Monthly archive

November 2020

Head of Education in Pennsylvania to join PA Dept. of Health in COVID-19 briefing

Published on in Health

Pennsylvania’s Acting Secretary of Education will join the Department of Health Monday as a virtual press conference is held on the rapidly rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the state.

Noe Ortega will host the hearing along with Dr. Rachel Levine. The pair plan to continue to encourage everyone to take health and safety precautions to protect themselves and their families including wearing masks and social distancing.

The meeting takes place at 11:30 a.m.

Watch it live here.

On Saturday, 8,053 additional positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Pennsylvania, bringing the statewide total to 351,667.

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Trees for sale benefit Central PA Food Bank

Published on in Business

YORK, Pa. — Proceeds from Christmas tree sales at a two locations in York County will benefit the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

The locations are at the Weis Market on Lombard Road in Red Lion and the Dew Drop Plaza on Dew Drop Road in York.

Trees, wreaths, and pine roping are being sold.

Community organizers have been doing this fundraiser for 30 years.

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Penn State Harrisburg recognizes outstanding alumni achievement

Published on in People

Penn State Harrisburg recently announced the recipients of the college’s annual Alumni Achievement Awards. One graduate from each of the college’s five academic schools earned the accolade based on their outstanding professional accomplishments.

A virtual ceremony to recognize award recipients was held on Oct. 8.

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Central Pa. counties get $6M to help reduce pollution headed to the Chesapeake Bay

Published on in Environment

Pennsylvania is giving a total of more than $6 million to eight counties to help the state meet its pollution reduction commitment to the Chesapeake Bay.

The Department of Environmental Protection is awarding 2020 Environmental Stewardship Fund grants to Adams, Bedford, Centre, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

The counties are responsible for some of the highest levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment running to the Chesapeake Bay, in part due to a heavy agricultural presence there.

How much money each county gets is based on how much runoff each produces.

Lancaster County is getting the largest amount from this round of grants at $2.2 million. The county plans to use it for agricultural barnyard runoff reduction, soil health improvement, and green infrastructure, among other projects.

Continue Reading on State Impact

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Central Pa. bank to close 2 locations

Published on in Business

Riverview Bank will consolidate two of its offices. The bank will close the two branch offices at 3556 Gettysburg Road in Lower Allen Township and at 920 E. Wiconisco Ave. in Tower City in Schuylkill County. The closings will take place in the first quarter of 2021, pending regulatory approval.

Customer accounts of the Tower City Office will be transferred to Riverview’s office at 34 S. Market St. in Elizabethville, while those accounts of the Camp Hill Office will be transferred to Riverview’s office at 500 S. State Road, Marysville.

The bank said that closures are part of the company’s ongoing efficiency initiatives, which began last year.
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Learn how to help ABC27 and Bob Means Plumbing to Feed a Local Family this holiday season

Published on in People

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — ABC27 and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank are partnering with Bob Means Plumbing to help feed local families this holiday season.

Join us by donating at one of several locations or anytime through the virtual food drive. All proceeds go to needy families in local communities throughout the Midstate.

One dollar can be turned into six meals by the Central Pa. Food Bank.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves 135,000 individuals each month through a network of 1,400 partners and programs in 27 counties.

Continue Reading on ABC 27

A negative COVID-19 test should not change one’s behavior in stopping the spread, doctors say

Published on in Health

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Medical experts are recommending people keep holiday celebrations within their own households this year as COVID-19 spreads at a rate we have not seen before in Pennsylvania.

“We’re seeing spikes in Pennsylvania, higher hospitalizations,” said Dr. Chris DeFlitch, Chief Medical Information Officer at Penn State Health. “And it’s going to continue until we change our behaviors.”

Dr. DeFlitch is reminding people to wash their hands, wear a mask, socially distance, and rethink Thanksgiving plans if they involve getting together with people outside of your household.

“Thanksgiving’s a special time,” said Dr. DeFlitch. “It doesn’t change the specialness if you have to have video distancing.”

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Some Pa. restaurants/bars to close early, offer deals amid Gov. Wolf’s Thanksgiving booze crackdown

Published on in Business

Many central Pennsylvania bars and restaurants are plotting out strategies for serving patrons on one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, minus one key component – booze.

On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a new round of orders to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus as cases in the state spike. Among the measures, restaurants and bars are to suspend alcohol sales for one night only starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The order is in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday.

“It turns out the biggest day for drinking is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” Wolf said. “And when people get together in that situation it leads to an increase in the exchange of the fluids that leads to increased infection.”
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Doctor says ‘stay home’ this Thanksgiving as COVID cases surge in PA

Published on in Health

Cambria County, Pa. (WJAC) — Thanksgiving is this week and healthcare professionals hope everyone will celebrate the holiday safely as coronavirus cases continue to climb in Pennsylvania and the United States.

Dr. David Burwell with UPMC says COVID-19 cases in Central Pennsylvania are the most prevalent they’ve been since the pandemic started. This holiday season Dr. Burwell says to help slow the spread of the virus everyone should celebrate at home only with those they live with.

“That plea is coming from all of us in the medical community. It’s coming from our teams of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, lab personnel, our support groups that are working long hours and that are taking care of patients that are very ill that we know that could have been preventable,” said Burwell.

Continue Reading on WJAC TV

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REI Co-op to open first store in central Pa.

Published on in Business

The former Toys R’ Us space on the Carlisle Pike will have a new occupant next year.

REI Co-op will open its first store in the midstate in the Silver Creek Plaza on the Pike shopping center at 6391 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township.

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) carries a wide assortment of gear for outdoor activities as well as outdoor apparel for men, women and children. The 22,400 square-foot store will also offer a specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop for customers to tune or repair equipment.

The store is expected to have more than 40 employees and interested applicants will be able to apply at REI.com/jobs. REI is leasing a portion of the 70,000 square foot building.
Continue Reading on Pennlive

A Pennsylvania leathermaker is crafting wallets for every member of the new Congress

Published on in Business

LANCASTER — When members of the 117th Congress are sworn in this January in Washington, each will receive a new electronic voting card, as well as a small leather wallet to keep the card in.

For members of Congress, the black leather, hand-stitched wallets and voting card each contains will become part of their permanent personal effects.

For the Lancaster leather maker who produced them, having the wallets in the hands — and pockets — of lawmakers will be an enduring testament to his craftsmanship, as well as his ability to capitalize on a fortunate encounter with an influential customer.

“This opportunity is an absolute honor and a privilege,” said Michael Glick, owner of Black Bear Leather.

Continue Reading on The Morning Call

Central Dauphin School District transitioning to full-remote learning starting Dec. 1

Published on in School

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Central Dauphin School District sent an email to parents Monday discussing plans to transition to full-remote learning starting Tuesday, December 1 due to COVID-19.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that Dauphin County is in a substantial level of community transmission, and the incidence rate has persistently risen over multiple weeks. Along with the increase in community spread, the district has seen a rise in the number of active cases in schools.

The district will be offering students “Grab and Go” food service through a drive-thru pickup system, similar to the system used earlier in the year. The district will conitnue to offer free COVID-19 testing to student and staff. Drive-thru testing centers will be set up at school buildings, with more information to be released about those later.

Continue Reading on ABC 27

School districts shutter buildings until after Thanksgiving break as COVID runs rampant

Published on in School

School districts across central Pennsylvania have been forced to temporarily close buildings as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb.

For now, many students will be learning virtually until in-person classes resume after the Thanksgiving break.

“Pennsylvania is experiencing our highest numbers of cases since the pandemic began,” said Kendall Alexander, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.

It is essential that the public follow the mitigation efforts and that school districts follow the instructional models recommended by the state Department of Health and the state Department of Education, she said.

Continue Reading on York Daily Record

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Central Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association announces plans for new training facility

Published on in Business

The Manufacturers’ Association, the regional industry trade association for manufacturers in central Pennsylvania, announced plans to launch a “Manufacturing Center of Excellence for Apprenticeship and Training” at a new facility.

The new location, located off Board Road in Emigsville, Pa., will expand the group’s industry training and education programs as well as the available training space for its technical and professional skills training. It will also expand the equipment and computer lab where the association hosts its regional apprenticeship program.

Currently, the association trains nearly 2,000 individuals each year and is expecting to dramatically increase that number with its Center of Excellence.

Continue Reading on Pennsylvania Business Report

Lebanon VAMC opens new sterile processing service facility

Published on in Health

LEBANON, PA. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Lebanon VA Medical Center (VAMC) held a ribbon cutting for its new Sterile Processing Service (SPS) facility Nov. 16.

Every day, in health care facilities nationwide, providers reuse medical equipment (such as surgical instruments, accessory devices, and endoscopes) that has been properly cleaned and sterilized. At VA facilities, SPS ensures instruments are properly sterilized before they are reused. VA SPS teams, who reprocess instruments, are at the forefront of the department’s fight against hospital-acquired infections.

The $2.4 million facility is nearly 2,000 square feet larger than the previous one and has more advanced technology. The new space will increase productively by nearly 65 percent, according to Rich Lambdin, the chief of the 23-person department.

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Thinking takeout for Thanksgiving? Here are some options across Central Pennsylvania

Published on in People

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Editor’s note: The above video is from November 10.

Thanksgiving is going to look different in 2020 for most people.

Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many are thinking about takeout options that may be available to them on November 26.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Allenberry Resort

This year, Allenberry in Boiling Springs is doing the cooking a full Thanksgiving Day “to go” menu.

A 2-6 person meal costs $175, a 7-10 person meal is $350 and an option for 11-15 people is $525.

It includes carved slow roasted, all-natural turkey, hardwood smoked ham with a pineapple-honey-bourbon drizzle, baked corn, green bean casserole topped with crispy onions and pimientos, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes topped with candied pecans and toasted marshmallows, thick gravy, cornbread stuffing, spiced orange cranberry relish and rolls.

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WellSpan hospitals temporarily prohibiting visitation due to PA’s increase in COVID cases

Published on in Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA — WellSpan Health announced that effective Nov. 17, 2020, visitation at all its facilities will be temporarily prohibited due to the rising rates of sustained community transmission of COVID-19 across Central Pennsylvania.

Although visitation will be prohibited, the health system says that some certain clinical exceptions of support persons will be made.

WellSpan Health is stressing the need for renewed safety efforts in slowing the spread of COVID-19, as hospitalization rates increase at each of the health system’s acute care hospitals with some experiencing their highest patient counts of the pandemic.

Continue Reading on Local 21 News

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Six Central PA police officers among the recipients of the 2020 DUI Top Gun Awards

Published on in Government

Six Central Pennsylvania police officers are among those who were recognized this week with the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association’s “DUI Top Gun Awards.”

The award recognizes municipal police officers for their efforts to get impaired drivers off Pennsylvania’s roadways. A total of 21 officers from across the commonwealth were recognized this year.

In the 23 years since the award has been presented, Top Gun Award recipients have collectively removed 51,952 impaired drivers from the roads, the PA DUI Association said.

This year’s recipients were honored today.

“We expect a great deal from our law enforcement officers,” said PA DUI Association Executive Director C. Stephen Erni in a press release. “We ask them to be a counselor, teacher, medical technician, social worker, psychologist, mentor and negotiator, and then we expect them to enforce the laws.

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More Central Pennsylvania schools move to virtual learning as COVID cases increase

Published on in Uncategorized

As students wake up this morning, many of them will not be going to class as the list of schools moving fully online grows.

Starting today, the Mechanicsburg Area Middle School will be fully online through the Thanksgiving holiday. It comes after officials say three staff members and two students tested positive.

That list also includes Central York Middle School, which announced it would be moving to virtual classes from today through November 29th. They join Central York High School, which made the move yesterday.

And starting next week, all Susquehanna Township schools will be closed to in-person learning with the goal of reopening on January 11.

Continue Reading on Local 21 News

Free Thanksgiving meals being hosted around Central Pennsylvania

Published on in People

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Editor’s note: The above video is from November 9.

Thanksgiving in 2020 is just another event that COVID-19 will impact.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will be a virtual event. Travel plans are being changed.

Social distancing requirements are in place, and many restaurants have felt the strain and been forced to close amid the pandemic.

While many hotels, churches and organizations typically host free Thanksgiving meals and buffets, the number has been reduced in our area this year.
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