Smoothie Operator: Cobble Creek adds to the range of healthier options in Harrisburg.

September 30, 2015 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Over the past decade or so, Harrisburg’s dining scene has been a story of continual evolution and growth.

Recently, we’ve seen an emphasis on healthier eating, which is where Jason Jean and Bob Burns enter the picture.

Jean, with his restaurant experience (he once owned Café Vigneto in Hershey), and Burns, a local real estate investor, put their heads together to bring a new dining option to the downtown area.

“We sat down and pitched ideas off each other to determine what would be a good fit for the area,” said Jean.

That’s where the concept of Cobble Creek Smoothies & Eatery took shape, and the two men set to work.

“We stripped it down to the 1865 boards,” said Burns of the historic building across the street from the YMCA on N. 2^nd Street. Construction began in February and ended in June.

The end result is a welcoming, casual space with a beachy vibe painted in pastel hues. Licenses and maps, evocative of travel, adorn the walls of the cozy establishment with seating inside for 16.

Guests can join friends at aluminum tables in the “selfie-corner,” where they can snap pictures for the Web page, while others sit on rattan stools that line a wall-facing bar. Several picnic benches are available outside for al fresco dining during nice days.

When the restaurant opens at 11 a.m., the public begins filtering in for their morning smoothies.

“I enjoy the Popeye shake,” said Stephanie Pugh, who works nearby, referring to one of the more popular smoothies comprised of spinach, kale, mango, pineapple and banana.

Pugh said she likes the protein “enhancer” as an add on, referring to the 99-cent option for additional “boosts” like fish oil, cane sugar, protein and vitamins like C and B12.

A list of 20 smoothie recipes lines the menu, ranging from tropical combos to vegetable/fruit mixes to a nut and coffee concoction—and the variations don’t end there.

“Customers can build their own, as well, choose up to seven different items—all guaranteed fresh since we use no freezers,” said Jean.

Manager Kevin Karpovich, who resides above the establishment, makes it his job to ensure that everything is operating, well, smoothly. The self-described “city boy from Detroit” sees to the unique needs of patrons, and Pugh attests that customer service is a standout at Cobble Creek.

“It’s very friendly and welcoming,” she said. “Kevin is a ‘people person.’ He can strike up a conversation with anybody, and the people love him. He has that personality that customers like.”

Replied Karpovich: “I just want to build that long-term relationship with our customers to keep them coming back.”

In addition to smoothies, Cobble Creek offers a full-page menu of lunch and dinner items. Chili is served daily, along with soups, house and Caesar salads, sliders ranging from beef to fried chicken and a vegetarian Portobello mushroom option. A variety of chicken, turkey and vegetarian wraps comes in both small and large sizes and sides include chips, onion rings and fries (both sweet potato and regular), with everything packed in “to-go” boxes for easy portability.

Maintaining the integrity of the healthy concept is reinforced by certain limitations the operators have imposed on themselves.

“There are no freezers, heat lamps or microwaves on the premises, and, if some of our food tastes just a little different, it’s because we only cook with extra virgin olive oils—no butters,” said Jean.

Children, in particular, love the deep-fried Oreos. When questioned about the healthiness of that option, Jean, Burns and Karpovich erupt in laughter, before arriving at the consensus that it’s a “boardwalk thing.”

After indulging in a delicious smoothie, I headed towards the door before being distracted by one of the workers as he waved a sandwich aloft from the open kitchen located in the back.

“One taste, and it’s a WRAP,” he yelled.

Cobble Creek Smoothies & Eatery is located at 709 N. 2^nd Street, Harrisburg. For more information on hours, menu items and future plans, visit www.cobblecreekbrands.com.

Color My World: It’s October–time to look at pretty leaves.

September 30, 2015 | by Don Helin

It’s Saturday on a warm and sunny October morning. Which would you rather do—rake leaves or look at them?

Fortunately, vibrant colors are within an easy, one-hour drive of Harrisburg. No long sojourn up to New England is needed. The leaves here are every bit as beautiful.

According to Gene Odato, district forester for Tuscarora State Forest, three factors influence autumn colors: leaf pigment, length of night and weather.

“Chlorophyll is the most abundant pigment in leaves during much of the year, giving them their green color,” he said. “Carotenoids and anthocyanins are hidden in the leaves and will provide the various colors as the chlorophyll fades.”

As the length of night increases, chlorophyll production slows, allowing the leaf’s other pigments to show. The timing of color change varies by tree species. First, the leaves of the gum trees turn, then the spectacular colors of maples take over, and, finally, the reds of the oaks burst forth. The peak autumn colors should arrive in our area in early to mid-October.

I’ve selected three sites for the first three weekends in October so you can enjoy a succession of fall foliage. In between peeps, some excellent country festivals will add to the enjoyment of your visits.

Juniata River Valley, Oct. 3 and 4

The Juniata River Valley is slightly north of the two other sites I’ve included, so the leaves there will begin turning a little earlier, and you’ll be there to watch it happen.

“Jacks Mountain is a great place to start,” said Jenny Landis, project director for the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. “You can see Big Valley on one side of the road, and, by crossing the road, you can gaze out over Ferguson Valley and enjoy those colors at the same time.”

As a bonus, you may be able to talk with members of the hawk watch on the mountain, dedicated birders who count the number of migrating birds. Jacks Mountain is a migration highway for hawks and golden eagles, said Landis.

The other place she suggests is along the south side of the Lewistown Narrows of the Juniata River along Route 333. This is a gorgeous drive, full of switchbacks. For motorcycle buffs, this stretch of road was listed on motorcycleroads.com as a great place to ride.

Sherman’s Valley, Oct. 9 to 11

On the following weekend, head over to the Tuscarora State Forest west of Blain on Route 274. The forest comprises almost 96,000 acres and was named for the Iroquois nation that once inhabited this area.

If you make it there on Oct. 11, you can take a staff-guided tour of the forestland. In addition to seeing magnificent trees, this is a great place to picnic, camp or take a hike with the family.

There are two trails of note. The tunnel trail is 1-mile long and leads to the ruins of two narrow-gauge railroads. The Iron Horse trail provides a 10-mile loop between the Big Springs Picnic Area and the Eby Cemetery along Route 274. Keep your eye out for bears, bobcats, grouse, turkey and even some turtles.

“One of my favorite things to do is to visit the many vistas in the Tuscarora Forest that provide breathtaking views of the foliage,” said Odato.

The easiest one to reach is the Hickory Ridge Vista, he said. Take a left from PA 274 at the Big Springs State Forest Picnic Area and follow Hemlock Road. A number of other vistas are shown on the map of the forest, which you can find on the forest website.

The same weekend, Sherman’s Valley Heritage Days will be held nearby at the Blain picnic grounds. From Friday through Sunday, you’ll be able to participate in 19^th-century demonstrations ranging from leatherwork to cider pressing and blacksmithing. In addition, there will be activities for the kids and live music each evening. Best of all, you can taste country cooking such as chicken barbecue, open kettle soups, fresh apple cider and homemade pies.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival, said Kate Moose, a member of the planning committee. Originally just one day, it has now expanded to three days with an estimated attendance of 11,000 to 13,000 people.

“I hear from people as far away as California, who plan their vacations around the dates of the festival so they can do their Christmas shopping early, watch the leaves change and see old friends,” she said. “We’re very proud of our program.”

Little Buffalo State Park, Oct. 17 and 18

A trip to Little Buffalo State Park, just west of Newport, rounds out the leaf-peeping season northwest of Harrisburg.

The cool, clear water of Little Buffalo Creek has been attracting visitors for years. American Indians frequented the area on hunting trips. Today, people visit Little Buffalo State Park to picnic, swim, fish, hike and experience nature and history. But this weekend is special. Not only will the forest be in full fall dress, but a number of special events are planned.

“The restored, 19^th-century Shoaff’s Mill will be running both days on this weekend, with ongoing tours throughout the day,” said park Naturalist Ben Ranney. “And this is the only time we sell cornmeal ground at the mill.”

In front of the mill, the Perry Historians, a local genealogical and historical organization, will host an old-fashioned apple butter boil, complete with copper kettles, an open fire and long stirring paddles. Bring your own jars, as the apple butter will be available for purchase, but come early as the supply sells out quickly. Afterwards, relax in front of the mill and listen to country/bluegrass music.

“The Perry Historians offer a stand with all types of yummy baked goods, including hot dogs, sausages, homemade soups, cider, apples and various drinks,” said member Jean Tuzinski.

The festival lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, but the park remains open with many trails to explore and the beautiful Holman Lake to visit.

So, pick your weekend, or maybe all three, and enjoy the colors along with some hiking, fun and good home cooking. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Going There

Jacks Mountain and the Juniata River Valley:For the latest on leaf peeping and local attractions, call 717-248-6713 or visit www.juniatarivervalley.org.

Sherman’s Valley Heritage Days:Located in the town of Blain, Perry County, the festival runs Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11. Admission is $2, but free for children 12 and under. For more, visit svheritagedays.org or call 717-536-3347.

Tuscarora Forest:For more information about the guided tour of the forest on Oct. 11, call 717-536-319, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook.

Little Buffalo State Park:The Apple Butter Festival takes place Oct. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the park’s east picnic area. Admission is free. For more information, contact the park office at 717-567-9255 or visit www.dcnr.state.park.us/littlebuffalo.

Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His novel, “Devil’s Den,” was selected as a finalist in the 2013 Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was selected as the best suspense/thriller at the 2015 Indie Book Awards. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com.

Fall for Pasta: It’s time to tuck away the grill & turn on the stovetop.

September 30, 2015 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

A friend of ours casually mentioned recently that it was almost time to “eat with a spoon again.” I knew what she meant.

For us “summer-only” grillers, cooking changes in the fall. It’s time to bring back stews, casseroles and soups. Pastas now meet with meats, sausages, beans and a variety of mushrooms. There may be a little container of pesto in the freezer or perhaps some roasted plum tomatoes to add to fall dishes and bring back memories of summer. But, in traditional Italian kitchens, cooking evolves with the seasons; and, for me, that is the beauty of it.

Fall in Italy is a lovely time. The intense heat of the Mediterranean sun subsides into gentle warmth. And although the fall colors aren’t quite like those of the northeastern United States, there is a golden hue that overtakes the landscape. The abundant produce of fall is still available, and the hunt for mushrooms begins.

One of my favorite cool weather pasta recipes is called “woodsman pasta.” The star of the pasta is mushrooms, and, in fact, many dishes prepared in a similar fashion are referred to as woodsman-style or boscaiola. As with so many Italian dishes, there are more variations than one can count. I make it with a tomato sauce base, although you will often see boscaiola made with cream.

A few notes before you start:

Try different kinds of mushrooms. You don’t have to forage the Tuscan woods to find them. Our supermarkets carry many interesting varieties these days.
This is a great way to sneak peas into your spouse’s diet. The tiny frozen ones are better than fresh.
Tortellini is suggested for woodsman pasta. But orecchiette and rigatoni both work very well.
Although the recipe that follows is tomato-based, you can still splash in a bit of heavy cream for added richness.
POMI crushed tomatoes, while a little more expensive than some other brands, are very, very good. They are pure tomatoes and nothing else.

Pasta alla Boscaiola

Ingredients

2 cups frozen baby peas
5 cups coarsely chopped mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
24 ounces good quality crushed tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound pre-made tortellini or other heavy pasta like orecchiette
Freshly grated cheese (Parmesan, Romano or Asiago)

Recipe

Put the mushrooms, garlic and parsley in a large sauté pan with the oil and cook for 5 minutes. Allow the liquid produced by the mushrooms to evaporate.
Add the tomatoes and simmer for about 20 minutes. The mixture should be thick and not “watery.”
Add the petite frozen peas (no need to cook first) and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3 to 4 more minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta until it is al dente (tender, but firm to the bite).
Drain the pasta when cooked and add it to the sauté pan. Toss gently and cook together for a few minutes to blend all the ingredients.
If you want more of a pink sauce, add a splash or two of heavy cream and cook a minute more.
If you like things hot and spicy, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.
Serve from the skillet or place in a large pasta bowl. Top with grated cheese (I use a lot).

This pasta can stand up to a smooth, rich red wine like Nero D’ Avola. But a crisp white would be nice too, even one with a slight “fizz.”

So welcome fall. For me, it’s time to put my gas grill to sleep until next spring. I hope you enjoy pasta boscaiola on a crisp October evening.

September News Digest

September 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Tax Hike Suggested

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month proposed tripling the local services tax to help close an estimated $6 million budget gap for the year.

Papenfuse introduced the idea during the annual State of the City address, saying that the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan needed to be amended because some revenues, including parking revenues due to enforcement snags, have fallen short of projections.

Under this plan, the local services tax would increase from $1 to $3 per worker per week. The increase would generate about $4 million a year, according to the administration.

The increase must be passed by City Council and approved by the Commonwealth Court. Papenfuse later said that Fred Reddig, a state official and the city’s Act 47 coordinator, supports the idea.

During his speech, Papenfuse also urged Harrisburg-based businesses to help the city financially by ceasing to use private haulers for trash collection. In addition, he floated the idea that the city should consider Home Rule, which would allow it to have greater control in its own affairs.

Papenfuse said that Home Rule was the “only real way out” of Act 47 financial oversight. Many municipalities in Pennsylvania, including Carlisle, have Home Rule charters, but achieving Home Rule would take years.

Reed to Stand Trial

The criminal case against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed will go to trial, a judge determined last month.

Following a daylong preliminary hearing, Senior Magisterial District Judge Richard Cashman said the state could proceed with a case against Reed on all 485 counts against him, covering a wide range of alleged corruption.

At the hearing, the prosecution presented evidence that Reed had violated numerous laws, including that he had kept in his possession hundreds of artifacts purchased with city money. Reed allegedly bought the artifacts for several museums that he had proposed building in the city.

The defense team, led by Henry Hockheimer of the Philadelphia-based firm of Ballard Spahr, refuted those charges, stating that the property rightfully belonged to Reed.

Separately, Reed’s attorneys last month filed a motion asking the court to dismiss more than 300 counts against him, claiming they were not valid because the statute of limitations had expired.

Sinkhole Application Favored

The state has ranked Harrisburg first in Pennsylvania to receive federal sinkhole mitigation funds, the city learned last month.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency sent a letter to Harrisburg saying its application for a federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for sinkhole remediation had been ranked No. 1 in the state.

The city is seeking grants for sinkhole repair and home demolition and buyouts in a hard-hit area of S. 14^th Street.

The state support, while positive, does not guarantee that Harrisburg will receive the award, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. Only state emergency management agencies are eligible to apply for grants under the program, but awards are not allocated on a state-by-state basis.

LED Project Gets Green Light

Harrisburg’s plan to upgrade all of its streetlights with long-lasting LED lights is set to begin this month after the City Council approved funding for the project.

Council last month voted unanimously to borrow $3.2 million from M&T Bank for the LED conversion project, the city’s first major borrowing since the financial crisis shut it off from the credit markets. Council then voted unanimously to contract with The Efficiency Network, based in Pittsburgh, to perform the citywide installation of about 6,000 lights.

The administration estimates that the upgrade will save the city about $500,000 annually in energy costs, which should cover the cost of the financing. As part of its contract, The Efficiency Network guarantees the savings for a 10-year period.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said much of the work would be done this fall, but probably would not be completed until early next year.

Council also authorized the administration to apply for a $3.6 million grant from Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up as part of the city’s financial recovery plan to assist its infrastructure and economic development efforts. Impact Harrisburg is in the process of hiring an executive director, which it must do before considering applications for grants.

If Harrisburg receives the money, the city would pay off the loan early and use the savings from reduced energy costs for other purposes, Papenfuse said. The loan carries a prepayment penalty of 3 percent.

The city already has received a grant of $500,000 to offset some of the cost of the LED project.

Campbell Gets Probation

Former Harrisburg Treasurer John Campbell last month was sentenced to three years of probation for stealing money from three nonprofit organizations.

As part of his sentence, Campbell turned over a restitution check for $26,230, which will repay Historic Harrisburg Association, the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats and Lighten Up Harrisburg for the thefts.

In all, Campbell pled guilty to one misdemeanor and two felony counts.

Campbell was executive director of Historic Harrisburg and a volunteer treasurer for both Lighten Up Harrisburg and the Stonewall Democrats when the thefts occurred. He was not charged with any crimes in his capacity as city treasurer.

Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Scott A. Evans is allowing Campbell to serve his probation in the Washington, D.C., area, where he now lives.

Bar Loses Appeal

A Midtown Harrisburg bar targeted for closure by the city has lost its appeal, and now has taken its case to court.

The city’s License and Tax Appeal Review Board rejected the effort by the Third Street Café (formerly Club 1400) to retain its business license and continue operating from its building at the corner of N. 3rd and Calder streets.

The three-person appeals board unanimously sided with the city, which alleges that the bar attracts criminal behavior, especially drug activity.

“The owners and operators of the Third Street Café consented to or allowed behavior on and around the premises that constituted crimes under federal, state and local laws,” concluded the board in its Aug. 28 decision.

The city has tried for months to revoke the bar’s business license. In late March, it sent owner Tony Paliometros a letter stating it planned to revoke the license, giving him 30 days to cease operations. Paliometros appealed the revocation, and a one-day appeals hearing was held in late May.

After losing the appeal, Paliometros immediately appealed that decision to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and was granted a stay to remain open. The court appeal is scheduled for Oct. 9.

Housing Market Stable

Housing sales and prices were relatively stable in August, compared to the same period last year.

Throughout the region, 783 houses sold at a median sales price of $165,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. In August 2014, 781 houses sold for a median price of $165,000.

In Dauphin County, 265 houses sold at a median price of $144,900. In Cumberland County, 268 houses sold for a median price of $179,900 and, in Perry County, 27 houses sold for a median price of $165,000.

So Noted

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District and Recycle Bicycle last month launched a Downtown Bike Library, which allows people to borrow and then return a bike, a helmet and a lock at no cost from the HDID office at 22 N. 2^nd St. This program is considered a pilot program to the Bike Share Harrisburg initiative that is in the works to bring a bike share program to the city.

The Millworks last month started a lunch service, which begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday to Friday. The Midtown Harrisburg restaurant and art space opened in March for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. It then added weekend brunch hours.

Bricco halted its lunch service last month in favor of expanding its catering business with Ciao! Bakery, in an endeavor now called Bricco-Ciao! Catering. The menu consists of both Ciao’s sandwiches and Bricco’s Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Bricco, at the corner of S. 3^rd and Chestnut streets, remains open for dinner.

The Kitchen at H*MAC last month announced new lunch and brunch hours. The restaurant, located at 1110 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg, now is open for lunch on Monday to Friday beginning at 11 a.m. and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

Arepa City, which specialized in the Venezuelan sandwich called the arepa, closed last month after more than six years in downtown Harrisburg. Owner Daniel Farias said customers didn’t follow the restaurant after it moved into larger space further down N. 2^nd Street. Farias said he plans to continue his catering business.

Frederic Loraschi Chocolate opened a retail location and production facility at 4615 Hillcrest St. in Colonial Park. For years, the chocolatier has made his high-end confections from a converted kitchen in the basement of his Hummelstown home. The new shop allows consumers to buy directly from him.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2101: R. Pickles to D. Maxwell, $96,500

Calder St., 116: M. DePhilip to D. Goldman, $150,000

Chestnut St., 2100: W. & K. Richards to H. Trauffer, $65,000

Curtin St., 543, 2135 N. 4^th St., 1949 Berryhill St., 545 Benton St. & 2314 N. 4^th St.: Susquehanna Bank to MBHH RE LLC, $107,000

Graham St., 118: B. & K. Elgart & Cartus Financial Corp. to P. Furlong, $219,900

Green St., 1924: D. Miller & R. Finley to G. O’Loughlin, $214,900

Hale Ave., 428: Metro Bank to T. & K. Vu, $42,500

Herr St., 409: W. & F. Moore to D. Jordan, $106,000

Industrial Rd., 3360: Conewago Contractors Inc. to Norfolk Southern Railway Co., $7,500,000

Kelker St., 319: K. Hancock to J. Marks, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 1311: J. Feldman to T. Gray, $78,700

N. 2^nd St., 1406: F. Magaro to C. Albers, $149,000

N. 2^nd St., 1520: E. Spaar to N. & R. Masterson, $94,000

N. 2^nd St., 1708: D. Shreve to J. Seigle, $171,300

N. 2^nd St., 1829: E. Stuckey to M. Nolt, $126,000

N. 2^nd St., 3206: R. & P. Kotz to S. Margut, $178,000

N. 3^rd St., 1606: Fannie Mae to Anselmo Brothers Partnership, $52,500

N. 3^rd St., 2243: Kusic Financial Services LLC to A. & M. Collins, $58,000

N. Front St., 2609: Supreme Forest of Tall Cedars to A. Hartzler, $225,000

Penn St., 1820: Bayview Loan Servicing LLC to PA Deals LLC, $50,250

Penn St., 1917: S. Stauffer to S. Cline & J. Lemon, $118,500

Penn St., 1920: WCI Partners LP to C. Clabaugh, $159,900

Rudy Rd., 2141: A. McKenna to M. McNelis, $142,900

Rumson Dr., 2586: Beneficial Consumer Discount Co. to PA Deals LLC, $43,299

Schuykill St., 518 & 522: M. & A. Parsons to J. & B. Readinger, $37,500

S. 15^th St., 347, 1529 Catherine St., 1615 Naudain St., 30 Balm St., 1822 Park St. & 22 Balm St.: I. Colon to C. Harp, $30,000

S. Front St., 555: Ashbury Foundation to D. Ogg, $82,500

State St., 115: Pennsylvania Bar Association to Commonwealth Strategic Solutions LLC, $172,000

State St., 231, Unit 504: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $144,900

State St., 231, Unit 505: LUX 1 LP to M & K. Lastrina, $154,900

State St., 1336: D. Pinnock to D. Vining, $37,000

Susquehanna St., 1833: G. & K. Ender to J. Secrest, $42,500

Swatara St., 2416: M. Gaston et al to D. & E. Davenport, $129,600

Thompson St., 1257: Jamil Karim LLC to Harrisburg Housing Authority, $80,000

Woodbine St., 502: K. Bethea to C. Guerrier, $40,000

Harrisburg property sales for August 2015, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Timely Audit Seen as Small Step in Harrisburg’s Recovery

September 24, 2015 | by Paul Barker

A chart from Harrisburg’s audited financial statements from 2013.

Harrisburg will file audited financial statements on time for the first time since 2007, city officials said this week, marking a small but important step in the once nearly bankrupt capital’s gradual return to normal operations.

Finance director Bruce Weber said the statements would be published by the end of the week, following the completion of a review by the city’s independent auditors, the Harrisburg-based firm Maher Duessel.

That will allow Harrisburg to file them with regulators by a Sept. 30 deadline, set by promises the city made in various borrowings over the years. The city has not met the deadline since 2007, and its struggles with timely filings led the Securities and Exchange Commission two years ago to charge it with securities fraud.

“The capital markets will view this very favorably as yet another step in the city’s recovery,” said Steven Goldfield, a financial advisor to the state team overseeing Harrisburg’s recovery plan.

The audit, though its timing reflects better compliance with regulators, still comes later than a June 30 deadline generally viewed as ideal, said deputy controller Bill Leinberger. And it comes only weeks after Mayor Eric Papenfuse warned of a possible $6 million deficit in 2016 and a city hall that remains “starved for capacity.”

The financial statements give a comprehensive picture of the government’s financial standing and general operations at the close of the prior fiscal year. In addition to providing financial details, they are a font of information about the city, including data like demographic and employment trends and government staffing levels.

Their scope may prove forbidding to the average citizen, who likely doesn’t have the time or expertise to wade through the hundred-plus pages of city hall minutiae. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose of information,” Weber said.

But investors in city-backed bonds may rely on them for an accurate picture of the city’s financial health, which is why the SEC cited Harrisburg’s late statements and notices between 2009 and 2011 in charging the city with fraud.

“Timely and complete disclosure of financial information by state and local governments plays a key role in ensuring a fair and efficient municipal market,” said Lynnette Kelly, executive director of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, which regulates the municipal bond market. “When cities meet their disclosure requirements, investors have the information they need to make decisions that are right for them.”

In various borrowings, Harrisburg promised to provide market regulators with up-to-date financial statements 270 days from the end of each fiscal year, or to notify investors if the city was running late on its filing.

The SEC claimed that, by failing to file timely statements or notices, the city left the market with “incomplete and outdated” information from January 2009 to March 2011. Furthermore, budget reports and public statements in 2009 by then-Mayor Stephen Reed gave “misleading” information at a time when the city government was facing increasing financial difficulties, the SEC said.

The SEC ultimately settled without Harrisburg admitting or denying the charges. The city now operates under a cease-and-desist order requiring timely disclosures to investors.

In recent years, as the city played catch-up, it submitted financial statements after the Sept. 30 deadline but complied with the order by filing a notice with regulators. This year marks the first under the order in which Harrisburg will not have to file such a notice, because the audited statements themselves will be submitted on time.

In New Video, Water Authority Asks Customers to “Consider the Source”

September 24, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Capital Region Water CEO Shannon Williams at the DeHart reservoir, in a screenshot from the "Consider the Source" video.

Capital Region Water CEO Shannon Williams at the DeHart, in a screenshot from “Consider the Source.”

The next time you drink a beer at Appalachian Brewing Co., consider this: the water used to make your Mountain Lager or Hoppy Trails I.P.A. likely came from the pristine DeHart reservoir, Harrisburg’s six-billion-gallon water supply.

That’s one of several facts the city’s water and sewer authority asks you to ponder in “Consider the Source,” an informational video released in the past week that takes viewers on a brisk tour of their water’s route “from raindrop to tap.”

Capital Region Water’s chief executive, Shannon Williams, narrates a journey that begins in the sky, pauses at the 5-mile DeHart, and proceeds down the mountains through 25 miles of pipe towards the treatment plant and Reservoir Park, before ultimately reaching the taps of the authority’s 60,000 customers.

Williams also urges viewers to help protect the water they drink, by not littering, picking up or alerting the authority to dumped trash, and reporting vehicle spills along Route 325, which runs through the watershed.

The video, complete with a patrol-boat’s-eye view of the DeHart, was funded in part by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, under a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection. You can watch it here: https://capitalregionwater.com/considerthesource.

TheBurg Podcast, Sept. 18, 2015

September 18, 2015 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

Sept. 18, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk about the preliminary hearing that ultimately sent Steve Reed on towards a full trial, probation and restitution in the case of former city treasurer John Campbell and a judge’s stay that lets a Midtown bar remain open, at least for now.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. Check out his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud or in the iTunes store.

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page.

Liquor Control

September 18, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

The Third Street Cafe, with the Taproom directly next door.

What responsibility does a private business have to its community?

That question came to my mind recently after sitting through a court hearing on the city’s continuing effort to revoke the business license of the Third Street Café (formerly Club 1400).

At the hearing, the city told Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Dowling of repeated criminal incidents in and around the bar at the corner of N. 3^rd and Calder streets over the past two years.

That’s why, said city Solicitor Neil Grover, the city yanked the bar’s business license, an action upheld in late August by the three-person Business Privilege and Mercantile License Appeal Board.

The bar then appealed that decision to the Dauphin County court, which was why Dowling was now involved. He would decide whether to allow the bar to stay open until the court could consider the appeal.

At the hearing, Grover ticked off allegations against the Third Street Café:

In March, a guy was assaulted at the bar’s front door.
In May, a woman was badly beaten in the alley in back of the bar.
In May, a drug transaction was arranged inside the bar and took place outside.

There was other criminal activity, too, Grover said, eight specific incidents since March 2014.

The bar’s attorney, Christopher Wilson, refuted them all.

He said that the owner, Tony Paliometros, could not be held responsible for actions outside his bar, even if they were at the front door, or in the back alley, and even if they involved his patrons, who he could not control. As for the drug transaction—that was a Harrisburg police setup, he said.

And to the extent there are genuine problems at N. 3^rd and Calder, the bar next door—the Taproom (itself under threat of closure)—is mostly to blame, Wilson said, as are the city and Capital Area Transit for locating a bus stop at the corner.

In the end, Judge Dowling allowed the bar to remain open until the appeals hearing, which he scheduled for Oct. 9.

His decision didn’t surprise me. From his questioning, Dowling telegraphed that he was mostly concerned about the financial harm that Paliometros would suffer if his bar were to close immediately. In his decision, Dowling wrote:

“Appellant has made a strong showing that without the requested relief, he will suffer irreparable injury, that the issuance of a stay will not substantially harm other interested parties in the proceedings and that the issue of a stay will not adversely affect the public interest in any tangible way.” (italics added)

At the hearing, it was clear to me that Dowling had little concern (or perhaps knowledge) of the daily chaos at 3^rd and Calder. The loitering, the panhandling, the fights in the streets, the screaming, the swearing, the litter, the harassment of pedestrians, the drunks stumbling into traffic, the guys sleeping it off on the sidewalk, the smell of urine at the boarded up buildings up the block—all of which I’ve seen and experienced. This dysfunction will now continue at least until the October hearing.

I understand that Dowling is constrained by the testimony in his courtroom, but the problems at that corner go far beyond a handful of alleged criminal incidents. The two bars—which acknowledge the block’s problems, but point fingers at each other through their shared wall—are dramatically affecting the quality of life of the people who live and work there—or who just exercise their right to walk down the street.

Which returns me to my original question: What responsibility does a private business have to its community?

I would argue that a business has a substantial responsibility to its community. Most businesses are significant actors in the places they’re located. They then, at a minimum, have a responsibility to do no harm to that area; at best, they should actively try to improve their neighborhoods, making them better places to be and do business.

Bars, in fact, should have among the highest standards of any type of business. They’ve been granted a remarkable privilege by the state to make money selling an intoxicating substance, one that alters minds and behaviors. That’s a special right that should be approached with deep concern for the bar’s patrons and the surrounding community.

In Harrisburg, most bars (and restaurants that serve alcohol) seem to take this responsibility fairly seriously. Some owners are certainly better than others, and the 2 a.m. scene on 2^nd Street can get rowdy. But trouble is not an all day, every day occurrence. Outside of most bars, people don’t cross the street to avoid walking by or, when they do, fear for themselves or their families, thinking that something bad might happen.

They often do when passing the Third Street Café and the Taproom. While the owners battle the city and sling mud at each other, the people in the neighborhood are being profoundly affected. To those who live, work and walk there, the bars are practically indistinguishable, with a constant flow between them, all day, starting at 7 a.m., when they open. Is one worse than the other? Maybe, but, right now, the two are feeding off each other.

I don’t wish ill to either Paliometros or to Dave Larche, who owns the Taproom (Larche also owns the Brownstone Café on Forster Street, notably a bar with seemingly few problems). However, they have to recognize that there’s an entire community around them that is suffering.

Is that awesome power—the power to diminish a community’s welfare and seal its fate—something that should be granted to two guys who want to sling booze?

Last year, I went with a developer to look at the dilapidated, boarded-up building next to the Taproom owned by the Volunteers of America, a building with a covered entry that is sometimes used as both a bathroom and a crash pad by bar patrons. Parking across the street, he was immediately beset by people shrieking, fighting and swearing at each other on a Tuesday afternoon.

Without even going inside, the developer passed on a building rehab, saying there was no way he’d touch the VOA building with the chaos on the block. How would he rent any apartments? Who would want to live there?

In his order, Judge Dowling showed a concern for one man’s paycheck, while dismissing the threat to the “public interest.” In fact, contrary to Dowling’s belief, the public interest is being adversely affected, profoundly so, and has been for years.

At the Oct. 9 hearing, Dowling may hear again of the city’s allegations against the bar, perhaps in more detail, as well as explanations from the bar’s attorneys. However, if he’s going to invoke the public interest, he should find out what that public interest is so that he can determine, in an informed manner, if it is being “adversely affected . . . in any tangible way.” A good start would be to take a walk up 3^rd Street, check out the action on the corner and then talk to some people who live and work in the immediate neighborhood.

TheBurg Podcast, Sept. 11, 2015

September 11, 2015 | by Admin

Welcome to TheBurg Podcast, a weekly roundup of news in and around Harrisburg.

Sept. 11, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk about Mayor Papenfuse’s State of the City address and a hearing on shutting down a bar the city says is a neighborhood nuisance, before a giving a recap of the week’s council meeting.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. Check out his podcast, the PRC Show, on SoundCloud or in the iTunes store.

TheBurg Podcast can be downloaded by clicking on the date above or by visiting the iTunes store. You can also access the podcast via its host page.

Home Remedy

September 11, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

The new HBO miniseries “Show Me A Hero,” David Simon’s take on a desegregation battle that roiled the city of Yonkers, N.Y., in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, is full of scenes that squeeze high drama out of the most tedious of municipal exercises. Roll call votes are cast before crowds of screaming protestors. A councilman, running to unseat the incumbent mayor, asks to use a city hall photocopier and is told stonily—faint hearts, plug your ears—it’s “gonna be a while.” In the fourth episode, the city manager hands a brown paper package to the outgoing mayor, Nick Wasicsko. Inside is neither money nor drugs but, rather, a framed copy of a recent amendment to the Yonkers charter. “You really fucking shouldn’t have,” Wasicsko says, as he tears the package open. The city manager, not to be out-cussed, replies, “Because of you, this place won’t be half as fucked up as it is now.”

Is there anything more boring than a local government charter? The things local governments do are often viscerally affecting—raising taxes, hiring and firing cops, bulldozing churches or, in Yonkers’ case, erecting public housing in middle-class neighborhoods. But charters concern what local governments are—whether they’re run by a manager or mayor, how many councilors oversee them, what day the budget is due. Even profanity can make them only so stimulating. The piece of the Yonkers charter that scored an HBO cameo eliminated the position of city manager and extended the mayor’s term from two to four years. Who fucking cares?

This week, at an annual “State of the City” address, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse did his best to spice up his own charter initiative. The proposal has to do with home rule, the designation for a local government that opts to replace the state’s cookie-cutter municipal code with a charter of its own crafting. To date, Pennsylvania has 72 such “home rule” municipalities, including large cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Allentown as well as Harrisburg-sized cities like Lancaster, York and Wilkes-Barre. A municipality seeking home rule must first elect a commission to study its form of government. State law is poetic about this commission’s duties; among other things, it is to determine whether the local government can be “made more clearly responsible or accountable to the people.” It should also ensure the “widest possible public information and discussion” about its work, though it has some latitude in deciding how to do that. The commission for Carlisle, whose voters approved a home rule charter just this past May, published a monthly newsletter.

Papenfuse gave his address in a ballroom at the Hilton hotel downtown to an audience largely composed of local business owners. How they reacted to his speech depended, in part, on how accustomed they were to his taste for citing American history. He opened with a story about a James Earl Jones speech on the U.S. Constitution and went on to describe a “prize-winning” essay he wrote in graduate school on the Anti-Federalists and the path to the Bill of Rights. One’s reaction also depended on one’s comfort with Papenfuse’s tendency to lob grenades. At one point, discussing businesses that don’t use the city’s sanitation services, he noted he was “sorry to say” they included the event’s host, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber. (“It’s up to my landlord,” Dave Black, the chamber president, told Papenfuse on the ballroom floor after the speech. “Not really, though,” Papenfuse replied.)

The Constitution reference set Papenfuse up for his speech’s central analogy. Like the country’s founding document, he said, the state’s financial recovery plan for Harrisburg—stay with me—was imperfect as originally passed, and needed to be amended. “I say to you this morning: now is the time for we the people to work in unison to amend the Harrisburg Strong Plan,” the mayor said. Specifically, he called for three adjustments. The first was to raise the so-called local services tax, a flat tax on employees making more than $12,000 per year, from $1 to $3 per week. The second, more vaguely, was to “continue to invest in and improve” sanitation services. The third was to shift the city to home rule.

At base, all three proposals are about money. The so-called Strong Plan contains several hundred pages of initiatives for improving Harrisburg government, yet the mayor’s objections centered on only two problems: income taxes and parking revenues. The original plan’s projections were off, Papenfuse said, and the city now expects to fall $6 million short of the hoped-for revenues in 2016. The local services tax would obviously address this—according to the mayor, the proposed hike would rake in an extra $4 million per year. Less obviously, expanding sanitation is about money, too. City trash bills, Papenfuse said, are the one source of revenues that are “out-performing expectations”; adding accounts will allow the city to hire more workers, who can in turn provide “much-needed neighborhood services” like filling potholes and trimming trees. (He also suggested the sanitation fund could provide low-interest loans to other parts of city government, though here he drifted into dangerous territory. The city is currently facing a lawsuit claiming its trash rates are excessively high, allegedly to help fund unrelated government functions.)

What about home rule? Papenfuse discussed the prospect only briefly in his speech, describing it as “Harrisburg’s only real way out” of the state’s program for financially distressed municipalities. Short of specific proposals, how a new charter might provide that exit is not exactly clear. David Greene, assistant director and legal counsel to the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission, said a home rule charter can provide the “broadest quantum of powers to the municipality” of any form of local government, including greater freedom to define and increase the local tax base. Under the state distress program, Harrisburg was permitted to increase the income tax on residents to 2 percent; a home rule charter could make the authority for that increase permanent, or potentially authorize further increases. There are, however, limits to such home-rule powers, including limits on the taxes imposed on nonresidents, which might pose a problem for the mayor’s proposed tripling of the local services tax once Harrisburg leaves state oversight.

If home rule appeals to Harrisburg, it may be for reasons of principle as much as for reasons of practicality. Papenfuse, introducing the concept in his speech, said it would “transfer basic authority back from the state” to the city. In the wake of financial disaster and aggressive state intervention, there is something romantic in the concept of Harrisburg voters going back to the drawing board to design a government structure that may better suit them. The city of Nanticoke, in Luzerne County, became a home rule city in 2013, and left the state distress program earlier this year. At the top of their new charter is a brief preamble: “The citizens of Nanticoke City,” it begins, “have the privilege, right and responsibility to participate in all aspects of City government and have come together with a desire and willingness to improve their government through the enactment of this charter.” It concludes with a pledge by “We, the people of Nanticoke City” to uphold its laws. Papenfuse is not the first to look at local government and think of the U.S. Constitution. You can see why someone might want a framed copy.

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