Donate Gardner 
In a public ceremony last night, Gettysburg’s Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) awarded its annual, prestigious Peacemaker Awards to “celebrate leaders in peace, service and community”. ICPJ President Darren Glass presented a Lifetime of Peacemaking Award to Vida Charter School, represented by Dr. Christine Miller, Executive Director, who has led the school for
While the Cumberland Township administrative building on Fairfield Road is undergoing renovation and expansion, the Board of Supervisors is working on a project to incorporate the colorful history of the township into the newly renovated building. The project is intended to showcase the citizens and important memories of the township’s history and times that have
After several years of planning, construction, and the temporary relocation of its offices, the Cumberland Township administration officially returned home this week and commenced operations in its newly renovated municipal building located at the 1370 Fairfield Road location. The Board of Supervisors held their first monthly BOS meeting on Tuesday in their newly remodeled meeting room,
Gettysburg community members came together on Presidents Day for an interfaith gathering at the Chapel of the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, with the intent to name and grieve the nation’s current losses, and to gather strength for “working toward the common good” during current troubling times. The Vigil for Democracy featured “Stations of our Grief” which
A festive dining room; a buffet of delicious home-made food; a hot chocolate bar and dozens of trays with tempting home-baked desserts awaited diners on Tuesday, as they poured into the Barn at Herr Ridge Farm in Gettysburg for another free Community Dinner, conceived and brought to fruition by Gettysburg resident Stephanie Auer. As we
The Gettysburg Community Dinner Thanksgiving event, which had originally been planned for 12 families, eventually grew to serve 1,065 meals, with only a couple of weeks’ preparation. Many families asked if there would be a Christmas dinner to follow, which prompted Stephanie Auer, the originator of the community dinner events, to immediately jump into gear
The popular Gettysburg Street Carolers will again come together to bring holiday cheer to the town on Friday, December 5th, starting at 6 pm on Lincoln Square. The caroling event was created two years ago by Donate Gardner and Katie Engle and has quickly become a welcome annual Gettysburg tradition that many folks look forward to.
Gettysburg resident Stephanie Auer sits at a long folding table at the Day’s Inn Conference Room, surrounded by multiple checklists, notepads, and flyers, jotting down messages from businesses and community residents offering contributions to her rapidly developing initiative: A free community Thanksgiving meal for families in need. A little more than a week ago, deeply
There are certain cinematic and literary works that remain timeless over many decades and have an undying following of dedicated enthusiasts across the globe, who participate in online communities, real-live conventions, and merchandising. Some of these active fan communities include followers of the well-known Star Wars and Harry Potter (“Potterheads”) movie series, as well as
Project Gettysburg León hosted its annual Garden Party at the home of Karl Mattson on Saturday. The event included music by Lisa Cadigan and Ben Kennedy as well as a catered dinner. Participants had an opportunity to learn more about PGL’s sister city work in Nicaragua and Mexico, while enjoying one of the most beautiful private
At their May Board of Supervisors Meeting, Cumberland Township Supervisor Shaun Phiel and Cumberland Township Police Department (CTPD) Chief Matt Trostel presented a Commendation Award to Township police officer Lane Hartley for saving the life of a man whom he had discovered during a suspicious vehicle check on the southbound entry ramp of U.S. Route
More than 550 people gathered Saturday afternoon at Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square for a peaceful protest against the current administration’s policies and actions. Cheered on by honking horns and encouraging shout-outs from passers-by, the protesters held signs addressing – among others – the administration’s disregard for the Constitution and laws; the removal of top military and
This week, March 24 – 31, 2025 is National Farmworker Awareness Week, sponsored by the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs. This week of recognition includes a nationwide drive for long-sleeved shirts for our farmworkers. Our farmworkers are a valuable asset for all of Pennsylvania’s farms and orchards, making sure that our communities can enjoy the
It is no secret that Cumberland Township Police Chief Matt Trostel is proud of his top-notch team. His office regularly receives communications from residents praising certain team members for their performance in the line of duty – proof that the Cumberland Township Police Department (CTPD) is fully dedicated to service to the community. One of
On March 6th, families and loved ones across the United States came together for Black Balloon Day, an annual nation-wide event dedicated to honor those who lost their lives to substance overdoses. The event is intended not only to honor lives lost, but to raise awareness of the stark realities of substance misuse all over the
At their January board meeting, Cumberland Township supervisors decided to separate an action item regarding a solar energy farm project located primarily in Straban Township from the day’s main agenda, and to table it for further review. The Adams Miller Solar Development project is planned on 123 acres located in Straban Township, with an address
Today marks the first day of the new U.S. administration. Incoming President Donald Trump has vowed to put into place policies on Day One that include deporting “illegal” immigrants in grand sweeps. In a time of anti-immigrant rhetoric and uncertainty about the impact the new policies will have on our local immigrant communities, many migrants
During the past few years, we have gone through a long stretch of political onslaught in the media and many folks experience a great deal of stress and anxiety about the impact on their lives under the incoming administration and the significance of Monday, January 20th. While this January 20th is certainly an important day
At their annual reorganization meeting on Monday, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors confirmed board and committee appointments for this year, as well as re-appointments of Township associated service providers. The board will continue in its current constellation, with Shaun Phiel as Board Chairperson; Christine Biggins as Vice Chair; and Jeff Brauning, Warren Shephard, and
At the Cumberland Township’s November Board of Supervisors meeting, Police Chief Matt Trostel introduced the department’s newest hire, police cadet Fausto Rodriguez. Rodriguez is the latest addition to the department after the hire of Jordan Spidle during the summer. Both Rodriguez and Spidle are currently enrolled in the 125th Harrisburg Area Community College’s Police Academy
The Gettysburg Street Carolers will again come together to bring holiday cheer to the town on Saturday, December 7th, starting at 5 pm. The group was created last year by Gettysburg residents Donate Gardner and Katie Engle, and was welcomed enthusiastically to become an annual Gettysburg tradition. While the Main Street Christmas Festival has its
Cumberland Township was awarded $700,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant dollars to expand and upgrade police operations while keeping township administration under one roof. “We are thrilled to see this project move forward and realize the direct impact it will have on our operations and the community once the facilities can be upgraded,”
In the weeks and months preceding this year’s election, incidents of political violence have risen all over the country. Many local voters have expressed concerns about being targeted by members of the opposing party once their political affiliation is revealed. At a recent townhall meeting, an audience member stated that she was afraid to place
Lt. Harrison Robins III, USAAF, was killed in Japan during World War II. Captain Wesley Yeo Clement, a fighter pilot during WW II, was killed in 1953 during the US occupation of Germany. Robins and Clement were the great-uncle and grandfather, respectively, of Beth Farnham, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District, who recently
As part of the Adams County Library System’s (ACLS) 2024 Adams County Reads One Book program, local book lovers were treated to two special evenings last week with author Peng Shepherd. The program is designed to have the whole community unite to read the same book, and the library then organizes special programs centered around
More than 150 guests attended the South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) 60th Anniversary Celebration and fundraising banquet on September 26 at King Street Church in Chambersburg, PA. Attendees included SCCAP staff, volunteers, officials, and sponsors who celebrated the organization’s success, as well as numerous clients who, during the evening’s presentation of “Parade of Faces,”
The August 27 meeting of the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors marked the last date the township supervisors met at their current location at 1370 Fairfield Road, which had housed the township administrative offices for almost 45 years, since 1979. As of September 1 all township and CTA meetings will be held at 730 Chambersburg
El secretario de Agricultura de Pensilvania, Russell Redding, la secretaria de Trabajo e Industria, Nancy A. Walker, y Kimberly Paley, presidenta del Consejo Estatal de Organizaciones Agrícolas de Pensilvania, acudieron el martes a la granja Hollabaugh Brothers del condado de Adams en Biglerville para asistir a una ceremonia de premiación en honor a tres agricultores
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Secretary of Labor & Industry Nancy A. Walker, and Kimberly Paley, president of PA State Council of Farm Organizations, came to Adams County’s Hollabaugh Brothers Farm in Biglerville on Tuesday, to attend an award ceremony honoring three frontline agriculture workers who had been nominated as “Pennsylvania Farmworkers of the Year”.
Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors and Township Management will be hosting an Open House / National Night Out event on August 6, 4-7 PM, at the site of the old Gettysburg Country club on the corner of Route 30 and Old Mill Rd. (730 Chambersburg Road). The event is intended for the public to learn
GARA Executive Director Search At the June 25th Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Warren Shepherd announced that GARA Executive Director, Erin Peddigree, has resigned as of July 12th. An active search for a replacement has begun already. Ms. Peddigree was instrumental in bringing the Adams County Farmers Market to its new location at
Cumberland Township will be hosting a Building Workshop on Tuesday, June 18th, at 4 p.m to review building plans and resources for residents of Cumberland Township for the next 40 years. An overview of Cumberland Township’s Building Projects can be found here: Cumberland Township Municipal Building Project Overview From the desk of David Blocher, Township
The Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center reopened at noon on Tuesday, after a temporary closure following the report to Cumberland Township Police and National Park Services of a suspicious package deposited at the main entrance of the facility. According to a Cumberland Township Police press release, the package had “handwritten messages to NPS officials
Familias latinas locales y organizaciones de servicios y atención médica se reunieron en un hermoso y soleado Domingo de Ramos para participar en el tercer evento anual “Celebre su salud” en Gettysburg College. La reunión anual, patrocinada por WellSpan Health y organizada por la Casa de la Cultura, Migrant Education y Collaborating for Youth, fue
Local Latino families and health care and service organizations gathered on a beautiful, sunny Palm Sunday, to participate in the third annual “Celebrate Your Health” (¡Celebra tu Salud!) event at Gettysburg College. The annual gathering, sponsored by WellSpan Health and organized by Casa de la Cultura, Migrant Education, and Collaborating for Youth, was initially conceived
At last night’s Cumberland Township Supervisors Meeting, the Board unanimously approved the promotion of Officer Joshua Goodling to Sergeant. Goodling joins Sergeant Joshua Rosenberger and Detective/Sergeant Stephen Higgs as the third member of the CT Police Department to hold this rank. Earlier this month, eligible CTPD officers engaged in a competitive examination for promotion to Sergeant.
“I come here tonight to ask you to help me lead the charge and bring an end to the death penalty. We don’t need the death penalty in this country.” These were the opening words of 68-year-old Anthony Ray Hinton, as he addressed a packed auditorium at Mt. St. Mary’s University during a Black History
“It happens to all of us. We have the best of intentions, but sometimes we say or do things that negatively impact other people”, said Rosie Bolen, Ph.D., Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training and Development at Mount St. Mary’s University. Bolen was the presenter at Thursday’s workshop focused on recognizing, reframing, and responding
At this Tuesday’s Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Township Manager David Blocher reported that staff had recently attended the easement settlement for the Beatrice F. Waybright Farm #2. “This now places the farm into the Adams County Agricultural Land Preservation program, which was funded by PA state, Adams County and Cumberland Township,” he said.
A new holiday tradition was established last night, as about two dozen Christmas Carolers took to the streets of Gettysburg, spreading holiday cheer around town. Their route took them from Lincoln Square to the steps of the Adams County Public Library, Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, The Christmas House, inside the dining rooms of Ploughman Cider Taproom,
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors Meeting, David Blocher, Township Manager presented the proposed 2024 budget to the board. The proposal introduced the establishment of an Operating Reserve Fund. Since the Township’s revenue stream is not constant, Blocher explained, the intermittent revenue streams result in current regular, budgeted expenditures outstripping current, regular budgeted revenue in any
At their September 26 meeting, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $75,000 grant requested by the Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority (GARA) to fund various park activities in 2024. In addition, it approved the purchase of a truck chassis in the amount of $118,127, as well as other various purchases, rentals, and contractor
On a spectacular autumn day last Saturday, six Adams County barns were on display for the public to travel back in time for the annual Historic Barns Tour hosted by Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC). Five of the barns are privately owned and usually not open to the public. Visitors were given the opportunity to drive
The Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority’s (GARA) Executive Director, Erin Pedigree, reported on the following park activities during the months of June through August: The Farmers Market has seen overwhelming success at its new location at the rec park, featuring special activities such as Civic Engagement Day, a Homesteading & Green Living Expo, the Farmers Market
A public hearing was held prior to the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to approve the amendment of various sections of Chapter 27 of the Cumberland Township zoning ordinance. The amendment creates two new overlay districts, consisting of a Neighborhood Multi-Family Overlay Zone and a Mixed Multi-Family Overlay Zones which proscribe criteria
Adams Electric Cooperative employees have donated 12 Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) to the Cumberland Township Police Department. The kits, normally worn as a backpack, contain essential life-saving materials, including bleeding control and major wound treatments. The police department is looking to expand its officers’ individual equipment, including providing external bulletproof vests with Level III
The Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors approved an application from BR Smith Properties seeking conditional use for a proposed campground in the Mixed Use (MX) zoning district located at 75 Cunningham Road. The site is the former home of Boyds Bears Country Barn, which is being developed into an upscale restaurant, hotel, and campground known
Cumberland Township Chief Matthew Trostel gave an update on the police department’s activity during the previous month at the June Board of Supervisors’ Meeting on Tuesday. The report included police vehicle dispositions, department staff training, as well as positive communications received commending his staff and the department for exemplary handling of various incidents. The Cumberland
At the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority’s (GARA) June board meeting, Executive Director Erin Pedigree was able to report on a number of successful activities during the months of May and June including the following: The Adams County Farmers Market reports that it has seen a noticeable increase in visitors since it moved to its new
At their May meeting, Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors members unanimously approved the purchase of a Savvy Citizen notification system that will enable township managers and police to alert residents of important events via text or email messages (in addition to a recently established Cumberland Township newsletter, the first of which is set to be
Almost 100 Adams County community members, many holding signs and wearing orange shirts, gathered for a “Stand for Children” vigil walk and special service in commemoration of victims of gun violence on the first anniversary of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting. Organized by Gettysburg for Gun Sense, in collaboration with the YWCA Gettysburg & Adams
The Gettysburg/Adams County Chapter of Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) honored the 2023 winners of its Peacemaker Awards this week during a well-attended ceremony at the Valentine Hall Auditorium on the Lutheran Seminary campus. Darren Glass, President of ICPJ opened the ceremony and mentioned that, since inception of the program in 1995, the
The Gettysburg Church of the Brethren, in collaboration with the Cumberland Township Police Department, held a bicycle safety rodeo for children, ages 4 – 11, on the church campus last weekend. The event featured bicycle safety checks, safety training, fun hand-outs, and a marked riding course. Pictures (top l-r): Officer Dakota Myers providing safety tips;
After more than a year of planning and construction, the new Biglerville High School (BHS) greenhouse was officially dedicated on Tuesday at the Upper Adams School District campus in a ceremony hosted by Biglerville Mayor Phil Wagner, President of Canner Funds. The event was attended by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and other dignitaries,
At their April Board of Supervisors meeting, Cumberland Township Board members were introduced by MH-IDD Community Liaison Bruce Bartz to the new police co-responder McKenzie Johnson, a mental health clinician assigned to police departments to assist officers during emergency calls, helping to de-escalate crisis situations and connecting individuals to available resources. The crisis intervention co-responder
Niños de todas las edades y sus familiares se reunieron en Vida Charter School en Gettysburg el sábado para celebrar el Día del Niño, un evento anual tradicional que celebra la infancia y los niños, la llegada de la primavera, el feriado del Cinco de Mayo, el próximo fin de la escuela. año, y un
Children of all ages and their family members gathered at the Vida Charter School in Gettysburg on Saturday to celebrate Día del Niño, a traditional annual event celebrating childhood and children, the arrival of spring, the Cinco de Mayo holiday, the coming end of the school year, and a spirit of community and belonging. The
Spring has arrived in Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) will be hosting many of its activities on their campus over the next few months, as reported at the April GARA board meeting. March and April have already seen the Church of Brethren Easter Dinner, bloodmobiles, dog classes, Black History Month Club, the
At their March Board of Supervisors meeting, Cumberland Township Manager David Blocher, reported that the Township was awarded a total of $3,566,262.00 in grant funding which will be earmarked as follows: $1,300,000.00 in grant funding awarded from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) which will be used to support the community with campus improvements. $1,000,000.00
On March 8, 2023 eligible Cumberland Township Police Department officers engaged in a competitive examination for promotion to Sergeant. The officers had to answer scenario and leadership questions fielded by an Oral Board staffed by experienced police commanders from the Pennsylvania State Police, West Manchester Township Police Department and York City Police Department. The officers
Two community members, Joshua Kinard and Derek Roden, attended The Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority’s (GARA’s) monthly board meeting on Monday to propose improvements to the Alternative Sports/Skateboarding section of the park. Both representatives are experienced skateboarders who had used the park for many years when they were younger. “There is not much life left in
The Gettysburg WWII American Experience kicked off Women’s History Month on Saturday with an exhibit celebrating the inspirational and unprecedented contributions of women supporting the military efforts during World War II. Featuring many authentic original artifacts, vehicles, uniforms, pictures, storyboards, and activities for children and adults, the exhibit highlighted the important roles that nearly 350,000
At their regular monthly meeting yesterday, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $25,000 Medical Marijuana Grant for the Cumberland Township Police Department. The grant had been awarded in December 2022 by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crimes and Delinquency (PCCD) as part of opening funding opportunities to all Pennsylvania municipal police departments to
At their January Board of Supervisors meeting, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors welcomed newly elected Township Manager, David Blocher and appointed the following members to boards and commissions: Planning Commission: Stephen Tallman – Re-appointed Robert J Bunce – New Planning Commission Alternate Kathleen Heidecker – New Planning Commission Alternate HARB (Historical Architectural Review Board): Marty Miller –
The Gettysburg Recreational Authority (GARA) Board of Directors was presented with two proposals requesting GARA’s support. Pedestrian Trail: The Adams County Historical Society (ACHS), together with Healthy Adams Bicycle/Pedestrian, Inc. (HABPI) is planning a new pedestrian trail from the end of the sidewalk on Carlisle Street up to the facilities of the Historical Society. Dennis
The Gettysburg Recreational Authority (GARA) board of directors has approved the 2023 budget. The budget includes increases for staff salaries; $20,000 for building upgrades; support for out-of-area bus trips; and $7,000 in equipment repair. The board approved the budget with the caveat that it may need to be amended. Saying a positive relationship with the