Monthly archive

November 2019

400 Trees Planted on Pennsylvania Farm to Restore Waterways

Published on in Growth/Local

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Volunteers and staff from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, Turkey Hill Dairy and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay joined forces in early November to plant 400 trees on a Pennsylvania dairy farm.

The volunteer crew planted saplings along a stream on the Lancaster County dairy farm as part of the Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership, a joint effort with Maryland & Virginia dairy farmers supplying Turkey Hill, Turkey Hill Dairy and the Alliance. The buffer project will enable the farmer to stabilize the stream bank on his property and in turn protect local waterways feeding into the Chesapeake Bay.

Continue Reading on Lancaster Farming

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Holiday concerts in central Pennsylvania for 2019 include Bobby Wilson, Pablo Batista and Pentatonix

Published on in Entertainment/Pennsylvania

A Magical Cirque Christmas
Experience the magic of Christmas with dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists from all corners of the world, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live.

7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Luhrs Center at Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive. Tickets range from $49 to $69, and $125 VIP.
Info: www.luhrscenter.com; 717-477-7469.

Harp-Felt Christmas
Harrisburg Harp Orchestra presents its 16th annual Christmas concert. The 50-plus member ensemble, including dozens of harpists, instrumentalists and guest vocalists, will perform all-original arrangements of traditional carols and modern holiday favorites. This year’s theme is “Christmas Old and New.” The Harrisburg Harp Orchestra plays one-of-a-kind arrangements for multiple harps that span every music style, including classical, Celtic, popular, sacred, jazz and rock.

Continue Reading on Penn Live

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Central PA teen Emily Whitehead changed how we fight cancer

Published on in Health

(WTAJ) — In cancer therapy, there have been three pillars of treatment for decades. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Now there’s a fourth that is curing cancer. In large part, it’s thanks to the heart and struggles of a little girl from Central Pennsylvania.

Tom Whitehead of Philipsburg, is getting a biopsy at Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He’s been here about once a month over the last three years, getting spots around his body checked out. He’s had more than 15 cancerous growths removed, so they know him well here. But not just because of his cancer, because of what happened to his daughter.

Nine years ago, when Emily Whitehead was five years old, doctors diagnosed her with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Most people with it get chemotherapy and lead normal lives. But Emily wasn’t so lucky. The options for treatment quickly faded. The cancer spread through her body.

Continue Reading on Local DVM

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How to help nonprofit groups this holiday season: PennLive’s 2019 wish list

Published on in Pennsylvania

Nonprofits in central Pennsylvania have submitted their needs. More nonprofits submitted their needs in 2019 than any previous year.

There are small and large items, monetary needs and some agencies just need a gift of your time.

There is a vast variety of agencies — find one or more that feeds your passion. Some focus on children in need, some strive to bring the arts or recreation to everyone, one focuses on the LGBTQ+ community, and others want to feed and heal those less fortunate.  So, whatever your interest — music, books, art, sports, the outdoors, healing — there are many to choose from.

Continue Reading on Penn-live

UPMC’s operating income continues to spiral downward

Published on in Business/Health

UPMC’s operating margin has gotten progressively slimmer in recent years, even slipping into negative territory as the large integrated health system juggles volume and expense pressures in a competitive Pennsylvania market.

UPMC’s operating margin was essentially flat in the third quarter of 2019, which ended Sept. 30. That’s because the Pittsburgh-based academic medical center’s operating income dropped to a mere $76,000 on $5.1 billion in revenue in the recently ended quarter, compared with $14.4 million on $4.7 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2018.

“This happens to be one area where UPMC stands out as weaker than its peer group,” said Ken Gacka, senior director and analytical manager for S&P Global Ratings.

Continue Reading on Modern Healthcare

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Gov. Wolf begins holiday season by volunteering at food bank

Published on in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf joined by first lady Frances Wolf and members of his staff spent a part of Wednesday afternoon assembling food boxes at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg.

The group was putting together boxes of food that will be distributed through senior centers to provide meals for elderly residents, said Joe Arthur, the food bank’s executive director.

“It is a sad reality that too many Pennsylvanians struggle with hunger every day — and it is especially difficult for families and individuals who face this threat during the holiday season,” said first lady Frances Wolf. “That’s why Tom and I are proud to serve with our partners at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, who work tirelessly year-round to help meet the basic needs of the communities they serve.”

Continue Reading on Daily Item

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Doorbusters, store hours, more: The ultimate shopping guide for Thanksgiving, Black Friday

Published on in Business/Local/Sales/Tips

It’s almost game time for retailers at they begin to embark on the most important time of the year for them.

The beginning of the holiday shopping season begins this week.

At one time the beginning of the holiday shopping season began in the early hours of the Friday after Thanksgiving, and for some stores it still does.

But, some of the biggest retailers now mark Thanksgiving as the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

But before you head out shopping, take a look at our holiday shopping guide, which includes:

Continue Reading on Pennlive

FOX43 Reveals: Inside the possible cause of mysterious vaping-related illnesses

Published on in Health/Local

CENTRAL Pa.—Nearly 50 people have died from vaping-related illnesses and the number of cases continues to rise. For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked a chemical to the outbreak, naming vitamin E acetate as a “culprit of concern.” FOX43 Reveals what this chemical is and what it does.

According to the CDC, 2,290 cases of e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injuries have been reported from 49 states. As of November 20th, 47 people have died in 25 states—including Pennsylvania. Health officials are scrambling to determine a cause of the outbreak. This month, there is a potential breakthrough as the CDC zeroes in on vitamin E acetate.

The agency said the oily chemical is added to some THC vaping liquids to thicken or dilute them. FOX43 Reveals that vitamin E acetate is actually a synthetic form of vitamin E, which is commonly used in dietary supplements and skin care products.  Vitamin E helps protect our bodies against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are generated from fried foods, alcohol, tobacco, air pollution, and pesticides.

Continue Reading on Fox43

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How a model train hobby sets a theme for Chalfont house

Published on in Local/Pennsylvania

It all started innocently enough. Phil Haile was 5 years old when his father bought him his first Lionel model train. Each year, the family made space in their dining room for a large Christmas tree and a train platform. Haile continued to receive trains as gifts, and at age 12, he made an important announcement to his family: “I’m going to collect model trains for the rest of my life.”

Some 60 years later, Haile, now 76, may finally be losing steam. The home he shared with his wife of more than 50 years — which includes space for thousands of trains — is becoming a challenge for the retired couple with growing health issues. It might be time to downsize, said Haile, who is looking for a buyer for the trains.

Continue Reading on The Philadelphia Inquirer

Snow, crashes begin Sunday for parts of central Pennsylvania

Published on in Local/weather

York, Pa. (WPMT) – People across central Pennsylvania dealt with snow Sunday morning. The system moved from west to east across the area.

In Dallastown, York County, about an inch of snow was on the ground around 9 a.m.

Continue Reading on Fox 43

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Like father, like son: Gingrich tandem will lead Cocalico into District 3 Class 5A championship game

Published on in Sports

Brock Gingrich has been hanging around Cocalico’s football sideline since he was a little kid.

Sometimes delivering water bottles to the older players. Sometimes gathering up the footballs after practice. And always following around his dad, Eagles’ football coach Dave Gingrich.

“I thought it was important in my childhood to have role models at the high school,” Brock said. “I felt like they set a good example for me when I was a little kid.”

Brock isn’t a little kid anymore. He’s all grown up. Gingrich is a punishing senior two-way interior lineman for Cocalico, playing on the field where he once delivered water bottles and picked up footballs. And for the last three varsity seasons, he’s gotten to play for his dad. All of those practices. All of those film sessions. All of those bus rides. All of those games. Together.
Continue Reading on Lancaster Online

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Making A Difference | Woman celebrates 101st birthday thanks to life-saving brain surgery

Published on in News

Lebanon, PA — A Central Pennsylvania woman is celebrating her 101st birthday all thanks to a team of doctors who decided to defy the odds.

“[She’s] 101 years old and several days-two weeks- earlier, there was a real possibility she wasn’t going to make it to this milestone,” says Dr. Grant Sorkin, the Surgical Director of York WellSpan Health’s Stroke Program.

Dr. Sorkin says ‘time is brain’ and in October Loretta Schade’s life was on the line.

“She was having difficulty moving the left side of her body. She was having difficulty with the awareness of the left side of her body,” says Dr. Sorkin after Loretta was life-flighted from her home to WellSpan York. “She was having a major stroke.”

Continue Reading on Local 21 News

 

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16 ‘southern’ plants you might be able to grow right now

Published on in News

Grandma and Grandpa didn’t used to grow such now-common plants as nandina, cherry laurel, Leyland cypress, and crape myrtle in their central-Pennsylvania landscapes.

It was just too cold here for them to be reliable winter bets. Garden centers didn’t routinely carry them anyway.

Then the climate began warming.

Winter lows got milder, summers got hotter, and frost-free growing periods got longer, turning what used to be borderline-hardy plants into surer bets.

Continue Reading on Pennlive

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A $9.50 minimum wage by 2022? The Pa. Senate just passed it. Now it’s up to the House.

Published on in News/Pennsylvania

For the first time in more than a decade, a Pennsylvania legislative chamber has voted to increase the state’s minimum wage — this time from the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour to $9.50.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione, D-Philadelphia, passed 42-7. Every Democrat and the majority of Republicans supported the bill. All seven “No” votes came from central Pennsylvania Republicans.

“Any increase is a step in the right direction,” Tartaglione said during floor debate, adding: “But as we look to the future, much, much, much, more must be done.”

The increase will not take place overnight. The wage will increase to $8 an hour on July 1, 2020, and then gradually increase to $9.50 by January 1, 2022.

The increase also will not apply to tipped workers, such as wait staff at restaurants.

Continue Reading on Pennsylvania Capital

Medical marijuana dispensary opens at former Harrisburg fire station

Published on in News/Pennsylvania

A long-awaited medical marijuana dispensary has opened in Harrisburg.

Harvest of Harrisburg opened on Tuesday at 2500-2504 N. Sixth St. in Harrisburg in the former Camp Curtin Fire Station. For 30 years, the fire station was home to the Camp Curtin Bar-B-Que Station. The restaurant closed at the end of March. The dispensary was suppose to open on June 18. It is not clear why it took several extra months for the dispensary to open but spokesman Alex Howe said in an e-mail that a number of factors go into its store openings, including regulatory approvals.

The dispensary will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Continue Reading on Pennlive

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Letters: Problems with speed cameras; Corrections still needed on memorial

Published on in News/Pennsylvania

Speed cameras in work zones are for revenue. If not, then why do we not do things like adopt the zipper merge, and post 85th percentile speed limits? Low speed limits cause a decent speed variation between the vehicles, which promotes tailgating, constant passing and rapidly approaching a vehicle.

Here is Michigan’s strategy. Most freeway work zones have workers behind concrete barriers, so they are not at risk from passing cars. Drivers see the workers are safe. Freeway limits are usually 70 mph, but are sometimes reduced to 60 mph if warranted (if the work areas are close to the travel lanes or there are some minor lane shifts, the basic limit drops by 10 mph.) Then the signs say “45 Where Workers Present.” This forces drivers to look for workers who might be at risk, and slow down near them. But if all the workers are behind concrete barriers or way down in a wide median away from the traffic lanes, the 45 limit does not apply. This method also eliminates inactive work zones from being used as speed traps.

Continue Reading on Centre Daily

Above-average warmth expected in central Pa. this week

Published on in weather

After frigid temperatures gripped the region earlier this month, some warmth is forecast to return to central Pennsylvania this week.

A storm developing in the southern Plains this week will send warmer air to the Northeast, AccuWeather reports. The warmth will reach the Northeast by Thursday, with temperatures around 5 to 10 degrees above normal.

Highs in Harrisburg are predicted to stay in the 50s this week.

“The warmth won’t come without a caveat, however,” AccuWeather reports. “The storm system helping to draw the warmth northward will also bring some rain along with it.”

Continue Reading on Pennlive

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Maker of Kinder, Nutella opens large distribution center in Central Pa.

Published on in Business/News

First Industrial Realty Trust will officially opened on Monday a new 739,000-square-foot warehouse-distribution center in Central Pennsylvania that is fully leased to Ferrero Inc., an Italian global confectionery company that owns such brands as Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Tic Tac and Kinder.

The new facility at 112 Bordnersville Road in Jonestown will be used to distribute brands Ferrero USA acquired from Nestlé including Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, 100Grand and Crunch. Through the Nestlé acquisition, the company is now the third largest maker of candy and other sweets in the country. The facility is key to Ferrero USA’s growth, giving it ample capacity to distribute its brands throughout North America, the company said.

Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley are among the country’s top industrial markets. As a result of their highway networks and other characteristics, within a one-day truck drive, or 10 hours, a company can cover 500 to 600 miles and reach about 40% of the population of the United States and half of its purchasing power.

Continue Reading on Biz Journal

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Coastal storm drifts away, but may leave icy glaze in Poconos; secondary system could change from rain to snow tonight

Published on in News/weather

A strong coastal storm is forecast to drift away from the mid-Atlantic region today, but will bring rain to the Lehigh Valley and frozen precipitation to the Poconos. Rain may change back to snow later on tonight in parts of the region, forecasters say, as a secondary system impacts the area.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. this morning for portions of northeast and east central Pennsylvania, including Carbon and Monroe counties. Freezing rain is expected to create a light glaze of ice, the National Weather Service says, and untreated surfaces will become slippery and possibly impact the morning commute.

Continue Reading on Mcall

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Wolf administration proposes Pennsylvania charter school reforms

Published on in News/School

Stanford University has released a 2019 report on Pennsylvania’s charter schools and the results were overwhelmingly negative: 11 out of 15 Pennsylvania cyber schools were featured on a list of low-performing schools. With Pennsylvania’s current charter school laws being some of the most outdated and insufficient in the nation, the Wolf administration is proposing a three-part plan to fix and modernize Pennsylvania’s charter schools.

“Every student deserves a great education, whether in a traditional public school or a charter school, but the state’s flawed and outdated charter school law is failing children, parents, and taxpayers,” said Governor Wolf in an announcement on November 15. “Pennsylvania has a history of school choice, which I support, but there is widespread agreement that we must change the law to prioritize quality and align funding to actual costs.”

The new charter school plan is projected to save $280 million per year, in part by better aligning charter school funding to actual costs. This includes placing caps on tuition payments for cyber schools. Adding to this, the special education funding formula will apply to charter schools as it does for traditional public schools, as recommended by a bipartisan Special Education Funding Commission.

Continue Reading On North Central Pa

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