Trailblazers: York County woman’s book explores untold stories of women who helped establish the Appalachian Trail.

February 28, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Above: Ruth Blackburn at a congressional meeting in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Gwen Loose was hiking with a friend on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) when a question crossed her mind.

While Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery are considered the founders and fathers of the A.T., “Who was holding down the fort at conference headquarters?” she wondered.

Someone must have been keeping track of all the details that went into the planning of the 2,192-mile-long trail stretching from Maine to Georgia during its formative years, reaching back to 1925.

Loose’s friend encouraged her to search for answers while writing her thesis for her master’s degree. So, began an eight-year journey, which not only turned into a successful thesis but became the basis for a book being released this June.

Her research first pointed to Jean Stephenson (1892-1979), who devoted her life’s work to the A.T. Conference, an organization that became today’s A.T. Conservancy and manages the longest footpath in the world.

“It was like the old adage—‘Behind every successful man is a successful woman,’” Loose said.

“We Were There Too” details previously untold stories of women—primarily Jean Stephenson, Ruth Blackburn and Margaret Drummond—whose contributions in different decades directly led to the creation of the A.T.

“Their untold stories will balance the public perceptions of A.T. work as a boys’ club—it never was that way and isn’t now,” said Brian King, the ATC’s publisher. “It’s not that the record out there is wrong—it’s just incomplete.”

Stephenson’s work helped garner early support for the creation of the trail; Blackburn helped secure the A.T. corridor when development threatened its existence; and Drummond was instrumental in establishing models still used today—for volunteers, regional trail clubs and strategic planning.

King, who works at ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry, W. Va., said he often feels Stephenson’s “ghost” nearby. It was there that Stephenson worked and compiled many of the A.T.’s early guidebooks.

“She was an old-school writer and editor, very careful—meticulous and organized,” King said. “And she was also a lawyer, so she brought all that to the project, trying to keep Myron Avery straight.”

Loose said she was constantly inspired by photographs she discovered.

“There is a classic photograph of Ruth [Blackburn],” Loose said. “She’s in a congressional meeting in Washington, D.C. She was a small woman, and she’s sitting there, surrounded by men, and they’re all looking at her because she’s prepared with all the facts and figures, and they know it.”

Loose said she identifies with all three of the pioneering women.

“They were very comfortable in their own abilities,” Loose said. “They weren’t girly-girls, they weren’t afraid to be themselves, and they knew, if they worked hard enough, they would be good at it. So, they dedicated themselves to their work.”

And Loose should know. As executive director of the York County Rail Trail Authority, she too could be considered a trailblazer. She’s overseen the expansion of the Heritage Rail Trail from 10 to 27.5 miles over the past 23 years—since 1997. A golden spike in the city of York this fall will connect the main trail to its northern spur. And the authority is expanding the trail in new directions. It purchased the former Hanover Trolley Trail from Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., in late February. Grant requests for $8 to $11 million are being submitted to transition the rails into trails stretching west from York to Hanover.

It could be that trails and railroads are in her DNA. Loose grew up in Enola, where her father worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a car inspector in the Enola Yard, the world’s largest freight yard at the time.

Just as Loose is her father’s daughter, King also sees a connection between Loose and the trailblazing subjects of her book.

“I do think there’s a parallel, in that women are and have been fully involved in developing and maintaining trails,” King said. “And she [Loose] is part of that. And it’s true in the bigger world of outdoor recreation.”

The ATC is currently being guided by Sandra Marra, the second female CEO in the organization’s history.

Loose serves as vice president of the board of directors for the Appalachian Trail Museum located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. A resident of Dover, York County, she is an active member of the York Hiking Club, which regularly hikes sections of the A.T.

As Loose researched her book over the past eight years, she was struck by the prevalence of women rising to leadership roles in the daily news.

“It seemed like every year, the book and the theme of women in leadership roles was getting more relevant,” she observed.

She hopes that “We Were There Too” inspires a new generation of female leaders, especially conservationists, to find their paths.

“I hope they’re inspired in their own volunteer work,” Loose said. “Their contributions can make a difference to organizations they’re passionate about, and it’s fulfilling. A lot of our organizations today depend on that type of giving.”

“We Were There Too” is being published by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and will be available on the ATC’s website, appalachiantrail.org, as well as Amazon and major book retailers.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

Squidding Around: Rosemary puts pot to ink.

February 28, 2020 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

For a long time, I have wanted to try squid ink pasta.

My husband and I often visit the little Italian restaurant, Pastorante, in Midtown Harrisburg. They serve a beautiful dish of black squid ink pasta bathed in a rich cream sauce and topped with shrimp. I have come so close to ordering it only to default to my usual spaghetti with meatballs. I do like seafood very much, including calamari, but I don’t like “fishy fish.” And, since it’s made from the black ink extracted from ocean squid, calamari or cuttlefish, I was certain squid ink pasta must be fishy.

But after talking to several people who have eaten this unusual black pasta, I decided this Italian cook had to give it a try. So first, I had to find some. I found one bag at my favorite place at the West Shore Farmers Market, Peggy’s Silver Spoon. This was dried pasta, although I would have preferred a fresh version, which Pastorante uses.

Trying to re-create a dish I had only viewed from afar was a challenge. I knew that a cream sauce would be best for the dark pasta and, although I thought briefly about crab, I settled on shrimp. But I struggled with the mechanics of the dish.

Should I make a traditional béchamel? This is a blend of butter, flour and milk, and I wasn’t sure a flour-based sauce was what I wanted.
Should I use cream and could I cook it long enough that it would thicken? Or maybe half and half to cut the richness?
What about other seasonings? Would chopped garlic or hot pepper add just the right touch?
Should I cook the shrimp separately from the cream sauce?
How much butter would be just enough or would olive oil be better?

I normally follow recipes rather than create them. But spoiler alert: This turned out very well. Here are the ingredients I used, and this is what I did.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 pound uncooked, cleaned and de-veined raw shrimp
A tablespoon of Calabrian chili paste or a teaspoon of red chili flakes (I used the chili paste)
3 or 4 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
2 cups fresh heavy cream
10 to 12 ounces squid ink pasta
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt to taste
Chopped parsley (optional)

Directions

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a non-stick skillet. Sauté the shrimp over medium low heat for about 2 minutes. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of Calabrian chili paste or ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you prefer a little kick to your dish. Keep the shrimp warm until the sauce and pasta are finished.
Cook the squid ink pasta according to package directions.
In a large sauté pan or saucepan, melt the second tablespoon of butter over medium low heat and briefly cook the minced garlic.
Add the 2 cups of heavy cream and simmer it gently for about 15 minutes. (I kept stirring it and watching it carefully until it became moderately thick.)
When the cream has thickened, add the grated Parmesan and whisk it until very smooth.
Before draining the pasta, scoop out about a cup of pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
Place the drained pasta into the pot with sauce and gently toss together. Add the sautéed shrimp and toss again. Thin with a little pasta water if needed.
Place the finished pasta in a large, warmed serving dish. Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley for a little color, if you want.
Ready to serve!

So, I took my first bite. It was delicious! The sauce was just the right consistency. The garlic and chili gave just the right kick to the bland cream. The two tablespoons of butter were just enough. The cheese was a nice complement to the shrimp, although they are often not used together. And the pasta was not at all fishy.

I am embarrassed to say, that for a very brief moment, I looked around for the TV cameras. It was fun. I am ready to make the dish with scallops or crab. Maybe lobster? What about lightly sautéed calamari for a perfect match?

Give this a try. I think you will like it, too.

Women Who Want: “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” seems quiet, but packs an emotional punch.

February 28, 2020 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Every once in a while, we are gifted with a film that speaks volumes without ever having raised its voice.

This is the case with Céline Sciamma’s newest film, “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire.” Keeping true to her minimalist style, the film is quiet in temperament but emotionally explorative in its bones.

Sciamma’s slow-burning drama resides in the cliffs of Brittany, France, where a painter named Marianne (Noémie Merlant) has been hired by a Comtesse (Valeria Golino) to paint a wedding portrait for a subject who refuses to sit—her daughter, Héloïse (Adèle Haenel).

Marianne learns that Héloïse does not want to marry her suitor, who lives in Milan and needs the painting to confirm his future bride’s appearance. She also learns that Héloïse’s sister, who arrived in Brittany before her, threw herself off the cliffs and died in the churning waters below. Since Héloïse has already spurned the artistic endeavors of another painter, refusing to even show her face, the Comtesse tells her that Marianne is simply a “companion” (though Héloïse understands it to mean “guard”) to walk with on the cliffs.

And so Marianne begins her task, studying Héloïse during daylight hours as they walk and painting at night. But her companionship for Héloïse grows steadily, and, at the completion of the portrait, she reveals her true identity to Héloïse and destroys her own work, announcing that it isn’t a good representation of her subject. To her mother’s surprise, Héloïse finally commits to sitting for the painting, and, so, while the Comtesse is away for a few days, the two set to work, idly monitored by the servant, Sophie (Luàna Bajrami).

What follows is a devastatingly beautiful account of women who want. For Héloïse, though, her spirit is vibrant, and her will is strong. She still understands that she will have to submit to the ways of her era. She does not desire men, and this is something she doesn’t readily admit until Marianne comes along. For Marianne, though, she has made herself independent with her painting, and she still feels a jealousy for her newfound lover. Even Sophie has her thread, worrying about her future as a servant upon finding out she’s pregnant. But in the solitude provided by the Comtesse’s trip, each woman is able to act on her wants, even with the understanding that it is a temporary lease.

The entire cast gives phenomenal performances, but Haenel absolutely steals the show, and rightly so, since her fire is what ignites the surrounding characters. What a steadfast, stunning performance for such a heartfelt, widely relatable story. There is a lot of emotional gravity stitched into the fabric of “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire,” and the impact of the characters’ journey carries on far past the credits. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this film.

“Portrait of a Lady On Fire” plays this month at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

March Events
At Midtown Cinema

National Theatre Live presents
“All My Sons”
Sunday, March 1, 2 p.m.
“The Lehman Trilogy”
Sunday, March 8, 2 p.m.

Down in Front! Presents
“Friday the 13^th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan”
Friday, March 13, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg
“Drop Dead Gorgeous”
Friday, March 20, 9:30 p.m.

Inconvenient Truth: Gamut stages timely “An Enemy of the People.”

February 28, 2020 | by Tara Herweg-Mann

I can’t imagine that Henrik Ibsen wrote “An Enemy of the People” with the idea that its subject matter would be more timely than ever nearly a century and a half after he put pen to paper.

In fact, from what I can gather, he wrote it in response to the outcry his previous work, “Ghosts,” evoked from the public (the words “immoral” and “degenerate” were lobbed at him and the play because it dealt in a decidedly sober way with adultery and syphilis). But here we are, in 2020, and “An Enemy of the People” rings just as true now as it did then.

The play is centered in a small village in Norway with aspirations of greatness—a municipal spa has opened, and vacationers seeking the healthful benefits of the baths have infused the town’s economy with the capital it’s needed. Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the health officer in charge of the spa (and brother of the town’s mayor, Peter Stockmann), is a well-respected member of the community. When Dr. Stockmann discovers that the waters tourists are bathing in under his supervision are contaminated with harmful bacteria, he wastes no time in recruiting the local newspaper to publish his findings.

If only it were so easy. As it turns out, blowing the whistle leads not to a swift resolution of the problem, but a downward spiral of countercharges, recrimination and retaliation. Sound familiar?

I was able to pick the brains of two of the actors in Gamut’s production: Gamut’s Artistic Director Clark Nicholson, who portrays whistleblower Dr. Thomas Stockmann, and a newcomer to Gamut’s stage, Marc Lubbers, who portrays Mayor Peter Stockmann. Through them, I was able to get a better glimpse into the central protagonist and antagonist of the play and how they feel about bringing Arthur Miller’s translation of Ibsen’s play to Harrisburg.

What made you interested in producing/performing in this play?

NICHOLSON: Frank [Henley, the director of this production] came to me several years ago with a proposal for Gamut’s Stage Door Ensemble to produce a staged reading of “An Enemy of the People.” I felt that it was a timely story, a classic play, and just the sort of thing that the Gamut mainstage should be producing. So, I put it on our full season roster.

LUBBERS: “An Enemy of the People” is a profound statement about power, truth, morals, corruption and family dynamics. Every character has a broad spectrum of emotions to manipulate, choices to make, and interactions in which to engage. For the audience, the play has points to make and lessons to teach, but, to the immense credit of the author(s), it does so in a way that forces the audience member to decide for his/herself what their individual perspective is on what’s good and bad, right and wrong, just and unjust, etc.

Tell me about your character. Has your opinion about him changed since you first started?

NICHOLSON: I initially felt that this story was about a fairly uncomplicated protagonist embarking on a difficult but righteous crusade. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s the story of a flawed messenger (and that we all are ultimately flawed messengers) trying to bring the truth to light. I believe that what Ibsen (and his translator, Arthur Miller) were trying to say was that humanity may aspire toward the pure, but this purity can only be championed by the flawed. And that can make the pursuit of absolute purity and truth both desirable and ultimately doomed to failure. Which does not mean that the pursuit is folly, just that it’s ultimately a never-ending and often brutal process—a hard but important lesson.

LUBBERS: Peter Stockmann has an element of “pure” antagonism to him, in terms of what he says and does in front of the audience. His motives, in the context of the action of the play, are clearly self-serving and manipulative, oftentimes to seemingly malicious ends. As with most figures who exercise power forcefully, however, layers underneath those base elements can be found—insecurity, jealousy, even frailty. I’m not necessarily trying to find ways in which to make my character tragic or sympathetic. It’s just that attention to these broader components of the character allow for a much richer arsenal of choices to make regarding his attitudes and demeanor. In terms of my opinion of him—part of my job as an actor is to make Marc Lubbers’ opinion of Peter Stockmann totally irrelevant. My job is to portray the character, wholly. Any influence on that by how I myself might “feel” about the character and his actions would interfere with a genuine portrayal. To be sure, an actor must draw upon his/her own experiences and capacity for emotion to add color and flavor to a character, but these things need to be filtered through Peter’s sensibilities vs. presenting them as Marc’s.

Are there questions you are left with, even after getting to know the play so well?

LUBBERS: Unfortunately, questions that arise for me from this play include, “How can these sea changes in people’s attitudes and allegiances occur so easily?” and “How can people be so easily manipulated?” I call them unfortunate because they apply all too well to real-time and real-life events in our country and world at this moment in history. It’s been, actually, often times frustrating that the timeliness and relevance of this play are so poignant to our current circumstances, despite its having been composed by Henrik Ibsen more than 130 years ago and adapted by Arthur Miller just about 70 years ago.

NICHOLSON: We still do not know what the final few moments of the play ultimately mean. We play them. We work on them. But they are a mystery. And, I believe that to a great extent, they are supposed to be. What is happening in the souls of the affected as the lights go down is profoundly unsettling. I’m not sure that we’re actually meant to know fully what the author(s) meant. It seems to me that this final image is a reflection on what it means to forge forward in the face of ultimate uncertainty.

“An Enemy of the People” opens on Saturday, Feb. 29, at Gamut Theatre in downtown Harrisburg, and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 15. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m., with the box office, Capital Blue Cross reception lobby, and Peggy’s Pub open to the public starting at 6:30 p.m. Sunday matinées start at 2:30 p.m., with box office, lobby and bar open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.gamuttheatre.org/tickets.

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS

Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

“An Enemy of the People”
By Henrik Ibsen
Feb. 29 to March 15
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

“Three Billy Goats Gruff”
March 14 to 28
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday matinees available by request for groups of 20 or more.

Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“Amélie,” the musical
through March 8
The charming, uplifting musical based on the French film.

Court Street Cabaret: After Hours
March 5 and 6 at 9:30 p.m.
Featuring local singers performing songs from Broadway and beyond.

“Lady Boy Sings the Blues”
March 12, 14, 21, 26, 28 at 7:30 p.m.
March 13 at 9:30 p.m.
A drag cabaret featuring local drag clown Mister Treats

“EFF (Erotic FanFiction) Live!”
March 7 and 28 at 9:30 p.m.
The best of the worst the internet has to offer in cringe-worthy fandom, read out loud by local actors.

“The Diary of Anne Frank”
March 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Scottish Rite, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
The annual production about an extraordinary young woman coming of age and her indomitable spirit that has inspired the community for over 20 years.

The Teen Studio Presents…
March 27 at 7:30 p.m.
An evening of song with the students of the Alsedek Theatre School.

The Painted Word: Get schooled in art this spring.

February 28, 2020 | by Bob MacGinnes

“Whale Bay Antarctica No. 4” by Zaria Forman.

Over the past year, I have pursued art in all its forms for TheBurg.

I could be found at galleries and museums, art associations, festivals, restaurants and even tea and coffee emporiums for craft week and poetry readings. I have attended salons in artists’ homes and viewed great art in cathedrals and churches. I even found art in the great outdoors, right above our eyes, gazing upon majestic murals throughout our fair city.

The focus of “The Painted Word” has been to highlight upcoming art shows, events and opportunities to meet artists creating their works. This has been achieved primarily through TheBurg’s print issue on a seasonal basis. My alter ego, “Bob’s Art Blog,” pops up semi-monthly in TheBurg’s online daily edition, where I truly get to be myself. To gain a fresh perspective on the art shows of spring, I plan to venture to exhibits at local colleges and universities. Now, I can actually say, “Class is in session.”

There are two distinct themes, front and center. Franklin and Marshall and Lebanon Valley College are joined in addressing an ongoing national forum through two riveting exhibits. The black-and-white photos from revolutionary photojournalist, Danny Lyon, followed the 1960s-era civil rights movement. Meanwhile, at F&M, artist Sonya Clark’s “Finding Freedom” uses the objects found in the everyday to create mixed media works that promote a dialogue revolving around racism, violence and “who owns history in the United States.” And, speaking of topicality, climate change and its impact are explored at both F&M and Bucknell.

As you may have deduced, the settings for the spring column are college campuses, which feature an eclectic mix of exhibitions, all within an hour’s drive of Harrisburg.

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, The Samek Art Museum
What better place to start than with Bucknell’s renowned Samek Art Museum? This past fall, “Guerilla Girls” ran riot in the upstairs gallery, featuring guest lectures from a troop of marauders, revealing their histrionic happenings of art activism. New this spring is “Against Time: Climate Calls From The Ice Archives,” through March 22, which portrays history’s view of mankind’s ongoing climate change crisis.

Franklin and Marshall, Lancaster, The Phillips Museum of Art
In the Dana Gallery, “Sonya Clark: Finding Freedom” highlights Lancaster as a key location along the Underground Railroad and the use of the night sky to guide those seeking freedom. This exhibit runs through April 30. Of special note, an Underground Railroad tour with the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania will take place on April 25 starting at 10 a.m.

At the Rothman Gallery, “What a Wonderful World” runs through March 29. The exhibit features four artists—Binh Danh, Rena Detrixhe, Ryan Hoover and Marion Wilson—who share a common concern over the environment and the future of our planet.

Through March 29, the Gibson Gallery is showing “Containing the Muse: Artists’ Books As Expression & Form.” Artists’ books are a form of creative expression that offer an opportunity for multi-discipline communication. Moreover, the Phillips Museum of Art celebrates its 20th anniversary this spring with special events such as a jazz night with the F&M Jazz Combo on March 12.

Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Schmucker Art Gallery
“Split Void” is an exhibit featuring the work of Julie Wills, associate professor of art at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. She is an interdisciplinary artist who works in the mediums of sculpture, collage and architectural interventions. She’s an artist with no ceiling on what she creates. Case in point: the mixed media schematic “Radical Geometry,” which marries art to the sciences, informing its own blueprint for tomorrow. Her exhibit runs March 27 through April 18. In addition, Wills will judge the works of students for the concurrent “Juried Student Exhibition.”

Lebanon Valley College, Lebanon, Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College features an exhibit from renowned civil rights photographer Danny Lyon, which runs through March 22. These black-and-white photos from the 1960s captured the history of the civil rights movement as it unfolded. Of special note, a photography workshop takes place on March 21. Afterwards, a student art thesis exhibit opens on April 23.

Messiah College, Grantham, Aughinbaugh Art Gallery
“Night, Desert, Garden: Matthew Doll Exhibition,” which runs through March 13, examines the relationship that coexists within landscapes that intersect Jerusalem and Rome. The exhibit seeks a commonality amidst strife, striking a balance between harmony and dissonance. “Messiah Senior Show I” and “Senior Show II” follow, both featuring works from senior students in the BFA Studio Programs, caps off the spring semester.

Millersville University, Millersville, Eckert Art Gallery
“Marc Chagall, Etchings and Lithographs,” March 12 to May 1, features 10 etchings and over 40 brilliantly colored lithographs from renowned artist Marc Chagall’s “Bible Suites” series. According to the gallery, Chagall stated he did not see the Bible but dreamed it as a child. His vision incorporates his Jewish heritage and his painting aesthetic as a modernist. Chagall’s works inform viewers with his poetic interpretations of the meaning of life.

For more information on these exhibits, visit the colleges’ websites.

Tech Traction: Ben Franklin Technology Partners helps promising start-ups get up and running.

February 28, 2020 | by Don Helin

When you think of high-tech hotspots, central Pennsylvania may not be the first place to come to mind.

But maybe it should rank higher.

John Sider thinks so. Sider works for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, one of the nation’s longest-running technology-based economic development programs.

“Ben Franklin CNP [Central and Northern PA branch], has been investing in tech startups and small manufacturers located in our 32-county footprint for more than 30 years,” Sider said.

In sum, Ben Franklin helps promising technology companies get off the ground by providing funding, expertise and resources.

“We are looking for people who have an intellectual property-based solution for a problem we believe someone will pay for,” Sider said.

Founded in 1982, Ben Franklin was chartered by the state to assist research universities support technology businesses, with a goal of helping to launch companies and, ultimately, create jobs. There are four regional offices throughout the state, with the State College office covering the central Pennsylvania area.

“The purpose of this is to diversify and grow our region’s economy and ensure its competitiveness in the future,” Sider said.

The partnership, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and a number of corporations around the state, is designed to give a boost to promising tech startups that may need seed capital and expertise.

“Banks make their lending decisions based on quantitative data,” Sider said. “But early-stage technology companies have not yet built a cash flow or hard assets for collateral. So, we look more at qualitative data.”

Once a founder provides a summary of the business concept and financial projections, the staff of Ben Franklin CNP develops a market analysis. Each prospective company then makes a presentation to the Ben Franklin team.

In addition to its financing program, Ben Franklin CNP offers a 10-week entrepreneurial training program so prospective entrepreneurs can run their ideas through an evaluation process before launch. As part of the program, companies make a pitch to a panel of outside judges for prizes, including a cash grant.

“For example, we recently hosted six startups from Lancaster County, and the winner was Boostpoint, whose business is to assist home services companies develop their own Facebook and Instagram ads, thus increasing the value of their marketing program,” Sider said.

Lancaster-based Boostpoint won a $7,000 prize and has recently been approved for a $100,000 loan from Ben Franklin CNP to grow its business. The company is working closely with Andy Long, the director of business development and entrepreneur-in-residence for Ben Franklin CNP’s Lancaster/Lebanon region.

“When the company repays the investment, we will use the returns to fund future startups,” Long said.

Companies that become members of the Ben Franklin CNP program can, upon request, receive business consultation from a staff of subject matter experts in such areas as human resources or accounting to help them with challenges they may encounter as they grow. The partnership offers their portfolio companies support services free of charge.

Ben Franklin has also launched university and industry partnerships that accelerate scientific discoveries and has seeded regional initiatives that strengthen the entrepreneurial community.

“When I see friends at parties, I’m often asked what we do,” Sider said. “It’s pretty unique. So, I summarize by saying that we provide venture capital, funded by the state, to support technology companies that will help create jobs in our community.”

For more information about Ben Franklin Technology Partners, visit www.benfranklin.org or call 717-948-6763.

Women in Business: Neighbors & Smith

February 28, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Women in Business: Neighbors & Smith

Leanne Walls
Owner
Live in Color Boutique
www.liveincolorboutique.com
717-695-6391

Why did you start your business?

Opening a furniture and décor boutique never really occurred to me. In fact, I found my passion before I realized I could turn it into a business. I began painting when I picked up a set of end tables that were sitting by the curb and decided I wanted to try using chalk paint. Selling those freshly painted end tables, immediately, just sparked a fire. I have always loved crafting, and now I was adding painting to my repertoire! Soon a lot of friends were requesting my pieces, and I realized there was a huge need for a cute little boutique that provided the community with great artistic talent and gorgeous refinished furniture, décor, and gifts—all at very affordable prices.

What makes your business unique?

Live in Color is very unique, because we not only combine the skills of refinishing furniture, but we showcase the talents of other local artisans. You’ll find handmade pottery, grapevine and floral wreaths, American Girl doll clothing, handmade quilts, spoon jewelry, silk arrangements, wooden crafts, dog bandanas and collars, dog coats, bird baths, succulents, and wall signs. We are a destination for surprisingly special gift ideas and a treasure trove of handcrafted décor. We also carry baby gifts and candles from well-known designers. Tucked beneath Little Black Dress and next to Underneath It All, we help you turn every day into a special occasion.

What the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

Making new friends and bringing smiles to our shoppers are gratifying to our entire team. It truly is heartwarming to see the delight on a shopper’s face when she is picking up a custom piece. Many of our customers bring a piece of furniture from their home or an heirloom they inherited, and we transform it into a beautiful furniture piece again. I love to see clients’ faces light up when we give great-grandma’s furniture new life!

Kim Miller
Owner
Underneath It All
https://underneathitall.net/
717-761-7474

Why did you want to start your own business?

While raising three daughters as a single mom, I wanted to do something that provided me flexibility to be very involved in their lives while still providing an income. I had the opportunity to purchase Underneath It All back in 2005, and it allowed me to do just that, while also making a big difference in the lives of other women.

What makes your business unique?

Underneath It All caters to women (and men too) of all shapes and sizes. Whether you need undergarments that are practical or lingerie that is incredibly sexy, we’ll find what you need. We specialize in bra fittings and take the time to truly find the undergarments that fit correctly and are comfortable for every customer. Breasts are uneven and are different shapes, and we know that not one body is like any other. Unlike your big box stores that carry a small variety of sizes, we carry over 220 sizes of bras (everyday, strapless, longlines, sports, nursing, bralettes, etc.) and carry lingerie and shapewear from sizes petite small through 6x.

What’s the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

Having someone walk in our store who needs a bra fitting and finding them something that fits and is comfortable—the look on their face when they see and feel the change we’ve made, it’s beyond rewarding. In some cases, we even have customers who look like they’ve lost weight just by wearing the right size bra! It’s also so special helping our brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride/groom find what they need for under their special gowns, or for the honeymoon—or helping that new mom with her nursing bras, or just helping someone find that special something to wear for their partner or spouse. We are involved in so many loving moments!

Lisa DeCavalcante
Owner
Little Black Dress
https://littleblackdresscamphill.com/
717-525-7488

Why did you start your own business?

I usually refer to myself as an “accidental entrepreneur.” Owning my own business was not something I aspired to, but as my eldest daughter went off to college, I realized that I needed to get back into the workforce full time so I could afford to give the same opportunity to my youngest, age 7 at the time. I had worked in retail at a boutique in Camp Hill for the previous nine years so that was my most current profession. I didn’t want to work evenings and weekends at a mall store so my family encouraged me to use my experience and open my own shop. The intent was to build a business and sell it in 10 years’ time, but heading into year six, I’m in for the long haul.

What makes your business unique?

When I opened Little Black Dress, I wanted to address a niche I felt the area lacked. We have beautiful stores addressing the high end of the market, we have some middle-of-the-road department stores but we had nowhere locally to get casual, affordable, on trend clothes combined with great, personal service. That is the point of the name Little Black Dress—we give you the “LBD’s” of your wardrobe; things you go to time and time again that always strike the right note.

What’s the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

Hands down, the best part of owning Little Black Dress is the relationships I’ve built along the way. I have an unbelievable staff—two who have been with me since before opening. I have been luckily enough to develop a loyal and supportive clientele, some of whom I now count among my friends. I love helping customers present the best version of themselves and express themselves in a very personal way. The best compliment we can receive is when a customer thanks us for the honest suggestions we make in helping them find exactly what they need and what flatters their shape the most.

Michele Koch & Mechelle Webster
Owners
One Good Woman
www.oncegoodwoman.com
717-975-8101

Why did you want to start your own business?

We had wanted to purchase a business together in order to create an opportunity to learn and grow as entrepreneurs and have more control over our schedules. We had worked together for 10 years prior to purchasing One Good Woman in February 2016. As customers, we fell in love with the charm and uniqueness of One Good Woman and jumped at the chance to purchase it when the previous owner, Holly O’Connor, was ready to retire. We wanted the store to continue to flourish so that we could build on her legacy.

What makes your business unique?

The history of our business and the variety of products are what make our business unique. One Good Woman was started in 1996 to deliver fresh-roasted coffee to local businesses. It has grown to what it is now by constantly adapting to emerging trends and our customers’ shopping styles. We have one of the largest selections of fresh-roasted coffee and loose-leaf teas in the area, in addition to food and gift items. In our new location at 1801 Market St., we have added a café so that our customers can purchase a cup of coffee or tea before they buy the coffee or tea in bulk to enjoy at home.

What’s the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

Staying on top of retail trends and finding new and unique gift items for the store is very gratifying. A large part of our business is creating custom gift baskets for individuals and businesses. Customers come to One Good Woman to find one-of-a-kind gifts for special people and special occasions. It’s fun to help people find their new favorite coffees and teas while they explore the constantly changing products we have to offer. We are proud to be a part of Camp Hill’s family of women-owned businesses and hope that we can inspire other women to follow in these footsteps!

Serenity Now: For Alice Brewbaker, passion, persistence lead to a lovely result.

February 28, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Alice Brubaker, Marianne Baker-Platt & Wilson

Psychologist Angela Duckworth believes that grit is a key ingredient to success.

In a 2006 book, she described grit as “passion and persistence” and believes that resilience, ambition and self-control are key elements in the equation that adds up to long-term success.

One could argue that Alice Brewbaker, owner of Serenity Skin Care in Camp Hill, possesses all of those traits.

Where many individuals benefit from the guidance of one, or both parents, Brewbaker was left to her own devices to find her path in life.

“My parents passed away when I was young, and I lived in foster homes and dropped out of school at age 16,” said the Enola resident, who would earn her GED. “So many people use their childhood as a crutch, but I’m proof you can overcome and move forward to become a positive person.”

The businesswoman would go on to marry and raise two children before entering into an aesthetics training program for nail and skin care in 1997.

“Skin care is my passion,” said Brewbaker, who started her business with a modest space above Salon 2020 on Market Street in Camp Hill.

It didn’t hurt that her husband Jim gave her his full measure of support in her endeavor.

“We had three rooms, and he did all the work preparing the space,” she said.

As the business grew, Brewbaker began mulling over a move and, as serendipity would have it, a property that she had her eye on just down the street suddenly became available.

“I would drive by the house at 1930 Market and think that it would make a great salon,” she said. “Then, one day, I saw in the newspaper that it was for sale by owner.”

A tour sealed the deal, and once again, her husband pitched in to do much of the remodeling work, this time in a space that was double the size of the former place.

“I knew that this was where I was supposed to be, and everything fell into place,” she said.

Gentler

I learned about Serenity Skin Care after a trip to Saint Petersburg, Fla., where I signed up for a treatment called a hydrafacial.

Afterwards, my skin felt soft—fantastic. My makeup even glided on better for weeks afterwards. After a few months, I decided to schedule another and had a difficult time finding someone who offered it in this area.

“We’re one of the only salons in the area to offer this service,” said Brewbaker, adding that she was hesitant to purchase the machine until she, herself, experienced the treatment.

A kinder, gentler alternative to microdermabrasion, the hydrafacial uses water, not grit.

“It cleanses, hydrates and infuses antioxidants into the skin,” Brewbaker said.

Additional skin services at Serenity Skin Spa include glycolic peels, traditional microdermabrasion and custom facials.

The multi-service salon also offers manicures, pedicures, haircare services, waxing procedures, lash tints and “body care wellness” services like back facials and ear candling. Injectables, like Botox and dermal fillers are administered by a nurse practitioner.

Wigs for Kids

When asked how long it takes to do her hair, Dolly Parton quipped, “I don’t know, I’m never there.” That line might give some a chuckle, but for most, thinning hair is no laughing matter. This is why Brewbaker decided to hire Marianne Baker-Platt, who touts 36 years of experience working with clients on everything from haircuts to custom hairpieces and extensions.

Baker-Platt also specializes in a non-surgical hair integration system.

“We start out with a plaster casting of their head and end up with a custom look that stays bonded on the head 24/7,” said Baker-Platt. “Once every two years, we re-bond it.”

She also works with Pink Hands of Hope in Mechanicsburg for those who are dealing with the loss of hair due to chemotherapy.

“I send them there to get their free wig, and they bring it back to be styled around their face at no cost,” she said.

Baker-Platt is also certified with “Wigs for Kids,” a worldwide organization that helps children with alopecia.

“The company sends me the wig and supplies like shampoo and conditioner,” said Baker-Platt, adding that children can apply annually for wigs made of unprocessed hair until they are 18. Baker-Platt also forwards donations to the organization.

“Anyone with 12 inches of unprocessed hair can donate,” she said.

For Baker-Platt, working with children is extremely rewarding.

“I enjoy helping kids in need at no cost because when it comes to your hair, that’s your image,” she said.

Brewbaker said that she feels grateful that everything has worked out so well, despite, in her words, “starting on a wing and a prayer.”

“I love talking to people, making them feel beautiful, even cleaning out their skin gives me self-satisfaction,” she said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Serenity Skin Care is located at 1930 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-612-1630 or visit www.SerenitySkinCareSalon.com.

February News Digest

February 28, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gaming Grants Awarded

More than 80 projects in Dauphin County will receive gaming grants this year, as the Dauphin County commissioners last month approved $6.3 million in awards.

Harrisburg-based companies and organizations will receive a number of grants, the awards originating each year from the county’s share of gaming revenue generated from Hollywood Casino at Penn National.

In Harrisburg, many of the projects are geared towards either removing blight or offsetting redevelopment or construction costs. These include:

Jackson Rooming House and Swallow Mansion: $75,000 to Vice Capital for renovating the buildings on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street
Midtown Cinema: $50,000 for a major lobby and façade renovation
Open Stage: $50,000 for phase three of its renovation project
com: $60,000 for demolition of two blighted buildings on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street
Whitaker Center: $100,000 for updates and improvements to its STEM learning gallery
The Nativity School: $50,000 for new school facility renovation
Homeland Center: $24,000 for security infrastructure improvements
Stephen’s Episcopal School: $20,000 for school safety and security improvements

Harrisburg city will receive two grants:

$250,000 for purchase and installation of new bay floors at the city’s two operational fire stations
$$75,000 for design of the city’s proposed extension of the Urban Meadow in Midtown

Other Harrisburg-based projects include:

Capital Area Transit: $96,500 for transportation services for veterans
The Salvation Army: $25,000 for a new generator
Dauphin County Library System: $40,000 for patron computer upgrades
Keystone Service Systems: $43,000 for Capital Area Head Start outdoor education space
Harrisburg University: $75,000 for HUE Invitational security services and technology
Downtown Daily Bread: $10,000 for installation of air conditioning in day shelter
Midtown Action Council: $5,000 for historic marker revitalization expansion project
National Civil War Museum: $16,000 for reduction of debt
Sankofa 21 Institute: $6,000 for student technology initiative
Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $100,000 to administer the Foundation for Enhancing Communities/IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade Commonwealth Monument Project

Each year, the commissioners make these awards based upon the recommendation of the county’s five-member Gaming Advisory Board. Last year, the county awarded $6.4 million in grants to about 60 projects.

More Downtown Apartments OK’d

More apartments are headed to downtown Harrisburg, as a split City Council has approved Harristown’s latest building plan.

By a 4-3 vote, council approved a proposal to convert a Market Square office building to residential use.

South Second Associates LLC, a development group led by Harristown Enterprises, plans to build out 30 one- and two-bedroom units from the former home of the Skarlatos Zonarich law firm, which has relocated to Strawberry Square. Rents are expected to range from $1,100 to $1,400 a month, depending on square footage and the numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms.

The developers originally planned to retain the building for offices, but couldn’t find an anchor tenant, which led to a change to residential use.

Council President Wanda Williams objected to the project and voted against it, joined by council members Ausha Green and Danielle Bowers.

Williams said she that, for years, she has urged Harristown to meet with the city or with such entities as the Harrisburg Housing Authority to include units that would meet some undefined standard of affordable housing.

“I informed you three or fours years ago that I want to see a percentage for inclusionary or affordable housing,” Williams said.

Council member Shamaine Daniels, however, said that the city shouldn’t expect a specific developer to provide affordable housing when the city itself lacks an affordable housing statute. In fact, she placed blame on council itself for inaction.

“The leadership really comes from council or the mayor,” she said. “I think it’s unfair to hold individuals responsible for lack of leadership on our own part.”

Williams has said that she expects to introduce an affordable housing ordinance later this year.

Over the past several years, Harristown has invested tens of millions of dollars to convert substandard, often vacant, downtown office space into new, market-rate apartments. It currently is signing leases for two newly renovated apartment buildings on Pine Street.

Jones said that he expects the renovation of the Market Square building, located at 17 S. 2nd St., to begin this spring and be completed early next year.

Arcade Debated

Harrisburg City Council last month introduced a resolution that would transfer ownership of the Strawberry Square arcade.

Harristown Development Corp. is asking council to transfer the arcade—the elevated walkway that connects Strawberry Square to the Hilton Harrisburg—to the Strawberry Square Condominium Association.

Neal West, Harristown senior vice president and president of the condominium association, said that they would like a permanent solution for the 66-foot-long enclosed pedestrian pathway. The city is supposed to pay for maintenance of the arcade, estimated at $70,000 per year, but Harristown has been footing that cost for decades.

Moreover, Harristown has invested some $500,000 over the years to reconstruct and upgrade portions of the arcade, and more costly improvements are needed now, West said.

In 2015, Strawberry Square became a condominium, co-owned by Harristown and the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, which has transferred its board seats to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as state workers occupy the majority of office space in Strawberry Square.

If council approves the transfer, ongoing expenses would be split between Harristown and the commonwealth, West said. Because the arcade generates no revenue, yet has expenses, its value is negative, he said.

Currently, Harristown has a month-to-month agreement with the city to maintain the arcade, so could exit it at any time.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that his administration believes it’s in the city’s interest to be relieved of potential maintenance and upgrade expenses.

“The liabilities associated with maintaining the arcade properly are more than the city is in a financial position to want to bear,” Papenfuse said.

Several council members wanted assurance that the arcade would remain open to the public if the city no longer owned it.

“The public use would remain in place,” West said. “People would continue to have full use and benefit of the arcade.”

CASA Expansion Ahead

The Capital Area School for the Arts is moving on up—to the third floor of Strawberry Square.

Starting next academic year, CASA will expand by one floor, into space once occupied by Gamut Theatre.

“The move is exciting for us,” said CEO and Principal Tim Wendling. “The improvements will allow CASA to support additional STEAM learning opportunities as well as sustain our academic needs well into the future.”

More than four years ago, Gamut relocated from its long-time home in Strawberry Square to the former First Church of God across N. 4th Street in downtown Harrisburg. Strawberry Square owner Harristown Enterprises has been searching since for a tenant for that third-floor space.

“It’s an ideal space for CASA to cement their future in Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, Harristown president and CEO. “Over time, they’ve really grown to find this to be a unique and opportune space for their campus.”

A public charter school, CASA offers full-day high school education for 200 students from 30 central Pennsylvania school districts.

According to CASA, the new, third-floor space above the food court will add classrooms, a science lab and several other academic spaces, bringing the school’s footprint to about 25,000 square feet over the first and third floors of Strawberry Square.

For the past several years, CASA has been leasing additional classroom space from Temple University Harrisburg, which is located on the other end of the office, residential and retail complex. The expansion should eliminate the need for that space.

Work on the new space, totaling about 10,000 square feet, is expected to start soon, with completion in time for the 2020-21 school year. To pay for the lease and the build-out, the CASA Charter School Foundation has begun a campaign to raise $1.6 million.

To contribute to the CASA Charter School Foundation’s capital campaign, visit www.CASAFound.org.

Monument Receives Funds

A monument honoring voting rights and Harrisburg history is a step closer to reality, as the project last month received more than $100,000 in new funding.

At a city hall press conference, the Commonwealth Monument Project received several large checks and pledges that will enable work to begin on critical aspects of the multi-part statue.

The city, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) and philanthropist Peggy Grove all announced additional support for the monument planned for the lawn of the Capitol’s Irvis office building at N. 4th and Walnut streets.

“It’s a wonderful and incredibly important day,” said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The monument, which has been a vision for so long, will become a reality.”

In its 2020 budget, the city pledged $25,000 to help build the base of the monument if organizers could raise a $25,000 matching grant. TFEC now has provided that match.

The $360,000 monument, called “A Gathering at the Crossroads,” consists of three distinct aspects, all crafted by Lancaster-based A.R.T. Enterprises.

The first, the orator’s pedestal, depicts scenes of Harrisburg’s old 8th Ward, which was demolished to expand the Capitol complex. It already has been completed.

The second consists of life-sized figures of four important figures in Harrisburg history: civil rights activist William Howard Day, journalist and lawyer Thomas Morris Chester, musician and restaurateur Jacob T. Compton and abolitionist and suffragist Francis Ellen Walker Harper.

In addition to honoring the demolished 8th Ward, the monument is a tribute to voting rights—specifically, the U.S. Constitution’s 15th and 19th amendments, which secured the vote for African Americans and for women, respectively.

The project’s third aspect is the base of the monument, which the $50,000 donation will fund.

Grove, who had already helped fund the monument’s pedestal, then announced additional support by the Grove Family Fund for two of the four statues.

Besides raising money, the monument’s executive committee has succeeded in receiving legislative approval to site the monument on the grounds of the Capitol complex.

Festivals on Tap for March

Two celebrations, just weeks apart, will mean a busy March around downtown Harrisburg.

First up, on March 7, the city will host its third annual Ice and Fire Festival. The one-day event closes down a portion of N. 2nd Street for free ice skating in the street, children’s activities, music, food trucks, fire dancers and other fun events, capped off by a dozen or so ice sculptures.

Two weeks later, on March 21, downtown again will spring to life with a number of St. Patrick’s Day events.

Activities begin at noon for what’s become the start of the long race season in Harrisburg, with the Lucky Charm 5K/10K. At 2 p.m., the run becomes a slow walk as the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade begins to wind its way through the downtown.

The parade will feature six Irish pipe and drum bands, fire trucks, floats, Irish dance groups and other entertainers, in addition to numerous food trucks.

“We are pleased to be hosting this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and are excited to show off more of our downtown business community,” said Todd Vander Woude, executive director of the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District. “We invite you and your family to join us for a great day downtown.”

Several downtown streets will close for the Ice and Fire Festival and St. Patrick’s Day events, which both occur on Saturdays. Four hours of free parking are available in downtown metered spots by using the Parkmobile app with code “LUVHBG.”

Home Sales, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales and prices rose significantly in January, with strong sales data from both Dauphin and Cumberland counties.

Overall, housing sales in the three-county region climbed to 494 units versus 350 in January 2019, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The median sales price increased to $182,000, up by 7.1 percent year-over-year.

In Dauphin County, sales surged to 240 housing units compared to 179 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $171,000 versus $152,500, said GHAR.

Cumberland County also had a strong month, with sales rising to 229 units versus 154 in January 2019, according to GHAR. The median sales price increased to $196,900 from $182,500 in the year-ago period.

In Perry County, sales also were up, totaling 25 units versus 17 a year ago, but the median sales price decreased to $138,000 from $170,000, GHAR said.

According to GHAR, average days on the market in its coverage area dropped substantially, standing at 42 days in January, down 28.8 percent from the year-ago period.

So Noted

Downtown Harrisburg last month was hit by a substantial water main break. About 200 customers were either without water or had to boil their water for several days after a large crack developed in an 82-year-old pipe.

Harrisburg University has announced two more major outdoor concerts in Riverfront Park. Alt-rockers Cage the Elephant are slated to play on June 18 and DJs Steve Aoki and Deorro on June 26. In January, HU said that Riverfront Park also will be the site of a June 4 concert by the Icelandic band, Of Monsters and Men.

Just Baked Cakes & Pies held its grand opening last month inside of Midtown Scholar Bookstore in the former space of P&R Bakery. Owner Tammy Worthy-Jones heads up the eatery, which specializes in cheesecakes and also offers cookies, puddings, pies, sandwiches, soups and breakfast items.

Matthew Herren last month was named the new executive director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Herren, originally from Lancaster, will replace Jeff Woodruff, who is retiring after 17 years in the position. Most recently, Herren served as executive director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.

Changing Hands

Boas St., 221: R. Sabo to S. Hart, $119,000

Briggs St., 221: G. Dori to D. Thomas, $187,000

Chestnut St., 2015: A. & G. Griffith to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000

Chestnut St., 2312: P. & J. Vander Kraats to A. & L. Myers, $140,000

Croyden Rd., 2968: A. Snyder to M. Cabrera & R. Gonzalez, $70,000

Derry St., 2345: Charles A. Sterret Investments & W. Klinger to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $42,000

Derry St., 2503: S. & A. Cornick to J. Cornwall, $50,000

Division St., 507: H. Fox Jr. to A. McKonly, $44,500

Duke St., 2435: J. Smith & Genesis Opportunity Development Corp. to Genesis Opportunity Development Corp., $45,000

Emerald St., 231: Federal National Mortgage Association to H. & B. Reyes, $72,000

Forster St., 1927 & 1929: R. Mosley to K. Santamaria, $75,000

Girard St., 745: American Escrow & Closing Co. to SPG Capital LLC, $47,500

Green St., 910: J. Foreman to D. & L. Williams, $197,000

Green St., 1615: J. Scott to B. Kerstetter, $150,000

Green St., 1910: C. Reinhold & K. Hurst to D. Greenstein & M. Feldman, $219,900

Green St., 1928: J. Hardie & T. Craven to M. Stilegman, $225,000

Hale Ave., 453: KDW Real Estate Holdings LLC to Z. Garba, $31,000

Harris St., 236: Hari Group LLP to K. Kinyua, $135,000

Herr St., 1408: L. Proctor to E. Canchani, $45,000

Kensington St., 2357: J. Liddick to J. & M. Ranck, $58,700

Linden St., 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 117½, 119, 119½ and 100 & 112 N. 13th St.: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC to G. Radon, $135,000

Lewis St., 210: T. Keller to Smith Della Porta Investments LLC, $72,500

Logan St., 2247: D. Mitchell to CR Property Group LLC, $30,000

North St., 2022: FBTB Group to D. Watson, $60,000

N. 2nd St., 817: HCH Investments LP to N&R Group LLC, $180,000

N. 2nd St., 1013: M. Weiss & M. Marsico to V. French, $105,000

N. 2nd St., 1503: J&S Estates LLC to C. Carlsen, $184,000

N. 2nd St., 1622: J. & M. Quigley to Three Bridges Holdings LLC, $67,500

N. 2nd St., 1624: J. & M. Quigley to Three Bridges Holdings LLC, $67,500

N. 3rd St., 1116: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $330,000

N. 3rd St., 2317 & 2319: Sam Hill Properties to DAG EKG Properties LLC, $187,000

N. 3rd St., 2333: 2333 N. 3rd Street LLC to S. Linder, $133,000

N. 3rd St., 3115: M. Bhatti to Equitable Rentals LLC, $97,000

N. 3rd St., 3200: Riverside Methodist Church to Kesher Israel Congregation of Harrisburg Pennsylvania, $176,000

N. 5th St., 2630: CitiMortgage Inc. to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $45,600

N. 13st St., 116: C. Castagneto to T. Gilmore, $35,000

N. 18th St., 73: B. Boyer & J. Hoover to E. Morris & C. Perez, $38,000

Norwood St., 919: H. Greene to D. De Jesus, $85,000

Park St., 1939: K. Lewis to L. Long Jr., $60,000

Paxton St., 1621: E. & Q. Rivera to L. & L. Morales, $35,000

Penn St., 1707: M. Carson to J. Becker & K. Talada, $126,900

Penn St., 2231: O. & N. Banting to T. Astuto, $105,000

Radnor St., 403: BJ Cvetko to T. Brown, $110,000

Radnor St., 630: 630 Radnor Street PA LLC to T. Gassert, $30,000

Radnor St., 631: H. Yellets Jr. to J. Fernandez, $32,000

Rudy Rd., 2130: Derry Street Evangelical Church to G. Brown, $100,000

S. 15th St., 922: PA Deals LLC to S. Chatman, $118,000

S. 19th St., 231: P. Trustey to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $41,000

S. 24th St., 608: D. & A. Hoyt to S. Welch, $160,000

S. 25th St., 438: CR Property Group LLC to M. Anwar & B. Sakina, $82,500

S. 25th St., 640: D. Hoffman to J. Regalado, $42,000

S. 27th St., 661: R. Bowser to SPG Capital LLC, $85,000

Susquehanna St., 1330: Frog Hollow Associates LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $55,000

Verbeke St., 208: C. Malloy & K. Sica to J. & J. Weaver, $99,900

Vernon St., 1409: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Green Book Enterprise LLC, $107,999

Woodbine St., 222: I. Sweets to K. Robinson, $36,000

Woodlawn St., 2201: Harrisburg Lodge 12 Order of Elks Assoc. to Full Circle Music Inc., $230,000

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

Cold & Hot: Harrisburg gears up for third annual Ice & Fire Festival

February 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse speaks at today’s Ice & Fire Festival press conference.

The first week of March is forecast to feel more like spring than winter, but that’s OK with the organizers of the city’s Ice & Fire Festival.

In the lobby of city hall today, conversation already centered around the weather forecast for the March 7 festival, which will feature ice sculptures, an ice slide and an ice skating rink.

But, for city officials, nice weather is just fine, if it means strong attendance.

“We are expecting tremendous crowds this year,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We’ve seen this festival grow every year.”

This will be the festival’s third year in the heart of downtown Harrisburg, which runs along 2^nd Street from Pine to Market streets.

But the festival isn’t confined to cold-weather events. The “fire” portion includes fire dancers, a fire-eater and a fire pit lounge. There also will be entertainment such as choirs, musicians and other performers.

An ice-creaming event, sponsored by Urban Churn, will combine both elements of the theme, as it will feature the red-hot “Carolina Reaper” pepper, to see if anyone can finish a bowl.

Other highlights include food trucks, art and craft vendors and glass-blowing workshops. Up Market Street, the HBG Flea will set up shop in Strawberry Square.

Numerous streets close for the event, including:

2^nd Street, between Market and Pine streets, which will close at 10 p.m. on Friday
Walnut, Locust & Pine Streets between 3^rd and Front streets, which will close at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7
Market Street between Front & 2nd streets, which also will close at 7:30 on March 7

All roads will reopen on Sunday, March 8 at noon.

For parking, the Market Square Garage will offer $10 special event parking from 10 a.m. to midnight. Also, attendees can park for free at the city’s lot on City Island and can use the ParkMobile App to get up to four hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code. Street parking is free after 5 p.m.

The 3rd annual Ice & Fire Festival will take place March 7, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., in downtown Harrisburg. For more details, visit the event website.

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