Tag Archives: Harrisburg School District

A Warm Welcome: 100 Men Greeting extend a hand to Harrisburg students.

August 25, 2016 | by Susan Ryder

A Harrisburg student leaps high as she is greeted at Ben Franklin Elementary during 100 Men Greeting.

The weather cooperated on this day, the cool temperatures and sunny sky adding to the bright faces and cheery “good mornings” exchanged between students and greeters.

The young learners donned new sneakers, pressed clothes and freshly beaded hair. Some jumped up to meet the hand that greeted them; others tentatively held it out for a tap.

The 10 men standing outside Ben Franklin Elementary on Monday were part of 100 Men Greeting, welcoming students to the first day of school in the Harrisburg School District.

Jamar Johnson, a graduate of Harrisburg High School, helped coordinate the event. He said he feels that young people only hear about negative and violent things that happen in the city and wanted to offer them an opportunity to see smiling, friendly people as they begin the new year.

“If you bring all these men together, they can be a positive movement,” he said.

The concept is simple. Local men greet students and teachers with high fives and words of encouragement. Johnson said all men, from every walk of life, are invited to participate.

On Monday, men greeted students outside all 11 schools in the district, with the goal of having 10 men at each school. Outside Ben Franklin, a financial adviser, a Vietnam veteran, two state employees, an attorney, a housekeeping manager and a web developer participated.

Many of the men have worked with Floyd Stokes, the program’s executive director, on other projects, including the American Literacy Council’s 500 Men Reading Week.

This is the second year for the event, and Johnson said that district Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney reached out and asked that they return this year.

While it served as an example of men doing positive things, greeters also started their day at Ben Franklin for another reason.

Calvin Hynson, past PTA president and open gym organizer for Ben Franklin, said he participated because he wants to “show support for the kids and teachers.” As he greeted the students, he admonished them to “get some education and respect your teachers.”

Logan Street resident Charles Ray spoke up from his electric scooter.

“It teaches the kids that we, as a whole, care for them,” he said, adding that his time in Vietnam impressed upon him the need to show kindness at every opportunity.

Students and teachers alike appreciated the morning.

“From a cultural perspective, it’s beyond wonderful to see my brothers greeting the kids,” said 24-year teaching veteran and second-grade teacher Kalem Calien.

Louise Roman thanked the men as she stepped off the sidewalk after bringing her children to school.

“As a single mother raising six kids, to have a male influence that’s not the father is a blessing,” she said,

Ben Franklin Principal Will Towson added the greeting is valuable because “students get to see positive role models on the first day of school.”

The line of students trickled down, and the men began heading off to work, welcoming the stragglers as they went.

“It’s wonderful for fathers and men to take a stand and make a positive impact for children and literacy in the community,” said Nick Linn, who greeted the children, his own two young sons by his side.

Author: Susan Ryder

June News Digest

June 30, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Miller Named Treasurer

Long-time Harrisburg official Dan Miller is the city’s new treasurer, following a close vote last month by City Council.

Miller bested a field of four nominees to replace Tyrell Spradley, who left after 18 months in office and just months after being sworn in for a full term. Miller will serve until the next municipal election in 2017.

Council selected Miller by a 4 to 3 margin in a second round of voting, following interviews with all four nominees. Besides Miller, the finalists included former city Councilman Brad Koplinski and local attorneys Karen Balaban and Peter Marks.

Miller, an accountant by trade, told council that he wished to serve because he is well qualified for the job and hopes to improve the operations of the department. He plans to set up a separate website for the treasurer’s office and said he is not interested in running for higher office.

Miller has a long history of public service in Harrisburg, previously serving as a city councilman and city controller. Three years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in a contentious race against now-Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

School Budget Passed

The school portion of Harrisburg’s property tax will drop slightly this year under a $143 million budget passed last month by the district’s school board.

The board cut the tax rate from about 27.9156 mills to 27.8 mills, meaning that an owner with property valued at $100,000 would see a tax decrease of about $11 for the 2016-17 school year. Property tax bills are due to be mailed this month.

The school board was divided on whether to retain the current tax rate and keep about $150,000 in the budget or give homeowners a small tax break. In the end, the board decided to offer the largely symbolic tax cut.

Teacher Contract Approved

The Harrisburg school board and teachers agreed to a new contract last month, ending a four-year battle between the two sides.

The agreement gives teachers their first raise since a state-appointed chief recovery officer was named in 2012. In turn, teachers and others covered by the agreement, including school guidance counselors and nurses, will contribute more to their health care plans.

Before the agreement, teachers had threatened to strike if the school board and the Harrisburg Education Association could not reach a new accord.

Dispersal of Housing Funds Considered

Harrisburg would retain federal housing funds for its own use under an ordinance introduced last month by the city administration.

Under the proposal, the city would keep nearly $1.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, an annual grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. For years, the city has shared the money with a select group of nonprofit organizations.

Under the administration’s proposal, about one-third of the amount would go to debt service, as the city must pay back a federal loan it backed for the once-bankrupt Capitol View Commerce Center, as well as pay back other federal community development loans dating back about 15 years.

Remaining funds would go to public safety, housing rehabilitation, emergency demolition and several other city-identified priorities.

Several nonprofit groups have protested being shut out of the annual distribution. At press time, City Council had not agreed to the final disbursement of the monies.

Tax Abatement Finalized

Dauphin County last month gave the final OK to Harrisburg’s tax abatement plan, allowing the 10-year abatement to proceed.

The county commissioners approved the plan unanimously, which will offer a full, 100-percent abatement over 10 years for improvements to residential properties and at least a 50-percent abatement on improvements to commercial properties.

A divided City Council passed the administration’s abatement plan last year. The school board approved it in May, leaving only Dauphin County—as the final taxing authority for city properties—to offer its blessing. Harrisburg now must hire an administrator to oversee the program.

The abatement also offers some benefit for new construction, but, to get tax relief, developers must follow certain requirements, including paying a prevailing wage for construction workers and hiring a certain percentage of minority and local workers.

State Forgoes Appeal

The state attorney general’s office will not appeal a court ruling that dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.

In a brief statement, the office said it would honor a May ruling by presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess that the crimes alleged by the state occurred too long ago, exceeding the statute of limitations.

The state, though, will continue to pursue 144 criminal counts against Reed on theft-related charges.

“With his fascination for the Wild West, this man used other people’s money to decorate his house and office with antiques,” said Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. “But Pennsylvania is not the Wild West. We have the rule of law here.”

New Precinct Planned

Allison Hill soon may get a new police precinct, as the city plans to renovate a building near 15^th and Derry streets.

Money to rehab the one-story structure would come from part of a $250,000 federal community grant, according to Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.

Allison Hill residents have been clamoring for increased police presence for many years, and Carter said the new, 24-hour station should make police officers more visible, while reducing response times and increasing ties to the community.

Home Sales Jump

Home sales in the Harrisburg area continued their yearlong rise, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

Sales rose to 908 units in May compared to 792 units in the year-ago period, with the median price rising to $174,900 vs. $170,000, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 297 units against 269 in May 2015, while the median price dipped to $155,000 from $159,900. In Cumberland County, sales rose to 326 from 281, and the median price increased to $219,561 from 213,712. Average days on the market fell in both counties.

In Perry County, 30 homes sold compared to 37 in the year-ago period. However, the median price increased to $151,500 vs. $117,900 in May 2015.

In addition to all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, GHAR covers parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

So Noted

Harrisburg Beer Week handed over a check for $40,000 last month to Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. The check was double the amount raised last year during the weeklong celebration of craft beer. River Rescue plans to use the money for additional improvements to its facility.

Highmark Blue Shield presented Harrisburg with a $100,000 grant last month to fund summer enrichment and after-school programs for children in the city school district. The Highmark funding will support activities like basketball, golf, swimming, various educational field trips and a daily lunch. Harrisburg children ages 6 to 18 are eligible.

PinnacleHealth this month plans to open the new Lebanon Valley Advanced Care Center, an 80,000-square-foot building at 1251 E. Main St., Annville. When fully occupied, the facility will house numerous groups, including Annville Family Medicine, PinnacleHealth Endocrinology, Select Physical Therapy, PinnacleHealth Express and the PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute.

Rite Aid in downtown Harrisburg will move across Market Street into about 14,000 square feet in Strawberry Square, it was announced last month. The larger space will allow Rite Aid to offer more products, as well as a retail pharmacy, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square. The move should occur by the end of the year. In other Strawberry Square news, CASA plans to take another 2,400 square feet of space there, while the fashion brand AMMA JO last month doubled its presence by expanding into an adjoining storefront.

The Game Table Café has cut the ribbon on its location at 4900 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. The Game Table Café provides a relaxed setting to enjoy a cup of coffee and play board games with friends and family.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2515: K. Troung & L. Pham to L. Truong, $45,000

Bellevue Rd., 2114: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to D. & E. Kerr, $153,000

Boas St., 219: D. Commins to A. Moyer, $136,000

Brookwood St., 2434: R. Hillman to The IRA Club & T. McDougal, $42,000

Calder St., 115: A. & M. Anselmo to Penn Real Estate Solutions LLC, $49,700

Calder St., 519: S. & M. Martin to J. Fisher, $100,000

Croyden Rd., 2778: PA Deals LLC to D. Blumenthal, $78,000

Derry St., 2712: L. & J. Burnette to D. Diehl, $72,000

Edward St., 243: A. Clionsky to D. & J. Ruscito, $200,000

Edward St., 504: S. Krum to D. & J. Kruzhilin, $88,000

Ellersie St., 2344: G. Rudy to V. Ramsey, $59,000

Fulton St., 1405: PA Deals LLC to S. Orwan, $110,000

Fulton St., 1937: B. Rodriquez & American Heritage Property Management to T. Gates, $43,800

Green St., 1414: S. Jusufovic to V. Reydams, $140,000

Green St., 1423: J. & V. Bates to R. Walter, $81,900

Green St., 1915: GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to J. & K. Johnston, $195,000

Green St., 1945: J.A. Hartzler to WCI Partners LP, $212,000

Hale Ave., 415: T. Pham & T. Vu to J. & J. Fickett, $59,000

Hamilton St., 238: J. Manzella to J. & M. Moritz, $135,000

Herr St., 127: R. Lake to C. Wagoner, $156,500

Hudson St., 1246: Bank of New York Mellon to PA Deals LLC, $47,250

Logan St., 1728: Wilmington Savings Fund Society to S. Eagle, $102,000

Maclay St., 245: N. Do to M. Cvetko, $30,000

Midland Rd., 2408: J. Jaxheimer to M. Boone, $179,900

Mulberry St., 1951: C. Campbell to E. & B. O’Brien, $51,000

N. 2^nd St., 812: J. Swoyer to A. Meoli, $197,500

N. 2^nd St., 1700: Metro Bank to Hopewell Estates 2^nd Street LLC, $400,000

N. 2^nd St., 2414: A. & G. Hall to R. Gist, $62,000

N. 2^nd St., 2539: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Garber, $58,000

N. 2^nd St., 2802: D. Skerpon & C. Baldrige to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $166,900

N. 2^nd St., 3004: E. & T. Lukoski to 8219 Ventures LLC, $40,000

N. 3^rd St., 1621: Wells Fargo Bank NA to Henly Homes LLC, $54,180

N. 3^rd St., 2451: Triple J. Assoc. Ltd. To Hornby Zeller Properties LLC, $149,900

N. 5^th St., 3204: Information Systems Networks Corp. & Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to T. Radcliff, $98,100

N. 16^th St., 911: M. McManus to S. Sprinkle, $87,500

N. 18^th St., 1116: P. & S. Mitchell to K. Wright, $70,000

Parkside Lane, 2922: A. Anderson to J. & B. Williams, $200,000

Race St., 562: Brady Daughters Realty LLC to S. Garnes, $153,500

S. 2^nd St., 302: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to J. Pronio, $49,900

S. 17^th St., 319: E. & L. Castillo to 4P Ventures LLC, $120,000

S. 29^th St., 720: C. Karstetter to S. Maurer, $38,000

S. Front St., 709: R. Stevenson to D. Smith, $185,000

State St., 217: Medical Bureau of Harrisburg to D. Ragland, $110,000

State St., 231, Unit 303: LUX 1 LP to T. & D. Jensen, $121,000

State St., 1936, 1940 & 1942: L. & K. Price to M. & E. Duvall, $75,000

Susquehanna St., 1825: A. Tilley to M. Manley, $87,000

Susquehanna St., 2005: Kusic Financial Services LLC to M. Rioux & H. Perry, $68,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2016, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Learning Curve: It’s been an adjustment, but Harrisburg students have built new friendships, lives at DC Tech.

February 29, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

DC Tech students Cedrickia Hawkins, Mohammad Tanveer, Nila Cobb and Jeremiah Ellison.

It’s been five years since Harrisburg students transferred to the Dauphin County Technical School, following the closure of the district’s Career Technology Academy.

So, how’s it going for city students?

Based on my informal survey, the answer seems to be, “Not perfect, but pretty well.”

Nila Cobb, an 11^th-grade web design student from Harrisburg, said she was “so surprised” by the friendliness of students when she first came to DC Tech in the ninth grade.

“Everyone was so nice and polite, and you had so much support,” she said. “Coming here definitely made me a better person, but I’m still myself.”

Cedrickia Hawkins, a 12^th-grade carpentry student, admitted that “it was tough” when she first came to the tech school.

“At Harrisburg, there wasn’t a dress code or a lot of rules,” she said. “But coming here was good. It was much friendlier here, especially with the seniors. It was ‘Hi, hi, hi’ whenever you passed somebody in the hall. The teachers were happy here, too.”

So Much Help

It all started in January 2011 when 12 carpentry students transferred to Dauphin County Tech after Harrisburg’s John Harris campus closed its vocational program. Four Harrisburg sophomores attended Tech’s morning session, with juniors and seniors attending in the afternoon.

“One of the students said that this was carpentry on steroids here,” said Dauphin County Technical School Director Peggy Grimm. “The (John Harris) program was dying financially,”

Preceding the Harrisburg students’ arrival was carpentry instructor Tim Carroll, who transferred to DC Tech in November 2010 after teaching 21 years at John Harris.

“We were thrilled that we were able to hire Tim Carroll,” Grimm said. “He was instrumental in our transition process. Everyone involved in that whole transition process had the kids in the forefront. It involved a lot of work.”

Carroll explained the differences between the two programs.

“Both places have their good points,” he said. “It’s so much easier here (at DC Tech) because we have so much help. Carpentry ran smoothly at John Harris; they just kind of left us alone. I worked by myself for so long that I had to get used to having aides.”

Today, 240 Harrisburg students attend DC Tech, with some enrolled in each of the school’s two-dozen programs. The school’s total enrollment numbers around 1,000, pulling students from much of the county.

Harrisburg students attend the tech school on a tuition basis, meaning that the district pays a flat rate per student. Member school districts pay annual fees based on a weighted five-year attendance average. Currently, administrators are considering upgrading Harrisburg’s status to a member school district.

High Expectations

Grimm said there were definitely “bumps in the road” when Harrisburg students first transferred to DC Tech.

“We had expectations for them, and they were high expectations,” Grimm recalled. “We had a few fierce conversations. A few students ended up going back to Harrisburg.”

In particular, some students objected to the uniform requirement.

In 2009, the school adopted a dress and grooming policy that requires students to wear “professional dress.” This involves shirts that clearly display the DCTS logo or an approved design or embroidery for individual programs. Programs such as food service, health assistants or diesel technology require additional garments like scrubs or coveralls.

“Our uniform requirement was a big thing for them, but, as time moved on, we stayed consistent with our expectations,” Grimm said. “Our expectations for respect stayed. Some Harrisburg students still have discipline problems, but so does every district.”

With time, Hawkins, a senior, said she came around to the requirement.

“I really understand now why they have a dress code here,” she said. “It’s more professional.”

Jeremiah Ellison, a 12^th-grade drafting and design technology student, said he tended to stick with other Harrisburg students when he first came to the tech school in ninth grade, but began to mix with others after a while.

“As the year went by, I started to talk to more and more people, and it became easier for me,” he recalled.

So what does Ellison find different about DC Tech compared to Marshall Math Science Academy, which he attended in the Harrisburg district?

“There were only about 150 kids at the Math Science Academy,” he said. “It was very small and very quiet. In Harrisburg, we played around a lot more. Here (at DC Tech) we try to mix it up, you know, like with work and play.”

Mohammad Tanveer, a 12^th-grade electronics technology student, moved here from Brooklyn, N.Y. He spent a year in the Harrisburg district before moving on to DC Tech. As with other Harrisburg students, it took some time before he got used to his new school.

“I was like, ‘Where are the metal detectors?’” Tanveer recalled with a laugh. “I saw a wide variety of people that I never saw before. I heard barking and said ‘What’s that?’ and then I realized that there’s a veterinary assistant course here.”

New students must get comfortable working not just with new faces but for the good of their team.

“Teamwork is a huge element of what we have here,” said Principal Jon Fox. “The kids have to work together.”

Carroll, the John Harris instructor who moved to DC Tech, views the situation with a philosophical edge.

“Kids all come here with different attitudes, but deep down, kids are just kids,” he said. “We get rid of the rough edges real quick. Over there (at John Harris), they had to act real tough. It was fight or flight there. Here, kids can relax a little bit.”

For more information about Dauphin County Technical School, visit www.dcts.org.

TheBurg Podcast, Feb. 26, 2016

February 26, 2016 | by Admin

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

To listen to this week’s episode, click here.

Feb. 26, 2016: This week, Larry and Paul discuss the fallout from the Civil War Museum heist and what’s coming next – call it a Civil War security summit. They also talk about infrastructure money and where to find it, some recent and impending arrivals in the Midtown business district, and dreams and deception in the Harrisburg School District.

TheBurg Podcast is proudly sponsored by Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar at the Hilton Harrisburg.

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

Career-Bound, College-Bound: As vo-tech education grows, students find many paths to follow.

July 31, 2015 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Illustration by James Arnold.

Once upon a time, lots of people believed a fallacy about secondary-level vocational-technical schools. Many assumed that vo-tech schools were for students not quite cracked up for rigorous academics or college.

In blunt terms, vo-tech was for dummies.

Unfortunately, the falsehood lives on today in some instances, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.

“I hear that at least five times a month. It’s a stereotype, but it’s not a true one,” stated Justin Bruhn, administrative director of Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School in Mechanicsburg. “The trick is getting people to take a look at what we do, then they’ll be impressed. There’s a place for every student here.”

Peggy Grimm, administrative director of Dauphin County Technical School in Lower Paxton Township, echoed that thought, saying she still fights a battle of perception over reality.

“It just isn’t so anymore,” she said. “The state Department of Education raised the bar, saying our students had to be career- and college-ready.”

Pennsylvania currently has 87 public vocational schools operating within its 500 school districts. Besides Dauphin County and Cumberland-Perry Area, other area vo-techs include Lebanon County Career and Technology Center; York School of Technology; Franklin County Career and Technology Center in Chambersburg; and Lancaster County Career and Technology Center with campuses in Brownstown, Mount Joy and Willow Street.

In 1995, the Adams County Tech Prep Consortium was formed, comprising students from five school districts within Adams County. Classes are held at a facility on the Gettysburg Area High School campus. The Carlisle Area School District operates the Center for Careers and Technology on the Carlisle High School campus.

All of the area vo-techs are members of TechLink, a not-for-profit organization with a united goal of advancing career and technical education through education, advocacy, public awareness and building connections between post-secondary institutions.

Met Expectations

The Harrisburg School District previously offered vo-tech classes at its John Harris campus, but that program has since closed. The district now sends its students to Dauphin County Technical School. The upcoming school year will be Harrisburg’s fifth at Dauphin County Tech, with 260 students expected.

The school’s total enrollment is “rolling around 1,000” students in grades 9 to 12, Grimm said, with students also coming from the Central Dauphin, Derry Township, Halifax Area, Lower Dauphin, Middletown Area and Susquehanna Township districts.

“We were diligent about holding the bar [for Harrisburg students], and they’ve met our expectations,” Grimm said. “We’re also looking for what we can provide for them academically. Many are kids from a low social-economic factor, and we plan for that.”

Dauphin County Tech is one of only 15 comprehensive vo-tech schools in the state. In other words, it is an independent vo-tech that offers both academic classes and career programs on the same campus. Students attend the school on a full-day basis, with no need to return to their home high schools for academic courses because they are offered at the tech school.

“Our students are very invested in our school because this is their school,” Grimm noted.

Renewed Appreciation

Dauphin County Tech and other comprehensive vo-techs are subject to more stringent state regulations than vo-techs that don’t offer academic courses.

Each year, Dauphin County Tech must administer academic Keystone exams to its students in addition to the seniors’ NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) exams for vocational studies. The state Department of Education bases Dauphin County Tech’s annual school report card on both scores, along with other factors.

“Parents were amazed to find out that we have [Advanced Placement] and honors courses here,” Grimm said. “We need it to complement our [vocational] programs.”

Dauphin County Tech offers a total of 25 vocational programs, while Cumberland Perry AVTS has 22 programs. Both schools offer many of the same courses, including automotive and diesel programs, computer information systems, electronics technology and health careers.

Cumberland Perry AVTS is comprised of approximately 1,000 students in grades 9 to 12 from 13 school districts within Cumberland, Perry and upper Adams counties.

“Our enrollment is up by about 10 percent over the last four years,” Bruhn noted. “I believe there’s a renewed appreciation for our courses that we offer.”

Around 500 students arrive at the school each morning before departing for academic classes in the afternoon at their home high schools. In the afternoon, the remainder of the vo-tech’s student body arrives for program studies after attending academic classes at their home high schools.

The school also offers social studies so students won’t be bogged down with as many required core courses at their home schools, Bruhn said.

“Our goal is an emphasis on a tangible outcome for our students, not only to leave here with skills and knowledge, but also with certifications and college credits,” he said.

The school’s newest three-year course is Health Career Technicians, which is separate from its nursing program. Health Career Technicians prepares students for careers as pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides and physical therapy aides directly after graduation. Students also can continue with post-secondary training to become a medical assistant.

Cumberland Perry also offers a dental assistant course, which Dauphin County Tech plans to begin in 2016-17.

“We’re constantly looking for programs where students can make a life-sustaining wage,” Grimm said.

“All of our programs fall under STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math),” said Sandy Traynor, Dauphin County Tech’s assistant director. “Our students earn certifications here and up to 12 college credits. When they leave us, they can go on.”

To learn more about vocational education in central Pennsylvania, visit the schools’ websites or go to the TechLink website at www.techlinkpa.com. TechLink’s next meeting is at Dauphin County Tech on Aug. 19.

August News Digest

July 31, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Reed Arrested, Arraigned

Seven-term Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed was arrested and arraigned last month on 17 criminal charges ranging from bribery to running a criminal organization.

In all, the state charged Reed with 499 criminal counts covering actions related to the Harrisburg Parking Authority and the Harrisburg School District, as well as city government.

The counts cover alleged actions for many well-known Reed-era projects, such as the incinerator retrofit, the effort to acquire museum artifacts, the Senators baseball team and Harrisburg University.

Debt accumulated under Reed eventually resulted in a financial crisis that led the state to appoint a receiver for the city, as well as a failed attempt by City Council to declare municipal bankruptcy.

Dauphin County District Justice William C. Wenner set bail at $150,000 unsecured, meaning that Reed did not actually have to post bond. He ordered Reed to surrender his passport and restrict travel to the confines of Pennsylvania.

After the arraignment, Reed and his attorney, Henry E. Hockeimer Jr. of the Philadelphia-based firm Ballard Spahr, made statements defending the 28-year mayor. Reed blamed the criminal charges on “misperceptions and politics,” while Hockeimer said Reed “carried out his role [as mayor] with dedication and integrity.”

Afterwards, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane publicly released the grand jury presentment, which detailed the evidence behind the charges. The presentment alleged that thousands of “artifacts” and “curiosities” purchased with public funds were found in Reed’s home and storage areas; that Reed diverted money from city borrowings for other purposes; and that he used city employees for personal reasons.

Market Report Released

The Broad Street Market Task Force last month released a long-anticipated report on how to improve the condition, management and overall operations of the historic Midtown market.

Chairwoman Jackie Parker told Harrisburg City Council that the market’s two buildings are in decent condition, but that they will require “large capital investments” over the next decade.

More immediately, the report strongly recommended changing the market’s management structure.

Currently, the Broad Street Market Corp. operates the market, with the Historic Harrisburg Association as its sole shareholder. The task force advised separating from HHA and transitioning to a nonprofit entity, which then could better pursue grants and other funding.

“It would be a newly established nonprofit that is dedicated to full-time fundraising for the market,” said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who announced the 10-member task force early last year as one of his first acts as mayor.

That transition could take the better part of two years, said Parker, who also is director of the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

Under the new structure, the market’s two buildings would remain owned by the city, but ongoing repair and maintenance would shift to the nonprofit, which would be overseen by a board of directors composed of volunteers from the community and market stakeholders.

The report recommended a number of other operational improvements, including free WiFi, greater recycling efforts, extended hours, greater diversity of food options, a marketing budget and better litter management.

Separately, Joshua Kesler last month was named president of the Broad Street Market Corp. board, replacing Jonathan Bowser, who resigned in June. Kesler is owner of The Millworks restaurant and art studios across the street from the market.

Campbell Pleads Guilty

Former Harrisburg Treasurer John Campbell last month pleaded guilty to charges that he stole money from several Harrisburg-based non-profit organizations.

Campbell said he was guilty of two counts of unlawful taking, a felony, and one count of Charitable Act fraud, a misdemeanor. He also promised to make full restitution for the thefts, which total almost $30,000.

Campbell was accused of taking money from several groups, including Historic Harrisburg Association, the Stonewall Democrats and Lighten Up Harrisburg. He was not charged with theft relating to his position as city treasurer.

If Campbell makes restitution by his Sept. 15 sentencing, Dauphin County Deputy District Attorney Joel Hogentogler said he would agree to a sentence of probation.

Anti-Blight Bills Passed

Harrisburg City Council last month approved two bills meant to battle the continuing problem of blight in the city.

The bills, passed unanimously, create a registry of foreclosed properties and increase fines on real estate investors and speculators for code violations.

Under the first ordinance, banks will pay a $200 annual fee for each property on the registry. The properties then must be kept properly maintained and secured.

Under the second, the city will levy higher fines on “corporate owners” of properties cited for code violations than it does on residential owners.

The higher fines are justified because it costs the city money to track down the investors and speculators, who often live out of the area and are difficult to identify and contact because they hide behind corporate entities, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Food Truck Rules Updated

Food trucks in Harrisburg must locate at least 100 feet from brick-and-mortar restaurants under an ordinance passed last month by the City Council.

Council unanimously approved an ordinance update that requires food trucks and other mobile food vendors from setting up within 100 feet of existing restaurants, 15 feet from building entrances and 15 feet from a fire hydrant.

The ordinance update was urged by several downtown restaurants, which have complained that food trucks set up near them during high-volume times, such as during lunch and on weekend nights, and negatively affect their business. They also have complained about grease and litter.

The mobile vendors also must cease selling by 2:30 a.m. and move from the area by 2:45 a.m.

The ordinance does not apply to food trucks that congregate during special events, such as the monthly Food Truck Feast held during 3^rd in the Burg.

HUD Funds Distributed

Harrisburg last month finalized the recipients of its annual dispersal of federal housing money.

The city received $3.1 million from three U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, most through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program.

The city’s housing rehabilitation program received $451,806, the largest allocation, and the city police department received $250,000, which it plans to use to boost manpower in Harrisburg’s most troubled neighborhoods. The city’s demolition program got $111,114.

Other recipients included:
Fair Housing Council, $130,000
Tri County HDC, $100,000
Camp Curtin YMCA, $80,000
Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry, $75,000
Habitat for Humanity, $70,000
Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg, $60,000
Latino Hispanic American Community Center, $59,982
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, $50,000
Mid Penn Legal Services, $30,000
Christian Love Ministries, $29,000
Codes Enforcement, $10,000

The city’s Emergency Solutions Grant Program received $164,603, and the Homeowner Improvement Program got $295,765.

More than $1 million will not go directly to recipients. Grant administration received $482,624, while debt service ate up $638,000. The latter item covers this year’s installment of repayment of a $3.8 million federal loan that Harrisburg backed for the failed (since revived) Capitol View Commerce Center.

Recovery Officer Appointed

Audrey Utley was appointed last month as the new chief recovery officer for the Harrisburg School District.

State Board of Education Secretary Pedro Rivera appointed Utley after a search committee recommended her. She recently retired as superintendent of the Steelton-Highspire school district and served a short, three-month stint as acting superintendent of the Harrisburg district in 2010.

Utley will continue the effort of trying to improve the financial and academic condition of the Harrisburg district, an effort begun by Utley’s predecessor, Gene Veno, who served in the post about two years before resigning in June.

Under Veno’s recovery plan, the district’s precarious financial situation stabilized, but the academic performance deteriorated further, according to state performance measures released last year.

2 Projects Get Green Light

More apartments are coming to Harrisburg, as the City Council last month approved land development plans for two substantial projects.

First, council unanimously approved Harristown Enterprise’s plan to convert 21,000 square feet of office space and another 6,000 square feet of loft space to six two-bedroom and 16 one-bedroom apartments above a stretch of shops along N. 3^rd and Market streets in Strawberry Square.

If all goes according to plan, work on the project would begin this fall with completion slated for spring 2016, said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

Council then OK’d a plan by WCI Partners to transform the former Harrisburg Moose Lodge Temple at N. 3^rd and Boas streets into 33 one-bedroom apartments, with commercial space on the ground floor. WCI also plans to renovate three boarded-up townhouses on the property.

WCI President Dave Butcher said the project should begin in early autumn with completion expected next summer.

Transit Consolidation Urged

A state official last month urged the Harrisburg City Council to consider regional consolidation of mass transit services.

Area governments could save an estimated $2.3 million a year, mostly through reduced administrative staff, if they chose to consolidate into a single entity, said Toby Fauver, deputy secretary for multimodal transportation for the state Department of Transportation.

Fauver cited the potential savings as he briefed council on Phase 2 of the South-Central Regional Transit Consolidation Study, which recommends consolidation for most transit systems in south-central Pennsylvania.

If they decide to merge transit operations, the participating counties and municipalities would need to appoint representatives to a transition board that would decide such issues as structure, governance and operations. The consolidation would cost about $4.7 million to achieve, but the state would absorb that cost, Fauver said.

Changing Hands

Boas St., 106: K. Miller to A. Nascone, $130,000

Boas St., 314: B. Ostella to W. James, $99,900

Briggs St., 241: M. Simmons to C. Jeffers, $113,500

Calder St., 504: P. Maruszewski to H. Nguyen, $109,900

Catherine St., 1620: R. & M. Caplan to M. & V. Keyes, $31,000

Chestnut St., 2137: P. Bowman to G. Bierbaum & W. Alford, $184,900

Cumberland St., 117: J. & C. Kuntz to Cardinal Investments LLC, $81,900

Derry St., 2422: N. Foose to D. Brently, $61,900

Green St., 1910: WCI Partners LP to C. Reinhold & K. Hurst, $193,900

Green St., 3011: R. Snyder to M. Palermo Jr., $180,000

Herr St., 415: A. Antoun to J. Foreman, $54,900

Herr St., 1424: M. & A. Foreman to Bethesda Mission of Harrisburg, $275,00

Kelker St., 235: S. Woomer to D. Robinson & J. Vu, $99,900

Kensington St., 2408: PA Deals LLC to F. Frattarole, $63,500

Manada St., 1905: PA Deals LLC to G. & J. Modi, $96,000

North St., 1718; 2418 Jefferson St.; 2228 N. 4^th St.; 350 Harris St.; 352 Harris St.; 1813 Boas St. & 1833 Forster St.: R. Shokes Jr. & Shokes Enterprises to JDP 2014 LP, $497,000

N. 2^nd St., 405, Unit 2 & Unit 4: Belco Community Credit Union to Vinculum Inc., $410,000

N. 2^nd St., 1100: L. & A. Morato to S. & J. Toole, $45,000

N. 2^nd St., 2537: J. & M. McCarthy to N. Banting, $72,100

N. 2^nd St., 2821: D. & M. Anderson to J. & L. Witmer, $96,000

N. 2^nd St., 2904: J. Reitz & Webster Bank NA to F. & B. Pinto, $285,750

N. 2^nd St., 2926: J. & Y. Garner to M. & S. Bennington, $282,000

N. 2^nd St., 3118: A. Barlup to P. & M. Rowan, $152,000

N. 3^rd St., 1720: F. Phillipy to A. & A. Campoverde, $90,000

N. 4^th St., 1625: GWD Capitol Heights LP to J. Wolfe & K. Hunt, $103,300

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 103: K. Blum to A. McKenna, $214,900

N. Front St., 2401: E. & D. Black to J.A. Hartzler, $215,000

N. Front St., 2501: Harrisburg Builders Exchange to Poole Anderson Construction LLC, $415,000

Rudy Rd., 2401: C. Butler to B. Royster, $119,900

S. 18^th St., 946: W. & D. Shalan to Darna Investments LLC, $140,000

S. 21^st St., 971: Lee Estates LLC to T. Le, $100,000

S. 29^th St., 520: E. Cohen & Goodrich Assoc. to Goodrich Assoc., $125,000

S. Front St., 607: S. Farr to T. Edinger, $130,000

S. Front St., 711: Z. & J. Goodling to P. Moore, $180,000

State St., 1801: MAT Properties Inc. to Transcend Church, $99,000

Taylor Blvd., 52: PA Deals LLC to V. & S. Vdov, $56,900

Woodlawn St., 2359: Meier Norton FLP to Meier Supply Co., $406,800

Wyeth St., 1404: A. Weikert to F. Frattarole, $103,900

Wyeth St., 1412: PA Deals LLC to F. Frattarole, $103,900

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

Defiant Former Mayor Reed Faces Charges for Theft, Bribery

July 14, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Attorney Henry E. Hockeimer, Jr., left, and former Mayor Stephen Reed outside a district courtroom Tuesday.

Stephen Reed, Harrisburg’s seven-term former “mayor for life” who oversaw a renaissance of the Pennsylvania capital as well as its descent into an all-consuming debt crisis, was arraigned Tuesday morning on criminal charges resulting from a long-running state grand jury probe.

Reed, 65, arrived at the Linglestown offices of Dauphin County District Judge William C. Wenner around 8 a.m., wearing a dark suit and glasses. He was accompanied by attorney Henry E. Hockeimer, Jr., who leads the white-collar defense practice of the Philadelphia firm Ballard Spahr.

The pair pulled into the parking lot a few seconds behind Clarke Madden, the prosecutor in the attorney general’s office who is said to be leading the probe.

“Surreal,” Reed said in response to a question about how he was feeling, as he crossed the lot and entered the court building. When asked if he had done anything criminal, he replied, “Not that I know of.”

Less than an hour later, Judge Wenner read out a list of 17 charges in the criminal complaint against Reed, encompassing more than 400 counts that included theft, bribery, and evidence tampering.

The counts covered actions related to the Harrisburg Parking Authority and the Harrisburg School District, as well as actions connected to city government. Several of them also name Richard Pickles, a former Harrisburg police detective, whom the complaint alleges was involved in criminal solicitation and theft of service.

Wenner said that accompanying the complaint was a “voluminous” grand jury presentment that more specifically detailed the individual counts, and referred to a set of exhibits that would outline the individual claims of receiving stolen property.

After reading the charges, Wenner said he would set bail at $150,000 unsecured, meaning that Reed would not have to post bond. He also said he would ask Reed to forfeit his passport and would restrict his travel to within state boundaries.

Following the arraignment, Hockeimer and Reed each read from prepared statements outside the court building defending Reed’s motives and integrity.

“For 28 years Steve Reed served the people of Harrisburg with energy, commitment and love for the city,” Hockeimer said. “He loved his job as mayor and he poured his heart and soul into it. Mr. Reed also had a deep respect for his position as a public servant and carried out his role with dedication and integrity.”

Hockeimer said Reed would be fighting the charges, which he suggested were “inspired more by political agendas than by anything else,” and said the former mayor “looks forward to his day in court.”

He also expressed concern about how media initially learned of the charges, saying it was information the grand jury process should have protected.

Reed also spoke briefly, saying that “misperceptions and politics are very much intertwined” in the accusations against him. “I regarded service as mayor to be a sacred trust and a calling to a high and noble purpose.”

He went on to compliment the staff that worked with him and to point to the city’s progress as his administration’s legacy. “I devoted my life to the city of Harrisburg, and I look forward to waging a vigorous fight against these charges,” he said.

Neither Hockeimer nor Madden gave any statement in the courtroom. A press release from the office of Attorney General Kathleen Kane said there would be a “major announcement” about the grand jury investigation at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the state capitol, but did not provide further details.

Reed had been presumed to be a target of the probe since its existence was first confirmed in 2013. The grand jury has reportedly been investigating the origins of a debt crisis tied to a city incinerator that nearly pushed Harrisburg into bankruptcy.

Past reports suggested the probe may have expanded into other areas of governance under Reed, a mayor who has been both praised for his vision and work ethic and criticized for reckless spending and an autocratic governing style.

In particular, investigators were said to have taken an interest in how Reed used the Harrisburg Authority, a municipal financing entity, as a kind of checking account for pet projects, such as acquiring artifacts for a hoped-for network of museums.

In early June, investigators raided Reed’s home on Cumberland street in Midtown, hauling away boxes and numerous Western-style artifacts, including saddles, barrels and a stuffed coyote. Reed later told reporters that the artifacts removed were all his personal possessions.

TheBurg Podcast, July 10, 2015

July 10, 2015 | by Admin

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

July 10, 2015: This week, Larry and Paul talk about a task force report on the Broad Street Market, some new regulations on mobile food vendors, the latest tools in the city’s fight against blight and a new chief recovery officer for the Harrisburg School District.

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

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

State Names New Recovery Officer for Harrisburg Schools

July 6, 2015 | by Paul Barker

Cougar Academy, an online school within the Harrisburg school district that has been expanded under the state’s recovery plan.

The Pennsylvania education secretary today appointed Dr. Audrey Utley, a Middletown native and a former acting Harrisburg superintendent, to oversee the Harrisburg school district’s state recovery plan.

Utley replaces Gene Veno, a Harrisburg-based consultant and lobbyist and the district’s first recovery officer, who announced his resignation in May.

Utley, who the education department said has worked in schools for more than 40 years, taught elementary school in the Steelton-Highspire school district and went on to serve as a superintendent in both Middletown and Steelton-Highspire.

She led the education transition team of former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson after Thompson’s election in 2009, the Patriot-News reported.

Utley later served briefly as Harrisburg’s acting superintendent in 2010, in the midst of a power struggle between the city’s elected school board and a mayor-appointed board of control whose authority was set to expire that year.

“In addition to Dr. Utley’s experience as a superintendent, she also comes to this position with firsthand knowledge of the unique issues that fiscally distressed school districts face due to her time working to improve other struggling schools,” state education secretary Pedro Rivera said in a prepared statement Monday.

He went on, “I have complete confidence that under Dr. Utley’s guidance, the Harrisburg School District will continue on the path toward financial stability, which will allow the district’s leadership team and educators to focus on the goal of ensuring every student graduates college- and career-ready.”

The state appointed Veno as the district’s first recovery officer in December 2012, after declaring the district fiscally distressed under a law passed earlier that year.

Veno’s recovery plan, approved by the state in May 2013, described a district in rapid decline, with test scores significantly below state and county averages and budget deficits that threatened to put it out of business within a few years.

The plan set new targets for academic performance, sought to expand Harrisburg’s in-house options for online education, and called for two years of pay cuts followed by a wage freeze, among other recommendations.

Many proposals were controversial, and though Veno’s plan is generally viewed as having stabilized district finances, Veno himself has faced no shortage of opposition, particularly from critics who believe he has done little to improve academics.

In early 2014, Mayor Eric Papenfuse asked the state to replace Veno following a meeting in which he allegedly told the mayor he believed his plan was unlikely to succeed, a claim Veno subsequently disputed.

By some measures school performance has worsened since the plan was enacted, with state test results last November showing Harrisburg schools had universally failed to meet the plan’s academic goals by substantial margins.

“It was time,” Veno said on May 8 in reference to his resignation earlier that day, noting that he was leaving the district in a “good financial position” from which it could focus on academic improvement.

Growing Up . . . and Going for a Run: More than a physical challenge, Girls on the Run helps students open up, learn about life and mature.

June 30, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Illustration by Stephen Michael Haas.

Girls on the Run teaches young students valuable life skills like believing in oneself, cooperation and community.

For many girls in the Harrisburg school system, the program instills in them the power to overcome bullying, build their self-esteem and uncover the value of working as a team.

Then there’s the 5K.

“We know that running a 5K is a great accomplishment, but Girls on the Run is about so much more than that,” said Gillian Byerly, the executive director of the Capital Area chapter. “We are giving some of these girls the only chance they’ll have at learning what it means to have personal value and to work together to accomplish personal goals.”

When the Capital Area Girls on the Run chapter was founded in 2011, just 22 girls and four volunteers signed up for the 10-week program. Through twice-a-week meetings, the girls participated in group discussions that tackled tough issues while training for a 5K to be held at the end of the season.

Today, 860 girls in third through eighth grades—and several hundred volunteers throughout Perry, Dauphin and Cumberland counties—participate in the program.

Harrisburg School District students, in particular, have made remarkable progress in a short time. The first Girls on the Run team entered Melrose School in 2014 with teacher volunteers who stayed after long days in the classroom to coach.

Some teachers noticed attendance was spotty at first. Many of the girls left in hopes of finding food they might not get at home, Byerly said. This season, the program provided subs for the girls. Now, with food in their bellies and mentors who continue to be attentive, the program has flourished.

Kere Washington, a fifth-grade teacher at Rowland Academy, recently celebrated her second season as a Girls on the Run coach at her school. About 10 girls participated this spring, bringing with them an enthusiasm and energy that bubbled over as they celebrated their accomplishments during an after-school party.

“I’ve seen how the program allows some of the girls to open up about problems they wouldn’t otherwise discuss,” Washington said. “When we show them how to make strategies for school problems, we’re starting to see them follow through.”

One student who acted out frustrations with physical fights went to a coach when she noticed herself getting upset, Byerly said. Instead of lashing out, the girl sought help and got advice on how to express her frustration with words instead of fists.

Marie Adamu, 10, said she liked how everyone was so nice at Girls on the Run. When her family couldn’t attend the May 5K, Marie’s friends and coaches stepped in to cheer her on.

“I think I did excellent,” Marie said of her first 5K experience. “I was nervous at first, but everyone helped me. It went just how I expected.”

Marie also admits that the program helped her work through her own issues with bullying—both acting out as a bully and handling herself when others bullied her.

Nyara Jones-Lowden, 9, said the program helped her learn how to listen to what other people had to say. The bubbly fourth-grader sometimes gets a little distracted when others are speaking, she confessed. But Girls on the Run helped her learn to focus and respectfully pay attention.

Nyara also learned that goals can be accomplished in many ways as she ran, walked, jogged and skipped her way to the 5K finish line.

As the program grows in popularity, Byerly hopes Girls on the Run can add programs at Downey Elementary and Ben Franklin elementary schools.

“I think, in Harrisburg especially, girls need to have a safe, emotional space where role models can help them overcome challenges,” Byerly said.

While the growth has been an unexpected blessing the past few years, it’s also created challenges for the group. Byerly hopes more community volunteers step in so that teachers don’t always have to run the programs.

She also looks forward to seeing the program come full circle as students transition to high school, allowing former participants to join as junior coaches.

In the near future, Byerly is eagerly anticipating the rollout of the newest Girls on the Run program. Heart and Soul, set to be offered this fall, focuses on helping middle-school girls live out random acts of kindness.

“Many of these girls have voices, and they want to be heard,” Byerly said. “They are of value to their families, their teachers and their communities. That’s a pretty powerful message that we’re not sure they’d hear without Girls on the Run.”

For more information on Capital Area Girls on the Run, visit www.capareagirlsontherun.org.

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