Tag Archives: Harrisburg High School

Town Hall for Justice addresses gun violence and its impact on youth in Harrisburg

April 27, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg activist Kevin Maxson addresses the panel at Wednesday’s Town Hall for Justice.

On a Wednesday night, community members and local officials gathered to discuss the issue of gun violence in Harrisburg.

Held in the Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus, the “Town Hall for Justice” was fittingly centered around helping the city’s youth, many of whom are touched by the violence.

“We have to stop looking at the other person for the solution,” said Harrisburg School District Superintendent Eric Turman, a panelist at the event. “Taking steps to solve the problem—that’s where it becomes different.”

This was the third town hall in a series of meetings organized by Harrisburg resident Lavet Henderson.

Panelists included Turman, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight, Pastor Eric Jackson of Heeding God’s Call and community advocate Patricia Reitzi. Each spoke on issues related to their field and work, mainly around problems facing Harrisburg youth and possible solutions.

Turman explained some of the initiatives that the school district is working on, including bringing back middle school sports, increasing after-school programing and installing security cameras in schools.

“I’m hoping that, going into the next school year, you will have solutions for our students,” Henderson said.

Chardo addressed the problem that local police face of people with information about shooting incidents refusing to come forward. He pointed out that the Dauphin County Crime Stoppers system allows people to submit anonymous tips.

A number of residents also spoke of their experiences with gun violence, asked questions and made comments.

Resident Tone Cook suggested more community policing efforts.

“In order to build relationships with the police in the community, they [police] need to come out not just when there’s a problem, but to interact with our youth in a positive way.”

Other residents urged parents to be more proactive in checking in with their children and to seek out resources and help from local groups. Several community organizations were represented at the event to offer assistance, such as Breaking the Chainz, Power to the Hill and Moms Demand Action

In the end, attendees agreed that more needed to be done to help youth in Harrisburg, as well as the importance of community involvement.

“It takes all of us to do this,” McKnight said. “Until we confront a thing, we can never conquer it. So tonight, that’s why we came out here. We have one common goal—our community.”

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Harrisburg School District expects to offer additional mental health support for students

October 19, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg High School–John Harris Campus

Harrisburg students struggling with mental health issues may soon see increased support opportunities.

At a business meeting on Monday night, Harrisburg School District officials discussed working with Effective School Solutions (ESS), which provides mental health programming to K to 12 students.

District Receiver Janet Samuels approved the partnership, contingent on allowing the district’s solicitor to review the contract.

“The social and emotional wellbeing of our students and staff is essential,” she said.

ESS CEO Duncan Young explained that they plan to provide services to students who have faced trauma as a result of the pandemic, but also to students who already suffered from mental health issues before COVID.

“Even before COVID-19, the data clearly indicated that there was a growing mental health epidemic among K to 12 students,” he said.

The ESS programming will begin working with students and staff at Harrisburg High School—John Harris Campus and possibly expand to include Camp Curtin and Rowland Academy next year, Superintendent Eric Turman said.

Samuels pointed out that this partnership will increase the district’s capacity to address mental health, as it already works with several other providers.

The district may implement the ESS programming as early as December, Turman said.

According to Young, programming will address the needs of students facing mild to intensive mental health challenges. It will include individual, group and family therapy sessions, he said.

“What we’ve really seen in the last 18 months is a universal adverse childhood experience that many of our young people have faced,” Young said. “And now that we are coming back into what appears to be the first stages of a return to normalcy, we are hearing again and again from educators across all of our districts, that students are struggling with these challenges.”

He cited an uptick in behavioral challenges, depression and fighting as results of trauma caused by the pandemic. Academic stressors, social isolation, family and economic stressors, and anxiety over COVID all play a role in the trauma students have faced, Young said.

ESS works with 90 districts across the state, including local districts like Steelton-Highspire, Susquehanna Township and Middletown.

According to Michael Roseman, vice president of district partnerships, ESS has a 99% retention rate of keeping students in the district. They’ve also seen a 16% increase in grade point averages, a 35% reduction in student absences and a 38% reduction in disciplinary incidents, among students in their programming.

The district will utilize its federal COVID relief funds to pay for the over half a-million-dollar partnership.

In other news, Harrisburg High School—John Harris Campus will have a new assistant principal, Abigail Dougherty, who begins in November. Dougherty replaces Leni Cordero, who resigned.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 20, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

4th and Dauphin Park was recently renovated

Between Dauphin County’s Cultural Fest, 3^rd in the Burg and Harrisburg’s usual happenings, there’s lots of fun to be had this weekend. Catch up on this week’s local news before you head out, listed and linked, below.

An affordable housing development for seniors received zoning board approval, after controversy over what some neighbors said was a lack of parking, our online story reported. Bethel Village will have to go before City Council before it can break ground at the proposed N. 6^th and Herr streets site.

Bob’s Art Blog paid tribute to local artist Dan Kalbach who passed away in 2017. He also previews what the community can expect to see at 3^rd in the Burg on Friday.

Dauphin County will hold its Cultural Fest this weekend on City Island in Harrisburg, our online story reported. Officials hope the event will bring the community together by celebrating diversity.

Harrisburg’s 4^th and Dauphin Park was recently renovated to include a new playground, basketball court and stormwater management features, our online story reported. The project is the last of five parks to undergo updates through a partnership with Capital Region Water.

Harrisburg Academy has a new Head of Middle and Upper Schools, our magazine story reported. Lindsay Bowman, a former history teacher at the school, hopes to help the community recalibrate after the pandemic.

Harrisburg High School alumni are raising funds to create a scholarship to help current district students attend college, our online story reported. All proceeds from the class of 1991’s upcoming 30^th reunion will go toward the scholarship.

Michelle Felton was named the new principal of Harrisburg High School, John Harris Campus, our reporting found. Felton, who has been with the district for 18 years, most recently served as the associate principal.

The Three Mile Islanders have been running laps around City Island in Harrisburg throughout the pandemic. In our magazine story, read about how the tradition saved group members from isolation and helped them build friendships.

Rosemary will guide you through the steps of making her creamy corn pasta with basil in her monthly column. The recipe is the perfect summer dish, so enjoy it before the season’s over.

Sara Bozich has plenty of ideas for ways to enjoy your weekend. Check out her Weekend Roundup, here.

Steve Swisher has long been popular on the Harrisburg music scene. In our magazine story, he reflects on a lifetime of playing shows.

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Harrisburg High School alumni raise funds to help district students attend college

August 19, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Alumni from Harrisburg High School’s class of 1991 at their 15th reunion.

Harrisburg High School’s class of 1991 has plans to host a 30^th class reunion on Labor Day weekend, to reminisce on years past, but also to assist students of the future.

In addition to reconnecting, alumni will hold a scholarship fundraiser to support graduating seniors’ post-secondary education and technical school pursuits.

The pandemic caused a decrease in college enrollment in the fall of 2020, especially impacting students from low-income and historically underserved populations, said Danielle Hairston, director of registration and social engagement for the Class of 1991 committee. Funds and scholarships that were usually available to students, weren’t anymore, she noted.

“I feel like it’s our responsibility to give back,” Hairston said. “We wanted to really be a part of the solution.”

The funds raised from the reunion will go towards the committee’s new scholarship. They hope to raise at least $10,000 in order to provide 10 students with $1,000 scholarships each. The first round of these would go to the class of 2022. They plan to announce the winners in March.

During the reunion weekend, alumni and community members can participate in a tour of the John Harris Campus, enjoy bowling, a kickball competition and an evening social event.

While the class kept up with reunions during the first 15 years post-graduation, it has been a while since many of them have seen each other now.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much we’ve changed,” Hairston said. “I’m excited to hear about people’s journeys.”

At an awards and recognition luncheon on the last day of the reunion, the committee will unveil its scholarship with remarks from Dr. H. Major Poteat, who served the Harrisburg School District as a principal, director of secondary education, assistant superintendent and superintendent from 1984-1997.

Hairston said that they plan to continue the scholarship every year going forward, with class reunions every five years.

Not only will they be giving students scholarships, but they will incorporate workshops for parents to learn about financial aid, loans, etc.

They will also be selling alumni swag, including apparel, mugs and other items with all of the proceeds going toward the scholarship fund.

“The committee has been working hard to pull this event off, and we believe that it is about time that we get serious about supporting our village,” said Julianne Adams-Birt, chairperson and former class president for the Class of 1991, in a statement. “It is going to be a weekend to remember.”

To donate towards the Class of 1991’s scholarship efforts, contact them at [email protected]. Register for the reunion weekend, here.

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Harrisburg’s John Harris High School selects Michelle Felton as new principal

August 17, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg High School John Harris Campus

Harrisburg School District officials announced two new principal appointments at a board meeting on Monday night.

Both Melrose Elementary and John Harris High School will be under the leadership of new principals, both familiar faces in the district.

Michelle Felton, formerly the associate principal at Harrisburg High School John Harris Campus, will become the principal.

Felton has 22 years of service in public education, with 18 of those being in the Harrisburg School District, according to a bio on the district’s website. Felton, a Shippensburg University graduate, joined the district in 2003 as one of the founding teachers of Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus. She also spent time as a social studies teacher and department chair.

“It is my honor to be entrusted with leading Harrisburg High School John Harris Campus with a team of dedicated teachers, staff members and administrators in a manner that ensures all students have the opportunity to share their excellence,” Felton said in a statement.

Jaimie Foster, the former assistant principal at Camp Curtin Academy, will take on the role of principal at Melrose Elementary.

Foster was also previously the principal of John Harris before moving to Camp Curtin in early 2020.

“Both of these young ladies have been outstanding in terms of their presence in the district,” said Superintendent Eric Turman. “This is something Harrisburg should be very proud of. I’m very excited for what the future holds for both of them.”

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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Heart in Harrisburg: As Dennis Green achieved greatness, he took his hometown with him

May 28, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

Dennis Green. Image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.

He was a husband, an uncle and a role model. He was a coach and a competitor and a mentor.

Dennis Green was a great many things to a great many people. But most of all, Mr. Green—or Coach Green—was Harrisburg through and through.

Not only did he represent his hometown, he lived it. And boy, did he live.

Because he loved Harrisburg and always stayed true to himself, Green took Harrisburg with him wherever he went.

“A lot of people don’t come back when they make it. Dennis came back,” said Michelle Green, Dennis’ niece. “Harrisburg was important to him. He was proud of his city. For him, home was home. And he would always take the time to speak to everyone.”

It’s been five years since Green passed away at the age of 67. And while he continues to be sorely missed around the city, his legacy lives on.

“Dennis Green was an invaluable human being who truly cared about, not only those close to him, but what happened in the world,” said Marie Green, Dennis’ widow. “He was moved by stories of justice and fairness. We try to learn from him the way he wanted us to live. I miss him so much.”

Master Strategist

Green’s passion for life was best manifested through coaching. He coached 38 years on the professional and collegiate levels, including head coaching stints with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings from 1992 to 2001 and the Arizona Cardinals from 2004 to 2006.

Green, a graduate of Harrisburg High, is one of a handful of coaches—and perhaps the only—from Harrisburg to become an NFL head coach. In 2019, the city dedicated a street in his name, Dennis Green Way, near his childhood home at Walnut and 12th streets, and the tombstone that adorns his gravesite reads, “Faith, Family, Football.”

“It was in that order,” said Marie Green. “Dennis was very competitive. On a scale of one to 10, it was 100. He didn’t even want to lose a flag football game. It was just his personality.”

When Green was hired as the head coach of the Vikings in 1992, he became only the second African-American head coach in the NFL’s history. During his 10 seasons in Minnesota, Green’s teams compiled an overall record of 101-72 and made the playoffs eight times.

Green’s best season as a head coach in the NFL was 1998, when the Vikings went 15-1 during the regular season and lost to Atlanta in the NFC Championship game.

“He was a master strategist,” said Marie Green. “Not only did he have a Plan A, B, C and D, he also had a Plan E, F, G and H. Football is not just a game of strength and force. It was a game of strategy to Dennis.”

But the fact that Green was a people person also made him a player’s coach. He gained a reputation around the NFL as a coach who made the people around him better, and because of that, players wanted to play for Green.

Mentally, physically and emotionally, Green was as tough as nails.

“Dennis made people want to do better at what they did,” said Marie Green. “He saw the potential in people. He was very supportive of me and helped me believe in myself. He saw my potential. He saw what I could do, and he coached me to fill my potential.”

In 1997, Green and the Vikings drafted another Harrisburg native, cornerback Robert Tate. Tate had never met Green before being drafted.

“You knew what to expect from him,” said Tate. “He believed in me, and when someone believes in you, you want to give it your all. Coach Green was a no-nonsense type of coach, but a fatherly type of coach. He held you accountable.”

Transformative

Green graduated from John Harris High School in the late 1960s, and he graduated cum laude with a degree in finance from the University of Iowa. He started coaching at Iowa as a graduate assistant, then went on to become the head coach at Northwestern in 1981 and the head coach at Stanford in 1989.

“He treated everybody equally,” said Tate. “He would tell you what he expected of you. He always said what he was going to do and did what he said he was going to do. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. He told you the way it was. He was a stand-up guy.”

From a close-knit family, Green was one of five brothers who grew up in Harrisburg. Many of his nieces, nephews and cousins still live in the Harrisburg area.

“One of the things I will always remember about him is how important family stayed to him when he reached success,” said Michelle Green. “A lot of times when people reach that level, they forget about where they came from.”

Two years after his passing, Green was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings’ ring of honor. When he died in 2016, the Vikings issued the following statement:

“He mentored countless players and served as a father figure for the men he coached. He took great pride in helping assistant coaches advance their careers. His tenure as one of the first African American head coaches in both college and the NFL was also transformative. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Green family.”

The way Green lived his life exemplified what it means to be from Harrisburg.

“Being from Harrisburg was very important to him,” Tate said. “He was always talking about Harrisburg. He had a crew from Harrisburg who would always come to the games. In meetings, he’d always bring up Harrisburg. His heart was from Harrisburg.”

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Micah Parsons receives the key to Harrisburg, community celebrates the NFL pick

May 3, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Micah Parsons received the key to the city at HMAC.

On Monday, football fans and community members packed into the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, eager to see the city’s newest superstar.

Micah Parsons has had quite the week. On Thursday, he was drafted into the NFL as a first-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys. Today, Mayor Eric Papenfuse handed him the key to Harrisburg, the city he calls home.

“He embodies the work ethic and the success that is possible for all of us,” Papenfuse said. “He’s so inspiring.”

Parsons, 21, grew up in Uptown Harrisburg, attended Harrisburg High School and went on to play football for Penn State University as a linebacker. Parsons graduated early and now looks forward to a future with the NFL team he had hoped to play for.

But on Monday, with family, friends and plenty of fans, he took a moment to celebrate in the community where it all started.

“It really means a lot to get the key to the city,” Parsons said. “Harrisburg really means a lot to me.”

A large crowd gathered at HMAC to see Parsons

Yvette Wright stood in the crowd with her 13-year-old son. He wore a Cowboys face mask and shirt. Wright told me how he had been playing football since he was little.

“My son looks up to Micah Parsons because we’ve both come from the same city and the same school district,” she said. “This is something positive for him and other young athletes to look up to.”

After the presentation, dozens of kids and families lined up to meet Parsons and get an autograph. Parsons said that he was once in their shoes, looking up to professional sports players.

“There’s really no difference between me and you,” he said. “We wake up the same, we get the same 24 hours […] It’s about what you do in your 24 hours.”

Parsons encouraged his young fans to continue working hard and said that he plans to help the youth however he can. Parsons himself has a 3-year-old son.

“One of the things that impresses me about Micah is he’s already thinking about how he can give back to this community,” Papenfuse said.

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Harrisburg student-athletes get the “OK” to play, fall season back on

October 6, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer. File photo.

Student-athletes in Harrisburg are off the bench.

The school district plans to begin scheduling games for all fall sports, district Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer announced on Monday.

This comes as a reversal to his initial decision in August to cancel the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in September, Celmer saw a possibility of resuming sports as the spread of the virus decreased locally.

“I’m extremely excited for our students,” athletic director Calvin Everett said. “They now have the opportunity to get to compete.”

Harrisburg will be behind, Everett said, as many other local schools started the season on time.

In his newsletter on Monday, Celmer explained the data that the school wanted to see before making the call to resume and that it had been met.

The benchmarks included a three-week period of sustained testing positivity rates from 3 to 4% and incidence rates per 100,000 people below a rate of 50 in Dauphin County.

As of Oct. 2, the positivity rate was 3.7% and the incidence rate was 47.6 in Dauphin County.

“The outlined metrics were met for a three-week period,” Celmer said. “Therefore, the school district will begin scheduling games for all fall sports.”

Everett said all the fall sports teams have been practicing for over two weeks now.

While scheduling games has been difficult for Everett, due to the late start, he already has competitions lined up.

The football team will play its first game this weekend. Soccer, volleyball and women’s tennis will compete starting October 19, Everett said.

The school’s band and cheer team can participate in home games only, he said.

Celmer added that the school district reserves the right to pause workouts and cancel scheduled games if the weekly positivity and incidence rates show a sustained increase. They may also cancel games if players or coaches contract COVID-19 or if local health professionals recommend postponing sports.

Spectators for sporting events will be limited, Celmer said, but the district is working on live streaming options.

This decision to let students play comes after many concerned comments from district families were shared at a school board meeting on Sept. 21.

“I’m asking that you please reconsider your decision and allow these children to play,” one comment said. “This means a lot to these kids, their families and community.”

In a letter to district parents on Sept. 13, Celmer thanked those who reached out with concerns.

“As long as a student-athlete, coach, band-performer and/or cheerleader is wearing the Cougar uniform, I am responsible for the health and safety of each one of them,” he said in the letter. “As Superintendent, I do not take this responsibility lightly.”

For more information, visit https://www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us/.

This story was updated with comments from athletic director Calvin Everett.

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January News Digest

January 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Former Mayor Reed Dies

Long-time Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed died late last month, the seven-term, often-controversial mayor defining an era of Harrisburg’s history.

Reed, 70, died following a long battle with prostate cancer. He left behind a complicated legacy, one marked both by the city’s nascent renaissance and its eventual financial collapse.

Born in Chambersburg, Reed later moved to Harrisburg and attended Bishop McDevitt High School. As a teenager, he already was involved in Democratic politics and left Dickinson College to pursue his political ambitions.

At just 25 years old, he was elected to the state Assembly, serving five years, and also was elected Dauphin County commissioner. His true desire, though, was to lead his struggling hometown, and he was elected mayor in 1981.

At the time, Harrisburg was suffering from decades of deindustrialization, depopulation and disinvestment, as well as devastating flooding. He immediately made big plans for change.

Through 28 years in office, Reed had many successes, including reviving City Island, attracting a minor league baseball team, opening the National Civil War Museum and reinvigorating the moribund downtown.

Over time, though, questions arose over how the city financed these and other projects. In the early 2000s, a bungled retrofit of the city’s troubled incinerator revealed Harrisburg’s fragile financial state and very high levels of debt. It also was discovered that Reed had spent millions of public dollars buying artifacts for a series of museums he hoped to build.

In 2009, Reed lost a bid for an unprecedented eighth term, and, soon, the city was placed into the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed municipalities then put directly into state receivership.

Meanwhile, the state launched an investigation into Reed’s dealings and, in 2015, charged him with 499 criminal counts, most later dismissed due to statute of limitations restrictions. In 2017, he was given probation after pleading guilty to 20 criminal counts related to museum artifacts found in his possession.

Reed left behind a complex legacy, one of rebuilding and distress, one the city lives with to this day.

Police Promotions, Hires Announced

You might say it’s the year of the police officer in Harrisburg.

The 2020 budget is increasing pay for many officers, and, last month, 28 officers were sworn in or promoted.

“It is an exciting time to become a Harrisburg police officer,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The city is on the right track, and it is a very, very exciting day.”

In a ceremony at Whitaker Center, 10 young officers with a wide range of experience and skill were sworn into the city’s Police Bureau. A few received education at local and state schools including HACC and Penn State University. Others have experience working as emergency medical technicians or serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“It’s a very diverse group,” Papenfuse said. “We really are getting the very brightest and the very best.”

Many of the new officers began their six-month education at the Police Academy at HACC last month. After graduation, they will undergo in-house training and field training with the bureau.

“I’m excited, nervous, but excited,” new officer Jarrod Haar said. “I have been trying to do this for a while.”

Eighteen officers were promoted within the bureau. Two were sworn in as captains, four became lieutenants, six became sergeants and six were promoted to corporals.

With each step up in the bureau, “the burden only gets heavier,” Police Commissioner Thomas Carter said.

Six officers were recognized for their retirement, including a police dog, Officer Beau.

Promotions were announced for the following officers:

Dennis Sorensen
Terry Wealand
Todd Abromitis Sr.
James T. Galkowski
Thomas McGarrity
Russell Winder Jr.
Quinten Kennedy
Robert Minnier
Brian Henry
Marc McNaughton
Robert Minnier
Robert Yost
Antwyn Chatman
Teresa Covey
Derek Fenton
Joseph Marshall
Matthew Nordstrom
Matthew Novchich

The following new police officers were sworn in:

Joshua C. Cook
Andrew J. Dick
Aida Eminagic
Jarrod Haar
Jenelle L. Keppley
Michael D. Klock
Brendan J. Kovach
Austin Snyder
Jeffrey H. Teeter
Sethton A. Wiest

Interim Principal Named

A long-time Lancaster educator has been named the new interim principal of Harrisburg High School, John Harris Campus.

Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer last month announced the selection of Dr. Jay Vance Butterfield as interim principal. Since 2008, Butterfield has served as director of secondary education for the Lancaster school district.

“The school district of Lancaster is similar to Harrisburg school district, and I am confident that we will be able to make great strides together,” Butterfield said.

The district is currently conducting a nationwide search for a permanent principal, with Butterfield expected to serve in the position until a replacement is named.

In his previous post, he supervised all secondary principals and secondary instructional programs. He also has served as principal of Wheatland Middle School, focus principal of JP McCaskey Campus, principal of McCaskey East High School, principal of Central York High School and assistant principal of Hempfield High School.

At Harrisburg High, Butterfield replaces Jaimie Foster, who was appointed to the post in June after Dr. Janet Samuels was named receiver of the 6,700-student school district. She was the third person to serve as principal over the past year.

“I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with this community to help make John Harris Campus a center of learning and a beacon of hope for the future of Harrisburg,” Butterfield said.

He said that he expects a “safe and orderly environment, where students are in class, learning, each and every period of each school day.”

Capital Region Water Buys Building, Plans Move

Capital Region Water is heading Uptown, with plans to consolidate its staff in a newly purchased office building on Front Street.

CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer said last month that the municipal water/sewer authority has purchased a two-story building at 3003 N. Front St. in Harrisburg, the former home of Quandel Construction Group.

“CRW has been tossing around this option for awhile,” she said. “We did feel for a long time that a long-term lease was not a prudent financial option for us.”

According to Dauphin County property records, CRW paid $4.4 million for the 37,632-square-foot building, which includes about 70 parking spaces.

Katzenmoyer said that, with its current lease expiring, the CRW board felt that it didn’t make fiscal sense to continue leasing space in its downtown office building on the 200-block of Locust Street. CRW’s predecessor, the Harrisburg Authority, moved into that building in 2009.

“The most cost-effective option for us long-term was purchasing a building,” she said. “We started looking for buildings that fit our needs in terms of space and cost, as well as accessibility for our customers.”

In addition to 35 administrative personnel now located downtown, CRW will move its 15-person customer service staff to the new Front Street location. Customer service is currently located at CRW’s facility at 100 Pine Dr., on the border with Susquehanna Township.

CRW expects to make the move in “mid or late summer,” once the first-floor customer service center is built out, Katzenmoyer said. She added that the rest of the 11-year-old building is in “excellent shape,” needing only some fresh carpet and new paint.

In scouting a new location, parking was an important consideration, she said, as CRW now pays for its staff to park downtown. CRW also wanted its customer service center to be more accessible to transit, so that people could reach their office by bus.

“As we were looking for buildings, it seemed like this was a perfect fit for us,” she said.

Harristown Debuts 3 Apartment Buildings

Harristown Enterprises has largely completed the renovation of three downtown buildings, bringing more than 80 new apartments onto Harrisburg’s housing market.

The city-based company has begun leasing the Fox on Washington, a boutique building with eight units, as well as the BenMar, two adjoining buildings that total 74 units.

“We’re very excited to have reached this important point,” said CEO Brad Jones.

Tenants have already begun to move into the Fox on Washington, a 114-year-old brick building on the corner of S. 2nd and Washington streets in Shipoke.

That 1906 building, originally the Fox Hotel, had long housed Santanna’s Seafood House, with apartments upstairs, but had been empty for decades before Harristown purchased it from UPMC Pinnacle in 2018.

The entire building has now been converted to apartments, with two, two-bedroom and six, one-bedroom units.

On the other side of downtown, Harristown has begun to sign leases for a project on Pine Street called the BenMar Apartments, as BenMar was the original name of one of the buildings.

That project consists of two adjoining, mid-century office buildings that Harristown converted to a mix of one- and two-bedroom residential units. This project began about a year ago.

The larger of the two buildings is at 116 Pine St., with 49 apartments in a mid-

century modern architectural style. The building next door at 124 Pine St., with 25 apartments, has been renovated with a modern farmhouse look. Both buildings date from the mid-1950s.

Rents for all three of the buildings range from $1,050 to $1,475 a month depending

upon the size of the units and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

With these buildings, Harristown has delivered some 150 new apartments downtown over the last few years, mostly converting old, rundown office buildings into residential space. It now is seeking final city approval for another residential project, with plans to convert an office building at 17 S. 2nd St. into 30 new, market-rate units.

Midtown Cinema Renovation Clears Hurdle

Midtown Cinema is a step closer to a major makeover, as the city’s historic review board has given the project its blessing.

Last month, the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) unanimously approved plans by owner Lift Development for a substantial renovation of the arthouse theater’s façade.

“We’re very pleased with this result,” said Lift Development principal John Tierney, following the vote.

Tierney said that he expects work to begin this month following the cinema’s annual Academy Awards gala. Construction is expected to take about four months, concluding with the opening of the Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival in June.

The façade will feature a mostly glass exterior topped by a new marquee and new fiber cement board panels. On the east side, a trellis will extend the building’s footprint, with picnic tables underneath for outside seating.

Originally, the trellis was expected to be a mix of metal and wood. However, on Monday, Tierney said that it may be exclusively wood due to higher-than-expected price quotes for the metal component.

The 1940-era building was originally a grocery store and later housed a blood plasma center. It opened as Midtown Cinema in 2001.

HARB had no quibble with the modern-style design, and the city does not consider the building to contribute to the historic nature of the district, according to Frank Grumbine, Harrisburg’s historic preservation specialist and archivist.

“Overall, this project makes [the building] a higher overall quality,” said HARB member Jeremiah Chamberlin.

Several members, though, requested preservation of the existing mid-century-style sign that reads, “Reily. Midtown Center.”

Architect Rich Gribble of Camp Hill-based ByDesign Consultants said that they had a plan for the sign.

“We’d like to take that sign and put it into the new lobby, as opposed to installing it outside, since it’s technically not the name of the cinema,” he said.

Tierney later said that, as part of the renovation, they plan to remove the drop ceiling, opening up the lobby closer to the roofline, which would create enough space to hang the large sign inside.

The cinema plans to remain open during the renovation, though construction work may limit the availability of all three screens and could affect show times.

Home Sales, Prices Up

Home sales and prices both increased in December, as the residential market continued to be strong in the Harrisburg area.

For the three-county region, home sales jumped 15.4 percent compared to the year-ago period, while the median sales price increased 3.6 percent, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, residential sales rose to 273 units compared to 238 in December 2018, while the median sales price increased to $166,900 from $165,000, said GHAR.

Cumberland County saw sales go up to 283 units versus 234 a year ago as the median price rose to $215,000 compared to $207,900. In Perry County, sales dipped in December to 21 units from 28 units in the prior year, while the median sales price rose to $182,500 from $161,450, stated GHAR.

Throughout the region, the average days on the market fell considerably, down 8.3 percent from the year-ago period, GHAR said.

So Noted

Dallas J. Zulli was named last month as the new chief financial officer and chief operating office of Camp Hill-based Smith Land & Improvement Corp. According to the company, Zulli brings 16 years of experience in commercial banking and real estate finance, most recently as vice president, senior commercial relationship manager, with F&M Trust in the Capital Region.

Harrisburg Young Professionals has announced its leadership team for 2020. Renee Custer is serving as president, Mary Kate Grimes and Faniel Yemane as vice presidents, Monika Kohli as secretary and Nick Barbera as treasurer. All began their terms on Jan. 1.

Jordan Piscioneri of Century 21 Realty Services in Camp Hill has been named 2020 president of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors, according to GHAR. GHAR also announced that Kelly Spasic with Help U Sell Detwiler Realty in Carlisle is serving as 2020 president for the Greater Harrisburg Realtors Foundation.

Knead Slice Shop opened for limited hours last month at 927 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. The pizzeria, another location for the Broad Street Market favorite, expects to expand its hours through February.

Richard Sills has been named 2020 president of the AACA Museum in Hershey. The museum also added four new members to its 20-member board.

Tom Sposito will serve as chair of the board of directors of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber for 2020, it was announced last month. In addition, Benjamin C. Dunlap, Jr. of Nauman Smith will serve as the CREDC board of directors chair.

Queen’s BBQ & Southern Cuisine expects to open this month at 912 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. Owners Anya and Titus Queen have been offering tastes and taking donations since last month, as they make their final preparations for a grand opening.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2425: S. & V. Heckman to Z. Kissinger, $69,900

Antoine St., 522: J. Moe to Wells Fargo Bank NA, $55,700

Berryhill St., 2108: K. Nguyen to T. Dinh, $41,000

Berryhill St., 2140: U.S. Bank NA Trustee to PA Deals LLC, $38,550

Berryhill St., 2427: K. McGovern to S. Shrestha, $63,000

Brookwood St., 2320: K. Connor to A. Rahman, $42,000

Burchfield St., 315 & 317: ZTK Properties LLC to Greenbrook Enterprises LLC, $107,000

Calder St., 517: PA Deals LLC to E. Drum, $119,900

Chestnut St., 1907: Tassia Corp. to R. Sherwood, $63,000

Clinton St., 326: Dobson Family Partnership to J. Freiberg & G. Fraizer, $53,775

Crescent St., 349: N. Patel & T. Calle to F. Mejias, F. Ambrocio & G. Marilena, $45,000

Fulton St., 1717: M. Valentin & R. Cruz to D. Canty & D. Muncer, $138,000

Green St., 1407: J. Davis to Alex Manning Enterprises LLC, $69,900

Green St., 1933: J. & A. Rowe to K, & J. Karl, $200,000

Green St., 2001, et al: WCI Partners LP to D&B Legacy, $5,665,000

Green St., 2438: R. Diggs Jr. to I. Almabruk, $59,000

Green St., 3200: T. Martindale to Hoffman Properties LLC, $153,500

Greenwood St., 2518: J. & P. Patel to J. Alvarez, $54,000

Hale Ave., 439: A. Zaheer to M. Ali, $48,000

Hale Ave., 446: H. Phan to A. Mohammed, $75,000

Hamilton St., 234: L. Jones to K. Muncy, $115,900

Harris Terr., 2449: Kalynn Investment LLC to Inoma Properties East Shore LLC, $48,000

Hoffman St., 3214: J. Gantt & H. Mahmood to D. & C. Harmon, $119,000

Hoffman St., 3238: E. Andrade to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $55,000

Hunter St., 1505: R. & M. Caplan to Community 1st Realty LLC, $35,000

Kensington St., 1954: S. Sachdeva to Ruell Rentals LLC, $45,000

Lexington St., 2726: Valley Real Estate Holdings LLC to S. Marouf, $33,000

Locust St., 121: Family Children’s Service to 121 Locust Street LLC, $195,000

Maclay St., 330: Keystone Properties Group LLC to Ruell Rentals LLC, $39,500

Manada St., 2007: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg Area to J. Rutherford Jr., $73,000

Mulberry St., 1158: S. Patel & Slate House Group to SJJR LLC, $67,000

N. 2nd St., 933: C. Annis & S. Dodd to J Matsumoto Holdings Inc., $64,300

N. 2nd St., 1225: S. Shaffer to M. Itterly, $130,000

N. 2nd St., 2015: W. Hoover to J. & K. Miller, $240,000

N. 4th St., 1328: R. & S. Wale to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $42,000

N. 4th St., 2239: I. Druker to A. Britton, $51,700

N. 6th St., 2722: R. & T. Ruiz to S. Morton & R. Bushner, $70,000

N. 6th St., 3123: J. & N. Alishofski to Rustik Touch LLC, $48,000

N. 6th St., 3223: J. & L. Hairston to J. Crossett & M. Hochstetler, $63,500

N. 15th St., 1340: Z. Yap to M. Alvarez, $43,000

N. 17th St., 62: Azzu Rental LLC to M. Reyes, $30,000

N. Front St., 1829, Parking Lot & Common Area: Cityscape Investors II LLC & W. Jackson to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $976,924

N. Front St., 1829, Units MBB, MBC, MBD, M1B, M1C, M2A, M2B, M2C, M2D, M2E: Tracy Partners LP to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $608,075

N. Front St., 3003: 3003 North Front Street Associates to Capital Region Water, $4,400,000

Park St., 1626: C. Myers to Revive Our City LLC, $30,000

Penn St., 2151 & 2153: Hari Group LLC to R. Rammouni, $30,000

Penn St., 2235: L. & D. Burkhart to M. Brown, $57,000

Pine St., 121: Pennsylvania Tavern Association to Bowser Properties LLC, $89,000

Reel St., 2713: K. Williams to M. Rodriquez, $68,900

Reily St., 210: J. Manzella to M. & J. Good, $134,900

Rolleston St., 1322: K. & P. Ducarme to J. Perdue, $125,000

Rudy Rd., 1829: J. Hocker to Yogi Investments LLC, $40,500

Rudy Rd., 1923: J. & A. Burns to T. Bui & H. La, $65,000

Rudy Rd., 1934: S. Spriggs to M. Lantigua, $85,000

Rumson Dr., 2975: R. & N. Logan to Proline Properties LLC, $44,000

Showers St., 605: J. Moore to E. Hagarty & K. Merritt, $165,000

S. 12th St., 1445: Dobson Family Partnership to W. Gleason, $75,000

S. 12th St., 1502: A. Smithson to W. Taulbee & C. Odoms, $35,100

S. 13th St., 1237: Willow LLC to Maples Property LLC, $160,000

S. 17th St., 101: RCK Properties Inc. to Next Day Marble & Granite LLC, $600,000

S. 19th St., 216: L. & D. Burkhart to L. Thompson, $49,000

S. 19th St., 1336: Kupprat Property & Investments LLC to K. Allison, $89,900

S. 25th St., 438: W. Junkin to CR Property Group LLC, $62,000

State St., 231, Unit 403: C. & G. Freeman to M. Mardenborough, $144,000

State St., 1402: A. & R. Sharp to E. Zeigler, $96,000

Susquehanna St., 1336: Frog Hollow Associates LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $99,659

Susquehanna St., 1816: R9 Holdings to R. & C. Steele, $44,500

Susquehanna St., 2034: F. Stoltzfus & F. Ellenberg to A. Holland, $30,000

Swatara St., 1513: Tri County HDC Ltd. to A. Houtz, $101,900

Swatara St., 2003: D. & K. Condon to C. Lillo, $58,000

Taylor Blvd., 20: US Bank NA to S. Davis, $97,900

Walnut St., 1201: D. Wise to M. Lorenzo, $50,000

Woodbine St., 219: D. Wenner & J. Sourbeer to J. & S. Compton, $72,500

The Week That Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 24, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Volunteers pose for a picture on cold Patrick Alley in Harrisburg following a cleanup during MLK Day of Service.

The Harrisburg area was caught in the slow melt this week, following last weekend’s snow/sleet/ice storm. This meant a few cold days for our reporters, who were out and about covering important local news stories. In case you missed one, we have all of our coverage warmly recapped below.

Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce & CREDC held its annual House legislators’ forum this past week, with area representatives speaking of Capitol comity, as well as their priorities for the year. Find out what’s on the mind of your statehouse delegate by visiting our news story.

Harrisburg City Council expects to bring up an affordable housing measure later this year, according to the council president. She made that declaration following a hearing on the latest proposal to convert an old office building into downtown apartments.

Harrisburg High School, John Harris Campus, has a new interim principal, the fourth school leader in a year. Our news story offers some background on the new principal, who is slated to remain in place pending a permanent hire.

Michael Hertrich has moved his eponymous gallery from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, opening in the heart of the Midtown business district. Discover what you’ll find in his unique second-story space by checking out our magazine feature story.

MLK Day of Service was a chilly one, but that didn’t stop volunteers from coming out in droves around central PA. We visited a few sites in Harrisburg to find out what was being raked, shoveled and bagged.

Of Monsters and Men are coming to the Harrisburg riverfront this summer for an outdoor concert, Harrisburg University announced. Read our news story to find out how you can get tickets to see the popular Icelandic alt-rock band.

Riverfront Gallery and Susquehanna Art Museum exhibits caught our reviewer’s eye during last week’s 3rd in the Burg. He had a lot to say about the works on display, conveyed in his latest blog post.

Sara Bozich has put away her snow boots temporarily, as the weather has become more favorable to get out and about. Learn what’s on her long list of fun things to do in her weekly blog.

Skincare is an important part of daily hygiene, especially during the winter. That’s why we asked local estheticians for their tips on maintaining healthy and vibrant skin. Read what they had to say.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School students soon no longer will have access to free breakfasts and lunches. School leaders are trying to find a permanent solution, but, in the meantime, are asking the community for support so that the program can continue. Find out how you can help.

Theatre Harrisburg opened its latest production, “The Scarlet Letter,” and our reviewer attended opening night. Discover what she thought of this unique production, which adds music to the American literary classic.

Violet Oakley is a singular figure in the history of art in Pennsylvania. The State Museum now is displaying studies from some of her famous Capitol murals, a story that we featured in our January magazine.

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