Musical Milestone: Homeland Hospice marks 10 years of serving the community.

October 31, 2019 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

It’s something that Mark Twain once said was as certain as taxes. Others have described it as entering another room, switching vehicles or mounting a common, inevitable path.

Whatever your views are about the end of life, chances are that it’s not the same as your neighbor’s—or even your own family’s.

It’s been 10 years since Homeland Hospice initiated its end-of-life services for terminally ill patients and their families in central Pennsylvania. Today, the hospice care service, a community outreach of Harrisburg’s Homeland Center, tends to more than 200 patients every day in 14 counties.

The hospice is comprised of 14 full-time case managers, two medical directors, certified nursing assistants, social workers, counselors, chaplains and a crew of volunteers.

To mark its 10th anniversary, Homeland Hospice is holding a live-performance fundraiser called “Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude,” scheduled for Nov. 10 at Scottish Rite Theatre in Harrisburg. Scheduled musical artists include area native and Nashville recording artist Ben Gallaher, as well as Buffalo Mountain Bluegrass Band, which features fiddling siblings Autumn and Canyon Moore from Perry County.

For musical artist Gallaher, performing at “Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude” truly hits home because Homeland provided services to his grandmother, said hospice Director Deb Klinger.

“Our (hospice) program just continues to evolve,” said Klinger, who’s been with the Harrisburg-based care service for six years. “As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we are afforded the opportunity to provide additional services, such as hair, nails, art and music therapy. We also provide massage therapy.”

There are regular home visits from medical professionals certified in hospice and palliative care, a nurse case manager on call 24/7 and spiritual counseling. End-of-life care is provided wherever a patient resides, including nursing facilities.

Hospice is intended for terminally ill patients who have been diagnosed with six months or less to live, but services can be extended beyond six months if necessary.

Patients’ families aren’t overlooked either. Homeland Hospice offers in-home caregivers up to 32 hours each calendar month of solitary respite.

“Caregivers can do whatever they want during those hours,” Klinger said. “It gives them time to refresh and regroup.”

Homeland Hospice also offers bereavement counseling for families up to 13 months after a loved one’s death. The free service also is available to the general community, as well as Homeland families, said Noelle Valentine, one of the hospice’s two bereavement counselors.

“We always follow up to see how the (surviving) family is doing,” she said. “Everyone is feeling a mix of emotions, but sadness is usually the most prevalent. Everyone’s grief is different. It’s people trying to cope and make sense of where their life is.”

Fundraisers like “Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude” are important to the hospice program because the Homeland organization spends almost $3 million annually on charitable and benevolent care. Patients and their families are never charged for costs not covered by insurance, and no one is ever asked to leave due to a lack of funds.

“We have a very low overhead,” Klinger said. “Our goal is to turn it back toward our patient and therapy care. Our goal is to make the patient as comfortable as possible.”

Months prior to the concert, Homeland Hospice initiated a guitar sponsorship fundraiser similar to the “Cow Parade,” which was conducted around 15 years ago throughout the Harrisburg area to raise funds for Whitaker Center. Wendy Shumaker, director of marketing, said Homeland continued to accept reservations for guitar sponsorships past an initial deadline due to popular demand.

“People are embracing this,” she said. “As long as they can get guitars to us three or four days prior to event date of Nov. 10, we are okay with that.”

“Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude” takes place Nov. 10 at Scottish Rite Theatre, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Performances start at 2 p.m. For information, visit www.homelandathome.org.

Sharp Dressed Man: Step out in style with Michael Boyd.

October 31, 2019 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Michael Green

When’s the last time you heard someone described as a fashion plate, dressed to the nines, or looking like they stepped out of a bandbox?

If you’re unfamiliar with those old expressions, you’re not alone. The day when it was a matter of pride to put one’s best sartorial foot forward seems to have come and gone—that is unless you ask Michael Green, owner of Michael Boyd Menswear, who can provide you with a whole roster of clients who believe otherwise.

The businessman’s keen interest in the fashion industry started many years ago.

“I’ve always loved fashion from a young age, when I used to join my father when he was shopping for clothing,” said Green, who parlayed his passion into a paycheck, opening up H. Michael’s Men’s Shop in York in 1982 and going on to open Michael Boyd in 2001.

He operated both stores until closing the York store in 2005.

For 17 years, Green conducted business in Harrisburg before contemplating a move. When he learned that the property at 2205 Market St. in Camp Hill was available, he jumped at the opportunity to join the burgeoning business area that seems chockablock with boutiques.

“I think this area offers great potential and realized that 60 percent of my clients hail from Camp Hill and Mechanicsburg,” he said.

Although his business may seem anachronistic to some, Green has survived by evolving with the times.

“I recognize how retail has changed for men and how the dress codes are different,” said Green, who went from about 1,000 square feet in Harrisburg to about 350 square feet at the new location. “We’ve become very casual over the years.”

Among the curated selection of sportswear and dresswear are made-to-measure suits and sport coats with labels like Samuelsohn, Gran Sasso, Raffi, Emanuel Berg, Gimos leathers and denim from Italy sold under the Michael Boyd label. With the transition to cooler weather, Green is also carrying cashmere scarves, throws by Johnstons of Elgin and candles by We Took to the Woods.

He puts a lot of thought into everything that appears in his store, but makes it clear that fabric is what excites him the most.

“This store is all about the fabric—the industry and technology are evolving,” he said, handing over a soft-as-silk pair of slacks.

“That’s wool,” he informs, adding that the suits he sells are superior to those sold off the rack. “They promote ease of movement, they lay well, and they keep their shape.”

Green works on appointment for those who want his undivided attention.

“I’ll offer them a fine wine or bourbon, and we’ll go to work to create a look based on their needs,” said Green, adding that he would be loath to let anyone leave without looking short of spectacular. “When they leave here, they become a walking billboard for my store.”

David La Torre said that Green has a keen eye and a listening ear.

“He will discover what you like to wear and will never sell a shirt that doesn’t fit correctly,” he said.

La Torre, founder of Harrisburg-based La Torre Communications, puts a priority on buying local and said that Green is a valuable asset to the area.

“Twenty or 30 years ago, there were stores all over Harrisburg that provided this service,” he said. “Mike is the only one left, and he carries some of the best brands from around the world.”

La Torre travels quite a bit for work, but buys most of his clothes from Green.

“He knows exactly what I want and knows that many men don’t wear suits or ties anymore, and that’s all right with him,” he said.

Davis Mathews of New Cumberland is similarly complimentary.

“He completely renewed me,” said Mathews, who works for an international company and frequently travels to Europe and Asia. “Our dress etiquette in the United States is quite different and, as an individual in an executive position, I’m required to dress a certain way both on and off the job.”

He explained that nice jeans and a tucked-in shirt paired with a blazer is de rigueur when off the clock in those regions of the world. He also mentioned how his eyes were opened when he saw how he looked in front of a global delegation.

“I work out quite often and off-the-rack clothes just look goofy,” he said. “Michael asked me to invest in one made-to-measure suit, and I was sold.”

Mathews also likes buying his jeans from Green.

“You can’t find them anywhere,” he said. “You can wear these jeans, and they feel like you’re wearing expensive slacks. The level of comfort and confidence I have while wearing these, especially after sitting on a plane from 15 to 16 hours, is unsurpassed.”

For Green, it’s all in a day’s work.

“I love fashion,” he said. “I love coming to work every day and working with my clients and creating looks for them. I get a great feeling when I see the smiles on their faces because they see just how transformative the right clothing can be.”

Michael Boyd, Exceptional Men’s Clothing, is located at 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.michaelboydmenswear.com.

Kneaded in the Community: Making pizza, building a home around Harrisburg.

October 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

Jesus Alejandrez

Most Fridays, real estate agent Brent Hill isn’t selling houses, but pizza.

He began working at Giovanni’s Pizza in Linglestown about 12 years ago, making deliveries to earn an income while he worked on his real estate license.

A few years later, Hill sold his first house as a licensed agent. But, surprisingly, he didn’t quit his job at Giovanni’s. Over the years, he had developed a close friendship with shop owner Jesus Alejandrez.

“I don’t think you could get a better boss,” Hill said. “He’s so nice. He would give the shirt off his back for you. For somebody that literally came from nothing, he has no problem giving away what he gets.”

From Scratch

Thirty-three years ago, Alejandrez came from Mexico to the United States. He was only 13 years old when he hopped on a border-bound bus with some cousins and friends, only a small wad of cash to his name.

“That’s how I start my—I call it an adventure because really I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.

Three weeks after arriving in California, Alejandrez made it to Mount Joy where he stayed with a brother who was already living there. The same night he arrived, he started washing dishes at the Keystone Restaurant—what is now Gus’s Keystone Restaurant on W. Main Street. He worked there for about four years before moving to Lititz to work at another restaurant.

Alejandrez would go home to Mexico to visit family every now and then, and, on one occasion, met his wife Gabriella, whom he brought back to the United States.

Eventually, Alejandrez was sold a pizza shop business in Uptown Harrisburg. He finally owned his own restaurant, but didn’t realize just how hard it would be.

“When someone sells you a food business—it’s because it’s not doing good,” he said. “Because, if it’s doing good, they’re going to ask you for a lot of money. But I didn’t have no experience at all, so I bought it.”

He maxed out his credit cards just to pay utilities and rent.

“I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning because I didn’t know how to manage money,” he said.

At about that time, Alejandrez found the first quarter-sized bald spot on his head. The doctor told him it from was high amounts of stress—the reason patches of his hair were disappearing. Finances had been tough, but losing his hair? He needed a release, so he started playing soccer to relieve some tension after work.

“That hour that we played, that was the time that I could at least forget a little all those problems, all those phone calls from the collection companies, all that stuff,” he said.

The Boss

These days, things are different. Alejandrez now gives business and financial advice to other people—friends and family just beginning their business journeys as he was years ago.

“He’s looked at from everybody as the boss,” Hill said. “Every friend and family member goes to him for advice.”

Alejandrez realizes his business is still small. He sees other business owners that have more money and bigger restaurants, but he’s happy. He’s providing for his three boys and making a living. His hard work has made a difference.

“We have a house. It’s not paid off yet, but I have a bedroom for each of my kids,” he said. “When we were living in the mobile home, it was falling apart.”

Alejandrez recalled the days in the trailer park, cutting the end of his son’s wooden bed to make leg room as he got taller.

But as the kids grew and Giovanni’s grew, the family’s finances also grew. They were able to buy their first house from none other than Alejandrez’s good friend Hill—that first sale he had those nine years ago.

Close to Home

Alejandrez eventually sold his Uptown shop, and started his current business in Linglestown, which has been around for about 11 years now.

He works there for 13 hours a day, sometimes seven days a week. His son, Giovanni, works with him, as well. The restaurant has the typical foods you expect to find in a pizza shop, but with a few nods to his home country thrown in, such as tacos, quesadillas and burritos. Alejandrez also owns Giovanni’s Pizza and Bakery in Steelton.

Many customers are regulars who come back for the food and the service.

“He’s a very friendly guy,” said Taryn Miller, a weekly customer. “They make sure they give you the best service they can.”

Hill said that he talks with Alejandrez on a regular basis. He pointed out that, with all the current discussion around immigration, “this hits close to home.”

It’s been a long time since Alejandrez was drinking from park water fountains and buying 30-cent packs of crackers just to put something in his stomach. Now, he runs a restaurant packed full at lunch and helps others reach their goals like he did.

“Life taught me,” he said. “Now, in this town, this pizza shop is known.”

Giovanni’s Pizza is located at 1027 N. Mountain Rd., Linglestown. For more information, visit https://www.orderstart.com/giovannispizzalinglestown#.

From the Ashes: A historic Allison Hill firehouse was condemned. Then Jason Lloyd set his sights on it.

October 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

Jason Lloyd doesn’t mince words when asked about the condition of a unique building he purchased in 2010.

“Whatever the most horrible place you could think of, it was worse than that,” he said.

He is referring to the historic, red-brick Allison Hook & Ladder Building and, for Lloyd, a Harrisburg firefighter himself, restoring the circa-1909 building became both an obsession and a labor of love.

“There was never any grand plan,” he said. “It was just to save the building.”

Fast-forward nine years, and, today, the landmark on the 300-block of S. 14th Street has been fully restored and is back in service of the Harrisburg Fire Bureau.

The building remains privately owned, but four volunteers, constituting the revived Allison Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2, are now attached to it—though they actually respond to fires from the bureau’s modern, fully-equipped station on N. 16th Street.

“We want to help the community and put some firefighters back on the street,” said Allison Co. member Steve Austin.

Fire Bureau Chief Brian Enterline said that he was happy to see the volunteer company back and ready to return to the community.

“They have a strong link to Harrisburg fire history, and it made sense to bring them back on board,” he said.

Too Much History

In the early 1900s, Allison Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 was founded.

At the time, it was common to have many stations, even in a small city like Harrisburg. Horses were used to pull fire engines, and communication was slow, so communities relied on firefighters located nearby.

Allison Hook & Ladder No. 2 was formed to fill this need for the Allison Hill community. Around 1908, the lot on S. 14th Street was purchased and, within a year, the two-story brick station was constructed.

The firehouse had a large number of volunteer firefighters and ran a two-piece hose and chemical wagon, as well as a ladder truck. Over the decades, the building was used for firefighter training and union meetings, in addition to serving as an active station.

But, starting in the 1950s, Harrisburg’s once-bustling stations began to fall into decline.

The city once had 14 firehouses, many volunteer-based. But, increasingly, Harrisburg’s volunteer ranks dissipated, and the force became almost fully professionalized.

Eventually, the city’s firehouses consolidated into just four and, today, there are only two working stations. Allison Hook and Ladder officially shut down in 1980. Since it was not of use to the Fire Bureau anymore, the building was sold back to the volunteer Allison Hook & Ladder Co. for $1.

Over the years, the firehouse served mostly as storage space and became dilapidated. The once-bustling firehouse was full of dirt, animal feces and trash. Windows were busted and boarded up and walls were crumbling. The historic structure was condemned.

Despite the building’s condition, Lloyd felt pulled to it.

“I said, ‘I don’t know what it will cost, I just want to save the building,’” he said. “It’s just too much history to let go.”

In Your Blood

It took 10 years of writing letters to the Allison Co. before Lloyd was offered the building.

Company President Barry Buskey explained how the volunteer group hadn’t been active for many years. Therefore, they had to reorganize simply to vote to sell the building. With no other ideas or plans for the station, they took a chance and sold it to Lloyd for $12,800 in 2010.

Thus began the second part of Lloyd’s long journey.

The 62,000-square-foot firehouse had a unique stamp tin ceiling, the original chief’s office, a spiral staircase, gear locker, four pole holes and a bedroom and meeting room.

The only problem was that you hardly could see any of it.

It took about three months of gutting the place and almost nine months of dry-walling just to get started on the renovation.

“It’s pretty much just been the firefighters working together to resurrect this place,” Lloyd said. “Once you come here and see this and get involved, it gets in your blood.”

Lloyd and other firefighters have put in years of labor, often after work or on the weekends, with most of the money coming straight from Lloyd’s overtime pay.

In the restoration, Lloyd wanted to keep the building as close to the original firehouse as possible. While much of the structure was gutted, the historic doors and wood trim remain. The upstairs bedroom was redone, but looks similar to the original. The meeting room was revamped to be a hangout space, including a bar with a back made from an old gear locker topped with antique fire helmets. Lloyd was also able to locate the fire truck that used to run out of the station and bought it, as well.

Over the years, he has collected historical items from defunct Harrisburg fire companies, as well as some from the city in general. One room, in particular, holds display cases of old postcards, photographs and other relics he found, mainly through searching online.

“It’s not a functional museum, but there’s a lot of historical stuff in here,” Lloyd said.

This past August, a number of Harrisburg’s historic preservation officials toured the resurrected Allison Hook and Ladder firehouse.

“There are people who go the extra mile because they are passionate,” said David Morrison, executive director of the Historic Harrisburg Association. “Jason has that passion. He has the vision. He has the drive when other people would’ve given up.”

A Lot of Need

With the countless hours that Lloyd and others have put into the firehouse, they hope others can benefit from it, as well. They’ve held block parties for the station’s neighbors, tours for various groups and benefits to raise money for people and organizations in need.

Enterline highlighted how the Allison Co. and the Fire Bureau at large have the same vision.

“Our goal has always been to have community-oriented fire stations,” he said.

Most recently, Allison Hook and Ladder established a community advisory board, which will consist of local leaders, business owners, clergy, educators and others. They will work together on community relations, historic preservation ideas, potential grant applications from public and private sources and fundraising activities.

A main focus is fire prevention education within Allison Hill.

“We want to try and help the community,” Lloyd said. “There’s a lot of need out here, and there’s a lot of good that can be done with the people we have. It’s all just to try and better the Allison Hill neighborhood.”

The Allison Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 Firehouse is located at 315 S. 14th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.allisonhookandladder2.org.

Musical Notes: Big Nights

October 31, 2019 | by Kait Gibboney

Every month, the music scene gets bigger and better in Harrisburg, and this month we have some heavy hitters coming our way. In addition, we have some unique local events going on that are a bit different from our classic shows.

The annual “Hooray for Harrisburg” show is on Nov. 23, featuring the Greater Harrisburg Chorus. This performance will include two showings at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. hosted at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center. Local drag clown Mister Treats will perform a cabaret series in the style of musical theater from Nov. 20 to 29 at Open Stage, featuring dance numbers, live singing, lip-synching and a heck of a lot of wigs!

If you’re searching for those heavy hitters I mentioned, look no further, because we have three shows you’re going to be hearing about long after they’re gone.

JIMMY EAT WORLD, 11/12, 7PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $30
In Harrisburg’s attempt to catch up with other places with proper, city-sized concerts, organizations like Harrisburg University and venues like Whitaker Center and the Forum have been scoring major artists lately. An old Harrisburg favorite venue, H*MAC new management, new energy and new acts coming through. Internationally known alt rockers Jimmy Eats World are set to play at H*MAC’s upstairs venue, the Capitol Room. Formed in 1993, lead guitarist and vocalist Jim Adkins got together with drummer Zach Lind, guitarist and vocalist Tom Linton and bassist Rick Burch. A few of their singles rocketed them into stardom in the early 2000s, such as the iconic, “The Middle,” and their highest-charting album from 2006, “Chase This Light,” peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. If you want to support music at H*MAC and catch a wave of nostalgia, this show’s for you.

GRACE POTTER, 11/15, 8PM, THE FORUM, $45
Harrisburg University’s not done serving up unforgettable shows for their concert series, and, this time, the legendary Grace Potter is coming to town. Originally part of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, formed back in 2002, she went solo a few years later with her album, “Original Soul.” The breakup of her band and divorce shortly afterwards led to a brief break before putting herself back on stage in 2004. After successfully getting back into the music game while navigating a new marriage and child, Potter formed the Grand Point North music festival in her hometown of Burlington, Vt., in 2011. The festival was created to feature local businesses and draw major musical acts to the area, like performers the Flaming Lips and the Avett Brothers. The Forum is an excellent venue to enjoy Potter’s abundance of talent and larger-than-life stage presence. Tickets are selling out fast, so be sure to snag them before you miss this opportunity.

BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY, 11/22, 9PM, XL LIVE, $30
This is our third heavy-hitter show this month, and, unsurprisingly, it’s at Harrisburg’s hottest venue—XL Live. Keeping with XL’s trend of hosting the hippest hip hop and raddest rappers, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will make their way to the big stage. From the Ohio rap scene in the early ‘90s, the bone-themed group consists of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone. The group hit gold right away with their smash hit single, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” off of their very first EP. They even won a Grammy back in 1997 for their song, “Tha Crossroads,” a tribute to Eazy-E, a well-known West Coast rapper who originally signed them to their first record deal. Actually, Bone Thugs is the only group to have worked with legendary, departed rappers 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun and Eazy-E. This is another show you can’t miss around town this month.

Mentionables
Hollan, Nov. 1, Spring Gate Vineyard;
Switch Fu, Nov. 2, River City Blues Club;
Schumann Quartet, Nov. 9, Market Square Presbyterian Church;
Rings of Saturn, Nov. 9, H*MAC Stage on Herr;
Filter, Nov. 16, H*MAC Capitol Room;
Lady Boy Sings the Blues, Nov. 19-27, Open Stage;
Rumpke Mountain Boys, Nov. 22, The Abbey Bar;
Rodrigo y Gabriele, Nov. 30, The Forum

Medical Institution: Dr. Brian Dechowitz retires, marking a new era for Pine Street Podiatry.

October 31, 2019 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Dr. Avia Reuveni and Dr. Dechowitz

He’s been called an “institution” in downtown Harrisburg—a podiatrist who served the community faithfully for more than three decades on Pine Street.

Now, Dr. Brian Dechowitz is calling it quits, giving up his practice and primarily moving out of state, while a fellow physician with Harrisburg roots takes his place at Pine Street Podiatry.

It isn’t retirement in the typical sense. Dechowitz, who has been a caregiver to his wife, Glenda, for many years, needs to up the time and effort he devotes to her.

“Nov. 15 will mark the absolute last day of my practice,” he said.

Dechowitz founded his practice with an assist from a previous generation of podiatrists. Through friends and colleagues, he met Jack Pincus, a semi-retired podiatrist. He allowed Pincus and Julius Ogden, another a semi-retired podiatrist, to work in his new office for free.

“Even though Jack had been working only two afternoons a week and Julius, only three mornings a week, they still had very good reputations in downtown Harrisburg. So, I had access to their long list of previous patients,” Dechowitz said. “We truly were family. Jack would always be known from that point forward as my second father, my mentor and my friend.”

In fact, it was Pincus who advised Dechowitz to open an office downtown.

“Jack and Julius may have been the only podiatrists still practicing in the area at the time,” he said.

On the very first day in practice—July 1, 1986—Dechowitz treated 11 patients. On Aug. 23, 2019, he treated a new patient, number 11,897.

Another milestone was receiving an award from the Historic Harrisburg Association for his building “coming back from the dead”—his office having been essentially uninhabited from 1964 to 1986.

Bill Nichols, the owner of the Colonnade Restaurant across the street, had bought the buildings at 125 and 127 Pine St. and renovated them using historic tax credits.

“I saw the ‘for rent’ sign in the window, rented the buildings for six years and then bought them in 1992,” Dechowitz said.

While he stayed happily downtown, other podiatrists who had practiced in the area relocated to the suburbs, mostly for the parking.

“But this location was good to us,” with its wealth of government workers and senior citizen buildings, Dechowitz pointed out.

Besides, he purchased a lot next to the other two and converted it into space for parking.

His medical philosophy has been simple: “I try to treat patients the way I want to be treated. Most of my patients come via word of mouth.”

Another principle Dechowitz holds by is that one ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

“I am also proud to say that my record for preventing lower-extremity amputations, for (reducing) the number of visits that my patients make to the emergency room, for the number of days that my patients stay in the hospital for foot-related problems, and for the ordering of very expensive tests, such as MRIs, CAT scans, etc., is second to none,” he said.

Medicine isn’t the podiatrist’s only strength. Dechowitz took after his father, Fred, long the athletic director at the old Jewish Community Center on N. 3rd Street. The son excelled in sports, especially in tennis and golf, and has been inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of central Pennsylvania.

Much as his medical practice has benefitted thousands and rewarded him professionally, his wife’s needs are most critical now.

“I am at a crossroads in my life,” Dechowitz said.

Aside from wanting to spend more time with his wife, Dechowitz said he’s “ready to start a new adventure.”

For now, though, patients are still coming. With just a little time left, he hoped to reach 12,000 before his mid-month retirement after 33 years.

Dr. Avia Reuveni, Dr. Dechowitz’s successor, will begin practicing at Pine Street Podiatry on Nov. 18. There will be an open house block party on Pine Street on Sunday, Nov. 10, from noon to 6 p.m., to say farewell to Dr. Dechowitz and welcome Dr. Reuveni.

Character Counts: You never know what you’ll find at this quirky Lancaster co-op.

October 31, 2019 | by Cathy Jordan

A brick archway leads to three rear 1900s-era warehouses full of memories and treasures.

The name on a green sign outside fits perfectly: Building Character. Its interior is a cool, open refuge, oozing character and interest. Visualize cement floors, exposed beam ceilings, steel piping and brick walls. Breathe in cinnamon and spice and a scent I fondly refer to as “grandma’s attic.”

Building Character opened on Oct. 5, 2007.

Once garages designed by Cassius Emlen Urban—a prolific architect who designed many beautiful old buildings in downtown Lancaster—the building remains in most of its original state.

Though it’s believed Urban produced over 273 drafts and 25 architectural styles, he devised a simple, red-brick row of one-story garages in the 300-block of N. Queen Street. Some residents might remember it as a historic warehouse, the former Lancaster Storage Co.

The current business owner, Marty Hulse, explained that when Lancaster Storage left, the then-owner wanted to raze it and put in parking. Fortunately for all you antique lovers, art admirers and Etsy shoppers, Lancaster City Historical Commission stepped in and voted to keep the structure. Eklund Development took over, transforming the building into its current retail space while keeping much of the original integrity.

Hulse intended Building Character as an architectural salvage shop. He rescued moldings and windows and cabinets from old homes and buildings then refurbished them for sale.

“A lot of things were coming down in Lancaster,” said Hulse. “To me, it was a social mission to keep those things out of landfills.”

Got Bored

Hulse is a collector of things he remembers and loves and is a self-dubbed “word nerd.” As a kid, he started a neighborhood newspaper named the Lafayette Gazette, “because I lived on Lafayette Street.” Headlines were set on his Fisher-Price Press, which he still owns.

“I collected magazine ads from Swatch,” he said. “I have a Swatch watch collection and still wear one every day.”

After graduating from Temple University, Hulse got a job reporting for the Delaware State News. Returning to PA, he became features copy editor for the York Daily Record. He eventually moved up to features senior editor for Lancaster Newspapers. In 2009, he shifted full-time to Building Character.

An artist browsed the salvage store one day and approached Hulse, asking if he’d be willing to rent out space.

“The architectural pieces weren’t selling, and demand grew for consignment,” he said.

Currently, 70-plus vendors rent three warehouses throughout 10,000 square feet.

“It’s a co-op, but it’s not all antiques,” Hulse said. “That comes from my lack of attention browsing other antique shops—I got bored.”

Building Character is a contemporary marketplace that sells recycled, re-purposed and handmade items. Inventory changes often. Have your coffee in one hand and keep your other hand free. Pick through vintage dishes (I bought dessert plates, then proudly displayed them heaped with iced birthday cake on my Facebook page), search through name-brand clothing, admire local art, upcycled jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, repurposed building pieces and memorabilia.

“I see this place as a creative outlet for office workers, teachers and those with an entrepreneurial spirit,” Hulse said.

Local Hammond’s pretzels are sold in front of Building Character’s checkout counter, along with Emma’s Amish Popcorn and locally made pet treats.

“We are more community-oriented, and that’s what sets us apart from other antique co-ops,” he said.

Hulse donates space to a working 1920s print shop, the Heritage Press Museum. The press gives live demonstrations and allows patrons to experience a printer’s job. I took home a couple of printed riddles for my kids to solve. Kept them busy while I wrote this article.

He also donates a stall to JP McCaskey’s art club, his high school alma mater.

“They sell their products, and the money goes back into art supplies,” he said.

Lot of Laughs

Original shopping bags from Hager’s millinery department are mounted on the staircase wall leading to a second-floor corner office. A picture of the façade of M. T. Garvin and Co. also graces the wall, as do photos of past retail industry giants.

“Lancaster has a strong retail past,” Hulse said. “And that continues to this day.”

A second-floor clothing stall leads right into the Lucky Marketing Co. workshop, Hulse’s production arm. There, he creates greeting cards, calendars, reproductive postcards, stickers, T-shirts, buttons, high school pendants, and old maps. On the day of my visit, an aproned elf busied herself pouring Christmas scents into candle molds.

While another elf diligently adhered prints onto tiles, Hulse pointed out the garment printer, mug printer, screen printer and foil pencil press.

Hulse handed me a “Golden Girls” printed bookmark. I couldn’t help but smile and gasp, much like “Golden Girl” Rose. General manager and friend, Joel Henry, had created a birthday gift of custom tiles pasted with “The Golden Girls” faces. That’s right—Blanche, Sophia, Dorothy and Rose.

“I love ‘The Golden Girls,’” said Hulse.

After Henry sold quite a few more sets on Etsy, Hulse decided to create a “Golden Girls” product line. The line is sold a few doors down Queen Street at his second shop, Madcap and Co.

“It’s a funky gift shop—a contemporary, upscale Spencer’s selling local, American-made, and fair trade products,” he said. “I love Lancaster. I grew up here, so we have a whole line of Lancaster products.”

The Lucky Marketing Co. also prints tiles and coasters with Lancaster landmarks, area codes and neighborhoods.

Hulse said that he tries to stay away from anything imported.

“My businesses are the epitome of shop local,” he said.

He also designs a line of crass greeting cards appropriately named, “Totally Inappropriate Cards.” His logo—“When you care enough to send the very worst.” I giggled my way through the line and bought quite a few.

“We like to have fun and get a lot of laughs,” Hulse said.

What started with a simple vision has grown to 70 vendors, three businesses and nine employees.

“Our employees are willing to be adaptable, try new things, and give customers what they want,” Hulse said.

Building Character is located at 342 N. Queen St., Lancaster. For more information, call 717-394-7201 or visit www.buildingcharacter.biz.

Community Corner: Notable November Events

October 31, 2019 | by Missy Smith

November Community Corner

Autos & Ales
Nov. 1: Join the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, for the 10th Anniversary of Autos & Ales, with regional breweries, dozens of craft brew beers for sampling, live music, a wing competition, and this year’s featured brewer, Mad Chef, 6 to 10 p.m. Expanded food offerings included with admission. www.aacamuseum.org

Organ Concert
Nov. 1: Market Square Church, 20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg, presents “Organ Spooktacular,” with three of the area’s finest organists performing eerie music, beginning at 7:30 p.m. www.marketsquarechurch.org

Community Arts
Nov. 2: Christ Church, United Church of Christ, 200 S. White Oak St., Annville, hosts Community Arts Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event is a celebration of the arts in the community with live performances, art exhibits, free kids’ art activities and free refreshments. www.ccucc.org

HBG Flea
Nov. 2: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. www.hbgflea.com

Election Lunch
Nov. 5: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, will offer an Election Day lunch in Foundation Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in before or after you vote for homemade baked goods and lunch. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Fashion Event
Nov. 5: The 22nd annual Chic PHantastique fashion event will be held at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg, at 10:30 a.m., with proceeds benefitting the UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg Women and Babies Center. Guests can enjoy a boutique, basket raffles, silent auction and lunch with a runway fashion show with designer Arti Shah. www.pinnaclehealth.org

Mid-Day Getaway
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Unwind over lunch break at the McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. Bring your lunch to the library, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., for coloring, card games, board games or low-stress activities. www.dcls.org

Curiosity Kids
Nov. 7: Young visitors, ages 3 to 6, and families can enjoy “Curiosity Kids—Build It!” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. Explore building using everyday items and see if you can solve the building challenges. www.statemuseumpa.org

Dinner for a Cause
Nov. 7: Vision Resources of Central PA will host the 8th annual “Evening in the Shadows” at The 903, 903 Spring Garden Dr., Middletown, for a multi-course dinner and blindness awareness event, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $80. www.vrocp.org

Campout Fundraiser
Nov. 8-9: Central Penn College’s Armed Forces Association club will host an all-night campout to highlight the issue of homelessness among military veterans from Friday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. to Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. The organization will sell T-shirts and will collect donations. All proceeds benefit JFT Recovery & Veterans Support Services in Lemoyne. www.centralpenn.edu

Craft Show
Nov. 8-9: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts the 29th annual Elizabethtown Heritage Craft Show, Nov. 8, 4 to 8 p.m., and Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch and baked goods will be available. A $2 admission fee or food bank donation is requested. Admission is free after noon on Nov. 9. Museum members and students are free. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

Foreign Film
Nov. 8, 22: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “The Pool,” a film from India, on Nov. 8, and “The Last Resort,” from the United States, on Nov. 22. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Volunteer Work Day
Nov. 9: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Gluten Free Expo
Nov. 9: The 7th annual Central PA Gluten Free Expo will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more than 50 local and national vendor booths, educational presentations and demonstrations, door prizes, gluten-free samples and keynote speaker Jules Shepard. www.glutenfreeexpopa.com

Night Walk
Nov. 9: Soak up the spirit of the night with a guided walk at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. Begin at the Olewine Pavilion by the nature center with a short program to discover night-time experiments and games. All ages are welcome to attend this flat, easy, one-mile walk. Cost is $5 per child; chaperones are free. www.wildwoodlake.org

Guitars & Gratitude
Nov. 10: Help Homeland Hospice mark its 10th anniversary with “Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude” featuring musical artist Ben Gallaher at Scottish Rite Theatre, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Performances start at 2 p.m. www.homelandathome.org.

20 in Their 20s
Nov. 14: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals in honoring “20 in Their 20s,” a group of young people who are already doing amazing things. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Tickets cover cocktail hour, a buffet meal and the awards ceremony. www.hyp.org

Land Preservation
Nov. 14: Join Manada Conservancy at East Hanover Township Building, 8848 Jonestown Rd., Grantville, at 7 p.m. to celebrate a successful land preservation year. The program is free and open to the public. www.manada.org

3rd in The Burg
Nov. 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Wildlife Ornaments
Nov. 16: Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County hosts a Wildlife Tree Ornaments Workshop for youth ages 4 to 12, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Make and take home feeders and natural ornaments to decorate outdoor trees and feed wildlife. Cost is $10 per child, which covers the cost of all supplies. www.extension.psu.edu

New Member Social
Nov. 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. Please RSVP to attend. A cash bar and full menu will be available. www.hyp.org

Luncheon
Nov. 20: West Shore Chamber of Commerce, 4211 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, will host a member benefits luncheon, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Chamber members and non-members are invited for a complimentary lunch to learn more about the chamber and to network. Reservations are required. www.wschamber.org

Climate Call
Nov. 20: PennFuture hosts “A Call for Climate Action,” 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Dixon University Center, 2986 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Learn about environmental organizations and how to make a difference in your community. www.pennfuture.org

Networking Breakfast
Nov. 21: Messiah College networking breakfast with Rob Parker is slated for 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The event takes place in Martin Commons, One College Ave., Mechanicsburg. Contact 717-796-5252 or https://events.attend.com/f/1383790352#/reg/0/.

Books on Tap
Nov. 21: Dauphin County Library System hosts Books on Tap at the Sturges Speakeasy, 400 Forster St., Harrisburg, 5 to 6 p.m. The book club meets to dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting, This month’s book is Beatriz Williams’ “The Golden Hour.” www.dcls.org

Business After Hours
Nov. 21: Mingle with business professionals from 5 to 7 p.m. at AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event, hosted by Classic Drycleaners and Laundromats. www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Middle East Strategy
Nov. 21: The Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg hosts Michael S. Bell, a retired Army colonel now with the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., in a talk on U.S. strategy for the Middle East at the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. The free talk is open to the public. A dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 21-22: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission hosts the Holiday Marketplace in Village Square of the State Museum, 300 North St., Harrisburg, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shop for unique gifts from a variety of PHMC’s historic sites and museums from throughout PA. www.statemuseumpa.org

Holiday Parade
Nov. 23: Head downtown for Harrisburg’s annual holiday parade with marching bands, giant parade balloons, floats, dance and step team performances and more, at 12 p.m. There will be food trucks and carnival games, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. An awards ceremony, visits with Santa and complimentary cookies and hot chocolate will be held at Strawberry Square, 3 p.m. www.harrisburgpa.gov

Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 24: Kick-start your seasonal shopping at The Circle School, 727 Wilhelm Rd., Harrisburg, for their annual Holiday Bazaar, 1 to 5 p.m. Members of the school community offer handcrafted and gift-quality items for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the school. Soup, bread and hot beverages will be provided. www.circleschool.org

Polar Bear Express
Nov. 29-Dec. 14: Ride trolleys and enjoy decorations and lights along the track at Rockhill Trolley Museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Get warm by a campfire and sing carols. Hot chocolate and cookies are included in the fare. Cost is $6 for kids and $8 for adults. www.rockhilltrolley.org

Odd Ones Bizarre
Nov. 30: The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, hosts The Odd Ones Holiday Bizarre, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shop for unique, handcrafted items for the holiday season at this annual alternative arts and crafts event. www.millworksharrisburg.com

Festival of Trees
Nov. 30-Dec. 22: View Christmas trees decorated with handmade ornaments and trimmed by local garden clubs at the Fort Hunter Tavern House, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Trees are available for raffle, and a selection of ornaments are for sale. www.forthunter.org

Toy Train Exhibit
Nov. 30-Dec. 22: Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society returns to Fort Hunter Centennial Barn, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, with a display of HO gauge trains that travel over a large layout representing communities in central PA, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. www.forthunter.org

Forging a Path: PAATH 15 aids survivors of human trafficking, serves as nationwide model.

October 31, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

Anastasia Joy* calls it the skeleton in her closet.

“I didn’t tell anyone about that part of my life until the FBI got involved,” said the 25-year-old Harrisburg-area resident.

She’s referring to two years of her life, from age 17 to 19, when she ran away. The straight-A student was months from graduation, despite years of an unstable home life.

“I found out I was being moved once again, and I snapped—walked out of school, and ran away,” she said.

Born in Russia, Anastasia came to the United States to be adopted at the age of 8. Instead, she spent most of her childhood in the foster care system throughout central Pennsylvania.

So, eight years ago, homeless and on the run, she quickly realized that, “I was very naïve. And when you have nothing, you do things you never thought you would do.”

She met him at a gas station.

“He asked if I needed a ride,” she said. “It was cold, and I didn’t care at that point.”

She ended up in the Poconos, and he became her trafficker.

“It started quickly, and he painted this glorified version of what my life could be. He was charming, nice and kind,” she said. “That’s how so many [traffickers] trick women into [sex trafficking]. I didn’t understand what was happening until it was happening. I needed a roof over my head, and I did what he told me.”

He set her up in a hotel where she saw clients. He gave her drugs, alcohol and “had me working like a slave,” she said. When she questioned him or refused specific sexual activities, he threatened her.

“I wasn’t a citizen of the country—he knew my name, he had my papers, and he threatened to call immigration,” she said. “I tried to leave several times. He threatened to hurt my [adoptive] family. I was trapped.”

One day, he beat her until she was unconscious. When she woke up, she climbed out of a hotel window and started running. She was found, passed out, aside a highway and taken to a hospital where she recovered from a concussion.

She didn’t fully realize she was a victim of human trafficking—something experts say is “normal” in trafficking cases.

“I moved on with my life, earned my citizenship, got a job, but it’s not like life got better. I was used to men hurting me, so I went through two abusive relationships and had a child,” she said.

She found her way back to the Harrisburg area, where she “put everything in the back of my head.”

“I’ve been clean for two years, have partial custody of my son, and my life is normal—I’m in school, I have a job,” she said. “But about a year ago, the FBI showed up, put his mug shot in my face and said, ‘We need your help.’”

In March, she testified against her trafficker during eight hours on the witness stand. A federal grand jury found 37-year old Fredrick Brown of Monroe County guilty of sex and drug trafficking charges. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

A Model

Rhonda Hendrickson, vice president of programs at PAATH 15—the Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans, Route 15— can’t comment on Anastasia’s case specifically, except to say the outcome is “definitely outside the norm.”

“It’s not uncommon that traffickers use drug control on victims of commercial sex exploitation, forcing women to sell their bodies, with a lot of violence and intimidation tactics,” she said. “It’s common for victims to not show up to testify.”

Hendrickson’s work in anti-human trafficking began in 2009. By 2010, the South Central Pennsylvania Human Trafficking Response Team was one of the first in the state. The collaborative PAATH 15 was launched in 2014, under the umbrella of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, connecting five rape crisis centers, four human trafficking response teams and additional resources along the 12-county, 8,400-square mile Route 15 corridor from the New York to Maryland state lines.

Also in 2014, Pennsylvania enacted Act 105, an anti-human trafficking law. It defines two types of human trafficking—sex and labor trafficking—occurring under force, fraud or coercion. Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, behind drug trafficking.

PAATH 15—primarily funded by federal grants—provides services to survivors and educates and trains the public, police departments and employees in specific industries to identify potential victims.

“We were originally one of two programs funded nationally,” Hendrickson said. “The PAATH 15 program presents a model of services, using a shelter recovery program, and now we’re a model for other programs around the country.”

She has traveled across the country to advise other federally funded programs, including California’s.

Due to “increased awareness,” Hendrickson said, there’s been a 200-percent jump in the identification of human trafficking victims within the 12-county region, resulting in more than 300 victims receiving services since 2014.

“The trauma of a trafficking victim is severe and complex,” she said. “It takes a long time to work through services.”

Define Your Future

Gina Abromitis spent 21 years as a Dauphin County parole officer. Now, she provides PAATH 15 outreach and training.

She’s personally trained six area police departments to identify human trafficking victims—during routine traffic stops, for example—and use Act 105.

“Most victims are in the vulnerable population,” she said. “Runaways have a one-in-three chance within the first 48 hours of being picked up by traffickers.”

As for Anastasia, she wants her story to “open up awareness.” Her relationship with her adoptive family is mended, and they are proud of her for testifying. She is left with a physical scar, and she continues to work on the emotional scars.

“I knew if I didn’t help the FBI, [Brown] was going to do exactly what he did to me, to another vulnerable 17-year-old girl, and he had to be stopped,” she said. “I knew it would awaken a lot of dark memories for me, but I told them everything.”

During the sentencing phase, she even told Brown that she forgave him.

Her long-term career goal is to work with fellow human-trafficking survivors.

“I’ve been there,” she said. “You can’t define your past, but you can define your future.”

For more information on the Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans, visit www.educateandadvocate-paath.com. For information about human trafficking awareness training, call the YWCA at 717-234-7931. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

*Last name withheld

October News Digest

October 31, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Stormwater Fee Debated

Capital Region Water took its case for a stormwater fee to Harrisburg City Council last month, explaining how and why the utility expects to implement the new fee starting Jan. 1.

At the beginning of a 2½-hour meeting, Charlotte Katzenmoyer, CEO of Capital Region Water (CRW), explained the proposed fee to council members, which she said was necessary to pay some of the cost of improving the city’s obsolete sewer infrastructure.

“We have to upgrade our system and reduce stormwater flows,” she said. “There is a lot of deferred maintenance, so we have a lot of catching up to do.”

In June, the CRW board launched a process that may culminate with a separate stormwater fee at the beginning of 2020. Under the plan, most residential customers would pay $74 a year, or $6.15 with each monthly bill, though larger residential and commercial property owners would pay more, depending on the amount of impervious surface on their land.

Currently, stormwater costs are included in the wastewater portion of a customer’s monthly bill. CRW officials have said that, with a separate stormwater fee, wastewater rates should rise more slowly than they have in recent years.

CRW is under a partial consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the flow of pollution into area waterways. Much of the problem is due to the city’s obsolete combined sewer system, which discharges untreated wastewater into streams and the Susquehanna River during moderate and heavy rainfalls.

To help address the issue, CRW plans to spend $315 million to upgrade the sewer system and implement green infrastructure over the next 20 years.

CRW officials told council members that the stormwater fee, which will raise $5.2 million a year under the proposed rate structure, was a more equitable way to pay for system upgrades than through the wastewater portion of the bill, as owners with more impervious surfaces on their properties would pay a greater amount.

Following CRW’s presentation, Mayor Eric Papenfuse criticized CRW for proposing a stormwater fee absent a final agreement with the EPA. He said that the proposed fee might not cover the improvements mandated by the federal environmental agency.

“We’re spending $315 million on a plan because that’s what we can afford, but it doesn’t solve the problem,” Papenfuse said. “If we want to get to 95-percent compliance, or whatever the EPA mandates, we don’t have a plan that works for us, by your own admission.”

Katzenmoyer said that the $315 million investment would reduce wastewater flows into the Susquehanna River by 82 percent. She projected a total cost of $600 million to be in full compliance, with a timeframe of 65 years to achieve that.

CRW board Chairman Marc Kurowski said that discussions with the EPA indicate that the federal agency is aware that Harrisburg is a relatively poor city and needs a lengthy time period to achieve a 95-percent compliance rate. He also said that CRW didn’t want to wait for a final agreement with the EPA due to years of deferred maintenance to the system.

“To wait to implement the fee until the consent decree says this is what you need to do, it’s too late,” he said.

Papenfuse further said that he believes that too much of the burden will fall on Harrisburg’s lower-income residents, especially renters, since landlords presumably would pass on the fee to their tenants.

Katzenmoyer said that CRW plans to offer larger property owners, such as apartment building owners, credits for reducing the amount of impervious surfaces on their land, which could lower their overall burden.

Hanging over the meeting was a notice that the city issued in late July asking private water companies to respond to a request for information, which led to interviews with four respondents. Papenfuse has repeatedly stated that the meetings are “preliminary” and don’t mean that the city intends to sell the water/sewer system.

Polling Places Change

Many Harrisburg voters will need to cast their ballots in a new polling place this month, as Dauphin County had made numerous location changes to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

For the Nov. 5 general election, voters in seven Harrisburg polling stations will have new locations, said Gerald Feaser, director of the county’s Bureau of Elections and Voter Registration.

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice surveyed a portion of the county’s polling stations, finding “many” to be difficult to access for people with disabilities. Then, last year, the county and the department reached an agreement meant to increase accessibility. As a result, the following polling stations are changing:

Harrisburg 1-1
Old: Comfort Inn/Passage to India, 525 S. Front St.
New: UPMC Pinnacle/Life Team Facility, 1000 Paxton St.

Harrisburg 4
Old: St. Michael Evangelical Lutheran Church, 118 State St.
New: MLK Jr. City Government Building, 10 N. 2nd St.

Harrisburg 7-2
Old: Capital Presbyterian Church, 1401 Cumberland St.
New: Downey Elementary School, 1313 Monroe St.

Harrisburg 9-4
Old: Bellevue Community Center, Briarcliff & Oakwood Rds.
New: John Harris High School Field House, 2451 Market St.

Harrisburg 10-1
Old: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, 2121 N. 3rd St.
New: Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 2430 N. 3rd St.

Harrisburg 10-3
Old: Hadee Mosque, 245 Division St.
New: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St.

Harrisburg 10-4
Old: Teamsters Local #776, 2552 Jefferson St.
New: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St.

In addition, for Harrisburg 6 (Susquehanna Art Museum) and Harrisburg 9-3 (Edison Village), the building will remain the same, but the polling location in the building will change.

Council Rejects Housing Director Choice

Harrisburg City Council last month rejected a top administration appointment, with the mayor stating that the decision imperils key city housing programs.

By a 4-2 vote, council turned down the appointment of Franchon Dickinson as the city’s new director of building and housing, the second time this year council members had refused to confirm her appointment.

Following the vote, Dickinson, who was serving as interim department director, resigned her job with the city.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse railed against the vote, saying that Dickinson’s departure endangers two critical housing programs—the annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the city’s Lead Hazard Reduction Program.

“There is no way this can be understood as anything other than pure dysfunction on the part of City Council,” he said, following the meeting.

Council members Ben Allatt, Ausha Green, Danielle Bowers and Dave Madsen voted against the appointment, while council President Wanda Williams and Councilman Westburn Majors voted in favor. Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels was absent from the meeting.

In June, council voted 4-3 against the appointment.

Just hours earlier, Dickinson had hosted a city hall ceremony, in which she accepted a check for $5.6 million from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue the city’s lead abatement program for five years.

Papenfuse said that Dickinson was fundamental in securing both CDBG funds and the federal lead abatement grant and that, without her leadership, both programs were at risk.

“This puts our HUD funding in jeopardy,” he said.

PennDOT May Consider I-83 Changes

The PA Department of Transportation might consider making changes to its design for the widening of I-83 that would reduce the project’s impact on the community, Harrisburg’s mayor said last month.

At a City Council legislative session, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that PennDOT officials seemed receptive to the preliminary findings of the city’s transportation consultants, Kittelson & Associates, during a Sept. 16 meeting.

“It was a robust discussion of Kittelson’s findings,” Papenfuse told council members.

In June, the city hired the company for $72,500 to conduct a traffic and community impact study of the commonwealth’s proposal to double the number of lanes running through the city.

The study analyzes PennDOT’s widening plan, which envisions as many as 12 lanes and new interchanges, and is determining whether alternatives exist to reduce the project’s footprint and the impact on the community.

Kittelson is expected to release its final report in December, but shared its preliminary findings during the September meeting with PennDOT, Papenfuse said.

Kittelson believes that the footprint of the project can be reduced to lessen the impact on numerous homes and businesses in south Harrisburg threatened by the expansion, and PennDOT seemed receptive to the firm’s ideas, the mayor said.

City Engineer Wayne Martin later explained that Kittelson is recommending reducing the size of the project from 12 to 10 lanes by eliminating two collector/distributor lanes, which are lanes that parallel and connect to the main travel lanes.

Other recommendations include redesigning the proposed 19th Street and Paxton Street ramps to further reduce the impact on the neighborhood.

“PennDOT is committed to doing what it can to minimize the footprint,” Papenfuse said. “It seems encouraging at this point.”

More Downtown Apartments

A plan for a downtown Harrisburg office building has evolved and now will consist of two separate projects—one residential and one office.

Harristown Enterprises has decided to split a Market Square project into two pieces, said CEO Brad Jones.

The first building, an existing, century-old office building at 17 S. 2nd St., now will become a 30-unit, market-rate apartment building with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, with retail or restaurant space on the first floor, Jones said. That six-story project will go before the city’s Planning Commission this month.

The neighboring building, new construction at 21 S. 2nd St., still will become an office building, Jones said.

Originally, Harrisburg-based Harristown had planned one large, interconnected office building spanning both sites, but hasn’t been able to secure an anchor tenant for it.

“We had a number of prospects, but didn’t find the right deal on that,” Jones said.

In 2017, Harristown acquired 21 S. 2nd St. and later knocked down the small, dilapidated building on that site, which now is an empty lot. Last year, it bought the building next door, 17 S. 2nd St., most recently the home of the Skarlatos & Zonarich law firm, which has relocated to Strawberry Square.

Jones said that he didn’t want 17 S. 2nd St. to sit empty, possibly for years, while his company searched for a large anchor tenant for the office complex, nor could Harristown build it on spec. So, they decided to convert that existing building into apartments, as demand has been strong for other downtown residential projects.

Over the past few years, Harristown has built—or is building—about 150 apartment units in downtown Harrisburg, mostly conversions from aging office buildings. Its largest project, two attached, mid-century buildings on the 100-block of Pine Street, will deliver 74 units early next year.

Meanwhile, Harristown continues to search for an anchor office tenant for 21 S. 2nd St. Jones said that he envisions that new building to be four to six stories tall, with 10,000 to 15,000 square feet of new office space. Harristown would like to break ground on it in 2021, but timing depends on interest, he said.

2nd Street Design Chosen

Median strips have triumphed over a dedicated bike lane, as Harrisburg last month announced the winning design for its two-way 2nd Street conversion.

The city administration stated that residents overwhelmingly preferred “concept 1,” which features a center left-turn lane, along with partial median strips, along the two-mile stretch from Forster to Division streets.

“The public feedback greatly favored Concept 1, and so the city is ready to move forward with next steps towards its implementation,” according to a press release.

The competing design, “concept 2,” included a protected bike lane, but no center lane.

“That’s the main difference,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse told TheBurg previously. “Do you want a center lane with medians, or do you want a bike lane? We can’t accommodate both.”

The winning design also would sacrifice fewer parking spaces. The design would mean the loss of 70 spaces, as opposed to 83 under concept 2, yielding a total of 550 street parking spaces on N. 2nd from Forster to Division streets.

The design itself is not primarily responsible for the parking loss. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the city must make intersections ADA-compliant whenever it undertakes significant roadwork, which then reduces parking capacity.

The city said that 65 percent of respondents, who voted both in person and online, preferred concept 1 and that 87 percent of respondents wanted the street returned to two-way traffic through Midtown and Uptown Harrisburg.

In the 1950s, 2nd Street was made into a three-lane mini-highway to accommodate commuters and has remained that way since. Papenfuse has said that he expects the $5.7 million project to begin next year and be completed in 2021.

Harrisburg Finances Stable

The first six months of Harrisburg’s financials are in the books, and what’s the verdict?

Steady as she goes, according to the city’s finance and budget officials, who gave an update last month to City Council.

City Budget Manager Erika Regalado said that, for the first two quarters of 2019, revenues came in about on budget. Property tax revenue was flat, but local income taxes came in stronger than expected, indicating a robust local employment picture.

“The economy is steady, and it’s growing, and unemployment is low,” she said.

Her presentation echoed the one that Bruce Weber, director of the city’s Bureau of Financial Management, offered a week earlier to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, a state-appointed body tasked with approving a five-year financial plan for the city.

Weber said that he expected current trends to continue through the rest of the year.

The city’s 2019 budget totals nearly $110 million, which includes a $70.8 million general fund, a $20.6 million neighborhood services fund and a $9.8 million debt service fund.

CRW Receives State Loan

Capital Region Water is in line to receive a multi-million-dollar state loan that should provide a boost to its ongoing battle against stormwater runoff.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced last month that CRW would receive a $13-million, low-interest loan for green infrastructure projects in several Harrisburg neighborhoods, including South Allison Hill and Uptown.

CRW’s loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) constituted a fair chunk of the $98 million in water infrastructure funding announced by Wolf’s office. In all, 11 counties received funding for a variety of drinking water and wastewater projects.

In Harrisburg, the loan, which carries an interest rate of 1 percent, will allow CRW to initiate two major projects next year, said Tanya Dierolf, CRW sustainability and strategic projects manager.

The first project will take place in the heart of Allison Hill around the intersections of Derry, 14th and 15th streets. CRW will install a variety of green infrastructure, including tree trenches, planter boxes and catch basins, along with new, ADA-compliant ramps, Dierolf said.

The second project planned for 2020 will take place Uptown near the Camp Curtin YMCA. That project will include planters, bumpouts, inlets and catch basins, as well as new ADA-compliant ramps, Dierolf said.

From 2021-24, the loan will fund additional stormwater projects in Uptown Harrisburg and near Paxton Creek, she said.

CRW is under a partial consent decree with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection to slash pollutant levels flowing into area waterways. Much of the problem lies with Harrisburg’s obsolete combined sewer system, which allows untreated stormwater and wastewater to flow into the Susquehanna River during moderate and heavy rainfalls.

CRW plans to invest $315 million over the next 20 years to upgrade its sewer system and install green infrastructure, which is a major part of its plan to reduce stormwater flows through its system.

Rezoning Gets Approval

A Harrisburg builder is a step closer to developing in a Midtown neighborhood, as the city Planning Commission has approved a zoning change that would allow a denser, more mixed-use neighborhood.

Seven Bridges Development received approval last month to rezone about 14 city blocks just north of the Broad Street Market. The zoning change from “residential medium neighborhood” to “commercial neighborhood” would permit greater height, density and mix of uses in the Marketplace townhouse neighborhood.

“The idea is take vacant parcels and give Midtown more opportunities for residential and commercial,” said Seven Bridges attorney Christopher Rice of the Carlisle-based Martson Law Offices.

In late 2005, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority sold 71 individual lots to State College-based S&A Homes for $1 apiece. S&A built a handful of houses then stopped, causing the authority recently to buy back the undeveloped parcels. In late April, the authority designated Seven Bridges as the potential developer of the remaining 60 lots in the Marketplace neighborhood,

City Planning Director Geoffrey Knight said that Seven Bridges would need to return to the planning commission to get its land use plans approved for individual projects, regardless of whether the zoning change is made.

“It will allow more development to occur by right, but it won’t exempt any new project from going through the land development process,” he said.

In the end, the planning commission voted 4-2 in favor of the change, with commissioners Anne Marek and Ausha Green dissenting.

Harrisburg City Council now must approve the proposed zoning amendment.

Downtown Office Building Planned

Harristown Development and Select Capital Commercial Properties are teaming to build a new, mixed-use building in the center of the 300-block of Market Street, directly across from Strawberry Square.

“This is the last area on Market Street in the core of downtown that needs redevelopment,” said Harristown CEO Brad Jones. “This is the final piece.”

The developers envision a 10- to 12-story, 100,000-plus-square-foot office and retail building at 307 to 313 Market St. The building, called 311 Market Street, also would have several floors of parking and might include residential space.

For the past few years, Harristown has been purchasing properties to assemble the site. Recently, the company closed on the final, and largest, piece, buying the former Rite Aid drug store from the Camp Hill-based company for just over $1 million.

Jones said that plans are to demolish the existing structures, probably next year. In the meantime, the developers hope to recruit an anchor tenant.

If construction is delayed following demolition, the developers would turn the site into a “pocket park” in the interim, a space that could be used for events, Jones said.

“We would have a nice transitional use,” he said.

Harristown this year applied for a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant in the amount of $5 million for the project, which is estimated to cost $25 to $40 million in all. It didn’t receive the funds, but will apply again next year, Jones said.

Home Sales, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales jumped in September and prices also rose thanks to a drop in mortgage rates, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In the three-county region, home sales increased to 607 units, a jump of 18.1 percent over September 2018, while the median home sales price rose 5.1 percent to $181,000, GHAR said last month.

In Dauphin County, 292 housing units sold versus 254 in the year-ago period, and the median sales price increased to $167,500 compared to $164,900. Cumberland County saw home sales increase to 286 units from 233, while the median price rose to $209,950 from $189,000 in September 2018.

In Perry County, home sales increased by two units, to 29, while the median price was unchanged at $149,900, compared to the year-ago period, according to GHAR.

Overall, sales inventory was down by about 10 percent compared to September 2018, GHAR said.

“The sharp drop in mortgage rates over the past year has created additional demand,” said GHAR, in a press release.

So Noted

Amma Johnson has been named Harrisburg’s new director of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Johnson also owns her own boutique, AMMA JO, in Strawberry Square. The city administration last month also appointed Jamal Jones as the new director of business development and LERTA administrator.

Anna Pantalone has joined Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania as a new staff member. Pantalone is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in assisting people who are blind or visually impaired.

David Schankweiler has resigned from the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the state-appointed board formed to approve and oversee Harrisburg’s five-year financial plan. Shankweiler was replaced by vice-chair Audry Carter.

Doggie Delights debuted last month in the Broad Street Market, offering a line of home-baked dog treats, as well as packaged dog snacks. It’s the second location for owners Donnie and Kelly Farner, who also have a stand in the West Shore Farmers Market.

Eric Darr, president of Harrisburg University, will receive the 2019 Catalyst Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Other Catalyst winners include Claudia Williams of the Human Zone, Todd Snovel of the PA Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs, Blake Lynch of the Harrisburg Police Bureau, state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, the creative services company Triscari, Sylvia Hepler of Launching Lives and UGI Utilities.

Elementary Coffee Co. opened its first standalone shop last month at 256 North St. in Harrisburg, with a grand opening planned for this month’s 3rd in the Burg on Nov. 15. Owner Andrea Grove started her coffee business with a stand in the Broad Street Market, which she will retain. The shop is located in a once-derelict and abandoned building that has been nearly completely rebuilt, featuring the first-floor retail shop and roaster, with two apartment units upstairs.

Jeremy Stahl has joined Harrisburg-based FMA Advisory. Stahl brings more than 20 years of industry experience that includes public finance, tailored investment portfolio construction and equity valuation.

Manal El Harrak has been appointed chief executive officer by the board of directors of Carlisle-based Sadler Health Center. El Harrak, who joined Sadler in March 2015, served as the interim CEO after spending several years as chief operating officer.

Penn State Health and Geisinger announced last month the signing of a letter of intent to transfer ownership of Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health. Target date for completion of the transaction is by June 30. The intent is for the two organizations to enter into a member substitution agreement for Penn State Health to replace Geisinger as the sole corporate member of Holy Spirit Health System.

Recycle Bicycle has found a new home at 1722 Chestnut St. on Allison Hill, said founder Ross Willard. Volunteers have been clearing out the 9,000-square-foot, circa-1940 building, which will be used to store bikes until it can be fully occupied, probably in early spring, Willard said.

Steelton has sold its water system for $21.75 million to Hershey-based Pennsylvania American Water, one of the largest private water companies in the state. PA American Water is also one of four companies interviewed by Harrisburg recently as it ponders whether to privatize its water/sewer system.

In Memoriam

Rev. Rick Hawtrey, Jr., the owner of Capital Joe Coffee, died last month after a brief illness. A native of Milwaukee, Hawtrey, 43, lived in Mechanicsburg and operated Harrisburg-based Hawtrey Inc., an IT training company. Several years ago, he opened his first coffee shop on Forster Street in Harrisburg then opened a second shop in downtown Mechanicsburg. He was a licensed minister in the United Pentecostal Church and a member and minister of the Apostolic Faith Church in Mechanicsburg. He also helped start the first PA campus of Purpose Institute. Rick was a friend of TheBurg, and our staff would like to express our condolences to his loved ones.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2446: P. & L. Norton to C. Grant & M. Rinaldi, $64,000

Barkley Lane, 2510: Nish Properties to D. Lugaro Jr., $62,000

Berryhill St., 2217: Nationstar HECM Acquisition Trust 2018 1 to R. Castro, $61,000

Berryhill St., 2244: T. Valinoto, M. Ciccone & G. Valino to Ranck Investments LLC, $69,000

Berryhill St., 2307: W. Birtle to D. Everett & R. White, $170,000

Boas St., 229: D. Carmelite to JVC Investments LLC, $115,000

Calder St., 205: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Paul J. Kirsch Jr. to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $105,000

Calder St., 206: Sage Policy Group Inc. to J. Knapp, $108,450

Crescent St., 352: D. & S. Zimmerman to T. Doughty, $48,000

Curtin St., 523: Urban Living Properties LLC to SR Homes LLC, $33,000

Duke St., 2622: J. Conjar to A. Cowan, $146,250

Emerald St., 221: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to M. Horgan, $40,000

Fillmore St., 606: D. Halstead to C. Austin, $59,000

Forster St., 224: H. Bossert to S. De Freitas, $100,000

Green St., 1211 & 1213: J. & S. Bircher to D. Lehman, $210,000

Green St., 1310: Panda Real Estate LLC to A. Johnson, $156,000

Green St., 1708: M. Stevens to S. Jusufovic, $118,000

Green St., 1820: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to K. Hawkesworth, $217,000

Green St., 1925: B. & A. Christensen to M. Carson & R. Finkel, $206,000

Green St., 2013: M. Didone to C. Palmer, $232,500

Green St., 2218: F. Wilson to A. DeLeon, $41,750

Green St., 3117: B. Joyner to E. Bailey, $188,000

Green St., 3214: D. Bartels to J. Graf, $130,000

Hale Ave., 202: D. & P. Schulder to R. Kreitzer Jr., $110,000

Herr St., 121: Anderson & Spencer Rentals to M. & C. Freeman, $71,500

Herr St., 269: M. Berlin to B. Gordon & P. Keville, $154,900

Herr St., 403: C. Kotlarski to S. Nieves, $123,000

Kensington St., 2416: D. Truong to MRG Homes LLC, $55,000

Maclay St., 243: A. Apa Sr. to Trip Aces 243 LLC, $94,000

Manada St., 2016: D. Reinhart to A. Harrison, $105,000

Market St., 309 & 311: Rite Aid of Pennsylvania to Market Street Quad LLC, $1,045,000

Muench St., 429: Y. & K. Han to R. Wijaya, $63,000

Muench St., 639: P. Dobson to G. & E. Elledge, $44,900

Mulberry St., 1001: Mumma Realty Associates Property Management to D&F. Mulberry LP, $425,000

Mulberry St., 1815: Crystal Palms LLC to K. Kabeer, $55,000

North St., 1506, 1508 & 1512 & 1509 Primrose St.: F. Metzler to J. Ringley, $97,000

N. 2nd St., 2101: SMKP Properties to KALM Holdings LLC, $275,000

N. 2nd St., 2313: D. Lehman to B. VanFleet, $119,900

N. 2nd St., 2619: D. Skerpon & C. Baldridge to R. & J. Shovlin, $219,000

N. 2nd St., 2838: Diamond Real Estate Solutions Inc. to S. Gallagher, $245,000

N. 3rd St., 906 & 912: Nish Properties LLC to KALM Holdings LLC, $285,000

N. 3rd St., 1205: A. & J. Carper to S. & D. Rooney, $119,900

N. 4th St., 1727: B. & E. Holler to R. Moss & J. Stark, $153,500

N. 4th St., 1918: Rose of Sharon Baptist Church to Xtreme Management LLC, $135,600

N. 4th St., 2338: Penn Home LLC to M. Aramburu, $47,900

N. 5th St., 1945 & 521 Peffer St.: Church of the MC Lamb Memorial to Home for the Friendless Homeland Center, $390,000

N. 5th St., 2548: M. Roberts to B. Horn, $59,900

N. 6th St., 2245: J. Ward to N. Dessalegn, $44,000

N. 6th St., 2257: C. Yunga to I. Landi, $40,000

N. 15th St., 1503: KMABC Properties to A. Laboy, $46,000

N. 15th St., 1523: Tassia Corp. to K. Braddock, $35,000

N. 17th St., 1014: Truemac Homes 401K Trust to N. & R. Jeffries, $99,500

N. 21st St., 902: B. Garra to R. Womack, $63,000

N. Front St., 2843: M. & A. Saracino to Accession Holdings LLC, $328,200

Peffer St., 317: D. Berhe to CWJK Holdings LLC, $91,000

Penn St., 1619: H. Brown to T. Gross, $45,000

Penn St., 2419: M. & J. Miller to A. Demmel, $40,000

River St., 304: M. Della Porta & I. Smith to V. Murzin, $150,000

Seneca St., 245: CPenn Properties Old Uptown LLC to J. Ehring, $75,000

Seneca St., 250: PA Deals LLC to A. Nix, $69,900

South St., 122: FA Realty to J. Charles Realty LLC, $134,000

S. 16th St., 8: M. Hicks to D. & J. Portilla, $30,000

S. 19th St., 229: Water People Entertainment LLC to M. Reyes, $35,000

S. 25th St., 626: X. Shi to H. McCleave, $70,500

State St., 213: Legion Premier Properties LLC to H. Fang & K. Zhu, $319,000

State St., 231, Unit 506: LUX 1 LP to T. Huong, $124,900

State St., 231, Unit 802: LUX 1 LP to T. Huong, $169,900

Swatara St., 2405: L. & S. Snowden to K. Thai & K. Pham, $159,900

Valley Rd., 202: D. Benny to K. Caesar, $219,900

Vernon St., 1417 & 1419: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Greenbrook Enterprises LLC, $180,000

Harrisburg property sales for September 2019, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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