Tag Archives: Strawberry Square

Holiday Hoopla: Harrisburg’s Annual Parade Set for Tomorrow

November 18, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Put on your Santa hat and grab a hot cocoa–it’s almost time for Harrisburg’s annual holiday parade.

The 2016 parade, with a theme of “Making the Season Bright,” steps off tomorrow at noon from City Island with a long line of bands, floats, balloons, vintage cars and, of course, Santa. Participants will march up Market Street, turn on 2nd Street, make another turn on North Street, then follow Front Street back.

“This year’s parade will be very exciting,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We are anticipating a large crowd to join us along the parade route for this year’s holiday parade.”

Besides the marchers, food trucks will set up on Market Street between Front and 2nd streets.

Free parking will be available at the Market Square garage from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., which is sponsored by PSECU. In addition to free parking in the garage, parade attendees can utilize the Pango App and get up to 4 hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code.

The Market Street Bridge will close at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday. Parade participants will be able to enter City Island from the West Shore. N. Front Street will close at 10 a.m. from Forster to Market streets. 2nd Street from Chestnut to North streets will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Traffic will detour east on Forster Street to N. 7th Street, south on 7th Street to Walnut Street, west on Walnut Street to N. 3rd Street, south on 3rd Street to Chestnut Street back to Front Street.

After the parade, the festivities move to Strawberry Square for hot chocolate and the awards ceremony. Trophies will be awarded to the top dance, step and drill team units, and cash prizes will be given to the top high school marching bands.

“I would like to especially thank our title sponsor, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau and our gold sponsor, PSECU.” Papenfuse said. “Without their support, we would not be able to put together this wonderful event.”

Author: Lawrance Binda

A Life in Style: Handbags, accessories, inspiration welcome you at AMMA JO’s

October 31, 2016 | by Jen Fertenbaugh

It turns out Little Amps isn’t the only place to get a pick-me-up in Strawberry Square.

Along the corridor of the Market Street entrance, shoppers can visit the showroom of fashion label AMMA JO and peruse her colorful handbags and unique accessories. Expect to smile, experience warmth and, for those who seek it, be inspired. Oh, and chances are also pretty good that you’ll score the perfect piece to accompany your wardrobe.

Owner and designer Amma Johnson will tell you that’s exactly the point.

“We want people to feel exhilarated when they come to the store,” she said.

Her showroom sets the stage. Vibrancy is palpable, generated by the juxtaposition of the colorful patterns and fabrics with the abundance of bright lights and white displays.

“All the color comes from what we are selling—it comes from the bags,” she explained.

Johnson’s dream of becoming a designer began in childhood, but her journey paved the way for making it a reality just two years ago.

“I had something that I was supposed to give to the world, and I wanted to share it,” she said.

Johnson sketched a handbag and had one sample made.

“It was the happiest day of my life,” she said.

She recalled her first vendor show to illustrate the connection between her showroom and her story.

“I didn’t have enough money for a display, so I used white shipping boxes and brought some LED lights I bought from Amazon,” she said. “It was white boxes and lights—and my purses. And it was wonderful.”

Something Beautiful

Today, AMMA JO products are sold in about 40 small- and mid-size boutiques across the country, through her online store and in the Harrisburg showroom.

The label offers 10 lines of limited edition handbags. Only 30 to 40 bags are produced, each showcasing colorful fabrics or Johnson’s digital art. Only one style—her signature color bag—is brought back every season.

“Everything changes,” she said. “Just like life.”

Shoppers can also find beaded belts and jewelry crafted by Kenyan women and tote bags from Ghana, made by a designer who lives in her father’s hometown.

“Africa is part of my story,” she said.

Johnson sketches designs and sends them to the African artisans, empowering them to add their own personal touches.

“We get to work together to make something beautiful grow,” she said.

Local artisans also market accessories and lifestyle items under the AMMA JO label. For instance, under Johnson’s mentorship, Angel, one of her employees who shared a similar dream, now sells her jewelry line, “Twisted,” in the showroom.

Recognizing that customers need to connect personally with her brand, Johnson also holds trunk shows and travels to the boutiques that carry her line.

“People need to experience the story—shop the brand with their five senses,” she said.

For locals, the Strawberry Square showroom is the perfect place to do just that. Citing Harrisburg’s central location, Johnson easily caters to thousands of locals and visitors at Strawberry Square, including the many state workers who recently relocated from the former State Hospital grounds.

“Ladies enjoy having another opportunity to shop,” she said. “It has been great. The foot traffic is amazing.”

In fact, Johnson recently doubled her retail space, tearing down a wall to expand to the storefront next door.

“This has been a real win for us,” she said.

Beautiful Too

Johnson is designing more than a handbag; she is living her life’s mission.

“I get to inspire people to live their dream,” she explained. “It’s about adding color, adding vibrancy to people’s lives.”

Johnson plans to expand and form AJ Brands, with the AMMA JO label leading the way. She envisions the showroom as a location for mentoring budding designers and empowering young entrepreneurs, just like her mentors once guided her.

“People believed in me,” she said. “They coached me, gave me tips and encouragement. They saw something in me, and it propelled me forward.”

One look around the showroom at the Kenyan belts and the Twisted jewelry line, and it’s clear Johnson is well on her way of accomplishing that, too.

And, of course, her mission is perfectly captured in the design of a handbag.

“Initially, several panels of fabric may seem like they would never fit together,” she said. “But they do. They came together right here, in this beautiful bag.”

And the bag symbolizes the messages she wishes to share with the world.

“Life is crazy. Life is contrasting, but life is beautiful too.”

The AMMA JO Showroom is located on the first floor of the Shoppes at Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. For information or appointments, call 717-745-8391 or visit www.ammajoshowroom.com.

Author: Jen Fertenbaugh

June News Digest

June 30, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Miller Named Treasurer

Long-time Harrisburg official Dan Miller is the city’s new treasurer, following a close vote last month by City Council.

Miller bested a field of four nominees to replace Tyrell Spradley, who left after 18 months in office and just months after being sworn in for a full term. Miller will serve until the next municipal election in 2017.

Council selected Miller by a 4 to 3 margin in a second round of voting, following interviews with all four nominees. Besides Miller, the finalists included former city Councilman Brad Koplinski and local attorneys Karen Balaban and Peter Marks.

Miller, an accountant by trade, told council that he wished to serve because he is well qualified for the job and hopes to improve the operations of the department. He plans to set up a separate website for the treasurer’s office and said he is not interested in running for higher office.

Miller has a long history of public service in Harrisburg, previously serving as a city councilman and city controller. Three years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in a contentious race against now-Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

School Budget Passed

The school portion of Harrisburg’s property tax will drop slightly this year under a $143 million budget passed last month by the district’s school board.

The board cut the tax rate from about 27.9156 mills to 27.8 mills, meaning that an owner with property valued at $100,000 would see a tax decrease of about $11 for the 2016-17 school year. Property tax bills are due to be mailed this month.

The school board was divided on whether to retain the current tax rate and keep about $150,000 in the budget or give homeowners a small tax break. In the end, the board decided to offer the largely symbolic tax cut.

Teacher Contract Approved

The Harrisburg school board and teachers agreed to a new contract last month, ending a four-year battle between the two sides.

The agreement gives teachers their first raise since a state-appointed chief recovery officer was named in 2012. In turn, teachers and others covered by the agreement, including school guidance counselors and nurses, will contribute more to their health care plans.

Before the agreement, teachers had threatened to strike if the school board and the Harrisburg Education Association could not reach a new accord.

Dispersal of Housing Funds Considered

Harrisburg would retain federal housing funds for its own use under an ordinance introduced last month by the city administration.

Under the proposal, the city would keep nearly $1.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, an annual grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. For years, the city has shared the money with a select group of nonprofit organizations.

Under the administration’s proposal, about one-third of the amount would go to debt service, as the city must pay back a federal loan it backed for the once-bankrupt Capitol View Commerce Center, as well as pay back other federal community development loans dating back about 15 years.

Remaining funds would go to public safety, housing rehabilitation, emergency demolition and several other city-identified priorities.

Several nonprofit groups have protested being shut out of the annual distribution. At press time, City Council had not agreed to the final disbursement of the monies.

Tax Abatement Finalized

Dauphin County last month gave the final OK to Harrisburg’s tax abatement plan, allowing the 10-year abatement to proceed.

The county commissioners approved the plan unanimously, which will offer a full, 100-percent abatement over 10 years for improvements to residential properties and at least a 50-percent abatement on improvements to commercial properties.

A divided City Council passed the administration’s abatement plan last year. The school board approved it in May, leaving only Dauphin County—as the final taxing authority for city properties—to offer its blessing. Harrisburg now must hire an administrator to oversee the program.

The abatement also offers some benefit for new construction, but, to get tax relief, developers must follow certain requirements, including paying a prevailing wage for construction workers and hiring a certain percentage of minority and local workers.

State Forgoes Appeal

The state attorney general’s office will not appeal a court ruling that dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.

In a brief statement, the office said it would honor a May ruling by presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess that the crimes alleged by the state occurred too long ago, exceeding the statute of limitations.

The state, though, will continue to pursue 144 criminal counts against Reed on theft-related charges.

“With his fascination for the Wild West, this man used other people’s money to decorate his house and office with antiques,” said Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. “But Pennsylvania is not the Wild West. We have the rule of law here.”

New Precinct Planned

Allison Hill soon may get a new police precinct, as the city plans to renovate a building near 15^th and Derry streets.

Money to rehab the one-story structure would come from part of a $250,000 federal community grant, according to Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.

Allison Hill residents have been clamoring for increased police presence for many years, and Carter said the new, 24-hour station should make police officers more visible, while reducing response times and increasing ties to the community.

Home Sales Jump

Home sales in the Harrisburg area continued their yearlong rise, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

Sales rose to 908 units in May compared to 792 units in the year-ago period, with the median price rising to $174,900 vs. $170,000, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 297 units against 269 in May 2015, while the median price dipped to $155,000 from $159,900. In Cumberland County, sales rose to 326 from 281, and the median price increased to $219,561 from 213,712. Average days on the market fell in both counties.

In Perry County, 30 homes sold compared to 37 in the year-ago period. However, the median price increased to $151,500 vs. $117,900 in May 2015.

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

So Noted

Harrisburg Beer Week handed over a check for $40,000 last month to Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. The check was double the amount raised last year during the weeklong celebration of craft beer. River Rescue plans to use the money for additional improvements to its facility.

Highmark Blue Shield presented Harrisburg with a $100,000 grant last month to fund summer enrichment and after-school programs for children in the city school district. The Highmark funding will support activities like basketball, golf, swimming, various educational field trips and a daily lunch. Harrisburg children ages 6 to 18 are eligible.

PinnacleHealth this month plans to open the new Lebanon Valley Advanced Care Center, an 80,000-square-foot building at 1251 E. Main St., Annville. When fully occupied, the facility will house numerous groups, including Annville Family Medicine, PinnacleHealth Endocrinology, Select Physical Therapy, PinnacleHealth Express and the PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute.

Rite Aid in downtown Harrisburg will move across Market Street into about 14,000 square feet in Strawberry Square, it was announced last month. The larger space will allow Rite Aid to offer more products, as well as a retail pharmacy, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square. The move should occur by the end of the year. In other Strawberry Square news, CASA plans to take another 2,400 square feet of space there, while the fashion brand AMMA JO last month doubled its presence by expanding into an adjoining storefront.

The Game Table Café has cut the ribbon on its location at 4900 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. The Game Table Café provides a relaxed setting to enjoy a cup of coffee and play board games with friends and family.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2515: K. Troung & L. Pham to L. Truong, $45,000

Bellevue Rd., 2114: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to D. & E. Kerr, $153,000

Boas St., 219: D. Commins to A. Moyer, $136,000

Brookwood St., 2434: R. Hillman to The IRA Club & T. McDougal, $42,000

Calder St., 115: A. & M. Anselmo to Penn Real Estate Solutions LLC, $49,700

Calder St., 519: S. & M. Martin to J. Fisher, $100,000

Croyden Rd., 2778: PA Deals LLC to D. Blumenthal, $78,000

Derry St., 2712: L. & J. Burnette to D. Diehl, $72,000

Edward St., 243: A. Clionsky to D. & J. Ruscito, $200,000

Edward St., 504: S. Krum to D. & J. Kruzhilin, $88,000

Ellersie St., 2344: G. Rudy to V. Ramsey, $59,000

Fulton St., 1405: PA Deals LLC to S. Orwan, $110,000

Fulton St., 1937: B. Rodriquez & American Heritage Property Management to T. Gates, $43,800

Green St., 1414: S. Jusufovic to V. Reydams, $140,000

Green St., 1423: J. & V. Bates to R. Walter, $81,900

Green St., 1915: GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to J. & K. Johnston, $195,000

Green St., 1945: J.A. Hartzler to WCI Partners LP, $212,000

Hale Ave., 415: T. Pham & T. Vu to J. & J. Fickett, $59,000

Hamilton St., 238: J. Manzella to J. & M. Moritz, $135,000

Herr St., 127: R. Lake to C. Wagoner, $156,500

Hudson St., 1246: Bank of New York Mellon to PA Deals LLC, $47,250

Logan St., 1728: Wilmington Savings Fund Society to S. Eagle, $102,000

Maclay St., 245: N. Do to M. Cvetko, $30,000

Midland Rd., 2408: J. Jaxheimer to M. Boone, $179,900

Mulberry St., 1951: C. Campbell to E. & B. O’Brien, $51,000

N. 2^nd St., 812: J. Swoyer to A. Meoli, $197,500

N. 2^nd St., 1700: Metro Bank to Hopewell Estates 2^nd Street LLC, $400,000

N. 2^nd St., 2414: A. & G. Hall to R. Gist, $62,000

N. 2^nd St., 2539: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Garber, $58,000

N. 2^nd St., 2802: D. Skerpon & C. Baldrige to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $166,900

N. 2^nd St., 3004: E. & T. Lukoski to 8219 Ventures LLC, $40,000

N. 3^rd St., 1621: Wells Fargo Bank NA to Henly Homes LLC, $54,180

N. 3^rd St., 2451: Triple J. Assoc. Ltd. To Hornby Zeller Properties LLC, $149,900

N. 5^th St., 3204: Information Systems Networks Corp. & Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to T. Radcliff, $98,100

N. 16^th St., 911: M. McManus to S. Sprinkle, $87,500

N. 18^th St., 1116: P. & S. Mitchell to K. Wright, $70,000

Parkside Lane, 2922: A. Anderson to J. & B. Williams, $200,000

Race St., 562: Brady Daughters Realty LLC to S. Garnes, $153,500

S. 2^nd St., 302: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to J. Pronio, $49,900

S. 17^th St., 319: E. & L. Castillo to 4P Ventures LLC, $120,000

S. 29^th St., 720: C. Karstetter to S. Maurer, $38,000

S. Front St., 709: R. Stevenson to D. Smith, $185,000

State St., 217: Medical Bureau of Harrisburg to D. Ragland, $110,000

State St., 231, Unit 303: LUX 1 LP to T. & D. Jensen, $121,000

State St., 1936, 1940 & 1942: L. & K. Price to M. & E. Duvall, $75,000

Susquehanna St., 1825: A. Tilley to M. Manley, $87,000

Susquehanna St., 2005: Kusic Financial Services LLC to M. Rioux & H. Perry, $68,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2016, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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

May 31, 2016 | by M. Diane McCormick

WorkXpress in Strawberry Square.
Photo by Anela Selkowitz.

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

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

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

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

The Bug Light

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plenty of Draw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stennett, for one, intends to stick around.

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

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

May News Digest

May 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The attorney general’s office could appeal the ruling.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So Noted

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Changing Hands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Restaurant, Shops for Strawberry Square

May 3, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

New businesses are about to move into Strawberry Square.

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

The 60-seat Fresa Café is slated to open in early fall near the 3rd Street entrance in a long-empty space once occupied by a bank branch.

Fresa Café is the latest concept of restaurateur Juan Garcia, who owns El Sol and La Noche, both up the block on S. 3^rd Street. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will offer a variety of salads, soups, wraps and other healthy options, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.

In other retail news, AMMA JO, a fashion and lifestyle boutique, is expanding into space directly next to her original location, said owner Amma Johnson. Later this month, Johnson will take another 1,200 square feet, extending her product line, as well. Johnson just opened her Strawberry Square location in December, but cites strong demand for needing additional space.

Another specialty retailer, Ideas and Objects, also is making an adjustment. Jones said that the long-time retailer will relocate from an interior location to 11 N. 3^rd St., a smaller space with street access. That move should be completed by mid-June, he said.

Meanwhile, Harristown is completing the conversion of a part of Strawberry Square to upscale apartments. The 22-unit Flats at Strawberry Square should be opened in late July, and Harristown already is accepting rental applications, said Jones.

Up the street, Harristown is continuing work on 29 apartments and renovated commercial space. Former office space at 18 to 22 S. 3^rd St. is being converted to 15 one-bedroom apartments and being renamed Fifteen@Twenty-Two or F@tt. Across the street, adjacent townhouses at 19 to 27 S. 3^rd St. are being renovated as 14 pet-friendly apartments with lower-level commercial space. That complex will be called SoMa on Third.

“Things are looking very positive in the downtown,” said Jones. “We’re excited at the progress.”

A Coffee Quest: What’s the secret to a great independent coffeehouse?

January 29, 2016 | by Don Helin

I love a good coffeehouse.

The smells. The bustle. The things I imagine being created behind all those laptops. Besides, everyone always seems so happy to be there.

And that made me wonder: What makes a coffeehouse great? Why do some succeed and others fail? And why do people flock to our area’s independent coffeehouses when there’s always another Starbucks up the road?

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse

When you walk through the front door of the Cornerstone Coffeehouse, you know you’re in a special place. You immediately hear the sounds of people talking and laughing. You sniff the enticing aroma of food cooking and then eyeball the wide variety of coffees and teas.

“You can choose from 12 different roasts or flavors of coffee, and about 25 different types of tea,” remarked co-owner Al Pera.

Besides the java itself, great coffeehouses often set themselves apart with the high quality of their food and their events. Cornerstone has both.

“We now have a full lunch menu with healthier options since many of our menu items are either organic or gluten free,” said Pera.

Live music fills the air on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and you’re welcome to stroll through the art gallery, which features a different artist each month. For you foodies, the owners offer weekly cooking classes in their culinary kitchen.

The staff is another key differentiator, as veteran staffers get to know regular customers and the customers them.

“I am really proud of our staff,” said General Manager Nicole Miller. “We have people who have been here for a long time. For example, our baker, Cindy, has been with us for 12 years.”

That stands in stark contrast to the face-of-the-month at a certain coffee chain behemoth. Speaking of which, I asked Pera if it was difficult to compete with Starbucks.

“I don’t compete with Starbucks,” he said. “We’re just different. For example, we order our coffee on a Monday, they roast it and get it to us by Tuesday. We also have many fair trade and organic coffees to choose from. You can sit down and enjoy your coffee in a nice porcelain mug if you’d like.”

I had to agree with the quality of the food as I nibbled on a tuna melt and spooned down a bowl of thick and tasty split pea and ham soup for lunch. I followed it up with a refreshing glass of iced tea.

After 21 years, Cornerstone has not lost a beat, outlasting many other shops that have tried to compete.

“We at the Cornerstone care for the Camp Hill community, and the community cares for us,” said Miller.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters

Aaron Carlson describes his introduction to coffee roasting as half serendipity, half opportunity.

He’s from central PA, but spent years as a musician, traveling around the country before returning to Harrisburg.

“I fell for the style of coffee we do here while living in Oakland, Calif., a few years ago,” he said. “Blue Bottle Coffee was roasting in an alley behind my house in small batches. They’re now a $70 million company, so I thought, hey, why not give it a try?”

For about a year, Carlson roasted coffee in a warehouse, doing mail order and delivery. He opened his first shop on Green Street in Midtown Harrisburg in 2011. Things went well, so he opened a site downtown about two years later. He recently added a kiosk location inside Strawberry Square.

One of his first challenges was to communicate the value of carefully grown and lighter-roasted coffee. Back then, many of his customers wanted drinks that obscure the flavor of the coffee, made with caramel or, as he says, “that gooey pumped stuff” that chains offer.

“That’s OK when it’s cheap coffee or over-roasted,” Carlson said. “Now, my customers’ favorite drinks seem to be focused on the coffee itself and not what’s dumped into it. It’s trickier to roast, but the lighter roasting brings out a better flavor and makes it a little sweeter, so the demand for this style of coffee is expanding. I do all of my own roasting and actually sell roasted coffee beans to other coffeehouses.”

Little Amps also offers a number of events, such as live music most Fridays at the State Street location, and is starting to do more cuppings—coffee tastings—at the Green Street shop.

I asked Carlson what he sees for the future.

“Hopefully, more fun and good vibes,” he said.

Cafe Chocolate of Lititz

The main street of Lititz is a maze of small shops, restaurants and bookstores. Tucked among these places, about one-half block from the General Sutter Inn, is the quaint Cafe Chocolate.

“The Cafe Chocolate has been here almost 10 years,” said owner Janice Dull. “I bought the café about 2½ years ago. It was a fairly easy transition because I trained under the previous owner for a few weeks.”

The shop serves a wide variety of drinks—hot chocolate, espresso, cappuccino, chai latte, to name just a few. But the signature drink is the Turbo Hot Chocolate: a mug of hot chocolate with a shot of espresso to fire it up. And fire up it does.

“We don’t really see Starbucks as a competitor,” Dull said. “Our products are healthier and not loaded with sugar. We make our own whipped cream and use 65-percent dark chocolate. My customers love the many gluten-free dishes we serve, such as Portuguese chicken and rice, West African peanut chowder and even cupcakes.”

I enjoyed looking through the cafe’s menu, which includes flatbread pizza (either whole wheat or gluten free), a vegetable curry Siam with black rice risotto and, of course, “Chili con Chocolate.”

I spent a lot of time trying to decide on a dessert. The café has a dark chocolate fondue that serves four and chocolate-dipped berries. I finally decided on a frozen hot chocolate, which was excellent.

The Cafe Chocolate has a motto—“Chocolate for Life”—and it couldn’t be more appropriate

St. Thomas Roasters

Judging by the popularity and success of St. Thomas Roasters, you’d never imagine that it began 15 years ago almost as a notion.

“We had never run a business before and had no experience selling coffee,” said Geof Smith, who runs the shop with wife, Pam. “But Pam had always wanted to own a coffeehouse, different from her experience in the health care field, so when I left AMP, we made the plunge. We researched trade shows and other coffeehouses before we started.”

Learning how to roast coffee was a challenge. They started by roasting their own beans, but soon became a wholesaler, roasting coffee beans for a number of other businesses, which now include such popular spots as Char’s at Tracy Mansion, Café 1500 and Karns.

Linglestown is home to a number of upscale housing developments and is also on the commuting route to Harrisburg, so the shop has a steady flow of customers. At 10:30 on a Friday morning, when I met with Geof Smith, the place was already packed with patrons of all ages.

“Our customers have a number of favorite coffee drinks,” he said. “These include Colombian coffee, our own Linglestown blend, Almond Joy lattes, Americanos and London Fogs. They have a chance to enjoy their coffee and listen to entertainment on most weekends.”

I asked him about Starbucks.

“Starbucks is a competitor, but not a threat,” Smith said. “I must give them credit because they started the whole coffeehouse scene, enabling many of us to continue on with our own models.”

He sees business growth in roasting coffee beans and selling them on a wholesale basis to his customers. He currently roasts about 20 types of coffee beans by doing roughly 11 batches each day. He roasts between five and 30 pounds each time.

“We’re delighted we took the plunge 15 years ago,” he said. “There were many challenges along the way, but I wouldn’t change any of it.”

GOING THERE

Cafe Chocolate of Lititz
40 E. Main St., Lititz
717-626-0123
www.chocolatelititz.com

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026
www.thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Little Amps Coffee Roasters
1836 Green St., 133 State St. and Strawberry Square, Harrisburg
717-695-4882
www.littleampscoffee.com

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisbur
717-526-4171
www.stthomasroasters.com

Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His novel, “Devil’s Den,” was selected as a finalist in the 2013 Indie Book Awards. His latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was selected as the best Suspense/Thriller at the 2015 Indie Book Awards. Contact Don at his website, www.donhelin.com.

November News Digest

November 30, 2015 | by Admin

New Council Members

Harrisburg City Council will have a fresh look next year, as voters last month elected three newcomers to the city’s seven-member legislative body.

Cornelius Johnson tallied 3,383 votes, while Westburn Majors took 3,343. Jeffrey Baltimore, the only incumbent running, earned 3,563 votes.

All three were running unopposed for the three, four-year seats after topping a crowded Democratic field during the May primary. No Republicans ran.

Destini Hodges tallied 3,514 votes running unopposed for the lone, two-year council seat.

Three council seats were open after councilwomen Susan Brown-Wilson and Sandra Reid decided not to run and Councilman Brad Koplinski lost in the primary.

For city treasurer, Tyrell Spradley earned his first full term, taking 3,545 votes in the general election.

School Board Shakeup

Harrisburg voters last month elected several new members to the district school board last month.

Meanwhile, newly re-elected board President Jennifer Smallwood announced her resignation from the body.

Ellis R. Roy, Lionel Gonzalez, Matthew Krupp and Melvin Wilson Jr. each earned four-year seats, as did Smallwood. Judd Pittman, who recently was appointed to the board to fill an opening, took the lone two-year seat.

The candidates all ran unopposed for their seats after emerging victorious in the May primary. Krupp was the only candidate on the Republican ballot, having been nominated by both parties.

The board now must appoint a replacement for Smallwood. That person will serve until the next school board election in 2017.

County Commissioners Re-Elected

The makeup of the Board of Commissioners will be unchanged as Dauphin County voters last month retained the three incumbents.

Voters returned Republicans Jeff Haste and Mike Pries, as well as Democrat George Hartwick, to office. Democrat Tom Connolly lost his challenge.

In other competitive county races, Republican Nick Chimienti beat Democrat Tim Carter for county sheriff, and Republican Timothy DeFoor defeated Democrat Eric Gutshall for county controller.

Several incumbents won re-election running unopposed, including District Attorney Ed Marsico, Clerk of Courts Dale Klein and Treasurer Janis Creason.

Water Rate Hiked

Customers of Capital Region Water will pay 9.7 percent more next year for drinking water, as the board last month passed a rate increase.

The new water rate will be $7.88 per 1,000 gallons, as opposed to $7.18 in 2015. The “ready to serve” charge also will increase 9.7 percent

“We don’t take rate increases lightly, and our board of directors is sensitive to the burdens already placed on the people and places we serve, but the systems that our customers rely on to deliver safe drinking water every day and to clean wastewater before it reaches the Susquehanna River were long ignored,” said Capital Region Water CEO Shannon Williams.

Sewer rates will remain unchanged at $6.05 per 1,000 gallons.

“After years of deferred maintenance and lack of investment into our drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems, we continue to build up to necessary staffing levels and to make long overdue improvements to our aging infrastructure to prevent the even higher costs of failure,” Williams said.

County Taxes Steady

For the 11^th straight year, Dauphin County property taxes are expected to be unchanged, the county commissioners said last month.

The county portion of the property tax should remain at 6.876 mills for 2016, according to a statement by the commissioners.

The county commissioners are expected to pass a 2016 budget this month, which will affirm their tax plan.

Managers Get Payouts

Five Harrisburg department managers will receive payouts for unused off-time following approval last month by City Council.

Council authorized the city administration to spend almost $29,000 to compensate these managers for unused sick and vacation time from 2013. It was about $7,000 more than the administration was requesting.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that, following negotiations, the managers had agreed to take 75 percent of the amount owed them for the unused time. Council, however, authorized Papenfuse to reimburse them for up to 100 percent of that time.

Sinkhole Relief Denied

Harrisburg received disappointing news last month, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected its application for sinkhole relief funds.

FEMA notified Harrisburg that it had turned down a request for $4.1 million to buy out homeowners in a sinkhole-ravaged area of S. 14^th Street.

In the competition for funds, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency had ranked Harrisburg’s request first in the state, but, instead, FEMA approved a $2.1 million application from Palmyra, which was ranked second.

PEMA appealed the decision, and Mayor Eric Papenfuse also wrote a letter asking FEMA to reconsider.

Housing Data Strong

Home sales showed continued strength in October, sustaining a yearlong trend in the Harrisburg area.

For the month, 791 housing units sold, compared to 671 in October 2014, with the median price increasing to $162,900 from $156,500, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 245 units versus 229 units in the year-ago period, with the median price inching up to $139,000 from $138,000, GHAR reported.

Cumberland County sales actually dropped slightly, to 297 units from 303, but the median price increased to $185,000 from $175,000, said GHAR. Perry County followed a similar trend, with sales decreasing to 28 units from 43, but the median price rising to $129,250 from $115,000, GHAR reported.

In addition to all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, GHAR’s coverage area includes parts of York, Juniata and Lebanon counties.

So Noted

Little Amps Coffee Roasters last month opened its third location, a kiosk on the main floor of Strawberry Square in Harrisburg. Little Amps was founded in 2011 at a location on Green Street in Olde Uptown and later opened a downtown café at N. 2^nd and State streets.

Allen Distribution has signed a 321,333-square-foot lease at 100 Capital Lane, part of the newly renovated Capital Logistics Center in Middletown. The logistics company has leased the entire building, one of six comprising the 1.55-million-square foot industrial complex.

Level 2 is making changes going into 2016. The popular Latin Night will move to Friday and combine with the monthly Latin Fuzion party to create Fuzion Fridayz. Level 2 also is responding to increased demand for private events, with the space available for fundraisers, rehearsals, receptions and more. For information and updates, visit www.level2.us or their Facebook page.

Changing Hands

Alricks St., 638 & 651: Central Dauphin Realty Co. to Coho Spawning Industries & Meridian Recycling LLC, $650,000

Boas St., 235: L. Dempsey & B. Hartlage to C. Guy, $171,500

Calder St., 115: L. Paige to A. & M. Anselmo, $42,500

Derry St., 2436: M. Miranda to M. & I. Collins, $63,000

Forster St., 416 & 418: Pennsylvania Psychological to ITSM Specialties LLC, $145,000

Forster St., 1844: D. & D. Hall to S. Martin, $75,000

Fulton St., 1400: C. Krobath to PA Deals LLC, $90,000

Green St., 1617: A. Doherty to A. Calvano, $124,000

Green St., 3214: M. Traxler to D. Bartels, $105,000

Hale Ave., 397: J. & G. McCarchey to J. Gonzalez, $62,000

Hamilton St., 235: R. Swartz to G. Huggens, $168,900

Hamilton St., 238: LSF8 Master Participation Trust to J. Manzella, $63,900

Hamilton St., 326: K. Stratton to R. Hadrick, $110,000

Hanover St., 1701: C. Cheam to S. Chen, $400,000

Hoffman St., 3206: Skynet Property Management LP to J. Ostrander, $75,000

Kelker St., 315: N. Schock to C. Clymire, $109,900

Kensington St., 2313: Skye Holding LLC to J. Meas, $45,000

Locust St., 110 & 112: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to Locust Company LLC, $140,000

Market St., 1811: B. Vorndran to HE Pressley Properties LLC, $33,000

N. 2^nd St., 717: M. Hilden & S. Farzin to BCRA Realty LLC, $150,000

N. 2^nd St., 806: Pennsylvania Council of Republican Women to H. Fang & K. Zhu, $77,000

N. 2^nd St., 1200: W. Moyer to Harrisburg Second Street Apartments LLC, $65,000

N. 2^nd St., 2403: CNC Realty Group LLC to AON LLC, $470,000

N. 2^nd St., 2517: 8219 Ventures LLC to AXL Realty Group Inc., $42,000

N. 2^nd St., 3002: B. & K. Elgart to E. Stailey, $152,000

N. 3^rd St., 1100 & 268 Herr St.: Triple Ace LP to AON LLC, $352,000

N. 3^rd St., 2248: M. Coleman to N. Hartwig, $85,000

N. 4^th St., 2737: T. Murphy to Mountaincrash Investments LLC, $37,000

N. 5^th St., 3208: W. & R. Bragunier to K. & D. Roberts, $61,760

N. 6^th St., 2610: S. Wright to J. Shutter, $34,650

N. 18^th St., 120: G. Neff to D. Geiger, $35,000

N. Front St., 2233: Mancke and Wagner Real Estate to J.A. Hartzler & K. Werley, $300,000

Penn St., 1110: G. Latasha to A. St. John & R. Wagoner, $180,000

Penn St., 1111: D. Cooper to H. Landenberger, $114,000

Rolleston St., 1013: R. & A. Showers to W. & J. Wirfel, $30,000

S. 13^th St., 240: NJR Group LLC & Touch of Color to A. Radon, $460,000

S. 19^th St., 1111: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to K. Saqib, $31,500

S. Front St., 315: JGPA Realty LLC to S. Eicher, $146,650

S. Front St., 605: B. Glazier & E. Tsumura to J. & C. Fabian, $152,000

Valley Rd., 2313: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to K. & E. High, $78,000

Waldo St., 2708: Freddie Mac to Tassia Corp., $30,000

Wilson Parkway, 2734: PA Deals LLC to G. & C. Rodda, $80,000

Wiconisco St., 611 & 2641 Agate St.: Thompson LLP to Stop & Store Inc., $175,000

Wyeth St., 1417: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to D. Drabik, $71,000

Hallmark to Close, Among Many Changes in Strawberry Square

November 20, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Part of Strawberry Square in Harrisburg.

A retail era is coming to a close in Harrisburg, as the Strawberry Patch Hallmark store is slated to close in January.

Owners Ed and Linda Baer have informed Harristown Enterprises that they plan to retire and so will not renew their lease after 36 years in business. The couple have operated their store in Strawberry Square since 1979, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown, which owns and manages the downtown, mixed-use complex.

“We are sorry to see them go, but understand that they wish to retire after all these years,” said Jones.

Jones acknowledged that retail has become increasingly challenging for brick-and-mortar stores, which must compete with online vendors. Nonetheless, he said that Harristown is seeking, but has not yet found, a new tenant for the large, prominent space on the main floor.

He also characterized the store’s departure as part of the ongoing evolution of Strawberry Square.

Built in the 1970s, Strawberry Square was designed as office and retail space to better compete with suburban malls, which then were in vogue. However, as that style of shopping has gone out of fashion, it has tried to change with the times, responding to new types of demand, he said.

For instance, Best Friends Day Care recently moved into another large retail space, one long occupied by apparel retailer Dressbarn. Also, a large swath of Strawberry Square along Market and 3rd streets is being converted from offices to 22 high-end apartments, the first residential units in the complex as interest in downtown living has grown. In addition, a Little Amps Coffee Roasters kiosk opened last week on the main floor, responding to the influx of 900 state workers into the former Verizon Tower building.

Harristown also said that about 200 employees with Deloitte Consulting and Deloitte Advisory soon will move into about 20,000 square feet of space at 30 N. 3rd St. And, recently, RGS Associates and Sellers Dorsey announced their intention to take space in Strawberry Square.

“We continue to adapt to the changes in the market,” said Jones.

The Hallmark store owners plan a retirement sale, said Jones, so shoppers should look for that in January.

Click here for more information about Strawberry Square.

Raise the Curtain: This month, Gamut will debut its new theater.

October 30, 2015 | by Lori M. Myers

It takes a village, so the saying goes.

But in the case of Gamut Theatre, it took a village and volunteers and craftsmen and cash, as Harrisburg’s classic theater this month debuts its new, permanent home in the historic, former First Church of God, moving out of long-time rental space in downtown Strawberry Square right across the street.

The new theater will open with one main stage, but eventually will be home to two performance venues and more classrooms as it continues to expand both in show offerings and education programs.

“In addition, there will be a small stage in the reception lobby for poetry, singer/songwriter events and other smaller presentations,” said Melissa Nicholson, executive director of Gamut Theatre Group. “We are proud to preserve much of the original architecture and be caretakers for the rich history that accompanies it. It is, in my opinion, the perfect place to perform classic stories.”

Gamut relied on more than 150 volunteers (many with day jobs) who donated some 5,700 hours designing and constructing. The core company of actors worked nights and weekends since August to assure the theater will open on Nov. 5 for a private preview party for donors. On Nov. 6, there will be a ribbon cutting with Mayor Eric Papenfuse and an open house for the community. The next evening is the grand opening of the theater’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

To date, the theater has raised more than $1.3 million of the $2.5 million needed to complete the project—all of this without the aid of a professional fundraiser.

“We currently have an ask into the PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to cover the Phase I gap in fundraising and to fund Phase II,” Nicholson said. “Phase II will develop the second stage/education center part of the building.”

“All the world’s a stage,” wrote Shakespeare. And, for Gamut, a new stage means a whole new world ahead.

The new Gamut Theatre is located at 15 N. 4^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, including how to make donations and buy tickets, call 717-238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

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