(Photo: Tim Stuhldreher) A debate this week will give Lancaster voters a chance to hear from the municipality’s City Council candidates. The forum will take place Wednesday evening, Oct. 27, at the Schuyler Learning Resource Center at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event is expected to start at…
Information About Covid-19 Coronavirus in Lancaster County, PA
Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness by brand: What the data says
Now that the CDC has given permission to the elderly and other high-risk adults to choose whichever vaccine they want for a booster shot, it seems appropriate to review which vaccines are most effective. While not widely reported, numerous medical organizations – at Yale University, the Mayo Clinic and the CDC itself – have published…
Pride celebrates LGBTQ+ community in Lancaster (video)
After going virtual last year Lancaster Pride was thrilled to host its flagship annual event in person on Sunday at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The event featured live music and drag shows throughout the afternoon. More than110 vendors were there, which is a record. Alex Otthofer, president of the Lancaster Pride Board, said it’s “the space…
News: Monday, Oct. 25
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (Source: Wikimedia) Headlines: • Pa. plans to set up voluntary licensing for drug and alcohol recovery homes: The rules would provide a framework for state oversight, but some providers say the requirements are too strict. (Source: Spotlight PA) • Warwick School District installs accessible playground equipment: The district’s physical therapist says…
By the numbers: Lancaster County’s Covid-19 surge may be ebbing
Lancaster County’s Covid-19 statistics inched in the right direction this week. The county’s new case numbers decreased by 44, to 1,122 over the past seven days from 1,169 over the previous period, according to Friday’s update of the Pennsylvania’ Covid-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. That works out to an incidence of 205.6 per 100,000…
Panelists in workforce forum advocate rethinking staff recruitment, retention strategies
This montage shows participants in United Way of Lancaster County’s online forum on workforce issues on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Top, from left: Tom Baldrige, Marlyn Barbosa, Selena Coachman. Middle, from left: Scott Fiore, Brian Lois. Bottom, from left: Vanessa Philbert, Damaris Rau. (Source: United Way of Lancaster County) Businesses are facing acute staffing shortages,…
Analysis: With retirements shrinking the workforce, skill training becomes key
This chart shows changes in the Lancaster County workforce. (Source: Lancaster County Workforce Development Board) It was widely predicted that employment patterns would return to normal once Covid-19 vaccines were widely available and the economy opened back up. “However,” Valerie Hatfield said, “the pandemic has proven to shake up our labor force in so many…
News: Friday, Oct. 22
A school bus stops at Garden Spot Middle School, Eastern Lancaster County School District, in this undated file photo. (Source: Eastern Lancaster County School District) Headlines: • Legislative panel upholds Pa. school mask mandate: The 11-member Committee on Documents ruled the order did not need to go through the state’s rulemaking process. (Source: Capital-Star) •…
Online forum on workforce challenges is today; more panelists added
Salena Coachman, left, and Vanessa Philbert. (Source: Provided) Two more panelists have been added to the United Way of Lancaster County’s “Conversation in OUR Community” on workforce issues, bringing the total to seven. They are Salena Coachman, vice president for talent sustainability, diversity and inclusion for Armstrong World Industries; and Vanessa Philbert, CEO of Community…
Millersville U. Migrant Education Program fortified by five-year, $20 million grant
Participants in Millersville University’s Migrant Education Program are seen in an undated file photo. (Source: Millersville University) For decades, Millersville University’s comprehensive Migrant Education Program has helped students overcome language and cultural barriers and the difficulties caused by frequent moves, so they can achieve academic excellence and complete their educations. This summer, Pennsylvania Department of…
Lancaster city to expand community engagement with 11-member ‘VISTA’ team
City resident Valerie Bradley talks with VISTA Michael Prescott in this image taken from a 2019 video. (Source: City of Lancaster) For the past four years, Lancaster Department of Neighborhood Engagement has spearheaded the city’s effort to build grassroots relationships with residents across the city. It led the “Love Your Block” program, which provided mini-grants…
News: Thursday, Oct. 21
Josh Shapiro (Source: Shapiro for Pa.) Headlines: • Pa. Supreme Court grants standing to gun law challengers: Opponents of municipal gun legislation need not have been charged with violations to have standing to sue, the court said. (Source: Capital-Star) • Commonwealth Court hears challenge to school mask mandate: Plaintiffs say acting Health Secretary Alison Beam’s…
Voting by mail? Don’t forget the stamp
(Source: Vote.pa.gov) If you’re voting by mail this election, be sure to put a stamp on the envelope – or to be extra safe, hand-deliver it. For last year’s general election, 65 out of 67 counties accepted the state’s offer to prepay postage using federal Covid-19 relief funding, so no stamps were needed. (Perry and…
News: Wednesday, Oct. 20
Dr. Rachel Levine Headlines: • Commonwealth Court to hear challenge to mask mandate today: The lawsuit alleges Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam failed to follow a required review process before issuing the order. (Source: WGAL) • Dr. Rachel Levine becomes four-star officer: As head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Levine is the…
In-person Lancaster Pride returns Sunday at Clipper Magazine Stadium
Attendees at the 2019 Lancaster Pride festival. (Source: LancPride.com) Lancaster Pride is hosting the return of its in-person Pride Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24, at Clipper Magazine Stadium. This year’s festival will have a record 110+ vendors, and will be featuring a diverse range of local and regional musicians…
Tree planting planned in Lancaster Cemetery
(Source: Northeast Neighbors United) Local conservation and neighborhood activists are inviting Lancaster residents to Lancaster Cemetery to plant trees and clean up the grounds. The community event runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 6. Volunteers will help plant five large trees and more than 50 smaller ones, as well as weed, mulch…
Pa. sets up hotline to help resolve problems in P-EBT school lunch reimbursement program
(Source: Pa.gov) The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has launched a dedicated hotline for families having difficulties with the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or P-EBT. The hotline, (484) 363-2137, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. P-EBT cards were issued to families whose children were eligible for free or reduced-price…
LG Health, WellSpan online survey seeks input on local health needs
(Source: LG Health) Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and WellSpan Health are seeking public input for their latest community health needs assessment. Lancaster County residents are invited to take an online survey, available in English and in Spanish. The surveys will remain open through the end of October. Residents can also participate in one of…