Gettysburg Borough Council Reviews 4th of July Incidents

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The Gettysburg Borough Council called for further public discussions about the hundreds of visibly armed people who showed up in the borough and the Gettysburg National Military Park on July 4, supposedly to protect the Confederate monuments. Council President Jake Schindel emphasized the importance of the community having an open dialogue moving forward, and said

Gettysburg Area School District Proposes Reopening Plan

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A boisterous and sometimes rowdy crowd of citizens gathered in the Gettysburg Middle School auditorium last night as the school board began its discussion of the health and safety plan that will guide how students return to school in August. Superintendent Jason Perrin presented an outline of a proposed plan which will be finalized by

Gettysburg Black Lives Matters Protest Creates Tension but No Violence

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Hundreds of Black Lives Matters protestors gathered in Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square Friday afternoon to highlight and denounce incidents of police brutality against African-American people. Whereas the protestors had had the square to themselves in their prior two demonstrations earlier this year, they were joined this time by a contingent of motorcycle riders, restaurant diners, as

Canner Gauge Testing Offered by Penn State Extension

Home canning season is now upon us! All foods that are low acid, which includes vegetables (except picked products or sauerkraut), meats, soups, and all foods combined with them must be canned under pressure.  To assure that your pressure canning gauge is accurate, you need to have it tested annually before you start. Penn State

Adams County Community Foundation Awards $75,000 To Improve Lives in Adams County

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The Adams County Community Foundation has announced  $77,500 in grants from the Community Foundation’s Fund for Adams County. Supported by individuals, families and businesses, this fund is a permanent, growing endowment dedicated to addressing the evolving needs of Adams County. “Our annual Adams County Grants focus on three goals identified by our Board of Directors,”

Summer Activities in Gettysburg and Adams County

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It’s the July 4 weekend and summer is here in full force. Many tourists are returning to Gettysburg and Adams County and the locals are looking for things to do. It’s an unusual year as many of the summer fairs and festivals have been cancelled due to the coronavirus. The state does not currently allow

Gettysburg’s South Street Renovation Expanded

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South Street, Gettysburg, located between Baltimore and Washington Streets near Unity Park, will receive a substantial makeover over the next two years including lighting, curbs, sidewalks, and repaving, as well as new storm drains, water and gas lines. The borough will partner with the Gettysburg Municipal Authority, the Gettysburg Borough Storm Water Authority, and Columbia

Gettysburg to Loosen Zoning Restrictions on Nonconforming Buildings

Gettysburg Borough plans to change its zoning ordinance, making it possible to improve existing structures that do not currently conform to zoning codes. The changes will primarily address outbuildings, including garages and carriage houses, that currently do not meet property setback requirements and which are therefore unable to be changed under current law. In addition

Gettysburg Proposes Suspending Ban on Outdoor Alcoholic Beverages

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The Gettysburg Borough Council asked Solicitor Harry Eastman to draft a resolution that would temporarily suspend the current ban on outdoor open containers of alcohol, but would limit their consumption to non-breakable containers that are purchased from Gettysburg establishments. The proposed resolution would only allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages in and near the new

Gettysburg College Announces Fall Plans

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Fall classes for Gettysburg College students will begin on August 17 as the fall 2020 semester begins a bit earlier than usual. And the college will be making a number of changes to its schedule and policies to help ensure safety of students, faculty, and staff. “Any return to our residential program will come with

Gettysburg Reopens, But How Safely?

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Hundreds of tourists returned to the streets, restaurants, and shops of Gettysburg last weekend as Adams County moved into the green phase of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s coronavirus orders. The streets were particularly crowded on Saturday because the Gettysburg Outdoor Antique Show, sponsored by the Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association (GARMA), was held that day

GASD Board Votes No to 2020-21 Tax Increase

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School Superintendent Jason Perrin proposed two possible budgets to the Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors, one for a .5 percent tax increase in the 2020-21 tax year and one for no tax increase. Perrin said the difference between the two budgets concerned the amount of money needed to be drawn from the school’s

Gettysburg Rec Park Reopens, Prepares for July 4 Fireworks

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Gettysburg Rec Park Executive Director Erin Peddigree said that fireworks, sponsored and presented by Destination Gettysburg, will be displayed on July 4 from the Gettysburg Recreational Park football field. The fireworks will start at 9:20 p.m. and last about 20 minutes. Speaking of the fireworks, board member Steve Niebler said “I think it’s going to

Hundreds Rally for Black Lives Matter on the Gettysburg Square

Over 300 vocal and peaceful protestors rallied on Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square Sunday afternoon in solidarity with the international Black Lives Matter human rights movement. “We’re here to protest police brutality. We are here to demand that Black lives matter! We are here to show our brothers and sisters that we stand with them and for

Littlestown Kindergarten Teacher Wins WITF/Rotary Teacher Impact Award

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Alloway Creek Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Justine Garman has won the 2020 Teacher Impact Award presented by Rotary District 7390 and WITF. The award was for Garman’s “dedication to her students and her community.” Garman was the Adams County winner, selected out of almost 250 nominations and joining teachers from six other Pennsylvania counties. “I

Gettysburg Moves Forward on Parklets

The Gettysburg Borough Council has asked Borough Manager Charles Gable and Director of Planning, Zoning & Code Enforcement Carly Marshall to move forward with the development of “parklets” that will provide space for businesses to allow social distancing. The parklets would be set up in parking spaces in front of local businesses and on Lincoln

Life Lion Air Ambulances Save Lives [Episode 29]

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 When patients are transported from an accident site to a hospital or from one hospital to another, a helicopter “air ambulance” may be required to keep them alive during the journey. In Pennsylvania many companies provide air ambulance flights, and one of them is Penn State Health’s Life Lion system. Perez (left) and Depatto (right)

2020 GASD Virtual Commencement Ceremony a Success

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Sporting a huge dose of fortitude and perseverance, the students, teachers, staff, and administrators of the Gettysburg Area High School (GASD) banded remotely on Saturday to celebrate the achievements of their graduating seniors. The ceremony, recorded as YouTube video, had all of the intimacy and emotion of any other high school commencement. It was however,

2020 Adams County Primary Election Results

This story concerns the 2020 primary elections held in June. Click here for the November 2020 Presidential Elections The 2020 primary election on Tuesday June 2, in which many of the most important races were uncontested, had a moderate turnout in the county. 7,736 of 19,446 registered Democrats and 13,620 of 37,525 registered Republicans cast

Pilot Parklet Project Proposed

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The Gettysburg Borough Council initially approved a project to increase space for local businesses by turning some parking spaces into outdoor restaurant and retail areas. “Social distancing will be our normal for some time to come,” said Borough Manager Charles Gable. This “forward-thinking and visionary project will “make the borough more business-friendly.” Parklets [Wikipedia] Parklets

GASD Tunes up Online Learning, Prepares for Fall 2020

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Hundreds of teachers and administrators in the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) are working together to tweak the ongoing remote learning technology, curriculum, and grading systems, while collaborating on plans for the fall semester. Speaking about the unexpected move to virtual learning that started over one weekend in March, GASD Instructional Technology Director Ann Baum

Governor Wolf Signs Cocktail-to-Go Bill

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed House Bill 327, now Act 21 of 2020, allowing the temporary sale of cocktails-to-go from bars, restaurants or hotels with a liquor license.  “This new temporary rule creates more business for bars and restaurants when they need it, helps to meet customer demand and supports social distancing,” said Governor

Nanette Hatzes Makes Art [Episode 28]

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I recently spent a very pleasant morning chatting with long-time Adams County visual artist Nanette Hatzes. Hatzes: Self Portrait To put it simply, Nan has made a lot of art.  She’s also raised a daughter and worked at Shippensburg University, as well as presenting her paintings, drawings and photographs at numerous exhibitions. In 1980 photographer

Gettysburg Borough Helps Businesses Reopen

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Gettysburg Borough has outlined its current plans to help local businesses reopen safely and successfully. “In 1863 we were a divided county and we were fighting each other during that campaign here in Gettysburg. Today we’re united and fighting another enemy, an invisible one, COVID-19,” said Borough Manager Charles Gable at Thursday’s Emergency Task Force

Jalbert Steps Down from Bakewell Farm

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After founding the local nonprofit Bakewell Farm (BWF) in 2016 to bring bread-centric knowledge and activities to the Adams County community, local baker and musician Marc Jalbert is stepping down from its board of directors on June 1. Jalbert “I’m more comfortable working as a solo,” said Jalbert. “I thought BWF would be in better

GARA Considers Hosting Fireworks on July 4

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The Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) is considering the possibility of having a fireworks display in the rec park on July 4th, but delayed a final decision due to the health issues that might be involved. “People would really appreciate an opportunity to get out and think about other things,” said board member Robin Fitzpatrick.

Cheery Birds have landed at the Connection!

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Our Adams County nonprofits are struggling because of COVID-19. For some, there is an increased demand for services due to the health and economic impact. Others are unable to run the programs that support their operations. Together, let’s support local nonprofits, show community spirit, & have FUN!   Cheery Birds, small wooden birds, are flocking

Gettysburg Borough Council News and Announcements

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Facing a severe revenue shortfall, discussion at the Gettysburg Borough Council meeting on Monday focused primarily on financial difficulties. But a number of other decisions and announcements relevant to borough residents were also made. Social Distancing and Cooperation Borough President Jake Schindel reminded residents of the importance of wearing face masks and social distancing. Schindel

County Emergency Management Vehicles Converge on the Hospital to Support Essential Workers

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Vehicles from about 30 local Emergency Management System (EMS) units drove by the Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital yesterday to show thanks for essential hospital workers. Over 90 hospital workers greeted the parade of fire trucks, ambulances, and police cruisers by clapping, cheering, and sometimes crying as they rolled by. “When we were pulling in the amount

Local Teenagers’ Homemade COVID-19 Facemasks Go Viral

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Photos Courtesy of Ashlee Kunkel Gettysburg 13-year olds Natalee Kunkel and Mirena Kahn are overwhelmed with so many orders for their homemade facemasks they have temporarily closed up their Facebook shop. “We have over 1,000 orders, and the kids have only made about half of them,” said Natalee’s mother Ashlee Kunkel. “They have a lot

Freezes Create Uncertainty for County Fruit Farmers

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  ​Cold morning temperatures this week caused damage to some apple, peach, and pear orchards in the county. Penn State Extension researcher Melanie Schupp said she had examined the flowers of several varieties and recorded the elevation in several blocks. “Fruitlet death was evident by browning of the ovules. Some orchards in the region have

Gettysburg Police Chief Updates COVID-19 Activities in the Borough

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Gettysburg Police Chief Robert Glenny began his presentation at the borough’s COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Task Force meeting on Thursday by thanking borough members for the “Incredible amount of support we’ve been shown. We very much appreciate that,” said Glenny. Glenny said residents have “really been doing their part.” Asked about personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies,

Adams County Court System Operating Under Emergency Procedures

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The Fifty-first Pennsylvania Judicial District, which includes Adams County, is operating under emergency court orders, at least until May 1, 2020. The guidelines have created many procedural changes and are leading to fewer cases being heard in the county. Most hearings originally scheduled for April have been moved until May or June. District Court Administrator

Adams County Prison Remains Vigilant and Virus Free

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Because the possibilities for social distancing are limited in a prison, officials at the Adams County Adult Correctional Facility are being vigilant to avoid a COVID-19 contamination. The effort is being led by prison Warden Katy Hileman. “So far we do not have any presumed positive or confirmed positive staff members or inmates,” said Hileman.

PA Schools Close For the Rest of the Academic Year

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As the number of COVID-19 cases in the state increased by almost 2,000 since yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf today announced that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. The decision applies to all public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and

A Message From the Publisher

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It’s another new day here in Adams County in a week where things suddenly feel very different. Tuesday was St. Patrick’s day, which is usually a time of joy and celebration as spring approaches. But this week doesn’t feel like that. It’s the middle of the semester but the college students have already gone home

County Emergency Management Center Moves to Level 3 and Prepares for Coronavirus

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Adams County Emergency Services Center Director Warren Bladen said the system is now at Level 3. Level 3 is a “situational awareness posture where we gather information on COVID-19 and communicate with agencies such as the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the county’s first

Adams County Organizations Work Together To Combat Coronavirus

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A community conference call on Tuesday brought a dozen Adams County for-profit and non-profit organizations together to share their activities during the coronavirus era. The call was representative of many ways the county is serving the community. The call was initiated by Ralph M. Serpe, representing the Adams County Community Foundation. “We are grateful to

Gettysburg Hospital Responds to Questions about Coronavirus Preparedness

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Gettysburg Connection recently asked Will Lavery, Manager of Public Relations and Communications at WellSpan Health, to comment on Gettysburg Hospital’s readiness for an expected increase in coronavirus cases in the county. Lavery took time out of his busy schedule to answer them for us. Here are his responses. Lavery asked us to remind the community

Kennie’s Market Adds Senior Hours and Keeps Stocks up

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Kennie’s Gettysburg Store Manager, Nathaniel Brusby, said Kennie’s markets have added a senior hour every day between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. “The time is for seniors, but we’re not policing,” said Brusby. “We’re pretty good in terms of stock. We’re working to maintain our supplies. We have limits on a few items, but we’re

A Message from the Publisher [Episode 24]

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Dear Neighbors, I have taken the opportunity to use this episode of the Gettysburg Connection podcast to share with you my thoughts during this time of stress and uncertainty. I you have time, perhaps you will also be interested in listening to some of the prior podcasts I have recorded with Adams County residents. Please

Gettysburg Borough Council Extends Disaster Emergency at Outdoor Meeting

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Birds chirped in the background and the council members wore coats as the Gettysburg Borough Council held a special meeting in the amphitheater at the Gettysburg Recreational Park Thursday morning.     At the short meeting the council ratified and extended of the Declaration of Disaster Emergency initially issued by Mayor Theodore H. Streeter on

Local Restaurants Provide Pickup, Drive-through, or Delivery Service During State of Emergency

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Although the Gettysburg Borough has reserved parking spaces in Lincoln Square for food trucks*, these are not the only sources of takeout food available during the COVID-19 emergency. Local Restaurants, as well as food trucks, are providing meals during the emergency Local brick and mortar restaurants have followed governor Wolf’s recommendation to close indoor service

First-ever Gettysburg Black Balloon Meeting Focuses on Opioid Crisis

Over 100 participants attended the first-ever Gettysburg Black Balloon meeting on Friday afternoon where the topic was awareness and action against the county’s opioid crisis and overdose deaths. Grenell and Qually   The participants shared stories and learned techniques to combat addiction and deaths before leaving the meeting with black balloons to remind them of

Center for Youth and Community Development Celebrates 20 Years

If you, your child, or another member of your family or your community is struggling with substance abuse or other psychological problems, or if you are hoping to enroll in programs that might prevent these issues from developing, the Adams County Center for Youth and Community Development (CFYCD) may be able to help out. CFYCD

GASD To Consider Security Measures at March Meeting

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The Gettysburg Area School Board (GASD) will consider new security procedures at their March meeting. The following draft documents will be discussed: Policy #705 on Safety Policy #709 on Building Security Policy #712 on School Security Topics will include building access, event security, and the creation of a school safety board. The meeting, which is

YWCA Changes 2020 Outdoor Pool Hours to Remain the Same as 2019

SINCE THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED THE YWCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ANNOUNCED THE POOL HOURS FOR SUMMER 2020 WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS THEY WERE IN 2019: 12:00 P.M TO 8:00 P.M. DAILY. Membership prices and hours of operation for the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County outdoor pool, located at 730 Chambersburg Rd. in

Heritage Museum Creates an Interactive History of the Gettysburg Battle

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“It’s the best kept secret it town,” said founder Tammy Myers about the Gettysburg Heritage Center’s interactive museum, located in the in the 15,000 square foot Gettysburg Heritage Center at 297 Steinwehr Avenue in Gettysburg. The museum focuses particularly on the life and experiences of townspeople during the battle with a focus on interactive displays

Gettysburg Venues Feature All-Original Music at First-Ever 5SAFE Festival February 29

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Mark your Calendar 5SAFE: for the 5th Saturday in February, when leap day falls on Saturday. It only happens once every 28 years! It’s an all-original home-grown music festival at four Gettysburg Locations. Ploughman Taproom 14 Lincoln Square ploughmancider@gmail.com https://ploughmancider.com 717. 347.6462 1st Act: The Mimic (Starting around 6) Jeff Colby and Austin Greene are

Gettysburg Borough Votes to Prepare an Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and Fund the 2020 Memorial Day Parade

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After hearing extensive comments from local citizens who supported it, the Gettysburg Borough Council voted unanimously on Monday February 10 to prepare a local anti-discrimination ordinance. If passed, the ordinance would guarantee equal protection on the basis of sexual orientation. The council had been reminded in prior meetings that neither federal or state law provide

Review: Young Actors Bring Romeo and Juliet to Life at the Community Theatre

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Director Samuel Eisenhuth’s adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” opened on Friday night at the Gettysburg Community Theatre to a sold-out performance. Liam Day (Romeo) and Alyssa Byers (Juliet).  PHOTO BY ANDY SMETZER Shakespeare’s iconic work is a story with everything – passionate love and lust; vendettas and murder; comedy and intrigue; lavish parties and multiple

Gettysburg Project León Turns 30 and is Awarded a Special Day

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León Nicaragua has been Gettysburg’s sister city for thirty years, and to mark the occasion Gettysburg Major Ted Streeter has proclaimed February 13 as “Project Gettysburg/León Day.” Project Gettysburg-León (PGL) is a partnership between Gettysburg and León that empowers people, communities and organizations to advance sustainable development through capacity-building funds, education and cultural exchange programs.

Mark Mellon Keeps the YWCA Aquatics Department Afloat

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Since becoming Aquatics Director at the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County in December, Mark Mellon has been busy. “I’m a jack of all trades. I do everything, including scheduling, teaching, and maintenance. I’m getting everything up to speed,” said Mellon. Mellon Mellon said the aquatics program includes something for all ages, from preschool to senior

GASD Returns Sylvan Hershey to the Board, Replacing Alex Hewitt

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The Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) school board elected Sylvan Hershey to replace board member Alex Hewitt who resigned only days after he was elected in January. In their deliberations, the board first voted to consider only candidates who had applied for the replacement position left open when member AmyBeth Hodges won two seats. Because

Organization Profile: Ploughman Cider

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The United States is the only country where you need to call cider “hard,” said Ben Wenk, owner of Ploughman Cider, located at 1606 Bendersville-Wenksville Road in Aspers, and the Ploughman Cider Taproom on the Gettysburg Square. Wenk said the difference was simple: “Cider has alcohol; apple juice doesn’t.” Wenk is a seventh generation farmer

Gettysburg Ends Parking Kiosk Experiment

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The various parking “experiments” Gettysburg Borough has been running over the past three years have ended and the borough has returned, at least for now, to the standard meters that have been around for decades. The experiments included installing parking kiosks on the Gettysburg Square that allowed people to pay with credit cards and were

Business Profile: Gettysburg CBD American Shaman

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CBD American Shaman, at 135 Baltimore St. Gettysburg, had its grand opening on January 3. “Our current hours are 11 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Until we make our presence known we’ll just do weekends. That will probably change in the spring,” said store co-owner Jay Whittle. Gettysburg CBD American Shaman The shop sells

GASD Board Seats Alex Hewitt After Six Ballots and Compromise

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The Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) School Board took over an hour to interview and discuss the four candidates who had applied for the empty two-year school board position, before electing Alex Hewitt after six rounds of voting. Hewitt The other three candidates were Alice Broadway, Sylvan Hershey, and Michelle Smyers. During the interview process,

Gettysburg Mercy House Abuse Recovery Center Construction Gets Underway

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Donors, friends, concerned citizens, and public figures gathered this morning for the groundbreaking of the new Mercy House Recovery Center facility at 45 W. High St, Gettysburg. The Mercy House will be the first substance abuse recovery center in Adams County.  The facility will have public space for clients and residents to receive information, counseling,

Christmas Festival Lauded at 2020’s First Gettysburg Borough Council Meeting

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Newly-elected Gettysburg Borough Council president Jake Schindel chaired his first meeting and new-elected councilmember Matt Moon attended his first session. The Gettysburg Borough Council listened and contributed to praise of the successful 2019 Christmas Festival at their January 13th meeting. Public comment focused on thanking the many volunteers that helped staff the festival and the

The 2020 Census Begins in Adams County #ADAMSCOUNTS

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Over 1,600 Adams County Census volunteers and paid employees will scour the Adams County Area this spring in an attempt to contact every person who lives here. The results of the 2020 U.S. Census will be used for the next ten years to determine Adams County’s representation in the U.S. Congress and our share of

Public Comments Highlight Conflicting Opinions about Gettysburg School Board

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The first 2020 Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) board meeting on Monday evening was punctuated by public comments from community members who praised the board, took its members to task, and demanded it take action. Gettysburg resident Michael Shestock asked the board to support “teamwork, safety, truth, and transparency.” He said the school board should