Tag Archives: harrisburg

February News Digest

February 27, 2015 | by Admin

Mayor OKs Verizon Workout

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month signed off on an agreement to help the city avoid default on a $41.6 million bond tied to the so-called Verizon Tower—but did so reluctantly.

In 770-word open letter, Papenfuse blasted aspects of the deal with Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (AGM), attacking the amount of the city’s obligations under the agreement and saying that the state had pressured him to sign off on it.

However, not agreeing to the deal, which was approved by City Council in late January, would have been worse, he said.

The deal is the culmination of two years of negotiations to resolve an outstanding debt burden from a city-backed borrowing in 1998.

That year, the city sold three office towers in Strawberry Square to the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, guaranteeing the bonds issued to finance the $24 million purchase.

One of the buildings, constituting about $7 million of the original debt, was secured by rent from Verizon, the primary tenant. However, no payments would have to be made on that bond until 2016, at which time the $7 million debt would balloon to $41.6 million. Furthermore, Verizon was set to depart the building in 2016.

Beyond tenant payments, the only security for the bonds was city tax revenues, meaning that the empty office building would leave Harrisburg on the hook for the full principal and interest on the original debt, totaling $41.6 million.

In September, the state Department of General Services agreed to a 17-year lease that will pay off a portion of the city’s obligation each year, for a total of around $11 million through 2033.

The settlement agreement the mayor signed off on helped clear the way for a $16 million retrofit of the building, which the state required as a condition of its lease.

City Fights Gun Suits

Harrisburg went to court last month to fight two lawsuits challenging the city’s gun control laws.

The city filed three motions in the Court of Common Pleas to battle two lawsuits filed in January by the McShane Law Firm. The motions seek to delay the lawsuits and disqualify McShane from the suit.

Those lawsuits were prompted by a recent state law passed last year that grants gun-rights membership groups standing to sue local governments over their firearms regulations.

As a result, many cities and towns have repealed their gun ordinances. Several others, however, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Harrisburg, have decided to fight back.

Harrisburg also established a “Protect Harrisburg” legal defense fund to help the city cope with the expense of the lawsuits. To contribute, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov/protectharrisburg.

Gaming Money Awarded

Dauphin County commissioners last month doled out $6.4 million in annual gaming grants for projects throughout the county.

Locally, grants included:

Harrisburg, $200,000 for four K9 patrol vehicles
Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, $120,000 for facility improvements
Swatara Township, $309,000 for a fire engine and other projects
Steelton, $70,866 for fire station repairs and to retire fire engine debt
Susquehanna Township, $202,000 for a pedestrian safety project and Vietnam Veterans memorial
Dauphin County Library System, $75,000 for HVAC improvements
Susquehanna Art Museum, $70,000 for a museum facility project
Gamut Theatre, $50,000 for renovation of its new facility (match required)
PA National Fire Museum, $50,000 for property acquisition
Camp Curtin YMCA, $75,000 for property improvements and sinkhole repair
Harrisburg River Rescue, $45,216 for facility improvements
Boys & Girls Club, $80,000 for facility expansion (match required)
Harrisburg Young Professionals, $75,000 for Market Square improvement project (match required)
Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, $50,000 for security improvements

The grants originate from revenue generated by Hollywood Casino slot machines.

Mulder Square Proposed

Harrisburg has applied for a state grant to help revitalize a large swath of Allison Hill, an area the city is calling “Mulder Square.”

The Papenfuse administration last month submitted an application for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant totaling $6.5 million. If received, the money would pay for a wide variety of projects, such as streetscape improvements, blight removal and redevelopment, said the city.

The term “Mulder” was developed by combining Mulberry and Derry, two of the principal streets in the targeted area.

Uber Launches in Harrisburg

Got a car? Then you might be able to go into business for yourself, as the Uber ride-sharing service launched last month in Harrisburg.

Company General Manager Jennifer Krusius joined Mayor Eric Papenfuse to announce the arrival of Uber, which uses a smartphone application to link drivers and riders.

The cost to use the service is a $2 base fare, then $1.75 per mile and 25 cents per minute.

Harrisburg is at the center of the area’s Uber territory, which runs west-to-east in a peanut-shaped design that goes from the western Carlisle suburbs in Cumberland County to Palmyra in Lebanon County.

Besides Harrisburg, the territory includes such places as Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Linglestown, Hummelstown and Hershey.

HUD Hearings Set

Harrisburg will hold three hearings this month to get public input to help develop a plan for the annual distribution of federal housing funds.

The first will take place March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Harrisburg school district headquarters, 1601 State St. The second will be held on March 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, 1824 N. 4^th St., and the third will be on March 19 at 11:30 a.m. at HACC Midtown 2, 1500 N. 3^rd St.

The city expects to receive nearly $2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; $481,295 in Home Investment Partnerships money; and $160,887 in Emergency Solutions Grants funding.

TRAN Passed

Harrisburg City Council has approved a tax and revenue anticipation note (TRAN) in the amount of $4.5 million.

A TRAN is a form of short-term borrowing that municipalities often issue to cover lean revenue periods, allowing the city to pay its bills in the event of a cash shortfall until property taxes and revenues begin to roll in. In Harrisburg, for instance, cash flow often is weak until late March, when people begin to pay their city property taxes.

The TRAN will cost the city a $1,500 legal fee, but no commitment fee.

Last year, the council authorized a $2 million TRAN with a $10,000 commitment fee and a $5,000 legal fee. Ultimately, the city did not draw on the TRAN at all.

Riviera Razed

The city last month demolished the Riviera Hotel, a dilapidated bar and rooming house at the corner of 6^th and Kelker that rapidly deteriorated after a 2010 fire and recent series of collapses.

Dave Patton, codes administrator for the city, said the demolition work was bid out to Swatara Township-based Arney Brothers, Inc., for $24,549.

Patton also said the owners of the Riviera, Marion and Diana Nicklow of Hershey, have agreed in court to a plan to pay back the city for demolition costs.

The demolition concludes a troubled run for the century-plus-old Riviera, a three-story yellow brick building with faded, blue-gray paint on the window trim and the first-floor façade.

County property records show that the Nicklows purchased the building in March 1999 for $80,000. They filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 after defaulting on a business line of credit for the Riviera and a mortgage on a separate property, according to court records.

The building was condemned in May 2010 following a fire, Patton said. Nonetheless, Patton said he recently discovered a homeless man living on the second floor, who had gained access via a fire escape.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2110: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development et al to D. Murphy, $43,200

Chestnut St., 1722: M&T Bank to J. Palmer, $47,000

Derry St., 2426: J. Fleck to S. Rimal, $32,000

Fulton St., 1715: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Michaelson Connor & Boul to J. Leh, $60,000

Green St., 920: P. Wambach to C. Korinda, $126,000

Green St., 2015: WCI Partners LP to J. Blouch, $205,900

Green St., 2932: R. & E. Schwab to J.A. Hartzler, $65,000

Hale Ave., 421: R. Consoli to K. Nguyen & N. Ho, $69,900

Holly St., 1915: H. & K. Bey to E. & C. Smith, $73,000

Howard St., 1354: F. & L. String to NF String & Sons, $40,000

Industrial Rd., 4230: J. Niebauer Jr. to Cottage Real Estate LLC, $2,175,000

Luce St., 2365: R. & K. Stouffer to T. Nguyen & T. Mai, $37,500

Penn St., 1419: M. Rudy & M. English to N. Myers, $135,500

Reily St., 227: K. Kuss to R. Mundy, $166,000

Rolleston St., 1025: F. & E. Wonders to M. Jimenez & G. Abreu

Rose St., 925: S. & C. Hahn to D. Niles, $67,000

N. 2^nd St., 2229: Aurora Loan Services LLC to P. & C. Ambrose, $32,500

N. 3^rd St., 1219: C. Carson et al to T. Kelley, $70,000

N. 5^th St., 3006: J. Hudock Jr. to C. Stockard, $66,000

N. 17^th St., 98: Willow LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $40,000

N. 18^th St., 911; 1644 Market St.; 629 Wiconisco St.; 2040 N. 4^th St.; 327 Peffer St.; 1831 Boas St.: Shokes Enterprises to JDP 2014 LLP, $433,000

Reily St., 227: K. Kuss to R. Mundy, $166,000

S. 13^th St., 932: South 13^th Street Properties LLC to Agree Limited Partnership, $1,783,000

S. 24^th St., 706: B. & C. Shadle to M. Cornelius, $38,000

S. 25^th St., 430: J. Wright to C. Munoz, $83,900

Verbeke St., 234: Centric Bank to J. Dixon, $120,000

Vineyard Rd., 218: R. & B. Seaton to S. & J. Clark, $199,000

Waldo St., 2641: P. Proctor to S. Clark, $30,000

Park Ways

February 26, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

A Harrisburg resident addresses the Parking Advisory Board at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We hear you.”

Park Harrisburg made that its takeaway during Tuesday night’s annual meeting of the Parking Advisory Board.

It heard the public’s complaints and might be willing to make some adjustments in how it operates. Maybe. Possibly.

Since taking over the city’s parking system a year ago, Park Harrisburg officials have been largely invisible to both the public and the press. With the exception of this once-a-year gathering, the system’s face has been its yellow-jacketed foot soldiers, whose job is to dole out tickets, take payment and shield higher-ups from the wrath of the parking public.

So, in the meeting room of the Crowne Plaza, people got a rare glimpse of the folks who actually run Harrisburg’s parking system. It was not an impressive showing.

Several Park Harrisburg people spoke, as briefly and quietly as possible, so softly that an audience member had to ask them to please speak up. They gave a quick overview of last year’s mediocre financial results–blamed mostly on lingering bad weather and a slow rollout–and said they hoped to do better this year.

From the start, Park Harrisburg struck a defensive tone. Responding, for instance, to recent news reports, officials came armed with statistics about the rate of erroneous tickets. Of 60,000 parkers in January, 5,358 tickets were written, with only 143 dismissed due to error, mostly because of a modem problem, they said.

The most substantial commentary may have come from John Gass, director of parking system manager Trimont, who related a story about how a business owner had thanked him because the new system had freed up parking spots near his restaurant.

The entire summary took maybe 45 minutes.

This is what I heard: Don’t expect much. Park Harrisburg seemed willing to make some tweaks, but, for the most part, the system is set in stone, the result of a complicated agreement between the city, the state, the Parking Authority, bond insurer AGM, the city’s creditors and the system operator. It simply would be too difficult to change, especially if revenue projections would fall as a result.

As Steve Goldfield, the state receiver’s financial advisor, said that night: Without the parking deal, the city would be sunk, as about 40 percent of its annual budget would go to pay debt service.

Ultimately, that’s how we arrived at this place on that night. In the unusual, complex financial recovery plan, the receiver and his team had tried to squeeze every dime out of the system. Parking was a way to “democratize” the debt payback, to have non-residents contribute to the solution of decades of overspending by the city government, said Goldfield.

Perhaps most people have already adjusted to this reality. Entering the Crowne Plaza, I expected torches and pitchforks, based upon what folks have said to me, as well as the relentless negative press that the issue has received. What I witnessed, though, was pretty mild stuff–a half-filled room, a smattering of public complaints.

Just a handful of residents spoke during the public portion, mostly about aggressive enforcement on street-cleaning days, and only one restaurant worker complained about reduced business. Councilman Ben Allatt pleaded for reduced rates, but he was the only elected official who spoke. City Council President Wanda Williams, who sits on the advisory board, didn’t say a word, nor did Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who was in the audience.

Several public complaints were very specific and unique: a pastor wanted exceptions for funeral parking; a SciTech parent wanted free parking while visiting the downtown school during the day; a guy tried to pay his ticket in nickels and pennies, but was turned away.

The whole thing lasted less than 90 minutes, concluding with a brief statement by Gass that he heard the complaints and hopes to make improvements to the system. Specifically, Park Harrisburg would study reducing parking rates in the River Street Garage during lunchtime, happy hour and Saturdays, though no promises were made.*

Afterwards, I exited the hotel into the frigid February air. My wife picked me up out front, and we drove down 2nd Street to the Federal Taphouse for a bite to eat. Leaving the car, I instinctively went over to the parking meter.

“It’s 7:30,” she said, motioning me towards the front door, as enforcement had ended for the day.

“Oh, right,” I said, laughing that I had made such a mistake immediately after leaving a meeting about parking.

Then I thought: Well, those Park Harrisburg guys were right about one thing. There was a spot right in front of the restaurant.

*Update: City officials yesterday met with Park Harrisburg to review several “revenue-neutral” proposals, which might include reducing rates from 5 to 7 p.m.

Judge Suspends City Gun Laws

February 26, 2015 | by Paul Barker and Lawrance Binda

Attorney and plaintiff Justin McShane.

A Dauphin County judge has ordered Harrisburg to stop enforcing three of its gun-control ordinances, while leaving two others in force.

Judge Andrew H. Dowling, in a 12-page opinion Wednesday morning, found that the three ordinances—prohibiting gun possession in a park, by a minor and in a mayor-declared state of emergency—violate the state’s Uniform Firearms Act, which preempts certain local government ordinances regulating firearms.

The act forbids municipalities from regulating the “lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation” of guns and ammunition for purposes that are not considered illegal under state law.

Two other city ordinances, requiring owners to report the loss or theft of guns and prohibiting the discharge of guns within city limits, do not overstep the bounds of state regulations and can therefore remain on the books, Dowling wrote.

The order partly granted and partly denied a request for a preliminary injunction by the plaintiffs in the case, the gun-rights organization U.S. Law Shield and two of its members. Under a preliminary injunction, which is an extraordinary measure issued prior to a final determination, a judge finds that plaintiffs have a right to relief from a present harm and that they will be ultimately likely to prevail.

Dowling’s order is the latest development in one of two lawsuits filed against the city this year, after the passage last fall of a state law granting standing to membership groups to sue municipalities over their gun-control ordinances.

Under pressure, a number of cities and towns repealed their ordinances, but several others, including Harrisburg, decided to fight back.

U.S. Law Shield, whose mission, according to its website, is “preserving 2nd Amendment rights for all legal gun owners in our country and ensuring legal representation” for its members, filed its complaint against the city on Jan. 13.

Another group, Firearm Owners Against Crime, filed a complaint Jan. 16. That suit, which raised a question regarding owners’ rights under the U.S. Constitution, was removed to a federal court last week.

Both suits were brought on behalf of the groups as well as certain of their members, some of whom are Harrisburg residents and some who are not.

Harrisburg also argued that Act 192, last year’s state law amending the Firearms Code, was unconstitutional. Dowling declined to rule on this issue, saying constitutional questions are the purview of the Commonwealth Court.

The city had additionally asked Dowling to stay the proceedings until a decision was reached in a complaint filed by three other Pennsylvania cities—Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh—challenging the law’s constitutionality.

Dowling declined to do so, however, saying the “timing and effect” of a Commonwealth Court decision was “uncertain.” The state preemption clause, and not the constitutionality of Act 192, was at issue in the present case, he added.

On Wednesday afternoon, attorneys with the McShane Firm, the law firm representing U.S. Law Shield, celebrated the ruling at a press conference at the firm’s Susquehanna Twp. offices.

Justin McShane, an attorney as well as a U.S. Law Shield member and individual plaintiff in the suit, called the ruling a “great victory” and urged Harrisburg officials to stop spending money on a “dead loser” of a lawsuit.

McShane said his firm’s legal fees, which Act 192 would oblige the city to repay, are “approaching six figures.” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse should “simply wake up” and “stop being Don Quixote,” he added.

Papenfuse, reached Wednesday afternoon, declined to give detailed comments on Dowling’s opinion, saying he had been preoccupied with a long meeting about parking enforcement and had not yet had time to review it thoroughly.

He did say, however, that he believed Act 192 would be found unconstitutional, and added he was “disappointed” in Dowling’s decision not to stay the proceedings until the Commonwealth Court had a chance to rule on the law.

Other aspects of the ruling, such as the leaving in place of the reporting and discharge ordinances, he said he found “encouraging,” however.

Asked about the state’s preemption clause, Papenfuse referred to separate laws and rulings empowering the city to place “reasonable regulations” on gun use as well as to take actions “protecting the public health and safety.”

McShane, however, described the ordinances as ineffective “feel-good laws” that had no meaningful impact on the use of firearms by criminals.

Dowling expressed a similar view in his ruling, arguing that, while Harrisburg’s laws date back decades, it “would be difficult to argue with any degree of conviction that gun violence within the City of Harrisburg has decreased during that time.”

Dowling then suggested that the city might more effectively use community policing to fight gun violence and that such violence has societal causes that Harrisburg may not be able to combat.

“Instead, gun violence is associated with a confluence of many risk factors including mental health, decline in parenting and values, violence depicted in movies and other sociocultural factors,” he wrote.

To read Judge Dowling’s order, click: Judge Dowling Ruling, Feb. 25, 2015.

This story has been updated with an additional information explaining that the judge’s ruling is a preliminary injunction and not a final determination, as well as an additional quote from Mayor Papenfuse.

Harrisburg Gets a Lift as Uber Launches in City

January 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Surrounded by media, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse gets set to take the first ride in our area in an Uber car.

Got a car?

Then you might be able to go into business for yourself, as the Uber ride-sharing service launches later today in Harrisburg.

Company General Manager Jennifer Krusius joined Mayor Eric Papenfuse to announce the arrival of Uber, which uses a smartphone application to link drivers and riders. The service goes live at 5 p.m.

Papenfuse touted Uber’s “ease of use” for riders, as well as the opportunity for drivers to earn extra income. He then took the ceremonial first Uber ride.

The cost to use the service is a $2 base fare, then $1.75 per mile and 25 cents per minute. Anyone who signs up for Uber will receive two free rides valued at up to $25 each, said Krusius.

Harrisburg is at the center of this area’s Uber territory, which runs west-to-east in a peanut-shaped design that goes from the western Carlisle suburbs in Cumberland County to Palmyra in Lebanon County. Besides Harrisburg, the territory includes such places as Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Linglestown, Hummelstown and Hershey.

The state has approved a two-year license for Uber, which began in a few large American cities before extending service to smaller metropolitan areas and even foreign countries. Some people believe that Uber threatens the long-established taxi industry, which, unlike Uber, is heavily regulated by government.

To find out more about Uber, including how to use the app and become a driver, visit the company’s website.

Senior writer Paul Barker contributed to this story.

A Victorian Valentine: A step back in time, a short drive away.

January 30, 2015 | by Don Helin

Harrisburg is an incredible place to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The mood is just right at romantic restaurants like Char’s, Mangia Qui and note.; at a bed and breakfast like City House; while huddling with your sweetie in Riverfront Park as the moon sparkles off the icy Susquehanna River.

But maybe you’ve done Valentine’s Day in the city before, or maybe you’d just like to get out of town for a night. Fortunately, there are places nearby that may fit your desires, each evocative of Victorian-era romance and just a short drive from Harrisburg.

Tea for Two

Looking for a romantic way to begin your Valentine’s Day weekend? Then be sure to stop by Sweet Remembrances Tea Room, located in an artfully restored post-Civil War era red brick row home in historic downtown Mechanicsburg, just 15 minutes west of Harrisburg.

“We opened the tea room to complement Rosemary House, the herb and spice shop that my mother, Bertha Reppert, started in 1968,” said owner Nancy Reppert.

Presently, Nancy’s sister, Susanna, owns and operates the Rosemary House where, in addition to herbs and spices, she sells the wide variety of loose leaf teas they serve in the tea room, along with related tea accouterments.

“We work closely together,” Nancy explained, “and our customers enjoy the personal touch of our combined businesses. It’s not uncommon to find Susanna pouring tea in Sweet Remembrances Tea Room or me helping out in the Rosemary House.”

Afternoon teas are scheduled on Wednesdays throughout the year and on the first Saturday of the month. Nancy also offers a wide variety of unique events throughout the year, such as themed teas, guest speakers, herbal workshops and bus trips.

Valentine’s Day will be a special time at the tea room this year.

On Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m., Nancy will host a special afternoon tea for guests to celebrate friendships or to provide a serene location for the romantic couple.

“The menu is special,” Nancy said. “We’ll feature hearts and roses galore with heart-shaped sandwiches, rosy red foods, our famous fresh-from-the-oven English cream scones, and of course, chocolate.”

Advance reservations are encouraged for the $35-per-person special tea, so plan early.

During my visit, I especially enjoyed the French caramel crème brulee and found it fun to sit, relax, sip tea and nibble on sandwiches, scones and sweets.

I found something for every tea lover on the menu: 13 different kinds of black teas and 18 flavored teas, along with a number of herbal teas. According to Nancy, the most popular flavored tea is the Blue Lady tea, composed of coconut, strawberry and kiwi, a fruity delight just perfect for Valentine’s Day.

House of Love

Following tea, it’s time to get dressed for a romantic dinner. Outside of Harrisburg, it’s hard to beat Alfred’s Victorian, a restaurant nestled within the historic Raymond-Young Mansion in Middletown, the interior all gussied up in high Victorian décor.

“I call Alfred’s Victorian the ‘House of Love,’” said manager Jill Seltzer. “So many couples come to us to celebrate an anniversary of dating or their marriage anniversary or simply to enjoy a romantic dinner.”

Many bed and breakfasts in the local area send their guests who are on a romantic weekend to dine at Alfred’s Victorian during their stay, said Seltzer.

Valentine’s Day is a special event at Alfred’s Victorian, and the restaurant takes reservations a year in advance. The Victorian mansion, built in 1888, is covered inside, top to bottom, with hearts, lace, red, pink and cupid pops.

“We celebrate all weekend and into the next weekend trying to accommodate the many couples wanting to come out and visit,” Seltzer said.

The restaurant, in fact, offers a special discounted menu the weekend after Valentine’s Day.

The menu for Valentine’s weekend includes such holiday-themed items as “You’re My Valentine Salad,” “Seafood Passion Papillote” and a special Valentine’s cheesecake. The wine list will feature an additional Champagne and prosecco ready for your “toast of love.”

Gold Rush

A bit farther to the east, the General Sutter Inn occupies a prime downtown spot in the quaint town of Lititz. In 1776, this Moravian settlement was named for the Bohemian town of Lidice where, in 1756, the followers of John Hus formed the Moravian Church.

In 1930, the name of the inn on the square was changed to the General Sutter to honor John Augustus Sutter, a California gold rush pioneer who lived his last seven years in Lititz and is buried in the Moravian Cemetery.

“This inn has been in the hospitality business since 1764,” said Joseph Cilluffo, the inn’s general manager. “I take great pride in our multi-concept restaurants, including the Bulls Head Public House room, which is a traditional English pub, and our more elegant white tablecloth dining room, perfect for any special occasion.”

The inn has two floors of rooms, the second floor Victorian in style and the third floor modeled in modern decor. On Saturdays, the inn offers a special English breakfast in the pub. The inn also serves a complimentary continental breakfast each morning for guests in the bed and breakfast.

“Each year, we feature a speciala la carte menu in our dining room for Valentine’s Day,” Cilluffo explained, “but we still offer our traditional fare in the pub. My favorite menu items are the chicken leak pie and the filet dinner. Everything on our menu is made from scratch. Our purpose is to give each and every one of our guests a warm memory of their visit, an overall sense of home.”

Special House

On the other side of Harrisburg, the stone Cochran-Anspach Mansion in Millerstown will host a special Valentine’s Day dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 13 and 14.

“The dinners will be catered by Rocco’s Restaurant in Harrisburg,” organizer Curt Black explained. “Our dinners are designed for couples, or groups of four in an intimate setting.”

The circa-1821 mansion is not technically Victorian, but later remodeling has left Victorian touches, such as the entryway lighting, and the overall elegance of the house offers an early indication of the decorative era to come.

The mansion was built by Thomas Cochran, one of the first settlers in Millerstown.

“Cochran owned vast land holdings in Pennsylvania and Missouri,” said Dennis Hocker, president of the Perry County Historical Society. “The son of his granddaughter, Anna Kaufman Anspach, willed the home to the Perry County Historical Society in 1981.”

As you enter, you’ll see this is a special house. The front door is enhanced with a graceful double arch of six panes overhead and leads to a spacious central hall with a suspended stairway. There are four large rooms downstairs, each with a handsome fireplace, and, upstairs, four more rooms. An herb and flower garden is located on either side of the patio in the back of the house.

So, there’s a plan: four Victorian-inspired celebrations, each less than an hour’s drive from Harrisburg. Make your reservations early and enjoy the most romantic day of the calendar with that special someone.

GOING THERE

Nancy Reppert’s Sweet Remembrances Tea Room
118 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg
www.sweetremembrancestearoom.com or 717-697-5785

Alfred’s Victorian
38 N. Union St., Middletown
www.alfredsvictorian.com or 717-944-5373

General Sutter Inn
14 E. Main St., Lititz
www.generalsutterinn.com or 717-626-2115

Cochran–Anspach Mansion
18 N. Market St., Millerstown
Call Curt Black at 717-589-3598.

Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His recently published novel, “Devil’s Den,” has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was published in November. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com.

Great Coffee Is Elementary: Harrisburg’s coffee culture revs it up at the Broad Street Market.

January 30, 2015 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Andrea Musselman recalls her first sip of coffee at the age of 8.

The family had stopped at a convenience store while on a trip, and her dad bought a cup and passed it around.

“It was that disgusting, artificially sweet cappuccino, and I finished it all. I was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the night,” she said with a chuckle.

As she grew older, her tastes became more refined, and her quest for the perfect cup intensified. When she left home to attend college, she began brewing coffee in her dorm room.

As she recalls her relationship with her favorite libation, her eyes light up.

“I love everything about it—the packaging, the warm mugs, the taste, the smell, just everything,” said Musselman.

After graduation, the Harrisburg resident pursued her passion by joining the team at St. Thomas Roasters in Linglestown.

“They created a position for me, so that was exciting because they never taught anyone to roast there before,” she said.

The businesswoman spent three years honing her craft at the small coffee shop before deciding that it was time to spread her wings. She crafted a business plan and chose the Broad Street Market as her base of operations for her new company, Elementary Coffee.

“I wanted to do something for myself—interacting with people and promoting my product. Ashlee Dugan took over as the new [market] manager in June, and she is re-envisioning the market and bringing in new vendors. I think it’s a low-risk venture that is community-oriented, and it’s a great way to meet a variety of people,” she said.

Today, Musselman continues her relationship with St. Thomas Roasters, using their beans and roasting them according to her own style. “I am testing out some milder blends at the moment and, as I build up more interest, I want to start purchasing my own beans, working with the wholesaler,” she said.

For brewing, Musselman uses a Chemex Coffee Maker developed by chemist Peter J. Schlumbohm in 1941.

“It’s an individual pour-over method that’s all about control. It’s going back to basics where coffee is presented in a very manual form,” said Musselman, who eschews automatic drip coffeemakers, which she says produce a substandard product resulting in a flatter, sometimes bitter and less full-bodied flavor.

Each week, Musselman features three different coffees from regions around the world.

“I like African coffees and typically try to feature one from South America, Africa and Indonesia,” she said.

She also offers her own creation—a latte-based coffee flavored with cardamom and maple syrup called “Abacas.”

“It’s like a latte version of Turkish coffee, and it’s gaining in popularity, which is exciting because it’s something I developed,” she said.

Musselman prefers to keep it simple, hence the name Elementary, so there aren’t many food offerings at her stand. “I prefer to focus on the coffee,” she said.

But, for those seeking a little treat to pair with their java, she offers the artisanal chocolate of Frederic Loraschi. Based in Hummelstown, Loraschi has been wowing customers with his high-end chocolate creations for years and has created a mocha mix that Musselman uses for her hot chocolate.

“I was looking for a good mocha powder and found he had a hot chocolate mix that’s amazingly rich and decadent,” she said.

And, for those in the mood for something just a little different, Musselman offers Stroopwafels, too. Stroopwafels, or “Stroopies,” hail from the Netherlands, and the round waffles with the caramel center fit nicely atop a steaming hot mug.

“I found this place in Lancaster that makes them,” said Musselman, who grills the gluten-free treats onsite.

Musselman is expanding her business by partnering with Harrisburg resident Brad Moyer, a brewer at Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy. He, along with his assistant, Steve Nott of Linglestown, searched for a local roaster and were impressed with Musselman’s expertise. They shared their techniques, joining together for the perfect pairing.

“When we started, we were putting the coffee beans in the beer and letting them soak for a week or so. Andrea came up with a better way. She suggested that we cold brew the coffee, filter out the grounds and then take the concentrated product and pump it into the tanks,” said Moyer, who reports that Elementary Espresso Stout has been popular with patrons and sales have been brisk.

“Our collaboration has worked out well due to the harmonious blend of knowledge about two artisanal crafts,” he said.

As for the future, the wheels are turning in Musselman’s head as she thinks of new ways to get the word out about her coffee. She’s toying with a few ideas, like offering “flights” of coffee, where customers will have the opportunity to try several small cups and learn more about each selection. For now, however, she’s been satisfied at how well things are going since opening in November.

“It’s good to be part of the community, and I think it’s headed in the right direction,” she said.

Elementary Coffee Co. is located inside the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. For more information, including weekly featured brews, visit their Facebook page at Elementary Coffee Co.

Judgment Call: Before condemning Harrisburg, opinion-writers might want to pick up the phone.

January 30, 2015 | by J. Alex Hartzler

In case you missed it, I took a month off from my publisher’s column to start 2015, in favor of Paul Barker’s excellent analysis of the research skills that are a necessary part of honest and engaged journalism. Apparently, though, local media took little notice of Paul’s story.

Instead, our area’s largest paper started off 2015 where it left off in 2014—with a continued assault on all things Harrisburg, this time with claims about a supposed negative business climate.

In an editorial, PennLive’s opinion-writers attempted to link three unrelated decisions, two of which took place at least two years apart and one that has been under discussion for decades. The first, Harrisburg City Council’s refusal to sell the Keystone Products building on Cameron Street to Appalachian Brewing Co. (ABC) for $1, took place in 2012 under the Thompson administration.

The second was the Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board’s December 2014 refusal to grant a variance to a proposed distillery in Midtown. (See Larry Binda’s Jan. 7 blog post at www.theburgnews.com.)

The final knock was directed at Mayor Papenfuse and the fulfillment of his campaign promise to update the city zoning code. The zoning code update had, in fact, been in process for decades under three administrations and countless reviews.

From these unrelated stories, the writers concluded that Harrisburg was hostile to entrepreneurship and that somehow Mayor Papenfuse and other city officials were to blame. This argument struck me as contrary to my observations and experience over the past year. So, taking Paul’s advice, I did a bit of research and called the affected parties.

First, I spoke to Adam Meinstein who owns Transit Park on the site of the old U.S. Post Office. Adam said he is “thrilled” with his investment in Harrisburg, has more than 450 daily users of his “low-cost” commuter lot (mostly Amtrak commuters) and is expanding capacity to nearly 900 spots, some of which will be under cover. In addition, he has active interest from commercial/industrial tenants for the renovated building on his site. His initial concern with the new zoning code involved a technical matter that his current use is permitted as a “pre-existing condition” and not as a “right” under the code that could theoretically impact value down the road. Nonetheless, the code does not impede his current business, his plans for further investment or his enthusiasm for his first time doing business in our city.

Next, I spoke to Alan Kennedy-Shaffer about his plans for a distillery. Not unexpectedly, Alan and his partner were not pleased with the zoning board’s decision, but Alan said that he remains personally “as committed as ever” to Harrisburg. Knowing Alan’s commitment to the city, my guess is that he will keep working hard on his plans and try to come back again at another city location.

I also spoke to a member of the zoning board who confirmed Larry’s reporting that—far from a rash rejection of the distillery—the board (made up of citizen volunteers) stressed their duty for a thorough review to make sure that the plans comply with the law. They encouraged the pair to re-submit their plans with additional detail with the hope for an eventual approval at the proposed site or another.

Finally, the 2012 ABC issue revolved around the value of a parcel of real estate. Regardless of past decisions by former government officials, the Papenfuse administration confirmed to me that it is now willing to sell the property for $1. City economic development officials and the mayor also told me that they are in active discussions with ABC about jointly seeking outside grants for the necessary site work and expanding their brewing operations, something that would create “scores of jobs” if successful.

I find it ridiculous to pin a two-year-old decision on the new mayor or new council. Moreover, editorial writers should realize that a business that starts in the city and then expands to the suburbs (like ABC) is not a sign of city weakness, but can be (and in this case is) the sign of a strong brand being built here and then taken on the road to greater heights for the mutual benefit of both.

There are many other signs of robust entrepreneurial spirit throughout the city.

Just to the north of ABC at Cameron and Herr streets, Moran Industries stepped in last year to buy a building on a formerly failed development site. Moran is now investing millions to finish the building and grounds, turning a former eyesore into a handsome new operating complex for its trucking and logistics business.

Likewise, since the Papenfuse administration took office last January, there are at least five new restaurants representing several million dollars in total new investment throughout the city (underscoring also that the new parking rates have had little impact in the decision-making of new restaurant openings).

One of these is Josh Kesler’s complete renovation of the long-vacant Millworks building across from the Broad Street Market. Josh told me that the Millworks will house 23 artist workspaces, a new indoor/outdoor beer garden and farm-to-table restaurant when it opens in early March.

Several other new businesses with good paying jobs, such as WebpageFX, have moved their employees into the city. Co-owner Bill Craig said that his move to the city has greatly helped with recruiting. He said he’s received about 500 more applications for his rapidly growing company, up 20 percent from the year before.

“We grew 50 percent last year, so finding technical marketing talent is one of our keys to maintaining our current growth trajectory,” Craig told me. “Many of the applicants are from other cities and from outside of central PA, which we would not have received if we didn’t move to Harrisburg.”

The company has grown tremendously since its move just 11 months ago, and the 70-plus employees “love the city,” Craig said.

Demand for apartments and condos is also rising. Brickbox opened its new for-sale condos at LUX (3^rd and State streets) and is more than half sold out. WCI Partners (where I am a partner) has noticed increased demand for apartments and townhomes and a new willingness on the part of many people to “give the city another try” after moving out during the Thompson administration, in the words of several of our new residents.

Much more remains to be done, and a half-century of population decline will not be reversed quickly or without great effort or smart policies that encourage investment. However, this renewed enthusiasm points to business confidence in the Papenfuse administration.

A modest suggestion for those who get paid to give opinion about the city would be to actually talk to business owners before writing about city business. It may just give pause enough before reflexively propagating inaccuracies about our little city from across the river.

J. Alex Hartzler is publisher of TheBurg.

A Thing about Love: A lifetime together, on Muench Street.

January 30, 2015 | by Paul Barker

In March 1946, Clayton Carelock left Fort Meade, Md., and returned to the home he grew up in, at 320 Ridge St. in Steelton. Carelock had been drafted in July 1943, a month after graduating Steelton High. His mother, a housekeeper and cook, had died while he was in the service, a few days before Christmas, 1944. She was buried next to his father, a steel worker and veteran of World War I, in Midland Cemetery.

A block away from the house on Ridge Street was Watson’s, a house that sold candy, soda and hot dogs from an enclosed porch. It was there, on a Sunday after he’d come home, that Carelock met Clementine Epps, a recent graduate of William Penn High School who had come down with her friends from Harrisburg. “One thing led on to another,” as Carelock now recalls, and, in February 1947, they were married.

This month, the Carelocks mark their 68^th wedding anniversary. Since 1956, they’ve lived in the same Muench Street home, where they raised a son, on a block that now carries a high proportion of handicap-reserved spaces. Not so in the old days—as Clayton tells it, the plow came rarely back then, and the men would shovel out the block together whenever it snowed. Most of those neighbors have since passed, and, though they’re friendly with some of the new ones, “We don’t have that kind of cooperation now that we had then,” he says.

On a recent afternoon, Clayton sat on a recliner in a tracksuit and sneakers, a cane close at hand. Over his shoulder, on a raised bed, lay Clementine, asleep under a white blanket. In 1955, they learned she had a brain tumor. “When she’d go to sit down, she’d miss the chair,” he recalled. Her mother, who “had a good bit of influence over her,” talked her into having an operation in South Carolina, where she was born. An eighth of an inch more of tumor growth, the doctors told him, and she wouldn’t have been able to speak again.

Still, until recent years, she was getting around well. Their house on Muench had a pool table on the third floor, and, after the operation, Clementine would bake sticky buns for the neighborhood guys who came over to shoot pool. Twice, they went on a Caribbean cruise. But, Clayton said, “she’s had so many things happen to her since then.” In 2007, she fell and broke her leg, and, after that, she “didn’t come around like she usually did.” She can no longer hold a conversation, but she’ll talk to him. “Sometimes, I understand what she says, and sometimes I don’t,” he said.

Both he and Clementine worked at Olmsted Air Force Base, she as a clerk typist, he packing supplies for military personnel. When the base closed in 1969, he was moved to Mechanicsburg, where he worked his way up to an inspection supervisor. After he retired, he started driving a van for students in Susquehanna Township. “I had most of the kindergarteners,” he said. “I loved that job better than any job I had. Those kids, they made your day. You could have problems, but when you got with them, I guess you got just like they did, you know.”

In the 1970s, during the tenure of Mayor Harold Swenson and later Mayor Paul Doutrich, he was a member of the Citizens to Save Harrisburg, an anti-blight task force. “It was representatives from all over Harrisburg,” he said. “Different churches, the Jewish synagogue.” The group tried to tackle that era’s housing problem, although, as far as his own block was concerned, “the housing always wasn’t too bad.” He later joined the First Baptist Church in Steelton and was named a deacon emeritus there.

In the 1990s, he worked with Barbara Barksdale and the Friends of Midland in their efforts to restore the historic black cemetery, where many of the graves were toppled and overgrown. He served as both treasurer and researcher. “He became like the big-brother-slash-father figure for me,” said Barksdale, who still calls him for guidance now and then. “It’s hard to find men like that anymore.” She later helped him apply to the federal government for a new headstone for his father, who is one of Midland’s many interred soldiers. With his siblings, Carelock paid for a matching marker for their mother and their youngest brother, George, who died when he was only a few months old.

Through all the years, what has kept his and Clementine’s marriage strong? “A lot of people ask me,” Carelock said. “I really don’t know. I guess respect for each other.” On the coffee table were a dozen or more framed photographs—Clayton’s father in a suit, against a photo-studio backdrop; Clem as a young woman; Clayton in middle age, in a tailored suit and afro. “It looked like time just flew by.”

An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of a Middletown Air Force base. It is Olmsted Air Force Base, not Olmstead Air Force Base.

A Message from Jack: Maybe Harrisburg can’t do much about its tax rate, but it still can be more welcoming to outsiders.

January 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

I get letters.

Well, not exactly letters, since no one writes letters anymore, but the modern equivalent—email.

Most email is complimentary of something we did or printed; some is critical. An occasional email offers unsolicited advice, which I often find less helpful than confounding (why would I change my magazine’s design based upon a message that pops into my inbox from some guy I’ve never met?).

Recently, I received an email from a fellow from Virginia who had considered buying property in Harrisburg. As he tells it, his mother lives here, and, when he visits, he’s tempted by what he sees.

“Wonderful Victorian houses, solid houses with character and mighty cheap,” he wrote.

He changed his mind, though, after checking out his mom’s property tax bill, which was the real reason he sent me the email. He wanted to know why it was so high and suspected it was due to poor property tax collection.

I responded back that, no, lax collection isn’t a big problem here. The relatively high tax rate is due more to a limited tax base, too many nonprofits and non-taxable properties, an enormously indebted school system, a relatively poor city with tremendous service needs, and far too many undeveloped lots and unimproved buildings.

So, count Jack from Charlottesville as among those who won’t be relocating to Harrisburg anytime soon, bringing his human and financial capital with him.

Unfortunately, there’s little Harrisburg can do to lower its tax rate in the near-term (if ever). However, Harrisburg (the government, the people) can do a few things to make this place more attractive, to entice those who may decide that living here in one of our beautiful (cheap) Victorian houses is worth a few extra bucks in taxes.

Encourage responsible development. As I’ve said before in this space, Harrisburg desperately needs people (and their money), which is the only way to keep taxes in check and provide better public safety, social services and infrastructure to the people who live here now. And, in Harrisburg, there’s room to spare as much of the residential land consists of vacant lots and empty and blighted buildings. For a city, this is an unnatural, toxic state that punishes existing residents with rising taxes, poor services, lack of employment opportunities and deserted, dangerous streets. Developers and business people need to be encouraged, not denounced, for taking tremendous risks investing in a city that most others won’t touch. Like all cities, Harrisburg is not a static creature. It requires constant redevelopment and re-investment to continue to be a viable place to live and work. Without this, without a flow of new people and capital across generations, it will crumble and die—as it once almost did.

Drop the provincialism. How would you describe the current state of Harrisburg? If you were to attend a City Council meeting, you might come away thinking that things are so good that they should stay exactly the way they are. Fear of change, fear of outsiders and a zero-sum, us vs. them mentality often pervade these meetings. Council members must realize that they represent all the people of Harrisburg, not just those in their immediate circles. They also must understand that Harrisburg will never be able to pay its current bills—much less provide better services to its residents—unless it grows its tax base, which means attracting people and businesses into the city. Harrisburg must be open to new residents, new ideas and new, better ways of doing things.

Make the most of Harrisburg’s inherent strength as a cozy, quaint city located on a magnificent river. Harrisburg has many assets that it poorly utilizes. City Island, Italian Lake and Reservoir Park are underused; could-be charming streets and alleys are run down and bleak; litter and dumping are rampant; and the condition of the river walk and steps is an embarrassment. Yes, it’s great that the city is blessed with a magnificent Capitol building, which draws in visitors and workers. Harrisburg, however, would be better served polishing up its small-city charm instead of indulging in a conceit that it’s a very important capital city.

In my email back, I told Jack that, despite the tax situation, he still should consider poking around Harrisburg, that there are some great things happening here. Indeed, the city has come a long way just in my time here. The budget is balanced, major projects are coming online, and the mayor and council, while often at odds, at least aren’t at war. Many of the vacant and underutilized historic buildings downtown and in Midtown have been—or are being—redeveloped and reoccupied. In 2015, Harrisburg’s long-neglected infrastructure will begin to get fixed. For the first time in a long time, at least among some residents, there’s a sense of hope, a belief that things just might get better.

I don’t think I won my argument with Jack, as he remained turned off by the local tax situation. I hope, though, that eventually we’ll snag him, that Harrisburg will become friendly enough, open enough, clean enough, vibrant enough and charming enough that he won’t be able to stay away.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

A Temporary Home: Meet foster parents of a different breed.

January 30, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

It was several years ago that Amanda Shafer and her husband, Matthew Caylor, opened their home to a little black lab.

The next six months would be filled with training, feeding and caring for the precious pooch until it was time to give her up to a loving family—her “furrever” home.

The growing trend of pet foster homes has potentially saved hundreds of dogs that would have otherwise been put down in shelters that simply didn’t have room. But allowing those dogs to meet the same fate of so many before wasn’t an option that Shafer wanted to consider.

“I knew the Central PA Animal Alliance needed help in finding places to take dogs,” Shafer said. “There was a lot of craziness going on at the time, and I asked what I could do to help. Next thing you know, I’m signing up to become a foster parent.”

She and her husband both had grown up with dogs but never owned one of their own. Other than the few cats the couple already had roaming their Midtown Harrisburg home, they decided they could help by opening their doors to dogs in need.

The Central PA Animal Alliance was pulling dogs from the York County SPCA and putting them into homes when Shafer walked in.

“I went down there and they said, ‘Find her an easy one—she’s new,’” Shafer said, recalling the black lab that would find a place in her home and heart that year.

Most pet foster parents don’t have to pay anything out of pocket to help an animal. In Shafer’s case, Central PA Animal Alliance will supply the food and toys and even pay the veterinary bills. However, as part of their donation to the shelter, Shafer and Caylor have decided to purchase the dog food themselves.

When it comes time for the foster dogs to find a new home, those interested in adopting the animal must fill out an application, go through an interview process, have a home inspection and then meet the dog.

“It’s great to see those dogs go to loving families,” Shafer said. “But the biggest question we get is, ‘How do you give them up?’”

While it’s never easy to say good-bye, Shafer said that she and her husband have been pretty good about not getting too attached. They want to avoid becoming “foster failures” by deciding to keep the dog for themselves.

“It is sad to give them up, but it’s more sad knowing a dog in a shelter is being put down and killed just because there’s no space,” she said.

Not About You

Robin Scherer has a knack for finding distressed animals. Her first rescue was right out of college when she found a stray dog wandering the streets. She would find kittens dropped off in the parking lot at work and also find them homes.

She later found 13 kittens, starving and infested with fleas, and was told if she wanted them, she could have them. Slowly, she nursed them back to health and found them loving families.

Eventually, Scherer said, it was time to open a shelter.

Along with family, she opened Furry Friends Network in Boiling Springs. Fourteen years later, it hosts 75 volunteers, 30 dog foster homes and 20 cat foster homes.

As a foster parent of cats, Scherer has seen both sides of the foster world.

“I think a shelter environment is extremely stressful for an animal,” she said. “I don’t think an adopter can see an animal’s true personality.”

Because the animals are living in someone’s home, the foster parent is able to tell potential adopters about all of the animal’s quirks. Maybe they don’t get along with children but love to cuddle in bed, Scherer said.

“You find, with dogs, that there is a honeymoon period,” she said. “You have to give them time to unpack their baggage. The dog will be different in three days, in three weeks, in three months, and you just have to roll with it. But, sometimes, a foster parent can help you know what to expect.”

For those interested in adopting fostered animals, the process can be a little more complicated.

“If people out there want a dog today or tomorrow, we’re not the organization for you,” Scherer said. “People can experience buyer’s remorse by treating a pet as an impulse buy, and we’re trying to avoid that.”

While there are plenty of people adopting dogs from foster homes, there are always more homes needed, Scherer said.

“So many people say, ‘I could never foster because I’d fall in love,’” she said. “Stop thinking of yourself and think of the animal. I have little kids, and it’s hard for them, but they know we’re helping the animals.”

Life Savers

Jessica Blouch, vice president of Pitties Love Peace in Elizabethtown, has seen animals abused in ways she’ll never forget. Her first rescued animal was a pit bull that had been tied to a banister the first 14 months of her life. When the owner threatened to take the dog into the woods and shoot it, Blouch took her.

“She wasn’t socialized, and I had smaller dogs, so I couldn’t take her home with me, but, at the same time, I couldn’t leave her there,” she said. “I found someone who could board her temporarily until I found people who would take her forever. The reward of doing that kept me going.”

Pitties Love Peace took in about 147 dogs in 2014, with 106 of those already adopted by the first of December. The 40 foster homes that take in the animals make it possible to save each of those dogs from being euthanized.

Many of those taken in have come from local shelters that ran out of room, as well as a handful from New York Animal Control, which puts out a list every day of the dogs that will be euthanized if no one claims them.

“For myself, or for anyone who fosters, even though it can be a little bittersweet to give that animal up, the reward is great,” Blouch said. “You get to be involved in helping a dog who would not be alive anymore.”

Scherer also has seen animals kept in cages, often not fed and owners ready to kill them.

“It doesn’t take a lot to help,” Scherer said. “It takes some of your time and your heart, and, to me, that’s the best gift you can give an animal. People have created this mess, and it’s time for us to step up and clean it up.”

That call to action is what keeps Shafer and Caylor going as foster parents. In three years, they’ve welcomed eight dogs into their hearts and home.

“They need it,” Shafer said. “The shelters are full. There’s no room for dogs. They get put down all the time. Foster homes are making the difference.”

How to Help

If you are interested in becoming a pet foster parent, contact the following shelters to find out how to get started.

The Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance: [email protected] or at www.cpaa.info

Pitties Love Peace: [email protected] or www.pittieslovepeace.com

Furry Friends Network: www.furryfriendsnetwork.com

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like