LASD students learn practical skills through agriculture courses

LASD Agriculture

There is no denying the real learning for real life value of an agriculture curriculum for high school students. Farming, and its wide range of crops, are linked to physical activity, a better quality of life, and a potential source of revenue. Jesse Brant, Chair of Littlestown High School’s Agriculture Department, prepares his students for

UASD completes intermediate school settlements

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Upper Adams School District (UASD) approved the finalization of the agreement with Arendtsville Borough regarding the district’s intermediate school Tuesday. “At long last we have an agreement,” Board President Tom Wilson said, “The process for the agreements has been dragged out for a year.” In a special meeting, the board approved a settlement agreement between

March Madness comes to Gettysburg

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Every March college basketball fans around the country thrill to the words “March Madness.” Normally we watch the annual college tournament games on TV, but this year the tournament came to Gettysburg. Gettysburg College hosted the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. The college secured the hosting by winning top ranking

Gettysburg unites in solidarity with Ukraine

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Hundreds of people gathered on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg this afternoon for a candlelight vigil in solidarity with Ukraine. In addition to candles, the gathering protesting the Russian invasion included stories, songs, poems, Ukrainian flags, and inspiring messages from local politicians, artists, teachers, pastors, and community leaders. Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually led the group

Black Balloon Day focuses on opioid awareness this weekend

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To draw attention to the tens of thousands of annual deaths related to opioid abuse and addiction in the U.S., concerned citizens in Adams County will focus this weekend on Black Balloon Day, Sunday March 6. Black balloon day is a national and international event to shine light on the opioid fight and remember those

Fairfield modifies its health and safety plan

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The Fairfield Area school board modified its health and safety plan on Monday in order to reflect the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to make local policies more clear. Some protections against the novel coronavirus pandemic will remain in place. Changes included removing the designation of “extremely high”

Be still and know

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I haven’t wanted to blog the past few days as I have been running on automatic pilot. Reality is closing in even as it seems very distant and unreal. I am fascinated by the way we create our own reality. Ukraine provoked war with Russia?  Russia is so threatened the West it is going on

America’s cost of ‘defending freedom’ in Ukraine: Higher food and gas prices and an increased risk of recession

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Written by William Hauk – Associate Professor of Economics, University of South Carolina Americans may be tempted to view the war in Ukraine as an unfortunate, but far away, crisis. As an economist, I know the world is too connected for the U.S. to go unaffected. On Feb. 22, 2022, President Joe Biden warned Americans that a Russian

Reduce stress through free online mindfulness programs

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Sometimes life seems like a series of stressful events strung together over time. Many of us have felt that way, especially over the last few years of struggling with the demands of the pandemic and the changes it brought. Still, even without these new stressors, a normal life would include a great many challenges faced

GARA makes plans to welcome Farmers Market

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Members of the Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) and the Adams County Farmers Market have formed a subcommittee to study and plan for the eventual move of the market to the rec park. Market Manager Reza Djalal said the market was “good through July” at its current site but the trajectory was unknown given uncertainties

Wolf Administration Continues COVID-19 Support for Healthcare Workers, Hospitals and Patients

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Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter today said two additional state-directed healthcare strike teams and another long-term care regional support team are providing requested assistance for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities caring for patients with COVID-19. “The Wolf Administration continues to follow through on efforts initiated during the most recent surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations,” Klinepeter said.

CVSD honors students; works to improve communication

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Conewago Valley School District will focus on improving its communication following the results of recent steering committee feedback for the district’s comprehensive plan, according to Superintendent Sharon Perry. Four goals were identified, but the top priority listed was communication. The committee was a “multiple stakeholder group,” according to Perry. “That definitely won the award for

Inflation, workforce issues dominate Pennsylvania House budget hearing

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(The Center Square) – Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development discussed inflation and staffing challenges, as well as the Wolf administration’s decisions to close businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, during a third day of budget hearings in the House Appropriations Committee. State Rep. Lynda Culver, R-Northumberland, highlighted record inflation numbers from

UASD hears charter costs

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Upper Adams School District (UASD) School Board discussed charter and cyber school costs Tuesday. Supereminent Wesley Doll brought to the board’s attention information regarding cyber charter schools and district funding Tuesday. Discussion came following information stating that cyber schools spent millions on advertising with tax dollars, he said. UASD does offer its own cyber school program

For bullied teens, online school offered a safe haven

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Written by Hannah L. Schacter – Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wayne State University Online school during the COVID-19 pandemic was hard on many teens, but new research I co-authored has found a potential silver lining: Students were bullied less during remote instruction than while attending classes in person. We learned this by surveying 388 ninth graders at U.S. high schools.

Report: School-choice demand shows why Pennsylvania lawmakers should expand programs

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(The Center Square) – A new report is highlighting the record high demand for Pennsylvania’s school-choice programs as evidence lawmakers in Harrisburg should consider better ways of expanding access for families. The Commonwealth Foundation report looks at enrollment figures gleaned from public right-to-know requests for Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax

Local organizations encourage transparent policing in Gettysburg

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Coalition members Jan Powers and Kierstan Belle outlined the goals of the Adams County Community Policing Coalition (ACCPC) on Monday night at the borough council meeting. Powers said the coalition, made up of over a dozen local organizations, hoped to better local communities by creating more transparency between community and police. ACCPC encourages local police

Department of Justice flags Pennsylvania courts for opioid use disorder discrimination

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(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice is ordering the Pennsylvania court system to change how it deals with individuals prescribed medication for opioid use disorder after finding courts in multiple counties violated the American with Disabilities Act. An investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division found Courts of Common Pleas in

Jan Powers makes a difference in Adams County [Episode 60]

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Gettysburg Connection recently awarded long-time Gettysburg Resident Jan Powers with our Outstanding Community Contribution Award for her work with the Mediation Services of Adams County and other organizations. In this episode I talk with Jan about her career at Gettysburg College and the many contributions she has made to our community. In her work with

Pennsylvania lawmakers host first hearing on legalizing recreational marijuana

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(The Center Square) – The Pennsylvania Senate Law and Justice Committee’s first hearing on legalizing recreational marijuana featured testimony from state and local officials, law enforcement officers and security officials in the commonwealth’s medical marijuana industry. Committee Chair Mike Regan, R-Dillsburg, highlighted the shift away from prosecuting minor marijuana possession crimes in recent years and

After Dark Investigations explores Gettysburg’s haunted side

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Gettysburg is known not only as one of the country’s most historical towns, but also one of the most haunted. Susan Barton and Grayson Stuber have experienced many instances of local paranormal activity first-hand over the past decade. Barton is a co-founder and Stuber is the manager of After Dark Investigations, a paranormal investigation team

Churches and local residents prepare to welcome Afghan families

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Local churches and residents have come together over the past few months to create a welcoming environment for the expected arrival of one or more Afghan refugee families. “Initially, the families will need some support and introduction to our schools, community groups, medical care, employment opportunities, and the ways we do business in our country,”

Pennsylvania Supreme Court takes over congressional redistricting process

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By Victor Skinner (The Center Square) The Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted an emergency application to take over the commonwealth’s congressional redistricting process, though the Commonwealth Court judge overseeing the case will remain as a special master. The Supreme Court’s order granting emergency application for extraordinary relief lays out the process and timeline the high court

Originality is overrated, except maybe snowflakes

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Here we are, amid winter, a tenacious virus and moping about trying to fend off the blues. Well, have you ever thought of looking closely at a snowflake? It’s a unique structure of water and cosmic particles, yielding the most exceptional beauty. Science says that the odds of two snowflakes being exactly alike are about

Wolf sides with local governments in rejecting gun rights bill

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(The Center Square) – Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed legislation designed to protect Pennsylvania residents’ Second Amendment rights against municipalities that enact restrictive gun ordinances. “Once again, this governor has failed to live up to his oath to ‘support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth,” said

Gettysburg Mercy House has its first tenant

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The initial tenant moved in this week to Gettysburg’s Mercy House, the first substance abuse recovery center in Adams County. The space is part of the state’s Recovery Advocacy Service Empowerment (RASE) program, and funded in part by Adams County. Saying it had been difficult to get the center started in Adams and thanking the County

Revised economic forecast shows higher revenue estimate for Pennsylvania

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(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released an updated economic forecast for fiscal year 2021-22 that shows higher than anticipated revenue, driven by stronger wages and inflation. The IFO’s mid-year update for fiscal year 2021-22 showed general fund revenues were adjusted upward from nearly $42 billion to $45.3 billion, accounting for a

Love them; change me

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Yesterday in the discussion that followed our Zoom church service, we talked about the importance of praying for our enemies and those with whom we disagree, mistrust, or feel some discomfort.  We agreed one of the great opportunities and responsibilities open to us is practicing gratitude and praying for or, as some of like to

Behind the scenes at the Adams County Library: Technical Services

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by Annette DeFuso, Technical Services Director I’ve been managing Technical Services for the last fourteen years. It’s a centralized department located in the Gettysburg branch that provides acquisitions, cataloging, and processing of new items for all six of our branches. When most people think of librarians, they usually only think of the people they see–

Letter from Mayor Frealing

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Dear Residents of Gettysburg During the Primary campaign for Mayor of Gettysburg, I said I would forego the $5,000 salary if I were elected Mayor. I fully intended to keep that commitment. Sadly, my husband, Eric, died during the general election campaign. This greatly impacted my financial situation, so I have had to rethink taking the mayor salary. 

Gateau Monique Bakery Becomes Littlestown Tradition

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We originally published this post in 2019 BC (Before Covid). The bakery has expanded since then and continues to serve the Littlestown area and surroundings. It was five years ago that Littlestown resident Monique Washirapunya opened her boutique bakery, Gateau Monique, in downtown Littlestown. Since then hundreds of people have enjoyed Washirapunya’s creative desserts, and

Pittsburgh bridge collapse shines light on Pennsylvania’s infrastructure

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(The Center Square) – As President Joe Biden highlights billions of dollars in federal funding to improve roads and bridges, an early Friday morning bridge collapse near Pittsburgh is highlighting the commonwealth’s infrastructure needs. Ahead of Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh on Friday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stood alongside Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and

Pennsylvania lawmaker pitches new sales tax for local purposes

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(The Center Square) – A Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to allow counties to enact a 1% sales tax that local municipalities can use to shore up pension obligations, maintain core services or put to other uses. State Rep. Michael Sturla, D-Lancaster, spelled out the proposal in a legislative memorandum. “The impetus is local municipalities across the

FASD sticks with mask policies

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Two proposals to loosen or abolish mask requirements failed during the Fairfield Area school board meeting on Monday night. School board member Candace Ferguson-Miller made a motion to allow children with mask exemptions to continue to attend school without a mask after an in-school exposure to coronavirus. According to Kristi Ebaugh, the district school nurse,

Lawmaker proposes school choice for Pennsylvania students in poor-performing districts

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(The Center Square) – A Pennsylvania state senator is proposing a new school-choice program for students who live in the commonwealth’s poorest-performing public school districts. Sen. Judy Ward, R-Hollidaysburg, penned a memorandum to her colleague, soliciting co-sponsors for legislation to create new Lifeline Scholarships for students struggling in the commonwealth’s lowest-achieving school districts. “Under this

Covid cases and hospitalizations moderate in Adams

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It’s been said that “if you’ve seen one pandemic you’ve seen… one pandemic” and this one continues to fit that pattern.  Virologists and epidemiologists are doing their best to make predictions, while doctors, nurses, and politicians are doing their best to keep people safe, but it’s pretty hard, especially when their advice is frequently ignored.

Bill to increase caps on school-choice tax credit programs clears Pennsylvania Senate committee

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By Victor Skinner | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) – The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee advanced legislation Wednesday to automatically expand school-choice programs during times of high demand. Sen. Mike Regan, R-Dillsburg, pointed to his experiences with troubled youth during his law enforcement career and the attitude of disregard for education in some

County expects to receive $3 million from state opioid settlement

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Adams County expects to receive about $3 million in settlement money from claims against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids as the result of a statewide settlement. The money includes about $695,000 the county will receive for dropping its claim and joining the consolidated state suit. County Solicitor Molly Mudd said the funds were expected

Adams County Community Foundation Names Philanthropic Advisor to Serve Professional Advisors

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The Adams County Community Foundation has announced that Theresa DiLoreto, CFRE has joined its staff as Philanthropic Advisor. Theresa will serve as the Community Foundation’s liaison with legal and financial advisors, connecting them with the Community Foundation’s options for incorporating philanthropy into clients’ lifetime and estate plans. Community Foundation President and CEO Ralph Serpe says,

WellSpan offers beginning yoga sessions during American Heart Month

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These virtual sessions are designed for those who have never tried yoga before and are looking to explore new ways to increase physical activity and reduce stress for a healthier heart.  Register in the links below: Feb 17th at noon: https://www.wellspan.org/events/details/Yoga-for-a-Healthy-Heart—VIRTUAL/3808 Feb. 22nd at 6pm: https://www.wellspan.org/events/details/Yoga-for-a-Healthy-Heart—VIRTUAL/3809

God’s Closet Children’s Shop offers free clothing in New Oxford

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Children’s Aid Society Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren in New Oxford celebrated the grand reopening of the newly renovated God’s Closet children’s store with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. The store, located in the Nicarry Center at 343 Lincoln Way W, provides free clothes for families in need. Children’s Aid Society’s Executive Director/CEO

Pennsylvania redistricting panel enters final stretch to complete House, Senate maps

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Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — The panel charged with drawing Pennsylvania’s new legislative districts must

UASD follows updated health guidelines

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Upper Adams School District (UASD) will be following updated guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Superintendent Wesley Doll. Doll presented updates and guidelines regarding district health procedures at the school board’s regular meeting Tuesday. Looking at recommendations from local health facilities as well as the Pennsylvania Department

In a bulb there is a flower

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There is something about watching an amaryllis bulb grow and unfold during these dark winter days that speaks to me of hope and beauty.  I admit that I am easily discouraged with all the negative energy polluting our emotional and social air waves and environment, that our self limiting fears and suspicions are far more

Covid cases rise at FASD, creating serious illnesses and hindering class coverage and health screenings

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During its meeting Monday evening, the Fairfield Area school board discussed revisiting its health and safety plan as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to rise in Adams County. No changes to the plan were made during the meeting. Kristi Ebaugh, the district school nurse, said cases have risen in the district. Since November, three

Adams County jail hit by Omicron

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After almost two years of successfully preventing any Covid cases among the prisoners at the Adams County Adult Correctional Complex (ACCACC), the Omicron variant has infected about a dozen people at the center as of yesterday. County Solicitor Molly Mudd said multiple people at the prison have tested positive including several staff members and about

Lisa Angstadt wins Adams County Explorers Contest

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Lisa Angstadt has been chosen from the many correct entries we received as January’s winner of the Gettysburg Connection Adams County Explorers contest! The contest is a collaboration between Gettysburg Connection and the Adams County Library System. If you like the contest would you consider making a donation to support it? Angstadt correctly identified this

Ugly Mug Café Closes after 10 years in Gettysburg

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The Ugly Mug at Cockle’s Corner, formerly located at 168 Carlisle St., Gettysburg posted the following announcement on its Facebook page on Sunday Jan 9, 2022. “2021 was absolutely amazing, being Ug Mug’s highest grossing year to date! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our patrons over the past ten

UASD social studies classes focus on student growth, not Critical Race Theory

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The Upper Adams School District (UASD) school board heard presentations about district courses and health concerns at its curriculum and extra curriculum committee Tuesday. “As students move through UASD development from Kindergarten to 12th grade, the district wide goal is to prepare students to responsibly engage the world and understand the world they live in,”

What’s the difference between sugar, other natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners? A food chemist explains sweet science

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Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond A quick walk down the drink aisle of any corner store reveals the incredible ingenuity of food scientists in search of sweet flavors. In some drinks you’ll find sugar. A diet soda might have an artificial or natural low-calorie sweetener. And found in nearly everything else is high fructose corn

Behind the Scenes at the Adams County Library: Library by Mail

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Happy New Year! I want to give a big thanks to Gettysburg Connection publisher Chuck Stangor for giving the Adams County Library System (ACLS) the opportunity to share news from the library!  We’ll be contributing an article every Monday throughout 2022. We’ll use these articles to share a weekly “look behind the scenes” at the

2021 Gettysburg Connection Annual Report

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Dear Friends, It is my pleasure to share Gettysburg Connection’s 2021 Annual Report with you. I direct this letter to all of you who read the Connection, who are members or partners of the Connection, who sponsor the Connection, and who participate with the Connection in so many other ways. Thank you. I am happy

What Kwanzaa means for Black Americans

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By Frank Dobson, Vanderbilt University On Dec. 26, millions throughout the world’s African community will start weeklong celebrations of Kwanzaa. There will be daily ceremonies with food, decorations and other cultural objects, such as the kinara, which holds seven candles. At many Kwanzaa ceremonies, there is also African drumming and dancing. It is a time

Business Profile: Twin Springs Fruit Farm

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Four friends, looking to the future and already involved in the Adams County fruit-growing tradition, pooled their knowledge, bought some land, and began a new business forty years ago. Today that business has grown from the initial 20-acre purchase with four employees to 300 acres and as many as 45 full-time workers. The Orrtanna business,

The words we use

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Our son and wife were just here for a Christmas visit.  Our daughter-in-law is a fabulous cook, and she brought several delicious meals, making food prep much easier given my husband’s medical situation. The rest of the time we did what I’m most comfortable doing when company comes.  We grazed and ate left-overs, along with

Business Profile: Oh Man!

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As Covid hit over the past years and supply chain issues cropped up, Lark Gifts and Nerd Herd Gifts and Games owners Timbrel and Scott Wallace needed a place to store their extra merchandise. To solve the problem, they rented a store on the corner of Lincoln Square at 1 Baltimore St. It wasn’t long

New play by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman to premiere at Adams County Arts Council

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PALE ERECTIONS HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL LIKELY BE RESCHEDULED IN MAY, 2022 “Pale Erections: The Monuments Play,” a new play by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman, will have its premiere production at Adam County Arts Council (125 S Washington St, Gettysburg, PA 17325) for four performances in January 2022. By up-and-coming playwright Hardman and directed

Connection seeks Adams County Heroes

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Gettysburg Connection is pleased to announce its inaugural Adams County Heroes program. We’re accepting nominations from community members for people who have made a positive contribution for the benefit of this community over the past year. Please click here to submit a nomination. We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Nominations will be accepted through

Pennsylvania revises Confederate markers, recasts forces as “enemy” soldiers

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By Colin Deppen 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. After removing a trio of Confederate historical markers an hour west of Gettysburg, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has

Giving Spree is most successful charity day in the nation

Adams County Giving Spree Donations by year

The 2021 Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree has become the most successful one-day giving event in the nation, bringing in $3.08 million for local charities. The donations, made to 94 nonprofits, came from 2,465 donors and 8,000 contributions. [Please see the complete list of donations here] Based on dollars collected per capita, the event

Gettysburg College student-curated exhibit explores issues of labor and injustice

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Art History majors and minors at Gettysburg College curated their own exhibition under the direction of Professor Yan Sun at the college’s Schmucker Art Gallery. The exhibit, entitled, “ART/WORK: Labor, Identity, and Society,” contains thirteen pieces from the college’s permanent collection. The exhibition explores issues of identity, equality, and injustice across cultures and historic periods

GASD school board reorganizes, seating three new members

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The results of November’s municipal elections have replaced three members of the Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors. Jeremy Davis, Ryan Morris, and Michelle Smyers are newly-elected members and Kenneth Hassinger was re-elected.  Each was elected to a 4-year term. Prior board members Kathleen Adams Pratt and Sylvan Hershey retired from the board and