General Election Field Takes Shape

Two newcomers and one incumbent won Democratic nominations last month for three seats on Harrisburg City Council.

With all precincts reporting and mail-in ballots counted, council President Danielle Bowers topped the eight-candidate primary field, followed by challengers Crystal Davis and Lamont Jones, according to the Dauphin County Election Bureau’s unofficial results for the municipal primary.

Cole Goodman came in fourth place followed by Brad Barkdoll, current council member Robert Lawson, Leslie Franklin and Lori Beamer Saulisbury, according to the bureau.

The Democratic nominees are heavily favored to win the three, four-year council seats in the Nov. 7 general election, as no Republicans ran in the primary in the heavily Democratic city.

For city treasurer, incumbent Dan Miller ran unopposed for another four-year term. No Republicans ran in the primary.

The Harrisburg school board race had five seats at stake, but only four candidates ran—all Democrats and all incumbents. They are Ellis Roy, James Thompson, Doug Thompson Leader and Terricia Radcliff, so all will appear on the November ballot.

For magisterial district justice, Matthew Pianka won both the Democratic and Republican primaries for District 12-01-02, as he cross-filed, and was the sole candidate on the ballot in each primary. Autumn Fair ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate after getting knocked off the Democratic ballot following a challenge to her nominating petitions.

For District 12-1-04, Democrat Mikaela Sloan won her primary as the sole candidate to run for that district judgeship.

In District 12-1-05, incumbent MDJ Hanif Johnson defeated two challengers, Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins, to win the Democratic nomination for the seat. He cross-filed in the primary and also won the Republican nomination.

In Dauphin County, no primary races were contested, but the results will set up several contests for the November general election.

For commissioner, Republican incumbents Mike Pries and Chad Saylor, Democratic incumbent George Hartwick and Democratic challenger Justin Douglas will vie for three, four-year seats on the board.

For clerk of courts, Republican John McDonald will face Democrat Bridget Whitley. For recorder of deeds, Democrat Tami Dykes will challenge incumbent Republican Jim Zugay. And, for county treasurer, Republican Nick DiFrancesco and Democrat Fred Faylona will compete.

In other county races, incumbent District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Controller Mary Bateman and Register of Wills Jean Marfizo King all ran unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrats appeared on the primary ballot in those races.

Federal Funds to Boost Housing Security

The effort to assist unhoused residents in Dauphin County received a boost last month, as area officials announced a multi-million federal grant to help battle housing insecurity.

In the MLK Jr. City Government Center, Harrisburg and Dauphin County officials were on hand to accept a $2.3 million check from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), money that will help area social service groups assist people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

“Thanks to HUD, $2.3 million is coming back into Harrisburg and Dauphin County to give groups like CACH [Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness] the tools we all need to give our unsheltered men, women and children the shelter they desperately crave,” said Mayor Wanda Williams.

Dauphin County/Harrisburg is one of 32 communities throughout the country selected to receive the competitive “continuum of care” grant, according to Matthew Heckles, HUD Regional Administrator, Region III, Mid-Atlantic.

“It’s not just enough to give someone a roof over their head, but also to provide the supportive services that they need to address the challenges that they face,” he said. “They must be able to address those challenges while knowing that their housing is secure.”

According to Heckles, the federal government’s goal is to reduce homelessness nationwide by 25% by 2025. In January 2022, the annual “point in time count” found 423 homeless individuals in Dauphin County, including 64 living on the streets at that time, he said.

During the half-hour check presentation ceremony in city hall, HUD also announced that it would provide five additional “stability” vouchers that help with emergency housing for Dauphin County residents.

The three-year, $2.3 million grant will be distributed to several social service organizations already addressing housing insecurity and homelessness in Harrisburg and Dauphin County, said Dennise Hill, president of CACH and the city’s director of building and housing development:

• CACH will receive $91,030 for its homeless management information system.
• Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area will receive $549,784 for unsheltered rapid re-housing to quickly rehouse people experiencing homelessness; $341,800 for coordinated entry services; and $270,450 for street outreach.
• Gaudenzia will receive $491,814 for unsheltered permanent supportive housing.
• Scholars Inc. will receive $582,381 for Thrive Housing, joint transitional housing and rapid rehousing.

“As we all know, the need is often greater than the resources,” Hill said. “These funds will help to expand the capacity of the dedicated service providers doing incredible work as it pertains to homelessness in the city of Harrisburg and the CACH network.”

School Renovation Breaks Ground

Harrisburg is one step closer to reopening a “state-of-the-art” school for students.

Last month, Harrisburg School District officials ceremonially broke ground on the renovation of Steele Elementary School, which they plan to reopen for the 2024-25 school year.

“It feels good to get to a place where you can finally see things coming to fruition,” said Superintendent Eric Turman. “What I want the community to do at this point in time is to get excited about what this is going to look like.”

Steele School, built in the 1930s, closed in 2011 and has since sat vacant on the 2500-block of N. 5th Street. In September, district Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a $21.6 million revitalization project and the reopening of the school.

According to Turman, the district’s decision in April 2022 to move fifth-grade students from the middle schools back to the elementary school level made classrooms fuller, while many of its buildings were already near capacity.

The reopening of Steele would help solve that capacity issue, while providing a neighborhood school in the Uptown community. Turman noted that many children currently have to walk a far distance to Ben Franklin Elementary School. Steele School will have classrooms for kindergarten through fifth grade.

The building, which is about 68,000 square feet, has been largely gutted inside for renovations, and the exterior will receive new windows, doors and a deep clean, according to district director of operations Craig Glass.

An addition will also be constructed onto the rear of the building to house a new cafeteria and classrooms. A new playground and basketball court will be constructed, as well.

The project is being funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that the district received during the pandemic.

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates is serving as the architect, and Fidevia Construction Management & Consulting is the contractor for the project.

“They [the students] are going to walk in here over time, and they’re going to see a school like no other,” Turman said. “This will be a model that, hopefully, over time we can look at how can we create these types of facilities for our children, because this is what they deserve.”

Veterans Multi-Service Center Opens

A long-established veteran support organization cut the ribbon on its new facility last month.

Philadelphia-based Veterans Multi-Service Center celebrated the opening of its downtown Harrisburg office, which provides assistance to low-income and homeless veterans.

“It’s really to give veterans a hand up rather than a handout,” said Ryan McGoldrick, deputy executive director of mission execution for VMC. “They really need someone to help guide them.”

VMC officially moved into the new center, located at 21 S. 3rd St., in September and has already served over 100 veterans and their families, according to officials.

The organization, which got its start in 1980, assists over 6,500 veteran households each year across its 10 east coast locations and expects to add another 150 to that yearly number with the addition of the Harrisburg office.

The resource center helps underserved veterans with services like housing, food security, transportation, employment, accessing veteran and social services and pro bono legal services. According to McGoldrick, veterans make up a large portion of the homeless population in the U.S.

With several centers already in the commonwealth, VMC saw expanding into Harrisburg as a natural fit and a way to address a lack of veteran services in the area, McGoldrick explained.

The new, three-story center includes staff offices and meeting rooms where clients can work with staff and case managers to create a support plan. There is also a women veterans closet on site, with toiletries and household items for those in need.

Veterans in need of assistance can walk into the center, visit the website or call 844-226-0368. Those experiencing homelessness should call 2-1-1 and veterans will be connected with VMC.

“They served us so we want to serve them,” said Lincoln Strehle, deputy executive director of business operations.

Housing Market Cools

After several hot years, the local housing market is showing signs of cooling off, with both sales and prices falling in April.

For the three-county Harrisburg region, 448 previously owned homes sold in April, a sharp drop from 628 houses in April 2022, as the median sales price fell to $245,000 from $250,500, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 233 homes sold versus 314 in the year-ago period, while the median sales prices declined to $213,900 from $230,000, GHAR said.

Cumberland County sales totaled 193 homes compared to 268 in April 2022, as the median price dipped to $285,000 from $290,950, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 19 houses sold versus 36 a year ago, as the median sales price rose to $219,000 from $208,900, GHAR reported.

The pace of home sales slowed significantly, as “average days on market” for the region rose to 34 days in April versus 16 in April 2022, according to GHAR.

So Noted

Cate Barron will retire as president of PA Media Group as of June 30, the Hampden Township-based company has announced. Barron spent nearly four decades with the Patriot-News, PennLive and PA Media Group, rising through the ranks after starting in 1985 as an assistant city editor.

Danette Blank will retire as executive director of Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania at the end of June, according to the organization. She has served with Harrisburg-based Vision Resources for 23 years, building up the organization and solidifying its mission to assist the blind and visually impaired.

Found Collab opened last month at 25 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg, the long-time home of Walker’s Art & Framing. Andrew Kintzi and Anela Selkowitz, the owners of Midtown Dandy and Stash Vintage, respectively, moved down the street into a much larger space, rebranded and expanded their offerings to include vintage clothing, household goods, unique gifts and art, among many other items.

Park Harrisburg initiated a new “pay-to-text” option last month for street and garage parking. Through the service, parkers can text 30202 and enter their parking zone number, license plate number and parking length of time. Drivers still can pay at the 168 parking meters or through the ParkMobile app.

Rev. Timothy C. Senior has been named the 12th bishop of Harrisburg, according to the Diocese of Harrisburg. Senior, 63, succeeds Bishop Ronald Gainer, who, in keeping with canon law, offered his resignation when he turned 75 years of age in August 2022.

Tri County Housing Development Corp. has simplified its name, rebranding as “Tri County Housing.” In conjunction with the name change, the Harrisburg-based affordable housing nonprofit has an updated logo, website and slogan. For more information, visit www.TriCoHousing.com.

Will Foster was named last month as the new executive director of the Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, previously serving as the group’s program supervisor. The nonprofit recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who serve as advocates representing the best interests of foster children in court.

WITF will assume ownership this month of LNP, a daily newspaper based in Lancaster. In late April, Steinman Communications gifted the paper, as well as several other Lancaster County-based news assets, to the Swatara Township-based public media organization. Steinman will retain ownership of Lancaster Farming, a weekly farm newspaper, and Susquehanna Printing.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2429: P. Madigan to D. Boyle, $50,000

Adrian St., 2460: D. & P. Seng to PT Capital Properties LLC, $50,000

Allison St., 1506: J. Davison to Treasurehunt Home Investments LLC & New Harvest Solutions LLC, $73,000

Berryhill St., 1637: A&K Investment Partnership LLC to F. Kale, $139,000

Berryhill St., 2425: N. & S. Harris to EJB Rentals LLC, $62,000

Berryhill St., 2432: SF Rentals to PA Deals LLC, $75,000

Brookwood St., 1929: R&K Realty Group LP to J. Morrison & Y. Blanding, $153,000

Brookwood St., 2435: I. & K. Mita to T. & B. Baka, $110,000

Chestnut St., 1826: KBH Properties LLC to Wengs Labor Services LLC, $46,400

Chestnut St., 1926: E. Ayala & N. Vogt to Two Three Two Investments LLC, $88,800

Chestnut St., 2312: A. & L. Myers to D. Appel, $241,000

Croyden Rd., 2887: C. Oman to B. & K. Sheehe, $55,000

Curtin St., 634: CRS Housing LLC to S. Santiago & Z. Marla, $150,000

Dauphin St., 636: M. Graybill to J. & D. Negron, $40,000

Derry St., 1301, 1307, 1311, 1313, 1315: Keystone Community Development Corp. Inc. & National Tax Search LLC to Latino Hispanic American Community Center, $450,000

Derry St., 2331: D. Clark to A. Puklowski, $150,500

Derry St., 2344: C. Mescan to J. Ross, $130,000

Derry St., 2453: L. Brown & C. Bennett to J. King, $91,000

Ellersie St., 2352: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Wengs Labor Services LLC, $46,400

Emerald St., 222: C. Shokes to P. Mikkilineni, $239,000

Emerald St., 317: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to M. Fane, $148,000

Emerald St., 327: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to PA Deals LLC, $47,000

Evergreen St., 12: C. Murphy to D. Boyle, $50,000

Geary St., 611: L. Marquez to Balaci Properties LLC, $97,000

Green St., 1102: C. Frey to N. Campos, $270,000

Green St., 1612: G. Hoffner to A. Desrosiers, $247,500

Green St., 2127: Pietro Enterprises Inc. to D. Boyle, $78,000

Green St., 2316: Dolly Properties LLC to T. Zuzzio, $155,000

Herr St., 308: M. Woodring to RSB Real Estate LLC, $105,000

Holly St., 1806: Tassia Corp. to D. Boyle, $62,000

Holly St., 1847: E. Shadd to M. Martinez, $75,000

Holly St., 1922: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to C. Benedetto & C. McCorkel, $180,000

Hummel St., 335: U. Doub to Su Hogar LLC, $49,000

Jefferson St., 2223: T. Allan to R. & K. Engle, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2263: Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust HB7 to TKO Property Holdings LLC, $81,527

Kensington St., 2259: D. Griffy to Lansanah Home Services Group, $65,050

Kensington St., 2406: J. Zandieh to B. Thapaliya, $110,000

Lewis St., 319: K. Berry to Feudale Investments LLC, $82,500

Logan St., 1722: J. Edmondson to J. Ziobro, $227,000

Logan St., 2242: D. Boyle to R. & S. Pichardo, $52,000

Manada St., 1948: E. Miller to Paramount Sol LLC, $85,000

Manada St., 1949: I. Robinson to J. Irvin, $95,000

Market St., 1921: M. Gillespie to State West LLC, $125,000

May St., 918: M. Goldberg to Tommy Boy Holdings LLC, $56,452

Muench St., 212: C. Kim to J. & L. Wadley, $225,000

Muench St., 413: Castro Investment Group LLC to Sector 3 Properties, $145,200

Naudain St., 1638: T. Tolbert to M. Holston, $40,000

North St., 1941: A. Mohamed to D. Eberly, $72,500

N. 2nd St., 1715: A. & T. Stienstra to Golden Property Holdings LLC, $280,000

N. 2nd St., 1817: W. Livington & M. Magilton to J. & C. Armour, $182,500

N. 2nd St., 1909: S. Catanese to J. Becker, $240,000

N. 3rd St., 1810: A. Manning to O. & K. Troxell, $266,750

N. 3rd St., 3104: B. McClain to A. & K. Scott, $140,000

N. 3rd St., 3118: A. & F. Joppy to J. Cruz, $90,000

N. 4th St., 3014: Buonarrati Trust to Global Reach LLC, $110,000

N. 5th St., 2512: D&F Realty Holdings LP to L. Pimentel & A. Nunez, $68,000

N. 6th St., 3161: D&A Homes LLC to Y. Mota, $141,000

N. 14th St., 1313: Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust HB5 to P. Brisneo, $120,000

N. 14th St., 1319: M. Strawn to E. Trujillo, $60,000

N. 15th St., 1217: SF Rentals to PA Deals LLC, $130,000

N. 15th St., 1327: J. & S. Nolten to M. Griffin & K. Roberts, $69,000

N. 16th St., 1019: L. Bumbrey to A&K Investments Partnerships LLC, $70,000

N. 18th St., 16: S. Pichardo to E. Lopez, $55,000

N. 18th St., 67: D. Boyle to M. de los Santos & C. Bonilla, $62,500

N. 18th St., 812: Great Row LLC to A. Castro, $75,000

Oxford St., 627: B. & L. Nguyen to HD Financial Services LLC, $90,000

Peffer St., 321: V. Robinson to A&W Homes LLC, $100,000

Penn St., 2220: Inder Group Real Estate LLC to New Ventures Investments LLC, $98,100

Pine St., 115: Peleton Investments LLC to Din Investments LLC, $295,000

Reel St., 2406: C. Arango to Zephawk Investments LLC, $68,000

Regina St., 1608: Keystone Properties Solutions LLC to J. Suarez, $100,000

Regina St., 1820: F. Stabley to J. Lamb, $130,000

Revere St., 1620: S. Doeur to Your New Home Rental LLC & La Cultura LLC, $65,000

Schuylkill St., 540: Ideal Associates LLC to Y. Abdur Rahman, $42,000

Seneca St., 607: W. & D. Foutres to Julias Essentials Ltd., $71,000

S. 15th St., 443: J. Espaillat to B. Pasco, $125,000

S. 16th St., 520: L. Smith to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $45,000

S. 17th St., 320: Henderson & Sons LLC to E. Torres, $114,900

S. 17th St., 546: G. & Y. Garcia to S. Paniagua, $65,500

S. 18th St., 1309: A. Bouhach to J. Chanchonte & J. Patterson, $235,000

Susquehanna St., 1728: J. & D. Miller to S. & D. Williams, $170,000

Susquehanna St., 1841: SJL Rentals to J. Morales, $186,800

Swatara St., 1505: Tri County HDC Ltd. to Z. Hernandez, $119,000

Swatara St., 2048: JBNPA Properties LLC to K. Parker, $116,000

Taylor Blvd., 36: LMG Enterprises LLC to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $90,000

Valley Rd., 205: K. Stewart to T. Kline, $225,000

Verbeke St., 256: J. Speakman to T. Brown, $230,000

Walnut St., 1810: VV Real Estate Developments LLC to Global Reach LLC, $55,350

Harrisburg property sales, April 2023, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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