A lot of times I talk here about the people of Hanover and Adams County and how good they so often are, how they’re always willing to pitch in and help.
I stand by that, though I realize sometimes in the day-to-day it can get lost.
That’s why you should take two hours.
You should go gleaning.
It’s true, I shy away from Gettysburg.
In the years I’ve spent at The Evening Sun I’ve covered a number of beats and visited much of the area. But when it comes to the ins and outs of Gettysburg, I readily admit I’m behind the curve.
Good thing that sometimes, the story writes itself.
We always appreciate when folks take the time to send us photos or other information, either related to breaking news or to something someone thinks might make a story.
Severe weather is a prime example.
And last night, we got some great shots from Ryan Taylor, of Aspers. He sent them via our Facebook page, though you can also always email to news@eveningsun.com.
Check them out.
When you write a lot of stories about the planning of new school buildings – the design, the construction, the costs (oh my!) – you get a nice sense of closure when you can finally write about the grand opening.
Granted, these events are usually not all that grand, which is probably reassuring to local taxpayers. There’s a ribbon cutting, some speeches, maybe some student comments or music performances to kick things off. But it’s still pretty grand to the people who make the projects come together.
A view of the new Adams County Tech Prep building. Photo by Brett Berwager.
And that’s the sense I got while covering the dedication of the new Adams County Tech Prep building, which was built on the Gettysburg Area High School campus to house the Culinary Arts, Diesel Mechanics, Allied Health and Law Enforcement career and technical education programs.
A lot of people in the small crowd spoke about finally having a facility dedicated to career education in the county and how that facility would help in the program’s mission to make students career and college ready.
And the best part of my night was talking with the program’s students. Though most of those in attendance were seniors and wouldn’t benefit from a larger and more modern building than the old Keefauver Center, the students spoke about how much the Tech Prep
Students talk about their experience in the Adams County Tech Prep program during a dedication event. Photo by Brett Berwager.
program did for them. Some became more motivated in school. Others realized that they could and would go on to college. And still others discovered what they wanted to do as a career, or even what they didn’t want to do.
As the programs grow and develop, Director Jim Cramer said they’re trying to reach out to younger students to make them aware of the courses offered.
He said parents often realize they want their kids enrolled in Tech Prep when it’s too late – when the kids are struggling in high school or when their schedules won’t allow it.
With a new and modern facility right next to the high school, I’d expect there to be even more interest in the Tech Prep programs, and Cramer agreed.
“Going from rented space to a dedicated facility is a huge leap,” he said.
If you’re like most people these days and obsessed with zombies, you might want to visit Littlestown High School this weekend.
The senior class will be holding a zombie run Saturday morning. More specifically, there will be an obstacle course throughout the high school and onto school grounds. And of course, around every corner will be a zombie – well, a high school senior – ready to catch you.
Last month, I wrote a blog post about the New Oxford Borough Council planning a memorial for emergency responders who have been killed.
Council thought of the memorial after United Hook & Ladder Fire Company volunteer Brandon Little was killed on his way to a fire in Abbottstown in January.
The memorial is still being planned in the square, and council hopes to move forward soon. Borough council member Jim Zero recently said he and council president Dorothy Robinson will be meeting with Eastern Adams Regional Police Chief Robert Then and United Hook & Ladder Chief Steve Rabine in late March to decide on more details.
More details should be available at the next borough council meeting in April. And hopefully, the memorial will be ready by late spring, early summer.
When I look back on the whole thing, the image I remember is that single folding chair, perched atop the rough stone of a driveway in Irishtown.
I can see it placed there on the spur of the moment by a local guy one morning earlier this week.
And I can see Clint Hammond ease his way down into it as the rest of us gathered around like school children, and fell silent.
Stories?
“Oh I can tell you some stories,” the 92-year-old WWII veteran said, “if you want to hear them.”
No objections. So he began.
Why won’t this opossum return my calls?
That was the question this weekend, as the clock hands spun. As messages went unanswered.
Punxsutawney Phil? Dover Doug? Never a problem.
Marmots are famously obliging when it comes to their responsibility to the press.
But it seems with just a little publicity, Ratatouille the Snowboarding Opossum is already getting too big for his britches. Or his designer board.
If you’re ready to rock this weekend, make a stop at New Oxford High School.
We learned that the school’s auditorium is going to be the venue for the Rock for Angels concert, a five-band show that will donate all of its proceeds to the families of five teens lost in a devastating car accident this past December.
The concert will kickoff at 5:30 p.m., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m., and tickets are $15 
for adults and $5 for students with proper I.D. Tickets can be picked up at the high school office this week, or at Reader’s Cafe in Hanover, and they will also be sold at the concert.
The organizers say it’s a show for all kind of rock fans and music fans, with the bands Quiet Life Rebellion, Boomers, Strive and Trailer Park Cowboys joining headliners Smokin’ Gunnz to play a mix of everything from contemporary rock, to southern rock, to rockabilly (I’m still not sure what that is, but I’m going to Google it soon). Continue reading
