Sit, Stay and More: Once your dog knows the basics, you can take training to the next level.

Dog training isn’t just for dogs. It can bring many moments of discovery and learning for both pet and owner.

At first, instruction will be directed towards basics such as potty training and how to sit, stay and go for walks. Just having a well-mannered four-legged companion can be an enjoyable experience and bring a sense of accomplishment.

But, once the basics are mastered, the training doesn’t have to end. In fact, taking it to the next level is pretty simple. The key is to figure out your dog’s strengths and then pursue an outlet for those behaviors, which can be shaped into something constructive and amazing. These may include teaching your dog tricks, dock diving, agility, lure coursing, freestyle Frisbee or flyball. He or she can even be trained for search and rescue or to be a therapy pet that visits the infirmed or interacts with children.

Figuring out what your dog has to offer is the key. If your dog has a great nose and likes to hunt, then search and rescue or tracking might be a great outlet to shape its behavior into a useful and productive activity. Dogs that have an obsession with balls or playing catch may do well in activities such as freestyle Frisbee or flyball, a type of relay race for dogs. There are activities that include dancing with your dog and traveling with other dog-lovers (and their pets) to great vacation spots.

Your dog does not have to be selectively bred to perform such feats. Yes, certain dogs, such as service dogs, are bred for specific jobs and tasks. However, dogs are quick learners and, if given the right instruction and bond, will do almost anything to please their humans.

Age is of no matter. Most people think that training must be started at the puppy stage, but just like with humans, a certain level of maturity needs to be attained before development is fully possible. There are many YouTube sensations that were once pound puppies and are now stars of the internet. Dogs have personality and the potential to learn new tricks at any age. Just because your pup was not selectively bred to be a therapy dog does not mean it cannot be a grand champion in other arenas.

Facilities that offer basic obedience classes sometimes offer advanced classes that include introduction to agility, Rally-O, therapy dog programs and other specialized activities. The internet is a great resource to find classes or clubs that specialize in the activities offered in the local area.

Here in central Pennsylvania, we have clubs that offer activities for both the novice and the competitor. Internet resources include www.akc.org and www.apdt.com, which not only provide information on local facilities and clubs but also offer descriptions of the different activities that are available beyond the basics.

Canine Spa, located in Dillsburg, is a great place to visit if your dog is a water hound. You can see, for instance, if your pet would make a good dock diver, a sport in which a dog leaps off the end of a dock to retrieve a lure thrown into the water. The sport part is how far your dog can jump. There also are several facilities that offer agility classes in our area. In agility, a handler/owner guides the dog through an obstacle course that might include jumps, teeter-totters, tunnels and chutes. Several dog-training facilities offer classes for “Canine Good Citizen” certification, which is the first step in attaining therapy dog status.

Whatever your pet’s hidden talent, it’s great to be able to tap into his or her potential and take the human/dog bond to the next level, fully enjoying your dog’s unique personality and your relationship.

Amy Powell is a dog trainer and Owner of Doggie U, LLC.

Author:Amy Powell

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Gone to the Dogs: An abandoned block of Harrisburg gets a new leash on life.

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Ginger and Matt Coleman are the happy parents of a 3-year-old boxer rescue named Apollo.

“He’s very, very active,” said Ginger, who lives on N. 3rd Street in Midtown Harrisburg. “So, he really needs a dog park.”

I walked with Ginger recently to a very green, very empty plot of ground at the corner of N. 7th and Granite streets, a dogleg-shaped parcel (natch!) that, if Friends of Midtown has its way, will be Harrisburg’s first dedicated, off-leash dog park.

“We’ve gone to the one on Union Deposit Road,” said Ginger, referring to Kohl Memorial Park in Lower Paxton Township. “But it would be nice to have one closer to home.”

After searching for several years, Friends of Midtown decided upon this three-quarter-acre patch of grass as the best option for pooches to get their run and sniff on. It even comes with some of Fido’s favorite playthings already in place: squirrels, groundhogs and rabbits, which, at least for now, run around unimpeded, blissfully ignorant of what may be in their future.

Ginger and I visited on a cool evening, a little before dusk, along with several other dog-lovers. The group reviewed the details—the timeframe (early 2018), how much money Friends of Midtown needs to raise ($18,000) and the design (separate areas for large and small dogs). Vartan Group, which owns the land, is letting them have it for the next two years.

A few people chose to walk the grounds, picturing, I’m certain, their own dogs jumping and frolicking and playing in the grass. As a student of this city, I saw things a little differently. I perceived emptiness and eerie quiet, and I began to wonder what had happened to this long-abandoned city block so that a dog park now constituted, to put this in economic terms, a higher and better use.

The story of the 1700-block of N. 7th Street actually tells a story shared by other parts of once-industrial Harrisburg. By the mid-19th century, one large family, Dr. Luther Reily and his children, owned the entire area—what would become 96 city blocks. Over the decades, pieces were sold off and subdivided so that, by 1889, there were eight landowners on this block and, by 1901, 14, with the Reily heirs still claiming several parcels, according to city maps.

The 1932 Polk city directory showed the block to be fully developed with dozens of small, attached houses, many likely occupied by the working-class, railroading families that populated the area. By the 1958 directory, the block had become almost completely industrial, home to small warehouses, paint shops and junkyards, with some houses remaining, mostly up Kelker Street.

The ensuing years were not kind to this now-gritty block of scrap-metal salvagers and junk dealers. As the city de-industrialized, businesses closed, owners died and properties sold for taxes. Investors and speculators moved in, renting out increasingly dilapidated houses to poor families. In some cases, the city became an owner of last resort. The Vartan Group has been buying up land there for some 20 years, knocking down whatever structures remained, so that it now owns nearly the entire city block.

On that cool, cloudy early evening, as I stood scanning the grassy field, I felt a bit like the character of the time traveler from H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine,” a man who, from his machine, witnesses a block of London rise and fall and rise again, ever changing, over the course of many years.

I suspect that Vartan eventually will find a use for the land and develop it. It may be many years away, but the seeds of the neighborhood’s redevelopment—the pending state Archives and U.S. courthouse buildings—are being planted right now nearby on 6th Street. Some day, new construction will overrun this block, too, putting the fallow property back into productive use, returning it to the city’s built environment, a contributing part of its urban density.

Until then, at least for a few years, the block seems destined to have happy hounds and terriers, spaniels and shepherds, romp and yelp, scamper and play. This will be the first, small step back for a forsaken, forgotten piece of Harrisburg at 7th and Granite streets.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Friends of Midtown continues to collect money for the creation of a dog park at N. 7th and Granite streets. If you would like to contribute, please donate by visiting www.friendsofmidtown.org or mail a check, indicating “dog park” in the memo line, to Friends of Midtown, P.O. Box 5291, Harrisburg, Pa., 17110.

Author: Lawrance Binda

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Black, Beautiful, Healthy: Black Girl Health strives to educate minority women about their bodies.

Porcha Johnson

With their yoga pants, water bottles and natural hair tied tight, more than 300 women filed into the Hilton Harrisburg last month to see the Black Girl Health national online movement in action.

While holding meditation poses, announcing their fears into a smoky blue room and following the workout moves of an Olympic silver medalist, these women learned about personal health at BGH’s “Kickstart Your Health Women’s Wellness Expo.”

BGH, a Harrisburg-based digital publication, promotes health and wellness for women of color. Experts on beauty, fitness and medical health weigh in on their website and social media platforms.

“Black Girl Health is a woman who is in control of her life and her health,” said founder Porcha Johnson, who also is a reporter for WGAL News 8. “It’s a woman who feels good about where she is and where she’s going.”

Johnson created BGH as a platform to discuss the specific issues that affect African-American women.

“It’s very cultural,” Johnson said. “In our community, many of us have grown up on processed foods and ‘soul foods.’ We’re not educated on healthier food options. We need to increase our education and awareness.”

African-American women are prone to higher rates of health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, high blood pressure (hypertension) affects more than 45 percent of black women compared to 42 percent of black men, according to WebMD.

“Black women are living in disparities of disease,” said LaToya Burden, Black Girl Health’s project coordinator.

This became clear to Johnson when dealing with the health struggles that pushed her to create BGH.

Johnson’s mother suffered from three miscarriages before discovering she had fibroids, non-cancerous tumors. This condition prevented her from expanding their family.

“She probably had them years before, but they were out of control at that point [in her 30s],” Johnson said.

A few years later, when Johnson was in her early 20s, she found out she had the same condition. Seeing her mother struggle with fibroids encouraged Johnson to take preventative measures and early examinations, she said.

“But that’s just my own battle,” she said. “Everyone has their own.”

As she researched this condition, she discovered her experience is similar to many women of color.

“When I started to see other women my age getting hysterectomies, I thought, ‘There needs to be more awareness,’” Johnson said. “I wanted to create a platform for women, not just with fibroids, but for women who have heart disease, obesity or diabetes.”

Starting as a blog in May 2014, BGH now reaches more than 2,000 Facebook followers and hundreds more in-person with the annual “Kickstart Expo” event.

Sessions at this year’s event at the Hilton included local leaders and national champs.

Charisse Grayer and Sandra Johnson of “Zoombalicious,” a Harrisburg-based exercise group, excited the crowd with their hip-hop style workout moves. Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain taught a strength class. Food and nutrition experts educated guests on healthful diets. Candice Johnson, a certified reiki practitioner, flew in from San Diego to teach meditation techniques to reduce stress. Other sessions covered sexual health, spiritual well-being and self-defense

“My favorite session was the pound class,” said guest LaShon Mcintosh. “You exercise with two drumsticks, and together they weigh about a pound. It was so much fun. I’m going to try to find more classes like that around me.”

Along with treats from vendors and sponsors, Kickstart ran free health screenings from Hamilton Health Center and Alder Health Services.

“We want them to be aware of their physical health and what’s inside,” Burden said. “Just because you look good doesn’t mean those numbers are good.”

And, she said, they chose to have their event in Harrisburg for a specific reason.

“Not Philadelphia, not D.C.,” Burden said. “Right here in Harrisburg, so people can see that there’s a population, there’s a demand here that matters.”

The event attracted women of many races, including those who live outside of the Harrisburg region. Even men participated.

“You show me a person not of color that does not have connection, care or concerns for some woman of color somewhere,” Burden said. “[We’re] inclusive in the sense that we want people to care about our health as much as they care about everyone else’s.”

For the finale, the Hilton’s ballroom transformed into a talk show studio for “BGH Live.” Johnson channeled her reporter skills and chatted with Women’s Health Magazine’s “The Next Fitness Star” Selena Watkins; the oldest competitive female bodybuilder, Ernestine Shepherd; 2016’s Miss USA Deshauna Barber; and social media star and natural hair guru, Temitope Adesina.

“[The Kickstart Expo] turnout and our followers speak volumes,” Johnson said. “People want to live a healthier lifestyle.”

For more information about Black Girl Health, visit blackgirlhealth.com.

Author: Yaasmeen Piper

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He Sells Seashells: From Paxtang, you can “hear” the ocean.

People who enter Rob Burton’s small shop encounter items that are more likely to be spotted at the shore than in a converted two-car garage in Paxtang.

Shelves and tables are topped with lobster claws, hammerhead oyster shells, ghost crabs, horseshoe crabs, shark jaws with teeth, starfish, large conch shells and dozens of varieties of small seashells. Contributing to the beach theme are blue walls, portions of old telephone poles wrapped with rope to resemble piers, fishing rods hanging on a wall and a kayak suspended from the ceiling.

“When people come here, they look around in awe,” Burton said. “It’s overwhelming. It’s a lot to take in. They’re never going to forget it.”

The shop has been five years in the making for Burton, 47, and his three children, ages 13, 16 and 18. Currently hidden in an alley out of street view, the business will expand into the lower floor of the adjacent, 100-year old house, where it will have a storefront facing Derry Street. Following extensive renovations this summer, Burton expects the expanded shop to open to the public in September.

“My target market is interior decorators and beach-lovers,” he said, adding that, “everyone loves seashells.”

Burton buys some merchandise from wholesalers and collects the rest during trips to East Coast beaches, where he and his children gather shells and other marine life that has washed up on shore.

“How many parents walk past and say ‘Don´t touch that?’” he said. “And we stop and pick it up. We all have backpacks on, and we’re saying, ‘This is cool, and that’s cool.’ Mother nature has already done a lot of the work. We clean it up, dry it out and put a clear coat on it.”

His children have filled dozens of decorative glasses with shells and sand, which are for sale in his shop.

Because Burton owns the building, he doesn’t have to pay rent, which, he said, allows him to keep prices reasonable. Shells start at 10 cents apiece, and costlier items carry price tags in the $30 range.

Former marine life that stands out for its unique appearance includes a puffer fish and the egg casing from a whelk, a kind of sea snail. Some people love the prehistoric-looking, deep-water sea robin, which others could consider ugly, Burton said.

“It´s in the eye of the beholder,” he said. “There’s no rhyme or reason.”

One local man who was wowed by the shop requested Burton’s business card. Months later, he returned with his interior decorator and purchased items for his beach house in Delaware.

Burton can also take requests from customers. One woman from Wrightsville who discovered his shop on Craigslist wanted a specific item to add to her collection.

“She saw the lobster claw and tail, and she said she would love an entire lobster,” he said. “I asked her to allow a month for turnaround. She saw it and fell in love with it.”

Another customer said he couldn’t display fragile items on tables because of his pet dog. That gave Burton the idea to sell wall-mounted items.

Although the shop’s name isn’t official yet, Burton is leaning toward “Harrisburg Framing and Sea Gallery.”

Burton provides custom framing with help from his 16-year-old daughter, Makayla, who attends Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School. She paints the frames according to people’s preferences. For eco-conscious customers, he plans to offer an organic line of stains for framing, including coffee, walnuts and tea.

Burton also restores pool tables and antique furniture. An art deco Victor pool table from the 1920s or 1930s serves as a display table for sea creatures. He has restored pool tables that date as far back as the 1860s.

“During World War II, they started using plywood and particle board,” he said. “The old oak ones will outlast us.”

Burton is in the process of covering one pool table with sand and shells to give it a beachy look. He also plans to leave a section of his shop for Makayla to display her photography.

“I’ve preached to my kids to take the path less traveled,” he said. “Be yourself. Be unique, and you don’t know what you can become.”

The shop is located at the rear of 3428 Derry St., Harrisburg (Paxtang), and is currently open by appointment only. Burton can be reached on his cellphone, 717-574-3551.

Author: Kathryn Walson

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Community Corner: Notable July Events

July Community Corner

HBG Flea
July 1: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com for more details.

Beginner’s Yoga
July 2: Join yoga instructor Traci Wolfe for a guided 3.1-mile walk around Wildwood Lake with stops for simple yoga exercises. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. in the front of the nature center. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Independence Celebration
July 3: Enjoy an Independence Day celebration on the front lawn of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Dr., Hershey. The event will have food and beverages for purchase, a Hershey Symphony Orchestra performance and kids’ wellness activities. Rain date is July 4. Visit hmc.pennstatehealth.org.

Circus Camp
July 3-7: Circus of the Kids comes to the Jewish Community Center, 3301 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for a camp for kids (age 6 to 14), with instruction in circus arts standbys like fire-eating, juggling, pyramid building and mini-trampoline acrobatics. The week culminates with performances on July 7 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visit jewishfedhbg.org.

July 4 Celebration
July 4: Join Friends of the New Cumberland Public Library for its annual Independence Day Celebration, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy patriotic marches and show tunes by the New Cumberland Town Band at 10:30 a.m., purchase picnic foods and baked goods, and shop a book and vintage jewelry sale. Visit newcumberlandlibrary.org for more details.

Declaration of Independence
July 4: The Historical Society of Dauphin County will present the 7th annual public reading of the Declaration of Independence from the porch of the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion at 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with John Harris, Jr. re-enactor David Biser. Visit dauphincountyhistory.org.

Taste of Independence
July 4: Harrisburg toasts the nation’s birth with a “Taste of Independence” food truck festival with more than 30 food trucks, live music, kids’ activities and more in Riverfront Park, 3 to 9 p.m. The annual fireworks display follows at dark. Visit harrisburgpa.gov for more information.

Bike Rodeo
July 5: AAA Central Penn, the PA Capitol Police, the Harrisburg Senators, InGear Cycling & Fitness and other community partners are bringing the AAA Bike Rodeo back to central PA. The free event uses simulated situations and fun to teach children bicycle safety skills. For more, visit to AAA.com/BikeRodeo.

Blood Pressure Screenings
July 6: PinnacleHealth will offer blood pressure screenings in the Food Court Pavilion at the Harrisburg Mall, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for details.

Story Time
July 7: Gather in the State Museum’s PA Turnpike exhibit to enjoy the story, “Roadwork,” by Sally Sutton and sing about big construction trucks. StoryTime is a read-aloud series, followed by a related play activity, for children 3 to 5 years old, at the State Museum, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Artist Conversation
July 7: Explore the 50th annual Art of the State exhibition with PA First Lady Frances Wolf and award-winning Harrisburg artist Andrew Guth as they lead a casual tour of the exhibit at the State Museum, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Central PA Blood Drive
July 7: Donate blood to support the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St. The blood drive will be located outside of the Wells Fargo Bank entrance. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

Volunteer Work Day 
July 8: 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 along a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Pump Primers
July 8: PA Pump Primers returns to Harrisburg starting at 10 a.m., when a parade of antique fire trucks will leave the state Farm Show building and travel to Riverfront Park, where they will be on view all day. Speak to owners, play games, grab food and listen to music. Learn more at papumpprimers.org.

Library Book Sale
July 8-13: Palmyra Public Library will hold its annual used book sale at Palmyra First United Methodist Church, 520 E Birch St. The book sale opens on July 8 with an early bird preview from 7:30 to 9 a.m. for a $5 fee per person. At 9 a.m., the sale will open to the public and will run until 1 p.m. July 13 is $5 per bag day. Visit lclibs.org/palmyra.

Junior Naturalist Camp
July 10-14: Campers ages 9 to 11 will learn a variety of naturalist and outdoor skills at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Campers will use those skills to explore habitats while hiking, using binoculars and canoeing. There is a $115 fee per camper; pre-registration is required. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Fill a Backpack
July 10-14: Strawberry Square and Harristown Enterprises will host The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region’s “Fill-A-Backpack” event, in the Strawberry Square Atrium, 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Visitors can purchase school supplies to fill backpacks or donate $40 for entire backpacks. Visit salvationarmyharrisburg.org.

4-H Days
July 12-19: The Cumberland County 4-H program invites youth ages 8 to 12 years old to experience fun-filled activities and hands-on learning each day from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Penn State Extension Office of Cumberland County, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. For more details, visit extension.psu.edu/cumberland.

Outdoor Movies
July 14 & 28: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema present two free outdoor movies in July: “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” on July 14 and “Jaws” on July 28 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Both films begin at dusk and, in case of rain, will be delayed until Saturday. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Brewfest
July 15: Taste more than 30 craft brews while listening to music and sampling food from area restaurants. The Dauphin County Brewfest takes place on the front lawn of Fort Hunter Mansion, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 3 to 7 p.m. $35 advance, $50 door, $15 designated drivers. Visit forthunter.org.

Car Show
July 15: JPM Racing will host the “Rumble of the Night” car show from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Harrisburg Mall parking lot across from Macy’s Backstage entrance. The event will include food, music and a special muffler rap contest. Rumble of the Night benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com for details.

Art Soirees
July 15 & 22: The Art Association of Harrisburg will hold two fundraising soirees this month in Harrisburg. The first, on July 15, will be hosted by Wendell and Brenda Hoover at their house on Italian Lake, and the second, on July 22, will be hosted by Alex and Kristine Hartzler at their house on Front Street. The cost to attend is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information, visit artassocofhbg.org.

Hamm Camp
July 17-21 & July 24-28: Hamm Camp, 2451 Market St., Harrisburg, offers a free, week-long camp for girls and boys that combines high-level, on-the-court skills instruction with a daily workshop focusing on essential life skills. The camp’s goal is to build higher expectations for achievement among inner city youth. Visit hammcamp.com.

Outdoor Week
July 17-21: Outdoor enthusiasts ages 12 to 14 will discover the natural world while learning skills like building a debris hut, fishing, identifying wild edibles and canoeing on the Susquehanna River, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fee is $115 per person and pre-registration is required. Visit wildwoodlake.org for more details.

“Wicked” Tunes
July 19: Join Fredricksen Library for a night of music from the popular Broadway show, “Wicked!” Fans of all ages will sing along to the CD, and lyric sheets will be provided, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/FRE.

Harrisburg Mile
July 19: Enjoy family fun at the Harrisburg Mile along Front Street in Harrisburg, 6 to 7:45 p.m. The starting line is at Front and Maclay streets by the Governor’s Mansion. Enjoy music provided by WINK 104, grab some refreshments and check out the activities along the Susquehanna River. Visit ymcarun.com.

3rd in The Burg
July 21: 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. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.­

Exhibit Reception
July 21: The State Museum of Pennsylvania will host an evening of refreshments and a tour of the 50th anniversary Art of the State exhibition from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more details, visit statemuseumpa.org.

Putt it Into the Park
July 20: Head to City Island in Harrisburg to enjoy an 18-hole mini-golf course and a Harrisburg Senators game during the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s “Putt it Into the Park,” 4 p.m. Cost to attend is $25, ages 13 and older; $20, ages 4 to 12; and free for kids 3 and under. Visit wschamber.org for more information.

Blood Drive
July 22: Premier Eye Care Group will host a community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Shipoke office, 92 Tuscarora St., Harrisburg. Premier will raffle off a pair of sunglasses for the event. Visit premiereeyes.com.

Quidditch World Cup
July 26: The Quidditch World Cup comes to Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, at 6:30 p.m. with U.S. vs. Britain, featuring alumni from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. Register a team or individual by calling the library. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org for full details.

Pride Festival
July 29: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities hosts the 25th annual Pride Festival of Central PA in Riverfront Park, Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy the annual “Voices United” concert with Central PA Womyn’s Chorus, Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus and Voices of the Spirit at Market Square Presbyterian Church on July 28 at 8 p.m. Visit centralpapridefestival.com.

Nature & Art Fest
July 29: The Ned Smith Center will celebrate its 24th annual Nature and Art Festival at the center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will feature music, food, children’s activities and many nature-themed programs. Most activities are free. For more information, visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Block Party
July 29: Transcend Church will hold a summer block party, 3 to 6 p.m., at the church at 1801 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit transcendchurch.org.

Tea Party
July 30: The Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., will host a tea party in its garden from 12 to 2 p.m., with freshly baked scones, preserves, tea sandwiches, mini-pastries and individual pots of tea. Reservations are required at $25 per person. Visit artassocofhbg.com.

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Optimum Benefit: Chanele House–Aspiring beauty mogul by day, truck driver by night.

Chanele House

Chanele House lives many lives. She’s a self-described woman of faith, a wife, mother, entrepreneur—and full-time tractor-trailer driver.

Yes, that’s right.

Owner of a budding business, Shea Optimum, House spends her days creating 40 beauty products from her kitchen. At night, she sits in a semi and hauls hazardous materials from York to northern New Jersey. On Saturdays, she sets up her stand at the Broad Street Market’s brick building, donning technicolor eyeshadow and surrounded by a constant stream of customers.

“I have a tendency to step out of the box and try new things [because] I believe God has placed many talents in me,” House said.

House has used herbs and natural remedies in her home for years. After encouragement from her friends and family, she “stepped out on faith” with just $200 and started creating products from shea butter for men and women.

Since she started the business last October, House’s products have hit shelves in New York Beauty Supply in York, Hair Viva in Lancaster and the Broad Street Market.

House’s favorite product and bestseller is raw shea butter, packed into a hollow gourd and imported from Ghana. She also sells scented shea butters, oils, soaps and other naturally sourced products.

“A lot of people know about shea butter, but they don’t know about all of its benefits,” House said.

Shea butter is known to “repair, renew and protect all skin types,” among other things, according to the lid capping each of her containers. Customers rarely need to read the lengthy benefits, as House answers questions in great detail, giving personalized recommendations to every one of them.

At the Broad Street Market, House greets customers with a gleaming smile, which helps to attract passersby, including first-time customer Sheryl Watson. Watson said she’s worked for a body-care company in the past but prefers the lighter scent and natural source of Shea Optimum products. House’s outgoing personality was an added bonus, she said.

“She’s fun to be around,” Watson said. “She really makes you want to buy her products.”

House is discouraged by the way retail stores divisively separate beauty products by gender and ethnicity, so she markets Shea Optimum to everyone.

“I wanted to build a brand that everyone can benefit from,” she said.

House has two children, Nilah, 9, and Deon, 18. She and her husband, Derik, have just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.

“I’m juggling a full-time job and running a business, but with my faith and family, I know that I have everything I need for success,” she said.

House’s original idea of her life never included working as a full-time truck driver. Before switching to piloting a semi for A&S Kinard in 2009, House was a dental assistant for 11 years.

“I chose trucking to show people how gifted I am,” she said. “When I went from dentistry to trucking, it confirmed that I had many gifts and talents.”

She holds degrees in biblical studies and counseling and is a certified temperament and pastoral counselor. House said that, while she enjoyed her previous profession, she wants to spend her life pursuing all of the opportunities possible.

She chose the name Shea Optimum as a reminder of this. The name means getting the greatest use out of shea butter, as well as one’s talents and gifts, she said.

“I wanted my brand to speak life into a person when they come in contact with it,” she said. “I’m all about embracing what’s inside us.”

House’s skills and talents are geared to one goal—one day to fill an entire tractor-trailer with Shea Optimum products, with her logo plastered on the side. With the money she accrues from her business, she then would like to start a nonprofit organization.

“When you have a vision or a dream, you don’t stop until you’ve accomplished that dream,” she said.

Shea Optimum can be found on Saturdays in the Broad Street Market’s brick building.

Author: Allison Moody

 

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The Magic of Miyazaki: Enjoy a full weekend of the Japanese movie master.

Hayao Miyazaki has retired three times.

You may ask: How is that possible? How can you retire again?

Ah, well. That is the great trick that Miyazaki, renowned Japanese animator/director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has played on us time and time again. He retires—and then comes out of retirement.

It makes sense, really.

The work of Studio Ghibli has served as a bridge for many into the world of anime. In most anime films, each frame is more akin to a painting than an animation, and the stories are rich with meaning and symbolism. The amount of time and effort it takes to pull off each masterpiece, especially with the quality that Miyazaki brings to the production, make it understandable that he would want to take a break. But it seems that retirement is just not interesting enough for the man. There is always another creative endeavor, and that is something that he cannot pass up.

So, as long as Miyazaki keeps coming out of retirement to make more films, Midtown Cinema will keep playing his films en masse—or, at least, for a full weekend.

In July, audiences will get the chance to see four Miyazaki films on the big screen: “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.” Hayao Miyazaki has wooed generations of children and adults with these beautifully animated stories, ranging from whimsical to fantastical, with larger-than-life characters, odd scenarios and animist tendencies.

While “Nausicaä” tackles both war and environmental issues head on, “Ponyo” caters to smaller children, conveying a simple story full of magic. And “Spirited Away” is a fan favorite, dripping with symbolism and pushing the limits of imagination. But for this critic, “Howl’s Moving Castle” will always be one step ahead of the others. From the moment Sophie discovers that erratically assembled, chicken-footed castle traipsing about the land, the mysterious Howl has already won us over.

Miyazaki’s whole body of work is a celebration in itself, and we can only hope that it will continue to grow. “Miyazaki Movie Madness” is a retrospective that everyone can get behind.

“Miyazaki Movie Madness” plays July 21-23 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Visit www.midtowncinema.com.

 

MIDTOWN CINEMA
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

National Theatre Live
“Obsession”
Monday, July 10, 7 p.m.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Monday, July 24, 7 p.m.

Outdoor Films
Down in Front! presents
“I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957)
Friday, July 14

“Jaws” (1975)
Friday, July 28

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Spirited Away” (2003)
Friday, July 21, 9:30 p.m.

Miyazaki Movie Madness
“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984)
Friday, July 21, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 8 p.m.

“Spirited Away” (2003)
Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m.

“Ponyo” (2008)
Saturday, July 22, 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 5 p.m.

“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2005)
Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 2 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

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Resort Rebirth: After a full renovation, Allenberry reopens to visitors, the community.

Allenberry Resort

John Keats once said, “The poetry of the Earth is never dead.”

But in today’s pressure-driven and wired society, it’s easy to lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us. To claim that we are a population that is constantly “on,” is hardly an exaggeration when the smart phone has morphed into an appendage.

Perhaps that is why the public has followed the Allenberry story so closely. After 70 years of serving the community as a bucolic, serene retreat, the landmark’s future became uncertain when the Heinze family decided that it was time to sell.

Few could blame them for craving a bit of relaxation, but John Heinze, who is now in his 80s, felt the need to explain anyway, jokingly calling himself and his siblings “a little too long in the tooth” to continue operating the facility. Suddenly, families around the region were reminiscing about bygone days as they awaited the fate of the beloved landmark.

 

Soft Spot

Lucy Gnazzo grew up in Boiling Springs and worked at the property while in high school. She returned for proms, bridal showers, family dinners and plays.

“They supported the students by providing them with jobs, and I even recall visiting as a very young child during the holidays for a reading of ‘The Night before Christmas,’” she said.

Gnazzo, like many, has a soft spot in her heart for Allenberry. It is a love that spans generations.

“Allenberry was one of my Aunt Doris’ favorite places, and she’d take the nieces, nephews and grandchildren,” she said.

When Gnazzo was seeking a picturesque area for her daughter Lauren’s senior photos, Allenberry, with the Yellow Breeches as a backdrop, seemed a no-brainer.

“So many memories and milestones,” she said with a sigh.

The property lingered on the market for a few years. Right before the historic resort was slated for public auction, Michael Kennedy and a group of investors sprang into action to save it.

Since then, Kennedy and his team have been hard at work updating the property to bring it into the 21st century, while preserving its 1700s-era charm. Renovations to the existing structures should be completed by mid-summer.

News of the new and improved Allenberry came as a relief to Gnazzo and many others who cherish the memories created there.

“It’s fulfilling to see the passion behind the renovations and fabulous to see the investments,” she said. “It’s going to be a tremendous resort for the region.”

 

Romantic & Rustic

Those, like Gnazzo, with warm memories of Allenberry will be pleased to know that it’s returning much as it was—as a resort with lodging, dining and entertainment—only in fully updated condition.

 

Staying the Night

For those interested in an overnight stay, the options are many. The 1800s-era, 4,000-square-foot renovated Mansion is especially popular with wedding parties and features four luxury rooms, complete with kitchen, dining room, living room and wraparound porch that overlooks the scenic Yellow Breeches.

Other accommodations include the Meadow Lodge with 32 renovated rooms, the new Pine Lodge with more contemporary furnishings, the Hillside House that offers four suites and the rustic Still House, situated just yards from the creek. There are also cottages of various sizes and the Stone Lodge, which once served as the estate’s barn and stables. On the lower level, guests will discover a renovated carriage house that has been transformed into a cozy restaurant. Dimly lit, with fieldstone walls and heavy barn doors separating the bar and dining room, the Stone Lodge Tavern Carriage Room décor can be described as a union of romantic and rustic.

Chris Douglass visited the resort while in town for the Carlisle Ford Nationals and spent time socializing in the tavern.

“I was looking for unique lodging and found it at Allenberry,” said the Virginia resident. “The staff was very friendly, and I liked the historic and relaxing feel of the place.”

An added plus, said Douglass, was meeting so many welcoming locals willing to strike up a friendly conversation in the tavern.

 

The Main Lodge

Work continues at the Main Lodge, which dates back to 1778. Upon completion, the lodge will feature a general store, two bars, a bakery, meeting rooms and a flagship eatery called the Barn Restaurant, where Chef d’Cuisine Joseph Randle will serve American fare crafted with locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients.

Kennedy and company have merged the old with the new in carefully preserving the murals that decorate the walls of the barn. An insider tip: Take a close look at the hunting scene. The original painting depicted two hunters, but today only one remains—the sad reminder of a family feud memorialized with a few extra brushstrokes. During nice weather, guests can stroll past the mural and contemplate their own familial relations with the help of a few libations on the terrace.

 

Spa Time

Another exciting project nearing completion at Allenberry is the 3,500-square-foot day spa, where guests can undergo pampering, an amenity especially convenient for bridal parties. The resort is partnering with Changes Salon and Day Spa in Mechanicsburg to offer a variety of services to bring out the Zen in just about anyone.

 

Indoors & Outdoors

Of course, Allenberry wouldn’t be Allenberry without its iconic, 250-seat playhouse, which also has undergone an extensive renovation. Productions will feature local talent led by Dustin LeBlanc, executive artistic director of Keystone Theatrics.

Kevin Gaughen recently had the opportunity to see the renovated resort while attending a murder mystery play with his wife Laryssa.

“Entertainment, food and service were all top notch,” he said, adding that he was impressed with the improvements that have been made throughout the property.

Shows for the rest of 2017 include “Shrek,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

Allenberry also is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, and the Appalachian Trail is located just minutes away. For fly fishermen, the Yellow Breeches is a little slice of heaven. To introduce up-and-coming fly fishermen to the sport, Allenberry is partnering with TCO Fly Shop in Boiling Springs to offer classes and lessons.

Kennedy said plans for the future include the construction of a 128-unit residential resort on adjacent land.

An ongoing priority, however, is providing superior service to everyone who visits.

“We sit on arguably the most beautiful parcel in Cumberland County and will be working with our guests and team to continue to develop the Allenberry experience,” he said. “We will always judge our success one guest at a time.”

The Allenberry Resort is located at 1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs. For more information, call 717-258-3211, visit their Facebook page or their website at www.allenberry.com.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

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Only the Beginning: A young musician finds his footing.

 “I always wanted to be in a band. I always wanted to make music.”

Landon Stuckey, who performs under the moniker Doughland Stucks, offered that explanation for his choice of a musical career before a recent performance at Little Amps Coffee Roasters.

Stuckey, 21, who has lived in the Harrisburg area his entire life, makes music within the vein of Daniel Johnston and Beck (in his early years). His goal seems to be to create a unique body of work while still paying homage to these influences.

Beginning with “Joy Ride,” Stuckey cruised right through additional originals, such as “B.Y.O.S.” (“Bring Your Own Soda”) and “Chemicals.”

“Millennial Scum,” the fourth song Stuckey played, was one of the highlights of his set. As the folk-punk strumming and the attack of his raw, untrained vocals combined to become a powerful force, I thought of one of the formative bands of my musical youth, the Violent Femmes. Gordon Gano, their lead singer, came to mind, despite the fact Stuckey’s voice is far less nasally. It was something in the approach that recalled Gano.

“They were actually a huge influence for me in the way I sing,” Stuckey said. “When I first found my ‘voice’—I guess to say, after trying a bunch of different styles—was when I first sang ‘Blister in the Sun.’”

It may be no shock that, as a young man, Stuckey writes “many of my songs about women.”

Of course, many of history’s greatest songs have explored the territory of love and loss. But unlike, say, Nick Drake’s body of material, or the singer-songwriter movement of the early 1970s (Joni Mitchell, Carole King, James Taylor), there is a humorous attitude to Stuckey’s material.

His ability to engage audiences between songs with wit and directness was a natural fit within this style, and it was clear from his laid-back approach that he views the power of community as crucial to his method.

“I always try to keep in contact with everyone, always try to make new friends and become friends with the people who come to my shows,” Stuckey said. “I try to make posts on my Facebook page, and on other pages on Facebook and Reddit, but nothing has seemed to give me more success than just talking to people and being nice.”

I asked him about his stage name and where it comes from, and he replied that it originated with high school friends playing around with his first name.

“I guess I have all my friends (to thank) for coming up with the name Doughland Stucks because well, that’s what they called me,” he said.

Stuckey showed a lot of promise for a musician of his age, and I wondered where his career would take him.

“It would be cool if I was as big as Bob Dylan,” Stuckey said. “But I don’t write super thoughtful songs. I just kind of write how I’m feeling at the time.”

As I listened to the closer, “I Don’t Mind,” it occurred to me that, while accompaniments often work wonders for the kind of music Stuckey performs, sometimes (such as in the case of Daniel Johnston) it removes the endearing authenticity of one performer, alone with their guitar and voice. But it is something Doughland Stucks has considered.

“I would really like to make an indie-style album with full band instruments, but that’s going to take a while,” he said.

Perhaps one day, we’ll find out what that might sound like. For now, let’s appreciate what we have—a blossoming singer-songwriter finding his footing.

Doughland Stucks can be reached via Facebook at “Landon Stuckey” or on Bandcamp at www.doughlandstucks.bandcamp.com. He is slated to perform at The Empire in Shippensburg on Aug. 26.

Author: Trey Knarr

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June News Digest

Dog Park Proposed

Terriers and hounds soon may displace groundhogs and squirrels from a block of long-empty land in Midtown, as plans are afoot for Harrisburg’s first public dog park.

The community group Friends of Midtown is raising about $18,000 to cover two years of expenses for the off-leash park, which would be created on a grassy, three-quarter-acre expanse at N. 7th and Granite streets.

“We have the enthusiastic support of the city, the planning bureau,” said Annie Hughes, who is spearheading the effort for Friends of Midtown with her husband Andy. “Everybody’s all in, essentially.”

The Vartan Group owns the lot and has agreed to a two-year commitment, Hughes said. Friends of Midtown should hear soon on the fate of a grant application from PPL Electric and also is soliciting funds from individuals. It hopes to have the park, which would be free and open to the public, ready by spring 2018.

Plans call for a fence to ring the lot, which would be divided into two areas—one for large dogs and the other for small dogs. Dog waste bags would be available on site, and signs would be posted with the rules of the park.

The desire for a dog park in Harrisburg has come up repeatedly in recent years. Two years ago, it was the fifth most-popular suggestion among 1,200 ideas for inclusion in the city’s comprehensive plan, Hughes said.

She added that the dog park would be temporary, serving as a pilot for the city, which may use data collected from this effort to build a permanent park.

 

Jackson Hotel Mural

A new mural will celebrate Harrisburg’s African-American history, adorning the side of a building that once hosted such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and Pearl Bailey.

Sprocket Mural Works announced the project last month for the former Jackson Hotel and Rooming House on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street, a building that, decades ago, catered primarily to a black clientele refused service in the city’s major, segregated hotels.

“It will be an African-American historic mural, playing off the history itself,” said Sprocket co-founder Jeff Copus.

The Jackson Hotel painting is one of 10 murals that will be created during the Harrisburg Mural Festival, which Sprocket is organizing for the first 10 days of September.

Copus last month told the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) that the mural will feature people who stayed at the hotel, possibly including entertainers like Armstrong, Bailey, Cab Callaway and Ella Fitzgerald. It may also incorporate images of important Harrisburg figures such as Ephraim Slaughter, an escaped slave who fought in the Civil War and later settled in the city.

In August, Sprocket will seek public input for the mural design, Copus said.

Sprocket is commissioning artist Cesar Viveros to paint the mural. Locally, Viveros is best known as the artist-in-residence who helped design and lead the creation of the Mulberry Street Bridge murals. 

 

Stop the Drop

A small change to trashcan lids may cut the amount of litter on Harrisburg streets.

That’s the idea behind “Stop the Drop,” a campaign to turn home trashcans into, essentially, public trashcans.

The new lids are bright orange with a hole in the center that residents can attach to their trashcans, replacing their existing, solid lids. Pedestrians then can put litter into the can through the hole, rather than toss it in the street, said Julie Walter, neighborhood revitalization manager at Tri County Community Action, a part of the grassroots coalition Clean and Green Harrisburg.

A successful, three-month pilot run on 6th and Market streets convinced the coalition to roll out the lids citywide, Walter said.

“[We were] excited that people were actually using the lids,” she said about the trial run. “When we would go check them out, there would be coffee cups and chip bags in the cans. You can tell that there was actually a need.”

Later this month, residents citywide will be able to volunteer to swap their lids out with the new lids. These new lids work well with rowhome residents who place their trashcans at the front of their houses, she said. 

 

King Mansion Sells

Harrisburg’s iconic Horace King Mansion sold last month, purchased by an engineering firm that plans to relocate there.

K & W Engineers, under the holding company name 2201 NFS LLC, purchased the building at 2201 N. Front St., along with several adjacent parcels, for $1.8 million from a group called 2201 Partnership, which had owned it since 2003.

The 10-person engineering and consulting firm expects to leave its current offices in Swatara Township and move into the building once renovations are completed this fall. To that end, CREDC provided a $325,000 Enterprise Zone Loan for improvements to the second floor.

The building also houses the marketing firm Sacunas, which moved into the first floor late last year.

 

Home Sales Up Again

Area home sales continued a years-long climb, as unit sales rose 4.4 percent in May, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

GHAR said that May sales totaled 948 units versus 908 houses in the year-ago period. The median price dipped to $170,000 compared to $174,900 in May 2016.

Dauphin County sales were strong, with 355 units sold versus 297 in the year prior, with the median price unchanged at $155,000. In Cumberland County, 310 houses sold compared to 326 in May 2016, with the median price falling to $190,125 versus $193,950, said GHAR.

In Perry County, 43 houses sold versus 30 in the year prior, and the median price fell to $127,000 against $151,500 in May 2016, said GHAR.

GHAR covers Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

 

So Noted

Andrew Guth of Harrisburg took first place in the category of “Work on Paper” at the 2017 “Art of the State,” a juried exhibit held each year at the State Museum of PA to honor the commonwealth’s best artwork. Guth is a Millworks and Burg artist, contributing the cover art for our May issue. You can see his winning entry, “Where We Used to Go When Everything Was Wrong (I Watched the Lilies Grow Until They Got Old),” with the rest of the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 10 at the State Museum.

Anna Rose Bakery & Coffee Shop opened last month at Walnut and N. 2nd streets in Harrisburg, featuring doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies and espresso drinks. The business, owned by Ron Kamionka, is located in the rear portion of the former Molly Brannigans Irish Pub, which closed almost three years ago. 

Excelon Corp. is making plans to shutter Three Mile Island in 2019 absent policy reforms by the state legislature to make nuclear power more competitive. TMI employs 675 workers, most of whom would lose their jobs if the facility closed.

Freshido, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Asian cuisine, is expected to land this fall in Strawberry Square, at the corner of N. 3rd and Market streets. The 50-seat eatery will occupy the 2,200-square-foot storefront long vacated by Plum Sport.

Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District launched “Discover the Ducks Downtown,” an outdoor art and beautification exhibit for the summer. Along with HDID, Harrisburg-based Sprocket Mural Works commissioned artists to paint 15 fiberglass ducks, which now can be seen throughout the downtown.

Harrisburg Hoopla, a field day of track-and-field activities, raised $5,500 last month for local nonprofits. Fourteen groups with 101 participants competed for select organizations in this first-ever charitable event, sponsored by Emerging Philanthropists Program, a partnership of TFEC and HYP.

Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitor’s Bureau last month received a Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation from the Public Relations Society of America. The award was for “Tourism in Your Town,” a series of advertorials that appeared in TheBurg throughout 2016.

PFM Asset Management signed a lease last month for 63,133 square feet of space in an office building at 213 Market St. in Harrisburg. By year-end, the firm plans to relocate its 150 employees from 100 Market St., where it has been for the past 20 years, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE Group, which represented the company.

Rite Aid has opened in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. The new, 14,000-square-foot store moved from cramped quarters across Market Street after a yearlong build-out.

 

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2418: G. Brown to R. Ivey, $30,000

Balm St., 60: Kusic Financial Services LLC to OJK Enterprises, $32,000

Bellevue Rd., 1921: CNC Realty Group LLC to J. Romelfanger, $55,000

Berryhill St., 2202: PA Deals LLC to R. Narinesingh, $62,500

Berryhill St., 2316: D. & Y. Jiang to D. & L. Nguyen, $30,000

Boas St., 1925: P. Long to Resistance Properties LLC, $38,000

Camp St., 521: G. & S. Gallagher to K. Moralez, $30,000

Conoy St., 123: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Information Systems Network Corp. to E. Fultz, $73,000

Elliot St., 1080, Lot 2: R. & C. Berger to A. Gerges, $250,000

Fox Ridge Ct., 307: B. Miler to C. Hoover, $121,500

Green St., 1007: R. Nicoli to J. & C. Nunley, $110,000

Green St., 1915: J. & K. Johnston to S. Williams, $207,900

Green St., 1930: A. Miller to I. Bailey, $205,000

Green St., 2013: L. Binda to M. Didone, $214,000

Green St., 2137: Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. Trustee to N. Morrison, $32,694

Green St., 2321: J. Yoder to Willowscott Investment LLC, $37,500

Hale Ave., 447: K. & L. Torres to D. Norris, $62,000

Hamilton St., 242: J. & J. Collins to P. Christensen, $150,309

Harris St., 207: MTGLQ Investors LP & Selene Finance LP to K. Clark, $117,900

Harris St., 344: MidAtlantic IRA LLC Phillip Sachs IRA to M. & A. Gilbert, $108,500

Herr St., 269: G. Thall to M. Berlin, $115,000

Hoffman St., 3221: W. Wood to N. Consagra & L. Umberger, $109,900

Holly St., 2006: W. Thompson III to SCC Ward Inc., 32,000

Kelker St., 427: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Information Systems & Networks Corp. to I. Jordan, $32,500

Kensington St., 2110 & 2116: Donald L. Pong Trust to M. & A. Robinson, $59,000

Lewis St., 237: J. Toro to M. Horgan & Innovative Devices Inc.., $43,500

Locust St., 202: AMTO LLC to Sturges Property Management LLC, $300,000

Luce St., 2320: EAD Associates LLC to S. Ginder, $38,000

Muench St., 278: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Information Systems & Network Corp. to H. & C. Foley, $44,06

N. 2nd St., 1522: J. Cantarell & A. Meck to K. Reiter, $164,000

N. 2nd St., 2323: LSFP Master Participation Trust to M. Horgan & CR Services Inc., 63,900

N. 2nd St., 2528: A. & C. Broadus to E. Pine & S. Ransome, $145,000

N. 4th St., 3119: R. & C. Steele to T. Gottshall, $123,500

N. 4th St., 3213: A. Semancik to G. Erdman & S. Ukodie, $120,000

N. 4th St., 3227: Central Penn Properties to T. Barnes, $142,000

N. 5th St., 2515: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to T. & V. Williams, $129,900

N. 5th St., 2600: PA Deals LLC to S. & S. Aiken, $69,900

N. 7th St., 2714: M. Owens to L. Owens, $45,158

N. 14th St., 1206, 1314 N. 15th St. & 603 Benton St.: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian John Spencer IRA, $165,000

N. 15th St., 1340: MidAtlantic IRA LLC James Yeager IRA to Z. Yap, $39,000

N. 16th St., 1216: R. Urrutia to W. Jones, $110,000

N. 17th St., 1102: C. & N. Finnell to J. Martinez & T. Kobayashi, $33,500

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 605: A. Lenda to C. Carter, $173,500

Peffer St., 219: N. Braun to D. Wendt & S. Shultz, $122,000

Peffer St., 317: 1515 Associates to D. Berhe, $75,000

Penn St., 1605: R. Daniels to L, D. & R. Olenowski, $87,500

Reel St., 2416 & 2418: 24 Reel Street LLC to American Rental Home LLC, $52,000

Rudy Rd., 2454: J. & S. Merlina to J. Howard, $57,500

Sassafras St., 269 & 1112 Susquehanna St.: R. & J. Ruth to Major League Properties LLC, $60,000

Showers St., 605: H. Madsen to J. Moore, $163,900

South St., 122: Tang Liu Realty LLC to FA Realty LLC, $126,000

S. 2nd St., 316: WK Rentals to Diamond Real Estate Solutions LLC, $32,000

S. 13th St., 1456, 1460 & 1466: Davden Property Investments Inc. to 4880 East Prospect LLC, $66,000.

S. 16th St., 947: R. Splawn to L. Jackson, $30,000

S. 24th St., 623: K. & D. Brown to S. Jordan, $72,200

Swatara St., 2055: G. Barlow to S. Thomas, $34,500

Swatara St., 2413: J. Garisto to PI Capital LLC, $85,801

Verbeke St., 300: Kidder Wilkes LP to Silverstone Enterprises LLC, $215,000

Watson St., 2815: R. & A. Gates & C. Windham to LJ Realty Trust, $59,800

Harrisburg property sales for May 2017, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Author: Lawrance Binda 

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