development plan, which now must be approved by City Council.

HU has already cleared the site at S. 3rd and Chestnut streets, but hasn’t yet started to build the structure. Assuming the revised development plan passes council, HU expects the building to begin to take shape this summer and be completed in late 2021.

Apartment Project Proposed

A New York-based developer with strong ties to Harrisburg proposed last month to convert the former Salvation Army Harrisburg headquarters to a new apartment building.

Michael Lam lives in Queens, N.Y., but owns more than a dozen properties in Harrisburg, mostly small buildings with commercial space on the ground floor and apartments upstairs.

His latest proposal would be his largest project, a 25-unit apartment building at Green and Cumberland streets in Midtown.

“The units aren’t huge, but they’ll be very done very nicely,” he told TheBurg. “I’m going to bring a lot of New York style to it. They’ll be very trendy, very nice.”

Lam envisions a series of duplex-style one- and two-bedroom apartments, with parking included.

Several years ago, the Salvation Army Harrisburg put its long-time home on the market after it made a decision to relocate to the 500-block of S. 29th Street, near the city line. It made that move last year.

The organization has been asking $560,000 for the 18,500-square-foot building, which was constructed in 1954, plus another $330,000 for the 34-space accessory parking lot across the street. A second, smaller lot off of Penn Street has another eight parking spaces.

Before he can complete the purchase, Lam needs his project to be approved by the city. He made his first presentation last month to the city Planning Commission.

Harrisburg Mayor, ICA Clash

Harrisburg has filed a lawsuit against its state financial oversight board to force the board to fully include Harrisburg’s representative.

In February, the city filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court claiming that the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) has systematically excluded Bruce Weber from participating in executive sessions and other ICA business.

Weber, Harrisburg’s budget and finance director, is the city’s non-voting representative on the seven-member board.

Following the meeting, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that Weber has been routinely excluded from executive sessions and other ICA matters.

“He has every right to participate in the deliberations of the ICA,” Papenfuse said, following the meeting. “They have refused that from the very beginning.”

The ICA and Harrisburg last year passed a draft five-year financial recovery plan for the city, designed to allow the city to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed cities. They’re now in the process of making updates to it.

“The ICA expresses disappointment over the current litigation initiated by the mayor,” said ICA Chair Audry Carter, in a statement. “The lawsuit is a needless distraction from the important work of removing Harrisburg from Act 47.”

February Home Sales Rise

Housing data continued to be strong in the Harrisburg area, with sales and prices both up in February.

For the three-county region, sales increased to 487 housing units, compared to 441 in February 2019 and 388 in February 2018, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The median sales price was $180,000 versus $168,000 in the year-ago period and $157,000 in February 2018, GHAR said.

In Dauphin County, 250 housing units sold in February, compared to 235 last year, while the median price rose to $164,900 versus $150,000 in February 2019, according to GHAR.

In Cumberland County, 214 homes sold compared to 191 a year ago, while the median sales price increased to $213,000 from $195,000 in February 2019. Perry County also showed a sales increase, to 23 units versus 15 last year, though the median price fell to $163,000 from $210,000 in February 2019, GHAR said.

Over the past year, both housing sales and prices have generally trended up in the Harrisburg area, according to GHAR.

So Noted

Capital Region Water last month suspended street sweeping and hydrant flushing until further notice due to the health crisis. Likewise, the city and parking operator SP+ suspended parking enforcement for street sweeping. CRW also asked customers to conduct business with them remotely—by phone, mail, email or online.

Harrisburg University has launched a new “User Experience Center,” which tests products for user friendliness. Student interns test clients’ video games, websites, education software and other products. HU plans soon to move the center into its own storefront space on the first block of S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg.

Kesher Israel has purchased the former Riverside United Methodist Church in Uptown Harrisburg. Following building renovations, the orthodox Jewish congregation plans to move there from its current synagogue on the 2500-block of N. 3rd Street.

Sandwiches by Shakedown has opened in the stone building of the Broad Street Market. Chris and Sarah Heilig, former owners of Shakedown BBQ in Grantville, offer a selection of signature sandwiches and salads from the stand that formerly housed Mel’s BBQ.

TheBurg captured five awards in the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Foundation’s annual Advertising Awards contest. TheBurg won two first-place awards, one for “best single ad” and another for “best real estate ad,” one second-place award and two honorable mentions. It was the first time that TheBurg participated in this statewide competition.

Zeroday Brewing Co. is in expansion mode, with plans to open a brewery/restaurant this summer on the 900-block of N. 3rd St. The Harrisburg-based brewer also is building out a bar and tap room inside Midtown Cinema as part of the cinema’s renovations and will convert its current taproom to production-only space. Longer term, Zeroday plans to partner with Chris and Sarah Heilig of Shakedown BBQ and Sandwiches by Shakedown to open a restaurant next year at Susquehanna Union Green in Susquehanna Township.

In Memoriam

Vera Cornish, publisher of The Urban Connection of the Capital Region, died in late February. Cornish had a long and distinguished career as an activist, speaker, teacher, consultant and author. Besides serving as a newspaper publisher, she was the founder of the Women of Heritage Breakfast, founder and producer of the Access & Opportunity Breakfast Series and founder and producer of the Access & Opportunity Career Fair. She ran her own company, Cornish & Associates, was the first director of institutional diversity for HACC, and served on many boards and committees. In the course of her career, she received numerous honors and awards and, in 2018, published a book entitled, “Dare to Dream.” Memorial contributions should be made to the Vera Cornish Dare To Dream Fund at The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, 200 N. 3rd St., 8th floor, Harrisburg PA 17101. This fund supports women’s empowerment, financial literacy and social entrepreneurship, with a focus on communities of color.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 1962: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $30,200

Bellevue Rd., 2042: D. Miller & M. Heagy to D. Young, $105,000

Berryhill St., 2144: M. Wilson Jr. to H. Alcantara, $38,200

Berryhill St., 2160: M. Pavelko to J. Ranck, $51,000

Berryhill St., 2254: T. Planasky to G. Singh & H. Kaur, $44,500

Berryhill St., 2314: A. & J. Budzinski to D. Smith, $65,000

Boas St., 433: R. Spencer to P. Brynildsen & S. Imbesi, $149,900

Boas St., 1925: Resistance Properties LLC to W. & J. Flannery, $40,000

Briggs St., 253: M. Patel to 253 Briggs St., LLC, $95,000

Chestnut St., 2208: J. Spangler to D. Wolfe, $222,000

Chestnut St., 2403: L. & M. Walton to C. Colon, $205,000

Crescent St., 249: PD Estate Properties LLC to A. & P. Woodman, $45,000

Crescent St., 350: D. & S. Zimmerman to Element Properties LLC, $48,000

Derry St., 2138: Santander Bank NA to Zeta Theta Lambda Foundation Inc., $40,500

Duke St., 2447: Genesis Opportunity Development Corp. to PA Deals LLC & Rich Steele Realty LLC, $30,000

Forster St., 1926: D. Jackson to CR Property Group LLC, 34,800

Fulton St., 1723: D. Snyder to S. DeLong, $123,000

Fulton St., 1730: C. Topper to Y. Downing, $145,000

Green St., 807: M Billo to T. Wetzel & H. Potteiger, $125,000

Green St., 1519: W. & E. Sauer to PA Deals LLC, $70,200

Green St., 2329: J. Yesser to A. Jobes, $32,000

Green St., 3224: C. Wise to G. Gebhardt & L. Mintz, $154,000

Hale Ave., 429: D. Hoang & M. Le to H. Le & N. Huynh, $42,000

Hillside Rd., 107: St. MacDonald & M. Warner to P. & K. Trufahnestock, $255,000

Industrial Rd., 4150: W. Houck Jr. to Addison Lee Group LLC, $1,600,000

Kelker St., 642: S. Clark & S. Lewis to K. & S. Pittman, $30,000

Kensington St., 2033: R. Dawon to CR Property Group LLC, $35,000

Kensington St., 2233: T. Holden to H. Alcantara, $38,001

Kensington St., 2345: PA Deals LLC to A. Molinelli, $72,000

Kensington St., 2413: P. & N. Nguyen to D. Wallace Sr., $69,900

Mercer St., 2459: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Dowling, $38,500

Muench St., 410: JB Buy Rite LLC to JTC Property Management, $50,000

North St., 1619: K. Sol to K. Mooney, $48,000

North St., 1818: Hari Group LLP to Revive Our City LLC, $45,000

N. Front St., 25: Pennsylvania Association of Conservation to 25 N. Front Street LLC, $437,000

N. 2nd St., 1213: J. Tang to WG PA Holdings LLC, $188,000

N. 2nd St., 1601: Centric Bank to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $88,000

N. 2nd St., 3107: P. Bernd to B. Leger, $135,000

N. 3rd St., 2209: A. & V. Rockmore to J. Cruz, $132,000

N. 3rd St., 2227: H. Bowman to C. & A. Smucker, $98,000

N. 3rd St., 2340: D. & S. Houck to MRI Properties LLC, $160,000

N. 3rd St., 3010: L. Smith to Equitable Builds LLC, $62,000

N. 5th St., 2424: J. & P. Williams to B. & A. Okubanjo, $60,000

N. 6th St., 2354: G. Elam to E. Wright, $95,000

Norwood St., 916: Crist Holdings LLC to Y. & E. Paige, $35,000

Park St., 1831: 9 Iron Ventures to H. Rodriquez, $46,000

Penn St., 1523: T. Smith & K. Leighton to P. & P. Gellerman, $161,400

Penn St., 1621: J. & M. Pricer to J. & D. Brubaker, $70,000

Penn St., 1805: T. & K. Hand to D. Bixler & S. Scholl, $131,000

Rumson Rd., 2995: R. Miller to J. Shuman, $100,000

S. 13th St., 421: D. Nguyen to L. Robinson, $85,000

S. 17th St., 1033: D&F Realty Holdings LP to Y. de Rodriguez, $45,000

S. 19th St., 214: L. & D. Burkhart to F. Molina & M. de la Rosa, $41,100

S. 28th St., 651: K. Meyers & G. Deimler to 17th Street Real Estate LLC, $195,384

S. 28th St., 701: K. Meyers & G. Deimler to 17th Street Real Estate LLC, $244,232

State St., 1314: D. McGlynn to 88314 LLC, $43,000

State St., 1837: JustGeoff Partners LLC to E. Patry, $35,000

Swatara St., 1610: C. Moffitt to Revive Our City LLC, $70,000

Swatara St., 2142: R. Chowdhury & A. Nasrin to Top Notch Homes LLC, $50,000

Walnut St., 1936: D. Moyer to M. Molinar, $50,000

Woodbine St., 226: Axxess Creations LLC to Trip Aces 226 LLC, $86,000

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

Suite Move: A stylish business takes shape in Camp Hill.

March 31, 2020 | by Cathy Jordan

Selina Fitzsimmons always wanted to live on the water.

With her new venture, she now kind of does.

“I never wanted to own a business,” she said. “I didn’t want to be the boss, and I didn’t want to deal with unnecessary drama.”

Recently, we sat in her newly refurbished Vada Salon Studios. She made us coffee, and we faced a wide, beautiful view of the Conodoguinet Creek. Serene blues, grays and touches of silver color the suites.

“I used the ideas I liked from other studios to create this environment,” she said. “It’s a room I’d love to have in my own house.”

Born and raised in Mechanicsburg, Fitzsimmons has been a hairdresser for almost 15 years.

“I was in college and kept changing my major,” she said. “During the second semester of my junior year, I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I took a semester off. While waitressing, a friend who was contemplating cosmetology school suggested I do it with her.”

She’s now taken a next step in her career as owner of a salon suite in Camp Hill. What’s that? She learned about the concept one weekend in Baltimore.

“My husband is quite friendly, and we happened upon this flashy-looking guy,” she said. “My husband asked him what he did for a living. He said that he owned several salon suites.”

The suite concept allows beauty professionals to be business owners absent the big risk of starting their own, individual brick-and-mortar salons. Fully furnished, private suites operate out of a single building.

In Pennsylvania, unless you’re a licensed barber, stylists work on commission basis, where the salon takes a high portion of the income. A salon suite allows each suite-owner to keep 100 percent of their profits.

“For me, this seemed perfect,” Fitzsimmons said. “I could own my own business without being anyone’s boss. The owner brings in their own product, hires their receptionist and associates (if they choose), and makes their own schedules.”

Ideal Place
Fitzsimmons’s first move was, naturally, a Google search.

Through that, she learned that Naples, Fla., had the highest concentration of salon suites in the country. Coincidentally, her family vacations there regularly.

“With Naples being a high-end destination area, it was the perfect place to see the best-of-the-best for inspiration,” she said. “Once there, I noted the directory and went in to snoop. It turned out one of the suite owners was a friend from a Harrisburg salon. I saw that as a sign.”

Further research showed that Camp Hill would be a good place locally for such a business. So, they went scouting potential studio locations.

“My husband found this [building] by chance,” she said. “We saw views with huge windows and natural lighting. It had plenty of parking spaces and sat across the street from Highmark on everyone’s way to work. Very visible. The location was perfect.”

Getting the business up and going wasn’t easy.

“In PA, if you want to own a traditional salon, there’s a state manual,” she said. “But there isn’t a manual for the salon suite concept. At that time (five years ago), it wasn’t easy to get answers to my questions. As we drew up plans, we had to go with our best interpretation.”

Fitzsimmons took me for a tour. Although there’s no receptionist, I was greeted by a directory on the entry wall: “Welcome to Vada Salon Studios.” The directory listed the studio’s business names as well as the location guide for each cosmetologist, barber, skin and spa professional and nail technician.

I asked about the salon’s name.

“Vada is my grandmother’s name,” she said. “I wanted to do something to honor her since I never got to meet her.”

As we walked the hall, she pointed out studio owner names on the glass doorways and then the shampoo bowls in each suite.

“They all face the windows, so clients can have a view,” she said.

Downstairs, she walked me out to reveal the patio with a seating area. Back inside, I saw more suites. I commented on the wall pictures, the framed words of affirmation and the sculpture pieces.

“My mom and I picked it all out, and my cousin and his fiancé, and my husband stayed up till five in the morning hanging artwork,” she said. “My family and best friends helped with every part of this building.”

Fitzsimmons sniffled. She opened a small cabinet and pulled out a tissue.

“I can’t find a cute tissue holder so I keep them hidden,” she remarked.

She wiped away a few tears.

“I’m just so grateful to be here knowing that this is the foundation where I will spend the rest of my career,” she said.

Vada Salon Studios is located at 1847 Center St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-805-4177 or visit www.vadasalonstudios.com.

Easter Pairings: Our wine columnist has some ideas for your holiday meal.

March 31, 2020 | by Steve Juliana

The signs of spring burst upon us with fragrant flowers, warm breezes and birdsong. Memories of freezing temperatures and long dark nights fade way as we embrace the march of the seasons.

For many, a big family feast follows 40 days of Lent, with Easter a time to gather together and celebrate around the table with food and drink. With the quality and availability of good wine, there is no reason to simply pick up a large bottle of something sweetish and white to wash down dinner. The traditional choices are lamb, which matches well with red wines, and ham, a versatile meal with a number of good options.

Riesling is a popular quaff that stands up to the sweet and salty flavors of ham. The best come from the Rhine and Mosel valleys of Germany. Look for the words kabinett and spatlese for high-quality and wonderful fruit flavor. Alsace is another region that has excellent riesling in a rich and spicy style. One of the most popular actually hails from Washington state and comes in regular, dry or sweet versions. Consider this an opportunity to try a great wine.

Another Germanic white wine that will enhance your dinner is gewürztraminer. Richer and spicier than riesling, the best come from Alsace, with pungent nose and unmatched complexity. It is also the best match for Thai food that I ever found.

Pinot gris is the same grape as pinot grigio, but the wines are very much location dependent and made in different styles worldwide. The most common are from the Veneto region in Italy, where they are light and drinkable but not really notable. Alsace makes the best, with the quaff full-bodied and spicy. The new kid on the block is Oregon, already famous for it pinot noir.

There are many white wines in France. However, one of the best for our holiday feast is chenin blanc from the Loire Valley. Known as “vouvray,” this wine is complex, with fruit, acid and a racy streak that comes across as a natural match for your ham.

For centuries, lamb has been a traditional meal at this time of year. Matching red wine to this dish is relatively new, but we have more options than at any time in history.

Bordeaux red has been paired with mutton since the wine was known as “claret.” The mountains of Italy have produced big reds to match lamb for centuries. Sangiovese comes in many clones from hilly regions, but the best are brunello (the brown grape) from Tuscany, or morellino (the black grape) from Maremma. Both are absolutely wonderful for your springtime meal. My favorite is syrah from the Rhone valley north of Avignon, where the wine develops balance and nuance more than, say, its Australian equivalent, which is usually a huge fruit bomb. Your best wine should not only be drunk for Mardi Gras!

Keep sipping,
Steve

April Editor’s Note: Please Help Your Community

March 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Last month, at TheBurg, we had a sobering meeting.

We discussed what the coronavirus contagion might mean for us. How would it impact our business? Should we make any changes? And, most importantly, how would we manage through this crisis?

I know that many other small businesses had similar difficult meetings.

They deliberated if they should stay open or close. And, if they closed, they wondered how they would survive. Would they ever be able to open again?

In the Harrisburg area, different businesses made different decisions. Many offices implemented or expanded telework, though that wasn’t an option for most customer-facing businesses like restaurants, bars, retailers and arts groups.

By state decree, restaurants were forced to shut their doors to diners, though some remained open for takeout and delivery. Most arts- and events-based businesses closed, as well.

In the end, it’s up to us to ensure that our community’s small businesses survive this economic catastrophe. After all, not only do they serve us everyday—sometimes on a shoestring—but unlike larger corporations and chains, the owners and employees live right here. They’re our neighbors, too.

When this epidemic finally passes, we’ll need these talented, motivated people and their wonderful products and services to be here with us still, in our community.

So, please redouble your commitment to patronizing these businesses and organizations. If you don’t feel comfortable going in person—or can’t—you still can help by:

Ordering in. Many businesses have started or increased delivery service.
Picking up. In the Harrisburg area, many businesses will deliver right to your idling car.
Taking out gift cards. Spend now, buy later. Front-load it, helping the cash flow of your favorite businesses in the process.
Some businesses and organizations will take direct contributions.

There are probably a hundred other ways to help. Go to your favorite businesses’ websites or social media pages or call them to find out what you can do to ensure their survival.

Lastly, I want to thank all of our health care, emergency and other essential workers who are toiling long hours to keep us safe and see us through this crisis. From TheBurg to you—thank you!

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Gov. Wolf extends “stay-at-home” order to Dauphin, Cumberland counties; schools to stay closed indefinitely

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gov. Tom Wolf (right) during Monday’s virtual press conference

Dauphin and Cumberland counties have been added to the state’s “stay-at-home” order, which now includes much of south-central Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday added four counties to the order and, on Tuesday, added another seven counties, bringing the total number of counties under the order to 33. Tuesday’s order included Lebanon and Franklin counties.

Besides these central PA counties, Wolf this week has added Carbon, Schuylkill, Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Lawrence and Somerset counties to the order.

Last week, the state included the first counties in the region to the stay-at-home order, Lancaster and York counties.

“If you live in one of these counties, only leave your home if it is absolutely necessary because the number of cases continues to grow,” Wolf said.

As of Tuesday, the state reported 4,843 positive cases of COVID-19, including 63 deaths.

To date, Dauphin County has 45 confirmed cases and Cumberland County has 36 confirmed cases. Both counties have reported one death from the disease.

Wolf said that “stay-at-home” orders have been issued on a county-by-county basis based upon the severity of the caseload and following consultation with county officials. However, he did not preclude a potential statewide order.

“The disease has now reared its ugly head in all parts of the state,” Wolf said. “If that continues, we always have the option of moving to a statewide stay-at-home order.”

In addition, Wolf said that he was removing all reopening dates for schools, as well as dates to lift restrictions on nonessential businesses. Previously, the state had set a potential reopening date for schools for April 6. Both school and business restrictions now will remain in place until further notice, Wolf said.

“I’m going to keep the date indefinite,” he said.

Under the “stay-at-home” order, people may leave their residences only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel:

Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home
Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing
To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
To care for a family member or pet in another household
Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities
Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services
Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction
Travel required by law enforcement or court order
Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth
Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.

The following operations are exempt:

Life-sustaining business activities
Health care or medical services providers
Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks
Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders
News media
Law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters
The federal government
Religious institutions

Those experiencing homelessness are not subject to this order but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals, according to the state.

Artsfest to go “virtual” this year, as coronavirus forces change

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A scene from last year’s Artsfest

From music to theater, the arts world increasingly is opting for online performances and exhibits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harrisburg’s annual Artsfest is the latest arts-related event to choose that path.

On Monday, the city announced that it would not hold its annual, three-day arts celebration in Riverfront Park. Instead, Artsfest will be held “virtually.”

“Our top priority is the heath and safety of our residents, visitors and vendors,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.”

The city had few additional details to share on Monday about its plan for the virtual event, but said that more information would be forthcoming. Those interested should follow the Facebook event and harrisburgpa.gov/Artsfest.

For many years, the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and then another arts group, Jump Street, organized the annual juried exhibit and sale along the city riverfront. Last year, after Jump Street disbanded, the city decided to take the event in-house.

Papenfuse today asserted that that “virtual” Artsfest is expected only for this year, to prevent mass gatherings during the pandemic. The city intends to bring back the event to the park over the Memorial Day weekend in 2021.

Harrisburg’s other major summer waterfront celebration, Kipona, is still scheduled for the Labor Day weekend and will feature an enhanced artist’s market, according to the city.

COVID-19 cases surge again, with positives topping 4,000 in PA

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state Department of Health’s shaded map of positive COVID-19 cases

Positive COVID-19 cases continued to jump in Pennsylvania, as the Department of Health today reported 693 new cases.

This represents the largest number of new cases reported yet for any 24-hour period during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new cases bring the statewide total to 4,087 total positive cases, up from 3,394 cases yesterday.

Moreover, the health department today reported 11 additional deaths from the virus, bringing that total to 49 fatalities. Locally, two people from Lancaster County and one person from Cumberland County have died from the disease.

“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 36 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 24 cases, Lancaster County has 97 cases, York County has 54 cases, Lebanon County has 27 cases, Adams County has eight cases and Perry County has one case.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 1,007 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 540 cases.

Twenty-two counties remain under “stay at home” orders from the state, including Lancaster and York counties in central PA.

Statewide, 37,864 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 33,777 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 33,455 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
10 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
28 percent are aged 50-64
19 percent are aged 65 or older

Most of the patients hospitalized, as well as most deaths, have occurred in patients 65 or older, the state said today. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must.”

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police issued 18 warnings over the weekend for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. The police have now issued 96 warnings since last Monday, but have not yet issued any citations.

The state Department of Corrections also announced today a statewide inmate quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the state announced the first positive case of coronavirus for an inmate housed at the State Correctional Institute, Phoenix, in Montgomery County.

Under the quarantine, inmates will be fed in their cells, and they will be afforded out-of-cell time for video visits, phone calls, access to the law library, as well as being provided with in-cell programming, according to the department. Also, all inmate movement will be controlled to conform to social distancing recommendations.

“We realize this is an inconvenience for staff and the inmates, but again, we are doing this to protect everyone’s wellbeing,” said department Secretary John Wetzel.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Harrisburg extends local tax-filing deadline to July 15

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s MLK Jr. Government Center

Harrisburg is joining the federal and state governments in extending its tax-filing deadline to mid-July.

The city announced its decision today to postpone the deadline for filing 2019 local tax returns until July 15. In addition, the deadline for filing first-quarter estimated taxes has been extended to July 15.

Typically, the annual deadline for filing federal, state and local tax returns is April 15. However, those deadlines have now been extended by three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harrisburg business mercantile tax filing and payment is also extended until July 15, the city said today. This includes the first quarter 2020 estimated payment.

Positive COVID-19 cases top 3,000 in PA, as state sees highest daily total yet

March 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

PA Secretary of Health Rachel Levine (right) at the state’s daily press briefing today.

The COVID-19 pandemic now has exceeded 3,000 cases in Pennsylvania, as the state Department of Health today reported 649 new positive cases.

The new case total is the most yet for any single day since the first case was detected in Pennsylvania about three weeks ago.

The commonwealth now has 3,394 positive cases, up from 2,751 cases yesterday.

Moreover, the health department reported four additional deaths from the virus since yesterday, bringing the statewide total to 38 fatalities. In central PA, two people from Lancaster County and one from Cumberland County have died, according to the state.

“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 58 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 35 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 22 cases, Lancaster County has 67 cases, York County has 43 cases, Lebanon County has 19 cases, Adams County has eight cases and Perry County has one case.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 865 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 488 cases.

Currently, 22 counties are under “stay at home” orders, including Lancaster and York counties locally.

Levine today could offer no timeline if or when other counties, such as Dauphin and Cumberland, would be put under stay-at-home orders. She said that the state makes the decision over whether to expand the order on a “day to day basis.”

“We are taking a very measured and sequential approach in regards to the governor’s order,” Levine said.

Statewide, 33,455 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 30,061 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 28,005 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
10 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
27 percent are aged 50-64
19 percent are aged 65 or older

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 25 to 49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

In addition, Gov. Tom Wolf today said that he has requested “a major disaster declaration” from the federal government. If granted, this would offer additional relief for state and local governments and some nonprofits, he said.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has taxed our commonwealth and our communities in ways that are almost incomprehensible,” Wolf said. “I am calling on the president and the federal government to make available to us the assistance that will make a tangible difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors, and the dedicated public servants who are working in overdrive to support them.”

Impacted programs could include Disaster Unemployment Assistance, crisis counseling, community disaster loans, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program and Statewide Hazard Mitigation, according to the governor’s office.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

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