Tag Archives: harrisburg

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.

Yum City: In downtown Harrisburg, happiness is a warm bun.

June 30, 2016 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Over the years, the brick building at the corner of North 2^nd and South streets in Harrisburg has been many things, housing relatively short-lived businesses with names like “Egypt” “Mars” and “Buddha, Buddha.”

This history of impermanence may be daunting to some, but not for Nick Laus, who has started many restaurants in the region. Both Laus and business partner Milan Naramcic are confident that Burger Yum will transform that area into the little corner that could.

The décor consists largely of stainless steel, wood and corrugated metal, giving the establishment a decidedly industrial vibe, and an open kitchen allows customers to witness the caramelization technique that makes a Burger Yum burger so mouthwateringly delicious. The modern, no-frills space accommodates about 32 diners, with room for 20 more at brightly colored outside tables.

When I arrived at midday, customers were filtering in and placing their orders at the register after consulting the large chalkboard near the front that lists menu items. Some sat at a table and waited for to-go orders, while others decided to eat in and stay awhile. Naramcic said that business has been brisk since the grand opening in late May.

Restaurant Row regulars may recognize Naramcic, a former personal trainer, who previously worked for Laus at Level 2 and Café Fresco and now oversees operations at the business.

Naramcic took a seat at one of the tables in front of the restaurant to explain the origins of the concept, raising his voice a bit to compete with the Door’s “Soul Kitchen,” which played in the background.

“Nick has a house in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and there are places like these there which are very successful,” he said. “We were on the lookout for a trend that would work with the area demographic and discovered this one.”

A small, manageable menu, along with high-quality, fresh ingredients, allows the restaurant to turn out a superior product that is never frozen.

“We have no freezer,” Naramcic stressed.

Elyse Brubaker recently dined at Burger Yum and said she could tell that everything she ordered was fresh.

“The food was phenomenal,” said the Camp Hill resident. “The French fries were the best I’ve ever had, and the all-white-meat chicken sandwich was extremely moist and seasoned perfectly. The herb sauce made everything taste awesome.”

Nate Melton joins friends every Thursday at a different restaurant, and the group recently decided to give Burger Yum a try.

“The overall consensus is that we are in love with Burger Yum,” he said. “It was definitely the best chicken sandwich I’ve had in a very long time.”

Naramcic said that Brubaker and Melton aren’t alone in their enthusiasm for the sandwich, which is the second most popular item at the eatery.

Kim Little, who works in Paxtang, recently had the opportunity to try the food when her office made a lunch run.

“I tried the cheeseburger with YumSauce and it was delicious,” she said. “I loved that it was on a potato roll. The name fits!”

Craig Nye concurred.

“I had the regular hamburger with YumSauce, and it was served fresh in a white paper wrapping that made it easy to eat,” he said. “The fries were also very tasty.”

Nye said that Burger Yum reminds him of a Shake Shack he visited in King of Prussia and that he’s glad to have the option in Harrisburg.

“I intend to eat there on a regular basis,” said the Mechanicsburg resident.

In addition to the Burger Yum Classic, the BurgerYum cheeseburger and the Chicken Yum, the restaurant offers an all-day breakfast burger served with yellow American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, a fried egg and caramelized onions. Vegetarians will be pleased to learn that they, too, have an option with the “VeggieYum,” served with grilled portobello mushrooms and topped with goat cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and YumSauce and served on a wheat roll. Diners also can opt for the combination “Two Yum Worlds,” a burger that comes with portobello mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and YumSauce.

Hot dogs are also available, along with a selection of Hershey’s ice cream and shakes. Other beverages include iced tea and soda and, for the adults, a selection of beer and wine.

Naramcic said he’s pleased with the popularity of the place so far and is happy to be at the helm.

“It’s gratifying to see people’s reactions, read the good reviews and hear the positive feedback,” he said. “ I think the quality of the product is so good that everybody loves it.”

Burger Yum is located at 400 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg. To learn more, call 717-727-7127 or visit www.burgeryum.com or their Facebook page.

Access Denied

June 15, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse

Harrisburg can be a contrary place and, during my years here, I’ve seen little agreement on anything.

Until now.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s decision to blackball PennLive/The Patriot-News has not been received well by the public, at least not among the people I know and have spoken with, many of whom have generally supported his policies.

In my conversations with him, Papenfuse has cited several reasons for his antipathy to Harrisburg’s “newspaper of record.” He believes that PennLive engages in sensationalism, that its editors unfairly target him and that the comment section of the website is rife with daily debasements such as childish name-calling, rumormongering and outright lies.

Basically, he believes that PennLive will do almost anything to generate page views, which, with its “digital first” approach to journalism, is how it tries to make money. In an interview yesterday with Dave Marcheskie of abc27 News, Papenfuse said that PennLive was no longer a legitimate news outlet and compared it to the website Gawker, whose tagline is “today’s gossip is tomorrow’s news.”

Many people in the Harrisburg area would agree with at least some of these criticisms. Years ago, when I arrived here, three negatives really struck me: the racial divide, the division between city and suburb and a shared dislike of the Patriot-News, a feeling that seems to have only grown with its transition from a traditional daily newspaper to a digital news outlet.

However, like it or not, PennLive remains this area’s predominant source of news. Despite multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years, PennLive is still unmatched in terms of editorial budget and staff resources. No other media can compete. Not the TV news, not volunteer watchdogs and not TheBurg, which, for all of our progress, has a microscopic budget and staff compared to PennLive. You can argue with how PennLive deploys its substantial resources, but it does dedicate a reporter to Harrisburg, where news is never lacking.

Since Papenfuse decided to ban PennLive, people have speculated what this says about his temperament or means for his re-election prospects. Frankly, those issues concern me less than what it means for an informed citizenry. Yes, a lot of content on PennLive is contrived fluff, engineered to lure people into clicking on this or that. Most Harrisburg stories, though, contain useful and important information as reported by Christine Vendel, who is thorough, fair-minded and exceedingly professional. Her quality of information suffers without input from the mayor, who, in our form of local government, is the single most important source for facts, details, priorities and commentary.

Papenfuse has told me that he believes he’s gone out of his way to accommodate reporters and, in fact, I’ve found him to be quite accessible. I ask him to continue this commitment to openness and availability. In this city, the mayor has an extremely important public role to play, and I don’t believe he can fulfill it without engaging with PennLive’s city reporter. Yes, he may feel slighted, insulted and mistreated; he may believe that PennLive has debased itself with tabloid-style journalism. However, he is the mayor of Harrisburg, and, as such, has a responsibility to keep the people informed, even if he doesn’t like where their news is coming from.

Note: After this blog was posted, Mayor Eric Papenfuse responded as follows:

“An informed citizenry is not well served by the gossip-mongering hate speech that PennLive traffics in with its promotion of anonymous commentary. This is the antithesis of what is good for democracy, as it drives people further apart. I am committed to communicating with the public and believe I can do so effectively without engaging a clicks-for-cash business model that has little interest in the truth or the betterment of our civic culture in Harrisburg.”

Water Music: Summer concerts return to Italian Lake.

May 31, 2016 | by Rachael Dymski

Few things say “summer” more than an outdoor picnic with friends, reclining on lawn chairs as the sun goes down and seeing the fireflies come out.

Add some music, and it’s the perfect evening.

This June, July and August, you can make that perfect summer night a reality at one of the most beautiful spots in Harrisburg, as Harrisburg Young Professionals reprises the Italian Lake Summer Concert Series.

“The arts are a great way to build communities and introduce, or re-introduce, ourselves to music in a beautiful setting,” said Derek Whitesel, HYP’s executive director.

Perfect Backdrop

The concert series is a terrific example of the community coming together to ensure that a beloved tradition lives on.

In 2011, the city, which had run the series for nearly 20 years, decided it no longer could organize the event. So, HYP picked up the torch.

“Harrisburg Young Professionals has been fortunate to have had many tremendous leaders over the years,” says Whitesel. “That was the case in 2011 with Ade Bakare and Rebecca Bush chairing the arts committee. They took the endeavor head-on, and we are happy to say that the committee is as passionate today as they were then.”

HYP invests about $4,000 into the series each year. The group also gets financial or promotional support from a few partners, including M&T Bank, Dixon University Center, Dauphin County and TheBurg.

The series kicks off on June 12 followed by concerts in mid-July and August, each running 6 to 8 p.m. Rachel B., a singer and songwriter based out of Pittsburgh, will go first, featuring selections from her first album, “I’m The Boss,” which dropped earlier this year.

On July 10, Harrisburg’s own The Dirty Sweet will take the stage, entertaining the crowd with a mix of funk, soul and R&B. Andy Mowatt’s Steely Jam (described by HYP as a “funk-driven powerhouse”) will wrap things up on Aug. 14.

The size of the audience typically ranges from 150 to 300 people. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Concerts are weather-dependent, but HYP said it will do its best to reschedule musicians in case of rain, especially those nasty summer thunderstorms. The organization is looking into alternate rain locations for this year.

Italian Lake, located in Uptown Harrisburg, provides the perfect backdrop for a night of music and friendship, especially when fortified with a picnic. This year, swans have been reintroduced to the lake, making it even more picturesque and the experience more special.

When asked how the concert series benefits the community, Whitesel answered that it brings people together and attracts people into the city.

“We see people drive into Harrisburg from all over the region for the concert series, and they, along with the neighbors of the lake, are able to enjoy a wonderful evening together in the city,” he said.

Italian Lake concerts are free of charge. For more information, visit hyp.org.

The Italian Lake Summer Concert Series

June 12: Rachel B.

July 10: The Dirty Sweet

Aug. 14: Andy Mowatt’s Steely Jam

HBG Is I.T.: Urban vibe drives tech corridor in downtown Harrisburg.

May 31, 2016 | by M. Diane McCormick

WorkXpress in Strawberry Square.
Photo by Anela Selkowitz.

With his computer sciences background and leadership experience as a U.S. Army infantry officer in Afghanistan, Kristian Stennett could have worked almost anywhere. But, after interviewing with an international technology firm, he realized he wanted something different—and better.

“I walked in there and saw the cubicles with a couple heads poking up over top, like they were starving for some kind of distraction, so I wasn’t too inclined to go that route,” says Stennett.

The Colonial Park native rejected prairie-dog employment. Instead, he returned home in 2013, becoming a senior developer for WorkXpress, the growing custom software solutions provider located in Strawberry Square.

It’s a scenario that Harrisburg economic development and business officials hope to institutionalize as they cultivate a downtown technology corridor. Promise quality of life and opportunities in technology. Attract talent. Repeat.

The Bug Light

Downtown Harrisburg has the beginnings of that tech corridor, with 16 companies in analytics, IT, life sciences and other fields, says Harristown Enterprises President and CEO Bradley R. Jones.

The credit, he believes, goes to some combination of emerging city stability, “positive new leadership,” the appearance of an urban scene, low business start-up costs, Harrisburg University tech students and spin-off startups—synergies born when technology businesses settle within shouting distance of each other.

Jeffrey M. Briel is a senior sales director for Sigma Resources, one of the corridor’s 16 firms. The Pittsburgh-based IT consulting firm decided on Harrisburg as its “most likely next stop” when expanding, he says. When he set up shop, he immediately engaged in partnerships that support tech businesses and spread the word to millennials and businesses about Harrisburg-based opportunities in technology.

“It’s telling them that we may have a better way of keeping people in Harrisburg, to show the talents that we have here, to show the jobs that we have here,” Briel says. “We’re even showing high school kids that HU might be an avenue for them and merge the whole thing into a giant talent pool to say, ‘You grew up here. You should stay here.’”

Treff LaPlante, Stennett’s boss, is the founder and CEO of WorkXpress. Strawberry Square visitors can see WorkXpress staffers in their glass-walled office, working collaboratively without a cubicle in sight. Like Stennett, about one-third of them walk to work. Customers can easily access the business by train.

Harrisburg’s technology community bonds over shared economic development interest—in contrast to Silicon Valley’s profit-oriented incubation environment, says LaPlante.

“For early-stage startup companies, the resources available and the people available are quite remarkable,” he says.

Tech businesses go where they can find qualified workers, and HU is “the bug light” that’s attracting and developing talent, says Jones. The school that opened its doors to students in 2005 now educates 3,000 enrollees from Harrisburg and around the world, including international graduate students.

Every HU major requires an internship, plus other experiential learning cultivated through business partnerships, so graduates build academic smarts and work-ready skills, says Kelly Powell Logan, vice president for strategic workforce development and university centers.

“All of our majors have the biggest demand and significant shortages,” she says.

Plus, HU’s “solution incubators” known as centers—the Government Technology Institute, Security Center of Excellence and Analytics Institute—attract “many very smart global thinkers” to offer technology seminars and professional development for locals.

“Keep talent here,” says Briel. “That’s one of the things we’re looking at.”

Plenty of Draw

The talent game includes spotlighting Harrisburg’s quality of life advantages, says Jones.

Marketing materials tout new and planned downtown apartments. Harrisburg University GIS students are creating online maps—experiential learning in action—with layers showing the downtown workforce, attractions, restaurants and parking.

“After you’re done spending eight hours building new software products, you throw your kayak over your shoulder and drop it in the river,” says Jones. “All these amenities are right here. You can bike on the Greenbelt. You can go see a professional soccer game or professional baseball game, all within walking distance of your office.”

Stennett, of WorkXpress, embodies Harrisburg livability. There are Harrisburg Senators games, hunting and kayaking with his wife to a debarkation point outside their home. A couple of wineries have even popped up recently.

“Coming back to Harrisburg felt like the best fit,” says Stennett. “It has everything I’m looking for. It’s not built up. It’s not like a huge city. So, it’s not crazy with traveling, but it still has enough that it’s got plenty of draw.”

LaPlante would like to publicize those draws. He says he’d like to see an economic development ad campaign, like the type that Michigan, Ohio and New York “have the gall to come down in our area and advertise.”

“If we had a counteroffensive, people would be surprised to know the things available for early-stage startups,” he says. “We don’t need to win people back from Silicon Valley. There are a whole lot of people who would prefer to raise a family and have a good quality of life.”

Plus, says LaPlante, “companies need to grow here, and they need to stay here.” Attracting the stereotypical startup with dreams of buyout by Apple won’t grow a vibrant technology corridor. After all, jokes the Strawberry Square tenant, Jones “has a lot more square footage he needs us to rent from him.”

“We want to help him out in that regard, but what’s holding us back is people,” LaPlante says. “There is a lot of investment money, but one of the most important things is development of talent.”

The initiative is “on a firm glide path,” says Jones, aligning such partners as Dauphin County, Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, Temple University, Messiah College, Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School and SciTech High.

“We’ve got a lot to sell here,” he says. “We’re just getting warmed up in trying to put this all together in an updated, more cohesive package.”

Stennett, for one, intends to stick around.

“The company’s done pretty well for me so far,” he says. “We have plans on growing in different areas, so I don’t see any reason to move.”

For more information on these companies, visit www.workxpress.com, www.sigma-resources.com and www.strawberrysquare.com.

Capital in Conflict: Civil War Days stresses Harrisburg’s role in the war.

May 31, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Camp Curtin

Harrisburg’s relationship to the Civil War is a complicated one.

The city was targeted, but never invaded. It played a vital role as a logistics and training center, but never saw battle itself. Today, Civil War buffs and tourists flock to Gettysburg, but usually bypass Harrisburg.

This month, the city’s story will be in focus during the first annual Civil War Days, a widespread historic celebration touching on many aspects of Harrisburg’s important place in the war, particularly in the Battle of Gettysburg.

“A National Civil War Museum was built (in Harrisburg) 15 years ago and a lot of people said, ‘Why?’” noted Joe Benish, a member of the event’s organizing committee, noting the need for public education.

The three-day extravaganza overflows with events, including a Civil War narrative cruise on the Susquehanna, a re-enactors’ encampment at the National Civil War Museum and historic site bus tours.

Civil War Days is the brainchild of Gary Crowell, event chairman and a Civil War history enthusiast since relocating to Harrisburg from California in 1969. Although he initially focused his interest on Gettysburg, he eventually realized that Harrisburg, too, played a significant role in the events that led to the battle on July 1 to 3, 1863.

“I found out that (Confederate Gen. Robert E.) Lee came into Harrisburg three days before Gettysburg,” Crowell said. “Then I thought, we should just dedicate a whole weekend about this for the whole community.”

To publicize the events, organizers have coined the slogan, “Before Gettysburg, Lee headed for Harrisburg. So why don’t you?”

Cooper Wingert, already a prolific author of 10 Civil War books at age 17, said it was an easy choice for him to join the gala’s organizing committee that’s comprised of a dozen local Civil War enthusiasts.

“Gary had the best plan ever,” the East Pennsboro High School senior explained.

Wingert, who begins studies this fall at Dickinson College, said Lee’s initial plan before Gettysburg was to burn and cripple Harrisburg, which was the capital of the second-most populous state in the North.

On June 28, 1863, Gen. Richard S. Ewell and 1,500 Confederates were based in Carlisle in anticipation of a Harrisburg attack. On the same day, Gen. Albert Jenkins and 1,200 members of the Virginia Calvary arrived in Mechanicsburg, ready for a fight.

On June 29, Confederates became engaged in battle with the Union militia at Oyster Point at 31^st and Market streets in Camp Hill. The next day, the Skirmish of Sporting Hill occurred at the Carlisle Pike and Sporting Hill Road in Mechanicsburg, the northernmost town to surrender to Gen. Jenkins’ troops.

The South’s next goal was to overtake Fort Washington, a Union fortification site on Lemoyne’s heights, and Fort Couch, situated about a half-mile west. The Confederates, though, were ordered to leave for Gettysburg due to encroaching Northern troops.

“(The Confederates) were only a couple of minutes away from attacking Fort Washington,” Wingert said, which could have marked a Battle of Harrisburg instead of Gettysburg’s famous fight.

Harrisburg also played a notable part in the Underground Railroad, a network that helped slaves escape from the South, Wingert noted. President Abraham Lincoln was no stranger to Harrisburg, either. In 1861, the president-elect was welcomed with a citywide celebration. In 1865, Lincoln’s funeral train stopped in Harrisburg, as well, and his body lay in state at the Capitol building.

Civil War Days kicks off on Friday, June 17, with “Breakfast with Mr. Lincoln” at the Hilton Harrisburg, followed by a historic Harrisburg bus tour, a bus tour of historic Civil War sites on the West Shore and a Civil War narrative cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna.

Friday also offers Civil War dance demonstrations, a Civil War social at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, a Civil War artist and author gathering, and the re-enactor encampment at the National Civil War Museum.

Several panel presentations take place on Saturday, including “Harrisburg’s Black Community,” “Camp Curtin,” “Lee’s Second Invasion of Pennsylvania” and “Abolitionist John Brown—PA and Harrisburg Connections.” A historic Harrisburg walking tour also is available on Saturday, and the re-enactor encampment continues at the museum.

On Sunday, June 19, a Civil War commemorative church service will feature Negro spirituals and other songs of the era, and the re-enactor encampment concludes. A Civil War tour of the historic Harrisburg Cemetery also is available that day.

David Morrison, acting executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association, hopes that the weekend will help people not only understand Civil War-era Harrisburg, but modern-day Harrisburg, as well.

“If people have a stronger understanding of Harrisburg’s history, it leads to a greater understanding of what makes this town tick,” he said.

Civil War Days takes place June 17 to 19 at locations throughout the Harrisburg area. Many events are open to the public at no cost, but some require advance registration and a small fee. More information is available on Facebook: Civil War Days in Harrisburg.

May News Digest

May 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Local Tax Raised
People soon will pay more to work in Harrisburg, as City Council has tripled the local services tax.

By a 5-1 margin, council voted to hike the LST from $1 to $3 per week. Only Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels opposed the measure.

Tax withholding will begin on July 1. However, for 2016, workers will actually pay $5 per week to make up for lost revenue back to the effective date of Jan. 1.

People who work in Harrisburg now will pay a local tax of $156 a year if they earn more than $24,500. Commuters vastly outnumber resident workers in Harrisburg, so the majority of income raised from the tax will come from people who live outside the city.

The LST hike coincided with several other tweaks to Harrisburg’s financial recovery plan. Most notably, the amended plan suggests that the city could consider adopting a Home Rule charter, which would give it more taxing options once it exits the state’s Act 47 program for financially distressed cities. However, council would have to pass another ordinance before initiating the Home Rule process.

Treasurer Resigns
Harrisburg will need to find another new treasurer, as Tyrell Spradley resigned last month after just 18 months in office.

City Council now must determine how to replace Spradley. For past vacancies, council members interviewed applicants, nominated their preferred candidates and chose among the finalists.

The treasurer’s office has been a revolving door since September 2014, when elected Treasurer John Campbell resigned after being charged with stealing money from two nonprofit groups. Two months later, Spradley was appointed, but only after council’s first choice withdrew his name from contention. Spradley was elected in his own right last year.

City treasurer is a part-time position that pays $20,000 per year. Deputy Treasurer Celia Spicher runs the office on a day-to-day basis.

New Archives Building
A new state Archives building soon will take shape on long-empty land along the 6^th Street corridor, the state announced.

The building will occupy a three-acre site along N. 6th Street flanked by Harris and Hamilton streets. The $24 million project will occupy almost three complete city blocks, with half of the site backing to N. 7th Street.

Design is expected to begin soon, followed by a two-year construction phase that should be completed in 2019, said Howard Pollman, director of external affairs for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The commission has been searching for a site for a new building for several years, as the Archives’ current home—a 20-story tower built in the mid-1960s at the Capitol complex—is bursting from more than 450 million documents.

“The building we have here is full,” Pollman said. “We also have issues with environmental concerns.”

The commission will retain and repurpose the tower, perhaps for collection storage, said Pollman.

Reed Counts Dismissed
A judge last month dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, saying the alleged crimes occurred too long ago.

The alleged acts, pertaining to Reed’s tenure as mayor, were outside the statute of limitations, according to presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess.

Hess let stand another 144 counts, mostly pertaining to allegations that Reed stole and kept city-funded artifacts. The state last year confiscated many historical artifacts from Reed’s home and at a nearby storage site, but the former mayor said they legally belonged to him.

The attorney general’s office could appeal the ruling.

Restaurant, Shops for Strawberry Square
A new restaurant and a new gift shop soon will open in downtown Harrisburg, among a flurry of business activity in Strawberry Square.

A 60-seat eatery is slated to open in early fall near the 3rd Street entrance in a long-empty space once occupied by a bank branch. It’s the latest concept of restaurateur Juan Garcia, who owns El Sol and La Noche. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will offer a variety of salads, soups, wraps and other healthy options, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

Inside the Square, Harristown has signed a replacement for Strawberry Patch, the Hallmark store that shut down in January after 35 years in business. By July, owner Shekhar Shah will open Strawberry Gifts, a 4,000-square-foot Hallmark store in the same space as the previous shop, said Jones.

In other retail news, AMMA JO, a fashion and lifestyle boutique, is expanding into space directly next to her original location, said owner Amma Johnson. Johnson will take another 1,200 square feet, extending her product line, as well.

Another specialty retailer, Ideas and Objects, is making an adjustment. Jones said that the long-time retailer will relocate from an interior location to 11 N. 3rd St., a smaller space with street access.

DeHart Deal Approved
The Capital Region Water board of directors has unanimously approved an agreement to conserve its 8,200-acre DeHart property in partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Fort Indiantown Gap.

DeHart, located in northern Dauphin County, is the primary source of drinking water for Capital Region Water’s 60,000-plus customers. The property includes the 5-mile long, 6-billion gallon DeHart Reservoir and 7,500 acres of forestland.

Under the agreement, Capital Region Water will receive approximately $9 million through the Fort Indiantown Gap Army Compatible Use Buffer program to grant a conservation easement restricting development on the property. Capital Region Water will continue to own and manage the property.

Incumbents Victorious
Harrisburg-area officeholders beat back party challengers during the recent primary election.

State Rep. Patty Kim defeated challenger Richard Soto by a wide margin for the Democratic nomination for the 103^rd legislative district. She is unopposed in the general election in November.

In the 104^th district, incumbent Republican Sue Helm topped challenger Nate Curtis. She’ll face Democrat Jody Rebarchak in the general.

In the 15^th Senate district, incumbent Sen. Rob Teplitz easily topped challenger Alvin Q. Taylor. In the general election, he’ll face developer John DiSanto, who narrowly beat Andrew Lewis in the Republican primary.

Home Sales Climb
Homes sales in the Harrisburg area rose substantially in April compared to the year-ago period.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors reported that April sales totaled 739 units in April, compared to 653 units in April 2015 in its region, which includes all of Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median price dipped a bit, from $163,000 to $160,000, though the average days on the market fell substantially, from 99 to 83 days.

County-by-county statistics reflected similar trends, with unit sales up substantially and average time on the market down.

So Noted

Aangan Express opened for business last month at 263 Reily St. in Midtown Harrisburg. The restaurant, located directly across the street from Midtown Cinema, is a second location for Aangan Indian Restaurant of Susquehanna Township.

Better Homes and Gardens Capital Area cut the ribbon last month at its location at 500 N. Progress Ave. The company offers a range of real estate services for the Harrisburg region.

Dalicia Bakery opened its doors last month at 1419 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Owner Samra Alic and her daughter, Ajla, run the bakery, which offers breads, sandwiches and Little Amps coffee, in addition to cakes and other sweet treats.

Eastern University and the Papenfuse administration announced a partnership last month to provide tuition breaks to Harrisburg city workers and their families. Employees will receive a 25-percent discount as well as some free professional development training.

Fasta & Ravioli Co. had a “pasta cutting” last month to open its elaborate new stand in the brick building of the Broad Street Market. To celebrate, owner Bob Ricketts gave away 1,000 pounds of pasta to customers.

Harrisburg Mall last month announced the arrival this summer of two new restaurants. Kondu, serving quick-style Asian cuisine, will take a spot next to 2^nd & Charles, while burger-and-fries franchise Checkers will open in the food court.

Mel’s Rock N’BBQ moved into a permanent home in the Broad Street Market last month. Mel’s had been in a pop-up stand for several months before building out a permanent spot in the stone building.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2525: R. Medellin to T. Brandon, $64,000

Briggs St., 235: J. Bradley to JLS Rentals LLC, $66,000

Calder St., 254: C. Elder to C. Baxter, $93,900

Derry St., 1221: N&R Group LLC & Touch of Color to 101 S. 17^th Street LLC, $250,000

Derry St., 2615: P. Nalewak to S. Mejia, $38,000

Duke St., 2436: A. Miller to D. Moran & M. Everetts, $56,000

Fulton St., 1410: C. Platkin to N. Richardson, $95,000

Fulton St., 1707: J. & C. Thomason to C. Hutchinson, $102,000

Green St., 1610: M. & S. Noorbaksh to A. Calvano, $118,000

Green St., 1619: D. Healey Sr. to M. & L. Stednitz, $101,200

Harris St., 220: E. Brown to D. Grossman, $49,000

Harris Terr., 2483: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to H. Nguyen, $35,000

Herr St., 267: B. Moehler to R. Joseph, $140,000

Hoerner St., 135: J. Gable to Green Property Management LLC, $49,900

Hoffman St., 3012: J. Dearing to D. Gule, $99,900

Logan St., 1712: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to PA Deals LLC, $72,250

Market St., 1913: Fulton Bank NA to Slatehouse Group LLC, $52,000

Market St., 2501A: J. Langley to A. Buglione, $55,000

Mercer St., 2468: PA Deals LLC to MidAtlantic IRA LLC & C. Hampton, $61,900

North St., 274: Mid Penn Bank to A. Gonzalez & L. Galvis, $240,000

N. 2^nd St., 1007: J. & M. Solomon to C. & E. Bryce, $195,000

N. 3^rd St., 1404 and 1409 & 1411 Susquehanna St.: Volunteers of America to Zecharya International Inc., $50,000

N. 3^rd St., 2331: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to F. Laoukili & M. Mtere, $32,000

N. 4^th St., 1623: GWD Capitol Heights LP to T. Menta, $109,900

N. 4^th St., 2715: J. Gilmore to K. Hilborn, $90,000

N. 5^th St., 1821: C. Mitchell & J. Jackson to Home for the Friendless, $71,500

N. 6^th St., 1408: PA Deals LLC to D. Sharma & N. Aggarwal, $103,250

N. 6^th St., 2508, 2512 & 2516: JRH Anthony Partnership & Mr. Handyman of Lincoln Park to Harrisburg Housing Authority, $230,000

N. 13^th St., 142: V. Trong to J. Forsyth LLC, $30,000

N. 17^th St., 1000: S. Osibodu to D. Robinson, $75,000

Park St., 1923: S&H Investment Group LLC to Diamond Mined LLC, $45,000

Penn St., 1801: C. Touma to M. McCann, $112,000

Penn St., 1820: PA Deal LLC to D. Kapil, $122,000

Penn St., 1915: A. Mills to J. Bankard, $136,000

Rudy Rd., 1914: J. Charlton to M. Thach, $66,000

Rumson Dr., 2990: M. Salerno to R. Gonzalez & M. Cabrera, $50,000

S. 16^th St., 1047: W. & E. Turns to W. Zawadski, $50,000

S. 18^th St., 1319: New Island Properties LLC to K. Shemory, $80,000

S. 19^th St., 24: J. Forsyth LLC to B. Zimmerman, $40,500

S. 25^th St., 442: P. Bauer to R. Weese, $94,900

S. Cameron St., 912: Camp Hill Cleaners & Mark Cleaners to New Vision Management, $100,000

S. Front St., 707: D. & G. Dowen to A. Patton, $180,000

State St., 1606: Mid Penn Bank to R. Covington & T. Pean, $35,000

Susquehanna St., 1336: Metro Bank to Frog Hollow Associates LLC, $77,500

Verbeke St., 316: Kidder Wilkes LP to Silver Stone Enterprises LLC, $52,400

Wallace St., 1637 & 1639: J. Shurns to Buonarroti Trust, $118,170

Walnut St., 108, 110 & 112: Vast Holding LLC to E. Etzweiler, $225,000

Run for Your Life

May 26, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Fab Four.

The Papenfuse administration had a little fun the other day.

The mayor, city engineer, city planner and budget director channeled their inner Beatle, posing on one of the new crosswalks along Front Street, mimicking perhaps the most famous road crossing this side of the chicken—the day that John, Paul, George and Ringo traversed Abbey Road for an album cover.

It was a publicity stunt, for sure, but Mayor Eric Papenfuse stressed the importance of the occasion, saying that, with the new crosswalks, busy Front Street was now a little safer for pedestrians to cross.

“State law mandates that cars yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk,” he said.

That may be, but will it make any real difference in the dangerous game of Frogger that residents play each day trying to cross over to Riverfront Park? Not much, I fear.

Now, I fully support the state’s recent improvements to the street. The conversion from three to two lanes has, in my view, made the street safer for motorists, particularly as the wide shoulder has allowed cars to enter the street and turn more safely. Front Street is also far more aesthetically appealing than before, and the change hasn’t much affected the flow of traffic.

But, from my office window overlooking Front Street, have I noticed traffic slowing down closer to the 35-mile-per-hour limit? No. And the new, bright white crosswalks, while welcome, have just become just another mark on the pavement for cars to zip across.

Yesterday, to its credit, the city erected two temporary signs in Riverfront Park warning motorists to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. This type of public education is vital since few drivers seem to know their responsibility under the law. However, it’s hardly enough. If PennDOT is serious about pedestrian safety, it must go beyond painting some white lines on the road and must take additional measures to calm traffic along the two-mile stretch from Division to Forster streets.

These methods are well known to traffic engineers, but may include everything from raised pedestrian crossings to permanent signage to a new stoplight or two. Many cities have had success combining several methods, such as changing the surface material at crossings and installing flexible signs within the intersection. The state, in fact, already employs some of these methods around the Capitol complex.

Moreover, I long have advocated for more (or even some) enforcement of traffic laws along Front Street. Police could pick off motorists all day for excessive speeding (over 50, 60 mph easily), reckless driving and illegal turns. Just yesterday, I saw a driver wait for a gap in traffic, then purposely turn the wrong way up Front Street from the driveway of an apartment building because he wanted to enter a side street half a block up, in the other direction. And it wasn’t the first time I’d seen that.

On Monday, I knew the mayor and his cabinet officials had arrived for the photo op because a city police car had parked near the intersection where it was to take place. When the time came for the picture, an officer waited for a small break in traffic, then cautiously waded into the road to stop the next rush of cars. She then held up traffic for a minute so the photo could be taken.

“Without her, the city would have four fewer officials today,” I joked to city engineer Wayne Martin.

And, even with the new crosswalks, that about sums up the state of pedestrian safety along Front Street. If the state is truly interested in making the road easier to cross, it must implement additional safety measures, which, as a happy byproduct, would further integrate the street and the park with the city.

This story was modified to indicate that the city installed the temporary signage.

Judge Dismisses 300+ Counts Against Long-Time Mayor Steve Reed

May 16, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed speaks last July after announcement of charges against him.

A judge today dismissed 305 counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, saying the alleged crimes occurred too long ago.

The alleged acts, pertaining to Reed’s tenure as mayor, were committed beyond the statute of limitations, according to presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess.

In his decision, Hess said that counts needed to have been brought against Reed either two or five years following the alleged offenses, depending on the allegation.

The offenses alleged by the attorney general took place between September 2003 and January 2010. Reed was charged in July 2015, about six months after the deadline for the latest-possible counts.

The dismissed counts include some of the most serious claims against the former mayor, including bribery and corruption allegations.

Hess also said that a law that extends the statute of limitations to 13 years for public officials did not apply in this case, since prosecution would have needed to start within five years of Reed leaving office. He left in January 2010 after serving as Harrisburg mayor for 28 years.

Hess let stand another 144 counts, mostly pertaining to allegations that Reed stole and kept city-bought artifacts. The state last year confiscated numerous historical artifacts found in Reed’s home and at a nearby storage site, but the former mayor has insisted that they legally belong to him.

“Whether the evidence as ultimately presented will support convictions for theft by receiving stolen property is for a jury to determine,” Hess wrote.

Reed had an ambition of building a series of museums in Harrisburg, including a “Museum of the Old West,” spending millions of dollars of public money to buy artifacts for them. Many of the artifacts taken from Reed’s home and storage facility were western in nature, including statues, clothing, saddles and Indian headdresses.

Last July, Attorney General Kathleen Kane charged Reed with 499 criminal counts covering 17 separate felony and misdemeanor charges. Several counts were later dropped or combined, so that about one-quarter now remain from the original grand jury presentment.

The attorney general’s office has the option of appealing Hess’ ruling.

Holding Cost

April 29, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

The very expensive, very empty federal courthouse site at 6th and Reily streets in Harrisburg.

How much would you pay for a piece of empty land in Harrisburg?

Not much, I’m sure.

Most plots here don’t cost much, and a few Uptown and on Allison Hill have even sold recently at tax sale for a few hundred bucks. In many areas of Harrisburg, you can get one with an actual house on it for $20,000 or $30,000.

A quadruple lot, with an old building on it, just sold in the heart of Midtown’s commercial district for $50,000.

Then there’s the radical exception.

There’s a large chunk of land—you may be familiar with it—with a ever-escalating price that now stands at around $55 million. It’s where someday, maybe, a new federal courthouse for Harrisburg will stand.

To clarify–only a portion of the first round of $26 million in federal funds was used to acquire and clear the land at N. 6^th and Reily streets. Some was used for other purposes, such as for studies and design. The U.S. General Services Administration now is asking congressional approval for another $29.5 million.

This amount, though, still won’t yield an actual building, but just more study. So, if Congress approves the use, $55 million will be spent without raising a single board, without driving in a single nail, for a building that, best case, is five to 10 years away from judge and jury.

To put this into some perspective, Pennsylvania just announced a new state Archives building of a similar size, occupying about the same amount of land, directly across the street from the courthouse site. The total cost: $24 million, meaning an entire government building will be built for less than half the price that the feds plan to spend on studies, preparation and land.

I admit this is an imprecise comparison. The courthouse has certain needs, such as for security, which raise the cost of the project, even in the design phase. The Archives, though, has its own exacting criteria that make it more expensive to plan and construct than your average office building.

Recently, I visited the courthouse site, a grassy expanse with an imposing sign, now several years old, announcing the project. Squirrels scampered about, and, looking around the site, I could see traffic and a few blighted buildings and more emptiness beyond.

At one time, rowhouses, corner stores and bars lined these blocks, serving a working-class community of hard-living railroad men and their families. After the buildings fell apart and were razed, much of the land was used for parking, as well as for a fast food restaurant that later became a drop-off point for donations to the Bethesda Mission across the street.

What a strange fate, I thought. Fifty-five million dollars could buy some of the grandest palaces in the world, from the Hollywood Hills to Paris. But, apparently, it’s also the price of a grassy field, bees picking at the dandelions, birds pecking the ground, of a hard-luck corner on a busy street across from a gas station and a homeless shelter in Harrisburg, Pa.

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