Monthly archive

June 2020 - page 2

Penn State plans to resume on-campus work and learning in fall semester

Published on in School

University Park, Pa. — Following a three-month comprehensive planning process, Penn State officials have determined that the University can meet or exceed the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines for colleges and universities, and look forward to welcoming back faculty, staff, and students to resume on-campus, in-person classes and other activities this fall in a limited fashion.

More than 250 faculty, staff, and administrators comprised of 16 task groups, were appointed to develop Penn State’s Back to State plans, guided by faculty scientific and public health experts. Considering the views expressed in survey results and other feedback from students and employees, the groups’ overarching goal has been to develop a plan to continue the research and educational mission of the University while providing for the physical and psychological health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. This includes the direct impacts of COVID-19 as well as the indirect consequences of mitigation and outbreak response interventions.

The fall semester will begin as originally scheduled on Monday, Aug. 24, but campus-based, residential instruction will end Friday, Nov. 20, with the remainder of the semester — including final examinations — being delivered remotely and online when classes resume after Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30.

Continue Reading on Northern Central PA

Literature that starts a conversation, sharing stories from unheard voices across region

Published on in People

Throughout history, published literature has been a resource for knowledge, entertainment and historical understanding.

As protests against racial inequality continue to shake the country, some have broadened their literary horizons by picking up published works by authors of color.

These texts have become a source of understanding. They’ve also become a catalyst for important conversations surrounding race, equality and justice.

One local organization of book lovers is seeking to expand those conversations.

The Chambersburg Holiday Book Drive began collecting published pieces by “unheard voices” – authors of color – soon after protests gained traction closer to home.

Continue Reading on York Daily Record

Pa. workforce hit less hard than other states, but numbers still staggering

Published on in People

How Pa. is faring

Data used to create WalletHub’s rankings came from the U.S. Department of Labor. Based on that data, the study found that Pennsylvania’s unemployment claims increased by:

• 188.46% from June 2019 to June 2020

• 83.49% from January to June of this year

• 1,404.57% since the start of the pandemic. This metric refers to the increase in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims between the weeks of March 16, 2020 to June 1, 2020 compared to the weeks of March 18, 2019 to June 3, 2019.

That last metric, in particular, gives a sense of how steeply the number of unemployment cases has risen since the outbreak and subsequent shutdown orders began to hit the economy just three months ago.

By comparison, the five states most hard-hit since the beginning of the pandemic were: Georgia (4,438% increase in claims), New Hampshire (3,763%), Florida (3,618%), Kentucky (3,586%), Virginia (2,901%) and North Carolina (2,901%).

Continue reading on Times Leader

You might be interested in

Old cemetery on central Pa. hiking trail spurs curiosity, leads to more mystery

Published on in Pennsylvania

It’s a curious sight to come upon while walking the Appalachian Trail in Cumberland County: a tiny, ancient cemetery, nearly consumed by trees, brush and earth.

Many a hiker has surely stepped inside the pitted iron fence and lichen-encrusted stone wall and wondered:

How long since anyone was buried here? Why this seemingly disconnected spot? Must it remain forever? What does the law say?

Local historians know this: it’s the Chambers Farm Cemetery, named after a family who once owned the land. They also tell of a related mystery: somewhere nearby is a cemetery for slaves who once lived on the property.

Continue reading on Pennlive

You might be interested in

Central Pennsylvania drivers earn one-two finish in All Star sprint action in Oklahoma

Published on in Sports

Two central Pennsylvania drivers excelled on Thursday night during All Star Circuit of Champions action in Oklahoma.

For the first time in 2020, and for the fourth time in his career, the “Jonestown Jet,” Brock Zearfoss, is an All Star main-event winner, this time reigning supreme in a 30-lap event at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore.

Utilizing the outside-pole position, the Lebanon County racer took command for the first time on lap 15 and never looked back, zinging his preferred line around the very topside of the speedway for a $5,000 top prize.

Zearfoss was forced to overcome a mechanical malfunction during qualifying time trials at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas on Wednesday before finishing eighth during main-event action. Just 24 hours later, Zearfoss was standing in victory lane.

Continue Reading on York Dispatch

PA Cyber graduates nearly 1,300 students during virtual ceremonies

Published on in People/School

MIDLAND, Pa., June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School CEO Brian Hayden today announced that 1,237 graduates in the Class of 2020 were honored during two virtual commencement exercises.

More than 250 students participated in the ceremony held for Western Pennsylvania graduates on Saturday, June 6, 2020 and almost 250 students from Central and Eastern Pennsylvania participated in the Wednesday, June 10, 2020 event. Typically, the school hosts on-site graduation ceremonies, but the COVID-19 pandemic precluded that opportunity.

“Across America, the Class of 2020 will share a unique distinction of attending their last year of high school in a historic time,” Brian Hayden, PA Cyber CEO, said when he informed students of the virtual ceremonies. “Not having a graduation ceremony in no way diminishes your achievement. It demonstrates the grace, maturity, and optimism that make you a PA Cyber graduate.”

Graduates heard messages about perseverance from 9-12 high school principal, Sean Snowden; about trust from Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Jennifer Shoaf; and, about gratitude from Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Francis Spigelmyer. Class representatives also addressed their fellow graduates. Hayden also spoke at the ceremonies.

Continue Reading on PR News Wire

Smart Talk Thursday: Pa. education chief talks school this fall; How many hours to work to pay rent; Seniors play ball

Published on in School

Since Pennsylvania schools closed their physical buildings last March due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been speculation about whether classes would begin on time in August and September and, if so, how they would be different.

Plans are being made for a fall opening of classes with dozens of guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Among the many issues that schools will have to address are transportation to and from school while maintaining social distancing, monitoring the health of students and staff, limiting the number of students and staff in a classroom, extracurricular activities like sports and band and attendance.

Continue Reading on WITF

You might be interested in

Planet Fitness to reopen 6 central Pa. gyms

Published on in Pennsylvania

Planet Fitness will be reopening five gyms in Cumberland County and one gym in York County this week.

The gyms are permitted to reopen when Cumberland and York counties moves into the state’s green phase on Friday. The six locations will reopen at 7 a.m. Saturday. Gyms can reopen at 50 percent capacity in the green phase.

The gyms are located at:

  • 101 Gettysburg Pike, Upper Allen Township
  • 314 E. Penn Drive, East Pennsboro Township
  • 4850 Carlisle Pike, Hampden Township
  • 1186 Walnut Bottom Road, South Middleton Township
  • 28 Shippensburg Shopping Center, Shippensburg Township
  • 42 Robinhood Drive, Newberry Township

The six gyms have been closed since March when Gov. Tom Wolf ordered that all non-essential businesses to close due to COVID-19.

Continue Reading on Pennlive

You might be interested in

During busy week on regional dirt tracks, two more central Pa. facilities join action

Published on in Sports

Two more central Pennsylvania dirt tracks plan to roar back into racing action this weekend.

Port Royal Speedway in Juniata County is set to end a hiatus of nearly three months with programs set for Saturday and Sunday.

Trailway Speedway in Adams County is planning its season opener for Friday.

The Port Royal and Trailway shows are just part of the busiest four-day stretch of the regional dirt-track season. Also planning shows this week are Selinsgrove Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, BAPS Motor Speedway and Hagerstown Speedway.

Port Royal decided to reopen after the recent announcement that Juniata County would move into the green phase of the state’s COVID-19 recovery program on Friday.

Saturday, Port Royal will have a three-division show featuring the 410 sprints, super-late models and the limited-late models. The sprints will race for $4,000 to win, while the super-late models will race for $2,500 to win. Action starts at 7 p.m.

Continue Reading on York Dispatch

AAA Central Pennsylvania offers online training course for new drivers

Published on in Business

HARRISBURG, Pa. — AAA Central Pennsylvania announced on Wednesday that launch of a new online driving course for new drivers.

The organization said its How To Drive Online course is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of education and produced by the nation’s leading automotive safety and driving instructors.

It is “the gold standard for effectively learning life-long driving skills in a convenient online format,” AAA Central Penn said in its announcement.

The program consists of 30 hours of online driving instruction.

Continue Reading on Fox 43

You might be interested in

Safely reopening child care centers: PCT expert joins national panel

Published on in Business

Williamsport — The National Coalition for Campus Childcare Centers hosted a panel discussion about reopening child care centers throughout the country on May 27.

The discussion featured Barbara J. Albert, Director of the Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology as one of the guests.

Albert was among four directors of child care centers on college campuses who shared their experiences and advice regarding programs that remained open or recently reopened, answering questions from coalition members. The other three directors were from Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada. Despite the varying regions, the challenges faced by all four were similar, Albert explained.

The Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Penn College reopened on May 11, when Lycoming County was moved to the “yellow phase” of the governor’s plan to reopen Pennsylvania.

Continue Readinig on North Central PA

Is your local pool open? Find which pools are open or closed due to the coronavirus

Published on in Business

Pools are permitted to open in counties in the yellow and green phases of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, but they must follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidance. Is your local pool open? Here’s the status of community pools in central Pennsylvania as of June 8.

Annville-Cleona Community Pool

Closed: “We, as a board, did not feel that we could adequately meet all 3 of the above-mentioned criteria for safely opening the A-C pool. Therefore, we came to the difficult decision that the pool needed to remain closed for the 2020 summer season.”

Boiling Springs Pool

Open: Visitors must wear masks in common areas, but not in the pool, according to Boiling Springs guidelines. “From June 7th to June 11th, we will be allowing 75 daily admission customers into the pool. Daily admission entry time starts at noon each day,” according to its website.

Camp Hill Pool

Planning to open: Camp Hill Borough will open the pool on June 19 if Cumberland County enters the “Green Phase.” If the county is not listed as “green” by the June 10 borough council meeting, council members will decide if the pool should open in the “Yellow Phase.”

Continue Reading on Pennlive

You might be interested in

506 new COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, one new case in Centre County

Published on in Health/People

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed over 500 new cases of COVID-19 in the state bringing totals under 76,000.

As of Sunday, there are 506 new cases from yesterday, bringing the state total to 75,592. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania confirm at least one case of COVID-19.

Currently, 444,173 people have tested negative.

There are 5,943 COVID-19 related deaths.

Of the over 75,000 cases across the state, the PA Department of Health estimates that 71 percent of people have recovered from COVID-19.

Continue Reading on We are Central PA

You might be interested in

Second weekend of protests in Harrisburg

Published on in People

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Sunday’s Unity Rally on the Capitol steps marks the second week of protests in Harrisburg. Protesters reported no sense of “protest fatigue,” but rather a continued resolve to end racial discrimination, particularly in the criminal justice system.

“We can’t bring justice to them all, but at least we can bring justice to the ones that are happening right now,” said 13-year-old Nakia Jones, who was attending the protest with her aunt and cousin.

Continue Reading on Fox 43

You might be interested in

Two Central PA restaurants vow to remain open despite suspension of food licenses for offering indoor dining

Published on in Business

Two Central Pennsylvania restaurants announced their intentions to remain open despite the suspension of their food licenses by the Wolf administration for offering indoor dining, which is not permitted while their counties are in the “yellow” phase of the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Fay’s Country Kitchen in Carlisle, Cumberland County, and Taste of Sicily in Palmyra, Lebanon County, both posted statements on their Facebook pages this week after receiving notices from the state that their licenses were suspended.

Continue Reading on Fox 43

You might be interested in

Central Pa. tornado warning expires, severe thunderstorm warnings issued, power outages persist

Published on in weather

As more severe thunderstorm warnings are expected throughout Thursday evening, thousands of central Pennsylvania residents are currently without power after severe thunderstorms tore through the area.

The tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service at State College expired at 5:45 p.m.

Emergency responders and utility companies as of 8:20 p.m. are responding to nearly 3,000 power outages. The most power outages reported are in Perry County. In Dauphin County, Halifax has the most, according to PPL Electric.

Continue Reading on Pennlive

You might be interested in

Coronavirus cases by day in Pa. (6/3/20): How fast is COVID-19 spreading?

Published on in Health/People

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Wednesday there were 511 new coronavirus cases. That brings the statewide total of positive test results to 73,405.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Pennsylvania had the sixth-most confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States; New York still had the most with 382,824 and Montana is listed as having the least reported cases (in the continental U.S.) with 525, according to Worldometer.

Numbers for neighboring states are as follows: Maryland had the 10th-most reported cases with 54,982; West Virginia is 46th with 2,071; Ohio had the 15th-most with 36,825; New Jersey had the second-most cases with 163,530, and Delaware had the 34th-most with 9,712.

Continue Reading on We are Central PA

You might be interested in

Dunkin’ offers Central PA a free donut with beverage purchase to celebrate National Donut Day

Published on in People

It’s almost National Donut Day! This year, Dunkin’ is bringing joy to America one free donut at a time. On National Donut Day, Friday, June 5, Dunkin’ is offering guests a free classic donut of their choice with the purchase of any beverage.

Guests can enjoy classic donut favorites including Boston Kreme, Glazed, Glazed Chocolate, Jelly Filled, and more. Dunkin’s special offer to ring in the holiday is good all day on National Donut Day, Friday, June 5, at participating locations while supplies last.*

Continue Reading on Fox 43

You might be interested in

Severe thunderstorms could bring large hail and 60 mph winds to central Pa. this afternoon

Published on in weather

Forceful wind gusts, hail and even a tornado are possible in central Pennsylvania Wednesday afternoon when strong storms hit the area, the National Weather Service has warned.

“Damaging winds” moving at 60 mph or more, as well as hail that’s more than an inch in diameter are probable in nine counties, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued early Wednesday morning.

Storms are expected to start after 2 p.m.

“While wind damage is the primary threat today, an isolated tornado is also possible,” the NWS said.

Affected counties include Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, York and Lancaster.

Continue Reading on Pennlive

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts releases poster for virtual festival

Published on in People

The annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts released its promotional poster for this year’s virtual event on Tuesday.

The poster was designed by longtime Festival poster designer and Penn State professor emeritus of graphic design Larry Sommese and his daughter Saige, a 2018 Penn State graduate. Also, the poster is sponsored by Penn State Health.

Instead of the typical images found in past poster such as references to art, theatre, and music, this year’s poster depicts a sunrise over Happy Valley to symbolize hope for better days in the future.

Continue Reading on Daily Collegian

You might be interested in

1 2 3
Go to Top