Tag Archives: Mayor Eric Papenfuse

Harrisburg to host first annual “Ice & Fire” winter festival next month.

February 8, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Mayor Eric Papenfuse was joined by city officials, representatives from Capital Blue Cross and D&H Distribution, and Elsa from “Frozen” at City Hall on Thursday.

Harrisburg may be slick with ice today, but there’s more to come at a new city festival next month.

The first annual Ice & Fire festival will be held on Saturday, March 3 from 1 to 9 p.m. in the city’s downtown business district. All of the events will be free and open to the public.

“We’re celebrating the end of winter,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said in a press conference at city hall on Thursday.

Attractions will include a 2,400-square-foot outdoor skating rink on Market Street with complimentary skate rentals, an inflatable toboggan slide, and an ice castle with characters from the movie “Frozen.” Festival-goers can also take in ice sculptures, fire dance performances and musical acts by a DJ and live bands.

City officials also hope that festival will bring business to local shops and restaurants. Food trucks will be stationed downtown, and the HBG Flea, a monthly art market, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Strawberry Square.

The $50,000 event will be funded by sponsorships, Papenfuse said, including significant contributions by Capital Blue Cross and D&H Distribution.

“The city was prepared to provide funding, but I’m really pleased that we covered it with the full support of sponsors,” Papenfuse said.

The mayor noted that Harrisburg’s summer festivals, such as Kipona, bring thousands of regional visitors into the city each year. He said that Ice & Fire will be Harrisburg’s first winter festival. If the event is a success, the city may repeat it in the future as a multi-day festival.

“We’re piloting it as a one-day festival, but we will look to expanding it,” Papenfuse said.

Metered parking will be enforced on the day of the festival. Attendees can enter the coupon code “LUVHBG” in the ParkMobile app to redeem four hours of free parking. The Market Square Garage will offer full-day parking for $10, and parking in City Island garages will be free.

Judge finds mayor’s aide liable for threatening resident.

January 10, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

A senior aide to the mayor has been found liable in civil court for threatening a Harrisburg resident after a mayoral debate in May, according to court documents and individuals involved in the case.

Karl Singleton, senior advisor to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, appeared before Magisterial District Justice David O’Leary on Dec. 19 for a hearing on a civil suit filed by Timothy Rowbottom in July 2017. Rowbottom alleged that Singleton threatened his life during a heated argument on May 9, a week before the primary election, following a debate between primary candidates at the Hilton Harrisburg.

Due to statements Rowbottom made during the argument and in court, however, O’Leary only fined Singelton nominal damages.

Rowbottom, who campaigned for mayoral primary candidate Jennie Jenkins in the spring, said on Tuesday that members of Papenfuse’s administration have impeded his business projects in the city. He owns and hopes to develop a parcel of land on S. 18^th Street in Allison Hill.

The judicial ruling, which was issued by O’Leary on Dec. 27, affirmed that Rowbottom was “unhappy” with his treatment by the city administration, particularly Singleton, who publicly mocked him by blowing him kisses and calling him “cutie.”

The ruling goes on to detail the argument that took place at the Hilton on the night of May 9.

“I’m from Hall Manor, you should be scared of me,” Singleton allegedly said, referring to Harrisburg’s largest public housing complex.

When Rowbottom told Singleton he was not afraid, the mayor’s advisor allegedly responded with a threat.

“I know where you live, I can have you taken out,” Singleton allegedly said.

According to the ruling, Rowbottom, who is white, admitted that he has called Singleton a “sorry excuse for a black man” and said that he (Rowbottom) is “blacker than [Singleton] ever will be.”

O’Leary said that Singleton clearly threatened Rowbottom in a malicious way, and that his political role compounded his liability.

“If there is anything a politician, or an aide to a politician, should not do, it’s making thinly veiled threats of violence to a political opponent on the eve of an election,” O’Leary wrote. “This is the United States, not the People’s Republic of Harrisburg.”

Rowbottom’s initial suit asked for $12,000 in damages, the maximum that is allowed in MDJ court. O’Leary said that he only found Singleton liable for $100 in damages, plus $190 in court costs, since Rowbottom said in court that he was unafraid of Singleton’s remarks and unapologetic for his racially inflammatory comments.

Papenfuse said he could not comment on Tuesday about whether the court ruling would affect Singleton’s employment with the city.

“This is the first I’ve heard about the ruling,” Papenfuse said. “I’ll have to look into it.”

Singleton’s position in city hall was incidentally reduced to part-time this month. During budget hearings in December, Papenfuse said that the recent appointment of a full-time business administrator, Marc Woolley, reduced the need for a full-time advisor. Singleton currently works for the city three days a week.

Singleton did not deny any of the events described in the judge’s ruling, but did suggest that O’Leary’s decision was unjust.

“It’s white supremacy at its finest,” Singleton said.

Rowbottom appeared at City Council on Tuesday evening to present materials related to his alleged mistreatment by city administrators. He alleges that the city wrongfully denied his business permit applications and is responsible for code violations.

Papenfuse said after the council meeting that the allegations have no merit, adding that Rowbottom failed to meet the city’s criteria for obtaining a business permit.

Update, Monday, Jan. 15: Since this report was published, Karl Singleton left his post in the mayor’s office. Learn more here.

July News Digest

July 31, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Housing Funds Disbursed
Harrisburg City Council doled out some $1.9 million in federal housing funds last month, but not before making tweaks to the administration’s proposal.

Council provided $25,000 to the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center from the city’s portion of annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, a program of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The city administration had denied funding for the center, saying its application scored too low to merit a grant.

To make room for the Heinz-Menaker grant, $15,000 was taken from a proposed allocation for the city’s Police Bureau, which still will receive $90,000 to help pay for a new community policing van and a police cadet program.

Another $10,000 was taken from the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development, which still will receive about $43,000 to cover unreimbursed costs related to the sinkhole project on S. 14th Street.

Like last year, the greatest single amount of money, $562,248, went to repay federal loans the city backed during the Reed administration for several development projects, including the disastrous Capitol View Commerce Center project.

Other CDBG recipients included:

City Housing Rehabilitation Programs: $330,000
Tri-County HDC: $150,000
City Emergency Demolition: $120,000
Harrisburg Fire Bureau: $51,686
Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area: $30,000
Rebuilding Together: $15,000
Christian Aftercare Recovery Ministries: $25,000
A Miracle 4 Sure: $25,000
Latino Hispanic American Community Center: $25,000
Fair Housing Council: $25,000
Mid Penn Legal Services: $15,000
Neighborhood Dispute Settlement: $3,900

While the city undertook the annual process of distributing CDBG money, funding is not assured as the Trump administration has threatened to end the program.

Riot Gear Debated

Harrisburg City Council last month left for summer break without voting on a plan that would supply the city’s police with new protective gear.

Council members said they would take up the matter once more after they returned from hiatus in late August and, in the interim, urged police to engage with residents to discuss the issue.

The Police Bureau is seeking to transfer $65,000 from unspent personnel funds to purchase 30 “top to toe” protective suits. The bureau’s current gear is old and inadequate, police say.

Some city residents have urged council not to approve the transfer, saying that so-called “riot suits” would escalate tense situations. Police, though, say that protests, particularly at the state Capitol, have become more frequent and more violent, and that officers need the equipment for personal protection.

College Plans Move to City Hall

Eastern University announced last month that it would like to move its satellite campus into the basement of Harrisburg city hall.

“I want to be in the city,” said Wesley Bunting, an official with the St. Davids, Pa.-based Christian college, whose satellite campus currently is located in Lower Paxton Township.

Therefore, the university approached the city with a novel offer. It would spend about $615,000 to fully renovate the mostly empty, worn-out basement of the MLK Jr. City Government Center on N. 2nd Street.

The city would be able to use a portion of the space for a new, state-of-the-art emergency operations center. It also would get access to classroom space when not in use and to the lounge, which could be used as a break room. The city would receive the improvements but no monetary rent during the 10-year lease term.

If approved by council, the project could start immediately and would take less than a year to complete, Bunting said.

“This is a substantial investment in the building with resources that we otherwise would have to draw from somewhere else,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.

Papenfuse said the project also would bring more people downtown, would boost building security, especially after hours, would offer technology upgrades in the building and would help create a “critical mass” of colleges downtown, adding to the existing presence of Harrisburg University, Temple University and Messiah College.

HDID Seeks Renewal

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District last month asked City Council for a five-year reauthorization, a plan that would expand the district to State Street.

Executive Director Todd Vander Woude outlined a few recent activities by the group, including last year’s “Dino-Mite Summer” public art project, this year’s “Discover the Ducks Downtown,” the St. Patrick’s Day parade, several new murals, more bike racks, brightly painted planters and a new safety substation.

“Our focus is making downtown clean, safe and beautiful,” said Vander Woude, who received a generally positive reaction from council.

In 2015, council refused to grant a full, five-year term, offering only two years with instructions to become more visible and active. Back then, some council members said that HDID wasn’t doing enough to attract people downtown.

Getting firm council support is particularly important this year, as the HDID is seeking to expand its northern boundary from Pine Street to State Street, bringing 58 more properties into the district and upping the organization’s annual budget by $40,000 to $820,000. Each commercial property is assessed a 1.75 mil surcharge on its city property taxes to cover the cost of HDID services, which also include cleaning, safety and beautification measures.

Property owners within the proposed district have 45 days from last month’s council hearing to vote against the district. Forty percent of properties within the boundary must vote against it for reauthorization to be defeated.

City Payment Restored

Harrisburg will receive its full state funding after all, as the legislature passed a budget re-inserting a $5 million payment to the city.

The $32 billion state budget for 2017-18 includes full funding of the “Capitol fire protection” line item, a type of payment in lieu of taxes that the city counts on to help fund emergency services.

Gov. Tom Wolf included the payment in his proposed budget in February, but it was later stripped out by the state Senate.

Over the decades, this annual payment has ranged widely from nothing to the current $5 million, an amount decided upon while the city was under state receivership. However, the money is not guaranteed, meaning that Harrisburg isn’t certain it will receive the funds until the always-fraught state budget is passed.

The money lands in the city’s general fund, but Harrisburg officials say it offers compensation for services that the city provides to about 30,000 state workers. The state pays no property taxes on its massive holdings in the city, which include some 50 state-owned buildings on about 42 percent of the city’s land.

New Grocery Store

If you’ve been hungering for an urban-style grocery store in Harrisburg, your wait is almost over.

In a few months, Provisions will open in Strawberry Square, emphasizing natural, organic and locally produced goods, mostly sold in bulk.

Provisions will occupy 2,350 square feet of space next to Fresa Bistro with a storefront entrance on N. 3rd Street, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

“You’re going to be able to get fresh food that you can shop daily for,” said Jones, who described the market as a “locally grown Trader Joe’s.”

Jones expects the build-out of the space to begin immediately, with the store opening in mid-October.

Provisions is the brainchild of Shaun Donovan, the owner of the online grocery store Appalachian Organics, and Adam Porter, co-owner of the co-working space, StartUp Harrisburg.

Steelton Redevelopment

A new development called Renaissance Row soon will begin to rise in downtown Steelton, in part thanks to a tax incentive program.

Dauphin County and Steelton officials last month credited property tax abatement for enabling the project, which will feature 80,000 square feet of commercial space and 46 one-and two-bedroom apartments across the street from Steelton Borough Hall.

“Providing property tax relief for new construction and renovation can make the difference between making it viable to move forward on a project,’’ said county board Chairman Jeff Haste.

Philadelphia-based developer Chariot Companies will build Renaissance Row. A second development featuring 12 new townhouses on Adams Street should break ground later this year.

All of Steelton is part of a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program, which provides tax breaks on property improvements for 10 years.

Home Sales Climb

The Harrisburg area scored another solid month for home sales, as purchases increased 4.2 percent year over year.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors reported 1,147 sales in June compared to 1,101 sales in June 2016 for its coverage area, which covers all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median price also rose, increasing to $183,000 versus $175,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR said.

In Dauphin County, 389 homes sold, an increase of 23 units, with the median price rising to $163,500 from $160,000. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 398 units versus 388, with the median price jumping to $210,000 from $190,900.

Perry County had 51 home sales against 33, with the median price rising to $143,000 from $129,900 a year earlier.

So Noted

Fine Wine and Good Spirits will open an 11,500-square-foot retail store at the Capital City Mall this fall, according to mall owner PREIT. Next year, a Dave & Busters also will open, offering a casual dining and entertainment option.

Harrisburg University is relocating its Philadelphia campus, which will more than quadruple its space. The new site at 1500 Spring Garden St. in Center City will allow the university to offer full, four-year bachelor degrees at the campus without students needing to transfer to the main campus in Harrisburg.

Merit is the new name of the Harrisburg-based marketing and innovation firm, Sacunas. The company, founded by Nancy Sacunas, said it changed its name to better reflect its mission under now-owner Adam Vasquez.

Mom’s Tamales & Papusas is expected to open this month at 263 Reily St., across from Midtown Cinema. Owner Josue Osorto, a veteran of many Harrisburg restaurants, will run the eatery specializing in food from El Salvador.

PinnacleHealth has completed the acquisition of four hospitals in three surrounding counties. The Harrisburg-based company bought Carlisle Regional Medical Center, Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Lancaster Regional Medical Center and Memorial Hospital of York.

Rite Aid and Walgreens have dropped their plans to merge. Instead, Walgreens will buy 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.2 billion, leaving East Pennsboro Township-based Rite Aid with 2,350 stores after the deal is complete.

In Memoriam

Robert Marquette, long-time president and CEO of Members 1st Federal Credit Union, died last month, said the Mechanicsburg-based company. Marquette, 68, also was the face of the Members 1st, donning a superhero-type outfit and making homespun pitches during numerous advertisements.

Benjamin Olewine III, lifelong Harrisburg resident, businessman and philanthropist, has died at the age of 95. Olewine grew his family’s food business into one of the top food distributors in the country, selling it in 1988 to giant Sysco Corp., where he continued to work until a few years ago.

Changing Hands

Allison Ct., 7: B. Schaeffer to Flipside Home Renewal LLC, $32,000

Barkley Lane, 2503: F. Scott to L. Holloway, $62,500

Bellevue Rd., 2026: M&N Associates LLC to N. & S. Diehl, $70,000

Berryhill St., 1621: G. Campos to B. Brown, $30,000

Capitol St., 901: G. Ulrich to C. Lenz Jr., $117,900

Capitol St., 1003, 414 Forster St. and 919 & 923 N. 2nd St.: PLM Real Estate Investments & M. Stuski to AON LLC, $265,000

Chestnut St., 1822: G. Neff to A. Brown, $43,900

Derry St., 1408: M. Neidigh to J. & D. Judge, $30,000

Derry St., 2334: R. Miller & D. Shellenhamer to N. Hanna, $35,000

Derry St., 2400: J. Seibert to 2400 Derry Street LLC, $65,000

Edgewood Rd., 2315: R. Everngam Jr. & D. Bottini to I. & A. MacFarlane, $204,900

Fulton St., 1418: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to PA Deals LLC, $61,960

Fulton St., 1733: J. & R. Gregoire to M. Shelleman, $121,000

Grand St., 919: L. Bolan to A. Chen, $114,900

Green St., 1809: M. & R. Monticchio to D. Caley, $140,000

Harris St., 342: Keystone Properties Group LLC to D. Shelley, $89,000

Herr St., 211: M. Rudderow to G. Broome, $119,900

Herr St., 259: B. Eppley to J., J., & P. Millner, $150,000

Holly St., 1946: M. Naranjo to A. Mercado, $105,500

Hudson St., 1106: J. Raab to K. Fernandez, $60,000

Hudson St., 1215: A. Powers to PI Capital LLC, $33,500

Kelker St., 231: A. DeHoff to D. Rubenstein, $174,900

Lewis St., 303: E. Gadsen to E. Torres, $124,000

Market St., 810, 812 & 900; 24 & 26 N. 10thSt.; and 12, 21 & 23 N. 9th St.: Patriot News Co. to 812 Market Street LLC & Twenty Lake Holdings, $644,286

Market St., 1848: Kusic Financial Services to E. Lewis, $37,100

Muench St., 212: K. & K. Warner to C. Kim, $169,900

Mulberry St., 1162: Stoute Housing Inc. to Evidence Group LLC, $73,000

N. 2nd St., 1225: M. & L. Day to S. Shaffer, $125,000

N. 2nd St., 2011: M. Patterson to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $139,000

N. 2nd St., 2915: K. & K. Russell to L. Whitcomb & M. Quinn, $315,000

N. 2nd St., 3004: S. Jusufovic to L. Bolan, $219,000

N. 3rd St., 1722: M. Kravanis Jr. & N. Melton to A. Glickman, $112,000

N. 3rd St., 1728: Leonard J. Dobson Family Limited Partnership to Keystone Brothers Investments, $106,000

N. 3rd St., 1730: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Information Systems & Networks Corp. to S. Bernhard, $72,000

N. 3rd St., 1928: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to J. Hobbs, $70,000

N. 6th St., 3107: E. Willis to S. & K. Wright, $99,500

N. 6th St., 3136: M. Naranjo to L. Seay, $55,000

N. 12th St., 47: Hobbeze Inc. to E&K Homes LLC, $35,000

N. 16th St., 521: D. Taylor to Wells Fargo Bank NA, $38,262

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 413: H. Michels to J. Becker, $93,900

N. Front St., 2201, 2225 & 2229; and 2200, 2214, 2216 & 2218 N. 2nd St.: 2201 Partners LP to 2201 NFS LLC, $1,800,000

Penn St., 1805: L. Urban to T. & K. Hand, $93,000

Penn St., 1933: WCI Partners LP to D. Ranson, $139,900

Rudy Rd., 2145: M. & K. DeRosa to G. Broadnax, $178,000

Rudy Rd., 2409: N. Ishman to W. & A. Krahn, $149,900

Rumson Dr., 2843: N. & I. Nanov to C. Rojas, $35,000

S. 13th St., 340: JKC Properties LLC to Round Rock Investments LLC,, $101,000

S. 17th St., 927: M. Maniari & Z. Erroudi to A. Mejia, $89,900

S. 18th St., 1128: J. Buzby to T. Ro & J. Musa, $95,000

Verbeke St., 116: H. Reynolds to M. Zecharya & B. Macavoy, $30,000

Verbeke St., 215: J. & S. Bircher to J. & & E. High, $215,000

Verbeke St., 235: S. Will to A. & C. Maset, $146,000

Author: Lawrance Binda

D.R.E.A.M.S. Come True: Harrisburg native hosts first annual African-American history expo

June 7, 2017 | by Allison Moody

Macajah Brown, D.R.E.A.M.S. CEO

Area residents will be able to celebrate and learn local African-American history at the first annual African-American Black History Expo this Saturday at the HACC Midtown parking lot.

Vendors, caterers and local business owners will come together for this event hosted by D.R.E.A.M.S. Minority Business Network. Attendees will participate in kickball, face-painting, a boxing exhibition and a chance to dunk Mayor Eric Papenfuse in a dunk tank to benefit the Harrisburg Baby Cougars Football Team, said Macajah Brown, D.R.E.A.M.S. CEO and Harrisburg native.

“My ancestors are crying and our young people are dying because of a lack of [knowing] black history,” Brown said.

After years of seeing Harrisburg’s need for a black history and culture event, Brown said that Black History Month motivated him to start this event. When he asked students at Rowland and Scott schools about their school’s namesakes, he said many students did not know the schools were named after prominent local African-American leaders.

Last December Brown decided to take on the project himself. Now, he said, the event will be his proudest accomplishment, aside from graduating college.

“This is six months of God’s work coming together,” Brown said. “I’ve been like a little kid in a candy store.”

Each hour, different masters of ceremony, including ABC27’s Janel Knight and Fox43’s Chris Garrett, will discuss topics ranging from spirituality to government.

Ancestors of prominent black community leaders will speak about their family histories and the importance of remembering those who have passed. Ancestry researcher Darlene Colon will be available to field questions about one’s own family history.

Brown said he encourages those of all ethnicities to come and hopes that this event gives residents a chance to learn about African-American challenges and triumphs.

“This event is about the love of being who you are and the love for your family,” Brown said. “I’ve got to instill this in younger people”

The African-American Black History Expo will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 10 at HACC Midtown’s parking lots on 4^th and Reily streets. The event is free.

Author: Allison Moody

Drug Busts: 25 Harrisburg-area dealers charged in ongoing AG operation

June 6, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro

After two drug raids early this morning, Harrisburg residents on Luce and Balm streets felt safe to come out on their porches again, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

“They could come outside again with confidence in their safety and well-being,” Shapiro said at a press conference today. “People are being held hostage in their own neighborhoods by these dealers and by these users who frequent these homes and street corners.”

The morning raids resulted in arrests that Shapiro announced today as part of an ongoing operation with the Attorney General’s Mobile Street Crimes Unit. Since the operation began in November, the unit has arrested 131 dealers selling heroin, the opioid fentanyl, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and other drugs in the Harrisburg region, AG officials said.

“These are serious dealers who were attracting users and crime,” Shapiro said. “These dealers are now out of business.”

Thirteen of the 25 alleged drug dealers whose names were released today are in custody, Shapiro said.

The ongoing operation also resulted in confiscating 17 illegally owned guns, seizing illegal drugs and more than $18,000 since November, Shapiro said.

Shapiro called this morning’s drug busts a “textbook [example] of what went well.”

The unit arrested two dealers on the 100-block of Balm St., near State and Cameron streets, seized $2,900 and nine grams of cocaine. At a house on the 2300-block of Luce Street, near Derry Street, the unit arrested one dealer, officials said.

The unit, which Shapiro accompanied this morning, found three young children, a baby and a mother “looking shocked” in the second home, Shapiro said.

“My heart is broken for the children in the drug-infested neighborhoods,” he said. “We need to do better by these children.”

Mayor Eric Papenfuse and Police Chief Thomas Carter invited the unit into the city to target street-level dealers in November, Shapiro said. Papenfuse called Shapiro a “friend of the city.”

“This is an example of the cooperation necessary to do justice,” Papenfuse said.

The unit works with local municipalities across the state to target street-level crimes, normally related to drugs or gangs, AG officials said.

The Mobile Street Crimes Unit also works with Dauphin County agencies, state police agencies, federal agencies and the local police departments in Middletown, Susquehanna Township, Lower Paxton Township and Steelton.

“As you can see, we all stand up here as one,” Carter said, joined by officials from the cooperating agencies and municipalities. “Everybody has given their word that we will fight this drug war and we will save as many kids as we can. because the future is all about our kids.”

“These communities made it a priority to target street-level dealers,” Shapiro said.

Author: Danielle Roth

TheBurg Podcast, June 2, 2017

June 2, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Illustration by Brad Gebhart

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

June 2, 2017: This week, Editor-in-Chief Lawrance Binda and City Reporter Danielle Roth discuss the issues that Mayor Eric Papenfuse will face in his next term. Then, they dive into some recent beautification news in the city–dog parks, anti-litter campaigns–and touch on updates from City Council, including a proposed expansion of the Downtown Improvement District.

Subscribe to TheBurg Podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

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

Find the stories related to this week’s podcast:

Litter-free HBG: New trash can lids aim to reduce city-wide litter.

City Council Update: Reservoir Park Bandshell to receive fresh paint, general repairs

Pooch Paradise: Dog park proposed for Midtown Harrisburg.

City Council Update: Park updates, police contract approved.

June News Digest

May 31, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Papenfuse Re-nominated

Incumbent Eric Papenfuse secured the Democratic nomination for Harrisburg mayor last month by a wide margin, putting him in a strong position to serve a second term.

With all precincts reporting, Papenfuse tallied 2,663 votes versus 2,048 for his nearest challenger, former City Council President Gloria Martin-Roberts.

In his acceptance speech, Papenfuse said he was “troubled” that the city appeared so divided during the election and that turnout was low.

“I’m committed to uniting this divided city,” he said, speaking at his business, Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

He also said he would make a strong effort to pass a home rule charter for Harrisburg in a second term.

“Home rule is the path to the city’s sustainable future,” he said.

For her part, Martin-Roberts appeared disappointed in her second-place showing, as she gathered with about 30 supporters at the Harrisburg Elks Lodge.

“We ran a good, clean race,” she said. “We took the high road.”

Trailing the field were challengers Jennie Jenkins (506 votes), Lewis Butts (124 votes) and Anthony Harrell (74 votes).

No Republicans ran in the primary. Papenfuse still must win the general election on Nov. 7, but he stands a strong chance in a city that is overwhelmingly Democratic. In fact, he also secured the Republican nomination by collecting the most write-in votes on the GOP side.

Council Incumbents Victorious

Harrisburg City Council incumbents emerged with wins last month in the city’s Democratic primary, while the results were more mixed in school board races.

Ben Allatt, Wanda Williams and Shamaine Daniels each won nominations for four-year terms, as did challenger Ausha Green. No Republicans ran in the primary.

For city school board, Democratic incumbents Judd Pittman and Danielle Robinson won nominations for four-year terms, as did challengers Brian Carter and Carrie Fowler. Incumbent James Thompson lost nomination on the Democratic side but cross-filed, so will appear as a Republican candidate in the general election. Newcomer Percel Eiland ran unchallenged for the nomination for the board’s lone two-year seat.

In other races, incumbent city Treasurer Dan Miller and incumbent city Controller Charlie DeBrunner ran unopposed, thus securing the Democratic nomination. There was no Republican challenger for either office.

Several races for magisterial district justice were hotly contested.

Incumbent Barbara Pianka defeated newcomer Josh Feldman for the Democratic nomination for district 12-1-02. Both candidates cross-filed for the Republican nomination, and, though very close, Pianka also won that race.

In Harrisburg district 12-1-04, incumbent Justice David O’Leary narrowly defeated former Harrisburg Treasurer Tyrell Spradley for the Democratic nomination. No Republicans competed for the seat.

And, in an open seat for district 12-1-05, Hanif Johnson came out ahead in a crowded Democratic field, defeating Harrisburg Councilwoman Destini Hodges, former Councilman Kelly Summerford and newcomer Claude Phipps. Only Phipps cross-filed on the Republican side, so he secured that nomination.

All of the winners must compete in November’s general election.

Illegal Gun Roundup

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police announced last month it has taken 82 illegally owned guns off the street from January to May.

Community policing, with a focus on getting firearms from illegal owners, helped the bureau obtain the 82 guns, said Police Chief Thomas Carter. He credited his bureau’s leadership, professionalism and training for rounding up the illegally owned guns with minimal injury.

“There are two guns right there: the police officer’s gun and the bad guy’s gun,” he said. “Those are opportunities that things could go bad or someone could get seriously hurt or even killed.”

Capt. Deric Moody asked Harrisburg residents for their support.

“Please continue to help us,” he said. “At least 13 weapons came from citizens picking up the phone and saying, ‘Here’s what I know, here’s what I found.’”

The guns will be destroyed if they cannot be returned to their legal owner, police officials said.

More Affordable Housing

Officials broke ground last month on the construction of affordable housing units on Hummel Street in Allison Hill.

Three units will be completely gutted and renovated, while five units will be demolished to make way for new townhouses for purchase by low-income families, said Gary Lenker, executive director of Tri-County Housing Development Corp.

The $2.25 million project, administered by Tri-County, is supported by grants from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program, Dauphin County’s gaming grant program and the nonprofit, Impact Harrisburg.

The affordable housing project on Hummel Street plays into the city’s coordinated focus on the MulDer Square neighborhood near Mulberry and Derry streets, said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse. A total of $31 million for housing, streetscape and infrastructure development is slated to flow to that area, he said.

“[This is] a tidal wave that can change the community,” he said.

Steelton Skate Park

Construction started last month on a skate park in Steelton Municipal Park.

Dauphin County commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George Hartwick joined Steelton Council President Jeffrey Wright and Borough Manager Doug Brown to break ground on the project.

This will be the first skate park in Dauphin County. The skate park will replace the tennis courts, which officials said were underutilized. Plans include a dozen concrete skating features, including a bowl, officials said.

Homes Sales Jump

The spring home-buying season got off to a strong start, with area home sales jumping 16.8 percent in April.

For the month, 863 homes sold in the region compared to 739 sales in April 2016, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. The median sales price increased to $174,160 from $160,000, and average days on the market fell to 68 from 83.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 288 units versus 255 in the year-ago period, while the median price jumped to $158,900 versus $139,900, said GHAR. Cumberland County sales increased to 327 units from 249 in April 2016, and the median price rose to $189,900 from $175,000.

In Perry County, 34 homes sold versus 35 in the year-ago period, while the median price was $123,387, a drop from $133,500.

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

So Noted

Excel Interior Concepts & Construction of Lemoyne has received three awards for residential remodeling projects completed in 2016, including two awards in the best kitchen renovation category and one in the best bathroom renovation category. The recognition from the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg came during the annual Pyramid Awards event.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission last month appointed Patrick C. Morrison as site administrator to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg. Morrison, formerly the museum’s education director, replaced Jeffrey Bliemeister.

Roman Colon has been named the 2017 Oliver LaGrone Scholar, given each year to a graduate of Harrisburg High School. With the $7,000 scholarship, Colon plans to attend Penn State Harrisburg to study civil engineering.

Sweets on Market, an ice cream shop in Strawberry Square along Market Street, celebrated its grand opening last month. Mayor Eric Papenfuse, Harristown CEO Brad Jones and John Fulponi from state Sen. John DiSanto’s office joined owner TJ Grewel for a ribbon cutting.

TheBurg picked up 14 awards last month at the annual Keystone Press Awards banquet sponsored by the PA News Media Association Foundation. These included first-place awards for column writing, business/consumer story, feature photo and graphic/photo illustration, as well as the prestigious “Sweepstakes” award for best performance in our category.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 1914: C. Johnson to K. Bailey, $60,000

Boas St., 213: T. Stark to B. Wagner, $96,000

Boas St., 426: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to N. Spence, $65,000

Briggs St., 1506: C. Jackson & K. Roach to S. Swartz, $110,000

Chestnut St., 2411: J. Andrews Jr. to P. & A. Maple, $140,000

Emerald St., 220: C. Shokes to HBG Rents LLC, $35,000

Jefferson St., 2635: A. & E. Ballard & S. Cornish to F. Brannon & H. Cabrera, $42,000

Kensington St., 2311: CJR Rentals LLC to L. Johnson & J. Ardrey, $68,000

Market St., 1912 & 1519 N. 6th St.: Rogue Enterprises LLC to CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown, $87,621

Muench St., 220: WCI Partners LP to Q. Vandermeersch, $172,000

Muench St., 608: LSF9 Master Participation List to Buonarroti Trust, $30,000

2nd St., 3217: M. Ruff to N. & L. Swett, $90,000

3rd St., 2447: Triple J. Associates Ltd. To Keynet Business Network Inc., $60,000

4th St., 1631: GWD Capitol Heights LP to K. Prince, $103,900

5th St., 2522: Rivas Property Investments LLC to I. Mirambeaux, $35,000

Front St., 1525, Unit 104: D. Waltz to D. & M. Liberatore, $123,000

Front St., 1525, Unit 501: C. Markley to C. Keefauver, $179,900

Front St., 1525, Unit 614: C. Fetterhoff Jr. to J. & D. Sciortino, $90,000

Front St., 1705: WCI Partners Inc. to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $1,316,161

Peffer St., 224: D. Leaman to N. Dohner, $168,000

Penn St., 1624: M. Anderson & Y. Dilman to S. Hickey, $139,900

Regina St., 1440: M. Naranjo to CTD Group LLC, $30,000

Regina St., 1600: K. Yoder to J. Hendricks, $130,000

Reily St., 263: Nish Properties LLC to Cool2Zap Properties LLC, $180,000

Rudy Rd., 2492: US Bank NA to My Neighbor LLC, $33,600

Rumson Dr., 269: L. & J. Lewis to K. Bowman, $79,900

Showers St., 613: J. & B. Wildeman to L. Plummer, $160,000

3rd St., 11: Market View LP, Brickbox Enterprises Ltd. & Property Management Inc. to SOMA Associates LLC, $165,000

13th St., 1039 & 1300 Sycamore St.: Graybar Electric Co. to Brooks Property Holdings LLC, $720,000

17th St., 830: Greenleaf Investment Properties LLC to S. Flores, $35,000

21st St., 755: V. Tran to B. Zimmerman, $33,000

State St., 231, Unit 302: LUX 1 LP to E. Dice II, $107,000

Susquehanna St., 2306 & 2314: J. Cuevas & I. Padua to A. Salgado, $80,000

Swatara St., 2415: J. Saul to P. Mackie & M. Swanger, $160,000

Verbeke St., 213: J. & S. Bircher to J. & E. High, $135,000

Wiconisco St., 403: Willowscott Investments LLC to J. Negley, $113,800

Harrisburg property sales for April 2017, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Author: Lawrance Binda

City Council Update: Park updates, police contract approved.

May 24, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

green grass in bckground, playground in foreground. Blue sky, rowhomes behind it.

The park at 4th and Emerald streets is slated to receive two trees.

Harrisburg may be a step closer to fixing its two city pools, which have struggled for years to open on time and stay open all summer.

Last night, City Council approved a measure to examine the feasibility of renovating its existing pools or constructing a new one. Council approved other measures for city parks, too, including planting trees at four parks, and a police contract.

The city will begin the pool feasibility study after checking that former Mayor Linda Thompson’s administration did not already conduct a similar study. Parks and Recreation Chair Destini Hodges added an amendment that the administration will search for the previous study before the June 6 council meeting.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said it’s possible that the previous administration conducted a similar study, adding that current city officials did not know of any study. Papenfuse and Council President Wanda Williams both said they would ask the previous administration about the existence of a prior study.

The pools, built in the 1960s, have experienced maintenance issues that have caused closures or delayed openings in the past ten years. This year, both pools will open mid-June.

In other action, four parks are slated to receive a total of 25 trees after council approved a $3,750 grant from TreeVitalize, a program established by the state to increase urban canopies. The trees will be planted in Riverfront Park and in parks at 4^th and Emerald streets, 19^th and Forster streets and 7^th and Radnor streets.

In a 5-2 vote, Council also approved a new labor agreement with the Bureau of Police. In March, the administration and police officers’ union negotiated a contract designed to encourage young officers to stick with Harrisburg’s force, in addition to rewarding seasoned officers.

Councilman Cornelius Johnson, public safety committee chair, voted against the contract. He said the contract had “wins” for the administration and the police officer’s union, especially under Act 47 constraints. However, he said he voted against it because the negotiating process excluded city council until the final stages.

“While I do commend the administration, I vote no [because] we need to include council when moving forward,” he said. “In the future regarding all union contracts, [we should] make sure that council is a partner. This puts us in a position when we are unable to make changes.”

Author: Danielle Roth

TheBurg Podcast, May 18, 2017

May 18, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

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

May 18, 2017: This week, editor-in-chief Lawrance Binda and city reporter Danielle Roth discuss Tuesday’s primary election. Binda shares details from Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s victory party at the Midtown Scholar. Roth describes the scene at mayoral challenger Gloria Martin-Roberts’ election night party. They talk mayoral campaign strategies, what surprised them about the primary election results, and their “Most Harrisburg Thing This Week.”

Subscribe to TheBurg Podcast on iTunes and Google Play.

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

Find the stories related to this week’s podcast:

Papenfuse Wins Re-nomination for Harrisburg Mayor; Council Incumbents Successful

Art lovers, rejoice! 50th Annual ArtsFest returns with a twist.

May 12, 2017 | by Yaasmeen Piper

bright purple flower surrounded by line of other flower yard decorations

An artist at last year’s ArtsFest made these metal lawn decorations.

Each Memorial Day weekend, ArtsFest takes over the banks of Harrisburg’s Susquehanna River. This year, the 50^th annual festival returns with some new attractions.

In addition to artists displaying and selling hand-crafted goods, attendees can enjoy a flea market, live jazz music, film screenings and craft beer during the free three-day event.

“Come to Harrisburg,” said Melissa Snyder, executive director of the arts nonprofit Jump Street. “Enjoy the wonderful art, the great music and incredible food along our beautiful Susquehanna River.”

Event organizers expect more than 35,000 attendees will peruse the wares from local and national artists specializing in jewelry, pottery, photography, painting and more.

For the first time, Harrisburg’s monthly arts market, the HBG Flea, will host HbgFest, a festival within the festival.

“You’re going to be amazed at the quality of the work right here in our own backyard,” Snyder said. “HBGFest inside ArtsFest will bring the passion of HBG Flea to present a snapshot of the best of art and handiwork from our own Harrisburg local artists.”

Jump Street Executive Director Melissa Snyder and Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced the details of ArtsFest this morning.

Some might say that another craft at ArtsFest is the food, as 32 food trucks will offer a variety of cuisines and dishes.

The main stage at Kunkel Plaza will feature local school bands and other local favorites. Jazz musicians will perform with JazzFest, hosted by Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz, on a stage near the Walnut Street Bridge.

FilmFest also returns this year. The three-day festival, sponsored by Moviate Underground, will feature films ranging from documentaries to comedies and animation.

“Screenings are all free for everyone to attend,” Snyder said, “They create an atmosphere unlike any other film festival.”

Younger attendees can enjoy games and performances during KidsFest. Each day between 12 and 5 p.m., Gamut Theatre’s group, Popcorn Hat Players, will perform in the children’s section of the festival.

ArtsFest welcomes two additional partners this year.

With a special treat for beer-lovers, Camp Hill-based Ever Grain Brewing Co. will bring their craft beer to BeerFest in the Civic Club of Harrisburg.

Capital Region Water, Harrisburg’s water authority, will help ArtsFest reduce waste and water usage with a free tap water bar.

“We’re trying to cut back on our impact on the environment,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We’re going to be encouraging people to our reusable water bottles and try to avoid all the plastic bottles that usually fill the festival.”

Festival-goers can bring their own water bottles or purchase one from Jump Street and Members 1^st.

Find free street parking all day Sunday and Monday, a federal holiday. Use the code LUVHBG with the ParkMobile app to score four hours of free street parking Saturday. The Market Square parking garage will be available for $10 each day of the festival.

This story was updated on 1:45 p.m. on May 15 to correct errors relating to JazzFest and the Kunkel Plaza main stage.

Author: Yaasmeen Piper

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