Dillsburg Banner January 19, 2023

Photos by Curt Werner

Photo by Curt Werner

Firefighters extinguish a fire in the 1300-block of Roundtop Road, Warrington Township Monday afternoon where one woman perished. Wellsville Fire Company was in command.

Afternoon fire claims life of Warrington Twp. woman

Mary Lou Bytof

Bonnie Myers,72, of 1350 Roundtop Road, Warrington Township succumbed in a fire at her home Monday afternoon. The blaze destroyed the home she shared with her husband.

A few hours later, the York County Coroner reported to another fatal house fire in Peach Bottom Township in the southern part of the county. The resident, a 71-year-old man, was also pronounced dead at the scene.

As of Wednesday morning, the PA State Police fire marshal has yet to complete his investigation of the scene, Trooper James T. Grothey, PA State Police public information officer said. He also said the county coroner’s office will release the details of the exact cause of death in the future.

Firefighters on Monday said that the fire started in the vicinity of a woodstove that was located in the garage. “The garage was completely on fire, which extended to the first and second floors of the home,” Wellsville Fire Chief Larry Anderson said. He also said that Myers was alive when they got her out of the house, but she passed away shortly afterward.

For the rest of the story see the January 19, 2023 edition.

Police chase, fatal car accident close Rt. 15

Marie Chomicki

Two separate incidents, a traffic fatality and police chase, had Rt. 15 southbound from Dillsburg to York Springs at a standstill for several hours Friday afternoon until well into the night.

Leanne Elliott, 32, of Camp Hill died of blunt force injuries, accidental death, according Adams County Chief Deputy Coroner Francis Dutrow. Elliot was involved in accident on Rt. 15 near the Bonners Hill intersection, Latimore Township, around 2:30 p.m., Dutrow said. Details of the crash are not yet available.

Pennsylvania State Police Gettysburg Troopers were on the scene of the fatal crash when at approximately 3:43 p.m. when the driver of a black Nissan Sentra drove around barricades, nearly striking a fire police officer who was outside his vehicle directing traffic.

Police said PSP Troopers attempted a traffic stop but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.

For the rest of the story see the January 19, 2023 edition.

Increasing truck traffic causes supervisors to take a stand

Carolyn Hoffman

Franklin Township Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Wenrich will read a detailed statement at a February 7 conditional use hearing in Carroll Township detailing Franklin’s concerns with the proposed Crossroads Warehouse Project.

Wenrich hopes to be counted as an official objector to the project, though if that is not permitted, he will still be allowed to read the statement during a comments section of the hearing.

Franklin’s concerns center on increased truck traffic over residential roads and resident safety issues it may cause if the warehouse project moves ahead. During Franklin’s December meeting, supervisors noted they were not interested in making Glenwood Road more suitable for large trucks and that the township’s existing infrastructure does not support heavy truck traffic on the rural roads.

In other action at the January 11 session, supervisors changed the time of their monthly meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meetings will still occur on the second Wednesday of each month. The change goes into effect beginning with the February 8 meeting.

A resident on Old Cabin Hollow Road reported an increase in accidents over the stone bridge on that road and asked to limit commercial traffic. Putting a weight limit on the road first requires a traffic study, which costs money and takes time. For the moment, the engineer and roadmaster will meet at the site to discuss both what to do and what additional signs could be placed.

For the rest of the story see the January 19, 2023 edition.

Boro, DCA gear up for a busy year

Mary Lou Bytof

At its first general meeting of the year, the Dillsburg Borough Council passed a few resolutions and geared up for a busy new year.

Visitors Dave Kelley and Chad Reed, president and treasurer, respectively, of the newly-formed Dillsburg Community Association, reported that they are “energized” to move forward with providing the Dillsburg area and its businesses with support and activities to promote the community from within.

The new association, which formed in the fall of 2022, is centered on focusing on the community, Kelley said. It already had a role in the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at the town square, and participated in bringing fireworks to one of Dillsburg’s most celebrated events, the New Years Eve Pickle Drop.

“I think we are making strides,” Kelley said, in answer to a councilman’s question regarding how the association is being accepted by local business owners.

Like the former Dillsburg Area Business Association (DABA), the DCA is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that focuses on supporting the local community and promoting the advancement of local businesses. Although it has yet to pull its website, DABA has not posted anything to the site since October 2019.

“COVID basically smashed it dead,” the DCA representatives said.

With the Pickle Drop behind them, the DCA is now focusing on getting local citizens and businesses involved in Picklefest this Spring.

For the rest of the story see the January 19, 2023 edition.

Elizabeth Anthony stands on the completed bridge at Coover Park that was her community service project for the Dillsburg Jaycees earning the prestigious Stars and Stripes Award from the American Heritage Girls.

Dillsburg senior earns top honors in club

Staff Reports

Elizabeth Anthony 17, a senior at Northern High School, Dillsburg was honored with the Stars and Stripes Award from the American Heritage Girls at the West Shore Free Church in Mechanicsburg Sunday afternoon, Jan. 15.

This is Anthony’s thirteenth and final year in AHG. She started in kindergarten.

In the 27-year history of national American Heritage Girls, only 15 girls in Pennsylvania have previously received this award.

To qualify for the award, Elizabeth was required to complete badge work that included a religious award. She had to hold leadership positions in the troop and lead a 100 hour-plus project to benefit the community and have a lasting impact. She also needed to supervise youths to implement the design. Anthony’s project, which was identified with help from her AHG Mentor Jessica Winters, included designing a bridge and a fire pit area for the Dillsburg Jaycees at Coover Park along Rt. 15.

For the rest of the story see the January 19, 2023 edition.

Dillsburg Banner January 12, 2023

Photos by Curt Werner

Firefighters position to fight a late evening house fire in the 400-block of Cabin Hollow Road Monday evening. The family was able to safely escape.

Errant doorbell alerts family to fire, allowing swift escape

Mary Lou Bytof

When the doorbell rang unexpectedly at 465 Cabin Hollow Road in Warrington Township late Monday evening, homeowner Brooks Hemauer answered the door. When he opened the door, there was no visitor; however, the homeowner saw that his garage was on fire.

Yesterday, his wife, Shannon Hemauer, and their two sons, Collin, 12, and Ian, 10, were examining the ruins of their destroyed property which included three charred vehicles as well as the house and garage.

“I have no doubt it started in the garage,” she said. Wellsville Fire Chief Larry Anderson confirmed that the fire began in the garage. However, the cause of the fire has not been determined, he confirmed on Wednesday.

Upon arriving at the scene, the garage was fully engulfed in flames and the fire was beginning to extend to the attic area of the home, according to the chief. At least a dozen fire companies were on the scene into the early morning hours, he said.

Although the parents were awake inside the home when they noticed the fire, the children were upstairs asleep in their beds. Once the couple saw the blaze, Shannon said she hurried upstairs to get their sons.

Ian said his mother “shoved his glasses on his face” and guided him quickly down the stairs and out the front door.

His brother hurried out of the house without his glasses. On Tuesday afternoon, Collin said he was wearing his uncle’s prescription sunglasses, which matched the prescription of his glasses that were destroyed in the blaze.

“I don’t think I ever ran so fast. We were probably outside in a matter of 30 seconds,” Shannon said. Then she called 911.

For the rest of the story see the January 12, 2023 edition.

Dillsburg Banner January 5, 2023

Photos by Curt Werner

New Year's Eve revelers cheer as they wait for the descent of Mr. Pickle Saturday night on South Baltimore Street, Dillsburg.

Fireworks illuminate Mr. Pickle.

Annual Pickle Drop not soured by fog

Marie Chomicki

Rain and fog didn’t damper the spirits of revelers for the annual New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop sponsored by the Dillsburg Community Association. As if on cue, the rain stopped one half hour before the midnight countdown began for Mr. Pickle’s decent into the barrel followed by cheers and a brilliant display of fireworks.

Dillsburg Elementary School was the destination for family fun from 4 to 11:30 p.m.

The Northern Middle School Builder’s Club were in charge of the games featuring “Olaf” from the movie “Frozen,” a wooden cut-out where children could throw snowballs into a hole to win. “Sven” the reindeer from the same movie was the star of another game where rings were tossed onto the antlers to win a prize. N.M.S. students Nicholas and Cooper Liberatore helped with the games as part of a service project.

Also lending a hand with the games were 14 girls from Girl Scout Troup 20387 of Wellsville, headed by Angie Cohick with the help of Brenda Robison.

For the rest of the story see the January 5, 2023 edition.

Dillsburg Banner December 29, 2022

Photos by Stacy Blaschak

Karen MacKay presents thank you gifts to Curt Werner as Kera Fringer looks on during last Thursday’s halftime tribute to Werner. Along with community generosity, efforts by MacKay and Fringer and by the Northern York athletic department led by AD Angie Gaido, student athletes and cheerleaders joined the memorable presentation.

Northern H.S. Varsity cheerleaders perform a tribute cheer to Curt Werner at halftime during last Thursday’s boys’ basketball game against Shippensburg. Werner took photos of the cheerleaders before realizing that their cheers were for him in a heartwarming gesture by the squad and advisors.

Curt Werner

The man behind the images

By Joe Guty

In a surprising twist last Thursday night in the Northern High School gym, Curt Werner was himself the subject of photographs. The holder of over two dozen PA NewsMedia Association photography awards, Werner was on the receiving end of attention when community members said “thank you” in a big way. At halftime of the boys’ basketball game, camera in hand, Werner was alerted to the cheerleaders’ cheer was directed at him. Soon after, at mid-court, joined by student-athletes, cheerleaders and the Polar Bear Basketball team, Northern parents Kera Fringer and Karen MacKay spoke about Werner’s contributions to the community. He was presented with gifts and was moved by the outpouring of recognition and the gesture of the special event.

There is more to the story about a man, father, grandfather, veteran, and former financial services professional who happens to be omnipresent every day to chronicle life in Dillsburg and surrounding area in pictures. Pictures that can be viewed in the Dillsburg Banner and Facebook, and images that have won awards as well as capture the history of the community. When asked to cover a sporting event, Werner is there, to many venues he will travel. Many miles, day after day. He’s a cancer survivor and told me during treatments that he was too tired to cover some community or sporting events, but he’d find a way to be there.

For the rest of the story see the December 29, 2022 edition.

Development plans on hold until spring

By Carolyn Hoffman

The Lexington Fields development planned for Franklin Township was granted an extension of time until March 2023 while more details about traffic flow and stormwater management are being worked on. The stormwater plan appears close to resolution, but the traffic issue remains in contention.

Although Franklin engineer Phil Brath acknowledged that a turn lane on Rt. 194 is not required for this development, he reported at the December 14 supervisors’ session that he believes a left turn lane will both provide better access to the site and improve safety, especially in the future. He also emphasized that the supervisors preferred a northbound left-turning lane.

Chair Mark Wenrich was named to speak on behalf of Franklin Township at a planned February 2023 conditional use hearing in Carroll Township about the Crossroads Warehouse project. Most of the planned warehouses are in Carroll Township but some of the project is in Franklin, and truck access would be needed through portions of Franklin, particularly on Glenwood Road. Franklin will argue that the amount of truck traffic generated will pose unacceptable health and safety issues to residents along Franklin’s roads where the infrastructure doesn’t support heavy truck traffic.

For the rest of the story see the December 29, 2022 edition.

Banner series offers peek into the life of Civil War soldier

Readers have the unique opportunity to travel into the past with a Dillsburg soldier and his family during the American Civil War, thanks to a collection of letters recently donated to the Northern York County Historical Society.

George Brougher, of Carroll Township, was drafted into the 166th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia Company C in 1862, when he was 39 years old. This regiment was organized in York from October 24 to December 8, 1862. It mustered out July 28, 1863. Brougher served nine months.

The letters between George, his wife Martha, sister Mary Ann Smith, friends and others span from Dec. 9, 1862 to July 20, 1863.

Here is the fourth letter in the new series: Civil War Letters

02/01/1863

February 1, 1863

Letter from George to Wife

Camp Suffolk

Dear family

I take my pen in hand this sabbath morning to let you all no that I am well at this present time and hoping these few lines may find you all in the same state of health. I received two letters on Friday one from you and yours was dated January 25 the other was from Jessy Sheffer and I was glad to hear that you were al wel and getting along wel and I am pleased to se that Calvin can write so wel. I hope you will rite oftener for it does me good to hear from home. Tel Jessy that send him respects to him and family for the kind letter. I receaved from him I was waiting for an answer from him. I receaved the letter that Brother John sent to me with the postage stamp in it. I will let you no about the battle that tok place out at blackwater about 7 miles from this place on Friday morning we woke up about fore oClock and we herd the roaring of the canon in the direction of blackwater about 7 miles from our place and we ware certain there was a battle and about sunrise it ceased. I was sent out on Picket and wen I came in on Satterday about dinnertime I understood that our fellows was the better of them although there considerable of them ciled and wounded they were none of our regiment out they ware a couple of other regements that day close by. You wanted to no wether I receaved the letter you and David rote to me. I did and the stamps and thank you kindly for them.

For the rest of the story see the December 29, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner December 22, 2022

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

Flames shoot into the night air from a bonfire set to praise Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled season during the annual Ullr Fest held Saturday, Dec. 10 at Roundtop Mountain Resort.

No tax increase in the new year

By Mary Lou Bytof

Many people will be receiving presents similar to what they’ve received last year from certain family members or friends. Whether its another flannel shirt, pair of pjs or a new bracelet, it’s something we expect.

Last week, the Dillsburg Borough Council will be giving borough taxpayers a typical, yet welcomed gift – no new tax increase. After the council passed the 2023 final budget last week, Council President Matt Fawber announced that the council has raised taxes only once in the past 20 years. He thanked his fellow council members for working to keep costs down.

The 2023 budget contains a projected revenue of $1,966,960 and total estimated expenses of $1,966.405. It passed unanimously.

The greatest expenses are in the areas of the public works department with estimated costs of $710,880 and estimated costs of public safety at $412,500. The estimated costs of police services are $211,875.

Other expenses include $150,000 for street lamps and $213,650 for administrative costs.

During the meeting, the council also passed Tax Ordinance 2022-2, setting the real estate tax rate for 2023 at 2.87 mils, and the Occupational Assessment Tax at 1200 mils.

As the borough prepares to ring in the new year, newly appointed Borough Manager Josh Lang attended the Dec. 13 meeting. Karen Deibler, the outgoing borough manager, is retiring from the position. She will continue to work fulltime until the end of December to assist Lang. Then she will work parttime in the borough office to ease the transition. “Congratulations to Karen for all the years she put in for the borough. Thanks for your service,” Mayor John Richardson said.

For the rest of the story see the December 22, 2022 edition.

Banner series offers peek into the life of Civil War soldier

Readers have the unique opportunity to travel into the past with a Dillsburg soldier and his family during the American Civil War, thanks to a collection of letters recently donated to the Northern York County Historical Society.

George Brougher, of Carroll Township, was drafted into the 166th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia Company C in 1862, when he was 39 years old. This regiment was organized in York from October 24 to December 8, 1862. It mustered out July 28, 1863. Brougher served nine months.

The letters between George, his wife Martha, sister Mary Ann Smith, friends and others span from Dec. 9, 1862 to July 20, 1863.

Here is the third letter in the new series: Civil War Letters

January 25, 1863

Dillsburg, PA

Letter to George from son

Dear father I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all well at present and hoping these few lines may find you enjoying the same state of health and now I must let you know that we have all of our thrashing done at home and that we have all of our fall plowing done. John Peterman plowed it and now I must let you know that Peterman youngest child is dead. Uncle John rote to you this week and Uncle same has rote to you this week. Mother would like to now wether you received a letter that her and David Brougher rote it is about to(2) or three weeks and wether you received them stamd(?). Grandmother says dear son George Brougher I would like to send you a little money we would like you to right as soon as you get this letter and let us now what fer money passes there we are sorry to hear that you are in want of perversion if we see that we can send you a box of perversion again the first of the month we would like to now wether Williams received their box of perversion it costs a good bit form 5 to 8 dollars.

For the rest of the story see the December 22, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner December 15, 2022

Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

Flames billow from the roof of a house fully engulfed with fire, painting the sky a bright orange as firefighters position to attack the blaze early Monday morning in the 700-block of West Siddonsburg Road, Carroll Township.

New homeowners awake to house in flames

By Marie Chomicki

Three people safely escaped a house on fire early Monday morning in the 700-block of South Siddonsburg Road, Carroll Township.

Carroll Township Police Officer Dave Smith said the homeowner was awakened by the smell of smoke, and could see flames reflecting on the windows coming from the outside where he could see the glow of the fire. The homeowner called the fire in at 1:33 a.m.

Smith said he, his wife, a friend and pet cat were able to get out of the house with no reported injuries. “Looks like a total loss,” Smith said.

Flames were shooting from the center of the roof when Northern York County Fire Rescue arrived, Chief Hector Morales said. The majority of the fire was fought by hand lines and was controlled at 3:03 a.m. Morales said. They had to issue a second alarm due to the bulk of the fire and manpower.

For the rest of the story see the December 15, 2022 edition.

Banner series offers peek into the life of Civil War soldier

Readers have the unique opportunity to travel into the past with a Dillsburg soldier and his family during the American Civil War, thanks to a collection of letters recently donated to the Northern York County Historical Society.

George Brougher, of Carroll Township, was drafted into the 166th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia Company C in 1862, when he was 39 years old. This regiment was organized in York from October 24 to December 8, 1862. It mustered out July 28, 1863. Brougher served nine months.

The letters between George, his wife Martha, sister Mary Ann Smith, friends and others span from Dec. 9, 1862 to July 20, 1863.

Here is the second letter in the new series: Civil War Letters

December 23, 1862

Washington, D.C.

Letter to George from Mary Ann Smith

Dear Brother it is with pleasure I take seat this evening tom pen a few lines you know we are all well at present. Hope my few lines may fiend(find) you enjoying the same blessing. I was done in yesterday to see Martha and grandmother they are getting very well but feel very lonesome without your company but I hope by the will of god you may return safe back and gdise(?) to your little family and in the pleasure you once did joy with them we have many difficulties and troubles t go through in this world but yet God can bring us safe through he is the only one that we can look to for help and put our trust in him. Col Zinn of Chruchtown was buried on last Thursday he was shot through the head.

For the rest of the story see the December 15, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner December 8, 2022

New Banner series offers peek into the life of Civil War soldier

Readers have the unique opportunity to travel into the past with a Dillsburg soldier and his family during the American Civil War, thanks to a collection of letters recently donated to the Northern York County Historical Society.

George Brougher, of Carroll Township, was drafted into the 166th Pennsylvania Drafted Militia Company C in 1862, when he was 39 years old. This regiment was organized in York from October 24 to December 8, 1862. It mustered out July 28, 1863. Brougher served nine months. An advance of $34.48 was given to him for clothing and equipment, which would be approximately $2,600 today. On the date of his discharge, George was in a military hospital in Washington D.C. George passed away at home Sept. 9, 1863.

The letters between George, his wife Martha, sister Mary Ann Smith, friends and others span from Dec. 9, 1862 to July 20, 1863.

The Banner will run the letters consecutively, giving readers the chance to experience the life of a soldier stationed in Washington, D.C., Suffolk, Va. and Norfolk, Va.

Take a steamer on the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac and York rivers. Follow life back home and in neighboring towns, Franklintown, Mechanicsburg and Churchtown.

Here is the first letter in our new series: Civil War Letters

December 9, 1862

Washington, D.C.

Letter from George to his wife

Dear wife I take my pencil in hand to let you know that I am well at present and hoping that you all enjoy the same blessing. We left York and are in Washington. The talk is now that we leave tomorrow and it is not known yet where we may land. I must tell you that I saw David Mclure, as he left here to go to Fredericksburg. I must let you know about our eatables here. We have old bacon and bread for breakfast and for dinner and supper. There is no talk of the war being over yet. We have no sickness among us yet and I thank God for my health. I should like to be home to enjoy the pleasure of being with you, to have a good warm stove and a good bed to sleep in and to talk with you. All our bed is upon the hard floor. I saw John and David a few days before we left York. I should like to hear from you, but I cannot tell you were to write to yet. The soldiers are still landing here. There was a regiment that came here today. Bothered so much that I must bring my letter to a close for this time, for there is so much noise and confusion. Nothing more at present, but I remain your affectionate husband. I shall write to you as soon as possible, as soon as I know where we will stay this winter. Then write to me.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Compiled by Richard Conley, Northern York County Historical Society.

Records show that George Brougher was born January 12, 1823 in Upper Allen Township to George and Elizabeth Brougher. He was baptized at Trindle Springs Lutheran Church, Cumberland County. The 1850 census shows that George, his wife, Martha, and two children lived in Carroll Township. George is listed as a laborer. Sometime between 1850 and 1860, George and Martha were able to buy their own farm, which still exists today on Chestnut Grove Road. The 1860 census shows the couple owning a farm worth $1,600 in Carroll Township. Their neighbors were the Petermans and the Dutrys. It also shows their three children, Mary Ann Brougher (1845-1882), John Calvin Brougher (1849-?), and Margaret Brougher (1854-1905). Margaret married Andrew Fortney and, so far as NYCHAPs can tell, was the only child to marry.

For the rest of the story see the December 8, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner December 1, 2022

Volunteers take a break from decorating the Christmas tree on the square last Saturday to hold up a sign advertising Light Up Night this Friday at 7 p.m.

For the rest of the story see the December 1, 2022 edition.

The Christmas train display at 22 North Chestnut St. by Jeff Shultz is open at various times throughout the month. There is no charge, but donations will be taken to benefit the Dillsburg Arts Council.

Christmas train displays arrive right on schedule

Nothing says it’s the holiday season like a model train chugging through a winter landscape dotted with snowcapped little houses, and there are many to visit within a short distance of Dillsburg.

The Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society (KMRHS) began in 1987 as a non-profit organization whose charter includes building and running a model train layoff the Keystone Midland railroad line as well as keeping a resource library on prototype and model railroading, educating the public and preserving railroad history in the area. They offer two Christmas displays in the area, one is at their headquarters at 833 W. Trindle Road in Mechanicsburg from noon to 5 p.m. on December 10, 11, 17, 18 and 31. The other is at Ft. Hunter Mansion at 5300 N. Front Street in Harrisburg from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on December 3,4,10,11,17, and 18. For more information visit keystonemidland.org.

The Miniature Railroad Club of York was established in 1943 and has been entertaining the people of greater York area ever since. The club is located at 381 Wheatfield Street in York in the southeastern portion of the city. The club maintains a 30- by- 90- square foot HO scale layout. Trains will be running from 1 to 5p.m. on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 and 31, 2022 and January 1, 7, and 8, 2023. For more information visit mrrcy.org.

The Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club at 440 Nelson Street in Chambersburg, will have their trains running from noon until 4 p.m. on December 11, 18, and 26, 2022, as well as January 2, 8, and 15, 2023. The club formed in 1996 when a small group of railroad enthusiasts recognized the need for a club in the Chambersburg area, The club derived its name from the Cumberland Valley Railroad, which had its headquarters in Chambersburg and served the Cumberland Valley from 1836 to 1919, when it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. More information can be found at cvmrrc.com. The Mechanicsburg Museum Association has a display set up in the Freight Station building, a part of their museum complex of original buildings from the 1870s railroad’s depot in that town. Also in the Freight Station is a Very Disney Christmas display. Then go next door to the Passenger Station building at 2 W. Strawberry Alley to experience the life-sized version of the CVRR station. For more information on their hours for exhibits and events visit mechanicsburgmuseum.org.

Starting on November 26 and throughout the holidays, the Harmony Ridge Railroad Club will be holding open houses at Cross Keys Senior Living Community at the intersection of routes 30 and 94 outside of New Oxford. The train room will be open on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Dillsburg also has a Christmas train display at 22 North Chestnut St. Dillsburg native Jeff Shultz was the son of a railroad employee, and trains have always been a part of his life. After a time away from the area, he and his wife moved back to town and purchased the house on Chestnut Street. As they researched the history of the house, they found it was once a part of the freight depot on the Dillsburg & Mechanicsburg Railroad. An old map shows that the main door of the house faces what was once a spur that primarily carried iron ore from the primarily mines east of town. During recent renovation they discovered that some rails had been repurposed as support beams for the house. The display is open Mondays and Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, 28 and Saturdays and Sunday 3 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18. There is no charge, but donations will be taken to benefit the Dillsburg Arts Council. There will also be Lionel G-scale Polar Express train raffled off to Benefit DAC.

For the rest of the story see the December 1, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner November 24, 2022

Dillsburg Girl Scout Troop 20322 and the Harmony Youth Group hand out turkeys from New Hope Ministries on Saturday, Nov. 19.

New Hope Ministries provides food for Thanksgiving meals

Thanks to the support of the community through donations from businesses, schools, churches, civic groups and individuals, New Hope Ministries is able to provide a turkey and all the fixings to those struggling to feed their families at this time of year. Thousands of pre-qualified residents were able to pick up their Thanksgiving food on Friday and Saturday at various New Hope locations, including Dillsburg at 99 W. Church Street where Dillsburg Girl Scout Troop 20322 and the Harmony Youth Group handed out turkeys from from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

For the rest of the story see the November 24, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner November 17, 2022

Development plans dominate meeting again

By Peggie Williams

Carroll Township supervisors started the process of bringing two more lingering development plans to conclusion during their November 14 meeting.

The first is Carroll Village, the Presbyterian Homes project north of Tristan Drive. The township has been holding a surety deposit in excess of $150,000 for more than a decade while waiting for promised improvements to be made on Old Gettysburg Pike.

Township Engineer Phil Brath and Township Manager Brandon Slatt were authorized to begin discussions on getting the work done. In the meantime, a 10% raise in the bond will be requested. The increase is allowed by state law to keep the bond sufficient to cover the costs of the township doing the work, should the need arise.

The other outstanding issue is the road dedication of Northside Court, a part of the Chadwick Meadows development. This road was constructed in 2007, but dedication has still not occurred. Records show there have been several discussions over the years, but no attempts to bring the road up to township standards have been made.

The surety bond being held for the work is only $12,000, but township officials feel it could cost more than $100,000 to get the work done. Talks will be taking place to encourage the developer to finish the work, or officially make it a private road so that the bond can be released. Northside Court resident Frank Setlak urged supervisors, “Do not let the developer off the hook.”

For the rest of the story see the November 17, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner November 10, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

A display of 400 United States flags, including military branch flags, transforms a plain field into a unique Veterans's Week tribute at Range End Golf Club.

Patriotic field is a tribute to all veterans

Opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 12

A patriotic panorama at Range End Golf Club has been a recent topic of conversation and impromptu traveler stops next to the golf club’s driving range on Route 15.

The vibrant display of 400 United States flags, including military branch flags, have transformed a plain field into a unique Veteran’s Week tribute. Each U.S. flag represents an individual and tells a story.

Organized and presented by the Kiwanis Club of Dillsburg, this inaugural event, “honoring those who served and sacrificed,” includes the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 12, and concludes with a closing ceremony the following Saturday on November 19. Additional support has been provided by corporate and flag sponsorships. The display will also raise funds for PA Wounded Warriors and DOG T.A.G.S.

For the rest of the story see the November 10, 2022 edition.

Apartments allowed in development

By Peggie Williams

Carroll Township supervisors gave permission for Inch Properties to include 148 apartments units to their development plan for the 40 acres at the intersection Ore Bank Road and Route 15.

At the conclusion of a three-hour conditional use hearing on November 1, supervisors decided the apartments proposed in the mixed-use zone could meet the ordinance requirements for both the mixed-use zone they were in and the ordinance requirements they would have had to meet in the RS3, or residential single-family zone where they would have been allowed.

There were 15 conditions attached to the approval that must be adhered to as developers proceed with the plan and the Inch Property representative agreed they were all acceptable. Last month, Inch Properties, LLC came to the planning commission meeting with two plans for the parcel. Plan A prosed 32 single family homes on one-half to one-third acre lots, 17,450 square feet of commercial space and 190 apartments all clustered to the southeast corner of the property. This plan leaves open several acres along Route 15 for use for improvements at the Orebank Road intersection. Plan B had the same amount of single-family homes, but 208 apartments, with half located along Route 15, and only 16,000 square feet of commercial space. The developers referred to Plan B as the preferred plan because it left the property along Route 15 undeveloped. The planning commission did not recommend either of the plans for approval.

The following week, the Carroll Township Zoning Hearing Board denied Inch’s request for several waivers for parking and setbacks in the apartment building sections of the plan Since then, the developers and the township staff have been working to produce a plan they could both get behind.

For the rest of the story see the November 10, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner November 3, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

Ornella Russo, owner of Millennium Pizza, says consistency is the key to success in the restaurant business.

Millennium’s new renovations encourage patrons to pull up a seat and eat

By Chanty Webb

When Ornella Russo, owner of Millennium Pizza, speaks about her customers, she doesn’t talk about doing business with them, she talks about building a relationship with them.

“I’m here because of them,” she says.

Not only is Russo available to her customers who dine in, but she also asks them to contact her directly if they have a concern or problem with their food. “If anything happens, I tell my client, ‘Just call me.’”

Russo shared about the importance of her patrons trusting her and the fact that it can take months to gain a customer—and just one mistake to lose them.

“Sometimes a new employee will be like, ‘No but the tomato should be here.’ [I tell them], ‘No the tomato is to be there because when the person opens the sub and they see, ‘Okay, that’s my comfort sub.’” She says that’s this consistency is what has kept her in business for 20 years.

“Consistency is the key. I’m consistent in the quality and consistent that I’m always here,” she says.

Russo started the business in 1999 with her former husband and became sole owner in 2013. This change allowed for more freedom in making the place what she wanted it to be. “My vision has always been to update the place because I didn’t like how it was before. It didn’t really represent me,” she says

Along with other businesses, Millennium Pizza received some financial help through funding made available due to the pandemic. “When I got the money, I started to think about the people that are around me. Like this gentleman here,” she said referring to Justin Grumbine, of Carter and Sons Properties and Management, who was doing drywall work in the shop. “[He] is my landlord from my house. Instead of calling a big company to try to get it done in a couple days, I’m going to give [the job] to a person that I know or clients from the pizza shop.”

Updates in the shop include bathroom renovations, added air conditioning/heating in the dining area, vinyl laminate flooring, replacement of lighting, a speaker system, new refrigerator, new freezer, new pizza table and a butcher block counter top. “This is to show people that we care.”

For the rest of the story see the November 3, 2022 edition.

The Carroll Township Planning Commission looked at a revised plan, above, for the development of 40 acres at the intersection Ore Bank Road and Route 15 during their October 27 meeting.

Ore Bank Road development plan moves to next step

By Peggie Williams

The Carroll Township Planning Commission looked at a revised plan for the development of 40 acres at the intersection Ore Bank Road and Route 15 during their October 27 meeting and was able to recommend this version for approval as it goes in front of the board of supervisors in a conditional use hearing on November 1.

Last month, Inch Properties, LLC came to the planning commission meeting with two plans for the parcel. Plan A proposed 32 single family homes on one-half-to-one-third acre lots, 17,450 square feet of commercial space and 190 apartments all clustered to the southeast corner of the property. This plan leaves open several acres along Route 15 for use for improvements at the Orebank Road intersection.

Plan B had the same amount of single-family homes, but 208 apartments with half located along Route 15, and only 16,000 square feet of commercial space. The developers referred Plan B as the preferred plan because it left the property along Route 15 undeveloped.

The planning commission did not recommend either of the plans for approval.

The following week, the Carroll Township Zoning Hearing Board denied their request for several waivers for parking and sets in the apartment building sections of the plan

This month, the developer’s representative Joe Eisenhauer acknowledged, “We found out real quick neither plan was preferred by the township.”

Since then, the developers and the township staff have been working to come up with a plan they could both get behind.

This new plan adds one more single-family home to the plan but eliminates 42 apartments and two apartment buildings, allowing more space between the buildings and their parking lots. It also allows better access to all sides of the buildings for emergency vehicles. They beefed up their landscaping plan to allow more buffer between the new housing and the existing housing in Carroll Manor and added a one-mile-long walking trail to help connect all parts of the development and utilize the open space along the Route 15 side of the property.

For the rest of the story see the November 3, 2022 edition.

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Dillsburg Banner October 27, 2022

Photo Curt Werner

Pictured from left in front are Wesley Rodgers, Tracy Moody; in back are Paul Deal and Brad Rodgers.

Original roots: BuyWay Motors comes back into family, offers no-pressure sales

By Chanty Webb

Before ever becoming a family business, BuyWay Motors, LLC, located at 1250 Old York Road, was first a family home.

“This is our homestead,” said owner Bradley Rodgers. “We lived here. We were raised in that trailer right there.” In 1978 Rodgers and sister Tracy Moody’s parents (along with their Uncle Bud who was a contractor) built what was then called “Rodgers Garage.” Their dad ran the auto service center until 2004. In 1999, Rodgers started selling cars on the property under the name “Relative Auto Sales.” His dad did the service work on the cars that Rodgers bought.

In 2009 after their dad died, the business was sold to a friend who changed the name to BuyWay Motors. Fast forward to the time when COVID-19 hit, Rodgers was employed at Wessels in Dillsburg and stopped in at BuyWay on a business matter. The owner was ready to sell and asked if Rodgers wanted the dealership back.

“So, we worked it all out,” Rodgers said. I bought the dealership, but I didn’t buy the property. I rent the property, own the dealership.” His nephew, Wesley Rodgers leases space at the dealership for an auto detailing business called “Under the Sudz Detailing.”

Rodgers’s sister, Moody, used to run a before-and-after school program at Wellsville Elementary School for 15 years. Once that career ended, she worked in various other places but wasn’t happy. Rodgers asked her to help out with cleaning at BuyWay, which soon turned into other necessary tasks and eventually a full-time position. Salesman Paul Deal later joined BuyWay to round out the staff.

In addition to sales, Rodgers has a history in mechanic work. He and two of his business investors regularly drive the cars he has on the lot. “If something breaks down, it’s going to break down on me, not my customer.” This keeps him in tune with how each car runs so that he can make any necessary repairs prior to the sale.

For the rest of the story see the October 27, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner October 20, 2022

At long last, action taken on two developments

By Peggie Willams

Carroll Township supervisors got two long-lingering items off their agenda during their October 10 meeting.

Eighteen years after the approval of the development plan for Stonebridge Crossing, the township has accepted ownership of the roads in Phase 1 of the development. These roads are Stonebridge Drive, Graystone Court, Hearthstone Court and Cobblestone Way.

During that time, there was an economic recession and the development changed ownership three times. There were also numerous legal actions regarding a regarding a right-of-way that ran through several backyards and two lots that would allow the homes on that right-of-way to access the main road in the development.

Over the past year, one Stonebridge homeowner affected by the right-of-way had suggested numerous times that the township hold up to $300,000 of the developer’s infrastructure surety money for future driveway construction on the two access lots. But supervisors retained only $20,000 surety for a retention pond that was awaiting final approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and an 18-month road maintenance bond in the amount of $135,710.23.

After almost 16 years and a lengthy court battle, supervisors agreed to a concept plan for the Village at South Mountain to be built on 44 acres across from Logan Park.

The zoning dispute over the legalities of high-density housing on that land was settled in 2018 with the township and the developer, Dillsburg Ventures, LLC, agreeing to hash out a concept plan that was acceptable to both. The concept plan agreed upon at this meeting has 37 single family homes, 36 townhouses, 164 apartments and 19,000 square feet of commercial space. It was emphasized that this is only a concept or sketch plan.

It will now begin the normal approval process and must meet all the township’s design, engineering and stormwater ordinances, as well as the approval process through DEP, York County Conservation District and other outside agencies before its final approval when construction can begin.

For the rest of the story see the October 20, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner October 13, 2022

Queen pageant kicks off annual Farmers Fair

By Marie Chomicki

The annual Farmers Queen pageant got underway Monday evening in the Northern High School auditorium immediately following the fair's opening ceremonies.

Fourteen Northern High School contestants vied for the coveted crown as they displayed their poise and talents to the contest judges and a receptive audience.

Farmers Fair President Al Kauffman gave the opening remarks followed by Congressman Scott Perry and State Rep. Dawn Keefer and Dillsburg Borough Council President Matt Fawber.

“The contest went amazingly," Audi Kimmel, Queen Contest co-chairperson said, adding they had more contestants than ever and finished in the normal time.

Co-masters of ceremonies Ryan Staub and 2021 Fair Queen Katrina Vaidez announced the new queen and her court.

The 2022 Farmers Fair Queen is Penelope Brosius, Hailey Patterson is first runner up and Sophia Lobo is second runner up. The other contestants were Cathleen Saunders, Addison Keller, Clare Blaschak, Lisa Alizada, Kendall Beck, Emma Freeburn, Nala Yates, Jailyn Thoman, Ryleigh Hoffman, Makayle Hess and AJ Black.

For the rest of the story see the October 13, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner October 6, 2022

Inch Properties hearing continued to later date

By Peggie Williams

A conditional use zoning hearing before the Carroll Township Board of Supervisors was opened, a continuance was granted, and the hearing was adjourned in the space of 5 minutes. The hearing was to decide if Inch Properties LLC, could build apartments in the Mixed Use 1 zone.

The developers who were not there in person, submitted a written request for the continuance to have time to consider comments on the plan made by Township Engineer Phil Brath before bringing it to the board.

Inch Properties, LLC has proposed to put anywhere from 190 to 208 apartments, 32 single family homes on one half to one third acre lots, and at least 15,000 square feet of commercial space on the 39-acre parcel at the intersection of Route 15 for and Orebank Road.

On September 22, two versions of the plan were before the Carroll Township Planning Commission for their recommendation on whether to allow apartments. They recommended the supervisors deny the request.

For the rest of the story see the October 6, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner September 29, 2022

Conditional use not recommended

By Peggie Williams

The Carroll Township Planning Commission recommended that Carroll Township Supervisors not grant a conditional use permit for a proposed development at the intersection of Orebank Road and Route 15.

Inch Properties, LLC came to the September 22 planning commission meeting with two plans for the 39-acre parcel. Plan A proposed 32 single family homes on one half to one third acre lots, 17,450 square feet of commercial space and 190 apartments all clustered to the southeast corner of the property. This plan leaves open several acres along Route 15 for use for improvements at the Orebank Road intersection. Plan B had the same amount of single-family homes, but 208 apartments with half located along Route 15, and only 16,000 square feet of commercial space.

To build either plan they must get a conditional use permit from the Carroll Township supervisors to put apartments in the Mixed Use 1 zone. The plan was before the planning commission for review and comments prior to the September 29 conditional use hearing.

But the planning commission members had little positive to say about the plan and recommended that the supervisors deny the CU permit.

Planning commission members had concerns about the increase in traffic generated on roads and intersections that were that were already over capacity. They also questioned the density of the housing proposed which township Zoning Officer Brandon Slatt described as denser than the township’s most dense residential zone allowed for. And they had issues with the overall appropriateness of this kind of development for the area.

Resident Linda Hagenbuch read from the township’s zoning ordinance that states “the purpose of the Mixed-Use 1 (MU-1) Zone is intended to provide for the development of compatible residential and commercial uses in areas where such uses already exist and where the development of such uses is feasible and appropriate.” She told the developer that this is not appropriate or compatible PC member Linda Ficus agreed. “This is just not right.”

But developers claimed that the townhouses approved to go behind the shopping center across the street made their project appropriate.

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Dillsburg Banner September 20, 2022

Dillsburg’s new movement in its third phase

By Kristen Stagg and Marie Chomicki

Lyman Orton, founder of the four phase Heart & Soul movement that’s been presented in Dillsburg, says he’s dedicated his life savings to developing, promoting, and implementing the process in small towns across the country. “It will change how municipal officials look at residents,” Orton told the Banner.

While the octogenarian labels himself “a conservative,” some say the same cannot be said of those embracing his concept, such as the Narrative Arts. According to NA’s website, their mission is to “build local, regional, national, and global movements toward these ends.” The site promotes case studies in which they’ve partnered, including the Community Heart & Soul movement created by the Orton Family Foundation and a health media initiative with George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. According to its website, current and former funding partners include the Open Society Foundations.

State Representative Dawn Keefer says that while investigating voting issues in the State House, she learned that Soros’s dollars fund many organizations that promote themselves as public, non profit groups. Keefer says, “Those groups claim to be organizations for community good, but that’s a façade; they have an agenda.” She adds, “He (Soros) makes no secret of being anti-American, and people sell out to get his money. But those dollars have strings attached. There’s no such thing as money without strings attached.”

For the rest of the story see the September 20, 2022 edition.

Fire destroys four townhomes

By Mary Lou Bytof

Northern York County Fire Rescue and at least seven other area fire departments responded to a two-alarm fire in the 100 block of Logan Road in Carroll Township early Friday afternoon, September 16.

The fire started in a unit in the townhouse complex across from Haars Drive-In. That unit was totally engulfed in fire, according to NYCFR Chief Hector Morales. The other three units received moderate to heavy smoke and water damage, according to the chief. Currently, the building is uninhabited, he added.

“We were dispatched at 12:30 p.m., and we had control of the fire at 1:04 p.m., Morales said. “All fire department personnel were cleared to leave at 2 p.m.,” he added. All residents who were home were outside the building when the fire department arrived.

It was reported that smoke from the blaze could be seen as far away as Boiling Springs. Local fire companies from Monaghan, Upper Allen and Monroe Townships responded to the call as well as companies from Wellsville, Mechanicsburg, New Kingston and York Springs. Carroll Township police and emergency services also responded to the 911 call; however, no one was transported to a hospital. Morales said a few other companies arrived to assist with the fire.

According to the fire chief, the police closed Logan Road from Celebration Villa (formerly Elmcroft) to Orebank Road. They also closed Logan Road to Pimlico Drive on the opposite side of the structure fire.

For the rest of the story see the September 20, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner September 13, 2022

Dillsburg’s new movement in its third phase

By Kristen Stagg and Marie Chomicki

Community Heart & Soul is a four-phase system developed decades ago by Lyman Orton, founder of the Orton Family Foundation and owner of The Vermont Country Store, as reported in last week’s Banner.

According to the official CH&S website, the first phase involves forming Heart & Soul teams to build awareness and commitment in all segments of the community. Phase 2 involves gathering stories from residents, leading to development of Heart & Soul statements. In phase 3, residents develop action plans based on the Heart & Soul statements to guide future town planning. And in phase 4, Heart & Soul statements are officially adopted by town councils, incorporated into comprehensive and other plans and are used to guide future policies and decisions.

Dillsburg Heart & Soul, started in 2019, is beginning phase 3, according to Isaac Tucker and Jim Burgess, DH&S leaders.

Not all Heart & Soul projects move to the fourth and final stage of adopting statements into municipal codes, Lyman Orton told the Banner.

“It’s really up to the town. Some towns start off and, for whatever reason, don’t ever get it launched. But [ideally] it never stops.”

The Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul project, launched in 2015, is one such example. An in-kind services donation from the Borough of Carlisle was solicited through the auspices of then assistant borough manager Debra Figueroa, who also co-chaired the GCH&S. Carlisle Borough’s one time donation allowed GCH&S to use meeting space’ 20 hours of staff time to help plan and facilitate meetings and workshops’ promoted the project through its newsletter and at community meetings and allowed the assistant manager to serve on the project advisory board. But Figueroa left borough employment, and Carlisle’s current borough manager said the borough hasn’t been involved in GCH&S since. According to Susan Armstrong, Carlisle Borough never adopted any Heart & Soul statements. She added, “I don’t know if they’re even still meeting or active.”

Lines blur between the GCH&S project and the Mt. Holly Springs project. Residents in Mt. Holly Springs, a participant in GCH&S, discovered a defunct historical church building from the 1800s. Mt. Holly’s Heart & Soul project restored Mt. Tabor AME Zion Church, celebrating its ties to the Black community. Its website lists it as both Greater Carlisle Heart & Soul and Mt. Holly Springs Heart & Soul.

Burgess, also involved in the Mt. Holly Springs project, is a vocal proponent of what he calls their “bottom-up” process.

“It promotes public engagement and talking to different people with different perspectives,” Burgess says. He thinks the situation in Dillsburg is “always going to be changing. Once we identify what we hope for [as outlined in the Heart & Soul process], that can be presented as an action plan. It could be part of a report to present to local government to consider, based on input from many citizens.” He calls this “informed decision making.”

Some Dillsburgians call it interference.

“Why should we have someone coming in from outside, telling us what to do?” Warrington Twp. resident Sherie Minich asks. Although the DH&S members themselves are local, she says the process they imported isn’t, and “I don’t think they [DH&S] should have any more role than anyone else.”

Minich questions the need for DH&S when Dillsburg is rife with organizations doing good in the community, listing the Polar Bear Foundation, Dillsburg Jaycees, Dillsburg Kiwanis, Dillsburg Lions Club, Dillsburg Woman’s Club, Dillsburg Garden Club, Northern High School Alumni Association, and others.

She adds that one local business has revitalized a huge part of Dillsburg’s industrial area, including the old Capital Engineering building where New Hope Ministries and the Dillsburg Area Authority are housed, while another local business funded the new turf field at Northern High School.

Minich asks, “What can they do that any other organization – like the Dillsburg Kiwanis or the Lions – can’t or isn’t doing?”

Lorin Stough, president of the Dillsburg Lions Club agrees with Minich. “We have the resources (financial and people) in our community to facilitate implementation of projects without outside funding,” Stough said citing when the bleachers were built at the Bostic football stadium in the late 1980s.

For the rest of the story see the September 15, 2022 edition.

Another big development on tap?

By Peggie Williams

The next big development proposed in Carroll Township is beginning the journey to seek approval from township supervisors.

Inch Properties, LLC has submitted a plan to put 32 single family homes on one half to one third acre lots, 190 apartments and 17,450 square feet of commercial space on 39 acres located at the northeast corner of Route 15 and Orebank Road. Carroll Township Manager Brandon Slatt describes the company as a relatively new developer that has several projects in the Central Pennsylvania area, many of them around Philadelphia.

The Carroll Township Planning Commission gets the first chance to comment on the plans during their meeting on September 22. Although the planning commission has no power to approve or deny the plan, their comments, along with any recommendations for conditions to impose on the plan, will be reviewed by the board of supervisors prior to a conditional use hearing that will be held on September 29.

According to Slatt, the CU hearing was triggered by the developer’s desire to put apartments in the Mixed-use 1 zone.

For the rest of the story see the September 15, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner September 8, 2022

Just what is the new movement in Dillsburg

Art of Storytelling: friend or foe

By Kristen Stagg and Marie Chomicki

Dillsburg is a great place to live, work, and play. That's about the only thing Dillsburg area residents and members of the Dillsburg Heart & Soul movement agree on.

What is Dillsburg Heart & Soul? Depends on who you ask. And the answer isn't as straightforward as you might expect - or want.

Members of the group would tell you DH&S is a story-telling organization, asking Dillsburgians what they love about their town, and what they want to see in the future.

Opposers to the group would tell you DH&S is a political organization that wants to reshape the area's governmental landscape by influencing elected officials and their decision-making.

One of this camp's biggest issues is Heart & Soul's ties to other organizations such as Narrative Arts. NA, too, uses storytelling as a platform “to advance social justice and equity.” According to NA's website, their mission is to “build local, regional, national, and global movements toward these ends.” The site promotes case studies in which they've partnered, including the Community Heart & Soul movement created by the Orton Family Foundation and a health media initiative with George Soros's Open Society Foundations. According to its website, current and former funding partners include the Open Society Foundations. It's those ties that incite negative reaction in the greater Dillsburg area.

“I want nothing to do with Soros,” Carroll Township resident and former Northern High School Athletic Director Gerry Schwille said of the Hungarian born multi-billionaire philanthropist. “He doesn't like this country, and is trying to push his Socialist agenda on all of us.”

As previously reported in the Dillsburg Banner, Dillsburg Borough residents Isaac and Heidi Tucker were instrumental in bringing the Community Heart & Soul process to Dillsburg.

Community Heart & Soul is a four-phase system developed Lyman Orton, owner of The Vermont Country Store.

Orton told the Banner his system grew out of his own experience on the planning commission in his hometown of Weston, VT, decades ago. “It (Heart & Soul) is part of how the town thinks about itself and operates. It's a new way of having government and residents working together.” The octogenarian's wealth helps fund the Orton Family Foundation, which assists in bankrolling the spread of Heart & Soul. “We don't go into a community and try to fix their problems,” Orton says. “We give them a framework to solve their own problems. It's part of how the town thinks about itself and operates.”

For the rest of the story see the September 8, 2022 edition.

Plan for townhomes in the works

By Peggie Williams

For the second week in a row, Carroll Township supervisors granted a conditional use permit for a project to be built in the township. This time it was for 94 townhomes proposed for the 17 acres at the intersection of Siddonsburg and Ore Bank Roads, behind the shopping center.

But unlike the approval for the warehouse on Route 74 just north of Route 15, this time the decision was not unanimous with supervisor Kelley Moyer-Schwille giving this project a resounding, “No!”

She explained supervisors were permitting this project because it met the legal parameters and they were required to allow it, but clarified that it was not what they wanted for the township.

“We want commercial [at this location]. We need a hotel, restaurant, and family entertainment,” she said.

This was a point she made throughout the conditional use hearing. But the developers’ representatives insisted they would not be able to convince commercial tenants to fill spaces that did not have direct access to Route 15.

“And we are not going to build something we know is going to fail,” said Robert Whalen, from Dillsburg Land, LLC.

What is being proposed is 94 three-story, three-bedroom townhouses with 1,200 square foot of floor space. Whalen said the design, the size, and the price would attract dual income, young professionals with no children to the units. He said that based on a similar project in King of Prussia, he expected the homes to start at $600,000. Moyer-Schwille told him, “This is not King of Prussia; it’s Dillsburg and no one will pay that price.” She explained that in this area people expected a large amount of land to go with a house at that price.

For the rest of the story see the September 8, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner September 1, 2022

Satanic Temple to host event at NHS Sept. 24

By Mary Lou Bytof

Social media is buzzing with chatter from parents and community members who are questioning the decision of the Northern York School District’s board of directors who voted last week to grant the Satanic Temple of Philadelphia and Eastern PA permission to hold a “fundraiser/back-to-school event” in the high school auditorium on Saturday, September 24.

This week, the school district issued a press release explaining the board’s action. According to the release, the school board was required to accept the group’s application for the event under Board Policy No. 707. That policy designates the use of school facilities for non-school-sponsored purposes. It reads in part as follows: The board recognizes that although the primary purpose of the school buildings, facilities and property is to provide students with an appropriate learning environment, the board may make school facilities available to individuals and community groups without discrimination and in accordance with this policy, provided the use does not interfere with the educational program of the schools. Since Northern is a public school district, the use of its facilities “must be permitted without discrimination,” according to the press release.

For more information see the September 1, 2022 edition.

Iconic Footlight Ranch refreshed and open for business

By Chanty Webb

“My mother was a caterer. She used to cater for upwards of 600-700 people and I owned a seafood business back in the 80s, so I was involved in the food business,” he said. I was in sales; I’ve been in the excavating business for 35 years. I sold radio advertisements. I’ve pretty much done it all.”

With this extensive background, taking on the refurbishing and re-opening of Footlight Ranch in Wellsville just seemed like a no-brainer.

Footlight Ranch was built by the late John Shreve as an alternative venue to New York City dance instruction for his daughter and as a hospitality center for the region. Shreve served in the army, studied accounting in college and finished out his career at Martin-Marietta Company. After retiring from work in 1967, he built Footlight Ranch, a summer camp for the performing arts.

For more information see the September 1, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner August 25, 2022

Office Repairs in the works

By Carolyn Hoffman

Warrington Township supervisors took steps at the August 17 meeting towards adding an ADA-compliant bathroom, improved insulation and a new furnace to the township offices.

For $65,570.03 the cost of a new bathroom also includes an ADA-compliant ramp and two new doors. The update was purchased through the Keystone Purchasing Network, a state-approved network similar to COSTARS, Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program that eliminates the need for three bids because the suppliers’ low prices are already set. Also purchased will be improved access to the attic and insulation throughout the building for $14,740.74. Handyside won the bid to upgrade the HVAC system, which is over 20 years old and for which parts are no longer available. The new system will be a heat pump with gas backup and will bring everything up to code.

For more information see the August 25, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner August 18, 2022

Proposed warehouse plans

1,000 more trucks possible daily

By Carolyn Hoffman

If the Crossroads Warehouse concept plan becomes a reality, developers told Franklin Township supervisors it could bring one thousand trucks a day through northern York County, with a high-volume hour of 525 trucks. The warehouse plan is mostly in Carroll Township, but truck traffic from those warehouses would impact roads in Franklin Township, primarily Glenwood and Range End Roads.

PennDOT has a say in what the plan would mean for traffic on Route 15 and was reported at the August 10 supervisors’ session to have nixed the possibility of an interchange at Glenwood, due to a lack of funding, as well as a roundabout. Currently, the developers are interested in building a connector road to bypass Dillsburg Borough, with that proposed road in a part of northern Franklin Township.

At the session, the developers emphasized the plan is a concept, with nothing official presented and no decisions made or requested. Supervisors Duane Henry and Naomi Decker both questioned the safety of residents with the plan in its current form. No information was provided about when the concept could be officially presented for action.

For more information see the August 18, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner August 11, 2022

FBI seizes Scott Perry's cell phone

By Mary Lou Bytof

Congressman Scott Perry of Dillsburg was traveling with his family on Tuesday, August 9, when three FBI agents approached him and demanded that he turn over his cell phone to them.

The family was already at their destination when the agents presented a warrant to Perry and told him to surrender his phone, Perry’s spokesperson Lauren Muglia said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after FBI agents raided the Mar-a-Lago estate, the Florida home of former President Donald Trump, on Monday.

By Wednesday morning, August 10, the federal agents had returned the phone to Perry.

For more information see the August 11, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner August 4, 2022

Warehouse plans under scrutiny

By Peggie Williams

The Carroll Township Planning Commission recommended approval to grant conditional use permits to two proposed developments during their July 28 meeting.

First before the board was a 400,000 square foot warehouse/distribution center proposed for a 35-acre piece of land along Route 74 just north of the intersection with Route 15.

The developers are listed as TCNE Route 74 Associates, LLC, and Trammell Crow Company. This area is zoned Industrial, but supervisors must give conditional use approval for the project. The developer’s representatives a cross-dock warehouse with 67 docking ports and 74 trailer storage spots. There will be more employee parking that industry standards call for. They project the building will be in use 10 months from the time they break ground.

Township Engineer Phil Brath reminded everyone that there is still a long way to go before approval. The plan presented was only a concept plan, not a land development plan and he listed several concerns about the plan.

For more information see the August 4, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner July 28, 2022

Dillsburg Banner takes home seven Keystone awards

By Staff Reports

The Dillsburg Banner won seven honors in the 2022 Professional Keystone Media Awards sponsored by the Pennsylvania News Media Association.

Mary Lou Bytof won second place in News Beat Reporting category. Her entries included, Forest fire ravages South Mountain; Tanker capsizes; High Winds; Early Morning Blaze; Traffic headaches and Burning debris leads in cause of fire.

Photographer Curt Werner took home the remaining six awards, three first place and three honorable mention. Werner won first place in Breaking News Photo for Firefighters fight early morning blaze and honorable mention for Detached garage destroyed; first place in News Event Photo for Trapped dog; first place in Feature Photo for Fighting fire from a ladder truck bucket; honorable mention in Sports Feature Photo for Jackson thrown from bull and an honorable mention in Sports Action Photo for Jackson thrown from bull.

For more information see the July 28, 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner July 21, 2022

Council meets in new building

By Mary Lou Bytof

On Tuesday evening, July 11, the Dillsburg Borough Council held its first monthly meeting in the new borough building at 233 S. Chestnut St. Other than the meeting room, the new facility was unfurnished, as the borough manager and staff are still in the process of moving.

Although the building was mostly empty, the community is using the outdoor facilities. Before and during the meeting, teens were playing basketball on the court in front of the structure.

At the end of the meeting, the council voted to have W.J. Strickler of New Oxford construct a sign with a 3-foot-high stone base at the entrance of the building at a cost of $26,000. Strickler, who owns the company, resides in Dillsburg.

“It would be nice to have it [the sign] for our Open House,” Borough Manager Karen Deibler said. She said the event will be held sometime in September.

For more information see the July 21. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner July 14, 2022

Revised warehouse plan presented

By Peggie Williams

Developers presented a new version of a warehouse complex they have proposed for the land south of the high school stadium during the Carroll Township supervisors July 5 workshop meeting.

These revisions included the elimination of a 414,000 square foot warehouse along Rt.194, and a cluster of apartments near the rear of the stadium.

The new plan adds three commercial pads at the intersection of routes 74 and 194. They are labeled “restaurant,” but the developer’s representative Charlie Courtney said they could be used for other businesses. Last month, Coutney cautioned that any downsizing of the plan might make it economically impossible for the developer to build a full connector road from Route 15 to Route 74, but he said that this plan would be acceptable to build the road. This version of the plan also eliminated some zoning change that would have been needed for the building long Rt. 194.

For more information see the July 14. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner July 7, 2022

Wellsville Borough to replace aging HVAC system

By Carolyn Hoffman

Wellsville Borough is in the early stages of replacing the furnace and air conditioning unit at their office. Both are pushing 50 years old, and council was told that replacement parts in case of a breakdown may no longer be available.

At the July 5 meeting, the council heard a few cost estimates for fuel oil, natural gas, and propane systems. In the end they decided to pursue additional quotes for natural gas, at least in part because the gas line is directly across the street from the office.

Cost estimates ranged from $12,500 to more than $18,000 for the various fuel types. Wellsville is hoping to use funds from the American Rescue Plan for the work as replacing the current system is not in the 2022 budget.

For more information see the July 7. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner June 30, 2022

Zoning board OKs building plans for 94 townshomes

By Peggie Williams

Developers Dillsburg Land, LLC, made it over their first hurdle to put 94 townhomes on 16 acres at the intersection of Orebank and Siddonsburg roads when the Carroll Township Zoning Hearing Board approved their request to allow perpendicular parking on an access road in a townhome development.

The design for the project calls for most of the parking to be in small clusters of parking spaces perpendicular to the road and would necessitate cars backing out onto the road when leaving the spaces.

The developer’s attorney, Charlie Courtney, explained that this design would be more aesthetically appealing, require less pervious surface and provide more greenspace in the neighborhood. He added that the access road, which dissects the development and connects Orebank and Siddonsburg roads, would be a private road used only by the residents of the development and there would not be a lot of traffic.

The primary objection to the request was regarding the fact that there was no hardship shown to trigger the request. According to the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code, variances can only be given if a hardship is present.

Courtney argued that the unique shape of the property was the hardship, and this was the only possible design. That argument was countered by ZHB member Frank Setlak who stated it was the number of units they proposed that made the property not work under township requirements. A lesser number of units would mean less parking spaces needed and so the variance would not be needed. Courtney replied there was an economic reality for the developer. He argued that lowering the number of units would cause a design alteration and would make the plan less desirable overall, both within the development and what the general public would see from the outside.

ZHB member Rich Gensler stated that he did not want to push the developer in that direction, but ZHB alternate Deana Weaver stated they should not be held hostage under the threat of a worse plan. She also said she felt the “hardship on the property was self-induced because no where was it required that there be 94 units”.

Resident Jim Richwine pointed out that the economic hardship of the developer was not considered a hardship under the MPC.

For more information see the June 30. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner June 23, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

Cynthia Carolyn Black at her preliminary arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Richard Thomas in Dillsburg Monday morning, July 6, 2020.

Former Warrington Township woman sentenced for hiding grandmother’s body in freezer, collecting her social security

By Marie Chomicki

A former Warrington Township woman was sentenced on Friday, June 17 for hiding her grandmother’s body in a freezer for more than 15 years and collecting her social security.

Cynthia Carolyn Black, 63, now of York Haven, was sentenced by Judge Gregory M. Snyder to 11 and a half to 23 months for receiving stolen property and 11 and a half to 23 months for theft by deception - false impression and two years’ probation for abuse of a corpse, according to the criminal docket. Black is to report to York County Prison on July 15.

The gruesome discovery of the grandmother’s remains was made Feb. 7, 2019 by a couple looking to buy the property at 40 Kralltown Rd., which sits on about two and one half acres.

Police said Tracey McCorkel and Ann Chaney were inspecting an outbuilding when they opened a white chest freezer and found human skeletal remains inside black trash bags. Pennsylvania State Police York said the call came in at 5:03 p.m. “The caller related they could see human bones,” police said. A blanket was placed over all the bags, the document stated.

An autopsy performed at Lehigh Valley Hospital on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 confirmed the body was significantly decomposed and possibly that of a female. No trauma was noted, York County Corner Pam Gay said at the time.

On April 4, 2019, DNA samples taken from Black, and a femur bone of the deceased confirmed Black was the biological granddaughter. Black was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police on May 27, 2020 and arraigned before District Judge Richard T. Thomas on $50,000 unsecured bail.

According to the arrest affidavit, Black told police she and her husband, Glenn Black, previously lived in Ardmore, Pa. with her maternal grandmother, Glenora Reckord Delahay, for whom Cynthia was providing medical care. The grandmother moved in with the couple between 2000 and 2001.

For more information see the June 23. 2022 edition.

Carroll Township officials will get their first chance to comment on a proposed townhome development, above, during a zoning hearing on Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m.

Township officials delve into proposed townhome project

By Peggie Williams

Carroll Township officials will get their first chance to comment on a proposed townhome development during a zoning hearing on Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m.

The proposed development consists of 94 units and is located at the intersection of Ore Bank and Siddonsburg roads, the land behind the Dillsburg Shopping Center. The developer of record is Dillsburg Land, LLC with a Newport Beach, CA, address.

The first leg of the development’s journey to final approval begins with the Carroll Township Zoning Hearing Board, where they will request a variance to the standard parking requirement for such a development. The Carroll Township ordinance states parking on access drives in townhome developments must be parallel to the street, but the developer is requesting perpendicular parking.

The zoning hearing board is a “quasi-judicial” board that rules on requests for variances to the zoning ordinance. It also hears appeals from the decisions of the zoning officer. Just as a judge interprets criminal and cooperate law, the three-man ZHB interprets the township zoning ordinance to form its decisions.

However, the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code defines the conditions under which a variance can be granted. The developer must prove there are unique physical circumstances or physical conditions peculiar to the particular property other than those caused by the zoning ordinance. They must prove there is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity with the provisions of the zoning ordinance and that such unnecessary hardship has not been created by the developer and that the variance will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood or district in which the property is located, nor substantially or permanently impair the appropriate use or development of adjacent property, nor be detrimental to the public welfare. And finally, they must prove that the variance is the minimum that can be done to fix the issue. If they fail to prove any one of these conditions, the zoning hearing board has the right to deny the request.

For more information see the June 23. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner June 16, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

Jason Bytof holds his daughter Abby, 3, as she pets the nose of "Always Be Miki" during the Diamond Creek Farm open house held June 4.

Diamond Creek Farm event sparkled with food, fun

By Mary Lou Bytof

Diamond Creek Farms in Wellsville is a real gem. Many of the approximately 600 visitors who attended the horse breeding facility’s fifth Open House event on Saturday, June 4 would likely agree.

On the sunny yet mild summer day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors walked along the verdant fields and browsed through the impressively large, state-of-the-art barns that house the stallions and mares that are bred for harness racing.

In addition to presenting information about the horses, horse breeding and harness racing, the staff at the farm provided food, games and entertainment. Visitors parked in a field and many chose to ride to the barns on golf carts. Others decided to “hoof it” down a dirt lane to the barns, entertainment and dining tent and a recreation area.

To get an overall view of the farm, many visitors chose to go on a hay ride. As the ride continued past pastures and buildings, colorful banners featuring the farm’s famous horses decorated the path.

At 1 p.m., before the stallions were set free to exercise in the pastures, spectators gathered outside the barn to watch the Stallion Showcase. The staff paraded the prize-winning race horses and announced some fun facts about each horse and his accomplishments.

Even before the showcase, Stallion Manager Bud Emmons escorted the world’s fastest Standardbred, Always B Miki, to the front of the barn to greet the visitors and pose for pictures. In 2016, Miki broke the Standardbred world record when he ran a mile in one minute and 46 seconds. That was in 2016 when he earned the title of Horse of the Year. His winnings totaled $1,487,292 for that year.

For more information see the June 16. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner June 9, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

Firemen set up ladders to attack flames shooting out from the roof of this house on Ridge Road, Warrington Township Saturday, June 4.

Family loses house to fire, gains outpouring of support

By Mary Lou Bytof

An early morning blaze destroyed a two-story house on Ridge Road in Warrington Township on Saturday, June 4.

Two residents and several pets were asleep in the home when the lady of the house awakened to a squeaking sound warning her that her oxygen machine had shut off.

“When I got up to turn off the machine, I took off my nosepiece and began to smell smoke,” home owner Tammey Conway recalled on Monday.

Conway said she woke her husband, Lloyd Conway, and told him that something was burning. When Lloyd looked outside at the back of the home, he saw smoke billowing out from under the outdoor air-conditioning unit. At that time, flames had climbed up to the roof of the house.

“Lloyd came upstairs and yelled, ‘Get out, get out!’” Tammey said. When the couple met outside the home, they both took out their cell phones and called 911, Tammey said. Their dog had joined them outside; however, it took them until Sunday morning to locate their two cats, who became frightened and hid somewhere near the property, they said. Neighbors watched for the frightened felines after the Conways left their property and stayed at their daughter Sherry Conway’s home in Wellsville. On Monday, daughter Laura Conway wrote on social media, “We found both kitties very scared and smoky, but safe.” The Wellsville Fire Department was the first of many local firefighters on the scene. However, by the time the volunteer company arrived at the home, flames were shooting out from the roof and smoke billowed high into the wooded area behind the home. A large oak tree situated closest to the house showed visible damage with singed leaves and burn marks on its trunk. Burnt leaves and debris scattered throughout the back yard.

For more information see the June 9. 2022 edition.

Residents get answers to Fager’s warehouse concerns

By Peggie Williams

Warehouses and roads dominated the discussions during a four-hour marathon June 6 supervisors workshop meeting in Carroll Township.

A representative for R.H. Fager’s was present to answer questions and address concerns about the warehouse under construction at the intersection of Spring Lane Road and Old Gettysburg Pike. He explained that there were now plans to plant more trees to attempt to hide the concrete wall of the facility from the view of residents in South Mountain Estates.

Most would be evergreens but there would be some red buds and dogwoods for spring color and red maples for fall color. He also proposed planting them higher up the berm, which would cover more building and leave a grassy area that would extend the appearance of neighbors’ backyards, although this would need approval from the township. Fager’s would be responsible for mowing and maintaining that area,

The proposed color for the warehouse wall is a neutral gray, but he would pass on the suggestion that a more “nature- pleasing” color was preferred by residents. There would be no entrances on the wall facing South Mountain Estates except emergency exits, and there were no plans for security cameras, but Fager’s was open to installing them if residents were concerned about crime in that area. Residents expressed concern about the increase in truck traffic at the intersection that is already a problem and asked how tractor trailers would be able to make the tight turns there. Rob Taylor, who was a member of the Carroll Township planning commission when the Northern York County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2011, asked what happened to idea for a traffic circle proposed at that intersection.

For more information see the June 9. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner June 2, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

Carroll Township police clears the way on S. Baltimore Street for the Memorial Day Parade on Monday sponsored by the Dillsburg VFW.

Despite high heat, residents turn out to honor the fallen

By Mary Lou Bytof

On Monday, Memorial Day, area residents braved the 90-plus degree heat, lined the parade route and assembled at the Dillsburg Cemetery to honor the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

At 11 a.m., Boy Scouts with the colors led the annual parade sponsored by the VFW South Mountain Post 6671 in Dillsburg followed by motorcyclists from the local VFW Riders of Post 6771 and the American Legion Riders of Post 26. Members of the Boy Scout Troop 38 and Cub Scout Pack 39 marched behind.

For more information see the June 2. 2022 edition.

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Dillsburg Banner May 25, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

The NHS Prom Court:  Pictured in front from left are Brynn Crouse, Alyssa MacKay, Emma Little, Brooke Silfee and Lizzie Kilpatrick, Queen; in back are Garrett Weber, King; Phillip Sanders, Josh Sipe, Andrew Gingrich and Layne Hose.

NHS Prom

By Mary Lou Bytof

Approximately 400 Northern High School seniors, juniors and their dates attended the high school prom on Saturday, May 21.

Whether they arrived in an air-conditioned limo or car, the teens briefly posed for photos and hustled out of the heat and into the Red Lion Hotel in Harrisburg to enjoy the food and music.

Tiffany King, junior class advisor and faculty prom coordinator, said she was glad the prom was held indoors due to the humidity and 95-degree heat of the day. Last year's prom was held outdoors due to COVID.

Highlights of the event included dancing to music supplied by a dee-jay, sampling foods from an hors d'oeuvres buffet, and posing with dates and friends in a photo booth. King said the students requested the food bar this year since many of them go out to dinner before the prom.

Garrett Weber and Lizzie Kilpatrick were crowned King and Queen. The Prom Court included Brynn Crouse, Alyssa MacKay, Emma Little, Brooke Silfee, Phillip Sanders, Josh Sipe, Andrew Gingrich and Layne Hose.

Students already are expressing interest in planning for next year's prom, the advisor said.

For more information see the May 26. 2022 edition.

Local event honors Dillsburg heroes of war

Parade to start at Dillsburg VFW at 11 a.m., and proceed to Dillsburg Cemetery

Memorial Day - The national holiday that we observe Monday was established to honor those who have died in American wars.

Originally called Decoration Day, it began during the American Civil War, when citizens would place flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. Dillsburg has sacrificed many of its sons during the conflicts our nation has endured.

Our community's Memorial Day remembrance is scheduled to begin with a parade from the VFW parking lot at 11 a.m., then proceed to the Dillsburg Cemetery for a solemn ceremony.

Former Dillsburg resident George Stauffer's story is representative of those who gave their lives in defense of their country and community. From the moment that Germany torpedoed and sank the Lusitania in May of 1915, causing the loss of many American lives, it seemed inevitable that the United States would enter the World War raging in Europe.

The declaration of war against the Axis powers was made by Congress on April 6, 1917. More than 100 young men from Dillsburg were drafted to serve in what became known as the Great War, fighting in France and Belgium.

For more information see the May 26. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner May 19, 2022

Mother charged with murder of her baby

By Marie Chomicki

An East Berlin mother faces multiple charges, including murder, of her two-month-old baby who died while sleeping in a pop-up camper in 6-degree weather last January in Washington Township.

Pennsylvania State Police – York Station said they responded to a call of a cardiac arrest at 179 Bentz Mill Road on Jan. 27 at around 5:10 a.m. When they arrived on the scene, the baby girl was deceased. EMTs on the scene said she was dressed in only a soiled diaper.

The cause of death was documented as hypothermia and methamphetamine toxicity by the forensic pathologist, adding that a component of carbon monoxide poisoning cannot be ruled out, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The mother, Ashley Nicole Decker, 25, of East Berlin, told police she spent the evening in the pop-up camper with her baby and her boyfriend Robert McCachren, 28, of Dover. Decker told police she and the baby had been living in the camper three or four days a week since the child was born on Nov. 30, 2021.

For more information see the May 19. 2022 edition.

Photo by Curt Werner

A woman is pulled to safety from the Yellow Breeches Creek by the water rescue team from Monroe Township Fire Department last Sunday afternoon in the 1200-block of Creek Road. The victim’s kayak overturned and she fell into the water and became trapped when her life vest caught on debris.

Woman rescued from rushing water

By Mary Lou Bytof

A woman attempting to navigate a kayak around a submerged tree and other debris in the rushing current in the Yellow Breeches Creek on Sunday fell into the water and became trapped when her life vest caught on the debris.

As her empty kayak continued to travel downstream, a nearby fisherman and other kayakers from her group who had made it past the barrier rushed to her aid to keep her head above the water level.

Those assisting the woman had managed to pull her onto branches that jutted out of the water before the water rescue team from the Monroe Township Fire Department arrived, Fire Chief David Heckert said.

“A water rescue is a low-frequency, high-risk event,” the chief said. In this situation, the victim was caught in what he called a strainer. Branches, logs and other debris lets water pass, he explained, but it will pin a person or boat as the current rushes along the creek.

The water was moving fairly quickly in the area of the accident, Heckert said. Some of the variables that created the swift current were the depth of the water and the width of the creek at the site.

For more information see the May 19. 2022 edition.

Dillsburg Banner May 12, 2022

Photo by Curt Werner

David Kelley points to Lisa Arnold of Lewisberry, first place winner of the hat contest, at the third annual Battle of the Roses Derby Day.

Battle of the Roses Derby Day

Greystone Brew House of Dillsburg held their third annual Battle of the Roses Derby Day Saturday, May 7 in their new facility, the Range End Pavilion to benefit Bethesda Mission and Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania.

For more information see the May 12. 2022 edition.

Council approves fire rescue fiscal support

By Mary Lou Bytof

After some heated discussion concerning how other nearby townships will join in supporting Northern York County Fire Rescue, the Dillsburg Borough Council voted unanimously to financially support the company in the amount equal to Dillsburg’s share, 19%, based on the company’s current proposed budget.

“People need to understand that the borough has been supporting them [the fire company] from day one,” Borough Manager Karen Deibler said.

As the discussion began to heat up, Council President Matt Fawber said that local municipalities have been discussing how they would pay their fair share of the fire company’s services for nearly six years. He said that not all municipalities have been on board to agree to pay their fair share of expenses, as determined by the fire company.

“It’s getting ridiculous,” Fawber said of the extended bantering among the municipalities. “We need to get this thing moving.” Dillsburg has been at the forefront in showing its support for the fire company, he added.

The fire company determined the percentages owned by each municipality via a cost-sharing formula based on statistics such as population and number of service calls. The value most likely will change as the population changes.

For more information see the May 12. 2022 edition.

Bridge detour drawing near

By Carolyn Hoffman

The Grantham Road bridge near the intersection with AlPat Drive on the border of Monaghan and Upper Allen townships is currently slated to be replaced in 2025 at a cost of $3.1 million. The plan calls for the bridge to be closed for about eight months.

Monaghan officials and residents got a first look at the preliminary design plans during the May 9 supervisors’ meeting. A detour of 3.8 miles for passenger vehicles is planned, and for trucks the detour will be 6.5 miles. Maps of the current plan and the detour routes are available on Monaghan’s website and in the township office. Those with comments and concerns about the bridge replacement or the planned detours are asked report them to the township before May 31.

The detour for cars would follow Siddonsburg Road to North York Road and then onto West Lisburn Road. The truck detour has separate routes for northbound and southbound trucks, with southbound traffic planned for West Lisburn to Williams Grove Road and then onto York Road. Northbound trucks will follow West Lisburn to Rt. 15 and then onto Siddonsburg Road and North York Road

The new bridge is federally funded. It will follow the same approach alignment as the current bridge but will be four feet wider on each side. The construction is expected to begin in spring 2025 and be finished in fall 2025.

For more information see the May 12. 2022 edition.

Tax increase to fund fire company

By Peggie Williams

A fire tax of .590 mils was established in Carroll Township during the May 9 supervisors meeting.

The vote was 4 to 1 with Supervisor Bruce Trostle voting against it but gave no reason why. Supervisor Kelley Moyer-Schwille voted for the fire tax but stated earlier in the discussion that she has had “a heavy heart from the beginning” in regard to the tax raise although she understood why they had to do it.

The owner of a property assessed at $250,000 should see their taxes go up an additional $148 or $12 a month. Supervisor Kelly Wall pointed out that this was less than most people spend on coffee and donuts and about the same amount as a Netflix membership, but she said it was necessary to keep the Northern York County Fire Rescue from going bankrupt within the next three years.

The new tax is expected to generate $300,000 a year which will be put in a separate account. The Carroll Township’s share of the fire company funding will be taken from that account. Any extra would stay in the account to be used for future fire company needs; it would not revert to the township’s general fund.

For more information see the May 12. 2022 edition.

Photo by Curt Werner

A group of young men from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property gather on the sidewalk outside Northern High School at dismissal time on Monday to show their support for the Northern York School Board.

Group organizes impromptu " Thank you"" to school board

By Mary Lou Bytof

A group of approximately 12 young men from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) gathered on the sidewalk outside Northern High School at dismissal time on Monday to show their appreciation for the Northern York School Board. Several weeks ago the board voted to deny the establishment of an After School Satan Club in the Northern Elementary School.

Some of the men carried signs, two played the bagpipes, and three beat drums as the buses rolled out of the school driveway, according to group spokesman and TSP director of student activities John Ritchie.

According to Ritchie, students on the buses hollered and clapped in a show of support as they rode past the men who were singing patriotic songs such as “God Bless America” and waving their signs.

Bus drivers and passing motorists honked their horns in support of the group's “thank you” message to the school board.

“We've gotten a lot of support from the Dillsburg community,” Ritchie said. “Most of the locals have common sense. Yet, there is a darkness out there, and I think we need to be on the offensive to combat it,” he said Wednesday.

Satanic groups around the country are trying to use the freedoms that Americans enjoy to promote their agenda, Richie said. They have a very deep-seated hatred for Christianity, and they want to be in every school, he added.

For more information see the May 5. 2022 edition.

Warehouse complex looms

By Peggie Williams

Crossroads Commercial Delopment presented Carroll Township supervisors with their first look at a concept plan for a warehouse complex to straddle the Carroll Township - Franklin Township border during their May 2 workshop meeting.

The plan would encompass over several acres stretching east to west from Route 194 to Route 15 and north to south from the Northern York School District Bostic Stadium to Glenwood Road.

According to the developer's representative, the plan is not for one giant warehouse, but several smaller ones that would add up to more than 2 million square feet, provide 200 jobs and bring in $6 million to $7 million in taxes to the townships.

There would be a connector road built from Route 15 to Route 194 near the junction with Route 74, and a traffic signal would be installed at that junctioon.

For more information see the May 5. 2022 edition.

District addresses, clarifies release time for religious instruction

Northern doesn't transport students to Bible club

By Mary Lou Bytof

As the Dillsburg community continues to discuss the action of the Northern York School Board to deny the establishment of an After School Satan Club (ASSC) at Northern Elementary last week, two major pieces of misinformation need to be clarified.

First, the Northern York County School District does not provide the transportation for the elementary school students who attend the Bible Adventure Club, as erroneously reported in last week’s paper.

Also, as of Wednesday, April 27, the school district has not been notified of any legal action to be taken against it, according to Northern Superintendent Steven Kirkpatrick.

While he was relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather on Sunday, Kirkpatrick said a message appeared on his phone. It included an article from the national bureau of Fox News stating that The Satanic Temple (TST) is filing a lawsuit “on constitutional grounds” against Northern Elementary School.

“We are not aware of any sort of legal action [by the TST] at this time,” he reiterated.

This week, Pastor J. Robert Douglass of the Dillsburg Brethren in Christ Church issued the following statement regarding the transportation of students to the Bible club:

“As the pastor of the church who hosts that program, I would like to clarify (and would like it publicly understood) that the district does not transport any students to my church building.

We provide the space. Joy-El is the sponsoring ministry. They provide transportation. If/when they do not have their bus or bus driver available, they cancel that week.

As I believe this is an important aspect of the argument this group [TST] is trying to make, I would like the public to be clear on these facts,” he concluded.

Kirkpatrick emphatically stated that the Bible Adventure Club is not and has never been sponsored by the school. The school district does distribute the registration forms to parents who may choose to opt-in to have their children attend the instruction.

For more information see the April 28. 2022 edition.

Samantha Groome, center, seated beside her supportive friends, was the first to speak before the board at Tuesday's meeting to defend her request for the After School Satan Club.

School board shuts down After School Satan Club 8-1

By Mary Lou Bytof

In the crowded Northern High School auditorium Tuesday evening, the Northern York County School Board voted 8-1 to deny the request of a Carroll Township resident to hold an “After School Satan Club” at the Northern Elementary School. After the roll call vote, a loud applause erupted from the audience.

On Wednesday morning, Board Member Thomas Welch explained why he voted in favor of the club.

“I believe that after seeing everything, it was the right decision to give them a chance,” he said. “I don’t think this is about beliefs. I believe this is about fair access to public property,” he added.

The meeting began with the board members and visitors standing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. During the pledge, a number of visitors shouted the words “under God” to emphasize the reason for their attendance – to protest the name of the club by proclaiming their faith.

Even before the doors of the school opened for the meeting, attendees gathered outside the doors and offered prayers for the board, the community, and an orderly meeting. The mood was somber as individuals prayed. They gave thanks for the fact that people of many denominations could gather in one place to express their common beliefs in the Word of God.

“If God is with us, who can be against us?” William Hunter of Wellsville exclaimed in a booming voice. Hunter said he found out about the meeting and the upcoming vote on Easter Sunday. A member of his church had posted it on Facebook.

Before the Board opened the floor for public comment, Board President Ken Sechrist gave background information on the request for the club.

According to Sechrist, Samantha Groome, a mother of a Northern Elementary student, approached Superintendent Steven Kirkpatrick a few months about starting the club. He denied her request. Later, Groome asked to put the request on the agenda for the Board to consider. Her request first appeared on the board’s committee meeting agenda on Tuesday, April 12. It stated “Request of Ms. Samantha Groome to establish an after-hours club to be known as the “After School Satan Club at Northern York Elementary School.”

A week later, the agenda for the April 19 school board meeting read as follows: “Approve the request of Samantha Groome to establish an “After School Satan Club” at the Northern Elementary School on a probationary basis.” As he instructed during the mask mandate debates, the board president explained that only residents of the school district were permitted to speak. He also encouraged them to be civil.

The first speaker was Groome. She approached the microphone and said that she had called The Satanic Temple (TST) to sponsor her club. According to district personnel, members of the Salem, Massachusetts organization had attended the April 12 meeting to offer support; however, because they were from outside the district.

For more information see the April 21. 2022 edition.

After School Satan Club seeks approval from school board

By Mary Lou Bytof

The Northern Elementary School in Dillsburg may become the first school in Pennsylvania and the fifth school in the entire country to permit an “After School Satan Club” to operate inside the building.

According to the agenda of tonight’s (April 19) school board meeting, the board will vote on whether or not to approve a request of Samantha Groome to establish the above-mentioned club at the Northern Elementary School on a probationary basis.

If approved, the club will follow the program designed by The Satanic Temple which is based in Salem, Massachusetts. News of the district being approached by the outside organization spread throughout the Dillsburg community and surrounding areas last week when the world-wide Christian community was observing Holy Week in anticipation of Easter Sunday.

Pastors of local churches are aware of the request and some have confirmed that they will be attending tonight’s school board meeting. In anticipation of a large crowd, the meeting will be held in the Northern High School auditorium at 7 p.m.

Print Edition Highlights - March 10, 2022

Agricultural lands drive new zoning debate

By Carolyn Hoffman

About 30 residents attended the March 2 public hearing in Warrington Township to learn about the proposed zoning ordinance update.

Few of those attending testified about the proposal, though two landowners complained that the changes mean fewer houses on their tracts and so affects the money to be made from developing their land. Two other residents spoke about the need to preserve agricultural lands.

Final action and expected approval of the zoning changes is planned for the March 16 supervisors’ session.

The hearing began with township officials and the consultant giving an overview of the changes and why they were needed. The proposed change that has generated the most interest over the 18-month project is a change to the township’s agricultural areas that will now focus on agricultural preservation.

Instead of creating one contiguous zone for agriculture, the new plan creates what is termed an “agricultural overlay zone.” To those farms that are currently in the conservation zone, the new regulations would apply if their parcel is larger than 30 acres. If currently in the rural agricultural zone, the regulations apply to parcels of 12 acres or larger and includes 25% or more of prime agricultural soils.

Many of the other changes are updates to regulations for new technologies, such as wireless communications and solar farms, but also include regulations for short-term rentals, such as vacation rental websites like Airbnb and marijuana dispensaries, both of which didn’t exist when the last zoning ordinance was approved.

One landowner speaking against the proposed ordinance said that the value a property currently worth $1.3 million would be cut in half, because, under the current rules, 40 homes could be built on a 50-acre tract. Under the proposed regulations, if a tract is of prime agricultural soils, only 25% can be developed for houses.

Landowners who question if the county’s soils map is correct do have the option of hiring a soil scientist to better delineate the prime soil boundaries. The landowners favoring the zoning changes spoke about the need to preserve agricultural land and the hope that the change will give them the added points needed to qualify for the county’s preservation purchases. Under the current regulations, Warrington farmers are at a disadvantage over farms in the southern end of the county because those townships have passed favorable zoning regulations. In some cases, Warrington farmers lose out by only a few points, and the proposed changes should remedy that.

The public hearing was for comments and testimonies only, and questions were not allowed at this session.

For more information see the March 10. 2022 edition.

Barn on the move to preserve local farm heritage

By Peggie Williams

The Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association has undertaken the task of relocating an historic 1850s barn from its location in Newberry township to their 90-acre property just north of Dillsburg.

The barn will be used in their mission to preserve steam-powered equipment and to educate the public about the history of farming.

A group of volunteers have spent the last few weeks preparing the barn for the tear-down process. Lead by volunteer George Wentz, diagrams were drawn and each piece of the barn was labeled so it could be put back in its proper place during the rebuild.

The first load of material was sent to Williams Grove on March 5, where it will in storage until the barn can be reconstructed. It’s hoped that the foundation and first floor will be finished in time to have an old-fashioned barn raising to erect the frame in July of 2023.

The barn was brought to the attention of WGHSEA by RSR Reality and Congressman Scott Perry. It was sitting on a piece of property in Newbery Township near the junction of Red Mill Road and Yocumtown Road, just east of Interstate 83. Landmark Homes recently received approval to construct 450 apartment units on the property and the barn was going to be demolished. Instead, it was donated to the WGHSEA.

Barney Kimmel, spokesperson for WGHSEA, said that once reconstructed, the barn will be “used as a barn,” for educational programs and storage of their farm equipment. While it might be used for some special events, that’s not the focus at this time, according to Kimmel.

For more information see the March 10. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - March 3, 2022

Supervisors will push to bring residents online faster

By Carolyn Hoffman

Washington Township supervisors plan to meet with Comcast for some answers to residents' service issues.

They want to discuss the terms of the franchise contract. Many residents are still unable to get high-speed internet, with one resident saying, “We're in a black hole.” The lack of internet is especially difficult for school students and home businesses.

Supervisors at the February 22 meeting also heard from solicitor Sharon Myers about possible ways to zone areas of the township to regulate possible solar or wind farms. In addition, regulations for the use of funds from the American Rescue Plan have been finalized and are more inclusive than the initial guidance. A resident from Kralltown Road asked about the process to buy property and construct a new business building on land in the rural residential zone that already has an existing business. He will need a special exception to the zoning ordinance and perhaps a land development plan.

As the calendar flips closer to spring, supervisors set April 27, 28 and 30 for the spring clean-up. On April 27 and 28 the times are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on April 30 the cleanup will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

Northern York County Fire and Rescue reported a total of 58 calls in January, of which two were in Washington. Wellsville Fire Co. responded to 42 calls and had six calls in the township. NorthEast Adams had 41 calls, with four in Washington. Bills for the month were $19,622.56 from the general fund and $6515.30 from the state liquid fuels fund.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the supervisors will be March 21 at 7 p.m. in the township offices in Kralltown..

For more information see the March 3. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - February 24, 2022

Take your vows somewhere else, residents urge

By Carolyn Hoffman

Several Monaghan residents along South Wharf Road showed up at the supervisors’ meeting to voice opposition to a possible wedding venue at a neighboring property.

Residents received a letter from that property owner asking for support for the venture. Monaghan Township told residents at the February 14 session that a barn being built on the property was to be used solely for agricultural purposes. A letter was sent to the landowner February 7 indicating that no other use was approved in the zone, which is limited to rural and residential uses.

As of this meeting no response had yet been received, nor have any proposals for the barn’s use other than for agriculture yet reached township officials.

Paul Cornell, the township’s temporary consultant, reported his initial look at the township’s fiscal condition and organization showed all was in “very good shape and is sound.” He said it was unusual for a municipality of Monaghan’s size and “not what I expected,” calling it a very pleasant surprise.

Supervisors called his reaction a “testament to 20 plus years of Linda Altland’s [the recently retired secretary-treasurer] work. Cornell, a former township manager, said he had a very good base to work from. He is expected to work in Monaghan until April. Monaghan’s share of the American Rescue Plan funding is $139,000 in each of two years, for a total of $278,000. Rules for the funding are now finalized and loosened over the original regulations.

Monaghan supervisors have discussed how to use the funds but has not yet decided.

At this session, they appeared to look favorably on using the funds to replace the Fisher Run bridge. The cost estimate from last year for the project was $315,000, and the engineer said that would probably not be far off today’s estimate. Even if supervisors agree to move forward with the bridge project using the ARPA funds, the timeline for the bridge’s replacement is about a year, as designs, permits and approvals take many months to obtain.

A meeting with Cumberland and York counties and Upper Allen and Monaghan townships was planned for the day after this meeting to discuss the decommissioning of the Bishop Road bridge. The bridge is owned by Cumberland County, which has the final say about closing it, but York County and Monaghan have concerns about emergency egress from the northern part of the township, as well as the need for room for a turnaround when snow plowing. Reports from that meeting are expected at the March meeting.

For more information see the February 24. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - February 17, 2022

Police have new contract, but supervisors disagreed on the process

By Peggie Wiliams

Carroll Township Police were given a new five-year contract with a 4% increase in pay, a change in the salary step increases to keep long term officers pay in line with new hires and a large hike in the number of accrued sick and vacation days a retiring officer could “cash in.”

But the vote was not unanimous, with supervisor Bruce Trostle voting against the motion. He stated that he was not against supporting the police or the contract, but rather he could not support the way the negotiation and discussion process was carried out among supervisors.

“I just don’t like the way this went down,” he said. His first objection was that the terms of the contract were discussed during two public meetings, the workshop meeting on February 7 and the regular meeting on February 14. Trostle asked that the discussion be moved to executive session, which is permitted by law and customary for the township when negotiating contracts.

But Chairman Tim Kelly said he thought there was no reason not to keep it all in the open.

Supervisor Kelley Moyer-Schwille also protested that she did not care to be “put on the spot” at the public meeting and did not feel as free to say things as she would have in executive session. She asked that they table the contract so she could better understand the figures and ask more questions on the details.

She stressed she supported the police but resented being put in a position where it looked like she was either for or against the police rather than just examining the contract terms.

Trostle also questioned the speed of the process. He explained that in the “past history of negotiations,” the committee brought each change to the board to discuss, not just a finished contract. Wall and Kelly said they had meet with or had discussions with the officers as many as seven times over the four weeks they had been on the negotiating team. Trostle said they should have conferred with the entire board on each change before proceeding to the next. “Then we’d know where we were headed,” he said.

Kelly pointed out that the other three supervisors had received the new contract a week prior to the workshop meeting where it was first discussed, and they now have had another week to think about it.

Trostle also questioned what happened to the contract he and former supervisor Dominic DePalma had negotiated. They were the members of the township’s police committee until the end of last year and had a “handshake agreement” on a new contract that included a 3% raise and none of the other cost increases. But changes to the board of supervisors in January, including a new member and Kelly chosen as chairman of the board, brought changes to the committee assignments. The chairman traditionally assigns committees, and Kelly made himself and Wall the new police committee.

For more information see the February 17. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - February 10, 2022

Residents bag a trash credit

A credit is on the way for Warrington Township customers of Penn Waste whose trash wasn’t picked up during the recent snowstorm .

Four-bag customers will get a credit of $6.49, and eight-bag customers will get $7.80, reflected on their next bill.

Supervisor John Dockery objected to the plan, not because of the credit, but because he felt the board overstepped its authority and should have imposed the penalty specified in the trash contract. He indicated any settlement or credit should be between Penn Waste and individual customers. He felt the board was creating a precedent by negotiating a settlement for Penn Waste’s customers.

The rest of the board disagreed, noting that individual residents didn’t have the bargaining power of the township. The solicitor also stated that courts would likely not sustain a penalty as the trash was collected the next week and no residents were harmed.

During the recent snowstorm, the combination of poor weather and lack of staffing by the trash hauler resulted in half of one Warrington run being missed that week. The trash was removed the following week.

In other action at the February 2 meeting, a special meeting was set for February 15, the last allowable date, to approve a budget change adding $45,000 to the donation for the Wellsville Fire Co. The total donation for 2022 will be $80,000. Representatives from the fire company and Warrington are planning to meet on February 23 to foster better communications between the two, as well as to determine the appropriate amount for future township donations.

The name of the township’s new Agriculture Preservation, Planning and Zoning Committee was changed to Agriculture Preservation and Planning because zoning issues are separate from supervisors’ board.

For more information see the February 10. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - February 3, 2022

Lit cigarette sparks fire at local landmark

A Boiling Springs landmark received extensive fire damage late Saturday evening as firefighters struggled for 10 minutes to defrost a nearby fire hydrant.

Local residents recognize the impressive, white structure at the end of Children’s Lake. It was once an old mill dating back to 1785 and is now an apartment building with seven units.

All residents and pets safely escaped the burning building; however, they cannot return to the extensively-damaged structure.

According to PA State Police, the fire marshal determined the cause of the fire to be accidental. The fire started on the fourth-floor balcony and spread to the attic and roof. A lit cigarette ignited the fire. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the deck in the rear of the building was engulfed and the fire had spread to the roof. The major damage is on the fourth floor, and the attic area is completely burned out, Citizens Fire Company #1 Chief Tim Yingst said. He also reported significant water damage on the third floor and some structural damage on the first and second floors.

For more information see the February 3. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - January 27, 2022

Beer-brewing group wins five medals

Four members of the Sons of Alchemy, who also are pro brewers, owned the Pennsylvania Farm Show Beer Competition this weekend. Steve Anderson, of Big Bottom Brewery, took third place in fruit, herb and vegetable Beers with It’s Gourd for You Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

Brooks Hemauer, of Hemauer Brewing Company, took third place in kettle sours with Kosmic Boom No.1 and second place in pale ales with Americanization.

Brad Moyer and Brian Keeney, of Mount Gretna Craft Brewery, took first place in mixed fermentation sours with Sailing the Seas of Consequence and first place in fruit, herb, and vegetable beers with Hemp Hemp Hooray. In all, 120 twenty beers were entered in more than 16 categories. Hemauer said this was his first professional competition. He has won multiple “homebrew” awards prior to the brewery opening.

For more information see the January 27. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - January 20, 2022

Cuts in line: Customers await their turn at popular, no-appointment barber shop

By Marylou Bytof

In more clement weather, motorists traveling past The Village Shops on U. S. Route 15 may notice men sitting outside one of the newest businesses in the strip, waiting to take advantage of the senior discount offered on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon at Uncle B’s Barber Shop.

“The seniors usually show up first thing in the morning,” said Lauren Bauer-Allen, who owns the business along with her husband, barber Celby Allen. As they wait for their $10 haircut, the seniors may socialize outside in fairer weather, or they may wait inside and watch sports on the shop’s big screen television.

The shop is open on Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed on Tuesday.

The Dillsburg shop has been open since July 2020, Bauer-Allen said. It is the second shop owned by the couple. The first Uncle B’s opened almost six years ago in Etters.

“We took a risk when we decided to open another shop during COVID,” Bauer said. During the lock-down, she said they painted, decorated, and transformed the shop from what was formerly a dog-grooming business to a full-service, four-chair barber shop. “It was really scary, but we made it work,” she said of the uncertainty of the times. The couple accomplished this while also caring for a toddler and a newborn.

For more information see the January 20. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - January 13, 2022

Council, police discuss snow removal policy

By Marylou Bytof

On Tuesday evening, Carroll Township Police Chief Thomas Wargo addressed the Dillsburg Borough Council concerning the enforcement of the current snow removal ordinance.

Although he said he has no problem with the ordinance, the chief told the council that he would prefer the borough post signs that clearly indicate the borough’s snow removal protocol.

“Does the law require signage?” he asked the council. “I want to make sure we are doing this the right way.”

Borough Council President Matt Fawber told the chief that two past borough solicitors have examined the current ordinance which was adopted in 2014 and have approved the implementation of the ordinance.

“We are doing what we are told we have to do,” Fawber said of the solicitors’ reviews and comments.

“Yes, we can’t have a sign for every single ordinance,” Councilwoman Holly Kelley added. Borough Manager Karen Deibler added that the borough once installed snow removal signs on Second Street, which was a problem area in regard to compliance with the ordinance. However, it did not make a difference, she added.

For more information see the January 13. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - January 6, 2022

After midnight fall, Mr. Pickle doesn’t relish recovery

By Marylou Bytof

At the New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop last Friday, Mr. Pickle sustained multiple injuries when he fell while being lowered into the barrel. EMTs immediately rushed him to the hospital where he remains in serious condition. jj

Most of the people attending this year’s Pickle Drop were unaware of the mishap because their attention turned to the fireworks display. As in past years, the show was put on by Bixler Pyrotechnics of Ashland.

“This year’s fireworks were especially beautiful,” Dillsburg Borough Manager Karen Deibler said. Because of the heavy fog, the colors from the explosions permeated the sky in pinks and light blues, she said.

“People were very appreciative that we held the event,” Deibler said. Because of the increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, many municipalities had decided to either cancel or modify their celebrations.

Days before the Pickle Drop, the borough closed all indoor activities due to the surge in COVID infections. Although a number of food trucks were slated to attend the festivities, only one truck selling caramel corn actually came to the celebration. Several other food truck businesses canceled on Thursday, citing a weather forecast of a 60 percent chance of rain.

For more information see the January 6. 2022 edition.

Shakeups, ill will mar meeting

By Peggie Williams

A contentious and sometimes nasty Carroll Township reorganization meeting brought many changes to the township.

Tim Kelly was unanimously elected chairman of the board, replacing Bruce Trostle. Newly elected supervisor Dave Bush did not vote on this item, because he was late arriving to the meeting. He was there in time to vote the next vote.

Kelly Wall was elected vice-chairman, replacing Kelley Moyer-Schwille. This vote was split, with Schwille and Trostle against it; Wall, Kelly and Bush for it.

Duane Stone was not reappointed as township solicitor with Wall, Kelly and Bush voting against the reappointment.

There was an attempt made to appoint Michael Pykosh to the position, but Schwille and Trostle both said they would not be comfortable voting for someone they knew nothing about and asked for time to interview the candidate. They also suggested it would be appropriate to seek other candidates.

Kelly pointed out that the township should not be without a solicitor for any length of time, but he was fine waiting until next week to make the appointment in order for Schwille and Trostle to have time to speak to the candidate.

As Stone left the meeting, Trostle thanked him for his service and said, “They can take your job, but they can’t take away what you’ve done for us.”

Mark McCurdy was appointed as the single member of the of the vacancy board with Schwille and Trostle voting no. He is replacing Norm Shelley, Jr., who has held the position for many years. Trostle argued that three applications had been received for the position and interviews should be done, but he was overruled. The vacancy board is a committee of one that appoints supervisors should there ever be a situation where a seat on the board becomes empty leaving an unfilled term, and the sitting supervisors cannot agree on a replacement to fill the seat until the next election.

Some things were left unchanged, but not without controversy.

For more information see the January 6. 2022 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - December, 2021

Pickle Drop an All-Outdoor Event, thanks to COVID-19

By Marylou Bytof

After a year hiatus, the annual Pickle Drop is back in downtown Dillsburg this New Year’s Eve— minus the previously planned indoor events.

On Friday evening right before midnight, Mr. Pickle will begin his descent from the boom of a firetruck in the Ace Hardware parking lot and drop into his barrel to herald the year 2022. A fireworks display will follow immediately.

“We are shutting down all indoor activities due to COVID,” Dillsburg Borough Manager Karen Deibler said on Tuesday. The outdoor festivities will begin at 9 p.m. along South Baltimore Street. A D.J. will provide musical entertainment and some food trucks will be available, she said.

Due to reports of an increase of COVID-19 in the area, borough officials decided that it was wise to close all planned indoor events, Deibler said. BINGO and games for the children are canceled. The Bloodmobile also will not be at the event.

Dillsburg celebrated the first Pickle Drop on New Year’s Eve 1993. Sponsored by the Downtown Business Association, the event featured food stands operated by local organizations, games, raffles and souvenirs. The Heinz company of Pittsburgh donated some pickle-related items, according to a Banner article.

The highlight of the event was when the fire company lowered the 6-foot-long, papier mache Mr. Pickle into his barrel to welcome the year 1994. There were no fireworks that first year.

More than 1,000 people crowded onto Baltimore Street to participate in what had become a local tradition. Many people left the dance at the firehall to rush into the street to witness the novel event.

According to the Dillsburg Banner, the organizers heavily promoted the event on local TV and radio programs in addition to the newspapers. The article also stated that the Dillsburg Pickle Drop was mentioned on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

For more information see the December 31. 2021 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - June 17, 2021

Dillsburg paramedic earns merit award for saving boy

By Carolyn Kimmel

Rex Carmichael, a paramedic with Penn State Health Life Lion Emergency Services, earned top honors recently for doing what he considers normal—but was others see as heroic.

The Monroe township man rescued a child who was caught in the roots of a tree on the Yellow Breeches creek in May 2020 after the family’s kayak capsized in the swollen waters of the Yellow Breeches Creek.

Carmichael worked for more than an hour in the icy water—the only emergency responder who was able to reach the boy because of the swift current—using a reciprocating saw, or Sawzall, to cut pieces off the kayak and saw through tree roots to finally free the boy’s foot. And he did all this while he was off duty.

For more information see the June 17. 2021 edition.

MONAGHAN TOWNSHIP

Celebration of life facility back on the table

By Carolyn Hoffman

Monaghan Township supervisors voted to “go back to the beginning” and restart the process that would allow a funeral home and celebration of life facility along Andersontown Road on property owned by Supervisor Rob Lauver.

That means the proposed ordinance that would have allowed the facility is now moot, but the original plan for a zoning text amendment is active once again. Supervisors did not detail what the next steps would be concerning this move. As before, Lauver is permitted to vote on the measure but is, on the advice of counsel, prohibited from participating in discussions for it. Supervisor Ron Allen also asked the solicitor to look into legalities concerning a possible conflict of interest with Chair Vicki Aycock about her votes on subdivision plans while she was employed by Penoni Associates, which is also the township’s engineering firm. When Aycock worked for Penoni, the township solicitor had her put a letter in her personnel file about the possible conflict of interest. She also abstained from voting on bills submitted to the township by Penoni until she left their employ.

For more information see the June 17. 2021 edition.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

Zoning changes could trigger development pressure

By Carolyn Hoffman

Franklin Township’s engineer Phil Brath no sooner finished explaining that Carroll Township’s expected zoning changes would “increase development pressure” in Franklin when two representatives of Crossroads Commercial Development asked supervisors to consider changing their own zoning so the firm could build a 1-million-plus-square-foot distribution center on the King’s Kids Kamp site.

The two did not expect or receive an answer at the June 9 supervisors’ session, nor did the supervisors provide one or further discuss the request during the meeting. The firm presented no plans, but suggested that if supervisors changed their zoning at the northern end of the township, where it adjoins Carroll, they would build the warehouse off Glenwood Road. They said they would “relocate” King’s Kids Kamp but provided no details. Carroll Township is nearing the final stages of changing some of its zoning around the Rtes. 15 and 74 corridors to allow for more industrial and commercial uses. Their township planning commission has already approved the changes. The York County Planning Commission was expected to act this week. A public hearing at Carroll is currently planned for July 19.

For more information see the June 17. 2021 edition.

FRANKLINTOWN

First responder contract changes hands

By Peggie Williams

First responder contract changes hands by Peggie Franklintown Borough will be using Wellsville Fire Company as its primary emergency first responder beginning July 1.

WFC representative Brian Rogers attended the June borough council meeting to fine tune the details of the new contract between the two entities.

The agreement establishes a yearly fee of $8,000 payable in quarterly increments to the fire company and a yet-to-be- determined portion of their workman’s compensation insurance to be paid to the Wellsville Borough, which holds the policy. In return, the fire company will provide firefighting and emergency services for the borough as well as some non-emergency services and use of their fire police for occasional community events such as trick-or-treat.

Until July 1, the borough will continue to be covered by Northern York County Fire Rescue as it has been in the past.

During an interview after the meeting, Council President Tony Vasco said the council had become disillusioned with NYCFR.

For more information see the June 17. 2021 edition.k

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Print Edition Highlights - June 10, 2021

A salute to Northern High School graduates in the June 10, 2021 edition

For more information see the June 10. 2021 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - June 3, 2021

‘Guardians of Freedom’ remember, celebrate Memorial Day

By Mary Lou Bytof

Many spectators gathered along Baltimore Street and at the Dillsburg Cemetery late Monday morning to pay tribute to those who lost their lives while serving their country.

Sponsored by the VFW South Mountain Post 6771, the event featured a parade down Baltimore Street in Dillsburg, a wreath-laying ceremony at the firehouse, and a ceremony at the cemetery that included a keynote speech from the Congressman Scott Perry, musical selections performed by the Northern High School Band and the placement of a wreath and flowers at the memorial.

“Let’s remember and honor [those] who gave their lives for the cause of freedom,” Perry, a retired Army brigadier general, said as he addressed the large crowd that gathered around the memorial. “I hope you are enjoying your freedoms that they paid for in these conflicts,” he told the crowd that sunny day. They fought for freedom from oppression, from communism and from economic and cultural depravity, he added.

For more information see the June 3. 2021 edition.

Time to make hay: Farmers Fair returns

By Peggie Williams

One by one, things are getting back to normal as the population gets vaccinated and the risk of COVID-19 recedes. Now the residents of Dillsburg can add one more thing to that list.

The 106th Dillsburg Farmers Fair is a go for October 11-16, 2021. “We’re back,” proclaimed Paul Tucker, vice-president of the Dillsburg Community Fair Association, “and it will be pretty normal.” Last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic—the first time that had happened since WWII.

This year, the only COVID-19-related changes will be the elimination of the cider, bologna and milk samples generally available at the community hall. “But the ice cream isn’t going anywhere,” said Tucker.

According to Tucker, everything else is proceeding as usual, and everything the community has come to love should be back, including parades, food stands, entertainment, markets and contests from picking a queen to the biggest pumpkin to the best chocolate chip cookies.

For more information see the June 3, 2021 edition.

Former Dillsburg Attorney opens branch office in the borough

By Mary Lou Bytof

Niles Benn, Esquire, who worked as a partner in two Dillsburg law firms from 1973 through 1990, has returned to the borough to practice law. Recently, the York attorney opened a branch of the Benn Law Firm at 124 W. Harrisburg St.

A Philadelphia native, Benn recalled his first trip to Dillsburg. In the early 1970s he accompanied his wife to her job interview with then Northern Superintendent George Tjiattis at his office on the second floor of the Shambaugh building. The South Baltimore street structure also housed a five and dime store on the ground floor.

“This was a rude awakening,” Benn said of his first impression of the town in which he would eventually practice law. A graduate of the Philadelphia school system, he recalled how the city’s school administration building covered nearly an entire block. He said he wasn’t prepared for what he saw: a school district operating out of such limited office space.

Nevertheless, his wife, Joyce, was offered and accepted a position to teach students in what most recently was the old administration building on South Baltimore Street. Upon hiring her, Dr. Tjiattis looked at Benn and predicted that one day he, too, would return to work in Dillsburg, the attorney recalled.

Unknown to the young Dickinson Law School student, one of his classmates and closest friends, William D. Schrack, had ties to the borough. After graduation, Schrack asked Benn to come to Dillsburg to practice law with him and Jan Wiley, who retired from practicing law this year. Benn said their office was located at 19 N. Baltimore St. diagonally across from the current post office. “I did not know if this practice would be successful, but we fed off of each other,” Benn recalled. Clients came to the practice from York, Adams, and Cumberland counties.

For more information see the June 3, 2021 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - May 27, 2021

Short on business, road work tops the agenda

Road work is soon to start in Warrington Township, if it hasn’t already, first on Church Road and then to Walnut Drive. The week of June 7, sealcoating is expected to begin on Bull Rd., followed by Sunset Drive and New York Rd.

For more information see the May 27, 2021 edition.

Dillsburg Banner takes home Keystone Awards

The Dillsburg Banner won 11 honors in the 2021 Professional Keystone Media Awards sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Marie Chomicki won first place in News Beat Reporting in the Police Beat category. Her entries included Communal effort rescues boy trapped in water; A chilling plot: Deceased woman’s family conspired to hide her remains, collect her Social Security; Camper discovers one woman dead, another injured at Pinchot State Park; Details surrounding murder turn dark; and Woman to stand trial for freezing grandma’s body, collecting her Social Security.

Photographer Curt Werner took home a first place in Breaking News Photo for Fire destroys garage; second place, Boy trapped in water and honorable mention, Train derails; honorable mention, News Event Photo, Double rainbow backdrop as Life Lion takes off; second place, Photo Story/Essay, Birthday parties around town; honorable mention, Steam engine show and second place, Sports Feature, Win or lose.

Reporter Joe Guty took a first place, in the Sports Feature category for Amanda Bell Marathon and honorable mention, Sports Beat Reporting for entrees Marlee-Milrose; District Basketball; Friday Night Lights; Wildcats; Resser Retirement; Hlatky-Equestrian.

Reporter Dave Wolf won first place, Sports/Outdoor Column for his column Wolf Tracks for entrees Turtles might be slow, but ...; Nature's finest display; Memories of Deer Woods and Christmas ornaments.

The Keystone Media Awards reinforce excellence by individuals in the news media profession by recognizing journalists who consistently provide relevance, integrity, and initiation in serving readers and audiences, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights and responsibilities. Further, the awards stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.

Nearly 2,600 entries were received from 117 news organizations. Entries – in 53 regular categories and eleven specialty categories across seven circulation and four broadcast divisions – were judged by journalists in New York.

The Dillsburg Banner competes in Division VII, weekly publications with under 6,000 circulation.

For more information see the May 27, 2021 edition.

How many bottles of beer on the wall here? Many!

By Peggie Williams

Which came first - Al’s Pizza or Big Bottom Brewery? Well Al’s, of course. But the addition of the brewery has taken one of Dillsburg’s most popular pizza restaurants to a new level. Al’s has been a part the community for decades and, for the last 15 years, it has thrived under the ownership of Bob Szajnuk. After a career in trucking, Szajnuk retired to try something different. He bought a pizza parlor. His original plan was to add beer to the menu, but it took until 2009 to get the license he needed. For many years, customers had plenty of beers, both on tap and in bottles, to choose from but in 2017, Master Brewers Brad Stump and Brian Keeney came onboard and Big Bottom Brewery, the area’s first micro-brewery, opened its doors in the pizza parlor dining room.

For more information see the May 27, 2021 edition.

Eagle sightings soar

By Carolyn Hoffman

Bald eagles are now so common that local people are seeing them around their backyard ponds. It wasn’t always that way.

When the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of DDT on June 14, 1972, just 49 years ago, only 417 nesting pairs were found in the entire Lower 48 states, the vast majority of those in the Western states. Today, Pennsylvania alone has at least 300 nesting pairs, and the birds can be found in every state but Hawaii. The total population of our nation’s symbol now exceeds 316,700 birds.

To illustrate just how bad things were not that long ago, Waggoner’s Gap Hawkwatch along Rt.74 just north of Carlisle, saw none of these great birds in 1980, and several other years saw just one. Last year they recorded 723 eagles during migration, a new record. They have set a new record for the eagles every year since 2008, and the numbers just keep going up. During the fall there, especially during September and October when northerly winds are blowing, it’s now common to see a dozen or more on a day, and several days this past year the totals topped 25 eagles for the day.

Locally, the birds can be found around almost any water source, though when they are sitting and watching for fish to catch, they can be hard to see.

For more information see the May 27, 2021 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - May 20, 2021

Republican ballot shortfall takes voters by surprise

By Marie Chomicki

A shortage of Republican ballots throughout the York County created havoc for many residents and municipalities throughout York County.

Carroll, Franklin, Monaghan, and Warrington townships and Dillsburg Borough were among those affected in the immediate area.

“We first ran out of Republican ballots around 2 p.m. in the afternoon,” said Chris Delvecchio, Dillsburg Borough council member and Republican committee person. It was more than an hour before election officials arrived with an additional 200 ballots. That supply soon ran out, and more arrived around 6 p.m.

Delvecchio said the disenfranchised voters had a choice of waiting for the ballots, leaving and coming back, using a provisional ballot or voting with an ADA ballot-marking machine. About 20 people voted provisional and around 50 voters used the machines, he said.

Delvecchio said he was informed by Steve Ulrich, director of elections, that the county elections office did not print out enough Republican ballots. The countywide calculation was off, he said.

At the Monaghan Township Fire Hall, mid-afternoon voters were surprised to be asked whether they were a registered Republican as soon as they set foot in the door. Then, Republican voters learned they would have a 35- to- 45-minute wait to vote using the ADA machine. Some left their cell phone numbers with poll workers who texted when the paper ballots were replenished later in the day.

Some took the prospect of a return trip in stride and others marveled at the ineptness of the system to generate too few Republican ballots, especially in a county that is largely Republican. Poll workers at Carroll Township were in agreement that despite the challenges of no Republican ballots, most voters remained in good spirits.

“We ran out three times,” said poll worker Madison Lane shortly before the polls closed.

For more information see the May 21, 2021 edition.

ACNB to finance new borough building

By Mary Lou Bytof

Plans for a new municipal building for Dillsburg Borough are underway.

The Dillsburg Borough Council on May 11 voted to advertise Ordinance 2021-1 to provide for the financing of the new building. According to the ordinance, the borough will enter into an agreement with the Adams County National Bank (ACNB), which will finance the construction and mortgage of the new building.

“We received eight proposals back from banks,” Borough Manager Karen Deibler said. “We could not get a 30-year mortgage from any of them,” she said, citing the uncertainty of interest rates over that length of time.

ACNB provided the best options, she said. It offered the borough $2.5 million fixed rate for 10 years. When the 10 years are over, the bank will then provide the borough an adjustable mortgage with a 5.5 percent interest rate for the next 10 years.

“I think this is a no-brainer,” Council Vice-President Matt Fawber said at the meeting.

The borough council will vote on the ordinance at its next public meeting on June 8. This Indebtedness Ordinance, if approved by the council, will be submitted to the state Department of Community and Economic Development as required by law, the borough manager said.

The building will be located next to the community park along Chestnut Street and Old York Road. Lobar Associates is under contract to construct the structure.

For more information see the May 21, 2021 edition.

Print Edition Highlights - March 4, 2021

Peaceful Pet Passage eases pain of losing furry friends

By Mary Lou Bytof

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pet owners have been spending even more time with furry family members as they continue to work from home, which can make losing them especially difficult.

Peaceful Pet Passage at 210 Andersontown Road in Mechanicsburg offers pet owners a variety of services to help them say goodbye to their beloved companions.

The business is the brainchild of owner Rob Lauver, an avid animal lover who first opened a kennel and first local doggy day care facility on his nearly 25-acre property on the wooded, rolling hills at the northern fringe of Northern York County in Monaghan Township. Due to the demanding schedule of running the dog care facility 24/7, Lauver and his family phased out the boarding service from 2012-17 to provide end of life services for his customers’ beloved pets.

“I buried my own pets on the property, and my clients began requesting that I offer this service for their pets,” he said.  “Every animal deserves the respect, dignity and comfort of a peaceful passage.They are, after all, our family. Our goal is to ease the struggle, and comfort both pets and their owners. We are here to honor them.” Services offered to grieving pet owners include cremation, burial, and in-home euthanasia for terminally ill pets.

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Print Edition Highlights - February 25, 2021

It’s all about local at 6ix North

By Peggie Williams

It’s not often that that the opportunity to preserve history, support local artisans, add to a unique and wonderful small town and make a little money all collide, but according to Kris Garvenick, that’s exactly what happened when she and her husband invested in a century-old building in the center of Dillsburg.

The brick building just north of the square has had only two other owners since it was built in 1913 and was used primarily as a residence. Currently, its second floor is home to office space and its downstairs is a gift shop. The buildings postal address, 6 N. Baltimore Street, gave rise to the name shop’s name 6ix North. Garverick said their mission at the shop is to showcase local talent and to give residents and tourists another reason to come town. Since they opened in October of 2019, Garverick has seen both.

“The local support has been amazing,” she said. It is not unusual to have travelers, who found the coffee shop across the street, come in to explore her shop. She was excited about the success of her first Christmas shopping season As it has to so many other things, the COVID-19 crisis brought new challenges. She was able to adapt quickly to strengthen her online presence and inventory, bringing even more opportunity to expose the local talent she carries to a broader audience. They also offer curbside service and porch pick-up.

“Things just exploded this Christmas season as people found us in spite of the virus,” Garverick said.

She said she was not surprised by the quantity and quality of local artisans who have found their way to her. She knew they were always out there; she saw them at the events held in town like Farmers Fair and PickleFest. She knew that if she provided them a consistent presence to market their wares, they would take advantage of the opportunity.

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Print Edition Highlights - February 18, 2021

Zoning changes, resident, developer issues dominate meeting

By Peggie Williams

Carroll Township supervisors changed the hearing dates for the public to comment on changes to the township zoning regulations. During their February 8 meeting, they announced there will now be only be two formal hearings, one at 6:30 p.m. prior to the planning commission meeting on March 25, 2021 and one on April 19, 2021 at 6:30 p.m., as opposed to the several hearings that were scheduled earlier. However, supervisors reminded residents they could make comments in writing or in person during public comment time at any scheduled meeting any time before that date. Both of these hearings will be to discuss the zoning changes and the changes they will make to the Northern York County comprehensive plan if the changes are adopted.

In other business, changes were made to the status of financial securities held on several developments. The developers of Mountain Crest Phase II were released of the maintenance bond the township was holding. MacMor Construction, LLC was given a reduction in the amount of $77,443 for the Chestnut Hollow Phase I stormwater basin improvement project. The township is still holding $1,650.00 to assure the necessary grading and seeding is done in the spring.

New borough office grounds underway

Site preparation has begun for the new Dillsburg Borough and Public Works offices located next Dillsburg Park on Old York Road. Once all permits were in place, crews scraped the existing topsoil off the construction area to allow for fill dirt to be installed to make a level area for the building that will be a home for the borough offices, maintenance garage, the Northern and Dillsburg emergency management agencies. There will also be space for Emergency Medical Services (ambulance station) and a community room.

According to Borough Manager Karen Deibler a formal ground breaking will take place this spring, and it is hoped that construction should be mostly finished in time for the community space to be used as a part of Farmers Fair.

Deibler confirmed that plans are already moving ahead for the 106th Farmers Fair in mid-October.

Print Edition Highlights - February 11, 2021

Residents need more notice before action on crematorium

By Carolyn Hoffman

About 50 people attended the February 8 Monaghan Township meeting, hoping to weigh in on the proposed zoning text amendment that would allow a crematorium and celebration of life facility on property owned by Supervisor Rob Lauver, only to learn that no action would be taken that evening.

The township’s new solicitor, Michael Pykosh, reported that for a zoning amendment, the advertising and public hearing requirements are different than for an ordinary ordinance action. He said the proposed amendment needed to be advertised twice and that a stenographer would be needed for a public hearing.

Supervisors tabled action on the proposed amendment but did not schedule a date for future action. The vote was 2-1 with Chair Vicki Aycock voting against as she wanted a date set for the measure’s future consideration so attending residents would know before leaving this session.

It was also reported at this meeting that York County Planning Commission recommended against approving the measure. The local planning commission previously recommended to take no action for its approval. Residents were alerted to the meeting and possible action on the text amendment by a mailer sent, not by the township, but by an unnamed resident. Many attending said it was the first time they’d heard about the proposal. However, as no action was able to be taken this evening, due to the advertising requirements, those attending the session were not able to go on the record to voice approval or disapproval of the proposal. Supervisor Ron Allen characterized the information in the mailer as “very negative” towards the amendment. Under the current proposal, the proposed text amendment would allow similar facilities anywhere in the rural residential district, which currently exceeds 50% of the township, and not just on Lauver’s Andersontown Road property. The current proposal also specifies a series of required criteria, such as a minimum 20-acre parcel, among others, before any facilities could be allowed.

See more in this week's Banner

Proposal would allow HS students to finish at Dover

By Mary Lou Bytof

Changing schools is never easy, but entering a new high school during the junior or senior year is especially difficult. That is why the transition teams comprised of Dover and Northern York County School District personnel are working to ease the sting of changing schools for elementary and middle school students, and proposing that current Dover High School students may choose to remain at Dover until graduation. On January 20, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision to permit Washington Township to secede to the Northern York County School District this coming fall. The change potentially will affect nearly 200 students from Washington Township in grades K-12.

See more in this week's Banner

Photos by Curt Werner

Young volunteers from Celebration Community Church wash fire trucks at the Northern York County Fire Rescue station.

'Livin it Sunday'

More than 100 volunteers from Celebration Community Church spearheaded over six community projects in Dillsburg on Sunday, Oct. 18.  There was mulching and cleaning up at Logan Park, painting and repairs at Haar's Drive-In, garbage pickup along roads, washing fire trucks at the Northern York County Fire Rescue station and clean-up and repairs at local properties. "We call it 'Livin it Sunday'," pastor Mike Hammer said. "Instead of having a sermon at church, we go out and live the sermon.  This is one of our favorite events of the year.  Our church loves to serve the community," Hammer said.

For more information see the Ocotber 22, 2020 edition.