Tag Archives: Harrisburg Beer Week

September News Digest

August 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Virtual Start for Harrisburg Schools

The Harrisburg school district last month began its 2020-21 academic year with fully virtual instruction.

Before the year began, families had to choose one of two options, according to Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer. They could select a hybrid online/classroom model or a fully virtual model.

For both paths, students started the year with fully virtual learning.

The first path is called the “Pathway to Classroom Instruction.” In that model, students began with online instruction, including live lessons and individual work, with the expectation that they would return to the physical classroom later in the year.

The time spent learning at home will approximate the time spent in school in order to have a smooth transition and continuity of education, explained Chief Academic Officer Susan Sneath.

“A schedule for at-home learning will look pretty similar to a schedule that a child might have in school when they attend school every day,” Sneath said.

Under a second, hybrid phase, students will go to school two days a week and continue virtual learning the other three days. They will be split into two groups, half going in on Monday and Tuesday, the others attending on Thursday and Friday.

Students will transition to a hybrid model of online and classroom learning only when there is a sustained decrease in the spread of the virus in the community, reduced diagnoses and shorter virus testing turnaround times, among other factors.

“If there are opportunities for students to come back to brick-and-mortar, we are going to look to take advantage of those, if they are safe,” Celmer said.

Students can expect to return to school full-time only when positive case rates in the community are below the state benchmark of 5% for two weeks. In addition, treatments or a vaccine must be available, as well as rapid testing turnarounds, Celmer said.

The second option for families is to enroll in the district’s new cyber school—the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy (HVLA).

For either option, all students were eligible to receive a device, such as a Chromebook or laptop, for their work.

Food distribution will continue with the start of the school year and will likely increase from the current one day a week to two or three.

Proposed Police Board Draws Comments, Criticism

Harrisburg City Council held three town hall meetings last month on a proposed Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, receiving substantial input from residents who attended the virtual and in-person gatherings.

Dozens of residents participated in the meetings, and most who spoke did not approve of the legislation, Bill 8, which would create the proposed board.

In their comments, residents focused most on the proposed board’s lack of subpoena and independent investigative powers. Many residents believe that the advisory board should be a more powerful review board.

“I don’t believe this bill would be a step towards accountability,” resident Rachel Peacock said during one of the meetings. “It seems like a horse-and-pony show.”

Others echoed the complaint that the board, as proposed, lacks sufficient power, and some added that residents should have a say in who is appointed to the board. Currently, the bill states that City Council would appoint four members and the mayor would choose three.

The bill also states that Harrisburg’s police commissioner would sit on the board without voting power. Appointed board members would also be required to attend police academy training or participate in a police ride-along.

“I can imagine a chilling effect if the chief of police is sitting on the citizens’ advisory board,” resident Vishal Bajpai said.

Council member Ausha Green, the chair of the public safety committee, said that the meetings would influence the fate of the bill creating the board.

“It’s important for us to have everyone’s voices as a part of our decision,” Green said. “We will look to make changes through amendments.”

Farm Show Goes Virtual

Our area’s biggest annual event—the PA Farm Show—will go virtual this year, the state announced last month.

State Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said that canceling in-person portions of the 10-day agricultural exposition was necessary due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are times in the life of a farmer when the risks are too great or uncertain, requiring farmers to make the tough decision to leave a field fallow,” he said. “To protect our assets—both our people and our resources—from incalculable losses, we have made the tough decision to take a year to lie in fallow.”

He also announced the theme for the January 2021 event: “Cultivating Tomorrow.”

Redding didn’t immediately describe the planned virtual substitutes, but did say that they would be focused on “education and awareness” for both the agricultural industry and the public.

In 2021, the PA Farm Show will celebrate its 105th year.

City Rallies for Kesher Israel

Harrisburg community and faith leaders rallied around Kesher Israel Congregation last month, after a swastika was found scrawled on their synagogue.

A diverse crowd gathered outside the Uptown Harrisburg building to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

“The response from this community has been really incredible,” said Rabbi Elisha Friedman. “Each person by being here today is making a statement that this is unacceptable to go on in this area. We are not going to allow this kind of behavior to happen again.”

The Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council led the vigil. Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, Rep. Patty Kim (D-Harrisburg) and local faith leaders were among those who spoke.

“What I see here is love,” Carter said. “It took some cowards under the shield of nighttime to paint a swastika. But it didn’t drive a fork in any of our hearts. It brought us together.”

Friedman said that Harrisburg police arrived minutes after he called them. He added that the state troopers and FBI were helpful, as well.

Pastor James Jackson of Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church was one of the many faith leaders who spoke at the event.

“We members of the Goodwin Memorial Baptist church, who are your closest neighbors of faith, want to say to whoever did this, this is not acceptable,” he said.

This act of anti-Semitism is just one of many related incidents in the state, said Russell Goodman, who is part of the Interfaith Advisory Council.

The negative impact the swastika has on the Jewish community mirrors that of the confederate flag on the Black community, said Tameka Hatcher of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

“Symbolism matters,” she said. “As a person who believes in the dignity and the sanctity of lives of all people, we the Black community stand with our brothers and sisters of faith in the Jewish community.”

In closing, Jackson prayed for peace and unity in the community.

“The thing that we leave here with will be a renewed determination to see that this city, this community and this nation turn into a place where all of our kids can grow up in an atmosphere of love and peace,” he said.

Free Internet for Students

The Harrisburg School District is bringing free internet access to students and their families through a new partnership with Tri County Community Action.

About 1,500 families will be given free access through next August, according to the district. For many families, this is necessary as all students will begin the school year virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This timely partnership is a tremendous step toward closing the digital divide […],” Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer said. “With the generous support of Tri County Community Action, this partnership helps to make significant progress toward equitable technological access.”

Funding for the $160,000 connectivity initiative will come through Tri County Community Action’s Community Services Block Grant, as well as federal CARES Act funding.

“One of the best ways to disrupt and permanently break the cycle of poverty is through education and investing in our youth,” Tri County Executive Director Jennifer Wintermyer said.

According to Celmer, 84% of district students in the city come from families that are considered low-income or economically disadvantaged. This program will help close the digital divide, he said.

In a spring survey, the district found that three out of 10 students had questionable internet access to support online schooling, Celmer said. He added that the gap has closed slightly since then, but it’s still an issue for many families.

“Our priority is those families who have absolutely no access,” Celmer said.

The program will provide in-home Comcast Internet Essentials Services, Verizon Hot Spot access and Xfinity Wi-Fi Hot Spots at designated business and outdoor locations. Families do not have to be Xfinity Internet subscribers to access this, and it will be provided at no cost, according to the district.

Home Sales Strong

The Harrisburg area exhibited strong gains in residential sales in July, reversing a pandemic-induced dip from earlier in the year.

In July, home sales totaled 880 units compared to 753 units for July 2019, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). July saw the greatest number of sales compared to any month in 2020.

Prices also were up considerably for the three-county region, as the median sales price increased to $214,700 versus $190,000 a year ago, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, 405 houses sold compared to 365 the previous July, while the median price rose to $180,000 from $174,997.

Cumberland County had sales of 418 units versus 355 the prior year, as the median price jumped to $233,250 from $211,000, GHAR said. Residential sales in Perry County increased to 51 units from 33 a year ago, while the median price shot up to $177,700 from $160,000 in July 2019.

In July, the average days on the market for houses fell to 38 days compared to 44 days the year before, according to GHAR.

So Noted

Black Lives Matter mural was unveiled last month on the side of the Harrisburg Improv Theatre on N. 3rd Street. Local artist Mike Fitzgerald led the team that painted the mural, which includes affirmations and signatures from many people who participated in and supported the project.

Dauphin County is relocating its Elections and Voter Registration office to a larger facility in Swatara Township, the commissioners announced last month. The move from the county’s Administration Building to the two-level building at 1251 S. 28th St. is expected early next year.

Dixon University Center may soon be on the market, as the PA State System of Higher Education last month voted to relocate to a smaller facility and dispose of the 6.5-acre, six-building campus near Italian Lake in Harrisburg. The PA legislature would need to endorse a sale of the property, which the state system has occupied since 1992.

Gamut Theatre announced last month that it would mount a fall season, though in altered form due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gamut plans to stage three live plays, one each in September, October and November. Seating will be limited, and extra health and safety protocols will be in place. For details, visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Harrisburg Beer Week last month awarded $25,000 to its beneficiary, Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. Due to the pandemic, all events were virtual this year, but organizers still were able to raise substantial funds from sponsorships and donations.

Jason Isbell is returning to Harrisburg, as Harrisburg University last month announced its first outdoors show of 2021. The roots rocker and his band, the 400 Unit, are slated to play in Riverfront Park on May 29.

Kipona Festival will go on this year, though in an altered format. The three-day festival over Labor Day weekend will include a food truck festival and fireworks show on Saturday, Sept. 5, as well as two days of virtual events on Sept. 6 and 7. For more information, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov.

Maddie Young was named last month as the executive director of the Carlisle YMCA. Young brings more than 25 years of nonprofit experience in central Pennsylvania, including in management, fundraising, collaboration and planning, according to a news release from the board of directors.

Rep. Patty Kim last month announced three “Community Classroom” locations for Harrisburg school district students: the Journey Church on Allison Hill, Whitaker Center in downtown and Major H. Winfield Funeral Home in Steelton. These locations will be available for students to use for part of the school day to take online classes while their parents are at work.

Changing Hands

Allison Ct., 3: D. Patrick to R. Dominguez, $89,900

Antoine St., 522: Wells Fargo Bank NA to C. Freeman, $60,000

Boas St., 255: Three Bridges Holdings LLC to K. Dubina, $225,000

Boas St., 260: First United Methodist Church of Harrisburg to Church 1 Holdings LLC, $99,000

Boas St., 423: J. Vogelsong to R. Huy & Q. Heist, $114,900

Boas St., 1912: Dobson Family Limited Partnership to J. Erdman, $39,900

Briggs St., 215: CR Property Group LLC to M. Owens, $215,000

Calder St., 209: M. Pickard & C. DeAngelis to C. Doyle, $170,000

Calder St., 500: S. Hoffman to R. Metzger, $160,000

Chestnut St., 2044: M. Catania to J. Francisco, $105,000

Crescent St., 216: G. Neff & City Limits Realty to E. Seeger, $35,000

Dauphin St., 621, 623, 625, 626 & 627: DL Weaver Enterprises LLC to Kayr Management LLC, $185,100

Derry St., 2127: L. Quintanilla to N. Ramirez, $72,000

Green St., 1102: W. Hoover & Heinly Homes LLC to E. Kramer, $235,000

Green St., 1512: G. & R. Keller to P. Northop, $180,000

Green St., 1519: PA Deals LLC to A. Dunn, $95,000

Green St., 2005: K. Rapp to F. Boomer, $225,000

Green St., 3107: B. & S. Nussbaum to J. Lambert & J. Cantley, $190,000

Harris St., 437: V. Lacerra to L. Teck, $150,000

Herr St., 258: C. & L. Kelliher to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $130,000

Herr St., 260: S. Bruder & M. Richards to D. Noll, $216,000

Kelker St., 317: BDS Property Group LLC to K. Whistler & S. Sauro, $135,000

Kensington St., 2341: I. Trigueros to N. Matthews, $57,500

Lexington St., 2716: CR Property Group LLC to A. LaRoche, $104,995

Logan St., 2235: CR Property Group LLC to C. Price, $109,995

Luce St., 2304: CR Property Group LLC to L. Dalupang, $119,000

Market St., 1618: A. Vargas, L. Puente & I. Leon to O. & E. Melendres, $35,000

Market St., 2209: J. & L. Shrum to D. & C. Maset, $199,900

Mulberry St., 1811: JOG Investments LLC to MR RE LLC, $70,000

Nagle St., 112: A. Miranda & K. & B. Downey to J. Weaver, $140,000

North St., 2002: S. Aly to C. Asare, $45,000

N. 2nd St., 512 & 514: G. & R. Petrina to 512-514 N. 2nd St., LLC, $90,000

N. 2nd St., 1935: G. & J. Geiges to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $88,500

N. 2nd St., 2534: A. Massaro to Mundi Investment Group LLC, $131,200

N. 3rd St., 234: M. & J. Singel to 234 N. 3rd St. LLC, $315,000

N. 3rd St., 1726: E. & M. Lambino to R. Moore, $132,000

N. 4th St., 2031: J. Frey to Q. Phillips, $41,000

N. 4th St., 2412: R. Alleman & An. Bergner to T. Carlson, $82,500

N. 4th St., 2637: S. Holton to M. Rosario, $38,000

N. 5th St., 1640: G. & L. Cermak to L. Sanford, $140,000

N. 5th St., 2216: Aga Properties Solution LLC to CR Property Group LLC, $36,000

N. 5th St., 2447: JOG Investments LLC to D. Boyle, $33,000

N. 6th St., 1727: A. Pierce to Stoute Housing Inc., $85,000

N. 17th St., 51: I. Mirambeaux to P. Aurelio, $30,000

N. 17th St., 122: OJK Enterprises LLC & C. Texidor to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $36,000

N. 17th St., 1009: T. Coffee to Woods Property Management LLC, $35,000

N. 19th St., 703: D. Nguyen to S. Francis, $103,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 513: M. & E. Crossey to A. Miller, $114,900

N. Front St., 2841: W. Zutell to Wheaten Investments LLC, $525,000

N. Summit St., 132: R. Andrews to R. Munoz, $33,000

Parkside Dr., 2926: J. McKeithan to K. & R. Greenland, $264,500

Penn St., 1208: Wheatland Restore LLC to G. Dunigan, $180,000

Penn St., 1505: D. Crowther to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $100,000

Penn St., 1809: J. Francesangeli & D. Rocklein to M. Jones & S. Kuserik, $167,000

Penn St., 2314: J. & S. Horton to R. Flemister, $93,000

Race St., 564: H. Jones to SJL Rentals, $109,900

Radnor St., 127: A. Mentzer & S. Jones to V. Thieu & C. Bone, $279,900

Regina St., 1700: M. & R. Dillard to NA Capital Group LLC, $50,000

Reel St., 2418: American Rental Home LLC & CR Property Group LLC to J. Johnson, $110,000

Rolleston St., 1140: V. Cunningham to M. Gonzalez, $50,000

Rumson Dr., 2975: Proline Properties LLC to R. & R. Jarnagin, $105,000

Showers St., 617: M. & K. Maurer to D. Nomie, $167,000

S. 20th St., 228: S. Elazouni to J. Verdugo, $64,000

S. 26th St., 633: Q. & L. Tran to M. Pontz, $114,900

S. Cameron St., 1000 & 1171: Olcam Corp. & P. Grove to Harrisburg PA III SGF LLC & H. Nisbet, $20,500,000

State St., 1400: R. & A. Sharp to J. Arkon, $90,000

State St., 1901: C. Paulus to J. & M. Ramires, $85,000

State St., 1906: Big Foot Properties LLC to J. Rodriguez, $43,000

Susquehanna St., 1911: A. Shadday to S. Umble, $103,000

Vineyard Rd., 214: L. Csovelak & A. Trone to P. Eklund & B. Corner, $224,900

Woodbine St., 332: M. Mtere to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $52,000

Best in Glass: Brooks Hemauer has made the leap from award-winning amateur to professional brewer

July 31, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

In an article titled, “The Winner Effect,” author Eugene Sheely explained that, when people compete and win a contest, large amounts of dopamine and testosterone are released into the brain.

“Over time, changes to their brain structure and chemical makeup occur, making them more confident, smarter and able to take on larger challenges over time,” he wrote.

Brooks Hemauer may not have realized this when he won first place two years in a row at the Iron Brewer contest in Lancaster, but one thing he can attest to is that the recognition buoyed his spirits and inspired him to “up his beer game.”

Hemauer’s foray into the brewing business began with an IPA kit and an end product that he enjoyed.

“I continued to brew, and soon it became a passion of mine,” said the Dillsburg resident, whose next step was to join the Sons of Alchemy, a local home brewing club that has spawned many beer careers. Homebrew festivals followed, as did the compliments. According to Hemauer, the question asked most often was, “Where can I buy your beer?”

This prompted him to consider the prospect of selling his suds and pursuing his passion. Soon, he was bidding goodbye to his job in the automotive business and embracing the position of brewer.

“The game plan was to have our production facility at our detached garage in Dillsburg,” said Hemauer, who soon hit roadblocks at the local government level. “We needed a special exemption to brew beer as a rural occupation in the rural agricultural zone where we live.”

Determined, he returned to the drawing board, and the second time ended up being the charm. This time, he brought in studies to bolster his argument.

“We had to verify that we weren’t depleting the aquifer for other homes in the area,” he said.

By September 2019, Hemauer was licensed and began selling beer to bars and restaurants. It wasn’t long before his thoughts turned to the benefits of brick and mortar. This led him to open a taproom at the Wesley Drive Plaza in Mechanicsburg near the Peppermill restaurant.

New Digs

The new Hemauer Brewing Co. taproom spans about 1,400 square feet and seats about 49 people.

Brooks’ wife Shannon has joined him in serving the public and running the business. The couple would like to report smooth sailing since the inception, but COVID-19 has put a crimp in the best-laid plans.

“We were three days away from receiving our liquor license when they halted field inspections,” said Hemauer, who then contacted the beer trade group, the Brewers of Pennsylvania. “They have an attorney on retainer, and we were put in touch with him, and he was able to expedite things.”

The couple opened to the public on May 1, offering a wide variety on tap.

“We have sours and barrel-aged beers, with a rotating selection that varies weekly,” said Hemauer.

Available on most days is their flagship Helles lager. Out of all the selections, the Lucky Lobsta is the most popular.

“It’s a New England-style IPA,” said Hemauer, adding that its popularity can be attributed to the “haze craze.”

Untappd, a beer-focused social media app, describes the Lucky Lobsta as “a beer with a soft, silky mouthfeel that is purposely hazy from the use of oats.”

Another popular selection, according to Hemauer, is “Wild Ways,” a wild yeast fermented saison created with a yeast that was captured at the garage where he brews in Dillsburg.

“I am the keeper of that yeast, and no one has it,” Hemauer said.

The Hemauers also offer seltzer with a rotating selection of pineapple, black cherry, passion fruit and mango.

As for food, they keep it simple, with items like pretzel braids, chips and salsa, a three-cheese grilled cheese and a spicy Italian panini, to name a few.

“People expect to be able to order food when they visit a taproom,” Hemauer said.

Kelly Coons of Dillsburg said that she began to frequent the establishment after becoming acquainted with the Hemauer brand at the PA Flavor festival during Harrisburg Beer Week.

“We sampled an amazing beer and began asking them where we could find more of their brews,” Coons said. “After learning that they were in Dillsburg, we kept a close eye on them.”

Coons said that she visited the day after they opened the taproom to grab some of their 32-ounce crowlers.

“I love their brews, their creative names, and their knowledge and recommend stopping in for a flight,” she said.

Carlisle resident Marsha Cleff said that she enjoys visiting with the couple now that the taproom is open for dine-in.

“With so many new breweries on the scene, a brewery needs a niche, and theirs is easy to see,” she said. “The logo is an ‘H,’ which I am convinced stands for home!”

Hemauer said that there’s a reason there are no televisions in their taproom.

“We want neighbors to meet neighbors, and we enjoy all the conversations,” he said.

As for COVID-19, the Hemauers are determined to ride the storm out.

“We [breweries] are not all going to make it, but my wife and I are trying to position ourselves for it, and it’s gratifying to be your own boss,” he said. “That way, the fires I put out are all my own.”

Hemauer Brewing Co. taproom is located at 1010 Wesley Dr., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their website at www.hemauerbrewingco.com.

Burg Blog: We Must Help

March 16, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Mangia Qui/Rubicon will be closed to patrons, but the owners are encouraging takeout and delivery orders.

This morning, at TheBurg, we had a meeting.

Over the past few days, it’s become clear that economic and social life is fast shutting down in the Harrisburg area due to the coronavirus contagion.

So, what does this mean for us? How will this impact our business? What changes should we make? And, mostly, how will we manage through this crisis?

I know that many other small businesses have had similar difficult meetings in the past day or two. For some, work will go on almost normally, though people may be forced to work from home or may need to balance their work and home lives more delicately, especially those with children.

For other people, especially owners of small, public-facing businesses, the meetings have been even more tense and the decisions harder.

Do you stay open or do you close? And, if you close, how will you survive until you can open once more to customers.

Arguably, the greatest impact is on restaurants, shops and any place that is event-oriented.

People are responding in a multitude of ways.

This morning, Sara Bozich announced the cancellation of Harrisburg Beer Week, which was slated for late April. Also, the Millworks announced that it was closing until further notice. Midtown Cinema is closed, as are most arts venues.

Some places are making major adjustments, but trying to remain in operation.

So, as of this morning, Little Amps was doing only takeout from its State Street location. Elementary Coffee Co. shut down its North Street shop, but will happily deliver coffee beans right to you. Yellow Bird Cafe is encouraging takeout orders, as well.

Mangia Qui/Rubicon made the tough decision to close down their restaurants to patrons, but will offer curbside pickup and delivery. Would you like chef Qui Qui Musarra to cook for you specially? My answer is an emphatic yes.

Revolutionary War-era philosopher and author Thomas Paine once wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

No, this isn’t war, but it is a severe health emergency, now compounded by an economic crisis.

We’ve already been told how we can help mitigate the health component: social distancing, working from home. And now it’s up to us, as a community, to ensure that our small businesses survive this unfolding economic catastrophe. After all, not only do these businesses serve us everyday—and sometimes on a shoestring—but unlike larger corporations and chain stores, the owners often live right here. They’re our neighbors, too.

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

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

Ordering in. Many businesses are doing delivery themselves or through a delivery service.
Picking up. In the Harrisburg area, many businesses will deliver right to your idling car.
Taking out gift cards. Spend now, buy later. You know you’ll eventually purchase Urban Churn’s incredible ice cream or the Millworks’ farm-to-table fare. So, front-load it, helping the cash flow of your favorite businesses in the process.
Some businesses will take direct contributions. These especially applies to arts groups like Gamut Theatre Co., Open Stage, Susquehanna Art Museum and Theatre Harrisburg, among others.

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

Harrisburg, we are all in this together. We have to weather this crisis and come out the other end in good enough shape to rebuild. We can only accomplish this by each one of us asking, “What can I do? How can I help?”

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

The Week that Was: A summary of news and features around Harrisburg

June 14, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Lenwood Sloan speaks as the pedestal for “A Gathering at the Crossroads” is unveiled in Strawberry Square.

The news and the arts shared equal time this past week in our coverage. Did you miss a story that we published? If so, catch up on what happened over the past week.

Art Association of Harrisburg will hold five “summer soirees” this season in its annual series of summertime art and fundraising events. Click here for the full story.

Brain Vessel Gallery opened its latest show, “Along the Painted Journey,” an exhibit of works by the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. Read what our arts reviewer had to say about the exhibit and about Brain Vessel’s unique collection of items.

Harrisburg City Council last week voted to spend $72,500 for a study as the city tries to lessen the impact of a planned widening of I-83. At the same meeting, council approved the final land development plan for Harrisburg University’s new downtown high-rise. Click here for the full story.

Harrisburg River Rescue received a check for $45,000 from Harrisburg Beer Week. The River Rescue is the beneficiary of the annual, 10-day tribute to the local craft beer community.

Harrisburg school district furnished its response to the state’s petition to put the district into receivership, denying many of the state’s claims. The court hearing on the petition is slated for Monday. Click here for the full story.

Judge William Tully issued his formal order stopping the Harrisburg school district from entering into contracts until he rules on receivership for the district. Click here for the full story.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore will host author Casey Cep this coming week, as she discusses her new book, which finishes the story that renowned author Harper Lee never completed. Click here for the full story.

Rapper Geniuz was the first central PA musician to be profiled as part of TheBurg’s new series in honor of African American Music Appreciation Month. Click here for the full story.

Sara Bozich has assembled a long list of things to do around Harrisburg during this early summer weekend. Click here for the full story.

Strawberry Square last week hosted the unveiling of the first part of a new monument meant to honor both voting rights and Harrisburg’s long-missed Old 8^th Ward. The pedestal portion of the monument will be publicly displayed through the summer. Click here for the full story.

Also in TheBurg Daily last week:

Central Pennsylvania athletes make their mark at the National Senior Games.

The Eastern Hellbender is more than just the state amphibian; it’s also an indicator of environmental health.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events? If not, subscribe here.

The Week That Was: A summary of news and events around Harrisburg.

April 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

What happened around Harrisburg last week? Here’s a summary of news and events that you may have missed.

Harrisburg Beer Week kicked off with the “First Sip,” launching a host of events that runs through May 5. So, what is Beer Week all about? What’s their signature “717 Collab” beer this year? Click here for the full story.

Harrisburg City Council officially approved a three-year renewal of the “Free After 5” downtown parking program. For the past year, the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, Dauphin County and the city have chipped in to offer free street parking in most of downtown after 5 p.m. Click here for the full story.

Harrisburg School Board hired long-time city operative James Ellison as its in-house solicitor. A split board opted for Ellison, who has served as district solicitor twice before. Click here for the full story.

Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA), Harrisburg’s new state-appointed financial oversight board, has named Jeffrey Stonehill as its executive director. The ICA also appointed counsel and a website developer. Click here for the full story.

Midtown Harrisburg is about to bear the full brunt of roadwork, as the 3^rd Street project hits the intersection with Verbeke Street. Motorists and pedestrians can both expect inconveniences over the next month in the heart of Midtown at the Broad Street Market. Click here for the full story.

Pennsylvania STEAM Academy has filed a court petition to try to overturn the decision of the Harrisburg school board, which rejected its charter school application in February. A court decree would send the issue to the state Charter School Appeal Board. Click here for the full story.

TheBurg published two editorials this week concerning the Harrisburg school system. The first criticized incumbent school board members for not participating in a series of candidate debates. The second urged immediate change in the district, given the recent vote to hire James Ellison as solicitor and the ongoing dispute between the district and the state over a financial audit.

Vivi on Verbeke is a must-stop in Harrisburg to enjoy pottery, photography and other art, as well as meet the fascinating couple that runs the shop. So says our arts columnist after a 3rd in the Burg visit. Click here for the full post.

What’s going on around Harrisburg this weekend? Check out the weekend roundup from Sara Bozich.

Harrisburg Needs: A lot has been accomplished over the past decade. Let’s build on that.

March 29, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Back on a chilly weeknight in mid-February, I sat among a few hundred others at the annual meeting of Harrisburg Young Professionals.

TheBurg was there in force because we had been nominated for one of HYP’s annual awards—namely, the “community engagement” award.

I bring this up neither to boast nor complain (we didn’t win) but because of what I saw around me.

Sitting in the auditorium of the State Museum, I felt delightfully ensconced in a type of ad hoc club—one that I definitely wanted to be a member of (sorry, Groucho).

I had tremendous respect for the people surrounding me because they’d accomplished so much.

Blake Lynch, who’s made it his mission to improve outreach between the community and the city’s police bureau, was in our category. So were the good people from Friends of Midtown, led by Annie and Andy Hughes, who spent two years organizing, raising funds for and building Harrisburg’s first public dog park.

Sitting right in front of me was Meghan Jones, co-founder of the HBG Flea, and, right in front of her, the young folks who organized HUE Fest, Harrisburg University’s block party and e-sports tourney. Off to the right sat Sara Bozich and her contingent from Harrisburg Beer Week, an event-rich celebration of local craft beer, and, in front of her, Andrea Grove and the people of Elementary Coffee Co.

All were nominees for various community and business awards.

Then, on the stage was keynote speaker Amma Johnson of the AMMA JO boutique and new HYP President Adam Porter, who has co-founded two city businesses, st@rtup Harrisburg and Provisions grocery store.

And sitting right next to me was TheBurg’s own Megan Caruso, a 2018 HYP award-winner for co-founding the Harrisburg Mural Festival.

Wow, what a group!

In recent years, these folks have helped transform Harrisburg with new events, new products, new businesses and a new energy. When TheBurg began, 10 years ago, none of this existed.

And 2019 promises more of the same. At least four Broad Street Market food vendors are expanding to storefronts on or near 3rd Street (Knead, Urban Churn, Elementary Coffee and Radish & Rye), and another HBG Mural Festival will paint the town for 10 days starting in late August.

But all this has at least one guy (me) wondering—what comes next? What other great ideas are out there? Harrisburg has come a long way in a short time, but there is still much to do to complete this city’s transformation from post-industrial poster child to shining city on a river (this time, apologies to Ronald Reagan).

When people talk to me about what Harrisburg most needs, the conversation often turns to better schools and more and better housing. I agree. However, those two issues seem so large, the problems so overwhelming, that they can be a formula for inaction. Since we, as individuals, can’t seem to do much about these, why not just crack open another beer and watch more “Judge Judy?”

No.

Individual action is exactly what’s needed. America’s cities have improved largely due to the cumulative effect of countless small actions by ordinary citizens, just like we’ve already seen here. And, just like in Harrisburg, many of these cities, unfortunately, still have huge housing problems and underperforming schools.

I’ll start the conversation.

Harrisburg needs retail. Duh, right? In Harrisburg’s hierarchy of needs, more and better retail often ranks right up there behind better schools and housing. Retail is a tough nut, but, heck, I’m a guy who started a print magazine—I never said it would be easy. Looking at other cities, specialty shops and boutiques seem to be the type of retail that can work in an urban environment, though stores typically need to be concentrated to create critical mass in an attractive, walk-able area.

Harrisburg needs community assets. The dog park is a perfect example of a community asset that people long said was needed—and then a few intrepid pooch-lovers made it happen. A farmers market on Allison Hill could be another great community project, and Riverside desperately needs a gathering place, such as a café. Speaking of gathering places, I would love for the city to do something useful with its warren of desolate alleys downtown. Many cities have created vibrant pedestrian zones, event spaces and shopping areas from underused, well-located alleys, just like those around 2nd Street.

Harrisburg needs attractions. The city can’t afford grand building projects, such as museums, nor would I ever suggest one. But smaller attractions (the HBG Flea, Beer Week, Mural Fest) have proven to be big winners. How about a multi-weekend Christmas market on City Island, more food-focused events or better, more frequent use of the plaza at the Broad Street Market? The state could even throw us a bone by opening up the old Archives building (once emptied) as an observation tower or encouraging better use of the vast, empty plaza behind the State Museum—talk about an underused asset.

Harrisburg needs people. Most of all, Harrisburg needs people. It needs more people to live here, visit here, shop here—bringing their checkbooks with them. This situation has improved immensely from 10 years back, when I often felt that I was the only person walking down 3rd street. Still, city businesses would benefit greatly from more foot traffic and more customers.

I would like to close out this column with a disclaimer. Naturally, these ideas are mine alone, a little spit-balling exercise to get the discussion started. What are yours? I would love to know. And, most importantly—like Amma and Annie and Meghan and Adam—are you ready to make them happen?

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

A Brew for You: Harrisburg Beer Week is back, with something new on tap.

March 29, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Over its five-year history, Harrisburg Beer Week has become known for its signature events.

The Little Big Beer Fest, a tribute to high-octane brews, sells out fast, and I know a married couple from Shipoke who actually delayed the start of their European vacation so they could attend their favorite event this month—the annual Battle of the Homebrewers.

Then there’s the 717 Collaboration.

Each year, several Harrisburg-area breweries band together to create a signature Beer Week beer, which is then served over the course of the 10-day suds spectacular.

The “Collab,” as it’s known, is meant to demonstrate the communal spirit and creative power of Harrisburg-area brewers. However, by the organizers’ own admission, the resulting product hasn’t always been a crowd-pleaser.

“It shouldn’t just be for the people brewing the beer,” said Chelsie Markel, Beer Week co-organizer and brewery liaison. “We want to appeal to the entire Beer Week community.”

So, last August, four breweries—Zeroday Brewing Co., Troëgs Independent Brewing, Appalachian Brewing Co. and Boneshire Brew Works—got together to begin noodling concepts for the 2019 Collab.

“They wanted to create an approachable beer,” Markel said. “Nothing crazy or zany.”

At the same time, the brewers wanted to make something unique, which would stand out from all the IPAs and sours on tap everywhere.

After many meetings and test batches, they decided on a final recipe for a helles bock, a crisp, malty lager that is a relatively uncommon offering among central PA craft breweries.

“When this got started last summer, we all went around and talked about styles, ingredients and techniques we were interested in,” said Troëgs brewmaster John Trogner. “Classic styles of beer started to pop up in the conversation, and eventually we settled on a subtly complex lager.”

Last month, area brewers gathered together at Troëgs in Hershey for “717 Collab Brew Day” to ceremonially push the button and let the brewing begin.

Zeroday’s Theo Armstrong said that he and his fellow brewers wanted a beer that average consumers would enjoy, but that would also would hold their interest as beer-makers.

“We asked, ‘What inspires us? What do we like to drink when we get off of work?’” he said. “We all agreed that we like to drink these clean, crisp lagers.”

John Straitiff, head brewer at ABC, described the beer as “light and refreshing with some nice floral notes.”

“It’s meant to be a beer for the general public that is also very distinctive,” he said.

Starting April 26, you’ll be able to find the 717 Collab at more than a dozen breweries and pubs from Carlisle to Elizabethtown to Dillsburg. For the first time, you can also purchase the beer in cans, as 300 cases will be distributed throughout greater Harrisburg.

So, after attending one of Beer Week’s many firkin evenings, tap takeovers, pint nights or special events, you can grab a four-pack to go.

Beer Week co-organizer Sara Bozich emphasized the charitable aspect, as $1 per draft sold will be donated to the event’s beneficiary, Harrisburg River Rescue. Last year, Harrisburg Beer Week donated $40,000 to the River Rescue, with hopes of exceeding that goal this year.

“We want to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy this beer during Harrisburg Beer Week and, by doing that, contribute to a great cause,” she said.

Harrisburg Beer Week takes place April 26 to May 5 at many locations throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information, including a list of where to buy the 717 Collaboration and a full schedule of events, visit www.harrisburgbeerweek.com.

Taste of PA: New downtown concept to feature PA beer, wines, spirits, food.

February 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

In downtown Harrisburg, Mulligan’s is being reborn as a new tasting room.

It’s been said that that technology has turned us all into seekers of novelty.

If that’s true, a new concept in downtown Harrisburg should benefit from our constant desire for something new.

On Thursday, long-time Harrisburg club and restaurant owner Ron Kamionka plans to debut Hops, Vines & Spirits Tasting Room in the former home of Mulligan’s Courtyard & Café on N. 2nd Street.

The plan, said Kamionka, is to feature a rotating menu of beer, wine, spirits and food from Pennsylvania producers.

“We’re really excited for the opportunity to showcase Pennsylvania products—whether it’s a craft brewery or a local butcher shop or cheese maker—right in downtown Harrisburg,” Kamionka said.

Kamionka said that he expects to host two PA breweries, two wineries and one distillery per month.

The debut lineup this weekend includes beer from St. Boniface Brewing Co. (Ephrata), beer and cider from Wyndridge Farm (Dallastown), wine from Broad Mountain Vineyard (Halifax) and Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery (Wrightsville) and spirits from Tattered Flag Brewery & Distillery (Middletown).

Patrons will be able to order by the glass or for takeout, with a bottle shop on premises. Flights will also be available to allow customers to sample small quantities of both drink and food.

Kamionka plans to feature numerous Harrisburg-area craft food producers, including products from Knead Pizza, Urban Churn ice cream, Anna Rose Bakery and 717 Tacos.

The venue also will feature special events throughout the month, including live music and guided tasting nights, Kamionka said.

The tasting room concept increasingly has caught on statewide as Pennsylvania has liberalized its liquor laws, especially for products made in-state.

Just last week, sip@soma debuted on the 100-block of S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg, with plans to feature a rotating series of PA breweries and wineries. In contrast, the Harristown-sponsored venture plans to be more event-focused, opening during 3rd in the Burg evenings and during special events, such as Harrisburg Beer Week, and requiring reservations to attend.

At Hops, Vines & Spirits, each producer will have its own dedicated bar, where patrons can learn in detail about the offerings from the brewery, vineyard or distillery.

“We have a unique opportunity to share the stories of all of these producers with our guests, and we’re eager to host a full slate of events to complement the vendors,” Kamionka said.

Hops, Vines & Spirits Tasting Room is located at 17 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.hvstastingroom.com.

June News Digest

June 29, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

HUD Grants Proposed

The annual process of disbursing federal housing funds began last month, as Harrisburg City Council introduced an ordinance that would provide money to nearly a dozen nonprofit groups.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that the city used the same process in selecting award recipients as last year, using a point-based merit system to judge applications.

“It’s a number of small grants,” Papenfuse said. “It’s not as much as anyone wanted.”

In all, the city will distribute $2.04 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, a program of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. This amount includes almost $1.9 million from the 2018 allocation, plus a small supplemental amount tied to unallocated funds from a prior year.

Like last year, the greatest single amount of money, $593,423, will go to repay federal loans the city backed during the Reed administration for several development projects, including the disastrous Capitol View Commerce Center project, which went bankrupt before being completed years later by a new owner.

“If we didn’t have an exorbitant debt service, we’d have a lot more money for housing,” Papenfuse said.

Most of the nonprofits proposed to receive funds have gotten some money from previous CDBG allocations. The proposed recipients include:

TriCounty HDC: $250,000
Habitat for Humanity: $100,000
A Miracle 4 Sure: $50,000
TLC Work Based Training: $45,000
Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministries (C.R.A.M.): $40,000
Latino Hispanic Community Center: $25,000
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center: $25,000
Fair Housing Council: $25,000
PPL/IN HOUSE: $20,000
Shades of Greatness: $15,000
Neighborhood Dispute Settlement: $5,000

Like last year, Tina Nixon, an executive with UPMC Pinnacle, scored the applications, Papenfuse said. While most nonprofits that applied received some funding, several did not make the cut, he said.

In addition, the city is proposing to allocate $321,642 for its housing rehabilitation programs and another $408,765 to CDBG administration.

QOZ Tracts Approved

The federal government last month approved all of the census tracts nominated for a new program aimed at spurring development in low-income communities.

Six of those tracts are in Harrisburg.

“Approval of our nominated tracts is an important step in the process of bringing critical investment and development to these areas,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “Designation as an opportunity zone is one piece of the puzzle that can help many of our distressed communities across the commonwealth.”

In April, Wolf nominated 300 low-income census tracts across the state as Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ), a status created under the 2017 federal tax reform bill. All were accepted.

Six of Harrisburg’s 14 census tracts were included in Wolf’s submission. The potential investment zones encompass the city’s downtown area south of Forster Street, South Harrisburg, South and Central Allison Hill and the neighborhoods along the city’s Cameron Street industrial corridor.

The QOZ program aims to stimulate investment in low-income communities by providing tax breaks to private investors. It’s expected to defer or reduce capital gains taxes to anyone who invests in funds supporting businesses, real estate and other ventures in the zones.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is still in the process of developing the program, and the IRS is expected to provide further information regarding opportunities for investment in zones in the coming months, according to Wolf’s office.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse has said that the recommended zones aligned with the city’s current development efforts, including the MulDer Square revitalization project and the Paxton Creek reclamation in the industrial corridor.

To qualify for QOZ status, a census tract had to have at least a 20-percent poverty rate or a median family income less than 80 percent of the statewide or regional median income.

State Urges Changes to School District

Soon after wrapping up a protracted battle over its superintendent, the Harrisburg school district may find itself in another personnel battle.

The state Department of Education is asking the district to search for new leadership for its business office, which oversees budgets and financial management.

In a letter to the district last month, department Secretary Pedro Rivera said that the district’s chief financial officer and business manager do not meet the criteria set forth in its five-year recovery plan, which calls for full-time, permanent, highly qualified employees to fill both positions.

The school board has final say on all district personnel actions. But board members, who diverged for the past six months over whether to replace or retain Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney, once again disagree on the need to seek new hires.

Board President Judd Pittman interprets the letter as a directive from the state, giving the district no choice but to replace interim, part-time CFO James Snell and acting Business Manager Bilal Hasan. But board Vice President Danielle Robinson thinks the district should keep the current team.

“It’s not a directive, it’s a suggestion,” Robinson said. “The team we have in place is giving us what we need.”

The business manager and CFO are responsible for developing and managing the district’s $156 million budget. This year, the district faces a shortfall of almost $9 million. The business office has proposed bridging it with a $5 million transfer from its fund balance, $4 million in staff cuts, and a 3.6 percent tax hike.

New Monument to Honor Prominent African Americans

Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park is dotted with historical monuments, but none of them honor African Americans.

A group of citizens hopes to change that.

Members of the Peace Promenade Project are asking city hall to green-light Harrisburg’s first monument to African Americans, which they hope to erect near the corner of Forster and Front Streets by June 2019.

Their proposal calls for a life-size tableau of four Pennsylvania abolitionists and voting-rights advocates: Thomas Chester, a Harrisburg-born journalist and attorney; William Howard Day, the first black school board director in Pennsylvania; Jacob Compton, a pastor who drove Abraham Lincoln’s carriage during his visit to Harrisburg; and Frances Harper, a poet and women’s rights activist.

All except Harper lived in Harrisburg and are buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Penbrook.

“This is an American monument that represents the continuing struggle for the full fulfillment of the 15^th amendment,” said Lenwood Sloan, leader of the Peace Promenade Project, which aims to rededicate Harrisburg’s public monuments through a yearlong event series.

Kelly Summerford, another project leader, said that the monument would also offer local students an opportunity to learn about abolition and voting rights.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said he met with the project leaders and enthusiastically supports the project. He also offered to help the group pursue a gaming grant from Dauphin County.

The Peace Promenade group, which counts more than 200 members and 40 supporting organizations, plans to fund the monument through public support, corporate donations and individual giving. They did not announce an anticipated budget.

According to Summerford, the group plans to follow a process used by the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts to commission an artist and develop a design.

They hope to install the monument by “Juneteenth” 2019—the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the official announcement of the end of slavery in the former Confederacy.

At press time, council had not yet affirmed the final allocations.

Harristown Eyes Another Project

Chalk up another apartment conversion for Harristown Enterprises.

The Harrisburg-based company already has converted several rundown office buildings downtown to higher-end apartment buildings. Last month, it announced another—this one at 116 Pine St.

“We feel very good about the rental market,” said Harristown CEO Brad Jones. “We’re trying to create more of a neighborhood downtown.”

The bank-owned, 54,600-square-foot building is on the market for $1.3 million. If Harristown completes the purchase, it plans to convert the circa-1946 building to 44 apartment units, its largest residential project to date.

The five-story building currently houses several different entities, which would be relocated. The longstanding first-floor tenant, Alicia’s Deli, is likely to remain in the building, Jones said.

The building is directly next door to another office building at 124 Pine St. that Harristown currently has under contract from seller Keystone Human Services. City Council approved that project, which includes 25 apartment units and 19 parking spaces, in April.

“Our intent is to build them together and have economies of scale,” Jones said, adding that Harristown expects to invest some $12 million in the projects.

Harristown has long been known as a commercial developer. However, it began to move into the multi-family residential market several years ago, focusing on rehabilitating old, often dilapidated and vacant office buildings, converting them to apartments.

New Owner for Old Waterworks

A Harrisburg-based design and engineering company has purchased the historic Old Waterworks building on the Susquehanna River, with plans to turn it into its new headquarters.

Andculture will relocate from its downtown offices following the full renovation of the 22,000-square-foot building, said co-owner David Hickethier.

The Waterworks is one of only two structures remaining within the confines of Riverfront Park. Portions of the Front Street building date to 1841.

The building served as a pumping station for Harrisburg until 1972, when that use ended following severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Agnes. The city later converted it into an office building.

In 2002, Mann Realty, a real estate firm, bought the building. Andculture acquired the property from Mann Realty, which is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, for $1.25 million, according to the Dauphin County property database.

“It’s a very unique building,” Hickethier said. “There are only two on that side of Front Street, right on the river.”

Hickethier expects Andculture, a company he co-owns with partners Josh Benton and Evan Keller, to occupy the majority of the building for its main offices and for its business accelerator, Catamaran.

The company may lease out some of the remaining space, especially to complementary businesses, and would like to reserve a portion for public use, possibly for meetings and receptions, Hickethier said.

Since the major city renovation 30 years ago, the building has suffered a few floods and has not undergone a major update. So, Hickethier and his partners plan to mount a complete restoration. The work includes removing drop ceilings, restoring floors, opening up spaces and making substantial repairs.

New Sanitation App

Sanitation and recycling services in Harrisburg are about to get a little more user-friendly.

The city last month announced a new app called Recycle Coach, which allows residents to get the latest information on sanitation services, schedules, what and where to recycle, collection requirements and more.

“[The app provides] details people need to understand, like the way food could potentially contaminate recyclables,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The app addresses all this, and it’s really interesting, easy to use and fun.”

Already used in other states and countries, Recycle Coach is now available for Harrisburg residents. The app is personalized via language, building type (apartment or home) and address. Using that information, six tabs on the home screen offer users various types of functionality, information and additional options.

John Rarig, Harrisburg’s recycling coordinator, said that the Recycle Coach app will help the city get sanitation information out to the public quicker.

“This app will allow us to update information as things change [such as] weather problems and things that we can notify the populous about,” he said. “[Recycle Coach] is very easy to work with, and we think this is a great thing for Harrisburg.”

Harrisburg residents can access Recycle Coach not only from their smartphones, but also via computers and voice assistants such as Alexa.

So Noted

Harrisburg Beer Week last month presented a check for $40,000 to Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services, the beneficiary of the 10-day-long celebration of local craft beer. For the past several years, the River Rescue has used the funds to continue the renovation of its headquarters.

Homeland Center last month dedicated its 6th Street entrance in memory of the late John Crain Kunkel, a U.S. congressman, and his wife Katherine, who served on the board of managers and established what is believed to be the first-ever beauty shop in a long-term care facility, according to the Harrisburg-based care facility. More recently, the Kunkel family made possible Homeland’s 71-bed skilled care nursing pavilion, and their foundation sponsored Homeland’s 150th Gala, said Homeland.

Percel Eiland resigned last month as a member of the Harrisburg school board, having only served about six months. The board will now take steps to find a candidate to fill the remainder of Eiland’s term, which runs until the end of next year.

In Memoriam

Nick Laus, renowned Harrisburg restaurateur, died last month at age 59. Laus founded many restaurants in the area, including Café Fresco, Cork & Fork, Home 231 and Burger Yum, as well as the nightclub, Level 2.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2441: G. & T. Spiese to H. Le, $64,000

Bartine St., 1323: E. & G. Solomon to J. Herr, $82,000

Bellevue Rd., 1963: M. Mack to R. Lewis, $54,900

Berryhill St., 2034: D. Smith to S. Griffin, $33,000

Berryhill St., 2400: L. Rich to E. Alcantra, $40,001

Boas St., 304: Calder Street Development LLC to RC Herr, $35,000

Calder St., 264: J. Hummel to L. Boenzli, $127,000

Capitol St., 1218: M. Wickwire to K. Knapp, $118,000

Chestnut St., 2032: W. Noss & R. Maynard to M. Jackson & J. Fulton, $124,900

Delaware St., 259: K. Dyrli to R. Goodfriend, $142,500

Delaware St., 261: C. Hartman to T. Harris & B. Barto, $117,500

Green St., 918: S. Brennan & L. Sterkenberg to S. Lacey, $144,900

Green St., 1328: D. Misner to A. Koser, $116,540

Green St., 1412: J. Kibler to J. Ehring, $70,000

Green St., 1612: H. Task to B. Brubaker, $149,900

Green St., 1946: C. Smith & T. Chickey to P. Sosik, $174,900

Green St., 2321: Willowscott Investment LLC to J. Hofman, $80,000

Green St., 2412: R. Lawson to B. Vargas, $219,500

Hillside Rd., 214: R. & T. Winder to R. Bateman & C. McDonough, $164,900

Hoffman St., 3010: Duetsche Bank National Trust Co. Trustee to Innovative Devices Inc., $41,300

Hoffman St., 3229: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to B. Foor, $59,000

Industrial Rd., 3900: Supervalue Penn LLC to CF Grocery Distribution & Propco LLC, $85,535,256

Jefferson St., 2645: M. Watson to D. Solomon, $60,400

Kensington St., 2004: JCB Associates & State House Group to A. Ryabukha, $39,000

Kensington St., 2324: A. & M. Oliphant to C. Austin, $59,900

Market St., 1713: LAGR Properties LLC to J. & L. Hendricks, $65,000

Mercer St., 2470: A. Hankerson to A. & M. Allen, $49,137

Muench St., 429: Dobson Family Partnership to Y. & K. Han, $50,000

N. 2^nd St., 1521: W. Glover to E&S Properties, $107,000

N. 2^nd St., 1803: S. & S. Cooper to Z. Gause, $122,500

N. 2^nd St., 1916: C. Bashore to G. Crone, $155,000

N. 2^nd St., 2602: K. & K. Fischer to K. Kennedy, $105,000

N. 2^nd St., 2953: D. Alvey to PI Capital LLC, $144,401

N. 2^nd St., 3209: S. Kumarasingam to Benchmarq Holdings LLC, $65,361

N. 3^rd St., 1004, 1006, 1008 & 1010 Susquehanna St.: T. & E. Buda to Maki Developments LLC, $695,000

N. 3^rd St., 1010: T. Buda to Maki Developments LLC, $225,000

N. 3^rd St., 1725: K. & L. Helm to I. Kazar, $81,000

N. 3^rd St., 3004: N. Ernst to K. & A. Brady, $77,000

N. 4^th St., 2143: 690 Market Street LLC to R. Joline, $33,000

N. 4^th St., 2641: Y. Borras to J. Santiago, $59,000

N. 4^th St., 2731: R. Rickabaugh to M. Martinez & M. Price, $111,700

N. 6^th St., 1346: J. MacDonald to A. Blank & A. Edwards, $114,900

N. 6^th St., 2212: L. Ware Jr. to J. Strain, $60,000

N. 7^th St., 1501: AT&T Communications to 1501 Harrisburg Partners LLC, $425,000

N. 15^th St., 1431: M. Clark & J. Payton to X. Nguyen, $55,000

N. Front St., 614: Mann Realty Associates Inc. to Granma LLC, $1,250,000

Norwood St., 914: A. Wilhelm to I. Rodriguez, $35,000

Penn St., 1614: M. Smith to J. Napora & S. Bassler, $144,900

Penn St., 1809: K. Hyp to J. Francescangeli & D. Rocklein, $165,000

Penn St., 1931: WCI Partners LP to R. & B. Precourt, $134,900

Penn St., 2327: A. & D. Wilhelm to I. Rodriguez, $35,000

Pennwood Rd., 3139: T. Bendrick to L. Ciambotti, $40,000

Sassafras St., 269: Major League Properties LLC to J. Wenger & J. Noel, $130,000

Shamokin St., 110: M. & K. Patterson to E. & L. Match, $165,000

Showers St., 589: T. Fullam & J. Nugent to M. Albizu, $116,000

S. 13^th St., 1510: New Heights South LLC to W. Powell Sr., $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1437: W. & G. Powell to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 24^th St., 535: S. Leibich to PA Double Dels LLC, $178,500

S. Cameron St., 50, 90 & 112: PA Self Storage One LLC to Amerco Real Estate Co., $1,450,000

S. Cameron St., 1058: M. Tice & APR Supply Co. to JWM Associates LP, $343,700

State St., 120: C. & K. Kokoski to O’Hagan Philadelphia LLC, $190,000

State St., 231, Unit 206: LUX 1 LP to F. Clark, $65,000

State St., 1414: G. Dutan to A. & M. Collins, $113,000

Susquehanna St., 3117: J. Fustine to K. O’Neill & M. Delucia, $197,500

Swatara St., 1517: Tri County HDC Ltd. to V. Miller, $99,000

Wendy St., 1126: 147 N. Cameron Partners LP to Keystone K9 LLC, $415,000

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

April 19, 2018 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

‘Tis the season — Harrisburg Beer Week is here. Official events all start tomorrow. Please send coffee and LaCroix.

Tomorrow also is 3rd in the Burg, so if you’re not splurging on the VIP Party, get thee to Broad Street Market or any of many other fantastic events happening throughout the city.

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What are you doing this weekend?

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