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by Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-StarMay 21, 2025 A network of food banks and charitable organizations that distributes food from the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) to low-income seniors called on Congress to preserve funding for the program in the upcoming federal budget. (USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.) Pennsylvania is the fourth-largest recipient of aid under the

Historic Gettysburg Adams County honored the recipients for its Barn of the Year and Historic House awards at its recent 2025 Annual Dinner, held this year at the historic Beech Springs Farm barn in Orrtanna. HGAC President Bernie Mazer and Vice President Greg Kaufmann welcomed the 80 members and guests gathered for the event and

Republican and Democratic voters in Adams County School Districts made their choices on a cool spring day Tuesday, narrowing crowded fields in several competitive school board races. With primary ballots now counted, the top four candidates from each party will advance to the general election this fall. Please find detailed results of all races here.

Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium, a beloved roadside attraction along Route 30 between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, celebrated its 50th anniversary in colorful style today. Surrounded by about 100 friends and supporters, the family-owned business unveiled a vibrant 28-foot-long hand-painted mural that tells the story of its founder, Edwin Gotwalt – affectionately known as

The Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors continues to examine how much of a tax increase is appropriate. After about an hour of discussion during Monday’s meeting, the board directed Business Manager Belinda Wallen to return on June 2 with two proposals–one showing a 1.5% increase and another showing a 1% increase. The board

The Lincoln Cemetery Project Association invites the public to attend its annual Memorial Day Program on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at Lincoln Cemetery, located at the corner of Lincoln Lane and Long Lane in Gettysburg. The event, traditionally held the day before the official Memorial Day holiday, is scheduled to complement the

Pennsylvanians will head to the polls today to vote in judicial and municipal races. Here’s everything you need to know. by Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PA Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in

The 1st Annual Bruce Hollabaugh 5K Memorial Run, held on April 13, 2025, at Hollabaugh Bros., raised $19,769 for the Bruce A. Hollabaugh Memorial Endowment Fund, established by Bruce’s parents, Brad & Kay Hollabaugh. Managed by the Adams County Community Foundation, the fund will benefit the charities and community initiatives for which Bruce cared deeply

On April 22, 2025, the Fairfield Lions Club celebrated its 80th Anniversary at the District 14C Zone Social 1B at the Fairfield Fire Hall. Along with Fairfield Lions Club members were Lions and Leos from other Zone 14C clubs. Entertainment was provided by Thaddeus Stevens (portrayed by Ross Hetrick), who shared events from his life

Personnel issues dominated the Gettysburg Borough Council’s May business meeting. The evening began with Mayor Rita Frealing and Police Chief Robert Glenny honoring Officer Dennis Bievenour, who retired in February. Bievenour joined the force in 2008 and served as a patrol officer, detective, master patrol officer, and intelligence officer. “Dennis gained the admiration of his

by Jennifer Shutt, Pennsylvania Capital-Star WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans plan to debate and approve the three final pieces of their “big, beautiful bill” in committee this week, including the tax measure, major spending cuts to Medicaid that will change how states run the program, and an agriculture bill. The U.S. House will begin debate

Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, Catholic Theological Union The world of sport is “a constellation of many stars,” Pope Francis told La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian daily sports newspaper, during a wide-ranging interview in January 2021. Players observe a minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis before the Spanish league soccer match between Real Madrid

Gettysburg Borough Council wants its residents to talk trees. During their recent workshop, the council discussed a proposed revision to its Shade Tree Ordinance, which would allow the Shade Tree Commission to plant trees on private property with the owners’ consent. Commission Member Susan Naugle said the approach would help the borough add trees to

The Upper Adams Canner Funds is taking steps to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the hopes that it will be able to support the school district in a bigger way. Tom Wilson, former school board member and current president of the Canner Funds, addressed the school board’s business and operations committee Tuesday. “We see the

Maureen K. Day, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Shortly after 6 P.M. in Rome, the longed-for sight appeared above the Sistine Chapel: white smoke. Over the course of a day and a half, the more than 130 members of the College of Cardinals had come to a decision on who should lead

After about a year of consideration, the Gettysburg Planning Commission voted unanimously to advance their recommendations for the repeal and rewrite of the borough’s zoning code.  The Borough Council will take up the project at their workshop at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, beginning the third and final phase of the rewrite project.  The Council

A Gettysburg Area School District board member who believes the realities of the position conflict with the pledge she made to voters has resigned. “Upon taking this position, I made promises to many voters that I would not, under any condition, vote to raise taxes,” Cynthia Ayers wrote in a letter dated April 22. “I

Pennsylvania’s deep and lasting connection with Ireland stretches back to the 17th century, shaping the state’s history through waves of immigration, political involvement, business, and cultural life. The first major group of Irish immigrants to Pennsylvania were the Scots-Irish, or Ulster-Scots—Presbyterians who fled religious persecution in Ireland. Welcomed by William Penn’s “oasis of religious tolerance,”

Pennsylvania’s current laws regarding legal notices require that boroughs, townships, school districts, and the county itself post public notices of their meetings, hearings, budget negotiations, contract requests, and other information in local print newspapers (the law defines these newspapers as “newspapers of general circulation”). Digital publications, such as Gettysburg Connection, are not allowed to be

After almost six years at the helm of the Gettysburg Borough Police Department, Chief Robert Glenny is pursuing another opportunity. Mechanicsburg Borough Council will vote Tuesday on hiring Glenny to lead their department for an annual salary of $121,000. Glenny agreed to speak to the Connection about his move after it became public through an

Kirby Farah, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Mexicans representing indigenous soldiers and the French army re-enact the battle of Puebla during Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico City. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo Many Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but how many actually know the story of the holiday? Contrary to popular belief, Cinco

Volunteers at the 12th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser served up delicious soups and a strong sense of community on Friday. The event, held in the Gettysburg College Union Building Ballroom, welcomed attendees between 4 and 7 p.m. Hosted by The Gleaning Project—a nonprofit initiative of South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP)—the fundraiser supports efforts to

Josh Shepperd, University of Colorado Boulder The Trump administration’s drive to slash government spending on everything from the arts to cancer research also includes efforts to carry through on the Republican Party’s long-standing goal of ending federal funding for NPR, the nation’s public radio network, and PBS, its television counterpart. Cast members of the children’s

A growing series of weekly rallies on Lincoln Square, launched by the Adams County Democratic Committee and supported by local grassroots groups, has drawn hundreds of residents and out-of-town visitors to peacefully express concerns about national policies and show support for democratic values and marginalized communities. The rallies, which organizers have deliberately called “Rallies for

Taxes are by far the largest source of revenue for the federal government. While the government does receive revenue from several other sources, those revenues are dwarfed by how much citizens collectively pay in taxes. The average taxpayer in Pennsylvania paid $15,998 in federal income taxes in 2024, $1,768 less than the national average. Would

Local residents gathered Sunday, April 27, at the Peace Light Memorial to protest staffing cuts at Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) and across the National Park Service (NPS). Organized by Gettysburg Rising, the demonstration highlighted the economic and cultural importance of national parks. According to organizers, park visitor spending at GNMP totaled $54.8 million in

Due to mounting safety concerns, Gettysburg Borough officials have announced an immediate change to traffic patterns along North Washington Street, where a major infrastructure replacement project is underway. The borough initially planned to keep one lane open during the second phase of the construction to minimize disruption to residents, businesses, and visitors. However, repeated incidents

The sun broke through the rain clouds Saturday afternoon to shine a light toward the second opening night of Gettysburg Community Theatre’s “Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS,” directed by GCT alumni Jessi Gillingham. Imagination soared as a large cast of excited young thespians strutted their talent in the classic tale of Mowgli, a human boy

Jeffrey Fields, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Negotiators from Iran and the United States are set to meet again in Oman on April 26, 2025, prompting hopes the two countries might be moving, albeit tentatively, toward a new nuclear accord. The front pages of Iran’s newspapers in a sidewalk newsstand in Tehran,

Gettysburg Area School District residents could face a maximum 1.5% tax increase this summer, according to information Business Manager Belinda Wallen shared at Monday’s meeting. Budget discussions are far from final and a proposed budget will be presented May 5.  Wallen told the board that the 1.5% was determined based on the board’s desire last

Upper Adams School Board on Tuesday unanimously voted to hire its new superintendent, Todd Dishong. Through his 26 years in education, Dishong has served in numerous roles from kindergarten through 12th grade levels, according to a news release from the district. He has worked as a classroom teacher, coach, a principal at all levels, and

First responders will share their expertise with Adams County business owners and employees at the second annual “To The Rescue Starts With You” emergency preparedness event on May 1. Destination Gettysburg will bring together officials from Gettysburg Borough police, fire, and parking departments; Adams Regional EMS, and National Park Service law enforcement at the Gettysburg

by Tom Allwein Autism Acceptance Month is here again. I have changed it from awareness to acceptance since, by now, most people are aware of autism, and I believe now what society needs to do is accept it. The concept of “you meet one person with autism, you have met one person with autism,” sums

The People’s Town Hall committee is excited to announce that, due to the overwhelming response of The People, we have been able to secure a much larger venue for this event. The People’s Town Hall will still take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, but the new location is The Barn Resort, 75 Cunningham Rd,

Tenor James Carpenter will join The Gettysburg Choral Society and perform “The Children of the Battlefield” in a pair of free concerts entitled “God Bless the U.S.A.” to be held on Friday, May 23rd at 7:00 P.M. in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hanover, PA, and on Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 P.M. in Gettysburg’s United

The Gettysburg Planning Commission voted to hold a special meeting on May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Borough building in hopes of finalizing their recommendations for the rewrite of the borough’s zoning ordinance. The ordinance will then pass to the Borough Council, which will make the final decisions about the content of the ordinance.

Forever Love Rescue, a volunteer-powered nonprofit located at 39 Queen St. just off Steinwehr Ave. Avenue in Gettysburg brought in $4,625 in donations as it welcomed visitors to a grand reopening on Saturday. The mission of the non-profit is to find homes for cats who need them and reduce the feral cat population through its

by Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff, has died, the Vatican announced on April 21, 2025. He was 88. Francis had served as pope for 12 eventful years, after being elected on March 13, 2013 after the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI. Prior to becoming

  The Conewago Valley school board narrowly voted to send the Conewago Township Elementary School additions and renovations out to project for bid, also barely passing the proposed 2025-26 budget. The board voted 5-4 to move forward with sending the CTE project out to bid following a lengthy presentation from the architectural design firm, Crabtree,

Greetings from the Rec Park and the Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority! This spring, I had the honor of speaking before the Council of Governments (COG) of Adams County. Many local leaders—representing municipalities, county government, law enforcement, and school districts—were surprised to learn just how many events and programs take place at our community’s recreation jewel.

Upper Adams School District is preparing to welcome a new superintendent. After months of searching, the school board will hold a special meeting April 22 to vote upon the hire of Todd Dishong, the district announced in a statement Wednesday. Dishong is assistant superintendent at Waynesboro Area School District, according to Upper Adams Interim Superintendent

Barnet Sherman, Boston University The Trump administration has recently revoked the visas of more than 1,300 foreign college students – detaining some – and launched immigration enforcement actions on college campuses across the country. This has raised concerns among the more than 1.1 million international students studying at U.S. universities. Headlines are filled with perspectives

The Butler Township Board of Supervisors broke ground today on a new 8,400 square foot municipal complex at 344 Arendtsville Road. The new complex will house township administration offices, public meeting spaces, and a covered maintenance garage. It will replace the current municipal office on Table Rock Road and the current maintenance building. The new

A recently released report through the Pennsylvania Department of Community Development (DCED) showed that spending by out-of-town visitors to Adams County, Pa., set a record in 2023, the most recent year of data available. The study conducted by Tourism Economics on behalf of DCED reported that visitors in 2023 spent $786 million in 2023 —

Each spring, the Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice honors some members of our community who best embody our organization’s mission: to promote respectful dialogue on peace, social justice and equity, multiculturalism, and environmental sustainability. The Lifetime of Peacemaking Award is given to a local resident who, over a long term, has made significant contributions

This story was originally reported by Marissa Martinez of The 19th. Meet Marissa and read more of their reporting on gender, politics, and policy. The push to expand the child tax credit is more bipartisan than ever — but a clear solution to stop it from being slashed in half is still far off. Republicans and

Hundreds of people who oppose President Donald J. Trump’s policies packed all four quadrants of Lincoln Square on Saturday April 5 between noon and 1 p.m. The event was the second consecutive Saturday gathering, and organizers say the public should expect more. “Judging by the enthusiastic response to our first two Saturday rallies, people are

The Bermudian Springs school board contemplated a tax increase and announced it is cutting out its monthly caucus meetings during meetings this week. The board held a caucus meeting on Monday and a regular board meeting on Tuesday. At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, board president Daniel Chubb announced that the board will no longer

  The Conewago Valley school board discussed a possible tax increase in a finance meeting on Monday evening. The board held a back-to-back finance meeting to discuss the 2025-26 budget followed by a study session. Afterwards, the board held an executive session to discuss personnel. Lori Duncan, the board’s secretary and district business manager, walked

Iveta Silova, Arizona State University Many American universities, widely seen globally as beacons of academic integrity and free speech, are giving in to demands from the Trump administration, which has been targeting academia since it took office. Columbia University has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. Rudi Von Briel/Photodisc via Getty Images In

Gettysburg Rising will host its second candidate forum on Wednesday, April 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gettysburg YMCA. The event is designed to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the May 20 Primary Election. Both candidates for State Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Torren Ecker and Paul Royer, will

Matt Heiser is once again the Gettysburg Area High football coach.  Heiser’s hiring was approved 8-1, with Cynthia Ayers dissenting. Ayers did not comment on her vote on Monday but has voted against every human resources recommendation for several months because she believes the district needs to study the size of its staff.  Heiser will

By Karen Kaslow and Judy Young The Earth Extravaganza, a free, family-friendly celebration of the environment, will be held Monday, April 21, from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Ag & Natural Resources Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg. Hosted by the Adams County Conservation District and Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Steward Program, the

Destination Gettysburg is seeking input from Adams County residents through a tourism sentiment survey to help guide the organization into the future. The 11-question, multiple choice survey is designed to gauge residents’ perceptions of the tourism industry as well as the work of Destination Gettysburg, the official destination marketing organization of Adams County, PA. The

Neither brisk March winds nor cool spring temperatures could stop Adams County residents from enjoying a day of disc golf on March 22, 2025. Dozens of children and adults came out to play 9 holes at Cross Keys Community Park, located at 785 Berlin Road in New Oxford. The free event ran from 10:00 a.m.

Niven Winchester, Auckland University of Technology We now have a clearer picture of Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and how they will affect other trading nations, including the United States itself. Getty Images The US administration claims these tariffs on imports will reduce the US trade deficit and address what it views as unfair and

As the Adams County Library celebrates its 80th anniversary, a year full of exciting programs and initiatives is underway, offering something for everyone in the community. To kick off the celebrations, the library is launching an ambitious yearlong Book Reading Challenge. Starting on April 7 and running through December 31, the challenge encourages readers to

The Adams County Library System is moving forward with plans to construct a new library building near the Gettysburg YMCA. The proposed move, expected to cost $20 million or more, is a major step in addressing accessibility, efficiency, and future growth. According to library Executive Director Miranda Wisor, the new building will blend modern amenities

UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central PA, with the support of UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, hosted the Women’s Cancer Survivorship Conference on March 29 at the Penn Harris Hotel Convention Center. Dedicated to empowering women living with cancer, the comprehensive one-day event focused on wellness and was attended by more than 150 participants.

Capping an evening of cocktails, dinner and interesting general business at Destination Gettysburg’s annual meeting March 31 at the Gettysburg Hotel, local business owner and nationally acclaimed artist Wendy Allen accepted the “Jim Getty Spirit of Gettysburg Award” — a distinguished honor that has been awarded annually for almost a decade. Allen is the ninth

After decades of dedication to the Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority (GARA), Steve Williams received a heartfelt sendoff at Monday night’s meeting as he prepares to relocate to Charleston, South Carolina. Williams was honored for his devotion to GARA through his dedication to caring for the rec park’s building and grounds and by serving as an

A bill would require direct care workers to pass a competency exam rather than have a diploma or GED. Advocates argue a more direct solution to the staffing shortfall would be to increase wages. by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA State Senator Dave Argall speaks at a 2025 event for older Pennsylvanians. Commonwealth Media Services

Fans of classic horror and science fiction flocked to the Gettysburg Wyndham Hotel March 28–30 for the return of Creature Feature Weekend, a celebration of vintage “Chiller Theater”-style programming and all things spooky. Organized by Sandy Yastrzemski and her team, the event paid homage to the late-night horror movie blocks once popular on local TV

Donald T. Tomaskovic-Devey, UMass Amherst; Jorge Quesada Velazco, UMass Amherst, and Kevin L. Young, UMass Amherst In 2020, American businesses responded to an unprecedented wave of racial justice protests with an equally unprecedented surge in corporate commitments. Even as President Donald Trump was calling protesters “terrorists,” companies in industries across the U.S. pledged donations, launched

Callie Maddox, Miami University For most baseball fans, hope springs eternal on Opening Day. American women have been playing baseball since at least the 1860s. Ullstein Bild/Getty Images Many of those fans – more than you might think – are women. A 2024 survey found that women made up 39% of those who attended or

Citizens and visitors to Gettysburg will have an opportunity to walk in President Abraham Lincoln’s shoes and immerse themselves into the 1863 dedication of Soldiers National Cemetery during the event’s 163rd anniversary in 2026. Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania Board President Wendy Allen and Gettysburg National Military Park Chief Interpretor Christopher Gwinn told the Gettysburg Borough

Candidate statements for those running for office will continue to appear here as the candidates submit them between now and the October 2025 election. Statements may take several seconds to load

What is a StoryWalk? It is a unique and enjoyable way to read a picture book! This interactive story experience combines nature, physical activity, and early literacy learning. A series of signs are placed outside, and each numbered sign contains two pages of a picture book. Families walk from post to post to read the

by Lacey Anderson, Pennsylvania Capital-StarMarch 25, 2025 “I have something important to say, but don’t really know who to talk to.” (Getty Images) This email message from Kendra, my usually light-hearted, life-of-the-party high school student, was unusual. She showed me her phone, the reason why she was so upset. On it was an AI-generated racist

Disney’s “Aladdin JR.” takes center stage at Gettysburg Area Middle School (GAMS) on Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. The spectacular 60-minute musical, designed for middle school-aged performers, is based on the 1992 Disney film and the 2014 Broadway adaptation. The 6th-8th grade cast and crew includes 42

Over the last four years, the members of the Class of 2025 have been practicing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and taking advantage of new learning opportunities as they prepare for the game of life that lies ahead. Looking to inspire our new graduates in the next phase of their journeys will be an elite

By Vincent DiFonzo, Gettysburgian Editor-in-Chief On Monday, a non-profit conservative advocacy group issued a civil rights complaint to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleging “ongoing civil rights violations against conservative students at Gettysburg College.” The complaint lists a number of offices, student organizations, academic programs and events related to diversity and

From the Peach Orchard of the battlefield to the apple trees of the countryside, blossoms paint a breathtaking picture across Gettysburg and Adams County each spring. With the arrival of warmer weather comes renewed energy from visitors to explore not only the history Gettysburg is known for, but a desire to experience spring’s beauty in

Almost five months have passed since the Gettysburg Area High School Warriors ended its 2024 season. Spring workouts were started, paused, and then started again. The summer 2024 camp schedule is still not finalized. All because a coach has not yet been hired. Tuesday’s school board meeting ended without any additional clarity on the situation.

Gettysburg Rising is hosting a free candidate forum on April 3rd from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Gettysburg YMCA so that voters can make informed choices in the May 20 Primary Election. Seven candidates have confirmed their attendance. Chad-Alan Carr, currently serving as Borough Council Member At Large, will be introducing his platform for

The Gettysburg Planning Commission re-examined a previous map change and proposed the creation of a new zoning district in their meeting on Monday, as part of the ongoing Zoning Code Update/Rewrite Project. The Commission met for a little over two hours, its tenth meeting since undertaking the rezoning project. Member John Rice was absent, and