Baltimore Named Councilman
The Harrisburg City Council last month named Jeffrey Baltimore as its newest member, filling a seat left vacant by the sudden death of Eugenia Smith.
Baltimore bested a field of 12 candidates, but not before a deadlocked vote was broken by Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
For six rounds, the council split its vote between Baltimore, accountant Alex Reber and former Councilman Kelly Summerford. After Summerford dropped out, the council remained torn between Baltimore and Reber, a key aide to former city controller and mayoral candidate Dan Miller.
Papenfuse then cast the tie-breaking vote for Baltimore, lauding him for his “dedication to education and youth,” his community spirit and his “extensive background in economic development.”
Baltimore once served in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development under former Mayor Stephen Reed. After leaving the administration in 2000, he worked for the state Department of Community and Economic Development and for the York County Economic Development Corp.
Currently, Baltimore is a postal worker, a building contractor and heads up BMORE U, a “personal training enterprise” that teaches that healthy living is key to a successful life.
The council seat had been vacant for about a month following Smith’s death on April 11.
Kim Takes Democratic Primary
Incumbent state Rep. Patty Kim is set to claim a second term after handily beating back a primary challenge.
Kim tallied 4,251 votes versus 1,172 for challenger Gina Johnson-Roberson in the Democratic primary for the 103rd legislative district, which includes Harrisburg, Steelton, Highspire and part of Swatara Township. She is likely to win re-election as the Republican Party failed to run a candidate for the seat.
In other local races, former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson won the Democratic primary for the fourth Congressional district after running unopposed. She will face incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry in the Nov. 4 general election.
Harrisburg Councilman Brad Koplinski placed fourth in a field of five in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. The victor, Philadelphia state Sen. Mike Stack, will run with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Wolf against Republican incumbents Gov. Tom Corbett and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley in November.
City Plans Light Fixes
Harrisburg plans to replace most of its streetlights by the end of the year, fixing a years-long problem that has left many streets in the dark, the city said last month.
Shortly, Harrisburg will issue a request for proposals to install energy-efficient LED lights for its 4,269 “cobra-head” light fixtures, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
“I believe [the installation] can be done before the end of the year,” he said.
The $2 to $3 million project will be paid through funds from the city’s infrastructure silo, which was set up as part of its economic recovery plan.
The city also has 1,131 “acorn-style” fixtures. Those lights will be replaced in a later phase of work.
LED lights should save the city about $250,000 a year in energy costs and are as much as 10-times brighter than the existing lights, said Papenfuse.
In addition, Harrisburg has begun repairing and replacing the 72 broken light fixtures in the city, many of which have been downed by auto accidents or age. So far, seven fixtures have been fixed. This work will continue over the next few months, independent of the RFP.
Harrisburg also is asking for help from the community. On June 7, two groups—Historic Harrisburg Association and Lighten Up Harrisburg—will sponsor a Glow Run to help raise money to defray some of the cost of the light replacement. A new bulb costs $75 to purchase, plus the cost of labor, said city Treasurer John Campbell.
To find out more about the Glow Run 5K, see our story in this issue or visit https://historicharrisburg.com.
Trash-Cleanup Campaign
City Councilwoman Sandra Reid last month unveiled a new program of aggressive enforcement of Harrisburg’s trash and litter ordinances.
The program, nicknamed Operation C.O.P.E., would encourage citations for landlords and homeowners who improperly dispose of household waste or allow unsightly garbage to pile outside their properties.
“The days of you throwing out anything you want, wherever you want, whenever you want, are over,” Reid said at a press conference in City Hall.
Under Operation C.O.P.E., for “Clean Up, Observe/Organize, Provide, Enforce,” tickets would be issued for anything from leaving trash curbside on a non-pickup day to setting out garbage that is not properly enclosed in a lidded trashcan.
The program also would encourage volunteer groups to organize cleanup days in city neighborhoods.
Reid has also planned for a new position of “solid waste education enforcement technician,” who will bear primary responsibility for ticketing property owners for improper disposal.
The position, which was budgeted for in 2014 at a $40,700 salary, is currently unfilled and will remain so at least until the city lifts its temporary hiring freeze. Nonetheless, Reid said she hoped to begin stepping up enforcement in late July or early August.
City Hall Donations Received
Harrisburg last month received several donations to improve City Hall and the Public Safety Building.
Penn National Insurance donated $5,000 to help make repairs and renovations to the downtown building and will repair the flag post in the courtyard that was damaged recently when a car struck it, said city spokeswoman Joyce Davis.
Touch of Color Flooring soon will re-carpet the public hallway on the second floor, she said. Harrisburg-based Touch of Color already has installed new carpeting in the Public Safety Building’s Emergency Operations Center and walkway from City Hall, as well as in the main elevators.
In addition, the College Club of Harrisburg recently donated $100 to the City Hall Beautiful Fund, which has received other donations from individuals throughout the Harrisburg area, according to the city.
The family of the late Gov. George M. Leader has donated labor and materials to renovate the police bureau’s roll call and break rooms, in addition to providing new appliances for the break room, the city said.
“We continue to see area businesses and individuals step up to show support for Harrisburg’s recovery,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The outpouring of local and regional support to help our capital city thrive is truly heartening. We encourage other civic-minded businesses throughout the region to join in this important program to maintain our government center.”
West Shore Hospital Opens
PinnacleHealth’s West Shore Hospital opened last month in Mechanicsburg, the first new hospital to be built in central Pennsylvania in decades.
The five-story, 188,000-square-foot facility features 108 private rooms, seven operating rooms and a 12-bed intensive care unit. Services offered include acute and emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics, surgical services and chronic disease management.
“We are excited about the opening of the West Shore Hospital and our ability to provide area residents with access to world-class care close to their homes,” said Michael A. Young, PinnacleHealth president and CEO. “The hospital represents a new chapter in healthcare that will touch the lives of West Shore residents for decades to come.”
The hospital campus offers a walking trail available to the public. The scenic, paved footpath is divided among its one-mile distance for exercise and respite.
West Shore Hospital is expected to create 500 new healthcare jobs by 2017, said PinnacleHealth.
Changing Hands
Barkley Lane, 2510: U.S. Bank National Association to Nish Properties, $35,000
Bellevue Rd., 1901: Anthony Properties LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $67,500
Benton St., 543: PA Deals LLC to L. Shoffner & T. Samsel, $37,500
Berryhill St., 1701: Unilever Manufacturing US Inc. to Philadelphia Macaroni Co., $1 million
Boas St., 302: J. Hammer to M. Cantwell, $134,900
Briggs St., 209: J. & S. Brellos to C. Delozier, $39,900
Derry St., 2336: Mahe Enterprises LLC to E. Hernandez, $48,000
Green St., 1801 & 1803: B. Winpenney to Heinly Homes LLC, $190,000
Green St., 1834: L. & A. Lara to WCI Partners LP, $55,000
Green St., 1839: SCS Partnership to WCI Partners LP, $1.8 million
Green St., 2047: T. & J. Leonard to A. & A. Selkowitz, $175,000
Hoffman St., 3221: S. & S. Keo to W. Wood, $75,000
Holly St., 2020: B. Budesheim to W. & L. Brown, $51,000
Kelker St., 435: A. Krawczyk to E. Gish, $112,500
Kensington St., 2128: W. Scott to T. & S. James, $58,000
Kensington St., 2240: S. Lascara to D. Murphy, $31,000
Kensington St., 2316: D. Andres Jr. to B. Kelley, $40,218
Lewis St., 309: H. Lonon et al to J. Laing, $65,000
Market St., 315: Susquehanna Bank to 26th Street LLC, $82,000
Muench St., 210: K. Kingston et al to WCI Partners LP, $225,000
Muench St., 236: Bank of New York Mellon Trustee to WCI Partners LP, $53,500
North St., 260, 262: R. & T. Hanna to TJC East Properties, $370,000
N. 2nd St., 1901: Pharma Enterprises LLC to WCI Partners LP, $225,000
N. 2nd St., 2131: M. Owens & S. Luci to J. & R. Miller, $87,500
N. 3rd St., 2317: Centric Bank to Sam Hill Properties LLC, $49,636
N. 3rd St., 2319: Centric Bank to Sam Hill Properties LLC, $61,091
N. 3rd St., 2419: S. Pierce to M. & S. Kreines, $138,000
N. 7th St., 1641 & 1803: Aizen LLC to US Recycling LLC, $350,000
N. 16th St., 520: Trusted Source Capital LLC to M. McWilliams, $30,000
N. Front St., 2837, Unit 201: M. Seipos to R. & L. Barry, $77,000
Paxton St., 1640: J. Booth to C. Barboza, $52,000
S. 4th St., 19: Mater & Mater to S. Mater, $175,000
S. 14th St., 361: J. Rodriguez to Urena Diaz Property, $33,000
S. 14th St., 400: D. Boyle to J. Rodriguez, $40,000
S. 15th St., 916: D. White to R. & A. Mortha, $83,000
S. 25th St., 610: M. & B. Sumy to I. Yolov, $57,000
State St., 1624: M. Guerrero to WLW Holdings LLC, $58,000
Summit St., 160: P. Bayer to J. & J. Domenico, $30,000
Swatara St., 1316: D. & J. Boyle to K. Daniel, $32,000
Verbeke St., 252: A. O’Neal to A. Kennedy-Shaffer, $169,900
Vernon St., 1451: D. & J. Boyle to J. Rodriguez, $30,000
Wyeth St., 1403: S. Guszick III to M. Miller, $116,000
Harrisburg property sales for April 2014, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
The heart of a community is its good health.
