Charles Stangor

“It’s kind of like riding a bike.  It’s still the same job and the same bike but I feel like I have flat tires,” said Gettysburg Hospital Registered Nurse Eric Gagné as he described his work since the pandemic began.   Gagné works in Ward A2 where he monitors the conditions of four or five

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

Even as the Pennsylvania Department of Health has allowed restaurants and gyms to reopen and has reinstated sports activities in county schools, the number of COVID-19 cases in the county continues to grow in record numbers. The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Adams County increased by 15 percent this week, increasing the cases by

It’s been a tough 2020 for all of us, and Gettysburg Borough has not had it any easier. The borough has powered through the year, dealing with a huge drop in revenue, a major hit to local businesses, a series of political protests, and difficulties and criticism related to its decisions about the police department.

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

As of today only 975 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Adams County and these are being administered to employees at Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital. These doses are all of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and no shipments of the Moderna vaccine have yet been received. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for distribution by the U.S. Food

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

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

Gettysburg Horse mounted officers escorted Santa Claus through town this evening.

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,

“With the changes we’ve seen, it occurred to me we could use some money from our revolving loan fund to keep some of our restaurants open,” said borough council vice president Wes Heyser as he proposed a new zero-interest program from Gettysburg Borough to help local restaurants. Heyser said restaurants are suffering due to a

The Adams County commissioners today praised the work of county employees for their efforts over the past six months in awarding grants through the Fund for Adams Investment and Recovery (FAIR) program. The FAIR program, which has now awarded all of its allocated funds, was used to distribute money from the Federal CARES Act to

Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) has launched a $5-million-dollar capital campaign to fund a new 29,000 square foot exhibition complex, scheduled to open by Fall 2022, to be built just north of Gettysburg at 625 Biglerville Rd. The new building will house an exhibit gallery, archives, and an education center. The society has already raised

The Adams County Community Foundation’s (ACCF) 2020 virtual Giving Spree broke new ground in this year of social distancing, as donors nearly doubled the amount they gave in 2019. The giving benefited 95 local nonprofits. The biggest winner was the Adams County Historical Society with over $½ million in gifts.  The society is in the

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

With a round of applause from the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) school board, current president Kenneth Hassinger was unanimously elected on Monday evening to remain in his position for another year.  Al Moyer was unanimously voted to remain as vice president. Solicitor Bob McQuaide was also reappointed for another term and board member Amy

The Adams County Commissioners have awarded another $3.7 million in federal grants to over 80 county organizations. The funds come from the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by the U.S. Congress in March, 2020. The $2 trillion economic relief package helps protect the American people from the public

A strong group of four candidates, bringing years of experience in education, service, and business, applied for the Upper Adams School District (UASD) board position being vacated by Elaine Jones. In the interviews the candidates stressed their dedication, their love of learning, and their dedication to the mission of UASD. The temporary position is for

New Oxford Holiday Hunt, brought to you by the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and presenting sponsor Members 1st Federal Credit Union, officially kicks off on Saturday, December 12. The event features a scavenger hunt, business decorating contest and residential decorating competition. This is the first year for the event, which is similar to

The Gettysburg Borough Council has denied a request from the Gettysburg Area Merchants Association (GARMA) to allow them to provide New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Gettysburg rec park. The Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA), which leases the park from the borough, had already indicated they were not willing to host the fireworks due to

Dear friend of Gettysburg Connection, Yes, 2020 has been quite a year. From the toll of the coronavirus to an escalated political scene in Gettysburg and an intense presidential election, to the sadness we endure when we see so many businesses shuttered and so many people hungry and homeless, we have endured unprecedented turmoil.  Throughout,

All schools in the Upper Adams School District remain open as of today, as the district continues to monitor cases and follow state guidelines Superintendent Wesley Doll said there were currently four COVID cases in the district and that 32 people were currently in quarantine out of a total of 1,700 students in the district.

The Upper Adams School District School Board heard on Tuesday from administrators in each of their schools about student learning during the pandemic.  Overall the administrators reported there had been some decreases in learning from last year and that although these were concerning many students were now improving. Biglerville Elementary School Principal Jamie Kerstetter said

As sports at the Upper Adams School District (UASD) move indoors, the district is taking extra precautions to keep athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators safe. District Athletic Director Anthony Graham said winter sports practice is beginning now and that competition, should it be allowed, will begin the second week of December.  But competition can only

Upper Adams School District (UASD) school board member Elaine Jones has retired after 16 years of service. The board voted to accept her resignation on Monday. “Thank you so much for your long and steadfast and diligent service.  You have really been a role model and I’m going to miss you,” said board member Christopher

As Thanksgiving 2020 arrives in a year where there are some things we are not completely thankful for, I’d like to hear from each of you about the things you are thankful for. Gratitude is a human emotion that brings people together, provides support for families and communities, and improves our well-being. Gratitude can be

The Fairfield Area School Board held a “boardshop” on Monday night in which they discussed with district staff members the many issues facing their schools during the recent COVID surge. The importance of keeping on top of the quickly-evolving situation has been made clear as all sixth grade students were sent home between November 12

“No Tax Increase! Those are 3 words we love to hear,” said County Commissioner Randy Phiel after the Adams County Commissioners reviewed and tentatively adopted the proposed 2021 budget yesterday.  The budget is available for viewing and public comment is welcome.  The commissioners expect to vote on the budget at their meeting on December 16.

Expressing reservations about safety, likely turnout, and the difficulty of safely parking cars during the winter months, the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) board of directors declined to host New Year’s Eve Fireworks this year. Board member Jake Schindel, said ACNB had offered to pay for the fireworks with help from the Gettysburg Area Retail

In a quickly-changing environment in which the state may recommend that schools return to online learning at any moment, the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) has increased its board meetings from twice per month to weekly. “We’re going to have stuff to discuss. Shooting an email is different than discussing it. We need to do

The Gettysburg Borough Council voted on Monday to publish for public comment an ordinance designed to protect people on the basis of their sexual orientation. The proposed ordinance prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation, housing, and commercial property, establishes a commission to investigate complaints, and creates a mediation remedy for filed complaints. The ordinance has

A return to daily instruction in the Conewago Valley Intermediate School is still in the books, but has been delayed until at least January 19 due to the recent spike of COVID cases in Adams County, said District Superintendent Christopher Rudisill yesterday. But Rudisill said reopening full time will create a host of difficulties. “The

“You only get one shot and you have to make it the most,” Director of Bands Shawn Campopiano told the 52 students in The New Oxford Marching Colonials as they assembled on the New Oxford High School (NOHS) football field before shooting their prize-winning video. The performance, submitted virtually to the 2020 USBands competition, won

Since 1953, Holiday Family Outreach, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, has provided Christmas toys and food certificates to low-income families in Adams County.  This year we are celebrating 67 years of service to the community!  We are proud that our administrative cost is only 3% and this is for insurance, printing and postage.  We also have

Gettysburg Mayor Ted Streeter announced on Tuesday that trick or treating will go forward in Gettysburg on Halloween evening, Sat, October 31, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. “If you don’t feel comfortable, just turn off your porch lights.  Next year will be better,” said Streeter. “If you’re a gift giver, I strongly recommend that you

Gettysburg Borough president Jake Schindel began Monday’s council meeting by reminding residents of the importance of wearing face masks. “As we go headlong into flu season we should all be very wary as our numbers move in the wrong direction,” said Schindel. “Gettysburg has done much better than other towns I’ve seen. We just need

Gettysburg residents may see a tax rate increase in the next budget as the borough council struggles to close the budget gap caused by the pandemic. The borough has spent a large portion of its reserve funds, complicating the budget process. “The council has done a very good job putting good financial policies in place,

Gettysburg Borough was recently featured on the cover of the Pennsylvania State Association of Borough s magazine, and praised inside the publication for its forward-thinking response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restaurants, bars and stores closed, the borough worked with local nonprofit Main Street Gettysburg to create the Gettysburg CARES program to help businesses cope.

Autumn Alleman, Member Services Manager from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, presented Upper Adams school board member Elaine Jones on Monday evening with a certificate of appreciation for her 16 years of service to the Upper Adams School District (UASD). Alleman said school board members spend “hours and hours away from their family to perform

November 5, 2020 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Adams County Community Foundation’s annual fall Giving Spree. The spree brings Adams County donors and nonprofits together in a day of giving. “We’ve had some pretty good growth over the past year,” said Community Foundation Chairman Ralph Serpe. Serpe said the “forever” giving options have

Gettysburg Police Chief Rob Glenny says his office has a “constant flow of work” as it deals with an increase in crimes in the borough ranging from opioid-related DUIs to thefts of political yard signs. Glenny said the number and quality of demonstrations in the Gettysburg square was a problem as election day approaches. “The

The Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors will consider moving district athletics from the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) conference to the Mid Penn Conference (MPC). YAIAA has 23 schools mostly in the Adams-York region and includes Bermudian Springs, Fairfield, Delone Catholic, New Oxford, Biglerville, and Littlestown. MPC includes 30 schools from as far

The Fairfield Area School District Board of Directors is seeking an immediate replacement for current member Greg Murray who is retiring. Murray served the district not only on the board but also on many committees, countless hours as a classroom volunteer, and throughout the district. The board application packet and and procedures can be found

Several members of the local community asked the Gettysburg Recreational Authority (GARA) board tonight to consider allowing the skate park to stay open after dark using the lights that are already available nearby. The group noted the park has grown over the past years and that it would be nice to have that growth continue.

The Fairfield Area School District board of directors moved closer last week to using COVID-funds to install permanent cameras in the indoor and outdoor athletic venues. The cameras would allow live streaming of athletic events. Athletic Director Crystal Heller said she had looked into the possibility of live streaming sports events by contacting two companies,

On June 11th, 2020 the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) released guidance for the Pennsylvania COVID-19 County Relief program. Adams County submitted an application for $9,302,625 in funding on June 15, 2020. On June 24, 2020, the Adams County Commissioners approved a contract with DCED for the full amount. This funding is

Gettysburg Borough Council members and employees, representatives of Healthy Adams Bicycle/Pedestrian, Inc. (HABPI), and other interested people gathered today near W. Middle St. on a beautiful fall afternoon to dedicate the blue bicycle bridge that was installed in 2018 to former council president Susan Naugle. Gettysburg Mayor Ted Streeter made the dedication saying the event

School has restarted at the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) and as of Monday there had been no reported cases of COVID-19. “We have been very lucky. We haven’t had any tests come back positive,” said district superintendent Michael Adamek. “We’ve had some symptoms. We’ve had a few folks go home and be tested and

The Farm Fresh Farmers Market lucked out this October: There are five Saturdays this month which means there are five more farmers markets before we wrap up the 2020 season. And while there have been a lot of challenges this year, there have been a lot of great things, too! Please help us end the

Parklets The Gettysburg Borough Council will continue the pilot parklet project into next year, although it is not yet clear how many of them there will be or which businesses will be using them. Timbrel Wallace, owner of the Lark Gift Shop and Nerd Herd Gifts & Games addressed the council saying “I do hope

The Gettysburg Borough Council moved closer this week to a final draft of a “Borough of Gettysburg Nondiscrimination and Human Relations Commission Ordinance” which will declare discriminatory acts on the basis of gender preference to be unlawful and create a volunteer commission to investigate and mediate potential violations. Borough Solicitor Harold Eastman said many terms

Adams County will be mailing its first set of ballots for this fall’s general election over the coming days, and most people who have signed up to vote by mail should receive their ballot within one or two weeks. The ballots are expected to arrive from the state at the courthouse in the next day

Please see our related story As the pandemic has led people outdoors, the Gettysburg rec park is getting a lot of use. The yells and cheers from children in the park ring through Gettysburg Borough almost every night and music fills the air many Sunday mornings. “The football Generals are practicing and having games. We’re

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin announced last week that more than 100 state projects have received grants through Pennsylvania’s $10 million Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Six of those projects were in Adams County, which received about $391,000 in total awards. •            Mi Campesina Mexican Store, Gettysburg:  $17,290