Author: Staff Reports

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is accepting construction and maintenance services feedback through an online survey. The public can take the survey through Oct. 22 by visiting 2024 PennDOT Construction/Maintenance Customer Satisfaction Survey.   Construction and maintenance work has been underway across the state this year. From January through August, 303 bridges were put out for bid to be repaired, replaced, or preserved by PennDOT or industry forces. Additionally, from January through August more than 3,100 roadway miles were improved by department or partner crews. This includes 1,114 miles of paving. “PennDOT is working hard for Pennsylvanians every day, and work on our roads and bridges…

GREENCASTLE – Families with children from birth to those entering kindergarten next year are the aim of the Greencastle-Antrim School District’s First Steps to Learning event, designed to engage the community and support early childhood education. The event will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Greencastle-Antrim Primary School, 504 E. Leitersburg St.  During this event, all participating children will receive a sweet treat and a book to take home, fostering a love for reading from an early age. The program is an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians to learn about the resources available to…

When it comes to mental health or fighting addiction, it can seem like you’re on one side of a river looking to cross to the other side. A rushing torrent of forms, red tape and insurance issues can be discouraging enough to make you stay put. The Meritus Crisis Center and Meritus Mental Health Walk-in facility are designed to be a bridge, said Halima Naluwooza, MSN, CRNP, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. “For anybody who is struggling, whether it’s with mental health or addiction, it’s sometimes hard to get a provider,” she said, noting some providers in the area…

WAYNESBORO—Buttonwood Nature Center, home of The Institute presents its fourth annual Pumpkins and Pippins fall festival on Saturday, October 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro. Rain location is the Waynesboro Area Middle School. A fundraiser for Buttonwood, the festival includes a full slate of activities and fun for all ages, including a ‘kid zone’ with yard games, a StoryWalk® hike & activity, a photo stand and more. Pony rides for kids from Serendipity Horse Meadows Farm provide a fun, memorable experience during the festival. New this year, kids and adults can visit alpacas from Sugar Hollow Farm…

CHAMBERSBURG – Recognizing that one person dies by suicide every five hours in Pennsylvania, Franklin County Commissioners have recognized Suicide Prevention Month. In 2024 alone, 15 county residents committed suicide during the first eight months of 2024. In Pennsylvania, suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-34 and the fifth leading cause of death for those ages 35-54. Between 1995 and 2023, Franklin County lost 470 lives to suicide. Nationally, the statistics are just as troubling. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was responsible for more than 49,000 U.S. deaths…

Looking for a new friend? The Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter is featuring these Pets of the Week. For more information, interested would-be pet parents may visit http://www.cvas-pets.org/ or call 717-263-5791. Look at little Prince Eric! How adorable is this guy? He’s just a tiny kitten who’s about three months old, and he’s looking for a home. He and his brothers – all three of them are the same color! – are the sweetest bunch of boys you’ll ever want to meet. They purr like crazy when someone is in front of their kennel. Whoever gets Prince Eric is going to…

Buttonwood Nature Center, home of The Institute, is offering a new fall EXPLORE! program series timed for after school. Designed for children in grades K-5, the programs will run on four Thursdays: Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24, from 4–5 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area near Waynesboro. Participants may register for any or all of the four sessions.  All program activities are outside. Taught by Buttonwood educators, each program includes educational activities related to the season. The four programs are: Oct. 3: Fairy houses for Fall Students will forage for materials to make fairy houses, collecting treasures from nature—leaves,…

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General has unveiled a new online portal to streamline the process for organizations required to report data breaches under recently enacted state legislation. The portal, set to go live on Sept. 26, coincides with the effective date of Act 33 of 2024, a law that significantly expands data breach notification requirements in the state. The new law comes in response to the rising tide of data breaches across the United States. In 2023, a record 3,122 data breach incidents were reported nationwide, marking a 72 percent increase from the previous high in…

GETTYSBURG – Main Street Gettysburg, Inc. has announced the dates and activities for the annual A Gettysburg Christmas Festival, set to take place Dec. 6-8. The three-day event will transform Gettysburg’s historic downtown into a winter wonderland, featuring holiday entertainment, decorations and family activities. The festival will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors can expect a variety of attractions, including live reindeer, mechanical rides, bounce houses and holiday-themed games. Santa’s Shanty will be open for children to share their Christmas wishes,…

CHAMBERSBURG – Medical assistant students at Franklin County Career and Technology Center recently participated in an eye-opening exercise to develop compassion and effective communication skills when working with patients with disabilities. The activity challenged students to step into the shoes of those with visual impairments and mobility limitations. In one part of the exercise, students worked in pairs to build a cup tower, with one teammate simulating visual impairment, Center officials said. This task required clear, precise verbal communication from the sighted partner to guide their visually impaired teammate. The exercise highlighted the importance of descriptive language and patience when…