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

IMG 0916 scaled

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 β€œdedication 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. β€œI

Summer Intern Joins the Gettysburg Connection

Katherine Smith 6490

My name is Katherine Smith. I live in Brooklyn, New York and I am a graduate student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. I am very excited to begin working as a summer intern at the Gettysburg Connection this summer. Growing up, I knew that I wanted a career that would help others.

Gettysburg Prayer Event Scheduled For June 17

0

Several local churches within the Gettysburg Area Ministerium are setting aside 15 minutes for lamentation, repentance, and prayer on Wednesday, June 17th at noon. The event, scheduled on the 5th-year anniversary of the Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, is meant to offer prayers for the community and world, as well as foster unity

Lisa Cardigan To Present New Program through Zoom for Adams County Art Council

LOGO 1024x1024 300x300 1

During the Adams County Arts Council’s next virtual 3rd Thursday noon program on June 18, Arts Outreach Coordinator Lisa Cadigan will present a program titled β€œCreative Connections: Why We Need Introspection & Reflection to Build Community.”  Lisa will share strategies for using introspection and reflection to not only spark creativity, but also to engage community

“Question, Persuade, and Refer” Training Sessions Available Online for All Residents

logo bottom

Local Pennsylvania residents who would like to help with mental health awareness programs this summer can now register for QPR sessions, held by Wellspan Philhaven and Healthy Adams County. QPR, or “Question, Persuade, and Refer,” is a nationally certified program run by professional trainers. In the course, up to 10 individuals are trained through Zoom

Gettysburg YWCA To Reopen Monday

ywca

The YWCA Gettysburg & Adams County will be reopening on Monday June 15 with health protections in place. Users will have their temperatures taken upon entry, will be required to wear facial masks while in the lobby and hallways, and must practice social distancing. Y Wee Care, the free babysitting service for people who exercise

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 β€œparklets” 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

New Campaign Provides Mental Health Resources for Central Pennsylvania Families

photo1

As the state adapts to the current COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, several organizations have come together to provide Central Pennsylvania families with resources that can help improve their physical and mental health. The resources, provided by WITF, Capital BlueCross, and WellSpan Health, are part of the new β€œHere With You” campaign. It includes the distribution of

GBPA Announces Summer Event Schedule Including Reenactment

gbpa.jpg

The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association (GBPA) has announced new dates for several of the historic events held in Adam’s County, including the 2020 Battle of Gettysburg Reenactment. The Gettysburg Reenactment, an annual event that has attracted over 500,000 visitors, has been scheduled for August 22-23, and will be held at the historic Daniel Lady Farm

July 4 Fireworks To Be Held at the Rec Park

image 1

The Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority Board (GARA) has agreed to hold the July 4 fireworks at the Gettysburg Rec Park. The fireworks, normally held at Gettysburg College, will be set up, displayed, and cleaned up by Destination Gettysburg. GARA will monitor the parking of vehicles for spectators and crowd maintenance. More information, including times, parking,

Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary Names New President

Image may contain: 1 person

[From https://www.facebook.com/UnitedLutheranSeminary/] The United Lutheran Seminary Board of Trustees has named the Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, fourth bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as its next president. His appointment is effective August 1, 2020. Bishop Erwin succeeds interim president, the Rev. Dr. Angela Zimmann. Erwin β€œI am

Prize-winning Historical Novelist Jamie Ford Revisits Gettysburg

word image 3

New York Times best-selling author Jamie Ford returned to the Adams County Library on Friday from his home in Montana. The virtual β€œreturn visit” of the historical fiction writer was a fundraiser for the library system hosted by Library Development Officer Dawn Smith. Ford β€œWe’ve raised $1,935 so far,” said Smith.” When we had to

Life Lion Air Ambulances Save Lives [Episode 29]

word image 7

Β When patients are transported from an accident site to a hospital or from one hospital to another, a helicopter β€œair 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)

Battlefield β€œRed Patch” House to be Restored by Jeff and Stephanie Shaara

word image

By Stephanie Shaara, Jeff Shaara, and Charles Stangor Gettysburg native Stephanie Shaara and her husband, well known historical author Jeff Shaara, are tackling an enormous project that will restore a 120-year old home to its original glory. The historic home known as β€œRed Patch,” which sits next to the former Gettysburg National Guard Armory on

2020 GASD Virtual Commencement Ceremony a Success

sheer

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

word image 36

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. β€œSocial distancing will be our normal for some time to come,” said Borough Manager Charles Gable. This β€œforward-thinking and visionary project will “make the borough more business-friendly.” Parklets [Wikipedia] Parklets

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

accf

 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

GASD Tunes up Online Learning, Prepares for Fall 2020

GASD

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.  β€œThis 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]

Nanette self portrait 1 scaled

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

052420 1342 GettysburgB1

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

Two Gettysburg Land Parcels Move to Park Service

052320 0027 TwoGettysbu1

During a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) last week, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt awarded a $573,000 Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) to acquire two tracts for the park. Map by Curt Mussleman “The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) funding will enable the

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

052220 1450 Coronavirus1

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

052220 1442 Battlefield1

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

052120 2107 WellspanPha1

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

Carr Wins National Theater Award

052120 1350 CarrWinsNat1

Gettysburg Community Theatre Founding Executive/Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr has been honored with the Shining Star Award by the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT). Carr The 2020 AACT National Awards will be presented at an awards ceremony during the AACTFest 2021 National Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, June 14–19, 2021. The AACT Shining Star award recognizes

Jalbert Steps Down from Bakewell Farm

052120 1256 JalbertStep1

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

051920 0020 GARAConside1

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.

Gettysburg Foundation President Moen to Step Down

051820 2053 GettysburgF1

Gettysburg Foundation President and CEO Matthew C. Moen, Ph.D., is stepping down from his position effective July 31, 2020. The Gettysburg Foundation Board of Directors was notified of his decision late last week. “Pandemics have a way of rearranging life priorities, both professionally and personally,” said Moen. “I spent thirty-one years in higher education and

Cheery Birds have landed at the Connection!

050520 1629 SupportLoca1

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

Homemade Tortillas for Sale to Support a Friend

Community Contributor

My friend Maricella lost her job two months ago. She is helping make ends meet by selling her homemade tortillas. They are delivered warm to me 1-3 times a week and are completely delicious. If you’d like a dozen or perhaps more, please text or call me at 717 752-5475. $8.00 per dozen. Hugh Matthews

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

051520 1804 AdamsCounty1

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. Β  General changes that will begin next Friday include: The stay-at-home order will be lifted, but people are still encouraged to wear

Gettysburg Foundation Appoints Five New Members to Board of Directors and New Chair of the Board

051520 1127 GettysburgF1

At its May meeting, the Gettysburg Foundation Board of Directors welcomed five new Directors, honored three Directors with emeritus status and approved the appointment of its new board chair. Β  Joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors for a three-year term are Cynthia Hill; Thavolia Glymph, Ph.D.; Hal Kushner, M.D.; Richard Morin and Charles ‘Cliff’ Bream.

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

051520 1120 Pennyslvani1

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

Gettysburg Borough Council News and Announcements

051420 1135 GettysburgB1

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

Wellspan Wins Sepsis Control Award

051320 2347 WellspanWin1

WellSpan Health has received the 2019 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award, recognizing its innovative Sepsis Central Alert Team. The team earned the award as an example of successful system changes or interventions that make care safer or advocate on a patient’s behalf. Begun in 2017, the team is a group of registered

Gettysburg Foundation President Muses about Gettysburg and COVID-19: Plus Reagan, Near, Bates, Guthrie, Lincoln, Mandela & Princess Diana

051120 1218 GettysburgF1

This blog post, penned by local resident and Gettysburg Foundation President Matthew Moen, originally appeared on the Gettysburg Foundation Website. Many thanks to the Foundation for so graciously sharing with us. Ghost tours have long been a cottage industry in Gettysburg, and for once, the supernatural hits the mark. COVID-19 has turned a tourist town

Republican Legislators Ask Governor Wolf to Reopen Adams County

050920 1230 RepublicanL1

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

050820 2033 GovernorOpe1

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,

β€œThis is Not Like Home Schooling.” GASD Parents Come to Grips with Online Learning

As the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) students finish their school year using online learning, parents are playing an oversized role in the process. I talked with three parents over the past weeks to learn about their approaches, concerns, and successes with the home-based curriculum. All three parents praised GASD, saying it was doing the

Adams County Arts Council Participates in Giving Tuesday and Prepares for the Future

050120 2008 AdamsCounty1

The Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) seeks assistance to continue fostering meaningful and creative connections in the face of COVID-19 by participating in #GivingTuesdayNow. #GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020β€”in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesdayβ€”as an emergency response to

WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital Earns an β€œA” in Safety

043020 2207 WellSpanGet1

WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital has earned an A safety grade from Leapfrog, an independent national watchdog organization, in its spring report. “Ensuring that our patients receive excellent care in all circumstances is the top priority of our hospital team,” said Jane Hyde, senior vice president of WellSpan Health and president, WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. “Achieving an A

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

043020 1736 CountyEmerg1

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

Gettysburg Connection Participates in National Campaign Supporting Local News

043020 1509 GettysburgC1

Gettysburg Connection is excited to be participating in #GivingNewsday, a campaign to bring neighbors together to subscribe, give, and otherwise support our newsroom’s coverage, especially during the health crisis. Gettysburg Connection is working tirelessly to provide essential coverage to keep Adams County safe and informed. The workload required to accurately and completely report on the

Wellspan Health: β€œPlease Don’t Ignore Your Health Symptoms During the Crisis”

043020 1319 WellspanHea1

Wellspan Health has asked residents to be sure to come to the hospital if they are experiencing symptoms of heart attack or stroke, saying that they will be protected against catching the coronavirus in the hospital. Since late March, hospital officials have noticed a 50 percent drop in patients seeking care at WellSpan Health’s six

Gov. Wolf Calls for Mandated Race and Ethnicity Data Collection and Increased Testing Amid COVID-19

042720 2047 GovWolfCall1

On a call today with reporters and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman about the newly formed Health Disparity Task Force, Governor Tom Wolf called for COVID-19 health care providers and medical facilities conducting tests to follow the Department of Health’s mandate to include race and ethnicity data in demographics provided to the department with COVID-19 test

Governor Wolf Announces Reopening of Limited Outdoor Recreational Activities on Friday

042720 2042 GovernorWol1

To ensure that Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation as a way to maintain positive physical and mental health, and in keeping with the commonwealth’s stay-at-home orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Tom Wolf today announced that the Wolf Administration is lifting some restrictions on businesses related to certain outdoor activities.

Unemployment Claims in Adams County Soar Due to COVID-19

042620 0119 Unemploymen1

The Adams County workforce has been significantly impacted by the coronavirus shutdown with almost ten times as many workers receiving unemployment benefits now than before the health crisis began. Statistics gathered by the Pennsylvania State Center for Workforce Information and Analysis show that in early March, 599 people (about 1% of the total county labor

How To Vote by Mail in Pennsylvania

042520 1502 HowToVoteby1

For the first time this year all Pennsylvanians can vote by mail. With the COVID-19 virus striking us during the primary season it is good to have this option. There is no way of knowing that it will be safe to go to the polls on June 2nd. All you need to do is fill

Local Teenagers’ Homemade COVID-19 Facemasks Go Viral

IMG 6767

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

042320 2319 FreezesCrea1

Β  ​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 Borough Council to Hold Online Meeting on April 27

042120 1342 GettysburgB1

The Gettysburg Borough Council will hold a special meeting using Zoom on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The special meeting will be broadcast via live streaming by Community Media, www.communitymedia.net, as well as via the “Gettysburg Borough” Facebook page and the “Gettysburg Boro Police Department” Facebook page. Gettysburg Borough residents and/or taxpayers of

HBO Series β€œWe’re Here,” Filmed in Gettysburg Last Summer, to Stream for Free on Thursday

042020 0102 HBOSeriesWe1

The first episode of the six-part unscripted Home Box Office series “We’re Here,” filmed in Gettysburg last summer, will air on Thursday April 23, at 9:00 p.m. In Episode 1, former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley arrive in Gettysburg to stage a one-night-only drag show featuring

Gettysburg Police Chief Updates COVID-19 Activities in the Borough

041920 1155 GettysburgP1

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,