Dear Gettysburg Residents,
In keeping with my commitment to reach out to the community as an ambassador for Gettysburg Borough, I continue to meet with residents and groups about their concerns and, when my schedule permits, attend events held to recognize their causes that they have put time and effort into promoting for the benefit of our community.
I had the privilege of attending the 31st annual Adams County Heritage Festival, proclamation in hand. As part of the festival, I served as Grand Marshall for the Kid’s Bike Parade. The event was a joy to be a part of and, I must state formally, what great children we have here in our community! They never once scoffed or laughed at my bike riding ability, or lack thereof.
The Gettysburg Police Department’s National Night Out was an honor to have supported and served. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The program has met with much respect and honor in the communities that participate. Gettysburg can be honored for the role played by our police department and our residents in this event.
I, along with Borough Council President Wesley Heyser, Gettysburg Police Officer Dennis Bevenour, Borough manager Charles Gable, Parking Enforcement Officer Bill Gardner, and Gettysburg Fire Department members received a grand tour aboard the USS Gettysburg in Norfolk, VA. The USS Gettysburg is the namesake of the Battle of Gettysburg and the most advanced guided missile cruiser in the world.
I met with delegates of Project Gettysburg León, the borough’s official sister city organization that links Gettysburg with León, Nicaragua. This group is working on a mural for a building at the Painted Turtle Farm garden. The farm is a campus dedicated to food insecurity and a community hub for food justice.
Having danced the night away at the 14th Salsa on the Square on September 30, a proclamation was certainly in order. The festival is a part of Hispanic Heritage Week, which includes Sep. 15 and 16, deemed by the US Congress in 1968 to declare and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic people.
I am in the process of scheduling office hours at Gettysburg College. This wonderful invitation to meet with students came from college president Robert Iuliano.
I anticipate a bright and happy holiday season in Gettysburg and an outstanding Gettysburg Christmas Festival as we bring 2022 to an end and boldly face the challenges ahead in 2023!
All of My Best,
Mayor Rita C. Frealing
Rita Frealing is the mayor of Gettysburg.
We really appreciate you Rita. You are an excellent mayor and a fine person.