Gettysburg will begin “Trap Neuter and Return” program to stabilize borough’s feral cat population

After hearing from citizens and municipal office holders from Bendersville, Carroll Valley, and Gettysburg describe the effectiveness of the program, the Gettysburg Borough Council will move forward on a trap neuter and return/release (TNR) program to stabilize its feral cat population. The speakers, all of whom had experience with the program said the program is

Buzz Jones Jazz Quintet entertains at rec park amphitheater

The Buzz Jones Jazz Quintet played a set in the Gettysburg rec park yesterday afternoon.  It was some cool jazz on a hot Sunday afternoon.  The concert was part of Music Gettysburg!s annual series. Music Gettysburg! is using the amphitheater while their usual concert locations on the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary campus are being prepared for

Live music returns to Gettysburg

After a year of eerie quiet in the borough’s streets and establishments, tourists and locals are again filling the town. And with them are coming healthy doses of live music. As the various venues around the county fill up their schedules, local musicians are pleased to be back performing and earning a living after a

Keeping Gettysburg Connection Sustainable

One of the most difficult parts of the news business is making it sustainable. In other words, will we still be publishing next year? In the past newspapers were supported primarily by advertising but that money has been snatched away from our communities by Facebook, Google, and the other bigs. Although news sites like ours

GASD Graduates Seniors in Rain-delayed Ceremony

“What an absolutely crazy ride this high school experience has been,” said Gettysburg Area School District Senior Class President Natalie Kloster in her address to her graduating classmates and their parents and supporters at this year’s Gettysburg High School graduation in Warriors Stadium. Kloster said she had doubted at many times in the year that

Mt. Joy denies solar panel application on tie vote [UPDATE]

[THIS STORY WAS UPDATED ON JUNE 4, 2021] After two tie votes by the Mt. Joy township supervisors, the application for from NextEra Energy for a large solar panel array in the township was denied. Under township regulation a decision to approve requires a majority vote. The project, which would have added over 400 acres

Veterans Remembered at Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade and Presentation

As other families picnicked and visited, thousands of veterans, families with children of all ages, and other patriots lined Baltimore Avenue in Gettysburg on a sunny Memorial Day afternoon to watch an enthusiastic parade.  A smaller crowd stayed on to hear presentations at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The parade included representatives of the guided-missile cruiser

Gettysburg poised to move forward on HABPI Inner Loop Project

After extensive grant writing by Gettysburg Borough and Healthy Adams Bicycle/Pedestrian, Inc.(HABPI), Gettysburg may be in a positive situation regarding  the Gettysburg Inner Loop bicycle trail, segment GIL-B2. The borough and HABPI formed a partnership in 2007 to design and build a bicycle/pedestrian system that was safe and ADA mobility welcoming. Most of the west

Straban “astonished” about GASD suit

In a press release issued this week Straban Township said it had not expected to be sued by the Gettysburg Area School District. “I’m astonished,” said Tony Sanders, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We’ve been working with the district’s solicitor for months in good faith and then this suit comes out of the blue.”

Rita Frealing Gets to Work on Mayoral Campaign

After winning the Democratic primary over Chad Alan Carr and Kiersten Demps on Tuesday, Rita Frealing is basing her mayoral campaign on the issues of community safety, collaboration, and consensus.  “I’m ready to work,” said Frealing in a phone call yesterday. “Everyone will have a voice.” Frealing said the two major responsibilities the mayor was

GASD wrestles with its budget, preparing for a vote on June 7

Gettysburg Area School District staff presented a detailed and comprehensive look at the district’s 2021-22 budget on Monday evening, while proposing a modest 1.2 percent tax increase to reduce the possibility of severe funding difficulties in the future. District Business Manager Belinda Wallen said the parts of the budget the district was able to control

Self inflicted gunshot near Gettysburg Square

Media Release On May 11, 2021 at approx. 1220 AM, Officers of the Gettysburg Police Department located a victim of a self-inflicted gun shot wound in the first block of Chambersburg St. The individual was located in the driver’s seat of a vehicle registered to the victim and the driver had an obvious self-inflicted gunshot

Should GASD Raise Taxes? Board Debates the Issue

Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) board members expressed concern Monday evening about the 1.2 percent tax increase Superintendent Jason Perrin said was needed to keep the district in the black. Perrin said his team had reduced still another $1.2 million in spending while not affecting student learning and that the proposed 2021-2022 budget was only

Majestic Theater will reopen on May 21

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater will reopen its first-run daily cinema center on Friday, May 21 after being closed for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets and show times will initially be limited, so advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Tickets are $9 each. “The pandemic has devastated theaters across America, so May

GASD Proposes a 1.3 Percent Tax Increase for 2021-2022

Gettysburg Area School District Superintendent Jason Perrin said the district has found a way to reduce another $1.2 million in spending for the 2021-22 school year over the past two weeks. He said the cuts were difficult to find but had been accomplished without impacting student programming. The proposed budget will keep the minimum unassigned

Borough Encourages Responses To Survey

Residents of Gettysburg Borough should have received a survey in their mailbox asking them to provide information about their perceptions of the borough and its government. Borough Manager Charles Gable has asked people to fill out the survey to help the borough know if the if the work they are doing is satisfactory.  Gable said

Gettysburg Borough Council Praises Main Street Director Deb Adamik, Gettysburg Police Force

On the occasion of her retirement, Gettysburg Borough councilmember Patti Lawson reviewed many of Main Street Gettysburg’s Deb Adamik’s accomplishments during her fourteen years as President and Chief Executive Officer. Lawson said Adamik’s achievements included the creation of the Wills House, the coordination of the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg battle, leadership on the Steinwehr

Help Wanted @ Seminary Ridge Museum

Friends, We have an immediate opening at Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center for a seasonal Visitor Services Assistant.  The person in this position works 20-30 hours a week, through November, at the museum’s admissions desk, shop, and leading tours.  It is a great summer job for college and graduate students looking to break into

Vaccine Information Update

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This is an update about the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations in Adams County as of today, April 12, 2021.  As of tomorrow, the state has opened vaccine eligibility to all adults. This does not mean that you will get a vaccine immediately– but you can get on a list to get one. There is still

Adams COVID Cases Continue to Rise as Commissioners Call for Safety and Vaccinations Continue

COVID-19 Cases in Adams County continued to rise this week at an alarming rate as County Commissioners reminded people to continue wearing masks and social distancing. Commissioner Marty Qually said “Those who care about their families, friends, and community will do what is right and continue to follow scientific safety protocols. Over 160 Adams County

Gettysburg Borough Proposes Limiting Food Trucks

Under a proposal being considered by the Gettysburg Borough Council, food trucks will be banned from Lincoln Square and in the first block in each direction from it, as well as on Steinwehr Ave. The proposal is a compromise between parties who want food trucks to be allowed everywhere and those who want to ban

Mt. Joy Solar Hearing Wrapping Up after a Year of Meetings

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Mt. Joy Township Supervisors and attorneys for NextEra Energy and local residents who opposed the project have ended the 80 or so hours of evidentiary hearings they have participated in over the past year to discuss the merits of NextEra’s proposed solar array project that would cover hundreds of acres in the township. Thousands of

Demanding “Live Learning,” FASD Board Overrules School Administration Preferences

After hearing angry statements from residents about the inability of children to return to full-time status and a complicated explanation from school administrators about the difficulty of reopening the elementary school full-time during the pandemic, Fairfield Area School Board members took action and voted to install cameras in each of the school’s classrooms to provide

GASD Proposes Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Expansion

Gettysburg High School Principal Jeremy Lusk introduced the school’s U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Instructor Lt. Col. (Ret) Mike Athanasakis to the school board on Monday evening. Describing the ROTC program, Lusk praised its benefits for students. “I saw civics; I saw history; I saw service; I saw teamwork; I saw training

Gettysburg Supports New Library Building in the Rec Park

The Gettysburg Borough Council is taking first steps to clear the way for the Gettysburg Branch of the Adams County Public Library System to build a new 27,000 square foot building on three acres in the Gettysburg rec park. The library is moving from its current location at the corner of Baltimore and High Streets

Community Media Will Bring Fiber Broadband to the County

Using grants from the Adams County Community Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Community Media of South Central PA is developing a proposal for a fiber broadband system for Adams County. The organization has created a steering committee and is working with Celerity and Skyline Technology Solutions on the plans.   Please see our related

Adams Faces Rural Broadband Shortages that Challenge Education, Manufacturing, and Agriculture

Speaking at an online meeting of the @Home in Adams County Initiative yesterday, Center for Rural Pennsylvania Director Kyle Kopko said Adams County has only about 197 people per square mile, and that like other rural counties, it ranks below the state average for internet download speeds. Kopko said households without adequate broadband are poorer

Adams County COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Remains a Trickle

Moving into the tenth week of vaccine deliveries in the state, opportunities for first-dose shots in Adams County remain limited or non-existent.  Neither the Adams Cumberland Pharmacy system nor the Wellspan system currently show any available openings for first-dose appointments. The PA Department of Health said it delivered about 2,000 doses of vaccines during the

UASD Hears Calls for Charter School Reform * Secondary Reopening Stymied by County Virus Figures

In his legislative report to the Upper Adams School District board on Monday, board member Christopher Fee noted the many burdens charter schools place on school district finances.  Fee said 350 school districts across the commonwealth are “calling for charter school reform. There are good charter schools, there are less good charter schools, but the

Vaccine Information Update

This is an update about the availability of COVID_19 vaccinations in Adams County.  Most generally, there is limited supply of vaccines. Hospitals and pharmacies are prepared to vaccinate thousands of people every week but the state does not have the vaccines. Most residents of nursing homes, however, have received their vaccines.  Vaccines for these vulnerable

Gettysburg Borough Council: Announcements and Actions

The Gettysburg Borough Council made announcements and took actions on Monday night: Announcements President Jake Schindel noted that Routes 15 and 30 in Gettysburg are state-owned roads and that the state clears the driving lanes but not the parking spaces on these roads.  Schindel said clearing the parking spaces is a borough function “Right now

Gettysburg Library Looks to Relocate in the Rec Park

The Gettysburg Branch of the Adams County Library System, currently located at the corner of Baltimore and High Streets, is moving.  Yesterday, the library asked the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) to allow them to build a new 27,000 square foot building on three acres in the rec park. Speaking for the library were Library

Gettysburg College Students, Ending Their Arrival Quarantines, Are Optimistic for a Safe Spring Semester

As Gettysburg College begins the second week of its 2021 spring semester, students who have received two negative COVID-19 tests have been allowed to break their “arrival quarantine” with permission to leave campus. Students, who will be tested twice-weekly throughout the semester, will wear color-coded wristbands to mark their testing status. “Last week was pretty

Vaccines Roll Out at Local Nursing Homes, but Few Are Available for the General Population

“It’s going well. Every resident that qualified got it,” said Transitions Healthcare Gettysburg Nursing Home Administrator Vickie Kilmer, speaking of the first round of COVID-19 vaccines recently received by residents at the facility located just west of Gettysburg. Kilmer said over 270 doses had been administered at an onsite clinic held by Walgreens pharmacy. “We

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2021

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2021 Local businesses in Gettysburg and Adams County are creating dozens of special offers, both in-person and online, for you and your valentine this week. Whether you are inside or outside of your house, our shops deserve your support. No matter if you are stepping out onto the town or cuddling

Gettysburg Borough to Encourage “Best Practices” at Destination Gettysburg

Gettysburg Borough is looking to create more transparency at Destination Gettysburg (DG), Adams County’s Destination Management Organization (DMO).  The organization, one of about 50 across the state, is funded by the state’s lodging (“pillow”) tax with a mission of bringing visitors to the county. A committee made up of borough council board members Patti Lawson

WellSpan Health Explains Its Vaccine Policies

Gettysburg Connection talked today with Ryan Coyle, WellSpan Public Relations & Communications Manager, about WellSpan’s past vaccine policies and what the public can expect going forward. Here is an edited transcript of Coyle’s statement during our conversation:  “We opened up and began Phase 1A in late December. We started with front line workers and other employees

COVID_19 Vaccine Update

The PA Dept of Health has reported that small amounts of COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to these locations in Adams County this week: Adams Cumberland Pharmacy Wellspan Family Medicine- East Berlin Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital Wellspan Family Medicine- Herrs Ridge Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital Kennie’s Pharmacy- Littlestown Contact information for these locations is below .  Also

UASD Begins Budget Process; Allows Spectators at Sporting Events

Upper Adams School District (UASD) Business Administrator Shelley Hobbs began the school board’s discussion on the 2021-22 budget by focusing on its salary and benefits aspects, saying “these are the parts of the budget we can control.” Hobbs noted benefits paid to employees through the Pennsylvania Public Schools Employee Retirement System (PSERS) system had increased

Upper Adams Deals with Alleged Racism

Upper Adams School District (UASD) is dealing this week with controversy surrounding a Facebook page alleging a history of incidents of racism at Biglerville High School. District Superintendent Wesley Doll said in a letter posted to the district’s website on Sunday that high school principal Beth Graham and assistant principal Nathan Becker would be available

Adams Food Support Systems Make a Difference During the Pandemic

Over 85 people from around the state attended an online meeting sponsored by the Penn State Extension Office on Tuesday to learn about the many ways Adams County food-related organizations collaborated in 2020 to provide food resources to local residents during the pandemic. The activities in the county serve as a model for many others

GASD Recognizes Board, Voices Concern over Charter School Costs

Noting that January is School Director Recognition Month, Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) Superintendent Jason Perrin recognized board members for their service. “This is a time for us to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work boards do on behalf of our students, schools, and families,” said Perrin. Perrin said the impact of the

Bipartisan Group Encourages Residents to Run for Office

“You don’t have to have political experience. You just have to have the will to help your community,” said Gettysburg resident and borough council member Matt Moon as he described his entry into politics last year. Moon spoke this week at an online, bipartisan, meeting of elected officials and interested citizens sponsored by the local

Borough Council Members Defend Borough Staff

Gettysburg Borough President Jake Schindel and Council Member Patti Lawson both expressed their support for borough staff members at Monday’s council meeting. The statements published here have been slightly edited.  The complete statements can be seen here. Jake Schindel: “We elected officials are elected by the public and we should absolutely take criticism all the

Two New Developments Proposed in Gettysburg Borough

A three-house residential development near the Lutheran Seminary and a large residential-commercial project at the corner of Water and 4th streets are under review by Gettysburg Borough. Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh said the Water St. project, proposed by Shippensburg Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, was “one of the bigger land developments we’ve seen in a

Gettysburg Mayor Ted Streeter Will Not Seek Re-election

Gettysburg Mayor Ted Streeter officially announced this week that he would not be seeking reelection at the end of his four-year term that expires on December 31.   “I want to make a formal announcement of what everybody already knows.  I will not be running for mayor this year,” said Streeter. “I’ve put in over

Land Conservancy Seeks Part-Time Administrative Coordinator

Land Conservancy of Adams County is currently seeking an organized, thorough, and personable Administrative Coordinator to support all of our activities. This part-time position (estimated 25 hours/week) is located in Gettysburg, and will pay between $15 and $20/hour, depending on your experience and qualifications. This position reports directly to our board of directors, providing administrative

Curbside Pickup Comes to Kennie’s in Gettysburg

Kennie’s Market, located 217 W. Middle St. in Gettysburg, now offers curbside grocery pickup service.  “We were looking at offering curbside pickup pre-COVID and were able to get the service up and running at our Gettysburg location,” said Store Manager Ralph Flores.  “We wanted to add the service for our busy customers to have another

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Continues in Adams

Adams County health care providers received 800 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine last week, in addition to the 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine received by the hospital three weeks ago. The vaccines now are available for distribution through the Cumberland Adams Pharmacy, located in the Kennie’s Market in Biglerville, to all people who

GASD Passes on Auxiliary Gym Update

After considering the project for many months and getting requisite bids, the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) declined to spend $915,487 for an update to the school gym that was to be rolled into a $16.5 million renovation of the building’s heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system. The HVAC system update itself, deemed necessary

New State Vaccine Dashboard Shows only a Third of Available Adams County Vaccines Have Been Used

The newly-released Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard, which reports the number of vaccinations administered by county, shows that only 336 people have been vaccinated in Adams since the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine almost three weeks ago. The Department of Health reported last week that 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine had been delivered

Gettysburg Connection 2020 Annual Report

Dear Friends, It is my pleasure to share Gettysburg Connection’s 2020 annual report with you. I direct this letter to all of you who read the Connection, who subscribe to the Connection, who sponsor the Connection, and who participate with the Connection in so many other ways. I am happy to report that Gettysburg Connection

Adams Leads All Pennsylvania Counties in Hospital COVID-19 Admission Rate; Places Second For Percent Positivity

As the number of COVID-19 continues to surge, Adams County has achieved the dubious status of having the second highest percent positivity rate – at 26.3 percent – of all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Only Perry County is higher – at 33.1 percent. The positivity rate measures the percent of people tested who have positive results.

A Message from the Publisher

Dear Gettysburg Connection Readers, No matter how you are celebrating, I hope you find this 2020 festive season a time of family, caring, sharing, reflection, and renewal. We’d normally be gathering together in joy and laughter, but this year is different.  The darkness of the outdoors has moved indoors and the season will long be

HGAC Grants Help to Preserve 11 Adams County Barns in 2020

Every year, the Historic Preservation Society of Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC), through its Barn Preservation Project and Grant Program makes grants of money available to owners of historic barns within Adams County. This year, a record setting number of 11 barn owners were able to take advantage of this unique program that helps to extend

First COIVD-19 Vaccines Administered at Gettysburg Wellspan Hospital

Wellspan Health announced today that the first round of Pfizer COIVD-19 vaccines have arrived at Gettysburg and its six other hospitals and are being administered to front-line staff. Wellspan infectious disease doctor Eugene Curley III said the vaccinations began at 6:00 a.m. this morning and were being given to a wide variety of hospital staff,

Gettysburg Hospital to Receive First COVID-19 Vaccines This Week

WellSpan Health announced today that seven of its hospitals would be among the first in the state to receive Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines and would serve as distribution centers for immunizations. A Wellspan spokesperson said Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon would receive vaccines first, probably tomorrow, and that other hospitals, including Gettysburg, would receive their first

Pennsylvania Ramps Up COVID-19 Mitigation, Imploring People to Stay Home and Banning Many Activities Until Jan. 4

Amid an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases and a severe stress on hospitals, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today issued new mitigation orders and implored Pennsylvanians to step up against the virus by staying home. “Each of the last two days reported the highest number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Health Secretary Rachel