Photo by Mark Ryder

A steady rain did not stop many shoppers who ventured to Dill's Tavern and Plantation for the Christkindlmarkt held Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.

Christkindlmarkt makes spirits bright despite rain and fog

Mary Lou Bytof

In spite of the wind and rain that chilled visitors at the annual Christkindlmart at Dill’s Tavern last weekend, the crowds kept coming to celebrate the Christmas spirit Old World style and to purchase unique gifts for the holidays.

“The crowds last night were great,” organizer Lisa Horton said Saturday morning. There were more than 500 visitors, and many of them were leaving with purchases, she added.

“There is something about Christkindlmart in the dark,” she exclaimed.

Horton, who resides in Waynesboro, was quick to credit “all the hardworking volunteers” who dedicated many hours to making the event a success.

On Friday evening, children got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus as they strolled along handing out candy canes on the NYCHAPS property. The famous couple returned around noontime on Saturday.

Organizers estimate that there were 40 vendors stationed throughout the Dill’s Tavern and Plantation property. Crafters and artisans sold their wares under tents lining the brick walkways. Other vendors stayed warm as they cozied near the fireplaces inside the tavern. Some displayed their handiwork on the tavern’s tables, chests, deep windowsills, and even beds.

Since the weather was dismal, vendors and shoppers alike had trouble seeing some of the items inside the tavern. Vendors brought lanterns to aid in their displays.

Judging by the attendance, the weather did not keep the shoppers away. The new parking lot, which allows access from U.S. Route 15 North, was nearly full.

As in previous years, NYCHAPS volunteers kept laying straw around the outdoor tents to help keep the water and mud off shoppers’ shoes. Some outside vendors appeared to be struggling to keep their handiwork –and themselves-- dry and out of the wind.

Vendors got to choose where to set up their displays on a first-come-first-serve basis, and there was no extra charge to display their work in the tavern, Horton said.

Inside the tavern, artisans and crafters displayed a variety of crafting items made from woodworking, metal work, and working with wool, both local and imported. For example, Wilt’s Woolens featured the work of Cindy Wilt, who according to her business card is a “cranker extraordinaire.” A variety of colorful socks costing $30 a pair were crafted on the nearby hand-cranking machine. The wool used to mechanically produce the seamless socks were purchased from New England and Germany. The wool is softer than local wool, the vendor said.

Many of the crafters and artisans were at last year’s Christmas mart. Fashion designer and owner of Fashions Revisited in East Berlin, April Thomas, was new to the event this year. Thomas said half of her work involves creating costumes for reenactors at living history sites, such as the tavern. However, she also designs period costumes for television and the movies. She said she created costume for the “Sleepy Hollow” series on the Fox network as well as for flashback scenes in the “Vampire Diaries” series.

By the time it started to pour on Saturday morning, most visitors sought refuge inside the tavern, the barn or the wheelwright shop, where woodworkers were busy demonstrating their craft. People were crowded around each station to watch and ask questions.

To take the chill out of the day, the distillery provided adults with samples of Gluhwein, a hot, mulled wine and Christkindlmart staple throughout Germany, and a hot toddy made with rum.

Andrew Banner, third generation wood-carver, shapes a piece of wood.

Supervisors choose lender for building project

Peggie Williams

Monaghan Township supervisors chose Adams County National Bank (ACNB) for its expected $2 million loan for the future township building and maintenance garage. A total of 12 proposals were received from 29 banks.

ACNB’s proposal was a fixed rate of 2.75% for the first ten years and 79% of whatever the prime rate is for years 11 through 20, with a cap of no more than 4.65%.

The second leading proposal was 3.26% for the entire 20-year term, which could be as much as $16,000 cheaper over 20 years if the lending rate would be at the 4.65% top end for the last 10 years of the loan. Supervisors agreed to take the chance that the borrowing rate wouldn’t reach 4.65%.

Another deciding factor against choosing the second leading proposal was that bank also wanted a $500,000 depository relationship with the township. Supervisors all agreed they did not want to tie up that much money for 20 years.

The next step in the building process will be the bid opening, now planned for December 23 at 1 p.m. in the township offices. A pre-bid meeting was held with prospective contractors, and an addendum was added to the bid documents further clarifying and answering questions from the contractors. By law, all answers have to go to all bidders.

A resident asked about the addendums and also about the plan’s alternate choices for some portions of the bid request. Supervisors explained that if the bid prices come in higher than expected, some of the planned choices could be removed and alternates chosen to lower the total price. An example cited was a concrete floor in a portion of the maintenance garage that could be kept as stone instead.

If all goes according to plan, bids will be awarded in February, with a notice to proceed given to the chosen contractor about March. The actual start of construction would then begin in late April or early May 2020.

In other action at the session, supervisors approved the Memphord Estates stormwater ordinance. The fee for the residents affected by the malfunctioning basins was set at $48 per year. Chair John Whitehouse, a resident of Memphord Estates, abstained.

In other action at the session, Tammy Samsel was reappointed as auditor. The firm of Greenawalt & Co. was reappointed as the auditing firm. The 2020 budget was approved as advertised, as was the 2020 tax levy. Property taxes will rise from .9 to 1.2 mils in 2020 as a result of the building project. The 2020 budget calls for $800,078 income and $1,107,218 expenses, which means Monaghan may have to dip into its reserve fund of about $374,000 to make up the difference.

Supervisors approved a resolution thanking outgoing Supervisor John Whitehouse for his 16 years of service with the township, which began on the township’s planning commission and culminated with his stint as chair of the supervisors.

Monaghan Fire Co. reported two calls in the township in October, out of their total of seven calls. In November, one of the department’s 11 calls was in Monaghan. The road crew reported preparing equipment for winter, continuing to work on the sign inventory, cleaning drains, filling potholes, hauling antiskid and replacing road signs where needed.

Bills for the period were $74,501.88, of which the largest went to Murray Associates, the architect for the new township buildings.

The next scheduled meeting will be the bid opening on Dec 23 at 1 p.m. The next supervisors’ meeting will be January 6, the annual mandatory township reorganization, at 5:30 p.m., which will be followed by the regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Both will be in the township offices in Mt. Pleasant.

Photos by Curt Werner

Marley Starliper

Starliper closes out high school XC with 2nd at Foot Locker

Joe Guty

Marlee Starliper continues to make running history.

The Northern High School senior capped her high school cross-country career with a second-place finish at the Foot Locker Nationals held Saturday in San Diego, Calf. In what was the fastest mass finish in the history of the Foot Locker race, Starliper crossed the line in 16:46.8, just behind Michigan's Zofia Dudek who clocked 16:45.

Dudek's time was the fifth fastest ever in Foot Locker history, while Starliper's mark was sixth. Abby Vanderkooi, also from Michigan, was clocked at 16:55. It was the first time that two or even three girls broke 17:00 on the 3.1-mile Balboa Park course. For the NC State-commit Starliper, back-to-back 13th place finishes in 2017-18 will be erased by the memory of one of her finest races.

Winner of the Foot Locker Northeast Regional and also capturing her third straight PIAA Class 2A State XC title in November, Starliper had placed fifth at tthe Nike XC National meet the previous weekend. She remained on the west coast last week and was able to get acclimated wit the time change--while exploring new running venues in Oregon and California to add to her running career experiences. A slight fever and sore throat two days before the big race proved to be a non-factor as her fitness level and race strategy carried the day.

Once the race began, a torrid pace was set by the front runners including Katelynne Hart, of Illinois, Bethany Graham, of Virginia, Dudek, Vanderkooi and Taylor Ewert, of Ohio. Hart went through the first mile in 5:09 with the others close behind. Starliper and the 2018 Foot Locker champion Sydney Masciarelli, of Conneticut, wisely stayed off of that pace but withini striking distance.

"For that first mile I wanted to have a bit of a gap between me and the leaders," said Starliper in a post-race interview with MileSplit USA. "I just wanted to make sure I was being somewhat conservative anmd really make sure I had worked my way up to the leaders by the second mile."

From there to the third mile, Starliper said she had to "trust her instincts," which occurred two thirds through the race, when she moved up near the lead pack and charged a hill confidently, fluidly and then took the lead at just over 14 minutes in to the race.

Using momentum on a downhill section, Starliper held on to the lead before Dudek surged, with both runners now close together, striding forcefully, each one seeking the finish line first. At the three-mile mark they virtually were side-by-side before Dudek launched a ferocious kick over the final 150 meters that Starliper gamely tried to match.

Starliper had her sights on victory, but even in defeat, she was graciouys as she complimented Dudek for her competitiveness and the win.

"I gave it my all to the end," added Starliper who realized afterwards that the fierce, historic competition that occurred was a victory in itself. "It was probably the best race I ever had, and I'm just so thankful how it turned out."

Photos by Curt Werner

The start of the Women's 50-yard Freestyle.

Bears back in the swim; Career bests and more wins

Joe Guty

Traveling to Central York H.S. last Friday, December 13, the Northern H.S. Swimming and Diving teams knew they would be in for some tough competition in the non-conference dual meet. While the Central Girls' team prevailed 111-65, the Polar Bear Boys' team pulled out an exciting 84-83, come-from-behind victory over the Panthers. at the end of the first week of the season, the Northern Girls' team is 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the Midd Penn Colonial Division, while the boys' squad 2-1 overrall and 1-0 in the division.

"Our effort against Central York contained some very promising results and some additional oppurtunities to improve," said Head Coach Bill Resser. "Over both meets, we recorded another 41 career best times and 17 career firs swims! If you look at the totals since our meet against Wyoming Seminary last Saturday, overall, we posted 132 Career Best Times and 54 Career First Swims. That's very impressive, particularly this early in the season.''

Northern was slated to face Trinity and Camp Hill on Tuesday, Dec. 17 in a key Colonial Division showdown. On Saturday, January 4 at 10 a.m., Northern host York Suburban and Schuylkill Valley.