Tag Archives: Whitaker Center

Theatre Harrisburg names Sankofa, Chang, Sirotin as Arts Awards recipients

November 18, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Ya-Ting Chang and Peter Sirotin (photo: Jeff Lynch)

Several pillars of the Harrisburg arts community have been named recipients of the annual “Arts Awards.”

Sankofa African American Theatre Co. and Ya-Ting Chang and Peter Sirotin, co-directors of Market Square Concerts, will receive the 29^th Distinguished Service to the Arts in the Capital Region awards, according to sponsor and organizer Theatre Harrisburg.

Sankofa will receive the “award to an organization, company or group,” while Chang and Sirotin will receive the “award to an individual.”

Founded in 2017, Sankofa’s mission is to engage and enrich the Harrisburg region around African American history, culture and perspective on relevant issues through thought-provoking theater, according to Theatre Harrisburg.

Chang and Sirotin are distinguished musicians, music educators, collaborators and arts administrators. They also have been artists in residence and adjunct instructors at Messiah University since 2002. Sirotin has served as concertmaster of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra since 2011.

The awards will be presented during a theatrical gala at Whitaker Center on May 20. The event is open to the public, and proceeds benefit Theatre Harrisburg. Additional details and information about reservations will be forthcoming at www.theatreharrisbug.com/artsawards.

Theatre Harrisburg has honored artists, groups and organizations by bestowing the “Arts Awards” since 1989. Earlier this year, following a two-year pandemic delay, TheBurg received the 28^th annual award, along with Jeff Woodruff, long-time executive director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

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Burg Review: A joyous, rollicking evening awaits at Theatre Harrisburg’s “Dreamcoat.”

November 5, 2022 | by Gina Napoli

Theatre Harrisburg continues its 97th season with a comically rollicking musical about the twelve tribes of Israel, written by Tim Rice (lyrics), Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Moses (yes, THAT Moses).

Whether you have already seen “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” onstage, any of the movie or television adaptations, or even just Cosmo Kramer strutting through Manhattan while wearing the dreamcoat during a Seinfeld episode, it’s absolutely worth re-visiting to see Theatre Harrisburg’s talented cast sing you Joseph’s story. Director Kristi Ondo and Musical Director Matt Topping maximize the show’s inherent silliness while bringing out the clever.

The story of Jacob’s (Joel Sattazahn) favorite son Joseph (Jeremiah Joel) is set sometime between 2000 and 1600 B.C., but the various music and dancing styles in the play are decidedly 20th century (choreography by Lexi Fazzolari). The story tracks closely to how Moses wrote it in the Book of Genesis. In much the same way Joseph’s coat is patch-worked together from many colors and styles, his life story is set to musical genre arrays that would not otherwise fit together in one space.

Standout musical numbers:

Donning a cowboy hat, Reuben (Sam Krepps) croons “One More Angel in Heaven” (look out, Garth), while his heathen brothers are yee-hawing and line dancing a boot-scootin’ boogie, celebrating the sale of Joseph to the Egyptians. When a weeping Jacob walks back onstage, the music flips to a somber blues number. As soon as Jacob exits stage left, the hoedown is back on.

As Vegas-era Elvis, complete with blue suede shoes coated with sequins, Pharoah (Joseph Chubb) delivers a soulful doo-wop performance of “Poor, Poor Pharoah/Song of the King.” Throwing trajectories of sweat from his forehead onto his groupies lent authenticity to the rock star persona.

The pseudo-French song “Those Canaan Days” had me laughing the hardest. Sung by Jacob’s 11 sons (Sattazahn, Chubb, Krepps, Topping, Andrew Williams, Colvin, Graham Lewis, Tommy Dougherty, Mitchell Young, Francis Dy, Aidan Lacey, and Zacariah Roush) in French accents with intentionally clumsy ballet and flamenco dancing, the singers hang a lovely tenor harmony in the air, sandwiched between oh-so many comedic bits.

In the burlesque number “Potiphar,” Potiphar (Sattazahn) catches Joseph in a compromising shower scene with Mrs. Potiphar (Tori Levine). This is a family show, so the scene is tasteful and PG-rated.

In “Any Dream Will Do,” Jeremiah Joel sang in the beginning of the show in an understated, shoulder-shrugging way, giving the song an “aw, shucks” feel to it. In the reprisal, his voice sounded more confident, full of maturity, of someone who has lived to tell.

Providing the continuity in the story, Beth Darowish (Narrator) projects her strong mezzo-soprano voice. I suspect she would have been able to propel it to the back of the theater, even without a microphone.

The only snag in the fabric of this otherwise fun and flowing show was the ch-chunk in the middle of the action when the actors stopped everything to insert the donation request between songs. While asking for money is as customarily uncomfortable as being asked for money, the abrupt halt made the moment even more so. I much prefer the “Oh, by the way” while everyone is standing in the seating rows, clapping for the finale, and then the actors rush to the lobby with collection baskets.

But in the same breath, the disjointedness of the play’s elements—the diverse musical styles, the wonky dancing slapstick, the humor in the tiniest details—are what weave this performance together to make it so memorable. I mean, where else does a cheerleading pep rally song, the rousing “Go, Go, Go Joseph,” come before and after a steel drum-laden song called “Benjamin Calypso?”

There’s also a jazzy, swingy, brassy, Joseph-y number ear-worming its way through my brain since I left the theater. I may have to see the show again so I can learn the words.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” runs through Nov. 20 at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.theatreharrisburg.com.

HUE Invitational to host e-sports tourney finals this weekend in Harrisburg

September 23, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

If you loving gaming, get set for world-class play in downtown Harrisburg this weekend.

The fifth annual HUE Invitational will gather on Saturday and Sunday to conclude the largest collegiate e-sports event, created and hosted by Harrisburg University.

More than 120 college teams have competed in three games: Rocket League, Overwatch and League of Legends. Eight teams in each game will play this weekend in the finals, competing for $25,000 in scholarship prizes.

HU’s varsity team, the Storm, will compete in the finals in both Overwatch and League of Legends.

“This year marks the fifth time the event has been held,” said Joe Gramano, e-sports program director at HU. “As a major staple of collegiate e-sports, HUE has become such a big part of Harrisburg University’s identity and continues to help position HU as a true leader in higher ed. and e-sports.”

An opportunity to watch the live finals will take place on Sunday in HU’s Student Union space on the second floor of Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg.

The event will be free entry for all guests. The first spectator match will go live at noon and continue throughout the day until about 11 p.m. Masks are recommended but not required. Harrisburg police will provide security for the event, and there will be security screening and bag checks for entry.

For those who plan to watch the action online, spectators can tune into the official HUE Invitational livestream channel at twitch.tv/harrisburguniversity from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Harrisburg Police Bureau swears in seven new officers at ceremony

September 7, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams and Police Commissioner Thomas Carter swore in seven new officers on Wednesday at Whitaker Center.

After a months-long selection process, the Harrisburg Police Bureau has several new officers joining its ranks.

Mayor Wanda Williams and Police Commissioner Thomas Carter swore in seven officers on Wednesday, acknowledging the important, yet difficult role they were stepping into.

“I’d like to welcome the seven new officers on a career that is so satisfying,” Carter said. “Policing isn’t easy. It’s becoming harder, but they answered the call.”

The new hires bring the complement of officers in the bureau to 136, according to Deputy Chief Dennis Sorensen.

The new officers include:

Nathan E. Carr
Tyler J. Glunt
Ernell R. Harley
Andrew K. Jones
Zachary A. Mateer
Michael T. McDevitt
Jakob C. Werner

Additionally, officer Anthony Cummings was promoted to detective at the ceremony, which was held at Whitaker Center.

The new officers will complete six months of police academy training before starting with the bureau. Two have already begun training at HACC, and five will soon start training with Temple University.

“It feels good,” said new officer McDevitt of his swearing in. “It’s a relief after a long process.”

At the ceremony, Williams spoke about the responsibility of the officers to serve the community and the city’s expectations for their conduct.

“The journey starts today, and we are watching in the city of Harrisburg,” she said. “We hold our police to the highest standards of excellence. We cannot wait to see the officers you soon will become.”

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Fun & Games: Harrisburg Board Game Day invites community to connect around the table

July 22, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Board Game Day in 2019

It’s a whole day dedicated to rolling the dice, playing your hand and, hopefully, coming out on top when the points are tallied.

Harrisburg Board Game Day is headed downtown, to Whitaker Center on Sept. 4, when anyone can join in on the tabletop action.

“Whatever you want to play will be there,” said Matt Caylor, a Midtown resident and organizer of the event. “It’s generally a very welcoming community.”

According to Caylor, the intent behind the day of gaming is multi-faceted—to provide an event to those who love board games, to introduce the hobby to newbies, and to bring people together in the city.

From 12 to 8 p.m., groups or individuals can join the free event and test out new games or find others to join in on their favorites. There will be everything from card games to Eurogames to social deduction games. Some may take a few minutes to play, while others could take hours. Both beginner and experienced gamers can find something to enjoy, explained Caylor.

This will be the fifth year of the event, previously called Midtown Board Game Day. The name change signifies Caylor’s hope for an even larger and more diverse crowd at the event, inclusive of all city residents and those in the surrounding communities. The last board game day in 2019, before a pandemic halt, drew around 150 people. Caylor said that this year may be even larger.

“Board games break down the conversation wall,” he said. “It bridges the gap for meeting new people. The best experiences are when you’re able to get people that are not like yourself around the table.”

Harrisburg Board Game Day will partner with The Bodhana Group, a nonprofit focused on board gaming as therapy, for access to its large game library. Several board game designers also will attend and allow people to test their games to provide feedback.

The event will include a raffle and door prizes, along with some snacks. Registration is encouraged, but people can also walk into the event and participate. The event is family-friendly.

Caylor, a self-professed board game geek, is excited to find new games to play and possibly add to his personal collection of around 200 games. But, he’s really looking forward to the connections he will make with other community members while chatting around the table.

“It’s an avenue to find a way to bond with the people around me,” he said.

To register for Harrisburg Board Game Day, click here. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

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June News Digest

May 31, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Proposes Use of Federal Funds

After months of consideration, Harrisburg announced how it hopes to use millions of dollars in new federal funds.

Last month, Mayor Wanda Williams proposed using the city’s $47 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to support low-income residents, upgrade pools and parks and cover public safety needs.

“It’s not every day we get $47 million to spend to make the city better,” Williams said. “The pandemic has taken so much from us in so many ways over the last two years. This is why it is important we get this right, right now.”

In total, Williams proposed using $42 million of the pandemic relief funds, saving the additional $4.6 million for future uses. Her proposal includes four spending buckets: $14.5 million to help low-income residents, $10 million for beautification, parks and recreation, $9.16 million for public safety and $8.8 million to reimburse the city for lost revenue during the pandemic.

Besides the money that would be used to pay back the city for revenue it lost during COVID, the largest allotments would go to creating an affordable housing program and constructing a water park in south Harrisburg. Williams has delegated $8 million for each.

“We feel that every dollar we requested is certainly necessary,” Williams said.

The affordable housing program would primarily seek to direct financial assistance to nonprofits and developers planning to construct and sell homes to low-income residents. According to city officials, organizations or companies would apply to the program and be evaluated based on standards developed by the Department of Building and Housing Development. The city hopes the money will help build a few hundred new affordable homes, according to city Business Administrator Dan Hartman.

Also for low-income residents, the city proposed allotting $5 million to assist homeowners with necessary home repairs and another $1 million to pay for delinquent trash utility bills. Another $500,000 would fund grants for small businesses affected by the pandemic.

“It’s always been my stance that the people of Harrisburg deserve safe, affordable housing, and this proposal would help that,” said Dennise Hill, director of the Department of Building and Housing Development.

The proposal to create a water park to replace the current Hall Manor pool would constitute another large chunk of funding. Williams said that the park would include a spray area, lazy river, slides, ADA-zero entry points, concessions and community spaces for families. Additional funding would go towards installing ADA-accessible playground equipment in city parks and for tree removal services.

With the funding for public safety, Williams wants to use $5.5 million to upgrade the public safety building’s HVAC system. She also proposed giving $5,000 bonuses, totaling $1.26 million, to police officers and firefighters, using $900,000 to upgrade radio systems for the fire bureau and spending $1.5 million to demolish dilapidated buildings.

The city plans to use the $4.6 million left out of the proposal to possibly cover administrative costs and to act as a buffer in case costs for other projects increase. It may also be used for additional projects, such as repaving city streets, Williams said.

The proposal will now go to Harrisburg City Council for consideration. Hartman said that the administration will formally present the plan to council on June 7.

According to council President Danielle Bowers, council plans to hold additional public hearings on the proposed use of the ARPA funding before voting on a final plan.

State Street Meetings Set

Harrisburg residents this month will get a chance to offer their input on a State Street construction project.

The city has announced three public meetings for residents to review and comment on draft redesigns of the roadway.

“What is clear is we need to give our residents more of an opportunity to voice their concerns on this project,” said Matt Maisel, the city’s communications director.

The State Street Rapid Response project, which began planning in 2018, broke ground in Allison Hill in April. However, only two weeks later, the project came to halt when residents expressed concerns. At a City Council meeting last month, city officials announced that they would go back to the drawing board for a redesign.

The city will bring new drafted designs to the public to gather feedback. Engineers will attend to answer questions and speak to residents.

The meeting dates and locations are as follows:

Wednesday, June 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg School District Administration Building, Lincoln School, 1601 State St.
Monday, June 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Kappa Omega Fraternity House, 2020 State St.
Wednesday, June 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg School District Administration Building, Lincoln School, 1601 State St.

The meetings on June 2 and 6 will offer residents the chance to comment on draft designs. After those meetings, Dawood Engineering Inc., which provides engineering services to the city, will use public feedback to create a single design. This will be presented to the public at the June 22 meeting, where residents will again have the chance to comment.

Additionally, the city announced a website that will allow residents to send in public comments.

According to Maisel, the process of taking public comment, redesigning the project and resuming construction may take only a matter of months. PennDOT must approve the new plan, as the commonwealth owns State Street.

To comment on the State Street Rapid Response project, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov/state-street.

Harrisburg Council OKs Apartment Building

A developer can move forward with renovating a long-abandoned building in Allison Hill.

Last month, Harrisburg City Council approved the transformation of a blighted building at 100 N. 13th St. into apartment units. Council voted in favor of the resolution 5-2, with council member Jocelyn Rawls and council President Danielle Bowers voting in opposition.

Radon Construction plans to renovate the 11,500-square-foot building, formerly the Church of God/Central Publishing House. The renovation includes creating 12 apartment units, which the developer said should rent for about $1,000 to $1,100 a month.

“I believe that would leave our residents cost-burdened,” Bowers said, explaining her opposition to the project.

At a previous council meeting, developers explained how they had to adjust the planned rental rate to cover the rising cost of construction.

Also at last month’s meeting, council approved a resolution to contract with an organization that will assist the city with gun violence prevention efforts. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York, on behalf of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College, will provide the service. The $210,000 contract is funded through a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The organization will study violence in Harrisburg, determine a strategy to address it and assist with implementation. The contract term is two years.

“I think it’s something that’s needed in the city,” council member Ausha Green said.

Street Name Honors T. Morris Chester

A street in downtown Harrisburg has a new, second name to honor local Black history.

Last month, officials unveiled the designation of part of Walnut Street as T. Morris Chester Way, named after a prominent figure in Harrisburg history.

“We are very excited to be celebrating this momentous occasion,” said Harrisburg City Council President Danielle Bowers.

In October, council approved the street name designation to honor the historic figure. The IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade, which installed the Commonwealth Monument on 4th and Walnut streets, is responsible for the initiative.

City officials recognized Thomas Morris Chester on what would have been his 188th birthday. Chester was a Harrisburg native and the nation’s first Black war correspondent during the 1860s. He helped recruit Black men into the Union Army and gave a voice to Black soldiers fighting for rights and equality.

“He never backed down from a fight, and the city will never back down from memorializing him,” Mayor Wanda Williams said.

Chester is also recognized as one of the bronze figures in the Commonwealth Monument.

Walnut Street will keep its name, but, from Commonwealth Avenue to Front Street, it has gained T. Morris Chester Way as a second name.

Home Prices Strong, Sales Slip

Harrisburg-area home prices jumped in April, even as sales dipped.

In the three-county region, the median price of an existing home rose to $250,500, a sharp increase from $225,000 in April 2021, as sales fell to 628 houses versus 704 the prior April, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, the median price rose to $230,000 compared to $197,950 in the year-ago period, with total sales falling to 314 from 380 housing units a year ago, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had a median sales price of $290,950 versus $260,000 a year ago, as sales decreased by 20 units to 268 houses, GHAR stated.

In Perry County, the median price also increased, to $208,900 from $156,000 in April 2021, as sales held steady at 36 homes, according to GHAR.

In April, houses were selling briskly, with the “average days on market” at just 16 days, compared to 23 the prior April, GHAR said.

Mural Passport Debuts

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH) last month announced “Murals & More—A Walk of Art,” audio-guided tours of two suggested routes that highlight murals, monuments and art.

For the tours, VHH has developed a mobile passport that users can add to their phone’s home screen.

“When you walk through Harrisburg, examples of artistic creativity and collaboration are everywhere,” said VHH President and CEO Mary Smith. “We loved the idea of creating suggested routes that allow visitors to not only see a variety of artwork within a few hours, but also learn about the artists and inspiration for the work through audio clips on the passport.”

The free passport features location information about each stop, along with audio overviews of the artwork, monuments and museums. At each stop, passport users are encouraged to use the check-in feature. After 14 check-ins, they’ll earn an art-themed prize.

Smith praised the work of Sprocket Mural Works, a nonprofit working to enhance communities through art and the organization behind many of the murals featured.

“Murals & More” is the latest addition to a collection of VHH Trails and Experiences designed to package certain themes within the region’s many tourism assets in a way that makes it easy for visitors and local residents to enjoy. Other trails and experiences include:

Brew Barons Beer Trail
Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail
Adventure Trail
The Black Travel Experience

“Murals & More” may be primarily centered on free public art, but it’s designed to have a positive overall effect and economic impact for Harrisburg.

“Every project VHH develops is a piece of the overall tourism puzzle in the Hershey Harrisburg region,” Smith said. “By encouraging people to take part in a walking tour, they’ll be passing restaurants, attractions and other small businesses that can also benefit from extra foot traffic in the city.”

For more information, visit www.visithersheyharrisburg.org.

Summer Events Scheduled

Just in time for the warm weather, Dauphin County last month announced its 2022 summer events season.

“We are excited to be back in action this year and here to kick off the 2022 events series,” said Michelle McKeown, the county’s parks and recreation program manager.

The county has a full lineup of seasonal events, including their annual Jazz and Wine Festival, which will take place at Fort Hunter on Sept. 10 and 11. The event will feature eight bands, as well as wine tastings and food vendors. To kick off the weekend, the popular Jazz Walk will return to Midtown Harrisburg.

Dauphin County also has family-friendly events running all summer, from June 3 to Aug. 26. The Sunset Music and Movies series will feature performing arts organizations and movies.

All of these events are free and will take place at Fort Hunter Park Centennial Barn. Families are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic basket. Food trucks will also be on site. Movie showings and live performances will alternate every other Friday.

Proudly PA! is another big event for the county, set for June 11 at Fort Hunter. The event will offer tastings from PA wineries, breweries and distilleries, as well as live music and food.

Other events include BrewFest on July 16 at Fort Hunter, Cultural Fest on City Island in Harrisburg on Aug. 20, Fort Hunter Day on Sept. 18 and Celebrate Wildwood on Sept. 24 at Wildwood Park.

“We wanted to make sure it’s a welcoming experience,” said county Commissioner George Hartwick. “We were intentional about pulling together diverse programming.”

For a full list of events and additional information, visit Dauphin County’s website.

So Noted

Harrisburg University last month announced a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace to support its scholarship program. Under the initiative, people will be able to purchase unique, HU-themed NFTs to help support student scholarships.

MASA Authentic Mexican Cuisine is slated to open this month in downtown Harrisburg at 316 N. 2nd St. Enrique Armas is the third-generation owner of the business, formerly known as Mexico Lindo, which ran as a popular food truck on Market Street in Allison Hill for about two decades.

OurBus is launching a new intercity bus route that will make stops in downtown Harrisburg, the company announced last month. The route begins in Slippery Rock and ends in New York, with additional stops in Pittsburgh, Breezewood and Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.ourbus.com.

Susquehanna Soniqs, a Harrisburg-based professional e-sports team, will open a state-of-the-art e-sports facility on S. 3rd Street downtown, said Soniqs CEO Darren Moore. The LAN Center should open to the public later this summer as a hub for gaming in the area, Moore said.

West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland debuted last month after an extensive renovation, with the grand-opening weekend featuring a variety of film and live performances. The 82-year-old art deco-style theater had been closed since early 2018.

Whitaker Center last month unveiled the new PNC Innovation Zone, a 7,000-square-foot gaming studio that offers children 8 years and older the ability to learn about coding, gaming and related technologies The Innovation Zone also is one of the region’s largest Comcast Lift Zones with free public internet.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 21: Straw Family Trust to D. Boyle, $40,000

Bellevue Rd., 1945: R. Sheffield & L. Adams to 946 S 18th LLC, $64,900

Bellevue Rd., 2024: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000

Berryhill St., 1425: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $49,275

Berryhill St., 1443: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to C. Wheeler, $144,995

Berryhill St., 1616: Rivera Realty LLC to J. de Grullon, $65,000

Boas St., 107: J. Kundrat to C. Michalopoulos, $182,000

Boas St., 1812: MidAtlantic IRA LLC & C. Raup IRA to Cooperwink LLC, $74,900

Briggs St., 253: 253 Briggs St. LLC to SJL Rentals, $140,000

Briggs St., 1708 & 1712: PI Capitol LLC to J. Stoltzfoos, $107,708

Brookwood St., 2450: V. Nauman to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $66,000

Conoy St., 104: D. Wolf to S. Miller, $175,000

Derry St., 1634: E. Bertot & N. Gaskin to M25 Capital Investments LLC, $144,900

Derry St., 2121: W. Zhang to Y. Rodriguez & J. Savendra, $146,000

Edward St., 260 & 3115 Susquehanna St.: C. & K. Gehman to S. Dunklau & R. Anzel, $430,000

Ellersie St., 2417: R. & D. Edwards to K. Tillman, $185,000

Forster St., 1917: T&E Property01 LLC to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $56,000

Forster St., 1934: M. Gillespie to S. Harrison, $90,000

Fulton St., 1420: V. & D. Poplaski to M. Dean & J. Kost, $130,000

Girard St., 735 & 737: Silver Maple LLC to DIMA Properties LLC, $110,000

Green St., 1616: Vandaleh Real Estate Associates LLC & P. Costa to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $140,000

Green St., 3007: R. & T. Speece to V. Agnone & M. McKee, $280,000

Green St., 3011: M. Palermo to K. Bajracharya, $265,000

Harris Terr., 2481: S. Hill to R. Bachrach, $95,000

Herr St., 1615: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000

Hummel St., 343: A. Semanick to D. Montes, $66,000

Jefferson St., 2247: R. Rammouni to Louis Group LLC, $64,000

Kensington St., 2110 & 2116: M. & A. Robinson to NA Capital Group LLC, $60,500

Kensington St., 2261: E. & D. Ward to J. Scott, $50,000

Kensington St., 2314: J. Regalado to E. Brown, $89,000

Lenox St., 2001: We Buy PA Inc. to Global Reach LLC, $105,000

Lewis St., 323: M. Swilkey to E. Cotelo & C. Shell, $150,000

Lexington St., 2710: T. Lewis to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $80,000

Liberty St., 1428: Silver Maple LLC to DIMA Propeties LLC, $59,900

Luce St., 2361: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Tobe, $125,000

Maclay St., 241: B. & J. Myers to E. & C. Onyewu, $85,000

Market St., 1404: San Pef Inc. to 101 S. 17th Street LLC, $125,000

Market St., 1406: San Pef Inc. to 101 S. 17th Street LLC, $125,000

Market St., 1600: Lucas Properties to SDFC PA1 LLC, $475,000

Market St., 1850: C. Texidor to R. Torres, $70,000

Market St., 1935: TLC Construction & Renovations LLC to TRYB Investments LLC, $40,000

Market St., 2046: R. Hood to Twelfth Root LLC, $82,193

Mercer St., 2426: A. & G. Kocevar to B&E Development LLC, $70,000

Nagle St., 123: F. Rubinic to S. Kramer, $186,000

North St., 1611: R. Taylor Jr. to D. Scott, $119,000

North St., 1819A: PA Deals LLC to N. Salgado, $120,000

N. 2nd St., 2986: Pennsylvania Commonwealth c/o Dixon University to Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, $4,560,000

N. 3rd St., 3017: J. Crossett & M. Hochstetler to B. & S. Sisco, $166,000

N. 3rd St., 3021: Innovative Assets LLC to I. & J. Vitale, $214,900

N. 4th St., 1727: R. Moss & J. Stark to E. Timothy & C. Moore, $200,000

N. 4th St., 2106: W. Martin to I. Folkner, $100,000

N. 4th St., 2114: M. Goldberg to W. & M. Hyatt, $90,000

N. 4th St., 2404: F. & R. Scott to D. Boyle, $46,400

N. 4th St., 3211: D. Cameron to Q. Loper, $140,000

N. 4th St., 3225: J. Wright to A. Ramirez & C. Barrios, $90,000

N. 5th St., 1706: J. Hawkins to A. & J. Norris, $200,000

N. 6th St., 3161: P. Freeman to D&A Homes LLC, $66,500

N. 12th St., 56: B. & L. Young to F. Velez, $90,000

N. 15th St., 1202: Y. Griffiths to 946 South 18th LLC, $55,000

N. 15th St., 1314: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to Chand Living Trust, $149,900

N. 15th St., 1340: M. Alvarez to M. Tornay, $87,000

N. 15th St., 1415: E. Mantilla to M. Gomez, $94,500

N. 16th St., 523: R&K Realty Group LP to 523 N 16th Street LLC, $50,000

N. 17th St., 66: Great Row LLC to Bond Wolf & Fox LLC, $44,900

N. 17th St., 80: Wofford Enterprises Ltd. to E. Mendoza, $62,000

N. Front St., 2701: Jonas Rupp House LLC to Dilks Properties of Harrisburg LLC, $875,000

N. Front St., 2909 & 2917: M. & S. Wilson to Benmarsh LLC, $1,400,000

Penn St., 1420: P. & K. Lopushansky to Hobbeze Inc., $40,000

Penn St., 1716: D. Rhodes to K. Bentz, $170,000

Penn St., 1828: K. & Y. Cunningham to Panda Real Estate LLC, $110,000

Penn St., 1925: G. & K. Capoferri to A. & J. Norris, $181,000

Penn St., 2119: Obear Properties to JJC Properties, $55,000

Penn St., 2427: M. & Y. Speece to M. Powell, $67,500

Pennwood Rd., 3209: M. Ramirez to P. Grove, $170,000

Pennwood Rd., 3212: M. Udit to I. Foye, $148,000

Radnor St., 642: D. Webber to Horizon Investments RE LLC, $75,000

Royal Terr., 125: El Pejano Trucking LLC to L. Almonte, $91,000

S. 13th St., 1432: R. Mosley to AP Properties Services LLC, $52,000

S. 13th St., 1443: J. & V. Pettis to K. Quinn, $125,000

S. 13th St., 1541: Y. Al Refae & H. Esmaeil to B. Muzirwa, $72,500

S. 16th St., 11: Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC to HTTRINH LLC, $87,000

S. 17th St., 18: M. Nichols to C. Peguero, $68,000

S. 19th St., 19: M. Goldberg to J. Antoine, $99,000

S. 19th St., 226: Great Row LLC to F. Galan, $68,000

S. 20th St., 624: DMA Rentals LLC to M. Ortiz, $90,000

S. 24th St., 704: C. Allen to A. Jacques, $68,000

State St., 1847: Bridger Investments LLC to Adom Investment Group LLC, $190,000

Susquehanna St., 1637: S. Henry to S. & N. Kelly, $115,000

Susquehanna St., 1703: L. Mayton & A. Quick to N. Hoy, $170,000

Susquehanna St., 2130: Zion Management LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $65,000

Swatara St., 2014: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to Chand Living Trust, $129,900

Sycamore St., 1622: T. Nguyen to C. Coronado, $150,000

Taylor Blvd., 30: JEG Properties LLC to Brethren Housing Association, $130,000

Verbeke St., 120: B. & L. Clemente to LanPro Properties LLC, $130,000

Walnut St., 1220: L. & E. Keefer to J. White, $119,900

Walnut St., 1318: C. Tatum to D. Boyle, $42,000

Wayne St., 1713: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $64,000

Whitehall St., 2050: Wheatland Restore LLC to T. & D. Smith, $209,900

Wiconisco St., 618: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Mentzer Gap Holdings LLC, $129,995

Zarker St., 1927: M. Baltozer to E. Ayala & N. Vogt, $50,500

Harrisburg property sales, April 2022, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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State-of-the-art e-sports, gaming facility debuts at Whitaker Center

May 17, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Whitaker Center CEO Ted Black (right) speaks during the opening of the new PNC Innovation Zone.

Downtown Harrisburg took another step towards becoming a regional hub for e-sports on Tuesday, as Whitaker Center opened a dedicated facility for video games and e-sports.

The new PNC Innovation Zone is a 7,000-square-foot facility that combines the existing, 40-foot-tall Select Medical Digital Cinema with a newly constructed, purpose-built gaming center.

Whitaker Center CEO Ted Black said that video games and e-sports help stimulate interest among young people in other, related, STEAM activities, such as coding, graphic design and computer networking, as well as help break down gender and equity barriers to technology.

“Purposeful gaming at the PNC Innovation Zone is a natural extension of our founders’ visionary leadership,” Black said.

The gaming studio portion of the project encompasses 2,000 square feet on Whitaker Center’s second floor, roughly where the box office, gift shop and coffee shop formerly were located. It includes:

Capacity for as many as 30 gaming stations and 12 gaming consoles
10 75-inch, high-definition flat screen televisions
12-foot, high-definition projection screen
E-sports tiered seating for spectator viewing
High-tech conference room

The PNC Innovation Zone will host weekly activities, including game designing, building and coding, as well as competitions. Black said that Whitaker Center will continue to develop new uses and educational applications for the facility.

Young people inside the gaming studio

Partners in the project include PNC Bank, which helped finance the facility, and Comcast, which is providing the connectivity. It’s one of the largest Comcast “Lift Zones,” which provides free Wi-Fi access in neighborhood community centers.

The project also was partially funded with a $750,000 state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant, which Whitaker Center received in 2020.

“I’m going to be even more proud to see the smiling, energetic, thriving young faces that will be coming through this area for years to come,” said Jim Hoehn, PNC’s regional president of Central Pennsylvania and a Whitaker Center board member, at the opening.

The PNC Innovation Zone is the latest gaming and e-sports facility for downtown Harrisburg. Harrisburg University’s championship e-sports team, the HU Storm, also have a state-of-the-art facility in Whitaker Center and, just last week, TheBurg reported that the region’s professional e-sports team, the Susquehanna Soniqs, soon will open the LAN Center, a community gaming facility on S. 3^rd Street.

To learn more about Whitaker Center, visit their website.

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Burg Review: Light and magic radiate musically from Theatre Harrisburg’s “The Secret Garden”

February 12, 2022 | by Gina Napoli

Telling a classic story by author Frances Hodgson Burnett that’s over a century old, Theatre Harrisburg’s “The Secret Garden” brings the musical version alive, even though the majority of the characters are, shall we say, not alive.

Whether you have already seen the award-winning show on Broadway or any of the nine movie or television series adaptations, it’s worth re-visiting the story to see Theatre Harrisburg’s emotive interpretation. With lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon, the evocative operatic score drives sets the somber mood perfectly for all that is eerie about post-Victorian England.

Set in 1906, we meet Mary Lennox (Charlotte Caples) on the worst day of her young life. Upon awakening from her overindulged life in India, she learns that everyone in her house died from cholera. She is then whisked 6,000 miles away to live with her widowed, reclusive Uncle Archibald Craven (Andrew Vinton) in gothic Misselthwaite Manor.

Because the amount of grief in the home weighs as heavy as the fog on the nearby moors, the house and its inhabitants are haunted by spirits, or “The Dreamers” (Tony Barber, Rebecca Cole, Andrea Crawford, Francis Dy, TJ Fausnight, Wendy J. Faust, Jason Genise-Gdula, Aubrey Krepps, Darren Riddle). With only servants for company, Mary does not have her uncle’s affections, and she is forbidden from entering the garden. This makes it the number-one place for her to break into. The number-two place is a hidden room where she discovers a secret resident.

The grim setting of Misselthwaite Manor becomes a character in its own right, establishing its gravity and mystery with its flickering amber lighting and shadowy, monochromatic colors. The occasional lightning bolts and howling winds further guard the house against young Mary bonding with it or feeling nurtured by it. The spring garden, also tinged with sadness, stands locked and overgrown. The setting juxtaposes well against the slightly brighter melancholic memories that occasionally surface, like a waltz in the garden with a lost love.

Music Director Mitchell Sensenig brings out the best in the talented cast, who seem to effortlessly find their own voices in each other’s harmonic ranges. The singers perform with brilliant passion, all adding to the haunting melodies they create. With rich songs resonating from the depths of sorrow, each vocalist hits echoing notes of loneliness that prickle on the skin.

My favorite duet duos: powerhouse tenors Andrew Vinton and Sean Meara and penetrating mezzo-sopranos Beth Darowish and Aubrey Krepps. And when both duos join forces for “Quartet,” their voices seamlessly reverberate together for an aria so beautiful that musical notes are left hanging in the air along with the fog.

“The Secret Garden” is Director Winnona Piazza’s first production with Theatre Harrisburg. With this musical, she promises audiences a tale that “eventually breaks through to the light and true magic.” It feels symbolic of the world’s long-awaited re-awakening after a different sort of plague. It’s a message addressing “pain and loss, and displays how one can find grace and hope in the future.”

“The Secret Garden” musical runs Feb. 11 to 27 at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information on show times and tickets, plus up-to-date COVID-19 protocols, visit www.theatreharrisburg.com/2021-2022-shows/the-secret-garden.

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The inauguration of Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, in pictures

January 3, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

On Monday morning, Wanda Williams was sworn in as the 39th mayor of Harrisburg.

Friends, family and supporters were on hand for the hour-long ceremony, which took place at Whitaker Center downtown. The following pictures depict some of what took place on the stage.

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams delivers remarks following her swearing in.

Marcia Perry Dix served as mistress of ceremonies.

Rev. Walter R. Dockens Jr. delivered the invocation.

Harrisburg Poet Laureate Portia Bolen Geter delivered an inaugural tribute.

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller was one of three speakers who shared personal stories of the new mayor.

Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas delivered the oath of office to returning council member Ausha Green, who also was sworn in during the ceremony.

Mayor Wanda Williams took the oath of office.

Mayor Wanda Williams shared remarks with the audience.

The Rev. James Tate delivered the benediction.

As the ceremony ended, the city’s color guard retired the colors.

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Wanda Williams inaugurated as Harrisburg mayor; city council president chosen

January 3, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams addressed the crowd at her inaugural ceremony.

Harrisburg’s new Mayor Wanda Williams vowed to be an “authentic leader” as she officially took office on Monday morning.

Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas swore in Williams as the city’s 39^th mayor, along with Harrisburg City Council member Ausha Green, at an inaugural ceremony held at Whitaker Center.

Williams, a Democrat, won the November municipal election, dethroning previous two-term mayor Eric Papenfuse, who launched a write-in campaign after losing to Williams in the primary election.

Also in November, Green won re-election, along with incumbent council member Shamaine Daniels. Newly elected were Ralph Rodriguez and Jocelyn Rawls. Daniels, Rodriguez and Rawls were sworn in on separate occasions.

At the swearing in, Williams explained her inauguration as a new beginning for Harrisburg. She noted that, while the election season was taxing as she battled challenger Papenfuse and lost both of her parents, she was ready to get to work.

“I hope today that I made [my parents] proud,” Williams said. “We are here today because we came together and said that it’s time for a new dawn in Harrisburg.”

Williams, a lifelong resident of Harrisburg, served on city council from 2006 through 2021, and as council president for her last two terms.

At a reorganization meeting on Monday, council voted for member Danielle Bowers to take Williams’ former seat as council president. Council member Ausha Green was chosen to serve as vice president.

Harrisburg City Council reorganization meeting

Assuming her new role, Williams noted that some of her priorities as mayor will include building affordable housing, creating youth programming, improving infrastructure and fixing the city’s outdated sewer and stormwater systems.

“Now is the time to turn away from politics and focus on the real work that we must do together,” she said. “As we begin our new dawn, we must get back to the basics. Good enough is not good enough anymore.”

Much of the inaugural ceremony centered around Williams’ Christian faith, with local pastors and musicians offering blessings, prayers and song.

Family members also participated. Williams’ grandchildren led the Pledge of Allegiance, and her husband Jerome Williams held the Bible as she was sworn in.

Additionally, a few of Williams’ supporters took to the microphone.

“Wanda has great experience, she’s learned a lot, and I think she’s got the knowledge and experience to lead our city,” said Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller. “I, for one, am excited about the change in leadership.”

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