SCCAP food pantry needs your help

South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) Gettysburg Pantry is a food bank located at 153 N. Stratton Street (rear of building) in Gettysburg. The pantry serves over 625 families from Gettysburg, McSherrystown, Biglerville, and Arendtsville every month. The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed from noon to1:00 p.m.).

WellSpan COVID Care provides expert help for COVID-19 ‘long-haulers’ struggling with array of symptoms

WellSpan Health announces today a new option for patients struggling with COVID-19 “long-haul” symptoms; opening WellSpan COVID Care, a virtual, multidisciplinary program. “We want to provide a coordinated approach that will help us understand and provide effective treatment for these patients who are experiencing persistent effects of COVID-19,” said Dr. Luminita Tudor, pulmonary and sleep

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

Wolf Administration Will Lift Mitigation Orders On Memorial Day * Masking Order To be Lifted Only When 70% Of Pennsylvania Adults Are Fully Vaccinated

The Wolf administration, in coordination with the state COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced today that COVID mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 a.m.  The current order requiring people to wear face coverings when indoors and outdoors when away from home will only be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvanians are fully

A Community Park

I wasn’t born or raised in Gettysburg, but moved here five years ago. I say I was lucky to have moved much of my childhood because I experienced so many different communities. After living in Gettysburg for five years, I am still impressed and in awe of how much Adams County’s community and all of

Workers in Pa. prisons, COVID-19 hotspots, aren’t getting vaccinated. Here’s why that’s dangerous.

Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A delayed upgrade to the state Department of Corrections’ dashboard on COVID-19 rates in prisons has revealed that

All PA Adults Are Eligible for COVID Vaccines Starting Tomorrow

April 12, 2021 Governor Tom Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced that effective tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13, all Pennsylvania adults will be eligible to schedule an appointment for the COVID -19 vaccine. “We need to maintain acceleration of the vaccine rollout, especially as case counts and hospitalization rates have increased,” Gov. Wolf said.

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

Majestic Theater Announces Spring Curbside Popcorn Sales

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater will offer “majestically” delicious popcorn for purchase under the marquee at 25 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg on First Fridays this spring. “Our curbside popcorn stand was so popular last fall that customers have been clamoring for a re-run.  And you know why?  Scientific research shows good movie popcorn is the third most

More COVID Restrictions to be Lifted on April 4

As COVID-19 cases have declined and vaccination rates are climbing, Governor Tom Wolf today announced the lifting of some targeted restrictions on restaurants and other businesses, as well as increased gathering limits. Effective April 4, restaurants may resume bar service; alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food; the curfew for removing alcoholic

rabbittransit Offers Free Rides to Vaccine Appointments

rabbittransit is offering shared ride transportation service to any community member who needs transportation to and from their scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment.  Advance reservations are required. If you are in need of transportation to a COVID vaccination site, please contact the rabbittransit call center at 1-800-632-9063 no later than noon the business day prior to

Report: Pennsylvania set for $13 billion from American Rescue Plan

 By Christen Smith | The Center Square (The Center Square) – A report from the Tax Foundation concludes that Pennsylvania will receive more than $13 billion in aid from the next federal stimulus package. This equals about 10,000% more than necessary to cover the state’s $67 million revenue loss, according to the foundation’s analysis. Nationally, states lost a

Vaccination Clinics for Pa. Teachers Could Open as Soon as Next Week. Here are the Details.

Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Vaccination sites for teachers and school support staff will begin operating as soon as next week, Pennsylvania officials said

As COVID Cases Decline and Vaccinations Increase, Gov. Wolf Eases Rules on Gatherings and Lifts Out-of-State Travel Restrictions

As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and the state’s vaccination plan is amplified, the Wolf Administration lifted mitigation restrictions that are effective statewide today. “Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” Gov. Wolf said. “The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the

Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania has Reached a Milestone in Its Plan to Vaccinate Seniors in Care

Governor Tom Wolf today marked a milestone in the implementation of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan with the announcement that more than 600 skilled nursing facilities have received first and second doses of the vaccine, and in total more than 315,000 doses of vaccine administered among all long-term care facilities being vaccinated by CVS and

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

Business Profile: Aura Integrative Medicine

After a career in traditional Western medicine, Dr. Smitha Nair M.D. became interested in providing a more holistic medical approach for her patients — one where she could spend quality time with them and get to the root causes of their problems.  Dr. Nair discovered integrative medicine and in 2017 opened the doors to her own

Gettysburg Foundation Partners with Foursquare Church to Provide Face Coverings

The Gettysburg Foundation announced today that it is partnering with Foursquare Church in Gettysburg to provide face coverings in the Adams County community. The Ford Motor Company Fund provided the Gettysburg Foundation with 100,000 medical-grade masks produced by Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company’s mask production is part of its #FinishStrong initiative – encouraging Americans to pull

The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Pa.’s Frustrating Vaccine Rollout

Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. Pennsylvania is in the midst of a frustrating vaccine rollout, and that might put it lightly. This has primarily been driven

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

Department of Health Launches “Your Turn” Vaccine Eligibility Tool to Aid in Vaccination Process Across Commonwealth

1-877-PA-HEALTH available to answer questions, provide help Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched a new tool called Your Turn to help Pennsylvanians understand where they fall in the vaccine prioritization effort and to be alerted when it is their turn to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. “Since all seniors

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

Lack of Targeted Outreach, Translated Materials Leaves Latino Community Behind as Pa. Struggles With Vaccine Rollout

Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — In the weeks since Pennsylvania began its coronavirus vaccine rollout, the Wolf administration has stood by its localized, do-it-yourself

Shortages, Chaotic Registration Plague Pennsylvania’s Slow Vaccination Rollout

By Christen Smith | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Shortages of COVID-19 vaccine supply and a “chaotic” online registration process undermine Pennsylvania’s immunization efforts, experts said Monday. Health officials testified before the House Democratic Policy Committee that while the state’s current system needs adjusting, complaints will continue until vaccine supply from the federal government

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

Pennsylvania’s School Choice Debate More Fraught than Ever Amid Pandemic

It’s National School Choice week, and public debate about whether lawmakers should prioritize traditional districts or ease limitations on their public and private alternatives seems more fraught than ever. In Pennsylvania, the discourse targets the same players – teachers unions face blame for fighting to keep in-person instruction limited, parents fearful of the virus want

Pennsylvania’s health indicators brace for impact from COVID-19

A new report finds residents in Pennsylvania struggle with obesity, suicide and racial disparities in health outcomes, and the pandemic’s impact on all three could make the problems worse. The data comes from the 31st annual America’s Health Rankings analysis, compiled by the United Health Foundation. While the foundation decided against providing an overall ranking

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

Pennsylvania Health Officials Launch Provider Map For COVID-19 Vaccinations

Residents now included in Pennsylvania’s expanded first phase of its COVID-19 immunization plan can find available providers through an interactive map on the Department of Health website. The department said last week it is ready to vaccinate residents age 65 or older and those under 64 with preexisting health conditions – including cancer to heart

Revised CDC Guidance Shakes up Pennsylvania’s Vaccination Plan

Revised federal guidance that expands the pool of Americans eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine left Pennsylvania health officials scrambling to rethink their statewide immunization plan.  Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday that when the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said residents age 65 or older or with preexisting health conditions

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

PA Department of Health Confirms First Case with the Faster-Spreading COVID-19 Variant

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Pennsylvania. The confirmed case is in Dauphin County. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in England in December. This individual tested positive after known international exposure. A case investigation and contact tracing

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

Indoor Dining, Gyms, and School Sports To Reopen on Monday

Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced today that the temporary COVID-19 restrictions issued on Dec. 12 will expire as originally planned at 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 4. Activities that will gain be allowed after Monday include in-person dining, child-care, hair salons and barber shops, theaters, clubs, and gyms, and extracurricular

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.

With Three of its Five Schools Closed Within the Past Week, GASD Goes Virtual Until January 4

Admitting the difficulties the district has had keeping students safe, Superintendent Jason Perrin announced today the entire Gettysburg Area School District will move to fully remote learning on Wednesday, and that all extra-curricular activities are cancelled. Both changes will last until at least Jan. 4. “We have reached a point now in December where positive

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

Where is the GASD School Board?

Dear Editor,         In response to your Nov. 7 COVID and school districts article, I would like to address Gettysburg Area School District’s (GASD) health and safety plan, transparency, and opportunities. On Monday Dec. 7 a group of concerned GASD parents and taxpayers collaborated on a letter to Superintendent Perrin and the GASD school board about

COVID Closes James Gettys Elementary

Gettysburg Area School District’s James Gettys Elementary School has closed and moved to remote learning following two confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the school. All extra-curricular activities are also cancelled. In-person instruction for the school is currently expected to resume on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The district said anyone who has been in “close contact” with

FASD Votes to Keep Secondary Grades Online Until January 28

After a lengthy, careful, and detailed discussion, the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) Board of Directors voted Monday to keep its fifth through twelfth grade students in a 100 percent online environment until January 28. The motion, which passed on a 5 to 4 vote, followed the recommendations of the school administration to keep students

Wellspan Health Adapts as COVID-19 Cases Surge in the Region

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Adams and nearby counties has soared over the past two weeks, forcing the Wellspan Health system to close clinics and relocate staff to cope with the influx. Please See our Coronavirus Update Page for Local Conditions In Adams, there were 510 new COVID cases in the past two

National, State, and Local Health Agencies Urge People to Stay Home and Practice Health Safety on Thanksgiving

Noting the urgency of the health crisis, the following statement have been made in recent days by federal, state and local agencies. The Wellspan Health statement about the surge of cases in Gettysburg Hospital is particularly concerning: The U.S. Center for Disease Control: More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States

Download the New COVID Alert PA App

On Tuesday, the PA Department of Health launched COVID Alert PA, a new exposure notification smartphone app. This free app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and the Exposure Notification System developed by Apple and Google. Features include: Interactive COVID-19 symptom checker Opt-in for alerts for potential exposures to the virus Updates on the latest

Gettysburg High School and James Gettys Elementary School Closed Due to COVID-19

Over the past two days, two of the five Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) schools have been temporarily closed due to active COVID-19 cases in students or staff members. James Gettys Elementary The GASD website announced the district was notified on Wednesday afternoon by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) that there were two confirmed

Gettysburg High School and James Gettys Elementary School Closed Due to COVID-19

Over the past two days, two of the five Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) schools have been temporarily closed due to active COVID-19 cases in students or staff members. James Gettys Elementary The GASD website announced the district was notified on Wednesday afternoon by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) that there were two confirmed

Gettysburg College Confronts Fallout from Its Abbreviated In-Person Learning Experiment

Acknowledging the decision to send students in its sophomore, junior, and senior classes home had “created unwelcome tension on campus, among students, and with the college as a whole,” college president Bob Iuliano announced today that students who were not remaining on campus would receive a ten percent reduction in their tuition and that 80

As COVID-19 Continues to Spread on Campus, Most Gettysburg College Students to Go Home

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Gettysburg College today gave up its hope of providing a residential learning experience for all of its students, announcing that only first-year students, transfer students, international students, and select other students who are unable to return home due to personal or academic reasons will be allowed to stay in on campus. This will be a

Gettysburg College Reports 33 New Cases of COVID-19, Citing a “Concerning Pattern Shift”

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[An update to this story is available here] Gettysburg College has reported on its website that at 33 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified among students as a result of the second round of testing completed Monday through Wednesday last week. Associate Director of Communications Mike Baker confirmed that some students who have tested

Staying Calm During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Wellspan Health has proposed the following techniques that may be helpful to you if you are feeling stressed or anxious. Plan ahead. Make sure you have adequate supplies at home and plans for childcare and working from home, if that is what you are doing. Establish routines and schedules. Do you have kids who are

Governor Orders Mask-Wearing in All Public Places

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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today announced an order that provides new regulations for mask-wearing in the state. With this order, signed under Health Secretary Levine’s authority under the Disease Prevention and Control Act, masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home. The order takes effect immediately. “This mask-wearing order is essential to stopping the recent

​Adams County Community Foundation Awards First Grants For COVID-19 Relief & Recovery

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 The Adams County Community Foundation has awarded the first round of grants from its COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund. The Fund was established to direct charitable grants to area nonprofits struggling to meet the extraordinary needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn. Through the COVID-19 Fund, the Community Foundation will

Coronavirus Updates: What is Open at Gettysburg Military National Park?

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Gettysburg National Military Park is following national and state guidelines as the state of Pennsylvania uses a phase approach to reopen businesses, organizations, and events, Here is the latest information we are aware of (Please leave a comment for questions, updates, or clarifications) Park grounds, roads, trails, and parking areas: OPEN Licensed Battlefield Guides: OPEN

Battlefield Guides Go Back to Work but Visitor Center Remains Closed

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Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Gettysburg National Military Park is increasing access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased

Wellspan Pharmacy Team Donates Customized Face Masks to Fairfield Area High School Seniors

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Looking for a way of supporting senior students at nearby Fairfield Area High School during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WellSpan Pharmacy in Fairfield has donated customized face masks to members of this year’s class for their upcoming graduation ceremony. Maddi Holmberg, an officer of Fairfield Area High School’s 2020 senior class, models the custom face

Adams County Will Move to Yellow Stage Next Friday, Allowing Hundreds of Stores and Businesses to Reopen

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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced today that 12 more counties would be moved to the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan beginning Friday, May 22. Adams county was included in the list.   General changes that will begin next Friday include: The stay-at-home order will be lifted, but people are still encouraged to wear

Pennyslvania State Publishes List of Exempted Businesses, Updates the List, and Provides an Explanation

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The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) has provided a list of the 56 Adams County businesses that were granted exceptions and placed on the state’s list of life sustaining businesses. The DCED also explained the procedure used to classify businesses. According to DCED, all Pennsylvania businesses were initially classified using industry sectors

Republican Legislators Ask Governor Wolf to Reopen Adams County

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Adams County Republican politicians wrote Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf yesterday asking him to immediately move Adams County from a red to a yellow stage designation. The change, which has already been made for 37 other counties, would allow some non-essential businesses to reopen. The letter, posted on Mastriano’s Facebook page, was signed by state representatives

Governor Opens 13 More Counties but Adams is Not Included

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Pennsylvania Governor Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today moved 13 more Pennsylvania’s counties from “red” to “yellow” status, allowing businesses with in-person operations and childcare facilities to reopen on May 15. Adams was not included in the list. The counties to be opened are in western Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh region. Allegheny,

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